Pocatello District board adopts reorganization protocol, elects Heather Clark vice chair amid governance dispute

The Pocatello District School Board on Monday reviewed its reorganization protocol, adjusted its annual meeting calendar and elected Heather Clark as vice chair amid an extended exchange about the chair’s involvement in agenda items and committee work.

Board staff opened the meeting by reviewing the reorganization protocol that will govern nominations and elections for officers, beginning with vice chair and proceeding down to assistant clerk and assistant treasurer. The packet presents nominee criteria including interest, prior board experience and availability; the board agreed to remove “willingness to be spokesperson” from the criteria for this round of elections.

Why it matters: The discussion exposed tensions about how agenda items are proposed and who presents them — a governance issue some members said is affecting board-administration relations as the district proceeds with major projects such as the Highland High School rebuild.

During the nominations, two candidates were put forward for vice chair: Heather Clark and Jim Clark. A board member publicly raised concerns that the chair had been “stepping outside of your role as board chair” and spending substantial time in administrators’ offices and with the project architect, creating confusion about who proposed some agenda items. The board member said the situation had led to constituent questions and strained committee processes.

The board member said the conduct raised governance questions and urged steps to clarify roles and reduce public tension. In response, the chair, Deana, defended her actions and motives, saying, "I didn't ask to be board chair" and that she had met with the architect and administrators to clarify safety and operational details affecting students after the Highland facility incident. She urged clearer agenda labeling so the public and staff can see who is proposing an item.

Several board members called for ISBA model-policy training on roles and responsibilities and for clearer disclosure of who places items on the agenda. One member proposed adding a co-chair role to provide checks and balances; members discussed but did not adopt that structural change at the meeting.

After discussion, the board voted on the first nomination; the motion passed and Heather Clark was elected vice chair. The transcript records the result but does not include a roll-call tally. Later in the meeting members nominated and approved Megan as assistant clerk and Rey as assistant treasurer; the assistant clerk role was described as a backup to the clerk, with minutes-taking noted as a primary duty under Idaho code.

The board also adopted an amended annual calendar to move student-discipline hearings from 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; members noted that regular board meetings remain scheduled for the third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. and that any changes to regular meeting dates require five days’ public notice under the district’s posting rules.

The board confirmed committee assignments and volunteers, correcting a packet error related to Highland High School committee listings and adding Megan to the textbook-adoption and calendar committees. Members noted that several committees meet on an as-needed basis and that state law governs the makeup of certain standing committees.

With officer elections concluded and calendar and committee items decided, the chair adjourned the meeting.

Votes and formal actions recorded in the transcript: Heather Clark elected vice chair (motion passed; tally not specified); Megan approved as assistant clerk (tally not specified); Rey approved as assistant treasurer (tally not specified); amended calendar adopted to move student-discipline hearings to 4:00 p.m. (tally not specified).

The board did not adopt additional governance changes during the session; several members requested formal training on board roles and agenda procedures as a next step.