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Bruneau‑Grand View trustees approve budgets, leave state insurance pool and reshuffle school leadership
Summary
At a June 9 meeting in Rimrock, the Bruneau‑Grand View School District board approved amended and 2026–27 budgets, raised meal prices, voted to withdraw from the state employee insurance pool for a self‑funded plan effective July 1, 2026, and approved multiple personnel actions including an expulsion, open‑enrollment decisions and several contract changes.
The Bruneau Grand View School District Board of Trustees met June 9 at Rimrock Auditorium and approved the district's amended 2025–26 budget and the 2026–27 Maintenance & Operations budget, authorized modest school meal price increases and voted to withdraw from the state's employee insurance pool to participate in a self‑funded plan beginning July 1, 2026.
The votes came after a public budget hearing in which the district presented its amended and proposed budgets and received public comment including remarks about the daycare program from Christine Meyers and letters read by Stephanie Danner and Interim Superintendent Ken Higbee supporting the daycare's value to the community. The board formally closed the budget hearing before taking final budget action.
Why it matters: The budget approvals set the district's spending plan for the coming year and the insurance decision changes how employee health benefits will be funded and administered; administrators were directed to provide the required notice of withdrawal from the state pool by July 1, 2026.
Budget and fees: The board approved the 2025–26 Amended Budget and the 2026–27 District Maintenance & Operations Budget. It also approved changes to meal pricing for 2026–27: elementary lunches from $3.85 to $3.95, junior/senior high lunches from $3.95 to $4.05, adult lunches from $5.10 to $5.30, and adult breakfast set at $3.10.
Insurance and benefits: After reviewing renewal options and projected costs, the board voted to withdraw from the state insurance pool effective July 1, 2026, and to participate in a self‑funded employee health insurance plan for the 2026–27 school year. The agenda had noted a possible district employer contribution of $800 per eligible employee per month; administration was directed to deliver the formal withdrawal notice and manage the transition.
Personnel actions and student matters: Following an executive session called under Idaho Code § 74‑206(1)(a) and (b) to consider personnel and student issues, the board took several personnel and enrollment actions. The board voted to expel Student A through the end of the Fall 2026 semester. It approved open‑enrollment applications for Students B and C and denied Student D for 2026–27. The board also rescinded the 2026–27 principal and supplemental extra‑duty contracts for Shawn Bybee.
Leadership and staffing changes: The board rescinded Dr. Ken Higbee's 2026–27 superintendent contract and approved assigning him as Superintendent and Rimrock Jr./Sr. High School Principal and Athletic Director for 2026–27; the superintendent salary schedule cited in discussion was $138,564, and Dr. Higbee requested a $5,000 stipend for Athletic Director responsibilities. The board approved Anna Whipple as Dean of Students at Rimrock Jr./Sr. High School for 2026–27 and voted to increase Ashley Merrick's contract from 0.57 FTE to 1.00 FTE, allocating 0.57 FTE to Career Technical Education instruction and 0.43 FTE to preschool instruction.
Other board business: Trustee Allen Merrick declared a conflict of interest on a vendor bill from Merrick Diesel Solutions, left the room and abstained during discussion; the board approved the bill. The board also approved the Grand View Elementary School gym floor color scheme (court of Stone Grey with Greenfield lines) in a vote that recorded four ayes (McNeley, Boren, Merrick, Mathews) and one no (Eldridge). The meeting adjourned at 10:33 p.m.
Votes at a glance: - Approve Consent Agenda (including insurance options): motion by Trustee Steve Boren, second by Trustee Allen Merrick; motion carried unanimously. - Expel Student A through end of Fall 2026 semester: moved by Trustee Steve Boren, seconded by Trustee Elaine Eldridge; motion carried unanimously. - Open‑enrollment: approve Students B and C; deny Student D: moved by Trustee Allen Merrick, seconded by Trustee Steve Boren; motion carried unanimously. - Approve Merrick Diesel Solutions bill (trustee declared conflict, abstained): motion carried. - Approve 2025–26 Amended Budget and 2026–27 M&O Budget: motions carried. - Approve lunch price increases for 2026–27: motion carried. - Withdraw from state insurance pool and adopt self‑funded plan effective July 1, 2026: motion carried. - Rescind Shawn Bybee contracts; rescind Dr. Ken Higbee superintendent contract and reassign as Superintendent/Principal/Athletic Director; approve Anna Whipple as Dean of Students; increase Ashley Merrick to 1.00 FTE: motions carried. - Approve GVES gym floor color scheme: Ayes — McNeley, Boren, Merrick, Mathews; No — Eldridge.
The board recorded its actions and directed administration to carry out required notifications and contract changes; specific implementation steps and compensation adjustments (including any stipend for Athletic Director duties) are to be finalized by administration and reflected in personnel paperwork and contracts.
