[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6283209,"mediaKeyId","2589655-272b27c62fd543779cb8d9035c536390","parentId",2589655,"title","School board approves budget principles, superintendent contract, Chartwells renewal and curriculum adoptions","audioSeconds",1067,"startMs",85000,"endMs",1152000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2589655-272b27c62fd543779cb8d9035c536390&start=85&end=1152","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2589655-272b27c62fd543779cb8d9035c536390/thumbnail_85000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6283209/Idaho/School-board-approves-budget-principles-superintendent-contract-Chartwells-renewal-and-curriculum-adoptions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283209-f4d8cafeea62ee0eb7146f4a029d7829/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156282&Signature=k0JEuKvBQpC9QxFu6xHEQRRRzanLBscN1k5qODzmYogizCexNXgKvECP6mpEyShXiFe40yfLlkc3CiWbfu9BeszWKGGIVbqFL01SeBC4HRRn5uTPZ-GQcwA6ZIWIYDYJFCWw3IMkdJI0scwvlFlT3As7MwymMptkcMQNYbdE7aOQW18HayAIc-TowulIfDQ2VkBmPaHnMEZcUfrXTLTpurDpcYeYfZmFGqiP9ftpkfb6yc8ItJQDGAHV8P85FPUGdX10VORDMWpdb~rO4CeY1xE8QQVwD1Ri-QYzo5xWtARSjQoaPtvMby9PQddcEx8cOu6XJEzsYwrwkJnM5nv91w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Blaine County School District","date","2025-03-12T14:33:20Z","article","The Blaine County School District No. 61 Board of Trustees approved several policy and operational items during its March 11, 2025 regular meeting, including the district’s 2025–26 budget guiding principles, a rolling three‑year contract extension for the superintendent, an annual renewal of the Chartwells food-service contract and adoption of listed math and science curriculum.

Board members said they intend the budget guiding principles to preserve stability and predictability in budget decisions. “Having consistent and predictable guidelines is really important to the stability of the district,” Trustee Romero said when introducing the guiding-principles item. The board voted to adopt the 2025–26 budget guiding principles without substantive edits.

The board approved converting the superintendent’s agreement to a rolling three‑year contract with annual review and reduced the contract’s annual increase from 5% to 3% to align with the district’s employee salary schedule. Superintendent Patty Fowdy thanked the board after the vote: “No. I’m grateful for the opportunity. We’ve got a lot of work to do, so I want to keep doing the work.”

The board also approved Chartwells’ first contract renewal, continuing Chartwells as the district’s food-service management company. School leaders reported improved menu offerings and responsiveness in Chartwells’ first year and discussed participation rates, which remain near 30% districtwide. Finance and food-service staff said they will bring more detailed participation and free/reduced breakdowns to trustees upon request.

Trustees adopted proposed math and science curriculum materials that had been presented at the February meeting. Trustee Turner asked whether the district could smooth large, periodic curriculum outlays by budgeting across multiple years; the board directed staff to explore a multiyear curriculum account for future budgets.

The board also adopted model policy 304, “Superintendent authority, appointment and evaluation,” and rescinded policies 305 and 306 as part of a consolidation recommended by board counsel and the policy committee. Several additional policy updates (principals’ contracts, evaluations, student nutrition accounts and others) were presented on the information agenda and will return to the board later this spring for action.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of agenda (voice vote): yes 4, no 0 — approved.
- Consent agenda (voice vote): yes 4, no 0 — approved.
- Adoption of 2025–26 budget guiding principles (voice vote): yes 4, no 0 — approved.
- Superintendent Patty Fowdy contract extension (motion to convert to rolling three‑year contract with annual review, 3% annual increase): (voice vote) yes 4, no 0 — approved.
- Chartwells annual contract renewal (one‑year renewal, price escalator tied to CPI): (voice vote) yes 4, no 0 — approved; board asked that the renewed contract be returned for review before final execution so legal and state reviewers can confirm any USDA-required language.
- Adoption of listed math and science curriculum (motion): (voice vote) yes 4, no 0 — approved.
- Adoption of model policy 304 (superintendent authority) and rescission of policies 305 and 306 (motion): (voice vote) yes 4, no 0 — approved.

What the votes mean
- The budget guiding principles set the board’s priorities for the 2025–26 budget process but do not themselves set specific spending levels. The board clarified it intends the language to allow the superintendent to reallocate existing FTE without board approval so long as there is no net increase in FTE; staff will clarify the language before the budget is presented.
- The superintendent’s contract change shifts from a fixed multi‑year raise schedule to annual review with a 3% base increase; the board said the revision aligns the superintendent’s compensation with employee-schedule increases.
- The Chartwells renewal keeps the district’s current food-service manager in place; trustees requested data on meal participation by free/reduced versus full-pay students and asked that the renewal be circulated for legal and state review prior to final execution.

Meeting context: four trustees were present and quorate throughout these votes; votes described above match the verbal roll-call/voice-vote counts recorded in the meeting transcript.

Ending: The board moved on to the information agenda after these actions; items discussed later included a presentation by the Blaine County Recreation District, the district wellness committee annual report, and a proposal to consolidate preschool services at Haley Elementary for fall 2026.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-3-11 March Regular Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Blaine County School District No. 61 Board of Trustees approved the district’s 2025–26 budget guiding principles, extended the superintendent’s employment to a rolling three‑year contract, renewed the district’s Chartwells food-service contract and adopted new math and science curriculum during its March 11, 2025 meeting.","taxTitle","BLAINE COUNTY DISTRICT, School Districts, Idaho","taxId",49394,"location","Idaho","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6283195,"Wellness committee reports triennial review, Farm-to-School grant application and vending changes",761,2878000,3639000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2589655-272b27c62fd543779cb8d9035c536390&start=2878&end=3639","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2589655-272b27c62fd543779cb8d9035c536390/thumbnail_2878000.jpg","/articles/6283195/Idaho/Wellness-committee-reports-triennial-review-Farm-to-School-grant-application-and-vending-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283195-6bf8c2f0b0e455d5f27a3b0d665322b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156282&Signature=bHmC-woJHnCM~ULwNedmKQgmuN7YnX5XrurD~RvSo1~oP~I57sVXcquWhnqgF7WgPF8o9TK2O15NrLZjHDmc7Mj8g5wp-OYXG~Ttmn0PIH7kG9ww0rm5B90JXKAB92MSr1RkcZSH8l4yY7s7-SuoRGkTZltueDj9TT65pOQIvBotFO5-toByepSdvJO86-WpqIF7R1L9lkEV0V~qeEBpxtlCjj2SBDBs~DzrNmd373Bua3q-4CFAeGWjY2uMfAxnW28vqrsCWlIEX2LfD89NJAS2ULunrcYgJVk9rySiyK6CJIYgH-F9nMbrSB68dc1ZhHoG1mqhEn~mPKFwX7z2KQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Blaine County School District No. 61 wellness committee presented an annual update and the required triennial review of the district wellness policy during the March 11 board meeting.

The committee described its role as the district’s advisory board on student nutrition and wellness under USDA National School Lunch Program requirements and said it has representation from students, parents, teachers, nurses, counselors and administrators. Committee members reported working closely with Chartwells on menu changes and noted one recent change: breakfast milk offerings were adjusted to provide two white‑milk choices rather than white and chocolate milk to meet USDA guidance while preserving choice for students.

Wellness leaders said the committee’s priorities include improved public posting of wellness‑committee meeting dates, more staff‑focused wellness initiatives, outreach to model districts for food-service innovations, and exploring farm‑to‑school activities. The committee reported applying for the Patrick Leahy Farm to School action-planning grant in partnership with a local institute; award decisions are scheduled in May.

Committee members also described a vending‑machine review (analyzing drink options) undertaken with a registered dietitian and said the committee is preparing recommended lists for classroom snacks and student stores that align with smart-snack guidelines.

The committee will publish the triennial review results on the district website after the board meeting and will return with recommended staff wellness initiatives and any grant-funded activities for board review.

Ending: Trustees thanked the committee and asked staff to ensure wellness meeting dates are posted publicly going forward.","The district wellness committee presented its annual/triennial review, described collaboration with the food-service contractor Chartwells, reported a pending Patrick Leahy Farm-to-School grant application and recommended improved public posting of wellness meeting dates and staff wellness programming.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6283200,"District explores centralizing preschool at Haley Elementary for fall 2026; board asks for stakeholder consultation",1943,3643000,5586000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2589655-272b27c62fd543779cb8d9035c536390&start=3643&end=5586","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2589655-272b27c62fd543779cb8d9035c536390/thumbnail_3643000.jpg","/articles/6283200/Idaho/District-explores-centralizing-preschool-at-Haley-Elementary-for-fall-2026-board-asks-for-stakeholder-consultation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283200-21c03ca2e7df1a1b3c273362a78d4e85/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156282&Signature=dykiWzUDzIWoCrkISFeWrNKByOv3KQUgkTVEDH5X-WgKj2cKCFs6jTmo9~NHi08jlP5AteNWsqvoG0XTNCOzYq2AAr7jE~Ut4GC8-6OL6Le-EqNsWHIhLOxWI7NlBO1m7djGPuWcRJQg1lY7H-D4iAY9zu3T03vGMo2k9ZSNYl0~sdr8gggjsWl36Wayu48uFW9eQG5YDGLy25f2Rjwe8RLcdeXxtXpsh9jM~Lxk7PETjRni4aRMuqZIvE4ugXrwvs4TNaAzovgUDCH8RUyhYwfU0Hf~LxnKz3GvhdhH3jUkZcmcPcPwzoAPg3VHIOr0Gspo1Bv1QFivSEreQHv4tg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Blaine County School District No. 61 leadership reported during the March 11 meeting that Haley Elementary appears to offer a lower‑cost, feasible location to consolidate the district’s early childhood program and to operate a full‑day preschool beginning fall 2026.

Superintendent Patty Fowdy told trustees the district completed a site tour and found Haley Elementary has multiple classrooms with adjacent restrooms and existing relocatable classrooms used by community partners. \"We actually do have the space,\" Superintendent Fowdy said, noting the cost to renovate the district community campus for restroom access would have been substantially higher and that Haley’s existing configuration would limit required remodel work.

District staff described the preferred model as eight classroom spaces configured as four classrooms in the morning and the same four in the afternoon (two half‑day cohorts per room), yielding capacity estimates in the range the district can staff and sustain. Staff emphasized several outstanding issues that require follow-up before a final decision: families have already enrolled in community‑school preschool programs for next year; transportation coordination (including midday routes) must be confirmed; some community partners and program staff have not yet been consulted; and the district wants to ensure the transition is timed to minimize disruptions.

Director Benyon and Principal Wallace joined the tour and told trustees they believe the Haley location can support the preschool with substantially less capital cost than retrofitting the community campus, where installing restrooms would have required drilling into slab and extensive plumbing work. Trustee concerns focused on capacity, transportation impacts for families in Ketchum or elsewhere, and whether the consolidated model would be free or fee‑based. The superintendent said the district intends to keep the district portion of preschool free and that community partners could operate paid or sliding‑scale afternoon/enrichment programming if they choose.

Trustees also discussed potential curriculum and dual‑immersion alignment for children who feed into Alturas’ dual‑language program. Assistant Superintendent Johnson said the preschool team already uses developmental assessment tools and will engage the board if curriculum adjustments are recommended.

No formal action was taken. The board directed staff to consult with affected families, transportation, community partners (including Farmwise and YMCA) and district administrators and to return with a proposed implementation timeline and a clearer staffing and transportation plan.","District leadership reported that Haley Elementary has the physical space to host a consolidated, full‑day district preschool beginning fall 2026, and recommended further consultation with parents, transportation and community partners before any site change. Trustees requested follow-up on transportation and staffing implications.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6283204,"Blaine County Recreation District seeks $3 million permanent levy override for long‑term facilities and operations",760,1151000,1911000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2589655-272b27c62fd543779cb8d9035c536390&start=1151&end=1911","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2589655-272b27c62fd543779cb8d9035c536390/thumbnail_1151000.jpg","/articles/6283204/Idaho/Blaine-County-Recreation-District-seeks-3-million-permanent-levy-override-for-longterm-facilities-and-operations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283204-85c362ae0a97a8aeb1deab4015714ff7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156282&Signature=nwbkMefUHaVzGKxPS13vDUElTD90w1D4PTwT9l3ProdEUF6wOv~J56zDdkqXhLJ1~Q~wZLfpNCsvfDyWRoCFRliRr87AqtO3ppOzfcvaMQ~--t92eCbLrUmQaGNdcCobt9vu0fWFbgnf4w2d8829-4QjiGZ7mbT7mdqnn1RucFP89JwSl66MD-3Oxa2DBg5-aaNccMHLiUj7DLULfnWWxWpCjj2ctciVCw1flTjxOxeMwFRgnAAPveI4lS4PkeFWKSp1z1fsHWheXDxSQkrsjZRQ~a3tsO3TnPSxwW0TcQAStP6A2EtoPEuTyvB9PBuFyIneIaDrZLbw6RhcLAJXUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives from the Blaine County Recreation District (BCRD) presented to the Blaine County School District No. 61 board of trustees on March 11, 2025 to outline a countywide effort to place a permanent levy override on the May ballot. The BCRD said the measure would provide sustainable funding to maintain and expand recreation facilities and programs across Blaine County.

\"This levy will ensure our ability to keep our services as our population grows, as costs for staff and equipment increase, and allows us to deal with unexpected needs and address opportunities as they arise,\" the BCRD representative said during the presentation. The presenter described a three‑part revenue model that currently combines levy revenue, earned revenues and donations, and argued that the current model has not kept pace with rising costs and growing community demand.

BCRD officials said the levy ask on the May ballot is for $3,000,000 (per year, as presented) and described outreach steps and a planned community engagement process to prioritize projects if voters approve the measure. Early voting was announced to begin April 28 with election day on May 20; the presenter said a levy calculator and informational materials are available on the BCRD website.

Trustees and district staff asked detailed questions about levy mechanics and likely uses. A trustee clarified the levy would be a fixed-dollar permanent override rather than an amount that grows automatically with rising property values; BCRD officials confirmed the request is for a fixed levy with an option to apply the statutory 3% increase in future years. Trustees also asked whether the levy revenue would be used for both operations and capital projects; the presenter said the levy would cover operating costs and capital expenditures and that BCRD intends a community-led priority-setting process to phase projects over time.

The BCRD presentation listed potential priorities such as additional indoor facilities, improved trails, and maintenance of existing assets that the district currently operates, including the Galena Lodge and Quigley Trails Park. Presenters said the current funding mix is roughly in the range of 35–43% levy revenue, about 30–38% earned revenue and roughly 19% donations/other in recent budgets, and that the levy would shore up long‑term capacity to respond to community needs.

Trustees urged the BCRD to continue community outreach and to clarify the ballot language and the long‑term plan for any large projects the levy might seed. The BCRD said it is working with consultants on communications, has run community surveys, and will form a citizen advisory committee to recommend priorities if the levy passes.

Ending: The board received the presentation and asked staff to continue coordinating where recreation programming overlaps district facilities; no board action was taken at this meeting.","Representatives of the Blaine County Recreation District presented a plan to voters seeking a permanent $3,000,000 levy override to stabilize operations and fund recreation infrastructure; trustees and district staff asked clarifying questions during the March 11 board meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

School board approves budget principles, superintendent contract, Chartwells renewal and curriculum adoptions

Wellness committee reports triennial review, Farm-to-School grant application and vending changes

District explores centralizing preschool at Haley Elementary for fall 2026; board asks for stakeholder consultation

Blaine County Recreation District seeks $3 million permanent levy override for long‑term facilities and operations