Board approves TES solar contract, superintendent-evaluation criteria and multiple personnel and leave policies

Phoenix-Talent School District 4’s board voted to approve a set of action items at its regularly scheduled meeting, including a contract to add solar panels and battery backup at TES, adoption of evaluation criteria for the superintendent and multiple personnel and leave-policy changes.

Board members approved the consent agenda by voice vote after no objections were raised during the meeting. The board then adopted the Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA) criteria for evaluating the superintendent for the coming evaluation period; the board indicated it will complete evaluation forms and return them for processing under the agreed timeline.

The board approved a contract with Amaresco (vendor name in packet) to install photovoltaic panels and battery backup at TES. Board members discussed grant/federal funding risk and were told the district is protected because the vendor holds the grant and the district is a downstream contracting party; the board instructed staff to proceed with ordering equipment to meet fall commissioning targets.

Members also approved a board member development funds request for Nancy Castillo McInnis to attend the Oregon Association of Latino Administrators conference; that request passed with one abstention. Updates and several personnel-related board policy changes were approved: family and medical leave policy revisions, domestic violence/harassment/assault/bias/stalking leave policy revisions, and sick-time policy revisions. The board conducted roll-call or voice votes as part of each motion and confirmed approval of the items listed below.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda: approved by voice vote (no objections recorded). - Adopt OSBA superintendent-evaluation criteria: approved (roll-call confirmations recorded during meeting). - TES solar contract (contract award to Amaresco as presented): approved; motion passed and board instructed staff to begin procurement to meet fall timeline. - Board member development funds — Nancy Castillo McInnis (Oregon Association of Latino Administrators conference): approved; one abstention recorded. - Board policy revisions approved: GCBDA/GDBDA (family and medical leave), GCBDC/GDBDC (domestic violence/harassment/assault/bias/stalking leave), GCBDD/GDBDD (sick time). All passed as presented.

Notes on recorded procedure - Several motions were moved and seconded on the record; the board conducted voice or roll-call voting as appropriate. Where recorded roll calls were read aloud during the meeting, members answered in order and the board chair announced the motion results.

Context and next steps - Staff were instructed to proceed with ordering equipment for the TES solar project so the district can pursue fall activation. - Board members were reminded of the superintendent-evaluation timeline; evaluation forms are to be returned by the date distributed by staff for consolidation and review.