CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
SPECIAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
23 June 2021
MINUTES
I. Call to order. Matt Hartle called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 8:47 a.m. The meeting was held remotely via a Zoom meeting platform. Present were Board Trustees Matt Hartle, Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Twila Brenneman, Barry Farrell and Nevada Hafer. Also in attendance were Tami Ward, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, Jennifer Johnson, 2nd Grade Teacher and CEA President.
II. Minutes of 10 June 2021. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the minutes as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
IV. Information Items:
1. ESSER Basics Presentation. Tammy Bartos, District Clerk presented on the various COVID-19 Funds we have and expect to receive.
V. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Flathead Crossroads Interlocal Agreement 2021-22. This is a standard contract that is being renewed for fiscal year 2022. Educational services are provided to students of participating districts who have been identified with chronic emotional and behavioral needs under IDEA, with the specific intent of building skills necessary to facilitate reentry into the regular public school setting. Barry Farrell moved to approve the Flathead Crossroads Interlocal Agreement for fiscal year 2021-2022 as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Classified Staff Contracts renewal or non-renewal 2021-2022 & Compensation. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the contract renewal and hourly wage of J. Hagen and M. Bilodeau as presented and to approve the intent to rehire agreements for R. Leighty and K. Miller as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. New Teacher Hire & Contract 2021-2022. Waiting on documents – no action at this time.
D. Advertise and Interview for a Part-Time Aide for 2021/2022. This is for a position in addition to the other aide positions. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the advertising and interviewing of a part-time aide for the 2021/2022 school year. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Nevada Hafer volunteered to serve on the hiring committee. Twila Brenneman moved to approve Nevada Hafer as the Board representative on the hiring committee. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. Auditor Proposals. Additional information is needed from those giving proposals, no proposals were provided, and no action at this time.
F. Principal with Superintendent Duties Salary Negotiation & Contract 2021-2022. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the salary increase of 1.5% and renew the contract for the 2021-2022 school year. Barry Farrell seconded; upon further discussion Barry Farrell moved to renew the contract for the 2021-2022 school year with a 3% increase to the salary. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
G. Clerk Salary Negotiation & Contract 2021-2022. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the salary increase of 3% and renew the contract for the 2021-2022 school year as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
H. Extra-Duty Contract for Principal and Clerk June 2021 & July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022. These contracts are to cover the additional duties over the summer months required to respond to and implement Covid-19 related tasks. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the extra-duty contracts with a maximum of 40 allowable hours for June 2021 and 80 allowable hours for July1 – August 31, 2021, and to approve T. Bartos compensation as presented and adjust the hourly compensation for T. Ward to reflect the 3% salary increase to the July 1 – August 31, 2021, contract as approved in her 2021-2022 contract. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
I. Revision of Reopening Plan. The plan initially created in July of 2020 in response to the global pandemic of Covid-19 has recommended revisions based on recent board action and to reflect current knowledge and recommendations of local health officials to limit the effect and spread of Covid-19 in schools. Barry Farrell moved to approve the revised Reopening Plan as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
J. Move to Phase III of Creston School Reopening Plan. As Covid-19 vaccinations increase and community case numbers are in a decline, resuming more typical operations in our schools is possible. Barry Farrell moved to approve moving to Phase III of the Creston School Reopening Guidelines for All Phases effective June 24, 2021. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
K. Safe Return to School and Continuity of Services Plan. Each school district that receives ARP ESSER funds must develop and make publicly available on their website a plan as per ARP guidelines. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the Safe Return to School and Continuity of Services Plan as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Nevada Hafer left the meeting at this time to meet other scheduled obligations.
L. Bus Route(s) 2021-2022 & Interlocal Transportation Agreements. Two routes with no changes, stops where students cross the road, and Interlocal agreements with Cayuse Prairie and Bigfork School Districts were presented. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the bus routes, stops with student crossings, and transportation interlocal agreements as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
M. Safety Transfer – sidewalks, telephone system, bus parking lot. To address expenditures for improvements to school safety such as those listed, but not limited to such. The complete Resolution will be noticed. Barry Farrell moved to authorize the administration to transfer up to a maximum of $45,000 from the 2020-2021 General and/or Transportation Funds to the Building Reserve Fund. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
N. Letter of Reasonable Assurance for Substitute Employees. Twila Brenneman moved to approve issuing letters of reasonable assurance to substitute employees. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
O. Staff Handbook 2021-2022. Revisions to the handbook were presented. Barry Farrell moved to approve the Staff Handbook for 2021-2022 as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
VI. Claims – June 2021 – claim run #2. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the claims as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
VII. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 12 August 2021, 7:00 am Budget & Regular Meeting
VIII. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 10:00 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
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Tammy Bartos, District Clerk
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Matt Hartle, Board Chair