CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
10 OCTOBER 2024, 7:00 AM

MINUTES

I. Call to Order. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:01 a.m. The meeting was held in the gym. Present were Board Trustees Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Twila Brenneman, Megan Derrington, Barry Farrell and Nevada Hafer. Also in attendance were Rachel Stevens, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, Cindi Conley, Special Education Teacher, Jen Johnson, CEA President and 2nd Grade Teacher and Melissa Potts, Title Teacher.
II. Minutes of 12 September 2024. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the minutes as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence
IV. Information
A. Speed Signs Highway 35 Project Update. An email from Rebecca Anderson, District Traffic Engineer, Kalispell, MT DOT, was received; and the information she provided is: the project is waiting for the electrician, but is definitely on the schedule, and Flathead Electric also has the project on its schedule for the hookup as soon as the electrical work is complete.
B. Aide Hiring Update – The job is currently posted for a full-time position; however, we have a current substitute interested in a part-time position (that will be addressed in the action item portion of the meeting). If the part-time hire is approved the position will be reposted as a part-time opening.
C. Audit Report – nil.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk. The Statement of Expenditure was provided through the end of September 2024. The General Fund is 11% committed and the Total of all funds is 9% committed. Accounts are reconciled to the County Treasurer through August 2024.
B. Principal. Student enrollment is 83. Teachers participated in a professional development session led by Mrs. Conley about dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia as well as the special education process and procedures required by the Flathead Special Education Cooperative. Several of our teachers applied for and received math and reading grants through the Montana OPI using the Donors Choose platform. Mrs. Stevens participated in training provided by OPI for school testing coordinators earlier this month; there will be additional trainings offered. Benchmark assessments for the 2024/2025 school year are completed for math and reading with the MAP growth assessments; students needing Title I services or other interventions were identified and are receiving services. The majority of staff surveyed are in favor of exploring the idea of a four-day school week; at the same time there is a UM study recommending returning to a mandated 180 school day year and it is a possibility this issue will be addressed in the coming legislative session. Our Safety/Threat Assessment team meets monthly; the members of this committee are doing double duty on this combined team; in the future this will be split into two teams to meet the requirements for the content of the meetings. Three safety drills have been held to date: two fire drills (one with the Creston Fire Department) and one bus evacuation drill. Teacher evaluations using the Teacher EPAS are scheduled and have begun. The monthly inspection has been completed with no new recommendations and the school facilities condition report was provided.
C. Staff. Jen Johnson, Cindi Conley and Melissa Potts were present to share the report via a Google Slide presentation.
VI. Policies – Consideration of Action:
A. First Reading of Policy Updates: Delete or Update: 3410F. A recommendation to change language regarding how screening results are provided; also, a recommendation to delete this form from the policy manual. First Read – no action.
VII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Hire P/T Aide – SM – Employment Agreement & Stipend. The original job posting is for a full-time opening; there have been no applicants to interview, and a current substitute is interested in a part-time position. Megan Derrington moved to approve hiring Sarah Motley as a Classroom, Playground, Lunchroom and Office Aide on a probationary status and approve the stipend as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. MTSBA to Review CBA and Associated Documents. We have consulted with MTSBA on specific changes when they arise; however, these documents in their entirety were last reviewed in 2019 with the Policy Maintenance review. While there are currently no specific issues to address, there has been interest in general for a review like this. MTSBA would require the trustees to sign a Labor Maintenance Agreement to do the review – a copy of their fee schedule was provided. There was discussion about the process and the consensus was to hold off on this for now. Discussion only. No action taken.
C. MTSUIP Annual Meeting. The annual meeting is October 18 in Missoula, no trustees will be attending. Information only. No action.
D. Transportation Contracts – nil.
E. Before School Care Contracts – nil.
F. Out-of-District Requests. Attendance agreements for six (6) students that reside in our district, attending another district. Nevada Hafer moved to acknowledge receipt of the attendance agreements. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
G. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests – nil.
VIII. Claims Approval – Consideration of Action. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the claims approval list as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
IX. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 14 November 2024, 7:00am, Regular Meeting
B. 12 December 2024, 7:00am, Regular Meeting
X. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 7:46 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

/s/Tammy Bartos, District Clerk
/s/Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Board Chair