September School Board Report: Refinancing to save $; Celebrating excellence

Posted Date: 09/14/26 (05:30 PM)

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Board Report

Recap of the September 2026 Kuna School Board regular monthy meeting

A group of five people, three men and two women, pose for a studio portrait against a blue, textured background.

Highlights

The Kuna school board met on Tuesday, September 8, 2026

📺 Watch the meeting recording

📖 Review the agenda

In this report,

➡️ District Pursues Debt Refinancing to Save Taxpayers Over $615,000 in Interest

➡️ Kuna Excellence in Action: KHS Pole Vaulters; Welding Project at FMS; Initial Point Report

➡️ Enrollment Update

➡️ Policy decisions

➡️ Consent agenda

➡️ Next meeting: Oct. 13, 2026

District Pursues Debt Refinancing to Save Taxpayers Over $615,000 in Interest

Superintendent Marcus Myers updated trustees on school property taxes noting that the amount collected continues to drop as debt is paid down and state tax relief covering 66% ($2.78 million net remaining) of the district's property tax bill for 2026–27.

He reviewed a plan to reduce property tax collections more through refinancing bonds.

Trustees granted preliminary authorization to pursue a bond refunding plan aimed at refinancing $12.42 million of existing debt.

Action Approved: Authorization to submit a preliminary application to the Idaho School Bond Guaranty Program.
Financial Impact: Projected taxpayer savings of $615,533 in interest costs by lowering interest rates and annual payments without extending the original debt payoff schedule.
Background: Builds on prior debt defeasances between 2019 and 2023 that saved property taxpayers over $6.5 million in interest.
Next Steps: Financial Advisor Michael Keith of Zions Public Finance will present a status update at the October board meeting.

📖 Review the presentation

📖 Review the memo

📺 Watch the presentation

Kuna Excellence in Action: KHS Pole Vaulters; Welding Project at FMS; Initial Point Report

Superintendent Marcus Myers presented Kuna Excellence in Action updates recognizing:

National Success in Athletics: Kuna High School pole vaulters Hadley Whitney and Cannon Grant.
Student Community Project: Kuna High School Welding and Fabrication class’s bench project for Fremont Middle School.
School Report: An update on Initial Point High School presented by Principal Jessica Griswold.

📖 Review the Excellence In Action reports

📺 Watch this part of the meeting

Enrollment Update

Superintendent Marcus Myers presented an update on the district's 2026–27 enrollment, reporting a total of 5,501 students as of August 31, 2026. Total enrollment decreased by 202 students (a 3.67% decline) from the 5,703 students recorded on the 5th day of the 2025–26 school year.

📖 Review the enrollment presentation

📺 Watch this part of the meeting

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

422: HIPAA Procedures
864/421: HIPAA Privacy Rule Compliance
504.50: Prohibition Against Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying
632: Open Enrollment
632.1: Open Enrollment Procedures
602: Personnel Standards & Class Size
610: High School Graduation Requirements
641: Citizenship, Constitution, Flag and Colors
872: Inventory Records of Fixed Assets
920: Acquisition and Sale of Personal Property
922: Acquisition and Sale of Real Property

Third Reading

Approved for third reading

650.10 - Library and Resource Center Materials Procedures
1012-E(1) : Patron Complaint - Patron Complaint Form

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.