CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
12 November 2020
MINUTES
I. Call to order. Matt Hartle called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:06 a.m. The meeting was conducted via a Zoom meeting platform. Present were Board Trustees Matt Hartle, Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Arnold Bjork, Barry Farrell and Nevada Hafer. Also, in attendance were Tami Ward, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, Nicole Noonan, CPA, P.C., Jennifer Johnson, 2nd Grade Teacher and CEA President, Emily Russell, 5th Grade Teacher, and Melissa Potts, 1st Grade Teacher.
II. Minutes of 8 October 2020. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the minutes as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
IV. Information
A. MSPLIP Inspection Report. Our Building Insurer did their annual inspection, this year he was only able to do an inspection of our playground. One recommendation regarding the monkey bars “…Bolts should not expose more than two threads beyond the end of the nut…” has been taken care of. The full report was provided to the trustees.
B. Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Audit Report. Nicole Noonan, CPA presented the Audit Report.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk. Statement of Expenditures includes payroll and claims through 11 November 2020. General Fund is at 23% committed and the Total of all Funds is at 26% committed. Accounts are reconciled to County Treasurer for July 2020. Fall Student Enrollment Count for Average Number Belonging was 103. Out-of-District students enrolled at Creston School on the Fall Count Date of October 5th was 32.
B. Principal. Student Enrollment is at 105. Mrs. Ward continues to be in contact with area administration and health officials who are meeting weekly to find solutions to current needs. Due to COVID and subsequent remote learning last year, the state has allowed schools to roll over Continuous School Improvement Plans from 2019/2020; our goals are to increase attendance in all subgroups of students and improve math and literacy achievement for all students. Two parent surveys were shared with the trustees: 1) to families who chose not to return to Creston School for the 2020/2021 school year; and 2) to our 63 current school families regarding student absences. The results will be used as we make plans for the 2021/2022 school year. Recent legislation requires the training of school staff to meet the needs of Title IX legislation. Mrs. Ward is attending MTSBA training this month so she can better support our school and staff with this implementation. Teachers completed half-day peer observations this month and reported learning so much from one another; also Mrs. Ward completed the first round of formal observations on our ten certified teachers. Due to remote learning this spring of 2020, all 2nd through 6th grade students have taken the progress monitoring assessments to provide more information regarding their progress. The results show students are gradually making progress in the area of math. Staff and students have successfully completed two virtual assemblies, our virtual book fair is underway, and we are in the planning stage of virtual parent/teacher conferences; we are learning new techniques and tricks every time. Substitute teachers, custodians, bus and maintenance continue to be in need – applications are available in the office.
C. Staff. Emily Russell shared the staff report via a Google Slides presentation; her Fifth grade was the focus class this month.
VI. Policies:
A. School District Policies 1st Half of 3000 Series – Informational Review. These policies were presented as a review only. No motion needed.
B. Policy 2110 – Revision – 1st Read. An update to strike lines 7 – 10 regarding the reviewing of state accreditation standards was presented. No motion at this time.
C. Policy 2151 – Revision – 1st Read. Recommendation to strike the provision of a syllabus on lines 18 – 19 was presented. No motion at this time.
VII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Add Bank Document Signer. Arnold Bjork moved to appoint Jessica Sandven-Sorensen as an additional bank document and warrant signer. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Coach Job Description. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to accept the Coach Job Description as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Reopening Plan Revision. 1) In following County Health and CDC updated recommendations: Remove references to staff taking temperatures prior to entering school grounds or boarding the bus and replace with parents to monitor their children at home for symptoms (pages 2 & 9); 2) Remove references to minilessons being recorded and replace with teachers to work with students who miss real time lessons (pages 3 & 5). A copy of the plan with revisions (exact wording) was provided. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen requested a communication to families to ensure they (families) are to be proactive in screening and monitoring their children. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the Reopening Plan Revision as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
D. Trustee Resignation & Declare Vacant Trustee Position. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to declare a vacant trustee position due to Arnold Bjork’s resignation and to fill the vacancy by appointment. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. Obsolete Equipment Resolution. Nevada Hafer moved to accept the resolution of disposition of abandoned, obsolete and undesirable property as presented. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
F. Custodian Resignation, Custodian Hire & Contract. Custodian C. Hill has resigned. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the hiring of M. Bilodeau as Custodian and also approve the 2020-2021 employment contract as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
G. Extra-Duty Contracts for Teachers – Remote Teaching. Teachers are providing real time lessons for students attending school remotely and occasionally there is time spent beyond the regular teaching contract for this. A list of teachers and their rate of pay was provided. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the Extra-Duty Contracts for Teachers Remote Teaching Extra Hours in Addition to their 2020-2021 Teaching Contracts as presented. Arnold Bjork seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
H. 2020 MSPLIP Program Annual Membership Meeting. Arnold Bjork moved to vote by proxy representation. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
I. Substitute List. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the Substitute Teacher List as presented for the 2020/2021 school year. Arnold Bjork seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
J. Transportation Contract(s) – nil.
K. Before School Care Contract(s) – nil.
L. Out of District Request(s) – 1) Students Reside in Creston School District, Choosing Placement in another District. Arnold Bjork moved to acknowledge receipt of the attendance agreements. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 2) Students Choosing Creston School Placement. Arnold Bjork moved to approve these attendance agreements as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
M. Gym & School Grounds Use request(s) – nil
VIII. Claims – November 2020. Arnold Bjork moved to accept the Claims Approval List as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
IX. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 10 December 2020, 7:00 am Regular Meeting
X. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:20 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
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Tammy Bartos, District Clerk
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Matt Hartle, Board Chair