From the Superintendent's Desk
January 9, 2023
Welcome to 2023!
Thank you for your continued support. I am blessed to be a part of this canyon community and awesome school district. I have an open door policy and want to invite you to come to me with your questions and concerns. Communication is key to successful schools. I am available Monday through Thursday at the District Office, by phone, or by email. Please make an appointment to ensure availability.
Check out our District Report Card!
BE SAVAGE!
Trisha Simonson
Salmon River JSD 243 Superintendent/Riggins Elementary Principal
(208)630-6027
A Letter to Stakeholders
Dear Salmon River Joint School District Teachers, Families, and Community,
It has come to my attention that a few of our community members have solicited the help of an organization called MassResistance based in Massachusetts. They claim to be a leading pro-family activist organization, providing the information and guidance people need to confront assaults on the traditional family, school children, and the moral foundation of society. However, after researching and looking at their website, it is my opinion that they are an extremist group that have a blatant disregard for people’s rights and take pride in helping individuals and extremist groups to harass school boards and librarians to the point of resignation. I also believe they aim to cause division in communities and chaos in school districts. Please do your own research and form your own opinion. https://www.massresistance.org
I have received numerous emails from Arthur Schaper, the Field Director for MassResistance in California. In these emails he has made a public records request for the names of the Book Reconsideration Committee members and how they voted on the book Looking for Alaska. Our attorney has advised that we must produce the document that lists the names of the members. However, a blind vote is used and therefore we do not possess such a document that identifies how each member voted. I believe this organization wishes to target or defame our members to further their cause to ban books and infringe on the 1st amendment rights of our students and parents. They have used intimidation and harassment, usually through electronic means to get individuals to resign from their positions. In addition, they will be helping their members with strategies including “gathering their masses” to attend board meetings. Therefore, we would like to ask our patrons to also attend the next board meeting which will be held January 23, 2023 at 6:00pm in the multipurpose building at SRHS.
I have included a link to a Q & A below to help answer a few of the frequently asked questions that I have received in the past few weeks.
Sincerely,
Trisha Simonson
Salmon River JSD 243 Superintendent/Riggins Elementary Principal
(208)630-6027
Click on the link below to view the Q & A.
Patron Input / Addressing the Board:
Regular Board meetings are held the third Monday of each month with a call to order and executive session at 6:00 p.m., and the general session beginning immediately following at the Salmon River High School District Office. Public input is welcome as indicated on the agenda. Public comment may be imposed time limits as necessary for the conduct of district business in a timely manner.
Meetings of the Board of Trustees follow a standard, published agenda. The Chairman of the Board presides at meetings. Patrons who wish to comment on agenda items under discussion may do so by signing in with the Clerk of the Board prior to the beginning of the respective meeting.
When appearing before the Board, please state your name, and the item on the agenda you wish to discuss. No person may orally initiate charges or complaints against students or individual employees of the district. The Board’s function is decision-making and the sentiments of the patrons assist in making those decisions.
Any complaint about the District, including instruction, discipline, District personnel policy, procedure or curriculum, should be referred through proper administrative channels before it is presented to the board for consideration and action. All complaints should be resolved through proper channels in the following order:
Teacher or Staff
Principal or Supervisor
Director or Administrator
Superintendent
Board of Trustees
Because of the diversity of issues, members of the Board will not respond to public comment. Instead, issues may be recorded and referred to the proper staff person for follow-up.
Trustee Opening
Salmon River Joint School District #243 is looking for a Board member for Zone 3 (Riggins City Limits mainly). Cody Killmar has done an outstanding job as a board member but recently moved out of Zone 3.
The position will remain open for 90 days. If no one from Zone 3 applies, the position will open for any community member from any zone.
To apply for a position on the School Board, you will need to submit a Letter of Application. You can mail, e-mail or deliver it to the District Office, located next to Salmon River Jr/Sr High School.
Address:
Salmon River Joint School District #243 Board of Trustees
P.O. Box 872
Riggins, Idaho 83549
E-mail:
For more information please call the District Office at (208)630-6027.
More information and a link to the zone map can be found on our website https://jsd243.org/board-of-trustees/members-zones/
Salmon River JSD 243
Email: simonsont@jsd243.org
Website: www.jsd243.org
Location: 711 Ace's Place, Riggins, ID, USA
Phone: (208)630-6027
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jsd243