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November School Board Report: Parent, teacher curriculum group appointed; Updates on 4th Street Gym & more

Posted Date: 11/17/25 (05:30 PM)
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Board Report

Recap of the November 2025 Kuna School Board regular monthy meeting

A group of four people stand in front of a gray wall, smiling for a photo. They are all wearing black and white vests with a letter 'K' on them.

November highlights

The Kuna school board met on Tuesday, November 11, 2025


In this report:

➡️ New Committee to Review Elementary English Language Arts Curriculum
➡️ New Online Learning Support Coming to Elementary Schools
➡️ Board Considers Future of 4th Street Gym
➡️ Update: Ag Land Lab Site Under Review
➡️ Other reports & actions
  • Celebrating Kuna FFA's Success at National Convention
  • Kuna High, Initial Point Student Surveys Approved
  • Policy decisions
  • Consent Agenda
➡️ Next meeting: Dec. 9, 2025
 

New Committee to Review Elementary English Language Arts Curriculum

The Board approved a committee of 14 teachers and 14 parents that will work on a recommendation for the district's elementary English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum.

From November to April, teachers will pilot three curriculums:

  • Into Reading/Arriba - HMH
  • Wonders/Maravilla - McGraw Hill
  • Magnetic Literacy/Mosaico - Curriculum Associates

The committee will evaluate the information from the pilots. The goal is to bring a recommendation for public review and for the Board to consider in April 2026.

An 'Adoption Committee' graphic lists teachers, parents, grade levels, and schools.
 

New Online Learning Support Coming to Elementary Schools

Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Director Kevin Gifford shared a new partnership with Idaho Digital Learning Alliance.

Starting in January, our elementary schools will have access to certified online teachers for intervention and extension sessions. The Launch Pad program will provide additional support to around 300 students through the end of the school year.

 

Board Considers Future of 4th Street Gym

The board is considering the future of the 4th Street Gym, which currently houses the district’s technology offices and storage and a gym used by the community and schools.

Amber Van Ocker of LKV Architects presented a concept for a new $3.5 million pre-engineered metal building at Kuna Middle School to replace the technology space if the gym is sold.

Trustees also reviewed three bids for the gym: $1.8 million from the City of Kuna, $625,000 from Erin Whiting, and $800,000 from Apostolics of Kuna. Only the city’s bid met the property’s appraised value.

A decision on the gym was tabled while trustees negotiate with the City. Trustees Hillary Lowe and JD Grant will work with administration on these discussions.

 

Update: Ag Land Lab Site Under Review

Kuna High School Robbie Reno shared an update on plans to create a land lab for the high school agriculture program on five acres of donated land.

District representatives recently met with city and agency officials to review the proposal and identified a need for more information on traffic, water, and sewer impacts.

City officials shared they do not need space on the site for a lift station.

Career Technical Education Administrator Stuart Vickers said the district may need to explore alternative locations for the land lab.

Other reports & actions

Celebrating Kuna FFA's Successes at National Convention

Kuna FFA Members Murphy Clous and Ruby Beverlin reviewed the team and individual achievements from National Convention & Expo held in October.

Kuna High, Initial Point surveys approved

Trustees approved surveys/groups for high school students:
 

Applications for Superintendent to be Accepted through Jan. 31

Board Chair Kim Nixon recapped the work of the Board's the Nov. 6 special meeting on the superintendent search including the application window will be Nov. 17, 2025 to Jan. 31, 2026.

gavel

Policy decisions

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.

For this report, all policy decisions are reported below.

First reading

Approved for first reading

Amendment of
  • 520 - Enrollment and Transfer
  • 540.1 - Maintenance of Orderly Conduct
  • 551 - Student Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco
  • 565 - Immunization Requirements
  • 567 - Do Not Resuscitate Orders
  • 610 - High School Graduation Requirements
  • 850 - Purchasing
  • 850.3 - Purchasing Services of Personal Property
  • 850.9 - Procuring Public Works Construction (formerly Public Works Construction)
Adoption of
  • 850.2 - Purchases Using Federal Funds
  • 850.21 - Purchasing Procedures Under Federal Awards
  • 850.91 - Procedures for Procuring Public Works Construction
  • 853 - School Building Plan Reviews and Inspection
  • 854 - Contractual Certifications and Restrictions

Second reading

Approved for second reading 

Amendment of 
  • 292 - Reasonable Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities
  • 414 - Sexual Harassment
  • 449 - Release of Contract of Certificated Employees
  • 457 - Supplemental Contracts
  • 661 - Copyrighted Materials

Removal of
  • 802 - Fidelity Bond

Adoption of
  • 292.1 - Americans with Disabilities Complaint Procedure
  • 664 - Workforce Skills
  • 675 - Career Technical Schools
  • 732 - School Bus Emergencies

Third reading

Approved for third reading

Amendment of 
  • 411 - Personnel Files
  • 416 - Whistleblower
  • 462 - Staffing Patterns
  • 506 - Juvenile Sex Offenders
  • 507 - Foreign Students
  • 508 - Tracking Foreign Students and Foreign Exchange Visitors
  • 566 - Student Suicide Prevention
  • 852 - Payment for Goods and Services
Remove the following:
  • 607 - Idaho Promise Scholarship Program
Tabled for further revision on the title:
  • 512 - School Climate
 
Consent agenda

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.

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

Board Chair

Zone 4 Trustee Kim Nixon
Term Ends: December 2025
JD Grant

Board Vice Chairman

Zone 2 Trustee JD Grant
Term Ends: December 2027
Hillary Lowe

Zone 1 Trustee Hillary Lowe
Term Ends: December 2027

Kyrsti Bruce
Zone 3 Trustee Kyrsti Bruce
Term Ends: December 2025
Michael Thornton
Zone 5 Trustee Michael Thornton
Term Ends: December 2027
 
Read past Board Reports