January School Board Report: Next year's school calendar; cellphones & more

Posted Date: 1/21/25 (:30 AM)

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Board Report

Recap of the January 2025 Kuna School Board regular meeting

Group of men and women who serve on the kuna school board

January highlights

The Kuna school board met on Tuesday, January 14, 2025

📺 Watch the full meeting

📖 Read the agenda

In this report:

➡️ Board discusses cellphone policy, will seek more feedback

➡️ Board approves two donation agreements

➡️ Board approves changes to 2025-26 Calendar

➡️ Trustees approve JROTC request to explore new facility

➡️ Other reports & actions

Board elects chair, completes annual organizational activities
Policy decisions
Consent Agenda

➡️ Next meeting: February 11, 2025

Board discusses cellphone policy, will seek more feedback

Trustees approved the first reading of a new cellphone policy (518 - Student Electronic Devices) for the district’s schools sharing feedback received from parents, students, and staff. They directed the administration to revise the draft and gather additional feedback for the board to consider at its February meeting.

📖 Watch the cellphone policy discussion

Board approves two donation agreements

Assistant Superintendent Jason Reddy shared that, thanks to the Board’s policy of requesting voluntary contributions, two developers have committed to donations to the district.

The donations were approved by the Board and include:

$500,000 from Diode Ventures with $100,000 earmarked for athletics and $400,000 for technology needs;
$3,286 per single-family residential unit in the proposed Blossom Meadows Estates Subdivision developed by Arano Farms

The donations are formally pledged and would be paid after the projects are approved and as homes are built.

📖 Watch the donation discussion

Board approves changes to 2025-26 Calendar

Trustees approved the following changes to the calendar for the next school year:

Nov. 4 (Election Day) becomes a no-school day for all students and staff.
The Oct. 6 professional development day moves to Oct. 10. This is a no-school day for students.
The last day of school moves from May 28 to May 29.

The Updated 2025-26 School Calendar is posted on the district website at this link.

📺 Watch the calendar discussion

Trustees approve JROTC request to explore new facility

The board approved allowing the high school Air Force Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (AFJROTC) program to explore fundraising to build a new structure at Kuna High School. Lt. Col. Davis said the popular program needs additional space for its various activities.

📺 Watch the presentation

📖 Review the presentation

Celebrations

District Activities Director Luke Wolf celebrated the recent success of high school athletes. 📺 Watch the report.
District Curriculum Assessment and Instruction Director Kevin Gifford shared the Monday, Jan. 6 professional development was well spent and focused on areas of the strategic plan. 📺 Watch the report.

Other reports & actions

Board elects chair, completes annual organizational activities

The January meeting of the Board is also an organizational meeting where Idaho law requires trustees to make decisions for the year.

The Board,

Elected Kim Nixon as its chair, JD Grant as vice chair
Appointed Chief Financial Officer Brad Steadman as Treasurer
Appointed Deann Greany as Board Clerk
Reviewed and signed its Code of Ethics
Set its regular monthly meetings for 6:30 on the second Tuesday at 711 E. Porter S.
Designated public places for posting its agendas
Appointed trustees to the following
Michael Thornton to negotiations committee
Kyrsti Bruce to the calendar committee
Hillary Lowe to the safety committee
Kim Nixon to the Kuna Education Foundation
JD Grant to the wellness committee

Policy decisions

Most policies are reviewed by the district's policy committee comprised of staff, parents, and two school board members before being considered by the board.

The board adopts new, amends existing, and removes policies through a series of "readings."

The first reading is typically the start of the process and can include discussions about changes.
The second reading allows for changes to be reviewed and/or additional changes to be made.
The third reading is typically the final step.

The public may provide feedback at every reading.

First reading

Amending

448 - Reduction in Force Regarding Certificated Employees
564 - Health Records and Emergency Care
639 - Parental Rights in Education
809 - Conditions for use of District Vehicles
830 - Gifts, Grants and Bequests

Adopting

990 - Bloodborne Pathogens
518 - Student Electronic Devices

Second reading

Adopting

816 - Disclosure Requirements for Bond and Levy Elections
906 - Asbestos Management Plan

Amending

294 - Civil Rights Grievance Procedure
605 - Middle School Required Instruction/Promotion
613 - Credit Acceptance for Transferring Students
646 - Guest Speaker
674 - English Learner Programs
806 - Bond and Licensure Requirements for Public Works
810 - Budget planning and adoption
812 - Budget Adjustments
850 - Purchasing
910 - Rental/Use of School District Facilities
922 - Acquisition and Sale of Real Property
934 - Trespass on School Property
950 - Tobacco Use on District Property / Prohibition Against Smoking
1030 - Student Support Organization
1044 - Advertising and Distributing Materials in the Schools (Formerly Advertising and Distributing Materials in the Schools by Non-School Related Entities)

Removing

401 - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
463 - Title 1 Professional Development
654 - Sex Education
808 - Levy Certification
839 - Associated Student Body Fund Procedures

Third reading

Adopting

540.1 - Maintenance of Orderly Conduct
940 - Electronic Surveillance

Amending

412 - Employee Conduct (Formerly General Personnel Regulations)
418 - Personnel Conflict of Interest
564.5 - Student Concussion Procedures and Protocols
574 - Field Trips
771 - Charging School Meals
Remove the following policies:
548 - Theft or Destruction of School Property
576 - Extended Field Trips

Consent Agenda

A consent agenda groups routine items for a single motion and vote, saving time in board meetings. It includes non-controversial items like approving minutes or standard reports. Any board member can request to pull an item for separate discussion and vote if needed.

Approved:

About our trustees

The Kuna School District is governed by an elected board of trustees, with each trustee representing a specific geographic area of the district, known as a Zone.

Each year, the trustees elect a chairman and vice chairman to lead the board.

In addition to board meetings, trustees may also serve on district committees.

Below is information about each trustee and a link to a message for the month, if they choose to write one.

Don't know who’s your elected trustee? Look up which trustee serves your address here.