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January Board Report: Trustees to consider applications for superintendent & more

Posted Date: 01/19/26 (05:30 PM)
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Board Report

Recap of the January 2026 Kuna School Board regular monthy meeting

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January highlights

The Kuna school board met on Tuesday, January 13, 2026


In this report:
➡️ Trustees to consider applications for superintendent at Feb. 5 meeting
➡️ Trustees swear in newly elected members; choose board leaders for the year
➡️ Other annual meeting decisions

➡️ Other reports & actions
  • Enrollment fluctuates throughout the year
  • Celebration: Kuna girls wrestling success
  • Policy decisions
  • Consent Agenda
➡️ Next meetings:
  • Feb. 5, 2026 - Special Meeting: Superintendent Search
  • Feb. 10, 2026 - Regular Monthly
 

Trustees to consider applications for superintendent at Feb. 5 meeting

The Board received a progress report from Katie Russell of the Idaho School Boards Association (ISBA) regarding the search for a new superintendent to succeed Superintendent Kim Bekkedahl, who will retire at the end of the 2025–26 school year.

Key search updates include:

Current Applications: Five applications have been received to date, with more expected before the January 31 deadline.

Next Steps: Trustees will receive secure links to review all applications to prepare for a Special Board Meeting on Thursday, Feb. 5.

Selection Process: During the Feb. 5 meeting, the Board will meet in executive (closed) session to evaluate all applications. They will then reconvene in an open public meeting to determine the next steps, which may include selecting semi-finalists for interviews.

Community Involvement: The Board will decide at a later date whether the process will include a community forum where the public can meet semi-finalists and provide feedback.

 

Trustees swear in newly elected members; elect board leaders for the year

Two women smile at each other while one hands a document to the other.
A woman in a denim jacket and a man in a plaid shirt hold papers.

The January meeting focused on the annual reorganization of the Board of Trustees,

Administration of Oaths of Office

Two trustees were officially sworn in to begin their four-year terms after being elected by their patrons in November:
  • Kyrsti Bruce (Zone 3): Starting her second term of service to the District.
  • Freddy Wheeler (Zone 4): Starting his first term of service to the District.

Annual Reorganization and Election of Officers

Trustees conducted their annual election for leadership positions for the 2026 calendar year, choosing:

  • Board Chair: Michael Thornton (Zone 5)
  • Board Vice Chair: JD Grant (Zone 2)

Other annual meeting decisions

Committee Appointments
To ensure board representation across district operations, the following trustees were appointed to serve on district committees for the upcoming year:
  • Negotiations Committee: Michael Thornton
  • Calendar Committee: Kyrsti Bruce
  • Safety Committee: Hillary Lowe
  • Kuna Education Foundation: Freddy Wheeler (Meets the first Monday of each month)
  • Wellness Committee: JD Grant

Designation of Public Posting Places
In compliance with transparency and open meeting requirements, the Board officially designated the following locations for the posting of public notices:
  • Kuna School District Office
  • Official District Website & Facebook Page
  • Kuna Post Office
  • Kuna City Hall
  • Kuna Community Library

Meeting Schedule and Administrative Appointments

The Board established its regular meeting schedule and selected administrative roles for the year:
  • Regular Meetings: Held at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month.
  • Board Clerk: Deann Greany
  • Board Treasurer: Jonathan Gillen

Other reports & actions

 

Enrollment fluctuates throughout the year

Assistant Superintendent Brian Graves reviewed fluctuations in district enrollment from the start of the school year and to a year ago.


 

Celebration: Kuna Girls wrestling success

District Activities Director Luke Wolf reviewed the success of the high school girls wrestling team.

gavel

Policy decisions

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.

For this report, all policy decisions are reported below.

First reading

No first readings.

Second reading

Approved for second reading 

Amendment of 
  • 460 - Certificated Employees: Informal Review Procedure
  • 546 - Disciplining Students 504
  • 672 - Gifted and Talented
  • 673 - Reading Assessments
  • 677 - Title 1 - Development of Parent and Family Engagement policy
  • 851 - Supplemental Bidding Procedures

Adoption of
  • 521 - Attendance Zones
  • 638 - Student Fee

Removal of
  • 616 - Promotion of Elementary Students
  • 632.5 - Attendance Zones
  • 560 - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
  • 932 - Use of Contracted Services

971 - Animals in Schools was continued for a second reading February.

Third reading

Approved for third reading

Amendment of 
  • 512 - School Climate
  • 520 - Enrollment and Transfer
  • 540.1 - Maintenance of Orderly Conduct
  • 551 - Student Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco
  • 565 - Immunization Requirements
  • 567 - Do Not Resuscitate Orders
  • 610 - High School Graduation Requirements
  • 850 - Purchasing
  • 850.3 - Purchasing Services of Personal Property
  • 850.9 - Procuring Public Works Construction (formerly Public Works Construction)

Adoption of
  • 850.2 - Purchases Using Federal Funds
  • 850.21 - Purchasing Procedures Under Federal Awards
  • 850.91 - Procedures for Procuring Public Works Construction
  • 853 - School Building Plan Reviews and Inspection
  • 854 - Contractual Certifications and Restrictions
 
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 
  1. December 9, 2025 Board Meeting Minutes
  2. Accounts Payable
  3. School Financials
  4. Budget Status Report
  5. Personnel Report
  6. Trip Request

 

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.

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

Zone 5 Trustee Michael Thornton
Term Ends: December 2027
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Vice Chair

Zone 2 Trustee JD Grant
Term Ends: December 2027
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Zone 1 Trustee Hillary Lowe
Term Ends: December 2027
A woman with long, blonde hair smiles warmly against a blue, textured background.
Zone 3 Trustee Kyrsti Bruce
Term Ends: December 2029
A man with short brown hair smiles at the camera, wearing a plaid shirt.
Zone 4 Trustee Freddy Wheeler
Term Ends: December 2029
 
Read past Board Reports