Lakeland trustees hear bus-safety complaint; approve out-of-season activity-bus trip and administrator contracts

Bat Masterson, a Lakeland activity bus driver, told the board during public comment that he has witnessed a range of safety violations this school year — students walking around on moving buses, children lying on the floor, and an incident in which an emergency exit was left open and a student jumped from the bus, which Masterson said likely caused the student to break a leg. Masterson said he reported those incidents to coaches, the transportation supervisor and others but saw no corrective action; he provided the board with a written designation and asked that adults be held accountable.

The board acknowledged the concern and directed staff to follow up. Trustees asked that safety issues and any corrective actions be included in the next monthly board report. Administration said it would add a safety section to upcoming facilities/transportation reports and pledged a prompt follow-up to the specific incidents raised by Masterson.

In the business portion of the meeting, trustees deliberated and voted on several operational items. The board approved a district‑sponsored overnight trip request for the Lakeland High School girls basketball team that would use an activity bus for the privately fundraised, out‑of‑season trip. Trustees and staff framed the approval around several conditions discussed at the meeting: activity buses carry operational limits for non‑CDL drivers (insurance advised a lower maximum of roughly eight drive hours per day with scheduled breaks), drivers must complete DOT physicals and district training, buses should be operated at or under 65 mph per the district guidance for that vehicle type, and parents or guardians must sign acknowledgements for out‑of‑season participation. Administration said the district would formalize protocols for longer trips, include trip sign‑offs, and require an acknowledgement form for parents since these students are not rostered for the current season.

Trustees also approved Timberlakes middle‑school volleyball and cross‑country schedules and approved a temporary relocation of summer board meetings because of Washington Street work. The board approved an SRO‑delivered online/internet safety presentation as an opt‑in, single‑session program (staff said only the high school planned to use the materials initially) and denied the presented middle‑school supplemental materials. The transcript records that vote as "three in favor, one against."

On personnel matters, trustees approved administrator contracts based on a corrected spreadsheet emailed to the board that reflects step increases issued last November for eligible administrators. Trustees discussed pay matrices, noting several administrators at the top cell of the matrix ("cell 10") have been frozen for some time; they asked staff to return with options to revisit salary steps and matrices for administrators and classified staff. The board also approved an alternative authorization for Brian Barnes (listed in the packet as a music teacher who will serve as a halftime STEAM instructor).

Other business included tabling several course proposals (including sports nutrition and a history-of-rock elective) until textbooks and curriculum materials are submitted, denying a student-proposed Rampage Boxing Club over liability concerns and the absence of school sponsorship, and tabling an FCA club request pending the required application.

The meeting closed with the board voting by roll call to enter executive session under Idaho Code 74‑206(1)(b); trustees Bane, Broadhead, Thompson and Quimby recorded "yes" votes and the board entered executive session at 7:38 p.m. Staff said they would return with follow-up items requested during the meeting, including the safety update and drafts related to salary-matrix options.