Fremont County Joint District #215 | minutes | meeting 2026-06-08 | Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees (June 2026) - minutes source: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36031552&MID=4370&T=1 Voting Members Tia Cherry, Board Chair Julianne Hill, Board Vice Chair Brett Johnson, Trustee Jon Bailey, Trustee Non-Voting Members Dr. Brandon Farris, Superintendent Dr. David Marotz, Board Clerk I. Call Meeting to Order & Pledge of Allegiance Prayer offered by Tia Cherry. Board Chair, Tia Cherry called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm. Pledge of Allegiance led by Brett Johnson. Prayer offered by Tia Cherry. Board Chair, Tia Cherry called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm. Pledge of Allegiance led by Brett Johnson. II. Public Participation None. None. III. ACTION ITEMS: A. Approval of Consent Agenda Motion: Move to approve the Consent Agenda. Motion: Move to approve the Consent Agenda. 1. Personnel (Hires, Resignations, Transfers) Hires Elvia Hernandez Garcia-Custodian (SFJ) Amanda Bitter-SPED Para (HFE) Resignations Annie Jayne-Paraprofessional (HFE) Hires Elvia Hernandez Garcia-Custodian (SFJ) Amanda Bitter-SPED Para (HFE) Resignations Annie Jayne-Paraprofessional (HFE) 2. Trip Requests SFHS-US History Tour 2026-2027 SFHS-US History Tour 2026-2027 B. 2026-2027 Budget Hearing Board Chair Cherry opened the hearing on the 2026-2027 budget.  There were no questions from the audience, but the trustees asked several clarifying questions.  Trustee Bailey asked for clarification on the low projections on revenue.  Dr. David Marotz, business manager, explained that declining enrollment has resulted in a decrease in support units from 119 two years ago to a projection of 109 for the upcoming year.  Consequently, the district will be looking at ways to reduce costs and staffing through attrition during the coming year.  We will continuously monitor our enrollment and will keep the Board apprised on the situation.  Motion:  Move to approve the 2026-2027 budget. Board Chair Cherry opened the hearing on the 2026-2027 budget.  There were no questions from the audience, but the trustees asked several clarifying questions.  Trustee Bailey asked for clarification on the low projections on revenue.  Dr. David Marotz, business manager, explained that declining enrollment has resulted in a decrease in support units from 119 two years ago to a projection of 109 for the upcoming year.  Consequently, the district will be looking at ways to reduce costs and staffing through attrition during the coming year.  We will continuously monitor our enrollment and will keep the Board apprised on the situation.  Motion:  Move to approve the 2026-2027 budget. C. 2025-2026 Amended Budget Hearing Board Chair Tia Cherry opened the hearing on the 2025-2026 revised budget.  There were no questions from the audience.   Motion:  Move to approve the 2025-2026 revised budget. Board Chair Tia Cherry opened the hearing on the 2025-2026 revised budget.  There were no questions from the audience.   Motion:  Move to approve the 2025-2026 revised budget. D. New Course Offering Requests (NFHS) Principal Jaren Bean of North Fremont JH/HS submitted a list of new courses for the 2026-2027 school year.  Many of these are to help address scheduling challenges, such as eliminating the traditional 11th and 12th grade English to become four sections of specific English courses that juniors or seniors could take. Motion:  Move to accept the North Fremont High School new course offerings. Principal Jaren Bean of North Fremont JH/HS submitted a list of new courses for the 2026-2027 school year.  Many of these are to help address scheduling challenges, such as eliminating the traditional 11th and 12th grade English to become four sections of specific English courses that juniors or seniors could take. Motion:  Move to accept the North Fremont High School new course offerings. E. Policy 7440: District Credit Cards Due to increasing costs for items and more vendors requiring credit cards for purchases, Superintendent Farris requested that the Board increase the total credit limit for all district cards from $25,000 to $35,000 in aggregate.  We often reach the limit with the five district cards. The increase requires that Policy 7440: District Credit Cards be amended.  As part of the transition to a new business manager, there is a meeting scheduled for later this week with the bank to set up new credit cards.   Motion:  Move to suspend the rules to eliminate the need for two readings. Due to increasing costs for items and more vendors requiring credit cards for purchases, Superintendent Farris requested that the Board increase the total credit limit for all district cards from $25,000 to $35,000 in aggregate.  We often reach the limit with the five district cards. The increase requires that Policy 7440: District Credit Cards be amended.  As part of the transition to a new business manager, there is a meeting scheduled for later this week with the bank to set up new credit cards.   Motion:  Move to suspend the rules to eliminate the need for two readings. Motion: Move to amend Policy 7440 to increase the credit card limit from $25,000 to $35,000 in aggregate. F. 2026-2027 Classified Salaries The State did not provide any additional funding for classified salaries.  We propose that classified salaries be frozen at the current levels.  The District will pay the increase (16.5%) for insurance increases.     Motion:  Move to keep classified salaries at the 2025-2026 level. The State did not provide any additional funding for classified salaries.  We propose that classified salaries be frozen at the current levels.  The District will pay the increase (16.5%) for insurance increases.     Motion:  Move to keep classified salaries at the 2025-2026 level. G. 2026-2027 Administrator Salaries The State did not provide any additional funding for administrator salaries.  We propose that administrator salaries be frozen at the current levels.  The District will pay the increase (16.5%) in administrator insurance that was added last year.  Movement due to education credits would be honored.    Motion:  Move to keep administrator salaries at the 2025-2026 levels allowing for movement due to credits. The State did not provide any additional funding for administrator salaries.  We propose that administrator salaries be frozen at the current levels.  The District will pay the increase (16.5%) in administrator insurance that was added last year.  Movement due to education credits would be honored.    Motion:  Move to keep administrator salaries at the 2025-2026 levels allowing for movement due to credits. H. Approval of Student Handbooks Superintendent Farris explained that the principals have been working together to update their handbooks and make them more uniform.  The Board needs to review and approve these each year.  Trustee Bailey recommends downloading and running these through AI to identify similarities and differences.  Trustee Hill had questions regarding dress code and cell phone policy enforcement.  Principals explained how they address dress codes in their respective schools.  The cell policy seems to be going well.   Motion:  Move to approve the Student Handbooks for 2026-2027. Superintendent Farris explained that the principals have been working together to update their handbooks and make them more uniform.  The Board needs to review and approve these each year.  Trustee Bailey recommends downloading and running these through AI to identify similarities and differences.  Trustee Hill had questions regarding dress code and cell phone policy enforcement.  Principals explained how they address dress codes in their respective schools.  The cell policy seems to be going well.   Motion:  Move to approve the Student Handbooks for 2026-2027. IV. DISCUSSION ITEMS: A. Supplemental Levy for 2027-2028 & 2028-2029 Superintendent Farris explained that our current supplemental levy will provide funding for the 2026-2027 budget year.  If the Board wishes to renew the levy, we will need time to prepare.  It is recommended that the Board plan a ballot measure for the November election.  A resolution would need to be approved at the August meeting and submitted to the County Clerks early in September.  Chair Cherry recommended adding to the July Board Meeting as an action item. Superintendent Farris explained that our current supplemental levy will provide funding for the 2026-2027 budget year.  If the Board wishes to renew the levy, we will need time to prepare.  It is recommended that the Board plan a ballot measure for the November election.  A resolution would need to be approved at the August meeting and submitted to the County Clerks early in September.  Chair Cherry recommended adding to the July Board Meeting as an action item. B. 10 Year Facilities Plan Superintendent Farris provided an update on our 10 Year Facilities Plan.  Trustee Hill asked to go through each of the items to discuss what is completed, in progress, or on the list for the future.  Superintendent Farris explained each item on the plan.   Trustee Hill has been talking with Connie Day from the Island Park Charter regarding land issues.  Trustee Bailey recommended that the Board tour the facilities over the next few months to help them understand the needs as they plan.  It was suggested that the Board could meet earlier (possible work meeting) for the regular July meeting to walk through the new auxiliary gym, the existing CTE shop, and SFJH. Superintendent Farris provided an update on our 10 Year Facilities Plan.  Trustee Hill asked to go through each of the items to discuss what is completed, in progress, or on the list for the future.  Superintendent Farris explained each item on the plan.   Trustee Hill has been talking with Connie Day from the Island Park Charter regarding land issues.  Trustee Bailey recommended that the Board tour the facilities over the next few months to help them understand the needs as they plan.  It was suggested that the Board could meet earlier (possible work meeting) for the regular July meeting to walk through the new auxiliary gym, the existing CTE shop, and SFJH. V. Adjourn Motion: Move to adjourn.  (6:56 pm) Motion: Move to adjourn.  (6:56 pm)