CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
9 NOVEMBER 2023

MINUTES

I. Call to order. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:03 a.m. The meeting was held in the gym. Present were Board Trustees Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Megan Derrington, Barry Farrell and Nevada Hafer. Absent: Twila Brenneman. Also in attendance were Rachel Stevens, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, and Cindi Conley, Special Education Teacher.
II. Minutes of 12 October 2023. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the minutes as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
IV. Information
A. Speed Study – Speed Limit Highway 35 (P-52) – Creston Update. Most of the new speed limit signs have been placed. They (MDT) are expecting the arrival of the bouncing ball flashers soon and will place remaining signage as soon as possible – weather dependent.
B. Strategic Planning Process Update. The first committee meeting was held November 7. The team reviewed the mission and vision statements, core belief statements, and received an introduction to the Graduate Profile.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk. The monthly budget expenditure report was provided through 31 October 2023. General Fund is 20% committed and the Total of all Funds is 17% committed. Accounts are reconciled to the County Treasurer through September 2023. Miscellaneous Funds and Eastside Interlocal accounts were also reported. Professional Development: 1) completed the online MTSBA 2023 School Board Leadership Training and 2) attended the MASBO Seasons of Budget Webinar. Fall Student Enrollment Count for Average Number Belonging (ANB) was submitted; the reported enrollment was 104. The Out-of-District Attendance Report was submitted to the County Superintendent; based on the Fall Count there were 35 students reported. The Compensation Expenditures Report for FY2023 was submitted to the State. Auditor is continuing to work on documents delivered prior to on-site visit – the date of the on-site visit is pending.
B. Principal. Student Enrollment is 104. Mrs. Stevens attended training for the Integrated Strategic Action Plan (ISAP) provided by OPI on October 13; there is additional training in November. Two assemblies were held in October: Kindergarten through third grade students attended a fire prevention assembly hosted by the Creston Fire Department on October 11; and on October 27 we had our first awards assembly where teachers honored students; the 6th grade students are excited to volunteer to emcee the assemblies this year. Teachers participated in an IEFA professional development session led by Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Davidson, our IEFA coordinators. The first round of formal teacher evaluations using EPAS are in progress. Tenured teacher evaluations are scheduled to be completed in December; Non-tenured teacher evaluations are scheduled to be completed in February. Monthly building maintenance inspection has been completed with no recommendations and the School Facilities Conditions Inventory report was provided with updates. The safety committee held the first meeting in October and revised the Emergency Operation Plan. The safety team members will also serve as the threat assessment team and will begin to meet monthly. This month students and staff will participate in a food drive – a Bobcats/Grizzlies competition; all donations will be taken to the Bigfork Food Bank. Mrs. Stevens completed the Title IX: Compliance Overview training and viewed an Office of Civil Rights Webinar on How to Report Sexual Harassment under Title IX. The Crossroads Advisory Board met on October 26 and our next meeting is December 14.
C. Staff. Mrs. Conley, Special Education Teacher was present to share the staff report via a Google Slide presentation.
VI. Policies – Consideration of Action:
A. Second Reading of Policy Updates: 1009FE. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the policy as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. First Reading of Policy Updates: 1007FE, 1009FE, 1700, 2050, 2158, 2168, 2170, 2170P, 3110, 3121, 3121P, 3150, 3413F2. Policy 1009FE removed from this list. Policies reviewed. No action.
VII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. ARP ESSER Plan Review. The plan was updated to include 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 goals. Megan Derrington moved to approve the ARP ESSER Plan as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously,
B. Safe Return to School and Continuity of Services Plan Review. Plan was provided for review. No updates submitted. No action taken.
C. Emergency Operations Plan. The safety committee met and revised the plan. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the Emergency Operations Plan as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
D. Amerigas Price of Propane Agreement. The current agreement terminates the end of December, and more information is being gathered to present at next month’s meeting. Information only. No action.
E. Comprehensive Needs Assessment Surveys. As part of the data collection portion of the Strategic Action Plan, surveys need to be sent to our various stakeholder groups. A link to each survey was provided for review. The surveys have been developed by the Office of Public Instruction (OPI). Megan Derrington moved to approve the Comprehensive Needs Assessment Surveys as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
F. MTSBA FY25 Dues Revenue Estimate – nil.
G. Creston School Scholarship Offering to Graduating Seniors. One scholarship offering of $500 to a high school senior who is a Creston School Alumni and that is college or technical school bound. Monies from the Miscellaneous Fund are used to pay for this. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the scholarship as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
H. Post Custodian Job Opening & Form Hiring Committee. Mrs. Stevens has accepted the resignation of our current custodian. Due to this resignation, there is a need to post an open position for the remainder of this school year. A custodial service may be needed in the interim. Also, a trustee is needed for the hiring committee. Megan Derrington moved to approve the posting of a custodian job opening and to appoint a trustee to the hiring committee. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Barry Farrell volunteered to serve on the hiring committee and Nevada Hafer volunteered as a backup if needed.
I. Substitute List. Barry Farrell moved to approve the new hire substitute teacher/aide/custodian list as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
J. Transportation Contracts – nil.
K. Before School Care Contracts – nil.
L. Out-of-District Requests. Attendance agreements for two students that reside in our district and are attending Kalispell Middle School under a District-to-District placement. Nevada Hafer moved to approve these attendance agreements. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Attendance agreements for forty-six students, grades K-8, that reside in our district, attending another district. Barry Farrell moved to acknowledge receipt of these attendance agreements. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously. One attendance agreement for a student residing in another district, requesting Creston School as school of choice. Megan Derrington moved to approve this attendance agreement. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
M. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests – nil.
VIII. Claims Approval – Consideration of Action. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the claims list as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
IX. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 14 December 2023, 7:00 am, Regular Meeting
B. 11 January 2024, 7:00 am, Regular Meeting
X. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:16 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

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