CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
12 September 2019
MINUTES

I. Call to order. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen called the Board of Trustees Meeting to order at 7:04 a.m. in the Creston School Library. The following members were present: Joanna Massie and Arnold Bjork. Absent: Matt Hartle – planned absence; Shawn McDonough – planned absence. Also in attendance: Tammy Bartos – District Clerk, Tammy Ward – Principal, Jen Johnson – 2nd grade teacher.
II. Minutes of 12 August 2019, 4 September 2019 & 9 September 2019. Joanna Massie moved and Arnold Bjork seconded approval of the minutes as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
IV. Information Item:
A. Wi-Fi Tower Installation – Update. We’ve had a successful start to the year regarding accessible internet. Tami Ward will meet with MontanaSky later this month to help plan landscaping at the site.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk. Statement of Expenditure includes payroll and claims through 12 September 2019. General Fund is at 10% committed. Grand Total of all funds is at 9% committed.
B. Principal. Student Enrollment is at 117. Building Maintenance and Facility Conditions reports were given and shared with the Board. Our liability insurance company has advised us to replace our wooden bleachers and that a 12” landing pad should be placed under our climbing wall and cargo net. A grant application, to help cover the costs of these updates, has been submitted to Flathead Electric Cooperative for aluminum bleachers and the recommended landing pad. Teachers and Tami learned strategies for technology integration at the August Technology Institute in Missoula – these strategies are already being implemented in some of our classrooms. Our 4th grade students took the Science Criterion Reference Test (CRT) last spring and results show that 90% of our students are proficient or advanced in science concepts. Tami provided a substitute teacher training this month, this is the first time she’s done that and felt it was a successful training.
C. Staff. Jen Johnson reported that teachers are following the practices of the Responsive Classroom outline in the book The First Six Weeks of School. This has resulted in a calm and positive start to the school year as routines are being established.
VI. Policies:
A. 2221, 7320, 7405 and policies and forms for purchasing policies– 2nd reading. Joanna Massie moved and Arnold Bjork seconded approval of the policies, forms and procedures as presented and also executing individual teacher/staff p-card use agreements. Motion passed unanimously.
VII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Representation at MSGIA’s Annual Meeting (our Worker’s Compensation Insurer). An RSVP or the option to be represented by proxy to MSGIA’s Annual Meeting was presented, as was the Election of Directors. Joanna Massie moved and Arnold Bjork seconded approval to be represented and vote by proxy and accept the four nominees as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Substitute Teachers List. A list of new hire personnel was given. Arnold Bjork moved and Joanna Massie seconded approval of the substitute teacher list as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Transportation Contract(s). Thirty contracts were presented (rider eligibility: 9 – eligible, 13 – ineligible, 8 – out-of-district.). Joanna Massie moved and Arnold Bjork seconded approval of the transportation contracts as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
D. Before School Care Contract(s). Thirteen contracts are included in this request. Joanna Massie moved and Arnold Bjork seconded approval of the before school care contracts as presented.
E. Out of District Request(s). Five students residing in our district, choosing to attend school in another district. Joanna Massie moved and Arnold Bjork seconded acknowledgement of receipt of these attendance agreements. Motion passed unanimously. Thirty-nine students requesting Creston School as their school of choice/placement. Joanna Massie moved and Arnold Bjork seconded approval of these attendance agreements. Motion passed unanimously.
Gym & School Grounds Use Request(s). First request: Bigfork Girl Scout Troop #3302 requesting use of the gym every other Friday starting 10/4/2019 through the end of May 2020, from 4:30 – 6:00pm to hold Girl Scout meetings. Joanna Massie moved and Arnold Bjork seconded approval of this gym use request as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Second request: Arrowsmith Family requesting use of the gym Tuesday’s and Thursday’s, January 2, 2020 – April 30, 2020, from 6:00 – 7:00 pm to do indoor exercises/activities for preparation of Spring baseball. Joanna Massie moved and Arnold Bjork seconded approval of this gym use request with the exception that there will be no hitting of baseballs and a net must be used for throwing practice. Motion passed unanimously.
VIII. Claims September 2019. Board approved all claims as presented.
IX. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 10 October 2019, 7:00 am Regular Meeting
X. Adjourn, then … Closed Session for Principal Goals / Evaluation

Respectfully Submitted,

Tammy Bartos, District Clerk Matt Hartle, Board Chair