KSD Board Report
August 9, 2022
Message from Trustee Nixon
I am so excited for our staff and students to return later this month, as we begin another school year. The superintendent and her team along with the board are closely watching enrollment as we see our community continue to grow. With that growth comes more students to serve.
Feel free to follow the link below to take a look at the growth of our school district as of August 1. We are still trying to fill a few positions. If you are interested in working for the school district, you can review positions and apply here.
I am pleased to let you know that we approved a plan to pay off a bond early, saving our district and the taxpayers $1.68 million. As a board member and a taxpayer it is a priority for me to make sure that we continue to lower our property tax rates.
I'm eager to hear your thoughts on a couple of things.
First of all I would like to hear your thoughts on the work of the Capital Planning Task Force, and I encourage you to get involved. Please take the survey and sign up for the Sept. 8 Study Circle to share your thoughts and ideas in person. Use this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KSDCapitalPlan2022
Secondly, with all of the growth here in Kuna, we will be needing to bond and build in the future. I would love feedback from the community on what you would like that to look like. Email me at knixon@kunaschools.org
Thanks for the privilege of letting me serve you and happy reading.
Board OKs paying off bonds early; expected to save taxpayers $1.68 million
Trustees approved a plan to pay off nearly $3.6 million in bonds reducing the district's debt. The plan is expected to save taxpayers nearly $1.7 million. The voter-approved debt funded new schools and additions for our students.
District financial advisor Michael Keith said the Board has used this process to help lower property tax rates and saving taxpayers more than $7.6 million over time:
- August 2019 paid off $2 million, saving $117,000
- August 2020 paid off $3.5 million, saving $3.58 million
- August 2021 paid off $6.2 million, saving $2.88 million
- August 2022 paid off $3.6 million, saving $1.7 million
➡️ Review the presentation slides here
➡️ Review the resolution
📺 Watch this part of the board meeting here
Board reviews tax options to fund new schools
In the July school board meeting, the Capital Plan Task Force shared that the district is expected to grow 2,700 more students in the next 10 years.
To avoid overcrowding and to serve students well, the district would need six new elementary schools, two middle schools and one to two high schools as well as other additions and facility repairs.
Preliminary estimates of of the 10 years of needs is more than $300 million.
Eric Heringer, a financial advisor to the district, reviewed options for the Board to consider as it decides what to ask taxpayers to pay for building needs and how to keep its commitment to a stable, predictable tax rate.
Heringer reviewed different options:
- Long-term funding: Ask taxpayers to approve a10-year plan that allows property taxes to be collected as needed to pay for new schools and projects in the plan.
- Short term funding: Ask taxpayers to approve property taxes every two to three years for schools and projects in the plan.
Superintendent Wendy Johnson shared the district will be gathering feedback about different approaches to funding new schools. (The survey is available here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KSDCapitalPlan2022)
➡️ Review the presentation slides here
📺 Watch this part of the board meeting here
Listening to city leaders on 10-Year Capital Plan
Back-to-School Updates
Director Brian Graves recognized staffers: Matt Rauch, Shauna Peace, and Jason Reddy for their work during the summer on implementing the district's new student information system called PowerSchool.
More students; schools nearly fully staffed
Superintendent Johnson shared Aug. 1 enrollment numbers show that the district is up about 150 students from spring 2022; Enrollment will finalize after the start of school.
Director of School Services Graves shared that the district has a few unfilled teaching and aide positions.
He noted that nutrition and technology were fully staff and transportation was very close to fully staffed.
➡️Review the presentation slides here
📺Watch this part of the meeting here
Safety: New grants, new leader of school resource officers
Assistant Superintendent Kim Bekkedahl introduced Sgt. Brian Keen who is based in Kuna and is the leader of the district's school resource officers.
She also shared that in partnership with shared that in partnership with our local law enforcement the district has written and receive two grants including:
- $39,000 grant from the Office of Drug Policy to help offset the cost of school resource officers
- Safety kits for every school and training for staff from Stop the Bleed
She has submitted a grant to help support the costs of social workers, nurses and tutors. She expects to hear back on this one around the beginning of September.
We appreciate the extra effort school district staff make to bring more resources to the school district to help students and taxpayers.
📺 Watch this part of the meeting here.
Other action from the August meeting
The Board
- awarded the bid for copiers and software to Pacific Office;
- set meal prices for the 2022-23 approving Option 1
- approved bus routes for the 2022-22
- approved, its consent agenda including:
