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September School Board Report: Calendars for next two years OK'd & more

Posted Date: 9/15/25 (5:30 PM)
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Board Report

Recap of the September 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.

September highlights

The Kuna school board met on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025


In this report:

➡️ 2026-27 & 2027-28 School Calendars approved
➡️ Search for New Superintendent Begins
➡️ Busing: District to Seek Bids, Compare Costs
➡️ Board Discusses Current and Future School Projects
➡️ Trustees Begin Process for Possible Sale of 4th Street Gym
➡️ Board Reviews Student Achievement Data and Goals
➡️ Other reports & actions
  • Technology purchase approved
  • Student survey approved
  • Annual staff retention report
  • Policy decisions
  • Consent Agenda
➡️ Next meeting: Oct. 14, 2025
 

2026-27 & 2027-28 School Calendars approved

The school board approved calendars for the next two school years. They also agreed to a change that ends the first semester right before Christmas break.

This change was recommended by a committee of parents, teachers, and administrators. It was also supported by families and staff in a survey of calendar options.

With this update, school will start and end about a week earlier to match nearby districts.

High school graduation dates will be set later.

The spring break schedule for the 2027–28 school year will also be decided at a later time.

A school year calendar for the Kuna School District, 2026-2027, with dates and events.

2026-27

  • Aug. 10 - Staff return
  • Aug. 13 - First day of school
  • May 20 - Last day of school
  • Graduation to be determined
A school calendar for the 2027-2028 school year, with dates and events.

2027-28

  • Aug. 9 - Staff return
  • Aug. 12 - First day of school students
  • May 18 - Last day of school
  • Graduation to be determined
  • Spring break to do be determined
 

Search for New Superintendent Begins

The Kuna School Board will invite the community to take a survey as they begin the work of hiring a new superintendent. Superintendent Kim Bekkedahl will retire in June.

Katie Russell from the Idaho School Boards Association explained the process:

  • Community survey in late September/October
  • Finalize job description and application in October/November
  • Accept applications November through January
  • Review and consider applicants February/March

 

Busing: District to Seek Bids, Compare Costs

Trustees approved moving forward with seeking bids from outside companies to provide bus services for Kuna School District students. The district currently runs its own fleet of buses. When the bids are reviewed, the district will also provide detailed cost information for its current operations so trustees can make a clear comparison.

 
 

Trustees Begin Process for Possible Sale of 4th Street Gym

Trustees approved moving forward with the first step in a possible sale of the 4th Street Gym—advertising for bids. District staff outlined the legal process required to sell the building. A recent appraisal valued the property at about $1.6 million.

Trustees agreed to collect sealed bids for cash offers. In addition, district administration will provide detailed costs for relocating current offices from the site and options for a replacement warehouse.

 

Board Discusses Current and Future School Projects

Thanks to new state facilities funds, several projects were started and many completed over the summer.

For the current school year, trustees awarded bids for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit replacements at:

  • Kuna Middle School
  • Crimson Point Elementary School
  • Reed Elementary School
  • District office

Planned projects for next summer include:

  • Kuna High School: Phase 2 of HVAC and fire alarm upgrades (bid process coming soon)
  • Kuna High School: Gym vestibule project
  • Ross Elementary: Phase 2 of HVAC
  • Indian Creek Elementary: Phase 2 of HVAC
  • Reed Elementary: Reroof project (may move to year 3)
  • Replacement of Jacobsen lawn mower

Board Reviews Student Achievement Data and Goals

Trustees reviewed progress toward goals in the district’s Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) and expectations for the current year.

Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Kevin Gifford provided some key points from state testing as well as highlighted changes to support improvements including:

Transition Years (6th & 8th grades)
  • 8th grade met 3 of 4 goals (math growth not met).
  • 6th grade did not meet any of the 4 goals, but showed improved math growth compared to last year.
  • Unmet goals were consistent with past years’ data.
Changes this year:
  • Added a reading class and Newsela English language arts resource for more instruction and practice.
  • Added iReady Reading (grades 6–12) and iReady Math (grades 9–12) as diagnostic tools to provide consistent data and improve interventions.
Early Literacy
  • Kindergarten: met proficiency and growth goals.
  • 1st grade: lower proficiency, growth similar to past years.
  • 2nd grade: proficiency about the same, growth lower.
  • 3rd grade: slightly higher proficiency, met growth goal.
  • 4th grade (ISAT): slightly lower proficiency, slightly higher growth.
Changes this year:
  • Raz+ returned for grades K–5 to provide additional practice.
  • Amira tutoring added to provide targeted feedback and support for all students.
  • Completing K–5 ELA adoption process this year.

Board Vision & Expectations

Trustees set a districtwide expectation of a 2% increase in proficiency in reading and math this year.
  • The 2% goal is visible across the district and aligned with both the CIP and School Improvement Plans (SIPs).
  • Focus areas include:
  • Math: 2% increase in overall proficiency.
  • ELA: 2% increase in overall proficiency.
  • PLCs: stronger guiding coalitions and vertical alignment of essential standards.
  • AVID: districtwide implementation of AVID strategies and electives.
  • School-specific focus areas based on individual needs.

Additional Supports
  • Qualtrics data tool (including an ISAT dashboard) to better analyze and report data.
  • Monthly data reviews at administrator meetings to track progress toward the 2% goal.

Other reports & actions

A woman in a flight suit stands next to a man in military uniform in a meeting room.

KHS student pilot celebrated

Trustees congratulated Kuna High senior Julia Taylor who earned her private pilot's license this summer thanks to a JROTC scholarship.

Technology purchases approved

Trustees approved two technology projects presented by Director Cam Elwood: a multiyear project to replace aging classroom voice amplification systems, and the replacement of network equipment at Indian Creek and Initial Point schools.

📖 Review E-Rate

Student survey approved

Trustees approved questions for a Youth Wellness survey that will be offered to high school students. Participation will require parent permission. Students may also decline to take the survey and skip questions they don't want to answer.

Annual staff report

Assistant Superintendent Brian Graves reported that the district retained about 80% of its certified staff, a rate consistent with the past four years. He shared that the top three reasons for staff turnover are: staff leaving for positions in other Treasure Valley school districts, promotions to other positions within the district, and retirements.

Annual enrollment report

Assistant Superintendent Brian Graves reported that district enrollment is down by approximately 60 students compared to the same time last year.

A closer look shows growth in early grades and a decline in high school enrollment. He noted that the recent elementary rezoning resulted in increased enrollment at Ross and Hubbard elementary schools and decreases at Reed and Silver Trail, as planned.

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

Approved for first reading

Amendment of
  • 411 - Personnel Files
  • 416 - Whistleblower
  • 462 - Staffing Patterns
  • 506 - Juvenile Sex Offenders
  • 507 - Foreign Students 
  • 508 - Tracking Foreign Students and Foreign Exchange Visitors
  • 566 - Student Suicide Prevention
  • 852 - Payment for Goods and Services

Adoption of
  • 512 - School Climate

Removal of
  • 607 - Idaho Promise Scholarship Program

Second reading

Approved for second reading 

Amendment of 
  • 216 - Code of Ethics
  • 280 - Waivers of State Board of Education Rules
  • 350 - School Calendar
  • 352 - Emergency School Closure
  • 400 - Reporting New Employees
  • 403 - Employee Drug and Alcohol Use
  • 544 - Student Expulsion / Denial of Enrollment
  • 632 - Open Enrollment

Adoption of
  • 314 - Employing Retired Administration
  • 403.5 - Drug and Alcohol Testing
  • 912.1 - Display of Flags and Banners on School Property Procedure
  • 912 E - Display of Flags and Banners on School Property Complaint Form

Third reading

Approved for third reading

Adoption of  
  • 632.1 - Open Enrollment Procedures
  • 662 - Driver Training Education
  • 890 - Title 1A Supplement not supplant
  • 892 - Equivalence in Instructional Staff and Materials
  • 912 - Display of Flags and Banners on School Property
  • 914 - Emergency Operations

Amendment of  
  • 222  - Board Member Conflict of Interest 
  • 262.1 - Board Meeting Rules of Order and Procedure
  • 276 - Access to Public Records
  • 409.5 - Administrative Leave
  • 524 - Student Driving Privileges
  • 648 - Health/Wellness Instruction
  • 671 - Section 504
  • 877 - Time and Effort Reporting Requirements
  • 942 - Acceptable Use of Internet, computer and network resources
 
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 

 

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.
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