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June School Board Report: Budget, Master Contract finalized & more

Posted Date: 6/16/25 (11:30 PM)
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Board Report

Recap of the June 2025 Kuna School Board regular monthy meeting

A group of four people stand in front of a gray wall, smiling for a photo. They are all wearing black and white vests with a letter 'K' on them.

June highlights

The Kuna school board met on Tuesday, June 10, 2025


In this report:

➡️  Spring test results show gains, areas for improvement
➡️  Board approves Negotiated Agreement with Kuna Education Association
➡️  Board approves 2025-26 Budget 
➡️ Other reports & actions
  • Capital Plan Update
  • Professional Development Update
  • Bond Rating Update
  • June School Board Appreciation Month 
  • Kindergarten Open House Update
  • Parking lots Kuna Middle School event parking and Kuna High School student parking lot addition
  • Perimeter Fencing at Two Elementary Schools
  • Policy decisions
  • Consent Agenda
➡️ Next meeting July 8, 2025
 

Spring test results show gains, areas for improvement

Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Kevin Gifford reviewed Kuna’s performance on state reading and math tests taken by students this past spring. He also shared that one of the tests taken by students in kindergarten, first, second and third grades will change next year. 

 

Board approves Negotiated Agreement with Kuna Education Association

The Board approved the agreement negotiated with the KEA. KEA President Melissa Nielsen shared that increases in health insurance costs and beginning salary changes mandated by the state impacted employee benefit costs and certified staff salary schedules. She also reviewed these changes and others in the presentation. 

 

Board approves 2025-26 Budget

Trustees approved the proposed 2025-26 Budget after a review from Chief Financial Officer Brad Steadman providing a brief overview noting the only change from the May presentation was the finalization of health insurance expenses. 

Trustees also approved the revised 2024-25 Budget to reflect state facilities funds.


 

Other reports & actions

Capital Plan Update - Assistant Superintendent Jason Reddy said the committee heard from architects and builders to learn more about plans as well as from the district’s financial advisors.     

Professional Development Update - Director Gifford reported that more than 180 teachers and administrators were able to participate in High Impact Teams training held in Boise.The work is tied to the district’s strategic plan focused on improving student learning. 

Bond Rating Update - CFO Steadman reported the district’s bond rating was recently reviewed by Moody’s and remains at Aa3, which reflects a judgment by the raters of high quality and low credit risk.  

June School Board Appreciation Month - Superintendent Bekkedahl thanked trustees for their service to the community in their volunteer positions. 

Kindergarten Open House Update - Superintendent Bekkedahl reported that the May Kindergarten Open Houses were well attended. They had been delayed a month while the district completed elementary boundary changes. 

Parking lots Kuna Middle School event parking and Kuna High School student parking lot addition - The Board approved the district moving forward with soliciting bids for these projects.


Perimeter Fencing at Two Elementary Schools - The Board awarded two bids to Meridian Fencing for two projects:
 
gavel

Policy decisions

Most policies are reviewed by the district's policy committee comprised of staff, parents, and two school board members before being considered by the board.

The board adopts new, amends existing, and removes policies through a series of "readings."

  • The first reading is typically the start of the process and can include discussions about changes.
  • The second reading allows for changes to be reviewed and/or additional changes to be made.
  • The third reading is typically the final step.

The public may provide feedback at every reading on the district's website.

For this report, all policy decisions are reported below:

First reading

Approved for first reading 

Amend
  • 300 - Statement of Guiding Principles
  • 516 - Freedom of Speech and Expression
  • 542 - Searches by School Officials
  • 568 - School Wellness 
  • 679 - Religion in Schools
  • 900 - Statement of Guiding Principles 
  • 910 - Rental/Use of School District Facilities
  • 1000 - Statement of Guiding Principles

Adopt
  • 774 - Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales
  • 846 - Travel Allowances
  • 942.1 - Acceptable Use of Internet, Computer and Network Resources and AI Tools: User Agreement 
  • 943 - AI Tools Acceptable Use

Second reading

Approved for second reading:

Amend 
  • 402 - Criminal History Checks for Employees, Volunteers, and Contractors with amendments
Adopt 
  • 681.1 - Student Identity changes procedure
  • 1013 - Expectations for Communication

Third reading

Approved for third reading:

Amend
  • 310 - Administrative Personnel & Principal Evaluations
  • 442 - Code of Ethics for Certificated Employees
  • 452 - Suspension of Teaching Certificate
  • 456 - Reading Programs In-Service
  • 474 - Evaluation of Non-Certificated Employees
  • 476 - Grievance Procedure for Non-Certificated Employees
  • 514 - Evacuation/Fire Drills
  • 543 - Student Suspensions
  • 544 - Student Expulsions
  • 545 - Disciplining Students with Disabilities (IDEA)
  • 550 - Assault and Battery
  • 562 - Exclusion for Communicable Diseases
  • 563 - Exclusion for Head Lice
  • 600 - Accreditation
  • 602 - Personnel Standards
  • 872 - Inventory Records of Fixed Assets
  • 876 - District Expenditure Transparency
  • 904 - Uniform Public School Building Safety
  • 1046 - Patron Conduct at District Programs and Activities

Adopt
  • 205 - Continuous Improvement Plans
 
Consent agenda

Consent Agenda

A consent agenda groups routine items for a single motion and vote, saving time in board meetings. It includes non-controversial items like approving minutes or standard reports. Any board member can request to pull an item for separate discussion and vote if needed.

Approved 

Note: Policy items on the Consent Agenda are included in the policy section above.

The Personnel Report was removed from the Consent Agenda and amended to include the 2025-26 Superintendent's Contract.
 

About our trustees

The Kuna School District is governed by an elected board of trustees, with each trustee representing a specific geographic area of the district, known as a Zone.

Each year, the trustees elect a chairman and vice chairman to lead the board.

In addition to board meetings, trustees may also serve on district committees.

Below is information about each trustee and link to a message for the month, if they choose to write one.

Don't know who’s your elected trustee? Look up which trustee serves your address here.

Kim Nixon

Board Chair

Zone 4 Trustee Kim Nixon
Term Ends: December 2025
Committees: Strategic Planning Committee, Kuna Education Foundation
JD Grant

Board Vice Chairman

Zone 2 Trustee JD Grant
Term Ends: December 2027
Committees: Safety Committee, Kuna Partnership for Kids
Hillary Lowe

Zone 1 Trustee Hillary Lowe
Term Ends: December 2027
Committees: Policy Advisory Committee


Kyrsti Bruce
Zone 3 Trustee Kyrsti Bruce
Term Ends: December 2025
Committees: Calendar Committee, Policy Advisory Committee, Capital Plan/Supplemental Levy
Michael Thornton
Zone 5 Trustee Michael Thornton
Term Ends: December 2027
Committees: Negotiations, Capital Plan/Supplemental Levy