CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
14 March 2019
MINUTES
I. Call to order. Matt Hartle called the Board of Trustees Meeting to order at 7:00 a.m. in the
Creston School Library with the following members present: Jessica Sandven-Sorensen,
Julie Tikka and Joanna Massie. Absent: Shawn McDonough – work related. Also, in
attendance were: Tami Ward – Principal, Tammy Bartos – District Clerk, Jen Johnson – 2nd
grade teacher, Deb Christiansen – Title Teacher, Trevor Dahlman – Principal, Olney-Bissel
School, Gloria Graves – Friends of Creston Fire.
II. Information Item:
A. Middle School Considerations – including discussion with Trevor Dahlman, Principal,
Olney-Bissel School. Principal Dahlman shared information (enrollment, transition to
the high school, staffing, budget considerations, program offerings…) regarding the
middle-school program they have at Olney-Bissell. Will discuss next steps further at the
next Board meeting.
III. Minutes. Julie Tikka moved and Joanna Massie seconded approval of the minutes of the
14 February 2019 Regular & 19 February 2019 special meetings. Motion passed
unanimously.
IV. Public Participation / Correspondence.
A. An email from Annette Floyd was shared, which included a recent news report on Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth and possible link to cancer.
B. Gloria Graves, representing Friends of Creston Fire, presented information regarding
the upcoming Auction in April and the use of our school facilities.
V. Information Item:
A. Lawsuit William Rogers re. Wi-Fi Tower Installation – Update. Copies of documents
provided for information:
1. February 12, 2019 Order Dismissing with Prejudice
VI. Reports:
A. Clerk. Statement of Expenditure through 14 March 2019 was presented. General Fund
is at 59% Committed. Total of all funds is at 46% Committed. Also, the OPI Pre-
Session Preliminary Budget Data Sheet for FY 2019-2020 was provided for information.
B. Principal. Student Enrollment is 102. Kindergarten Roundup is April 24th. Shanta
Milne, Jen Johnson and Tami Ward will attend a NWRISE Conference for Teacher
Professional Development in June. Fourth grade students have begun CRT
assessments. Teaching Assignments for 2019/2020 were shared. Education
Cooperative, Special Education Cooperative and Crossroads updates were given.
Building Maintenance, Facility Conditions and Safety Committee reports were shared.
C. Staff. Jen Johnson shared the staff report via a Google slides presentation.
D. 4th grade Class Presentation @ 8:00 a.m. – Student/Teacher Reader’s Theatre based
on Colonial Times.
VII. Policies: nil.
VIII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Resignation of S. Peters and approval to hire part-time custodian for 2019/2020. S.
Peters has resigned her position as our custodian effective June 7th, 2019. Julie Tikka
moved and Joanna Massie seconded to approve beginning the hiring process for a
part-time custodian, either an individual or a contractor for 2019-2020. Motion passed
unanimously.
B. Approval to begin hiring process for a .5 “Specials” Teacher for 2019/2020. A
recommendation was put forward, based on the preliminary budget from OPI, to attempt
to hire a .5 Teacher to teach Music, and other “specials”. Both a .2 Music Teacher and
a .5 “Specials” Teacher will be advertised at the same time to acquire a larger pool of
applicants. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved and Joanna Massie seconded approval
to begin the hiring process for a .5 Teacher to teach “specials” for 2019-2020. Motion
passed unanimously.
C. Coaching Contract – Cross-Country, E. Russell. Emily Russell, 6th grade teacher, has
agreed to coach our K-6 team. The rate is $400 (salary and mileage allowance). Julie
Tikka moved and Joanna Massie seconded approving the coaching contract as
presented. Motion passed unanimously.
D. Fiscal Year 18 Audit Engagement Agreement with Nicole M. Noonan, CPA. Jessica
Sandven-Sorensen moved and Julie Tikka seconded to accept the FY18 Audit
Engagement Agreement as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
E. Preliminary FY20 General Fund Budget Scenarios. This Preliminary Budget was
provided to the Board to assist in decision making for Teacher Negotiations. No motion
needed.
F. Teacher Negotiations/CBA. Creston Education Association (CEA) teachers requested
changes to the salary schedule including a base salary increase for the 2019/2020 and
2020/2021 school years and increasing 2 additional Degree Plus Credit lanes to the
salary schedule. Julie Tikka moved and Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded to offer
the Teachers of the CEA a one-year 3% increase on the current base salary schedule
for the 2019/2020 school year and increasing 2 additional lanes of BA + 75, BA +90,
and MA +75 and MA + 90. Motion passed unanimously. The CEA will need to meet
and vote on the counter-offer.
G. Trustee Resolution SB 307 – Estimating changes in revenues/mills from tuition, building
reserve, transportation and bus depreciation levies for 2019-2020. (The full resolution
was presented and is available for review.) Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved and
Joanna Massie seconded to accept the SB307 Resolution as presented. Motion
passed unanimously.
H. Calendar 2019-2020. Two options were presented. Option 1 followed Kalispell School
District beginning and end date. Option 2 begin date was after Labor Day and end date
was 3 days later than Kalispell. Julie Tikka moved and Jessica Sandven-Sorensen
seconded to accept the Option 1 calendar for the 2019-2020 school year. Motion
passed unanimously.
I. NW MT Educational Cooperative for 2019 – 2021 – Intention to Participate. This
Cooperative provides support services to its member districts to fulfill the requirements
of the Montana Standards of Accreditation including formulating and implementing
curriculum. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved and Joanna Massie seconded approval
to participate in the NW MT Educational Cooperative for 2019 -2021. Motion passed
unanimously.
J. Equipment Disposal Resolution – BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees …, will
sell or dispose of obsolete equipment because they have become undesirable, or
unsuitable for school purposes of the district. A list of said property … is available at the
District Clerk’s Office, … (The full resolution was presented and is available for review.)
Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved and Julie Tikka seconded approval of the resolution
as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
K. Creston Scholarship Committee Formation. Two $250 Scholarships are available to
graduating High School Seniors who attended Creston Elementary School. The
Committee includes one Board Member. Joanna Massie volunteered for the position.
No motion needed.
L. Substitute Teacher List – nil.
M. Transportation Contract(s). Joanna Massie moved and Jessica Sandven-Sorensen
seconded to approve the contracts as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
N. Before School Care Contract(s). Julie Tikka moved and Joanna Massie seconded
approval of the contracts as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
O. Out of District request(s). Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved and Joanna Massie
seconded to approve the agreements as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
P. Gym & School Grounds Use request(s). Randy Sundberg is requesting use of the gym
on April 20, 2019 from 9 am to 2 pm for the Flathead Firewise Council to hold a Living
with Wildfire Community Event. Joanna Massie moved and Julie Tikka seconded
approval of the request as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
IX. Claims for March 2019. Board approved all Claims for March 2019.
X. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 11 April 2019, 7:00 am Regular Meeting
B. Policy Meeting with MTSBA -TBD
XI. Meeting adjourned at 8:42 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Tammy Bartos, District Clerk Matt Hartle, Chairman