2026-9-8 Regular Board Meeting

The Blaine County School District Board of Trustees held a regular meeting on September 9, 2026, focusing heavily on budgetary and procurement matters related to education funding, staffing, and facilities. Key procurement discussions included the approval to hire an owner's representative firm, Paradigm, for the Haley Elementary School construction project, with a flat fee contract to ensure fiduciary responsibility and minimize change orders. The board also approved hiring four additional classified positions to support high-need special education students, funded through a combination of district funds, Medicaid reimbursements, and federal grants. Additionally, the board voted to co-sponsor a resolution advocating for extending the term of supplemental levies from two to four years to provide greater financial stability for school districts. The meeting addressed challenges in contract negotiations with the teachers' union, with a motion passed to table further decisions pending legal counsel review. Other procurement-related updates included discussions on bus driver shortages impacting transportation services and the development of a ten-year facilities master plan, with community input sought via surveys. Policy updates related to student organizations, driver requirements, and digital communication were also reviewed and approved. Overall, the meeting emphasized balancing fiscal constraints with the need to support staff, maintain programs, and advance capital projects.