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minutes meeting date 2026-07-22 · fetched 2026-09-16 · 15693 characters · official file · plain text
Snake River School Board of Trustees
Held at Snake River Community Library
924 West Highway 39, Blackfoot, ID 83221
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
1.
CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Chairman Lon Harrington called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Other board members present were Carol Hepworth, Larin
Mortimer, and Spencer Larsen. Josh Sorensen arrived at 7:10 p.m. Also attending were Superintendent Mark Kress and Board
Clerk Terisa Coombs.
2.
PRAYER/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Trustee Larsen opened the meeting with a prayer.
3.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Trustee Mortimer moved and Trustee Hepworth seconded to approve the agenda as presented. All board members
voted aye. Motion passed 4-0.
4.
PUBLIC INPUT
There were no comments made during Public Input.
5. ACTION ITEMS
a. Consent Agenda
Minutes: Special Meeting of June 16, 2026 and Regular Meeting of June 17, 2026.
Resignations: Daren Ferrell, Technology Specialist/Teacher; Angelica Manthei, SRO K-8 Teacher; Karli Coumerihl,
SROS School Counselor; Lisa Young, Jr. High Science Teacher; Kaleigh Adams, Community Assistant Librarian;
Shawna Crumley, HS Special Ed Parapro; Shawna French, Middle School Cook; Riley Liljenquist, Community
Assistant Librarian;
New Hires: Mandy Coray, SRO K-12 Math Teacher; Saige Dalley, Jr. High English Teacher; Brandi Ellis, Moreland
Preschool Teacher; Jessica Grover, Middle School 5th Grade Teacher; MaKenzie Gunter, SRO K-12 Health Teacher;
Grace Hansen, SROS English Teacher; Stacy Kiel Kindergarten Teacher; Kassidy Lake, SRO K-12 CTE Teacher;
Haley Pruitt, SROS Science Teacher; Ashlee Thompson, SROS School Counselor; Jillyn Bingham, SROS Student
Success Coach; Jade Carlisle, Moreland Special Ed Parapro; Suzie Earley, SROS Student Success Coach; Amber
Finck, Riverside Title I Parapro; Lydia Gutzman, Jr. High Special Ed Parapro; Taylor Hancock, SROS Student Success
Coach; Camilyn Howell, Riverside Special Ed Parapro; Brenda Patten, Moreland Title I Parapro; Savannah Yorgason,
Rockford Special Ed Parapro
Payroll Status Changes: Mimi Argyle, Gloria Bennett, Kaeley Dayley, Malori Giles, Jeanette Howell, JoDell
Mennear, Stephanie Pierce, Jennifer Reynolds, Christina Ribe, Martha Rodriguez, Christine Walters, Chelsi Webb.
Counselor Internship: Daylor Bedwell, High School with Brian Goff.
LGIP Statements, Payroll, and Claims Payable for June 2026
2nd Quarter Investment Reports
2026-2027 Contracts: See list in packet.
A motion was made by Trustee Hepworth and seconded by Trustee Larsen to approve the Consent Agenda as
presented. All board members voted aye. Motion passed 4-0.
b. Alternative Authorizations
1. Kaeley Dayley needs an alternative authorization to allow her be a secondary Music Teacher for SRO K-12 while
completing requirements and adding the necessary endorsement to her certificate.
2. Janette Howell needs an alternative authorization to allow her be a secondary Social Studies teacher for SRO K-12
while completing requirements and adding the necessary endorsement to her certificate.
3. Brandi Ellis is finishing her education degree but needs an alternative authorization to allow her to work as a
preschool teacher while she finishes her education, which should take about a year.
4. Ashlee Thompson: has started working on the requirements needed for counseling degree but needs an alternative
authorization to allow her to work as a school counselor while she finishes the requirements.
Trustee Mortimer moved and Trustee Hepworth seconded to approve the Alternative Authorization Requests for
Kaeley Dayley, Janette Howell, Brandi Ellis, and Ashlee Thompson as presented. All board members present voted
aye. Motion passed 4-0.
c. Board Goals
In July each year, the board reviews their goals and adjusts them as needed. The board would like to keep the same goals for
2026-2027, which are the following:
1. All board members will participate in at least three trainings a year.
2. Individual trustees will attend at least 85% of board meetings.
Snake River Board of Trustees Minutes
July 22, 2026 (2)
3. The board will focus on district-wide math curriculum improvement and early reading scores (IRI) and support
the superintendent’s recommendations.
4. Continue the district’s direction towards offerings of dual credit with a path towards an Associate’s Degree or
Technical Degree with focus on the career industry.
5. Continued focus on the community weight room project.
6. Continued focus on school safety.
A motion was made by Trustee Hepworth and seconded by Trustee Larsen to approve the 2026-2027 Board Goals
as presented. All board members voted aye. Motion passed 5-0.
6.
INFORMATION ITEMS
a. Superintendent Report
1. Water Rights: The district owns a number of shares in the People’s Canal accumulated over many years. Those
shares can generally be used anywhere within the canal’s service area, so the district appears to have enough surface
water for its current and foreseeable irrigation needs. There is probably no need to purchase additional shares. The
district is using a well to irrigate some areas where it does not actually own the groundwater rights. In particular, part of
the 24-acre property and some ground near the school appear to be irrigated from groundwater without the necessary
legal water right. Trustee Larsen characterized this as a potential violation of state water law. He does not believe the
district faces an immediate enforcement threat, but he recommends correcting the situation. Rather than trying to obtain
additional groundwater rights, the district could install or use a pump from the People’s Canal/lateral system and use its
existing surface-water shares for irrigation. This would also be important when developing future athletic fields or other
irrigated areas. The board decided to table the issue until the November meeting and, in the meantime, research the
most practical way to bring canal water to the property.
2. Digital IHSAA Activity Cards: The IHSAA is replacing physical activity passes with digital passes through
Dragonfly for school board members, coaches, and others. Board members will be able to access their passes on their
phones, and a spouse/guest can use the pass when the board member is absent. The district is still working through
setup details and expects to have the process finalized within a week or two.
3. District and Building Reports: Jeff Steadman reported that the high school weight room addition is finally
moving forward after being delayed primarily by the county fire marshal approval process. Design work began in
December, with building scans and architectural plans completed in the spring. The county had reviewed the plans
favorably, but the project was delayed because the fire marshal determined that a fire sprinkler system would be
required. The team found that the new addition can potentially connect to the existing sprinkler system serving the
auditorium. The state fire marshal ultimately authorized the project to proceed as long as the sprinkler plans are
completed and approved. The board expressed some concern about the cost and potential problems associated with
sprinkler systems but agreed to comply with the requirements. The county has now issued the building permit, clearing
the way for construction to begin. Excavation and foundation work are expected to begin soon. Special-order concrete
block has been ordered, and the district is soliciting bids for the various construction components. The biggest
remaining scheduling challenge is finding a qualified steel contractor to fabricate and install the metal trusses and roof
decking. The goal is to have the building sufficiently enclosed by late October or early November, depending largely on
steel availability. The district will install a construction fence and coordinate traffic and parking around the work area.
A storm-water project near the parking lot will also be completed as part of the work. Mr. Steadman is working to
obtain competitive bids and is following state public-works requirements. The district is generally seeking multiple bids
for larger components of the project. The goal is to have the project finished by the beginning of the next school year.
b. Upcoming Events:
1. 2026-2027 District Startup Information
2. The Jr. High Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for completion of the water system will be August 13, 2026 from
5:30-7:00 pm. (during back to school night).
3. Annual ISBA Conference will be November 4-6, 2026 in Boise
7.
POLICY READINGS
a. Second Reading:
Policy 5210—Work Day
Policy 5397--Board relationship with the SREA
Policy 5430P—Employee Benefit Schedule
Policy 5700P—Substitute Pay
Policy 8200—Local School Wellness (Annual Review)
Snake River Board of Trustees Minutes
July 22, 2026 (3)
A motion was made by Trustee Hepworth and seconded by Trustee Josh Sorensen to approve the second readings
of Policy 5210—Work Day; Policy 5397--Board relationship with the SREA; Policy 5430P—Employee Benefit
Schedule; Policy 5700P—Substitute Pay; and review of Policy 8200—Local School Wellness. All board members
present voted aye. Motion passed 5-0.
b. First Readings:
Policy 2353—Minute of Silence: This new policy summarizes the requirements related to the minute of silence now
required by law at the start of each school day. This is a new recommended item.
Policy 2353F—Minute of Silence Notice: This new form is aimed at addressing the requirement to provide notice of
the minute of silence to students' parents. This is a new required item.
Policy 3295—Hazing, Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying and Inappropriate Online Behavior: Quite a bit of new
material has been added to this policy based on HB 785's requirements related to inappropriate online behavior. This
includes a requirement for schools to inform students and parents of the district or charter school's bullying policy and
to investigate inappropriate online behavior by students if it harms the reputation, dignity, or safety of a student or
school employee or if it contains obscene or discriminatory content directed at a student, school employee, parent of a
student, or volunteer. This is a required update to a required item
Policy 3295P—Hazing, Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying and Inappropriate Online Behavior Procedure: This
item now also includes material about HB 785's requirements related to cyberbullying. It also includes a section
defining cyberbullying and requiring investigation of it if the target is a student, school employee, student's parent, or
volunteer. It also includes requirements from HB 515 to report serious cyberbullying to the parents of the victims and
offenders. The update also includes several minor edits for stylistic consistency and the removal of a sentence about
reporting hazing, harassment, intimidation, bullying, and cyberbullying complaints to the State Department of
Education, as this no longer appears to be required. This is a recommended update to a required item.
Policy 3330—Student Discipline: This now includes a requirement to report harassment, intimidation, and bullying
that rises to at least the level of school suspension to the parents of the victim and the offender taken from HB 515. It
also notes HB 785's requirements related to inappropriate online behavior, which are discussed more in 3295 and
3295P. Additionally, this update moves material related to weapons in schools into a new policy, 3331. Moving this
material is not required, but we suggest doing so to make it easier to find and to reduce Policy 3330 to a more user-
friendly length. This is a required update to a required item.
Policy 3331—Weapons at School: This new policy is comprised of old material moved from Policy 3330 into its own
policy. We've moved this material in hopes of making it easier to find and to reduce the length of Policy 3330. We've
marked this update as required because if you remove this material from Policy 3330, you'll need to address it in another
policy. This is a required update to a required item.
Policy 3500—Student Health/Physical Screenings/Examinations: This policy is revised to include new exceptions
to the law requiring parental consent for health services. Schools can now provide non-emergency first aid without
parent consent, and there have been changes to the types of emergency care that can be provided without parent consent.
This update also incorporates a statement that parents cannot be required to provide a blanket consent to health
care. This is a recommended update to a required item.
Policy 3500F—Blanket Consent Form for Health Care Services for Minor Children: In addition to loosening the
requirements for parental consent to certain types of first aid and emergency care, HB 860 provides some specific
requirements for the content and format of the form parents can use to provide a blanket consent to health care services.
The updated form addresses these. It also contains edits related to the updated requirements for the types of care that can
be provided without parent consent and some general cleanup. This is a required update to a required item.
Policy 3515P1/F1--Food Allergy Management, Emergency Care Plan: This item has also been updated to replace
"epinephrine auto-injectors" with "epinephrine delivery systems." It also includes some edits aimed at improving clarity
and consistency of style. This is an optional update to a recommended item.
Policy 3540—Emergency Treatment: This policy has also been revised in light of HB 860's new exceptions to the
requirement for parental consent to provide health services. It also includes some minor language cleanup for clarity and
stylistic consistency. This is a recommended update to an optional item.
A motion was made by Trustee Mortimer and seconded by Trustee Sorensen to approve the second readings of
Policy 2353—Minute of Silence; Policy 2353F—Minute of Silence Notice; Policy 3295—Hazing, Harassment,
Intimidation, Bullying and Inappropriate Online Behavior; Policy 3295P—Hazing, Harassment, Intimidation,
Bullying and Inappropriate Online Behavior Procedure; Policy 3330—Student Discipline; Policy 3331—
Weapons at School; Policy 3500—Student Health/Physical Screenings/Examinations; Policy 3500F—Blanket
Consent Form for Health Care Services for Minor Children; Policy 3515P1/F1--Food Allergy Management,
Emergency Care Plan; Policy 3540—Emergency Treatment; Policy 5480 and Policy 5480F—Tuition
Reimbursement Policy and Form. All board members present voted aye. Motion passed 5-0.
Snake River Board of Trustees Minutes
July 22, 2026 (4)
8. CLOSING INFORMATION ITEMS
The next board meeting will be August 19, 2026 at the Snake River School/Community Library at 7 p.m.
9. ADJOURN
Trustee Mortimer moved to adjourn and Trustee Larsen seconded.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
ATTEST:
Clerk
Chairman
Date
Terisa Coombs
Lon Harrington
August 19, 2026
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