Budget Approval, Track Vision Grows
The 2026-27 budget for Meadows Valley School District was approved at the rescheduled School Board meeting and special meeting on Monday, June 29. A budget summary is available on the school website on the special meeting agenda. The school board reviewed updated design plans for the potential track and field installation. Hiring of new teachers for both fifth grade and secondary science was approved unanimously. It was announced in the meeting that two resignations were received that week. Job openings for secondary math, English language (ELA) and school physical education are now open.
School budget details were reviewed thoroughly by the board with a presentation from Jonathan Gillen with Charter Impact. The organization was hired last year to manage school finances. Gillen will be transitioning away from the company and the school’s main contact will become Scott Brown who was introduced in the meeting via Zoom call. In June the board had a longer budget review session to go over budget details more extensively.
Rob Pair with Crestline Engineers presented an updated design for a track & field installation. The new track would be constructed in the existing football field area. Discussion so far is positive to retaining a football field and baseball field in that space. The next steps in the track & field inquiry will be making decisions on stormwater and drainage systems and requesting cost estimates for construction.
Superintendent and Principal Dee Fredrickson reported on Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) and Idaho Reading Indicator (IRI) test scores. Fredrickson said ISAT scores showed overall progress and all but one class met the high goals set by the school district saying, “We set pretty aggressive goals and they’re not too far off.” She also said “middle school made great gains”. ISAT tests math, ELA and science proficiency.
IRI testing is given to Kindergarten through third grade students. Fredrickson noted that part of the money the school receives from state funds is based on results from this test. This was the first year the school used Amira adaptive AI testing, a program chosen by the state of Idaho. Fredrickson said the second grade class “rocked it this year” on testing. She added, “Mrs. Mac did a great job with those kiddos” and said, “I was so excited to see their scores because they worked hard, she really promoted a great culture of working hard, that working hard means something, and that was reflected in their scores.” Fredrickson also pointed out first grade teacher Lindsay Jacobsen’s class results saying, “she did a great job and got a great result.” Board Member Jeff Luff said scores showed “all around good growth.”
Fredrickson reported she was ordering consumable items for next year including student work books for Wonders and Handwriting without Tears curriculums. She said a federal programs grant application was being submitted that week and described upcoming professional development training.
The school will be closing school grounds from July 27 through July 31 for blacktop sealing and painting. School Custodian Tamara Brusso has been working on cleaning and fixing items around the school including a sprinkler on the elementary playground field. Fredrickson said the school received grant funding to order some new cameras and vape sensors. Updates to the HVAC system have been ongoing. Contractor Tim Wilcox has requested a second opinion from an engineer before further fixes take place as the equipment they have been using for upgrades were new to the school, but not brand new and the plans may need reworking. Fredrickson said the engineer visit would cost $4,000. The other fixes and upgrades were quoted at $72,000. Wilcox also proposed beginning with replacing all thermostats at a proposed cost of $7,000 as this could make a big difference in the system running correct temperatures rather than current hot and cold spots.
A discussion about timing for the next levy vote ensued. Charter Impact has proposed that the school run the next levy vote in November as opposed to waiting until May. The current two year levy was approved by voters in May of 2025. Board Member Chris Peterson asked about the levy rate and Fredrickson said it would likely stay the same as the current rate, but noted since property values have gone up, levy revenue could be higher.
The board unanimously approved graduation pathways after discussion on details. A new state law that went into effect July 1 requires two pathways to graduation. The school already uses pathways and plans like this, but Fredrickson said this formalizes the process and includes a college bound plan and a career/technical plan. She added, “At our school, since it is so small and there are so many considerations, every kid basically has their own pathway.” Luff asked about avenues for taking outside classes like with IDLA and Fredrickson confirmed this and dual credit class options will continue for both pathways.
A first reading of Graduation Requirements Policy 2410P was approved unanimously. Discussion noted a change in name and some details for senior projects. They will now be called Future Readiness Projects. Language was also added to localized pathways for graduation. Fredrickson explained to the board an idea to add ISAT proficiency lessons back into the regular curriculum related to this policy.
Luff said he received high praise about the school’s FFA chapter and their participation in the forestry competition that took place in Athol this year. Four students from the chapter participated and were spoken highly of to Luff who wanted to give a “shout out to Rachael Melad” and her students.
