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Snake River School Board approves $4.79M modernization account, roof repairs, early bus purchases and extends superintendent’s contract
Summary
On Jan. 15 the Snake River School District 52 board approved moving $4,793,609 into a separate LGIP account for school modernization, accepted a roofing contract for Moreland Elementary, authorized early purchase of two buses and a $177,200 travel bus, and extended Superintendent Mark Kress’s contract through 2026–27.
The Snake River School District 52 Board of Trustees on Jan. 15 approved a set of measures that officials said will accelerate capital work and secure district operations.
Business Manager Harmony Shuler requested and the board approved opening a separate Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP) account to hold school modernization revenues and interest, and authorized transferring $4,793,609 into that account. Trustees voted 5-0 to segregate the funds for modernization projects.
The board also moved forward with repairs to the Moreland Elementary roof after Garland DBS Services presented bid results and warranty options. Garland described two warranty alternatives: a 30-year, no-dollar-limit warranty offered at approximately $366,000 and a 20-year materials-and-limited-workmanship option at about $266,000. Garland recommended accepting Thomas D. Robinson Roofing’s lowest bid; trustees approved hiring Garland DBS Services to facilitate the work pending approval of the 30-year warranty, and they accepted Thomas D. Robinson’s bid of $361,976 for materials and services (both motions passed 5-0).
Trustees approved athletic and transportation purchases. The board approved constructing a new long jump pit east of the football field, a site-preparation and asphalt work plan presented by Travis Goodwin with an estimated cost of $21,670 and payment scheduled for July 2025 (motion passed 5-0). On transportation, the board approved buying two buses early from Western Mountain Bus Sales in February 2025 after the vendor’s scheduled deliveries came in sooner than expected (motion passed 5-0). The board also authorized Superintendent Mark Kress to purchase a travel bus with front air-conditioning for $177,200 to be paid in the 2025–26 fiscal year; that motion passed 4-1, with Trustee Lon Harrington recorded as voting nay after raising concerns about driver training and related operational readiness.
The board approved routine business items, including the consent agenda (personnel changes, December financial reports, and disposal of four vehicles), committee appointments, and adoption of the 2025–26 district calendar (the board selected the “red and blue” calendar after a staff survey) by unanimous votes.
During his superintendent’s report, Mark Kress told trustees a district CD will mature March 8, 2025 and require reinvestment decisions; he also briefed the board on the district’s response to a nationwide PowerSchool cyberattack that affected local records and on plans to pursue OSHA training recommended by the district’s insurer. Trustees completed multiple policy actions, approving second readings for Policy 3510 (Student Medicines) and related forms and approving annual reviews of a set of district policies (motions passed 5-0).
The board entered executive session under Idaho Code 74-206 subsections (1)(b), (1)(c) and (1)(d) to consider the superintendent’s evaluation, potential real-property interest and exempt records. After returning to open session, trustees voted unanimously to extend Superintendent Mark Kress’s contract through the 2026–2027 school year, with salary to be renegotiated in May 2025.
The board adjourned at 9:48 p.m.; the next regular meeting is scheduled for Feb. 20, 2025 at 7 p.m. at the Snake River Community Library.
