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minutes meeting date 2026-01-21 · fetched 2026-09-17 · 8421 characters · read by OCR, check numbers against the source · official file · plain text
Il. Ill. IV. VI. 8314 TWIN FALLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS School District No. 411 201 MAIN AVENUE WEST TWIN FALLS, IDAHO 83301 (208) 733-6900 January 21, 2026 5:00 p.m. Call to Order - The Board of Trustees of Twin Falls School District No. 411, Twin Falls County, State of Idaho, met in its properly posted, regular monthly meeting at Twin Falls School District Boardroom located at 160 Gooding Street West, Twin Falls, Idaho, at the hour of 5:00 p.m., on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The following trustees were present: Chairman, Eric Smallwood; and Trustees, Jayson Lloyd, Heidi Tubbs, and Emily Christensen. There were also present Superintendent Brady Dickinson; Associate Superintendent Ryan Nesmith; Board Clerk Michelle Lucas, as well as district directors, interested patrons, employees, and the media. Trustee Heidi Casdorph was unable to attend. Pledge of Allegiance - The Board of Trustees stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. After the pledge, Board Clerk Michelle Lucas administered the oath of office to re-elected trustee Jayson Lloyd. He signed and dated a written Oath of Office, which the Clerk notarized. Procedural Matters Action Items: Trustee Christensen moved to approve the agenda as posted. Trustee Tubbs seconded the motion, motion carried. Unscheduled Delegations (Audience to Address the Board) — Chairman Smallwood asked if there was anyone wishing to address the Board. There were none. Consent Calendar — Trustee Christensen moved to approve the consent calendar items A-B which included: request for release of contract for Norene Gallion, as ERC resource teacher at Perrine Elementary School; and administrator resignation from Noell Bautista, principal at Sawtooth Elementary School, for the 2026-2027 school year. Trustee Tubbs seconded the motion. Motion carried. PTA/O & PTSO Presidents Panel Discussion The Board had a 63-minute discussion with a panel of PTA/O & PTSO Presidents: Jenna Hunter from South Hills Middle School, Shawnee Burt from Pillar Falls Elementary School, Amber Stocksdale from Perrine Elementary School, Lauren Callen from Sawtooth Elementary School, Bobbi Larson from Harrison Elementary School, and Jessica Wetsel from Bickel Elementary School. The Board discussed topics such as their most successful fundraiser, their school challenges, parent participation numbers, and what plans they have for WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2026 VIL. VII. IX. 8315 community engagement. The Trustees thanked the presidents for all that they do for our schools and for coming to the Board meeting. Strategic Plan Update Public Relations Director, Eva Craner shared a few highlights from the Board’s 2025-2026 Strategic Plan Yearly Action Plan updates. The entire report was in the board packet. Mrs. Craner highlighted a few updates which included dropout prevention, looking back from kindergarten through middle and high schools to plug any holes there may be. She also highlighted the big jump in graduation rates and stood for questions from the Board. Elementary, Secondary, and Special Education Behavior Update Director of Secondary Programs Wendy Ohlensehlen, Director of Elementary Programs Nancy Murphy, and Director of Support Services Becca Wills gave a presentation updating the Board on District student behavior. They shared classroom strategies such as Safe and Civil Schools, PBIS (positive behavior interventions and support), and the use of the new Analytics and Insights; Building-level strategies, such as adaptive special ed rooms, and creating alternative learning spaces for elementary schools, and for secondary schools, PASS rooms, metal detector wands, book studies, weekly teach to..., and parent increased contacts. Dr. Wills shared information on the behavior programs at Oregon Trail Elementary School, Morningside Elementary School, O’Leary Middle School, and Twin Falls High School. She also shared the different trainings for teachers, paraprofessionals, and behavior interventionists, such as Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) for de-escalation techniques and holds. Mrs. Ohlensehlen, Mrs. Murphy, and Dr. Wills also shared challenges and the current reality with student behaviors and what's going well, such as increased understanding of potential triggers and creative problem-solving. The Directors stood for questions and feedback from the Board. It was noted that the shortage of special education teachers is an issue across the country. Many burn out quickly. It was said that the state should look into differentiated pay, loan forgiveness, etc., to incentivize pulling in special education teachers into the teaching field. Executive Session Since there was no other business to come before the Board in open session, Trustee Christensen moved that the Board retire into executive session as per Idaho Code 74-206(1) subsection (b) to consider the evaluation, dismissal or disciplining of, or to hear complaints or charges brought against, an employee, staff member, and student discipline; (d) to consider records that are exempt from disclosure as provided in chapter 1, title 74, Idaho Code. Trustee Tubbs seconded the motion. Chairman Smallwood asked Board Clerk Michelle Lucas to poll the board. Roll call vote was as follows: Chairman Eric Smallwood — Yes; Trustee Heidi Tubbs — Yes; Trustee Heidi Casdorph — Yes; and Trustee Emily Christensen — Yes. With 2/3" the Board's governing body voting yes, the motion carried. The Board convened into executive session at 7:20 p.m. Student discipline was discussed from 7:20 p.m. to 7:22 p.m. as per Section 33-205 and 74- 206(1)(b) the Board considered one student hearing and took action accordingly. Such action shall be documented in the student’s educational record and is confidential pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other applicable state and federal code and regulation provisions. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2026 8316 The Board opened back up to the public at 7:22 p.m. Trustee Christensen moved to adjourn the meeting. Trustee Tubbs seconded the motion and the motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:23 p.m. ATTEST: Clerk, Michelle 5, Chairman, Eric Smallwood WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2026 940 TWIN FALLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS School District No. 411 201 MAIN AVENUE WEST TWIN FALLS, IDAHO 83301 January 21, 2026 EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES The Board of Trustees of Twin Falls School District #411 met in executive session on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 7:20 p.m., at Twin Falls School District Office boardroom located at 160 Gooding Street West, Twin Falls, Idaho. Chairman Eric Smallwood conducted the meeting. Trustees Jayson Lloyd, Emily Christensen, and Heidi Tubbs; Superintendent Brady Dickinson; Board Clerk Michelle Lucas; Associate Superintendent Ryan Nesmith; and Human Resources Director Shannon Swafford were also present. Trustee Heidi Casdorph was unable to attend. Since there was no other business to come before the Board in open session, Trustee Christensen moved that the Board retire into executive session as per Idaho Code 74-206(1) subsection (b) to consider the evaluation, dismissal or disciplining of, or to hear complaints or charges brought against, an employee, staff member, and student discipline; (d) to consider records that are exempt from disclosure as provided in chapter 1, title 74, Idaho Code. Trustee Tubbs seconded the motion. Chairman Smallwood asked Board Clerk Michelle Lucas to poll the board. Roll call vote was as follows: Chairman Eric Smallwood — Yes; Trustee Heidi Tubbs — Yes; Trustee Heidi Casdorph — Yes; and Trustee Emily Christensen — Yes. With 2/3" the Board's governing body voting yes, the motion carried. The Board convened into executive session at 7:20 p.m. Student discipline was discussed from 7:20 p.m. to 7:22 p.m. as per Section 33-205 and 74-206(1)(b) the Board considered one student hearing and took action accordingly. Such action shall be documented in the student’s educational record and is confidential pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other applicable state and federal code and regulation provisions. The Board opened back up to the public at 7:22 p.m. Trustee Christensen moved to adjourn the meeting. Trustee Tubbs seconded the motion and the motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:23 p.m. Cs ATTEST: Chairman, Eric Smallwood Clerk, ithe Le WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2026
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