As the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office investigates the Vallivue School District’s 2024 land purchase from a trustee’s father, the school board on Tuesday approved a superintendent pay raise and accepted a trustee’s resignation.
Superintendent Lisa Boyd will receive a 1.75% pay increase, for a salary of $179,088, and a 2.25% increase to her retirement account. Meanwhile, teachers with more than one year of experience in the district will receive a 0.25% pay increase to their base salaries and can move up the career ladder. The increases go into effect July 1.
Trustee Toni Brinegar, who on Tuesday announced her resignation effective Friday, said Boyd is heading toward retirement and would like to increase her retirement package.
“When she does retire she can do so with some savings and maybe not have to come back and sub,” Brinegar said.
Board Chair Jennifer Cox said Boyd has led the district through many changes and met them with a smile.
In 2024, Boyd signed a purchase contract for $5 million with seller and former board chair Dave Christensen for 87 acres that was appraised at $2.87 million. His son, Clay Christensen, has been a trustee since 2022 and voted on Tuesday to raise Boyd’s salary. Clay Christensen works for the family farm business. EdNews first reported the purchase.
A Canyon County sheriff’s detective told EdNews Wednesday that the investigation into the Vallivue land deal is active. He could not share details or say how long the investigation could take.
A Vallivue patron at Tuesday’s meeting criticized the superintendent and board for the purchase. Resident Becky Crofts spoke during the public comment period and said she would give Boyd an “F” for her handling of the deal.
She said schools are supposed to teach integrity, responsibility, honesty, transparency and accountability, and that leadership should model those values. She called the land deal “questionable” and said the board needs to restore taxpayer trust.
“Parents teach their children that integrity means doing the right thing even when nobody is watching,” Crofts said. “But taxpayers were watching and what they saw was a deal negotiated for millions above the appraised value.”
Trustee refers EdNews to attorney
EdNews has contacted all five trustees via email with questions about the land deal but has not received a response. After last month’s board meeting, on May 12, EdNews asked Brinegar a question about the deal, but she would not respond. Brinegar was board chair during the 2024 purchase.
“Right now, we are referring you to our attorney,” Brinegar told EdNews.
When asked why an attorney was needed, Brinegar said the conversation was over. EdNews then asked Clay Christensen if he is general manager of Dave Christensen Farms, as his LinkedIn page indicates, but Brinegar intervened.
“You can talk with our attorney, thank you,” Brinegar said.
The district on Tuesday displayed Brinegar’s formal resignation email, which she sent the afternoon of May 12, hours before the meeting.
“It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to serve the patrons, students, and staff of the district,” she wrote.
After the meeting this week, EdNews asked Brinegar why she resigned. She said she had been planning her departure for two years and that it is unrelated to the land deal.
Tears and sunflowers
In a tearful farewell message, Brinegar thanked the district and said she has been planning her resignation for two years. She encouraged others to be like a sunflower, describing it as a symbol of resilience and optimism.
“But more than anything, sunflowers always show up authentically like themselves,” Brinegar added.
Vallivue residents who live in Zone 3 have 90 days to submit applications to replace Brinegar. Click here to see a map of trustee zones.
The district will accept names until Thursday, Aug. 6, and will interview applicants on Aug. 11 before the board meeting.
