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Board approves multiple facility bids, personnel leaves and policy updates; separation agreement finalized
Summary
At its Feb. 11 meeting, the Blaine County School District Board of Trustees approved several facilities contracts, accepted five unpaid leave requests, updated records policies, declared an emergency weather closure for Feb. 3, and approved a separation agreement reached in executive session.
The Blaine County School District No. 61 Board of Trustees on Feb. 11 approved a package of bids and administrative actions including LED lighting upgrades at two campuses, a roof replacement at Cary High School, five unpaid leaves of absence, updates to student- and public-records policies, and a separation agreement voted after an executive session.
Board members moved quickly through a long action agenda that evening, calling the question and taking voice votes on a series of mostly uncontroversial items. Chair Stone repeatedly closed discussion before calling for an aye/no voice vote.
The board accepted the low bid for interior LED upgrades at Cary Campus and a separate, smaller LED project at Silver Creek High School. It awarded the Cary interior lighting bid to Dusty's Electric for $240,817.50 and the Silver Creek interior lighting bid to Dusty's Electric for $51,670, both presented as cost-saving replacements expected to qualify for energy rebates through Idaho Power.
The trustees also accepted a low bid from Professional Roofing to replace Cary High School's membrane roof with a 90-mil EPDM ballasted system and approved the 30-year warranty option; the low qualifying bid reported during the meeting was $516,131. The board approved a separate motion to add a new course at Wood River High School.
On personnel matters, the board approved five unpaid leave requests that had been submitted for the coming year. During discussion, trustees and staff said the district currently has no formal local policy setting criteria for leaves and that the master agreement language will guide decisions until a policy is drafted.
The board declared Feb. 3, 2025, an emergency school closure due to adverse weather, following staff coordination with county road crews; the decision was made the day before when road clearing was forecast not to be complete in the morning.
Policy changes were also approved. The board updated Policy 276 (Access to Public Records) and Policy 681 (Student Records) to formalize the district’s long-standing practice of withholding directory/personal information; trustees said federal funding rules require the district to disclose limited directory information to military recruiters for students 17 and older unless parents opt out via PowerSchool. The trustees also voted to rescind Policy 410 (Equal Employment Opportunities and Nondiscrimination) because its language had been incorporated into Policy 290 (Discrimination Prohibited).
After a closed executive session held under Idaho Code concerning personnel matters, the board voted to approve a separation agreement with “Employee A.” The motion to approve the agreement carried on a voice vote.
Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda: approved (voice vote). - Cary Campus interior LED lighting: base bid awarded to Dusty's Electric, $240,817.50; approved (voice vote). - Silver Creek High School interior LED lighting: awarded to Dusty's Electric, $51,670; approved (voice vote). - Cary High School roof replacement: awarded to Professional Roofing, $516,131 for 90-mil EPDM with 30-year warranty; approved (voice vote). - Wood River High School: new course request approved (voice vote). - Five unpaid leaves of absence: approved (voice vote). - Emergency school closure for 02/03/2025: declared and approved (voice vote). - Policy 276 (Access to Public Records): approved update (voice vote). - Policy 681 (Student Records): approved update (voice vote). - Policy 410 (Equal Employment Opportunities and Nondiscrimination): rescinded (voice vote). - Separation agreement with Employee A (executive session): approved (voice vote).
Board members and staff characterized most items as routine business tied to the district’s plant facilities levy, budget work and routine policy housekeeping. Director Bendington and Director Bridal presented the facilities bids; Director Crowe presented the financial context for the month.
The board adjourned after the vote on the separation agreement.
