October 27, 2023 Meeting Minutes

Routine Expenditures and Invoices: Executive Director Child gave the report since Cole Skinner was unable to attend. Treasurer Clinger motioned to approve the consent agenda. Director Jensen seconded, and the motion passed 4-0. 

Note: Petty cash was not verified at the meeting but verified the next day by Treasurer Clinger. 

In Action Items: 

1. Approval of September Meeting Minutes 

1. Chairman Butler made aware that the posted meeting minutes don’t include executive session at the beginning and should.  

2. Chairman Butler stated he did not make any motions or second any motions, as was described in the September minutes and so that should be amended. 

3. Vice Chairman Paulsen made a motion to accept the minutes with the amendments to add information regarding executive session and change Chairman Butler to Director Burnett where the minutes required a motion and second. Motion was seconded by Treasurer Clinger. Passed 4-0. 

2. Add Director Jensen to First Federal Account 

1. Treasurer Clinger motioned to add Director Jensen to the First Federal account. Vice Chairman Paulsen seconded. The motion passed 3-0 with Director Jensen abstaining. 

3. Change November Meeting Date 

1. To avoid meeting during the week of Thanksgiving, Vice Chairman Paulsen motioned to change the next board meeting date from the 20th of November to the 27th of November at the regularly scheduled time. Seconded by Treasurer Clinger. Motion passed 4-0. 

4. Approve RISE/KSD MOU & Rental Agreement Changes 

1. There was no discussion. Treasurer Clinger motioned to accept the RISE/KSD MOU and Rental Agreement changes as were already approved by the KSD Board. Seconded by Vice Chairman Paulsen. Motion passed 4-0. 

5. Policy 3285:  
   Relationship Abuse, and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response 

1. Discussion took place regarding the policies on the agenda in general, and what to do about policies being required in the Handbook. Vice Chairman Paulsen and Treasurer Clinger advocated for policies to be referenced in the handbook without copying and pasting the whole policy.  

2. Vice Chairman Paulsen asked if our policies reflect KSD’s. Executive Director Child responded yes, many of them do, but KSD’s have been in the works a longer time.  

3. Vice Chairman Paulsen motioned to re-approve Policy 3285 as is, seconded by Treasurer Clinger. Passed 4-0. 

6. Policy 3295: 
   Hazing, Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying, Cyber Bullying 

1. Vice Chairman Paulsen advocated for putting Policy 3295 in the Handbook without amending the policy. Vice Chairman Paulsen motioned to approve 3295 as it is written. Seconded by Director Jensen. Passed 4-0. 

7. Policy 3300: 
   Drug Free School Zone 

1. Vice Chairman Paulsen and Treasurer Clinger agreed it should be easy to add this policy to the Handbook for next year because of how short it is. Treasurer Clinger moved to approve Policy 3300 as written. Seconded by Vice Chairman Paulsen. Passed 4-0. 

8. Policy 3320: 
   Substance and Alcohol Abuse 

1. Chairman Butler stated that the second sentence of number 6 is confusing. Vice Chairman Paulsen and Director Jensen agreed.  

2. Vice Chairman Paulsen asked if this policy is referenced in the Handbook. Director Child responded that it is not. Director Child put the idea out to make parents and kids sign one of the drug policies at parent teacher conferences, so they know about it. Vice Chairman said that parents shouldn’t need to sign it, but they should be shown it. 

3. It was agreed that Executive Director Child will include some information about RISE’s drug free campus and related policies in the next Monday Memo to parents. 

4. Vice Chairman Paulsen motioned for Policy 3320 to be re-approved, with an amendment to remove the second sentence on number 6. Seconded by Director Jensen. Motion passed 4-0. 

Executive Director Report:  

1. Positive Culture – Brief report of KSD Board Tour.  

2. Academic Excellence – Executive Director Child presented MAP data and RISE Charter School: At a Glance Pamphlet. Project based learning: math class and sewing club have started up they are learning about transformation and are creating quilt blocks using geometry and math and will sell those quilts at an upcoming fundraiser.  
   The greenhouse was finished, but there are a few missing pieces now because kids at recess like to play soccer. Started with planting.  

3. Quality Management – Teachers have asked about older students who are struggling to read and how to help them. Continuous training for all staff with an instructional coach. 

4. Fiscal Responsibility – RISE Dinner/Concert Fundraiser  

Discussion: 

1. Upcoming Supplemental Levy with Matt Schvaneveldt.  

1. Mr. Schvaneveldt explained how the Supplemental Levy works and how it supplements the operational budget, allowing KSD to pay for more teachers than the state covers. If the levy passed, money would come to RISE depending upon the number of in-district students RISE has.   

2. KSD would appreciate it if RISE helped spread the word but asks that RISE vets the messages through the school district.  

3. Stressed that taxes will not go up if accepted since it will replace an older levy that taxes the same amount.  

4. Voting takes place on November 7th at regular voting areas. Early voting and absentee ballots are also available, but October 27th is the last day to request one. 

5. Director Jensen asked how the tax rate stays the same since the housing prices have increased. Mr. Schvaneveldt explained it’s largely due to a tax relief bill. 

6. Vice Chairman Paulsen asked what the $800,000 levy bought Kimberly the last time, to which Mr. Schvaneveldt stated he was not sure, but that it is usually salaries and benefits. Vice Chairman Paulsen also asked if inflation is also impacting the school the same as it is the public, and Mrs. Searby from KSD answered yes, salaries have had to increase due to inflation. KSD has also added positions over the last couple of years.  

7. Treasurer Clinger asked what would happen if the levy did not pass in November. Mr. Schvaneveldt responded that they could try to pass it again in May, but if it did not pass there, KSD would have to start making hard decisions. He ended by stating that giving RISE some of the funds for the in-district students is what the Superintendent and KSD think is the best thing to do for everyone, but it is imperative that word about the vote gets out. 

2. Counselor’s Report with Chellee Hilverda 
   Statute H 163 (2023) 

1. Counselor Hilverda presented the Idaho legislative bill from July concerning parental rights and how it affects RISE’s policies and how she can do her job as a counselor. Board Clerk Maclean presented policy drafts to ensure compliance. The Board Directors agreed that the draft policies should be vetted by legal before being presented and approved at the November meeting.  

3. Performance Certificate Review 

1. Much discussion took place about the performance certificate and more specifically, the enrollment criteria. Executive Director Child explained that the KSD Board would like to add a piece about looking at how many in-district students make up the student body at RISE. More recently, KSD amended the proposal by offering to look at retention of in-district students from fall to spring each year.  

2. Treasurer Clinger asked if this proposal was for last year’s criteria. She made the point that RISE has no control over what happened last year seeing as it has already passed. She stated that if RISE agreed to something of this nature, RISE would be marked down for something RISE has no control over. RISE is an experiment and is meant for people to try. Going forward, she is open to negotiating a number for in-district enrolled students but does not want to accept new criteria for last year. 

3. Executive Director Child also expressed concerns because RISE is required by law to accept any students who apply, even if they’re out of district. 

4. Vice Chairman Paulsen wanted to know how RISE numbers compare to KSD’s numbers of out of district students. He believed it was only fair to evaluate RISE using numbers similar to KSD’s. Vice Chairman Paulsen asked Mr. Schvaneveldt if they also have 14% of out of district students, like RISE. Mr. Schvaneveldt said the rate of out of district students is probably very similar.  

5. Mr. Schvaneveldt stated that some KSD Board members also expressed concerns about this criterion and thought it could be worked out to be fairer. Mr. Schvaneveldt also explained that, on the other hand, because RISE was meant to help alleviate the pressure within KSD schools and support Kimberly students, it makes sense to include this metric. If the metric is not included, RISE could become an out of district school, which was not what the Kimberly community intended for it.  

6. Director Jensen said she and RISE would like to have an enrollment of 100% Kimberly students, but that it is not within RISE’s control to do so.  

7. Result:  
   The Board agreed it will not change the criteria from last year to be used for last year’s evaluation. Moving forward, however, the Board is open to further discussion with the KSD Board to decide on new criteria pending more data. 

8. Chairman Butler asked if Executive Director Child could take the decision back to KSD administration, but after further discussion, it was determined that it would be more effective for the RISE Board and KSD Board to meet and discuss the criteria in person since it is the Boards’ responsibility to negotiate the Performance Certificate criteria. The Board also agreed they’d like to meet within the next two weeks so that both Boards could approve the Performance Criteria at their November meetings. The Board drafted an email which Chairman Butler would send out to the KSD Board.  

4. Open Meeting Law Training/Roberts Rules of Order 

1. Executive Director Child explained the importance of open meeting laws and touched on serial meetings and how to avoid them. Board Clerk Maclean handed out meeting cheat sheets based on Roberts Rules of Order. 

5. Board/Teacher Luncheon Takeaways 

1. Treasurer Clinger and Director Jensen reported that the teachers feel comradery and supported by staff and Executive Director Child.  

6. Board Self Assessments were handed out for members to complete and discuss at the next meeting. 

7. The ISBA publication, Slate, was also handed out. 

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