CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
FINAL BUDGET & REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
13 August 2020

MINUTES

I. Call to order. Matt Hartle called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:07 a.m. The meeting was conducted at the school as well as via a Zoom Meeting platform to allow remote access. Present were Board Trustees, Matt Hartle, Jessica Sandven-Sorensen and Barry Farrell. Absent: Arnold Bjork and Nevada Hafer. Also, in attendance were Tami Ward, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk and Jennifer Johnson, Teacher and CEA President. Public in Attendance: Jill Bauerle.
II. Minutes of 11 June 2020, 22 June 2020, 25 June 2020, 17 July 2020 and 31 July 2020. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the minutes as presented. Barry Farrell seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence – None
IV. Information Items:
A. Governor’s Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF). The document from the Office of the Governor regarding funding for schools through the CRF, as well as a copy of the Certification Form for the funding request was provided.
B. E-Bus Purchase – 2019 GMC Acadia. On 12 July 2020 the purchase of a 2019 GMC Acadia was finalized. A Cost Analysis was provided.
C. Video Surveillance/Door Access. Both of these systems are in process of installation. Installation is expected to be completed prior to the first day of school.
D. Septic System. Until such time that funds are available, or another plan is arrived at, we will proceed with pumping the system more frequently.
E. List of P-Card Users – required as per policy 7405. A list of P-Card Users was presented.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk. Financial Reports for fiscal year 2020 are part of the TFS and Budget Action Items.
B. Principal. Predicting student enrollment for 2020/2021 at or above 109. This year we will host individual class Open Houses instead of the usual Back-to-School Open House and dinner. Mrs. Ward continues to be in close contact with area administration, the OPI and health officials regarding the ongoing coronavirus outbreak – area administrators will continue to meet throughout the school year to brainstorm ideas and share resources. Monthly building maintenance checklists have been completed. We are in desperate need of substitute teachers; notices have been posted and emailed. At the recent August Technology Institute, staff were able to discuss, plan and agree on how we will assist students who are remaining remote, as well as other topics. Many of the teachers are also attending the STEAM conference and the NW Reading Conference this month. The full report was provided to the Board in writing.
C. Staff. Jen Johnson reported positive feedback from last week’s collaboration after the August Institute meetings.
VI. Policies:
A. Review MTSBA Policy Series 1900 – Revised for Instructional Year 2020-2021. None at this time.
B. Policy 3141 – Discretionary Nonresident Student Attendance – 2nd Read. Wording change to “may accept nonresident students in a class until class size reaches 90% or 80% of a small square footage classroom …” Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the changes as presented. Barry Farrell seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
VII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. TFS. The Trustees Financial Summary (TFS) and the Budget Report for 2020-2021 were not ready to be presented. These two budgeting agenda items were continued to 14 August 2020 at 1:00 p.m. 14 August 2020, Matt Hartle continued the meeting at 1:00 pm. Present were trustees Matt Hartle, Arnold Bjork, Barry Farrell and Jessica Sandven-Sorensen. Absent was trustee Nevada Hafer. Also, in attendance were Tami Ward, Principal and Tammy Bartos, District Clerk. Mrs. Bartos gave an update of the progress of both the Trustees Financial Summary for 2019-2020 and also for the 2020-2021 Budget. The reports are incomplete, and at 1:12 p.m. the meeting was again continued to 14 August 2020 at 5:00 p.m. 14 August 2020, Matt Hartle continued the meeting at 5:00 p.m. Present were trustees Matt Hartle, Arnold Bjork, Barry Farrell and Jessica Sandven-Sorensen. Absent was trustee Nevada Hafer. Also, in attendance were Tami Ward, Principal and Tammy Bartos, District Clerk. The TFS is the school districts official submission of annual financial information to the County Superintendent and State Superintendent. The 2019-2020 TFS was presented in its entirety. Arnold Bjork moved to approve the TFS for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 as presented. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Budget. See item A for information on the continuation of this item from 13 August 2020 to 14 August 2020. On 14 August 2020 at the 5:00 p.m. continuation meeting the 2020-2021 Budget report was presented in its entirety. A comparison to FY2019-20 was also provided. Arnold Bjork moved to approve the 2020-2021 Budget as presented. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 6:03 p.m.
C. Declare Emergency for Instructional Year 2020-2021. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved that “the Board of Trustees declare an unforeseen emergency with the meaning of that term as set forth in Title 20, Chapter 9, Part 8, to become immediately effective and to continue through June 30, 2021, or until terminated by a vote of the Board of Trustees. The declaration is necessary due to community and school health concerns related to COVID-19. The Board of Trustees authorizes the Administrator to take necessary steps to execute this declaration and inform the public and government agencies of this declaration.” Barry Farrell seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
D. Offsite Instruction for Instruction Year 2020-2021 – nil.
E. Records Destruction Document – Form RM88 – nil.
F. MOA with CEA. The Memorandum of Agreement with Creston Education Association is in process of being reviewed. No action at this time.
G. Face Coverings. On the afternoon of August 12th, Governor Bullock issued a directive regarding the wearing of masks in public and private schools. Mrs. Ward presented the Reopening document with the needed changes and added an appendix explaining the requirement. After a review and suggested adjustments Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to amend the Creston School Reopening document to reflect the requirement of face masks for staff, students and visitors in the school. Barry Farrell seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
H. Bus Route Change – Sweet Pea. Sweet Pea Outdoor School is in the process of making a decision about their after-school program, which may impact our afternoon bus route. Waiting for further information. No action at this time.
I. Staff Handbook. Kris Goss at MTSBA provided school administration with a draft staff handbook which was revised and then reviewed again by him. Some minor changes were discussed as well as some typographical corrections. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the Staff Handbook as presented with the discussed changes. Barry Farrell seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
J. Gym & School Grounds Use request(s) – None
K. Out of District Request(s) – None
VIII. Claims – June 2020 – August 2020. The trustees approved all claims as presented.
IX. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 10 September 2020, 7:00 am Regular Meeting
B. 8 October 2020, 7:00 am Regular Meeting
X. Adjourn. At 8:39 the budget portion of the meeting was continued to August 14, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. Please refer to items VII.A. and VII.B. for the minutes to that portion of the meeting.

Respectfully Submitted,

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Tammy Bartos, District Clerk

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Matt Hartle, Board Chair