CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
BUDGET & REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
8 AUGUST 2024
MINUTES
I. Call to Order. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:02 a.m. The meeting was held in the gym. Present were Board Trustees Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Twila Brenneman, and Megan Derrington. Absent: Barry Farrell and Nevada Hafer. Also in attendance were Rachel Stevens, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, Cindi Conley, Special Education Teacher and one community member.
II. Minutes of 13 June 2024 & 24 June 2024. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the minutes as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
IV. Information
A. List of P-Card Users. A list of current P-Card users was provided.
B. Speed Signs Highway 35 Project Update. There are two remaining signs to be placed – these are the flashing “school” speed limit signs. According to our local Flathead County MDT personnel, the sign to our east is scheduled to be completed in the next week; the sign to our west is in process and might be installed prior to the start of school, but that is unlikely and hopefully it will be done before the snow falls.
C. MSPLIP Safety Inspection Report. MSPLIP Loss Control Specialist, Kevin Smith, did a walk-through of our facilities on June 18th. The purpose is to provide us with an updated loss control assessment. There were two recommendations: 1) moving stored items away from the heating system; 2) place a marking strip across the outdoor step of the 1st grade classroom. A copy of the Inspection Report was provided.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk – nil.
B. Principal. Student Enrollment is predicted at 89. The Montana Office of Public Instruction has released the 2023/2024 accreditation status on their website; Creston School achieved Regular Accreditation Status. Most teachers attended the Missoula August Institute virtually. Teachers also have the opportunity to attend the NW Reading Council Literacy Conference prior to the start of the school. Teachers will also receive math professional development with Dr. Eliza Sorte Thomas on August 27. All teachers and staff will receive CPR/First Aid refresher on August 22. Mrs. Conley and Ms. Potts will be attending professional development on August 12 for the SIPPS (Systemic Instruction in Phonological Awareness, Phonics, and Sight Words) program. Mr. Hagen attended the Montana DRIVE workshop in June which included classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction. All teachers and staff will complete online annual safety training prior to September 14. Principal Stevens participated in the Egrants and MAPS assessment trainings earlier this month and will attend the library and counselor training next week. The crack seal and seal coat of the parking lot, seal coat of the bus lot and striping of both lots was completed in July. The annual Open House is scheduled for August 26; families will have the opportunity to meet the teacher, bring school supplies, sign up to volunteer or bring class treats, and socialize with other families on the playground. Summer building and maintenance projects are nearing completion; and the school facilities report was provided.
C. Staff – nil.
VI. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Trustees Financial Statement (TFS) 2023/2024. This is the district’s official submission of annual financial information to the County and State Superintendents. The report was provided in full. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the TFS for fiscal year 2023/2024 as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Budget 2024/2025. The report was reviewed, including expenditure budgets, operating reserves, reappropriation and levy amounts. Megan Derrington moved to approve the 2024/2025 Budget and the Apportionment of Ending Cash Balances Form as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Audit Contract 2023/2024 – nil.
D. Combining 5th/6th Grade for 2023/2024. Projected enrollment for our 5th grade is 12 and for 6th grade is 9, which puts us at 88% capacity for a combined class which is below the 90% maximum for nonresident capacity per policy. Megan Derrington moved to approve combining 5th and 6th grade for the 2024/2025 school year as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. Stipend for Combined 5/6 – Amended 2024-2025 Employment Contract – JH. Megan Derrington moved to approve the stipend and amended employment contract for a multi-grade assignment for Janessa Williams in the amount of $3,000 for the 2024/2025 school year as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
F. Amend 2024/2025 Employment Contracts for MP & BV from 0.8FTE to 1.0FTE. The recommendation for a combined 5th/6th class being approved creates additional financial resources. Two teachers’ contracts were reduced at the June 2024 meeting from 1.0 FTE to 0.8 FTE; only one of them is interested in amending the contract back to 1.0 FTE. Twila Brenneman moved to approve amending the employment contract of Melissa Potts for the 2024/2025 school year as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
G. Employment Contract & Stipend for New Aide 2024/2025 – HM. Twila Brenneman moved to approve hiring Heather Milleson as a Classroom, Playground, Lunchroom & Office Aide on a probationary status as presented and to approve the stipend as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
H. Extra-Duty Contract – Athletic Director 2024/2025 – TM. Megan Derrington moved to approve the extra-duty Athletic Director contract and pay rate for Teresa Mumm for the 2024/2025 school year as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
I. Extra-Duty Contracts – Coaching 2024/2025 – TM, MP. M. Potts to coach 5th/6th grade Boys Basketball as well as 5th/6th grade Girls Basketball; T. Mumm to coach K-6th grade Cross Country. Megan Derrington moved to approve the extra-duty coaching contracts for the 2024/2025 school year as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
J. Extra-Duty Contract – Manage Google Classroom & IT – JS. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the extra-duty contract and pay rate for Jamie Shanks to manage Google Classroom and assist with Information Technology for the 2024/2025 school year as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
K. Renewal of KPS Interlocal Agreement for 7th & 8th Graders at KMS. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the Interlocal Agreement with Kalispell School District No. 5 to provide educational services to our students grade 7 and 8 at Kalispell Middle School beginning July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2027, as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
L. Designation of Representative to the FSEC Management Board. Twila Brenneman moved to appoint Rachel Stevens, Principal, to represent Creston School District on the Flathead Special Education Cooperative Management Board for the 2024/2025 school year. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
M. Hold Harmless Agreements with Creston Fire Dept, Eastside Grange & Mountain View Mennonite Church. Megan Derrington moved to approve the Hold Harmless Agreements for 2024/2025 with the Creston Fire Department, Eastside Grange and Mountain View Mennonite Church. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
N. Formation of New Parent Group “Friends of Creston” to replace Creston Boosters. The new leadership team of Creston Boosters undertook the task of setting up the parent organization with bylaws and nonprofit corporation status and with that, the Creston Boosters was dissolved, and a new organization was created with the name “Friends of Creston School”. Twila Brenneman moved to recognize Friends of Creston School as the parent organization of Creston School as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
O. Staff Handbook 2024/2025. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the Staff Handbook for 2024/2025 as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
P. Substitute Pay Rates for 2024/2025. Megan Derrington moved to approve the pay rate of $14.25 per hour for a substitute teacher/aide and $17.25 per hour for a substitute custodian for fiscal year 2024/2025 as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously
Q. Substitute List 2024/2025 & Employment Contracts. Megan Derrington moved to approve the re-hire and new hire personnel lists and associated employment contracts for school year 2024/2025 as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
R. Sewage Line Repair. A local company completed an inspection of our sewer pipes in May. The inspection revealed three areas of damage and also some deformation of pipe – a complete report was provided. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the repair of the damaged sewage line by Clearwater Contracting, LLC for an estimated cost of $13,942.50 as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
S. Transportation Contracts – nil.
T. Before School Care Contracts – nil.
U. Out-of-District Requests. One attendance agreement request for a student that resides in our district, to attend KMS under a district-to-district placement in school year 2024/2025. Megan Derrington moved to approve the attendance agreement. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Attendance agreements for 35 students that reside in our district, to attend other districts in 2024/2025. Megan Derrington moved to acknowledge receipt of the attendance agreements. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Three agreements for students that reside in other districts requesting placement at Creston School for 2024/2025. Twila Brenneman moved to approve these attendance agreements. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
V. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests – nil.
VII. Claims Approval – Consideration of Action. Megan Derrington moved to approve the claims list as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
VIII. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 12 September 2024, 7:00am, Regular Meeting
B. 10 October 2024, 7:00am, Regular Meeting
IX. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:27 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
/s/Tammy Bartos, District Clerk
/s/Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Board Chair