Immediately after a work session on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, the Oneida School Board met for its regular monthly meeting.  Long-time Malad Elementary 3rd grade teacher, Brent Grote, was honored as the “Employee of the Month.” (See accompanying article.)

Lexie Evans, agriculture teacher at Malad High School, reported to the School Board about improvements to the ag program, and especially to the welding program, that were made due to the $50,000 grant she received from AgWest Farm Credit. Five new welding booths were added, doubling the size of the welding program work area, five new multi-position work tables were installed, electrical wiring was updated, ventilation was upgraded, a new bay door was added, and the entire shop was painted and cleaned.  She also reported that 102 students are enrolled in ag classes with 42 students enrolled in welding classes. More students are graduating with their welding certification, making it possible for them to be hired immediately for high-paying welding jobs. There are also 107 registered members of FFA with 44 as active, dues-paying members.

Lexie also reported on the students’ success at the Eastern Idaho State Fair.  The livestock judging team, comprised of Samantha Schrenk, Trevor Allen, Lyndee Nimer, and Aubrey Schultz, placed 7th of 52 teams. Cecilee Hill placed 4th overall individually in the livestock judging event. As a very young team, the horse judging team, comprised of Sunni Barnes, Alissa Cargun, Allee Moss, and Valeria Oseguera, placed in the middle of all the teams.  Participating for the first time in the potato judging competition, the potato judging team, comprised of Mason Eliason, Daron Bird, Rasp Carter, and Trapper Higley, placed 11th of 30 teams.

The Board approved several overnight trips for the FFA, including trips to regional and state conventions and competitions, for the school year.

Bond Refinance Plan

Nick Miller of Hawley Troxell and Eric Heringer of Piper Sandler presented information via Zoom about the District’s bond refinance plan.  The current interest rate of 3.92% is lower than past interest rates and will be the 15-year fixed interest rate, thus saving the District money. Annual bond payments will be kept below the $840,000 that the District will receive from the State’s school facilities allocation. Board members signed the paperwork that had to be submitted to Hawley Troxell to go to J.P. Morgan Chase before Friday.

Administrator Reports

Superintendent Dallan Rupp reported that all Oneida County schools have slight increases in enrollment since August with the overall enrollment of all brick-and-mortar schools at 974 students.  Lighting for the ball fields has not begun, yet. The fence by the Malad Elementary School playground has been started. The District received a grant from the Ifft Foundation for $3000 that will be used for connecting the elementary school water system to the City’s culinary water system for outdoor watering. Due to the flood in the Malad High School basement, a new boiler is needed; it will be covered by insurance. A new contractor was hired to keep the HVAC system clean. Scoreboards are to go up at the ball fields next week.

Principal Jeanie Reeder of Stone Elementary School reported that the PTO had provided the traditional back-to-school breakfast with all parents and Mr. Rupp present. Students who need one-on-one reading instruction have been identified and a schedule set up. Take-home reading folders are ready for the students. She thanked Burger King and the Kids in Need Foundation for donating school supplies.

Principal Sarah McIntyre of Malad Elementary School also thanked Burger King for donating achievement certificates, the Preston Elks Club for dictionaries for the third grade, the Malad Stake Activities Day for school supplies, and Darlene Head for her donations to the Backpack Program and Dragon Leader Program. She mentioned the new specialists at the school this year in physical education, art, and science.

Principal Josh Smith of Malad Middle School reported that attendance is at 94%.  A lot of students are participating in fall sports, including football and volleyball.  He displayed pictures of bulletin boards in the school that feature the students who are outstanding PBIS students and students whose grades qualify them for Armor-Up awards. Another bulletin board will identify students who perform acts of kindness throughout the school; the new Kindness Club meets during lunchtime.

Principal Robert Hannah of Malad High School reported that moving to a 3-minute passing time between classes has resulted in more students getting to class on time. Attendance is above 94%. He recognized Heidi Anderson for her work with the large number of students who need special help.  He also noted the school spirit evident at ball games with 40% of the students participating in fall sports.  On the Community Day of Service, the student athletes helped spread mulch around the trees on the City Greenbelt.

Board member Chalae Teeples mentioned that she and a group of young people from her church group had decided to pick up trash around the schools as a service project and were surprised at the small amount of trash littering the area.

Policies

The Board approved several new or updated policies, including policies related to substance abuse, student fees for secondary schools, attendance, vacation for full-time non-certificated employees, and classified staff absences during the work day.  Other policies were discussed in the work session but were not ready for a vote.

Personnel

The following personnel were approved, pending their passing the State-mandated background checks: Andrea Jones, GeAnna Roe, Shaunie Jenkins, Isabella Moss, and Meagan Beckstead as substitute teachers, and Penny Williams as an after-school program aide. 

The following coaches were approved for the Malad Middle School: Allen Edwards as head wrestling coach with Devin Morrison, Josh Davis, and Tom Maddox as assistant coaches; Madi Green as 7th grade girls’ basketball coach, Shawnee Shirk as 8th grade girls’ basketball coach, and Maddie Hubbard as a girls’ basketball volunteer coach; Trisha Beutler as 8th grade boys’ basketball coach, Byron Bott as 7th grade boys’ basketball coach, and Mike Williams and Austin Tubbs as boys’ basketball volunteer coaches.

The following coaches were approved for Malad High School: Trevor Jones as head girls’ basketball coach with Tyson Daniels, Joseph Miller, and Allison Eliason as assistant coaches and Dave Anderson as a volunteer coach; Devin Morrison as head boys’ wrestling coach with Allen Edwards, Caleb Williams, and Johnny Blaisdell as assistant coaches and Tom Maddox, Josh Davis, Clint Price, and James Rindlisbaker as volunteer coaches; Cambree Howe as assistant girls’ wrestling coach and Kade Price, Beau Smith, and Sherry Blaisdell as volunteer coaches.

After Board member Brandon Ward recused himself from voting, the following coaches were approved for MHS boys’ basketball: Zach Beutler as head coach with Clint Bastian, Zack Jeppsen, and Chet Keetch as assistant coaches and Lex Smith, Kevin Winsor, Dave Anderson, Trisha Beutler, Austin Tubbs, and Byron Bott as volunteer coaches.  Board Chair Brent Evanson questioned the need for ten coaches and suggested that at least half of the coaches sit somewhere besides on the bench with the players. Superintendent Dallan Rupp said that some of the coaches would sit behind the bench.