KSD Board Report

This Thanksgiving season, I am grateful for our community's support of our students, teachers, staff, and schools.

I'd also like to thank:

🙏Members of the the Capital Plan Task Force for their hours of work and service during the past year. They brought forward two thoughtful recommendations for first projects for the Board to consider as we manage growth in our community. I'm looking forward to seeing the final 10-year plan.

🙏Members of the City of Meridian's Planning and Zoning Commission for voting to deny a high-density development within our school district boundaries citing among their concerns that our schools are full and without voter approval we cannot build new schools to serve the students.

🙏Trustees Joy Thomas, Russ Johnson, and Kim Nixon for their work last week advocating for our legislative proposals with trustees from across Idaho. All five of our proposals were approved by our peers.

Enjoy the upcoming Thanksgiving break with your loved ones.

▶️ Board OKs options for new elementary school; Swan Falls expansion & more

▶️ Task force identifies priorities in 10-year plan for new schools, improvements

▶️ Board's management of debt has saved millions in interest costs

▶️ Different options available to pay for new schools, projects

▶️ Silver Trail student leaders make a difference; interventions help students

▶️ Kuna Gold Marching Band & Color Guard win awards

▶️ Kuna Way Awards! Celebrating students, parents & staff

▶️ Other action from the November meeting

▶️ Next meeting: Dec. 13

After considering reports from financial advisors and the Capital Plan Task Force, trustees selected a recommendation to ask voters to fund through a bond. The recommendation chosen includes:

➡️ A new elementary school to serve 600 more students and relieve overcrowding at our existing schools. Once the school is built, we would change attendance boundaries. A committee would help determine these boundaries.

➡️ Improvements and additions to both middle schools to ensure each can serve 800 students with comparable facilities.

➡️ Add classrooms, gyms, and some sports facilities at Swan Falls High School. Additional facilities would be added in the future. If approved, Swan Falls would become a stand alone high school. Attendance boundaries would be created for both schools.

➡️ Add a second school bus facility to improve service to our students and families.

▶️ What's next?

• The Capital Plan Task Force will finish updating the 10-year plan to include other needs such as improvements at our older elementary schools, final additions for Swan Falls performance sports fields and performing arts, & more.
• The Board will review the wording for the ballot finalizing the amount and date of election.

➡️ Watch the Board's discussion and vote here.

KSD parents and Capital Plan Task Force members Brian Reczek and Alex Beal and Director of School Support Services Brian Graves shared two recommendations for projects to complete first in an updated 10-year plan. Both recommendations were supported by the task force.

➡️ Review the Capital Plan Task Force Presentation here.

📺 Watch the Capital Plan Task Force Presentation here.

Michael Keith of Zions Bank reviewed the district's debt from past bonds used to build schools and make additions and improvements to other schools. He noted that by refinancing and paying off some past debt, the board saved taxpayers $5.4 million in interest costs.

➡️ Review the information provided by Michael Keith of Zions Bank here.

📺 Watch Michael Keith's report here.

Eric Heringer of Piper Sandler reviewed potential bond options from $100 million to $110 million to provide funding to pay for new schools and additions to handle growth.

➡️ Review the information provided by Eric Heringer of Piper Sandler here.

📺 Watch Eric Heringer's report here.

Silver Trail Elementary School students Lydia, Thatcher, and Mila shared some of what CAST leaders at the school are doing to:

• Welcome new students
• Collect food for those in need
• Create wreaths for a holiday visit to an assisted living center in the community

Silver Trail Principal Kara Ritter updated the board on how teachers use data to plan instruction to meet the individual needs of each students in the "What I Need" intervention program.

➡️ Review the presentation slide here.

📺 Watch this part of the meeting here.

Kuna High School senior drum majors Kaiden Krasselt and Emma Steel reviewed the success of the Kuna Gold Marching Band and Color Guard this year including winning trophies at the DIII Band competition.

➡️ Review the presentation slide here.

📺 Watch this part of the meeting here.

During the school year, the Board recognizes individuals with the Kuna Way Award based on nominations from parents, staff, and the community. November's honorees are:

• Lily Holm, Kuna High School senior (video)
• Jackson Gronbeck, Kuna High School junior (video)
• Rachel Cyr, Reading Specialist, Ross Elementary School
• Bailee Labanowski, second grade teacher, Crimson Point Elementary
  
• Christen Sterling, Kuna School District parent
• Paul Vickery, Custodian, Crimson Point Elementary
  
• Blanca Cronin, custodian, district support
• Corey Heaps, driver, transportation
• Rana Brown, RN, Reed & Crimson Point elementary schools
• Andy Petersen, driver, transportation

🗳️ Nominate someone for the Kuna Way Award here.

➡️ Find out more about the honorees here.

📺 Watch this part of the meeting here.

Trustees approved:

• October 11, 2022 Board Meeting Minutes
• October 18, 2022 Special Meeting Minutes
• Accounts Payable
• Personnel Report
• School Financials
• Trip requests:
• KHS Cast Lead conference, Washington, D.C.
• FFA State Soils Event
• KHS Wrestling;
• Budget Status Report
• Project Tracker
• Community Development Tracker
• Surplus Report

Scot Phillips of Eide Bailly shared the annual audit of our financial statements which is required by law.

He noted there were no findings.

The fund balance includes one-time federal funds which will be spent over the next two years per the district's plan.

➡️ Review the district's audited financial statements here

📺 Watch Auditor Scot Phillips' report here.

The Board will hold its regular December meeting Tuesday, Dec. 13.