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School Board Report for April 2025

Posted Date: 4/14/25 (11:30 PM)
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Board Report

Recap of the April 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.

April highlights

The Kuna school board met on Tuesday, April 8, 2025


In this report:

➡️ Elementary zoning change focuses on Hubbard/Ross, Reed, & Silver Trail 
➡️ Parent Universities focus on answering family’s questions during transition years
➡️ Capital Plan Task Force Update
➡️ Kuna High, Indian Creek, Ross projects move forward 
➡️ Hubbard annex roof, restroom repair move forward
➡️ Fourth Street gym costs reviewed  
➡️ Technology purchase approved
➡️ Meta continues support for programs
➡️ Student cell phone policy finalized for 2025-26
➡️ Other reports & actions
  • Policy decisions
  • Consent Agenda
➡️ Board training
➡️ Next meeting: May 13, 2025
 

Elementary zoning change focuses on Hubbard/Ross, Reed, & Silver Trail

Following up on information shared with the Board in March, Assistant Superintendent Jason Reddy reported that work is under way on elementary rezone options impacting Hubbard/Ross, Silver Trail and Reed elementary schools for the school board to consider in May. 

What’s happening: 
This summer, the Hubbard Elementary School annex will be repaired and safe for students again. The district will have 10 more classrooms available for K–3 students next school year. The district is developing options to change attendance zones to allow more students to attend Hubbard for K-3 and Ross for 4-5 and provide some relief for Silver Trail and Reed Elementary schools. 

 

Parent Universities focus on answering family’s questions during transition years

Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Kevin Gifford shared three Parent Universities are planned for April to answer questions from parents with students starting kindergarten, middle school, and high school. One for parents of high school seniors will be held in the fall. 

Dates for those events are:

  • Monday, April 28, 2025: Parent University: Kindergarten 101: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Swan Falls High School
  • Monday, April 28, 2025: Parent University: High School 101 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Kuna High School
  • Tuesday, April 29, 2025: Parent University: Middle School 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Fremont & Kuna middle schools 

 

Capital Plan Task Force Update

Assistant Superintendent Jason Reddy reported that the group met April 7. They toured spaces at Kuna High School to better understand educational capacity; reviewed property tax data for the school district, and heard a report about building lots and projections of new families and children moving into the district.  

 

Kuna High, Indian Creek, Ross projects move forward

Assistant Superintendent Brian Graves updated the Board that the lowest, responsive bids were awarded for heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) and fire panels that will begin this summer at Indian Creek Elementary School, Ross Elementary, and Kuna High School. Projects are planned to take a couple of years to complete.  
 
 

Hubbard annex roof, restroom repair move forward

Trustees approved moving forward with accepting bids for the replacement/repair of the roof and restrooms in the Hubbard annex. 

 

Fourth Street gym costs reviewed

In February, trustees reviewed appraisal information for the Fourth Street gym and asked for information about its use and cost.  Assistant Superintendent Reddy shared a report about the site and its needs.  
 

Other reports & actions

Technology purchase approved

Trustees approved the purchase of storage, servers, and other technology items from Ednetics. 

 

Meta continues support for programs

Superintendent Kim Bekkedahl reported Meta award the district a $133,000 grant to continue support for Lego Clubs at the district’s elementary schools, professional development, and prevention efforts. 

 

Policy decisions

Student cell phone policy finalized for 2025-26

Among its policy work, trustees finalized the policy outlining the use of cellphones by students. Policy  518 - Student Use of Personal Communication Devices will take effect in 2025-26. 


gavel

Other 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.

For this report, all policy decisions are reported below:

First reading

Amending with some changes discussed during the meeting 

  • 402 - Criminal History Checks for Employees, Volunteers, and Contractors
  • 442 - Code of Ethics for Certificated Employees
  • 452 - Suspension of Teaching Certificate
  • 456 - Reading Programs In-Service
  • 474 - Evaluation of Non-Certificated Employees
  • 476 - Grievance Procedure for Non-Certificated Employees
  • 514 - Evacuation/Fire Drills
  • 543 - Student Suspensions
  • 544 - Student Expulsions
  • 545 - Disciplining Students with Disabilities (IDEA)
  • 550 - Assault and Battery
  • 562 - Exclusion for Communicable Diseases
  • 563 - Exclusion for Head Lice
  • 600 - Accreditation
  • 602 - Personnel Standards
  • 872 - Inventory Records of Fixed Assets
  • 876 - District Expenditure Transparency
  • 904 - Uniform Public School Building Safety
  • 1046 - Patron Conduct at District Programs and Activities

Adopting
  • 205 - Continuous Improvement Plans

Tabled for first reading in May
  • 641.1 - Use of District Owned Physical Property
  • 1013 - Expectations for Communication

Second reading

Approved for second reading

Amending
  • 310 - Administrative Personnel & Principal Evaluations
  • 852 - Payment for Goods and Services

Adopting with some changes discussed during the meeting 
  • 681.1 - Student Identity changes procedure
  • 576.1 - Field Trip Volunteer Chaperone Guidelines
  • 576.2 - Field Trip Parent/Guardian Consent Form
  • 576.3 - Field Trip Student 6/12 code of conduct
  • 639.1 - Parental Rights in Education Procedure Known changes in students
  • 639.3 - Parental Rights in Education procedure visitation
  • 639.4 - Parental Rights in Education visitation form
  • 736 - Transportation of Special Populations
  • 770 - Food and Nutrition Services
 

Third reading

Amending:

  • 202 - Public Charter Schools
  • 308 - Principal Contracts 
  • 502 - Student Publications
  • 410 - Non-Discrimination in Employment/Leave of Absence
  • 470 - Definition of Non-Certificated Personnel
  • 678 - Release Time
  • 407.5 - Sick Leave

Adopting
  •  518 - Student Use of Personal Communication Devices - takes effect in the 2025-26 school year. 

Removing
  • 207 - Public Charter School Petition
  • 408 - Jury Duty
  • 417 - Employee Volunteers
  • 453 - Support Programs
  • 471 - Non-Certificated Employees: At-Will Employment
  • 472 - Salary Schedule for Non-Certificated Employees
  • 473 - Group Health Insurance for Non-Certificated Employees
  • 477 - Absence Without Pay for Non-Certificated Employees
  • 478 - Illness or Death in Immediate Family: Non-Certificated Employees
  • 480 - Vacation Leave for Non-Certificated Employees
 
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.

The Board approved its consent agenda which included:

  • March 4, 2025 Board Meeting Minutes 
  • Accounts Payable
  • School Financials
  • Budget Status Report
  • Personnel Report
  • Trip Request
  • Early Graduation Request
  • Track Timing System 
 

Board Training

In a special public meeting before the regular meeting, trustees participated in the second half of a required state training on the Idaho Comprehensive Literacy Plan



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 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.

Kim Nixon

Board Chair

Zone 4 Trustee Kim Nixon
Term Ends: December 2025
Committees: Strategic Planning Committee, Kuna Education Foundation

JD Grant

Board Vice Chairman

Zone 2 Trustee JD Grant
Term Ends: December 2027
Committees: Safety Committee, Kuna Partnership for Kids
Hillary Lowe

Zone 1 Trustee Hillary Lowe
Term Ends: December 2027
Committees: Policy Advisory Committee


Kyrsti Bruce
Zone 3 Trustee Kyrsti Bruce
Term Ends: December 2025
Committees: Calendar Committee, Policy Advisory Committee, Capital Plan/Supplemental Levy
Michael Thornton
Zone 5 Trustee Michael Thornton
Term Ends: December 2027
Committees: Negotiations, Capital Plan/Supplemental Levy