March School Board Report: Student math, reading results

Posted Date: 3/10/25 (11:30 PM)

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Board Report

Recap of the March 2025 Kuna School Board regular 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.

March highlights

The Kuna school board met on Tuesday, March 4, 2025

📺 Watch the full meeting

📖 Read the agenda

In this report:

➡️ State and national test scores show celebrations

➡️ Hubbard annex to reopen after roof repairs; classrooms to be used to help ease some overcrowding at Reed, Silver Trail

➡️Other building-related reports

District to accept bids for Indian Creek, Ross, and Kuna High projects
District to seek bids to repair, maintain school parking lots
Work on proposed agriculture land lab continues
Capital Plan Task Force holds first meeting

➡️ Other reports & actions

Policy decisions
Consent Agenda

➡️ Next meeting: April 8, 2025

State and national test scores show celebrations

Director of Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment Kevin Gifford provided two reports with student achievement highlights. Some key points:

Idaho students do well compared to their counterparts in the nation on reading, math tests
Kuna students have made a strong recovery in math and reading compared to other large Idaho school districts post COVID
Kuna School District’s growth in math achievement was in the Top 5 of 71 school districts in Idaho

📖 Review national testing data and

📖 Review benchmark testing data

📺 Watch the presentation

Hubbard annex to reopen after roof repairs; classrooms to be used to help ease some overcrowding at Reed, Silver Trail

Hubbard's annex was closed at the end of the 2023-24 school year due to roof issues. The annex previously housed the district's special education preschool, which was relocated to Ross Elementary.

Assistant Superintendent Brian Graves shared that, thanks to new state facilities funds, the roof will be repaired over the summer, allowing the annex to reopen for 2025-26.

The preschool program will not return. Instead, the space will help reduce overcrowding at Reed and Silver Trail schools by providing:

Five classrooms for about 125 additional K-3 students.
Four classrooms for a new extended resource room program serving students eligible for special education services.

Next steps:

Award project bids for summer completion.
Adjust elementary school attendance zones.
Determine staffing for these classrooms, potentially using positions from the levy aimed at reducing class size

📖Review the presentation

📺Watch the presentation

Other building-related reports, actions

District to accept bids for Indian Creek, Ross and Kuna High projects

The school board gave the district approval to accept the bids for fire alarm and heating/air conditioning work at these schools. These systems need repairs or replacement. The projects would be paid for with new state facilities funds.

📖Review the presentation

📺Watch the presentation

District to seek bids to repair school parking lots

A review of the school parking lots showed that almost all are in poor condition and need repairs. The school board agreed to get bids for fixing cracks, resurfacing, and repainting. They also asked for bids on extra projects at Kuna Middle and Kuna High schools. New state funds will be used for these projects.

📖 Review the presentation

📺 Watch the discussion

Work on proposed agriculture land lab continues

Career Technical Education Supervisor Stuart Vickers said they are still working on a land lab, including fundraising and meeting with city leaders. This lab will help students learn by raising animals and doing other agriculture activities.

📺 Watch the discussion

Capital Plan Task Force holds first meeting

Assistant Superintendent Jason Reddy said the group met for the first time on March 3 and will meet monthly. If a bond is proposed to meet needs, it could happen in November 2025, with proposals shared with the board by August. Those interested in participating should contact him at jjreddy@kunaschools.org

📺 Watch the discussion

Other reports & actions

Board discusses theme for its work

Advocacy: Chair Kim Nixon reported on her participation in the Idaho School Board Association’s Day on the Hill event.

Technology: Trustees approved a request to seek bids for district services and storage devices.

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.

First reading

Amending

310 - Principal Evaluations
852 - Payment for Goods and Services

Adopting

576.1 - Field Trip Volunteer Chaperone Guidelines
576.2 - Field Trip Parent/Guardian Consent Form
576.3 - Field Trip Student 6/12 code of conduct
681.1 - Student Identity Change Procedure
639.1 - Parental Rights in Education Procedure Known changes in students
639.3 - Parental Rights in Education procedure visitation
639.4 - Parental Rights in Education visitation form
736 - Transportation of Special Populations
770 - Food and Nutrition Services

Second reading

Amending

202 - Public Charter Schools
407.5 - Sick Leave
408 - Non-Discrimination in Employment/Leave of Absence
470 - Definition of Non-Certificated Personnel
308 - Principal Contracts
502 - Student Publications
678 - Release Time

Adopting

518 - Student Use of Personal Communication Devices

Removing

207 - Public Charter School Petition
417 - Employee Volunteers
453 - Support Programs
471 - Non-Certificated Employees: At-Will Employment
472 - Salary Schedule for Non-Certificated Employees
473 - Group Health Insurance for Non-Certificated Employees
477 - Absence Without Pay for Non-Certificated Employees
478 - Illness or Death in Immediate Family: Non-Certificated Employees
480 - Vacation Leave for Non-Certificated Employees

Third reading

Amending

448 - Reduction in Force Regarding Certificated Employees
564 - Health Records and Emergency Care
639 - Parental Rights in Education
809 - Conditions for use of District Vehicles
830 - Gifts, Grants and Bequests

Adopting

990 - Bloodborne Pathogens

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.

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 a 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.