Ag Program Awarded Grant, Cell Phone Policy Discussion
The Meadows Valley School Board met Tuesday, December 10 with Trustees Jeffrey Luff, Chris Peterson, and Stepheny Becker (via Zoom) attending along with Superintendent and Principal Dee Fredrickson and Clerk of Board-Business Manager Carol Whitney. The consent agenda including prior meeting minutes and the monthly financial report was approved unanimously. The board discussed the cell phone policy, changes to the special education manual, an agreement with Ignite Idaho for counseling services, and updates on school maintenance and events.
Superintendent Fredrickson began with her report noting there have been quite a few absences lately due to rounds of illness. She said most of the recent detentions have been for incomplete work rather than behavior and they are working to get students up to date on work. Friday, December 13 was a professional development day for teachers as well as a work day for any students who were behind on assignments. Some of the seniors attended as well to work on senior projects.
Fredrickson shared about the Thursday mentoring time they have implemented this year for secondary grades. Some activities the mentor groups have participated in are learning poker and having a dance competition. These sessions build teamwork and add anticipation and motivation for students to stay on track.
Fredrickson said they are almost done restructuring second semester schedules to include the addition of an art class.
Fredrickson next announced that Ag teacher Rachael Melad was awarded a $25,000 Idaho Quality Program Standards (IQPS) Grant through Idaho Career Technical Education (IDCTE). Melad has been working hard to get the new Ag program off to a solid start often working outside of school time to make the program successful. Melad said “this grant provides essential support to help us establish a strong foundation at Meadows Valley”.
Starting a new Ag program can involve significant expenses. Outside of the meeting Melad shared that while the New Meadows program is thankfully already starting with the advantage of needed facilities including a shop and a greenhouse, these facilities come with “high operational and maintenance costs and…the grant will enable them to upgrade, maintain, and optimize these facilities, setting us on a path to long-term success”.
Melad also shared that they plan to use the funds to purchase loaner FFA jackets and other official FFA dress components for competitions and events ensuring the program is accessible for all students. They will also purchase a CNC Arclight Plasma Table for students to use on metalwork, drafting, and computer-aided design. These tools will help give students skills for potential future jobs. The grant money will also be used for greenhouse upgrades, curriculum and tools, and such items as plant starts, soil, and welding rods. The grant money must be used by June 30, 2025 and a detailed report of items purchased must be returned IDCTE.
Fredrickson and the board congratulated Melad on the grant saying this was a good, healthy start.
Fredrickson continued her report noting the band room heater is working again and they are waiting on parts for the weight room heater.
Fredrickson also gave an update on the fire suppression system. She said there was a major leak in the attic and the system is still not able to be pressurized. Work is continuing to finalize fixes and retest mapping done of the different area zones. A recommendation to replace the whole system on one side was given.
Fredrickson said they will have holiday parties on the 19th with high school and middle school gift exchanges and elementary classroom parties. She invited the board to attend. Carolyn Swanson is putting together a festive ham lunch. The school is hosting various dress up days for the last two weeks of the semester to keep spirits up.
The school has received a couple new substitute teachers, but is still in need of more.
Fredrickson reported that the school will need to renew the Supplemental Levy, especially considering the loss of some funding including the maintenance match fund and lottery money. She said the School Modernization Fund is helpful and they are grateful for it, but it can only be used for capital improvements and not any maintenance projects. Fredrickson has reviewed levies in other districts to compare. She said they would like to try to renew at the same 8% amount, but she is mindful of reviewing what is actually needed and wants to only ask for what is needed. Community meetings, open houses, or Zoom meetings may begin in January to get input from the community on what they would like to see the money spent on.
Noting committees, Fredrickson said Board Member Stepheny Becker had put together a great raffle basket fundraiser as part of the playground committee. Becker further stated that she hoped this would act as a great launching point for the playground improvement project. As of the meeting date the raffle had already raised about $800.
Ending her report with good news, Fredrickson gave thanks and passed around a card to be signed by the board for a $40,000 check received in grant money from BNY (Ann & Frank Cahouet). The application noted they would use the grant for STEM, special education curriculum, clubs, field trips, sports, and Ag. BNY also contributed to help pay the balance of the front door security system.
Next up for the board was a second reading of Policy 3265 regarding technology and cell phone use. A few surveys were used to try to inform the conversation and decision making. All secondary staff and students were surveyed. A survey was sent to parents, but only a few responded. The existing policy covers all grades PK-12. The board discussed the survey results and various ways of adjusting the policy wording. One idea was to split the policy between elementary, middle school, and high school to make guidelines more specific and appropriate for each age group. The board also asked for and received feedback from Melad on her experience with phones in the classroom.
After lots of discussion considering all points of view available, the board moved to table the discussion for the next meeting.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the school district and Ignite Idaho was approved unanimously. The MOU allows for assistance from Ignite Idaho for crisis counseling and assessment in the case of potential self harm. Currently the only option available for care would be to take someone in crisis to the Emergency Room in McCall and this will offer care without needing to leave the school. Ignite Counselors will be onsite at the school, but timing is still in process of being determined.
A motion was made and approved to make the Idaho State Special Education manual as the Meadows Valley Special Education Manual. Recent changes since last year’s approval include a modification to the criteria for how students qualify for additional support considering learning disabilities. Appropriate staff has already been trained for this new requirement.
Future possible topics are Idaho Reading Indicator (IRI) Report from the Vice Principal and another try at Policy 3265. The next Meadows Valley School Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 7:00 p.m..
