KSD Board Report
November 2022
Watch the meeting recording at https://youtu.be/NAfpkuJ8Qks
The highlights
▶️ Board OKs options for new elementary school; Swan Falls expansion & more
▶️ Task force identifies priorities in 10-year plan for new schools, improvements
▶️ Board's management of debt has saved millions in interest costs
▶️ Different options available to pay for new schools, projects
▶️ Silver Trail student leaders make a difference; interventions help students
▶️ Kuna Gold Marching Band & Color Guard win awards
▶️ Kuna Way Awards! Celebrating students, parents & staff
▶️ Other action from the November meeting
▶️ Next meeting: Dec. 13
Board OKs options for new elementary school; Swan Falls expansion & more
After considering reports from financial advisors and the Capital Plan Task Force, trustees selected a recommendation to ask voters to fund through a bond. The recommendation chosen includes:
➡️ A new elementary school to serve 600 more students and relieve overcrowding at our existing schools. Once the school is built, we would change attendance boundaries. A committee would help determine these boundaries.
➡️ Improvements and additions to both middle schools to ensure each can serve 800 students with comparable facilities.
➡️ Add classrooms, gyms, and some sports facilities at Swan Falls High School. Additional facilities would be added in the future. If approved, Swan Falls would become a stand alone high school. Attendance boundaries would be created for both schools.
➡️ Add a second school bus facility to improve service to our students and families.
▶️ What's next?
- The Capital Plan Task Force will finish updating the 10-year plan to include other needs such as improvements at our older elementary schools, final additions for Swan Falls performance sports fields and performing arts, & more.
- The Board will review the wording for the ballot finalizing the amount and date of election.
▶️ Task force identifies priorities in 10-year plan for new schools, improvements
KSD parents and Capital Plan Task Force members Brian Reczek and Alex Beal shared two recommendations for projects to complete first in an updated 10-year plan. Both recommendations were supported by the task force.
▶️ Board's management of debt has saved millions in interest costs
Michael Keith of Zions Bank reviewed the district's debt from past bonds used to build schools and make additions and improvements to other schools. He noted that by refinancing and paying off some past debt, the board saved taxpayers $5.4 million in interest costs.
➡️ Review the information provided by Michael Keith of Zions Bank here.
▶️ Different options available to pay for new schools, projects
Eric Heringer of Piper Sandler reviewed potential bond options from $100 million to $110 million to provide funding to pay for new schools and additions to handle growth.
➡️ Review the information provided by Eric Heringer of Piper Sandler here.
Silver Trail student leaders make a difference; interventions help students
Silver Trail Elementary School students Lydia, Thatcher, and Mila shared some of what CAST leaders at the school are doing to:
- Welcome new students
- Collect food for those in need
- Create wreaths for a holiday visit to an assisted living center in the community
Silver Trail Principal Kara Ritter updated the board on how teachers use data to plan instruction to meet the individual needs of each students in the "What I Need" intervention program.
➡️ Review the presentation slide here.
📺 Watch this part of the meeting here.
Kuna Gold Marching Band & Color Guard win awards
Kuna Way Awards! Celebrating students, parents & staff
During the school year, the Board recognizes individuals with the Kuna Way Award based on nominations from parents, staff, and the community. November's honorees are:
- Lily Holm, Kuna High School senior (video)
- Jackson Gronbeck, Kuna High School junior (video)
- Rachel Cyr, Reading Specialist, Ross Elementary School
- Bailee Labanowski, second grade teacher, Crimson Point Elementary
- Christen Sterling, Kuna School District parent
- Paul Vickery, Custodian, Crimson Point Elementary
- Blanca Cronin, custodian, district support
- Corey Heaps, driver, transportation
- Rana Brown, RN, Reed & Crimson Point elementary schools
- Andy Petersen, driver, transportation
🗳️ Nominate someone for the Kuna Way Award here.
➡️ Find out more about the honorees here.
Other action from the November meeting
Consent agenda
Trustees approved:
- October 11, 2022 Board Meeting Minutes
- October 18, 2022 Special Meeting Minutes
- Accounts Payable
- Personnel Report
- School Financials
- Trip requests:
- KHS Cast Lead conference, Washington, D.C.
- FFA State Soils Event
- KHS Wrestling;
- Budget Status Report
- Project Tracker
- Community Development Tracker
- Surplus Report
Annual audit shows no issues in finances
Scot Phillips of Eide Bailly shared the annual audit of our financial statements which is required by law.
He noted there were no findings.
The fund balance includes one-time federal funds which will be spent over the next two years per the district's plan.
Next meeting
The Board will hold its regular December meeting Tuesday, Dec. 13.
Hello Patrons!
This past meeting we went over the budget again and what that looks like for future bonds and levy’s. We did pay off some of the loan a few months ago, which always helps in our favor.
Idk if you fully understand how bonds work, but it really is the only way to build new schools and fix/remodel old ones that the District keeps. We do not get any money from the state to build or remodel. You can check out the slides with the financial information to fully understand what that looks like.
The Superintendent did come to the board with several plans to build new schools and remodel ones we all ready have from the Capital Plan Task Force. Plan B was approved. I advocated for plan A, but was out voted- Which is totally fine. We are not always going to agree, but at the end of the day both plans do help our community.
Plan B is the $110 million bond that builds a new elementary school, finishes phase 2 of Swan Falls, remodels Fremont and Kuna Middle schools, and helps create another transportation division to alleviate the bus traffic off of Kay. This plan is also in the newsletter. You can click through the slides to see all this information.
These decisions and conversations were the majority of our meeting. To learn more about the budget and financial status of the district, I encourage you to come to a board meeting to hear the discussions. I didn’t fully understand until I sat on the board. You can also listen to this board meeting and just go through the newsletter in this email to read and learn.
If you ever have any questions about anything in the meetings or concerns about school, please feel free to reach out. It is always good to come to a meeting to hear it In real time. My email is available to you-knbruce@kunaschools.org
Have a great week!
Kyrsti