South Summit board approves leases, moves school fees to first reading and amends trust lands budget

The South Summit School District board took several unanimous votes at its Feb. 26 meeting, approving property leases, advancing school fees on first reading, and amending trust lands funding to correct a prior-year overage.

Board members voted to approve three-year lease agreements for the Camas West property and the Francis property after staff reported bid winners and amounts. Staff said Cameron Paige won the Camas West bid at roughly $20,000 per year and Jeff Kiesel won the Francis property bid at $5,929, both higher than the prior lease amounts. A motion to approve the agreements passed unanimously.

On school fees, trustees approved first reading of fee schedules for South Summit High School, South Summit Middle School and Silver Summit Academy for the 2026–27 school year. Board members raised a clarifying question about why girls' softball showed a higher maximum fee than boys' baseball; staff explained the listed amount reflects the maximum a student might pay in a first year (equipment such as helmets and jackets plus travel and overnight trips) and that most students pay less than the stated maximum. The first-reading motion passed unanimously.

The board also approved a trust lands budget amendment to move $1,647 from this year’s funds to cover an overage in 2024–25 at South Summit High School; trustees said the adjustment corrects a closing discrepancy and the motion passed unanimously.

The board approved the consent agenda, which included meeting minutes, new hires, reassignments, approved volunteers, a homeschool affidavit and policies on second reading. At 6:51 p.m. the board then moved into closed session to discuss strategy for collective bargaining.

Votes at a glance:
• Close school-fee public hearing and open regular session — motion passed unanimously (time noted at 6:02–6:03 p.m.).
• Approve Camas West and Francis property leases (three-year) — motion passed unanimously.
• School fees (first reading) for 2026–27 — motion passed unanimously.
• Trust lands budget amendment (South Summit High School, $1,647 shift) — motion passed unanimously.
• Consent agenda (minutes, hires, volunteers, homeschool affidavit, policy second readings) — motion passed unanimously.
• Enter closed session for collective bargaining strategy — motion passed unanimously.