CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
13 February 2020
MINUTES
I. Call to order. Matt Hartle called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:02 a.m. in the Creston School Library. The following members were present: Arnold Bjork, Shawn McDonough, Jessica Sandven-Sorensen and Barry Farrell. Also, in attendance: Tammy Bartos – District Clerk, Tami Ward – Principal, Deb Christiansen – Title teacher, Jen Johnson – 2nd grade teacher, Jack Eggensperger – County Superintendent and Gloria Graves – Creston Fire.
II. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Declare a Vacant Trustee Position. Joanna Massie has resigned her trustee position. Her term expires May 2022. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen motioned and Shawn McDonough seconded declaration of a vacant trustee position and approval to fill the vacancy by appointment. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Appoint a New Trustee. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen motioned and Shawn McDonough seconded approval to appoint Barry Farrell to the vacant trustee position. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Swear in New Trustee. Jack Eggensperger swore in Barry Farrell as a trustee.
III. Minutes of 9 January 2020. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen motioned and Shawn McDonough seconded approval of the minutes as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
IV. Public Participation / Correspondence.
A. Gloria Graves, representing Creston Fire presented information regarding the upcoming Creston Auction and Country Fair.
B. A letter from Tom and Cindy Countryman and Larry and Pat Duncan regarding R4Brothers, LLC Property on Hwy 35 (Robinson’s Brothers fourteen 4-plexes) was shared.
V. Information Item:
A. Candidates for Trustee Election may file a Declaration of Intent and Oath of Candidacy between Thursday, December 12, 2019 and Thursday, March 26, 2020. Trustee Positions Subject to Election in May 2020: Arnold Bjork – 3-year term, Massie/Farrell – 2-year term remaining, Shawn McDonough – 3-year term.
B. Video Surveillance Equipment/Door Access Control. Bids from Anytime Lock & Safe for video surveillance equipment and door access control were presented. Board policy will need to be in place prior to moving forward with consideration/installation of this type of equipment.
C. Additional Classroom Committee Findings. Tami Ward summarized the meeting held by the committee on January 30, 2020. The consensus of the committee was that enrollment numbers and class sizes support no immediate need to add space for 2020/2021. If the need arises in the future using a portable classroom was considered as the best option. For the foreseeable future grades with smaller class sizes will probably need to move to the smaller classrooms. The committee will meet occasionally to review enrollment numbers, class sizes and any notices of subdivisions that would affect our future enrollment. Next meeting will be in the Fall of 2020.
VI. Reports:
A. Clerk. Statement of Expenditure and Fund 115 Projects report includes payroll and claims through 12 February 2020. The General Fund is at 48% committed and the Grand Total of all funds is at 41% committed. Reconciliation to the County Treasurer has been completed for December 2019. Spring Student Enrollment Count Report was submitted – reported enrollment for ANB was 116. The Clerk Evaluation Tool was provided in advance for the March Board Meeting.
B. Principal. Student Enrollment is 115. Building Maintenance – the gutter heaters are working well and helping to prevent slippery sidewalks. School Facility Conditions Inventory Report was provided. Teachers are completing the final two chapters of Super Spellers. Mrs. Mumm attended the Music Teachers Curriculum meeting – the committee is looking to align and adjust the local music standards. The Mid-year math and reading benchmark showed growth in both areas across the grade levels (data was provided). The safety committee is in agreement and recommends an entry camera/card system and exterior and interior cameras. Education Cooperative – Gates testing for 8th graders have been completed and the Director is available to attend member district Board meetings. Special Education Cooperative – Remodeling is continuing on schedule. Crossroads – The program is starting to make plans for grade configuration for 2020/2021 school year; Students in this program continue to make progress in math and reading based on most recent assessment.
C. Staff. Jen Johnson shared the staff report via a Google Slides presentation which highlighted student work and projects.
VII. Policies:
A. 6000 Series – 2nd reading. (A list is attached.) Trustees reviewed policies in this series, taking into consideration MTSBA recommendations of which current policies to keep, modify or replace with MTSBA model policies as well as policies to add or repeal. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen motioned and Shawn McDonough seconded approval of the 6000 series as presented to replace our existing policies in this series. Motion passed unanimously.
B. 9000 Series – Repeal. (A list is attached.) Trustees took into consideration MTSBA recommendation to repeal this policy series as the needed policies have been reworked into other policies and policy series. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen motioned and Shawn McDonough seconded approval to repeal all 9000 series as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
VIII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Budget Amendment Resolution Due to An Unanticipated Enrollment Increase. The Resolution was presented in the amount of $9,049.25 with the source of financing to be Direct State Aid. The required notices have been posted and approvals received. Arnold Bjork motioned, and Shawn McDonough seconded approval of the budget amendment resolution as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Adopt Materials for Reading, Phonics & Social Studies. A list of materials that assist teachers in meeting the literacy and Social Studies needs of all students was presented. Shawn McDonough moved and Arnold Bjork seconded approval to adopt the materials for reading, phonics and social studies as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Trustee Resolution Calling for an Election. The Resolution in its entirety was presented to the Board. Summary of the Resolution: A regular school election for the purpose to elect three trustees – two, three-year terms and one, two-year term will be conducted by Poll Election on Tuesday, the 5th day of May 2020. Approval of additional levies to operate and maintain Creston School for FY 20201 will also be requested. If it is later determined that any portion of the election is not required, the election administrator is authorized to cancel that portion of the election. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved, and Shawn McDonough seconded approval of the Resolution as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
D. Calendar 2020-2021. A calendar which has been reviewed by the teachers was presented. The calendar is similar to that of Kalispell Public Schools. Shawn McDonough moved and Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded approval of the 2020-2021 calendar as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
E. Teacher Negotiations/CBA. Jen Johnson, CEA President, presented two changes to the CBA regarding sick leave: 1) change roll over of sick leave from 70 to 80 days (section 10.2.1) and 2) increase sick leave from 10 to 12 days (section 10.2.1); also to revisit monetary related negotiations after receiving and reviewing the preliminary budget. Shawn McDonough moved and Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded approval of the sick leave changes to the CBA as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
F. Hiring for Long-Term Substitute for 6th Grade – Spring 2020. Shawn McDonough moved and Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded approval to begin the hiring process for a long-term substitute teacher for the 6th grade as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
G. Modified Contract for A. Hess for Remainder of 2019-20 School Year. Not needed – no action taken.
H. Hiring for a 1.0 Teacher for 2020/2021 (a one-year contract for Hess-Headlee leave). A. Hess-Headlee will be on maternity leave the 2020/2021 school year – leave approved at the January 2020 Board Meeting. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved and Shawn McDonough seconded approval to begin the hiring process for a one-year, 1.0 FTE teacher for the 2020-2021 school year as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
I. Sale or Trade-In of Bus. At the 14 November 2019 Board Meeting the trustees approved the selling of our current bus. Shawn McDonough moved and Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded approval of the Equipment Disposition Resolution for the 2011 International School Bus as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
J. Revised Bus Route Addition – Creston/Intermountain. At the 14 November 2019 Board Meeting the trustees approved an additional bus route from Creston School to the Intermountain Day program. A correction to the description was presented to clarify the route is needed to and from Intermountain for a maximum daily total of 51.2 miles. Shawn McDonough moved and Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded approval of the revised additional route to and from the Intermountain Day program as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
K. Cross Country Coaching Contract. An employment contract for Emily Russell as the coach for the K-6th grade Cross Country season April – May 2020. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved, and Arnold Bjork seconded approval of the coaching contract as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
L. Substitute Teachers List – nil.
M. Transportation Contract(s). Shawn McDonough moved, and Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded approval of the transportation contracts as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
N. Before School Care Contract(s) – nil.
O. Out of District Request(s) – nil.
P. Gym & School Grounds Use Request(s) – nil.
IX. Claims – February 2020. Board approved all claims as presented.
X. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 12 March 2020, 7:00 am Regular Meeting
B. 9 April 2020, 7:00 am Regular Meeting
XI. Executive Session for Principal Evaluation. Board Chair Matt Hartle closed the meeting in order to protect the individual rights of Tami Ward, Principal. Upon re-opening the meeting, Shawn McDonough moved and Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded approval of Tami Ward’s mid-year evaluation and of the executive session minutes. Motion passed unanimously.
XII. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:47 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Tammy Bartos, District Clerk

Matt Hartle, Board Chair
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CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
R = required
6000 SERIES
ADMINISTRATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

6000 Goals
R 6110 Administrator Duties and Authority
R 6110P Administrator Board Job Responsibilities
6122 Delegation of Authority
R 6410 Evaluation of Administrative Staff
6420 Professional Growth and Development

Repeal all 9000 series policies – those needed have been reworked into other policies/policy series:

CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
9000 SERIES
ADMINISTRATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS
9001 Bus rental
9002 School home communications
9003 Playground inspection
9004 Commemorative Days
9005 Extracurricular – sport activity contract
9006 Students – health and safety – incident report
9007 Multi-disciplinary teams
9009 Technology mission statement
9010 Traverse wall