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District

February Board Report: Community to meet superintendent finalists Feb. 24

Posted Date: 02/16/26 (05:30 PM)


Board Report

Recap of the February 2026 Kuna School Board regular monthy meeting

A group of five people, three men and two women, pose for a studio portrait against a blue textured background.

February highlights

The Kuna school board met on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026


In this report:
➡️Superintendent Finalists Interviews, Forums set for Tuesday, Feb. 24
➡️ Other reports & actions
  • Capital Plan Update 
  • Budget Update
  • Kuna Education Foundation Supports Teachers, Students
  • Celebration: Parent University: Middle School 101; Donation of safety lights
  • Policy decisions
  • Consent Agenda
➡️ Next meetings:
  • Feb. 24, 2026 - Special Meeting: Superintendent Search
  • March 10, 2026 - Regular Monthly
 

Superintendent Finalists Interviews, Forums Set for Tuesday, Feb. 24

Chairman Thornton outlined next steps in the superintendent search.

The school board has named three finalists for the next superintendent:
  • Jeffrey Gee – Superintendent, Ririe School District
  • Marcus Myers – Chief Academic Officer of Student Success, West Ada School District
  • Dr. David Reinhart – Chief Operating Officer, West Ada School District

Finalists will be interviewed at a special board meeting Tuesday, Feb. 24 and will participate in staff and community forums the same day.

Employees, families, students, and community members can provide feedback to the school board using comment cards at the forums.

Trustees will review the feedback before making next steps.

Trustees appointed committees to develop and ask questions for the finalists at the forums:

Staff Forum Committee
  • Deb Bradburn – Instructional Coach
  • Kevin Gifford – Director of Curriculum
  • Andrea Randall – Hubbard Elementary Principal (alternate)
  • Kelly Schamber – Special Education Director
  • Michelle Tripp – Ross Elementary Principal & Elementary Education Coordinator (Appointed to replace Kimberly Barker)
  • Stuart Vickers – Career Technical Education Administrator & Secondary Education Coordinator

Community Forum Committee
  • Neil Durrant
  • Keri Larsen
  • Ana Paz – Alternate
  • Brian Reczek – Alternate
  • Elliott Tolbert
  • Justin White
  • Hilary Woodland

Other reports & actions

Capital Plan Update

Assistant Superintendent Jason Reddy recently recapped the Capital Plan Task Force’s progress from last spring. He noted that the project was paused to allow for the transition of new district leadership and to monitor how new charter schools affect enrollment and building capacity. Additionally, the Board will begin reviewing school property taxes and the supplemental levy, which is set to expire in June 2027.

Watch this part of the meeting
 

Trustees continue to review options for 4th Street Gym

Trustee Lowe reported on discussions regarding the potential sale of the 4th Street Gym to the City of Kuna. The city has expressed openness to prioritizing some school use of the facility and potentially leasing space back to the district while a replacement for displaced offices and storage is secured. Trustees noted that an ideal solution would ensure replacement costs do not consume the entirety of the sale proceeds. The Board tabled the matter until March.

 

Budget Update

Chief Financial Officer Jonathan Gillen provided a mid-year budget update, noting that planned spending from district savings has increased from an initial $1.5 million to $2.1 million. This shift is driven by rising special education costs, legislative salary requirements, and operating expenses that exceed state funding. In response, the district is creating a two-year plan to reduce costs through personnel attrition and expense cuts, while also exploring strategies to increase attendance and revenue.

 

KAVE strives to meet demand for online courses

Kuna High School Principal Robbie Reno reported that Kuna Access to Virtual Education (KAVE) launched at the start of the second semester. Currently, nearly 60 students are enrolled in online history, English Language Arts, math, and science courses. KAVE aims to provide a high-quality virtual option for local students, ensuring they have the flexibility to stay within the district rather than seeking outside programs.

Kuna Education Foundation Supports Teachers, Students

Mary Stewart reviewed the history and purpose of the Kuna Education Foundation and highlighted how its grants directly support teachers and students throughout the district.

Celebrations

Parent Engagement -- Kuna Middle School Principal Anita Wilson reported on the success of Parent University: Middle School 101. The event for incoming sixth-grade parents saw high attendance and positive community feedback.

Safety Lights - Communication Director Allison Westfall shared that the district received over 350 flashing safety lights from the Ada County Highway District's "glow up" program to increase student visibility. This safety boost was made possible thanks to the initiative of bus driver Kindall Foster, helping drivers spot students walking, biking, or scootering to school.
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 

Amending
  • 262 - Board Meetings
  • 500 - Student Handbooks (One change approved)
  • 549 - Prohibition of Gangs
  • 814 - Budget Implementation and Execution
  • 832 - Revenues
  • 834 - Fees
  • 857.5 - Contracted Educational Services

Removing
  • 296 - Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act Hearing Procedure

Adopting
  • 556 - Academic Honesty
  • 559 - Food Allergies
  • 818 - School District Tax-Exempt Status
  • 1012.1 - Patron Complaint Form

Third reading

Approved for third reading

Amending
  • 460 - Certificated Employees: Informal Review Procedure
  • 546 - Disciplining Students 504
  • 672 - Gifted and Talented
  • 673 - Reading Assessments
  • 677 - Title 1 - Development of Parent and Family Engagement policy
  • 851 - Supplemental Bidding Procedures
  • 971 - Animals in Schools

Removing:
  • 616 - Promotion of Elementary Students
  • 632.5 - Attendance Zones
  • 560 - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
  • 932 - Use of Contracted Services

Adopting:
  • 521 - Attendance Zones
  • 638 - Student Fee
 
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.
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Chair

Zone 5 Trustee Michael Thornton
Term Ends: December 2027
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Vice Chair

Zone 2 Trustee JD Grant
Term Ends: December 2027
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Zone 1 Trustee Hillary Lowe
Term Ends: December 2027
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Zone 3 Trustee Kyrsti Bruce
Term Ends: December 2029
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Zone 4 Trustee Freddy Wheeler
Term Ends: December 2029
 
Read past Board Reports