The monthly meeting of the Oneida School Board was held on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, after a work meeting at which Board members discussed changes to policies.  With all members present, Jared Crowther was sworn in as the new member of the Board by Chair Brandon Ward.

Kylee Smith was honored as the Oneida School District “Employee of the Month.” (See accompanying article.)

Administrator Reports

Superintendent Dallan Rupp reported that student enrollment is holding steady (enrollment in some Idaho districts is falling). Some of the ovens and cooking equipment from the Malad Middle School kitchen are for sale. The remodeling of the kitchen into a teachers’ lounge will start in the summer. A wall will be built between the kitchen and the classroom next door. One oven will be left in the kitchen area as teachers and students in the after-school program often use the room for preparing snacks. Oneida County is installing an emergency generator on a cement pad at the Stone School; the County is in charge of this project because the school building is used as a community center and could be used as an emergency shelter.

Principal Robert Hannah of Malad High School reported that attendance was down in January for the seniors for the first time this year (85%); attendance for all other grades was over 90%.  Interventions are being planned for students who are struggling with their grades. He congratulated the drumline and color guard for their performances at basketball games. He also reported that Marshall Asay placed 2nd and received $200 and Beth Shardine placed 3rd and received $100 at the Farm Bureau speech competition. Laney Coatney, Allee Moss, Val Oseguera, and Lyndee Nimer competed at the Farm Bureau discussion meet; Laney Coatney placed 3rd at the district meet. He also noted how well the FCCLA students did at their district competition, winning six golds and three silvers. (Complete article about the FCCLA district competition is in The Idaho Enterprise of February 5.)

Principal Jeanie Reeder of Stone Elementary School reported that parent-teacher conferences are going well. The PTO will help with the Valentine’s Day party. Representatives from Stone will participate in the Idaho Lottery’s “Scratch for Schools” in Twin Falls as the event in Pocatello is during Spring Break. She thanked the Oneida Crisis Center for visiting the school every month to provide lessons and to donate goodies.

Principal Sarah McIntyre of Malad Elementary School reported that ISAT testing will begin right after Spring Break, which is earlier than in the past. The school is considering alternative reading supplements as the costly Amira program has not worked well. Burger King has contacted her about continuing the summer meal program for both Malad and Stone Elementary Schools. Preparations are being made for Grandparents’ Day. Test scores are trending upward.

Principal Josh Smith of Malad Middle School reported that attendance for all grades is over 90%. He has met with the 14 students who had received Fs and is arranging for individualized help for them. Ski Days went well and are now over.  Boys’ basketball for the 7th and 8th grades is over; they lost 1 game. The cheerleading program went well for the 10 7th and 8th grade girls who participated. Four students were selected for the BYU-Idaho Middle School Honor Band. (See article in The Idaho Enterprise on February 12.)

Report from the Idaho Legislature

Shane Howard, Board member who serves as the Idaho Legislature representative, reported that there are no big changes, yet, as the Legislature just started its session. The Legislature has stated that there will be 1% cuts to some state agencies this year and 2% next year.  However, public schools are exempt from the cuts at this point. Teacher salaries will not be cut. With public school enrollments going down nationally, including in Idaho, cuts to schools may not be needed.  There are concerns about cuts to the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance (IDLA), which could impact IHLA.

Actions

The Malad High School overnight trip to the State Girls’ Basketball Tournament was approved although two buses may be needed due to the number of students in drill team, cheerleading, and band.

Admission has not been charged in the past for baseball and softball games, but there are expenses related to these games, including fees for officials. The Board approved charging fees for admission to the games; the amount of the fee will be the same as for other sports.

Because of redundancy, two policies related to abuse and sexual assault and safe environment were deleted. Two procedures – one related to corrective actions and punishments and one related to reduction in force – were approved on a first reading. They will come up for a second reading next month.

Policies related to a drug free school zone, drug testing, corrective actions and denial of enrollment, student fees for secondary schools, teacher contracts, and reduction in force were approved after the second and final readings.  All approved policies may be viewed on the Oneida School District website: www.oneidaschooldistrict.org.

The following personnel were approved, pending their passing the State-mandated background check: Krisi Angell, Kjerstin Wilcock, and Sharie Self as substitute teachers; Kim Bennett as a volunteer music classroom aide; Brady Price as Malad Middle School boys’ track coach; Tia Talbot as MMS girls’ track coach; Joe Miller and Lacie Daniels as MMS assistant track coaches. In addition, the following were approved as Malad High School spring sports coaches:  Chad Maroney as head baseball coach with Tyrell Hubbard, Keaton Price, and Josh Jensen as assistant coaches and Jeff Snow as a volunteer coach; Bri Adams as head softball coach with Aysha Maddox, Arlene Shulz, and Rachel Green as assistant coaches and Kelli McClellan as a volunteer coach: Caleb Williams as head track coach with Beth Bastian, Alex Probst, and Tori Price as assistant coaches and Tylee Skinner, Janelle Merja, McKay McKinnon, Dave Anderson, and Enoch Ward as volunteer coaches.