CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
BUDGET & REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
14 AUGUST 2025

MINUTES

I. Call to Order. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:06 a.m. The meeting was held in the gym. Present were Board Trustees Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Twila Brenneman, Megan Derrington and Barry Farrell. Nevada Hafer was absent. Also in attendance were Dr. Cheryl Peterson, Principal, Gina McWilliam, District Clerk, Cindi Conley, Special Education/Title Teacher.
II. Minutes of 12 June 2025. Barry Farrell 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. Review of East Side Valley Interlocal Agreement proposed changes were reviewed.
C. Hiring Committee Update. Applications for the open positions of Custodian, Maintenance, and Bus Driver have been received. Interviews are being coordinated.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk – The summer was spent ordering and receiving supplies and materials for the upcoming school year; facilitating routine annual school maintenance such as carpet and window cleaning; transferring and receiving student records and preparing enrollment records; and preparing the Trustee’s Financial Statement and Budget for the 2025/2026 fiscal year.
B. Principal – Updates were provided on teacher professional development and safety training. Principal has attended several training sessions including Homeless Liaison, Egrants, Library and Counselor. The school Open House is scheduled for 8/25/25 from 6 to 7 p.m. A complete Principal’s report is attached to these minutes.
C. Staff – Cindi Conley gave an update on summer maintenance.
VI. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Trustees Financial Statement (TFS) 2024/2025. 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 2024/2025 as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Budget 2025/2026. The report was reviewed, including expenditure budgets, operating reserves, reappropriation and levy amounts. Barry Farrell moved to approve the 2025/2026 Budget and the Apportionment of Ending Cash Balances Form as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Abstract of Water Right Claim & Consultant Review – nil.
D. Designation of Representative to the FSEC Management Board. Megan Derrington moved to appoint Dr. Cheryl Peterson, Principal, to represent Creston School District on the Flathead Special Education Cooperative Management Board for the 2025/2026 school year. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. Designation of Representative to the Crossroads Advisory Board. Barry Farrell moved to appoint Dr. Cheryl Peterson, Principal, to represent Creston School District on the Crossroads Advisory Board for the 2025/2026 school year. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
F. Hold Harmless Agreements with Creston Fire Dept, Eastside Grange & Mountain View Mennonite Church. Megan Derrington moved to approve the Hold Harmless Agreements for 2025/2026 with the Creston Fire Department, Eastside Grange and Mountain View Mennonite Church. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
G. Amend 2025/2026 Employment Contract for Rachel Leighty to reflect the correct rate of pay. Barry Farrell moved to accept the amended contract to reflect the correct rate of pay for Rachel Leighty as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
H. Substitute List 2025/2026 & Employment Contracts. Megan Derrington moved to approve the re-hire substitute teacher/aide/custodian list and associated employment contracts for school year 2025/2026 as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
I. Bus Service for 2025/2026. Contracts for third-party vendors to provide bus service for 2025/2026 were presented. Megan Derrington moved to continue trying to hire our own bus driver and if necessary, begin school in the fall with no bus service. Twila Brennaman seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
J. Records Destruction RM88 – Financial Documents. Barry Farrell moved to approve records destruction request as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
K. MTSBA 2025 Annual Meeting Ballot – – Information regarding the ballot was provided. Megan Darrington moved to appoint Jessica Sandven-Sorensen as representative for the Creston School District Board of Trustees. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
L. Maternity Leave Request – SBM. A copy of the written request for maternity leave was provided. Barry Farrell moved to accept the maternity request as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
M. Transportation Contracts – Nine contracts were presented. Barry Farrell moved to accept the contracts. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
N. Before School Care Contracts – Six contracts were presented. Megan Derrington moved to accept the contracts. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
O. Out-of-District Requests. Attendance agreements for 11 students that reside in our district, to attend other districts in 2025/2026. Megan Derrington moved to acknowledge receipt of the attendance agreements. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
VII. Claims Approval – Consideration of Action. Megan Derrington moved to approve the claims list as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
VIII. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 11 September 2025, 7:00am, Regular Meeting
B. 9 October 2025, 7:00am, Regular Meeting
IX. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:59 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

/s/Gina McWilliam, District Clerk

/s/Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Board Chair

CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
12 JUNE 2025, 7:00 AM

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, Barry Farrell and Nevada Hafer. Absent: Megan Derrington. Also in attendance were Rachel Stevens, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, Gina McWilliam, District Clerk in training, Dr. Cheryl Peterson incoming Principal, and Melissa Potts, teacher.
II. Minutes of 8 May and 21 May 2025. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the minutes as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence – thank you card from scholarship recipient Malia Simonson. Also, a thank you card from Flathead High School for the scholarship opportunity.
IV. Information
A. 2024/2025 OPI Accreditation Report. The Montana Office of Public Instruction confirmed Creston School met state assurance and student performance standards.
B. ESSA School Report Card 2023/2024. The report card was provided and our designation is Universal Support.
C. Hiring Committee Update. We currently have job openings for custodian, maintenance, and bus driver. We are advertising in several locations.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk. The Statement of Expenditure was provided through the end of May 2025. The General Fund is 89% committed and the Total of all funds is 68% committed. Accounts are reconciled to the County Treasurer through April 2025. Nicole Noonan, CPA, who was scheduled to conduct an audit for Fiscal Year 2023/2024, will not be available until November 2025. The recommendation is we maintain our current two-year cycle for audits. Recent professional development included MTSBA training, participation in MASBO web discussions, and training with the Black Mountain software program.
B. Principal. Student Enrollment is 85. REAP/SRSA grant award application process opened on May 13, 2025. A grant application was submitted on May 15, 2025. The Health Insurance Trust will send cost proposals in August and September, allowing districts September and October to discuss and review the proposals. If we choose to enroll, we must commit by November 1, 2025, with enrollment effective July 1, 2026. Options for bus fuel have been presented. Third through sixth grade students completed MAST assessments; individual reports are available to parents through the MAST portal. A summative report is expected to be made available to districts in summer 2025. Email migration is still a work in progress. The district will continue to work with Montanasky on this effort. ELA and MAP assessments have been completed. For the first time this year five Creston alumni, who are now graduating seniors, participated in the local tradition known as Senior Walk. Our students lined the halls and applauded for the seniors as they walked by. Routine maintenance on the school and grounds is scheduled this summer including lane striping for the parking lot and roof maintenance. A facilities inventory report was provided. Spirit Days was the last week of school with students and staff participating. The Friends of Creston provided an end of year lunch for staff and students and teachers. A report of Creston School Goals 2024/2025 and end of year benchmark assessment data was also provided.
VI. Policies – Consideration of Action:
A. Job Description Updates for Bus Driver and Maintenance. These job descriptions were reviewed and an update to the Maintenance job description is recommended. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the revised job description for Maintenance Worker as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Revise/Update All Specific Name References in Policies to New Principal Effective 7/1/2025. Specific name references to the principal will need to be made. Nevada Hafer moved to approve revising all specific name references in the policy manual from Rachel Stevens to Dr. Cheryl Peterson effective July 1, 2025. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
VII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Appoint New District Clerk – GM. Twila Brenneman moved to appoint Gina McWilliam as District Clerk effective June 12, 2025. Also, approve Gina McWilliam to sign District warrants and documents, and conduct necessary changes to bank accounts, purchase cards, vendor accounts, etc. on behalf of Creston School District #9; Tammy Bartos is to be removed as a signer from such documents and accounts. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Extra-Duty Contracts 2025/2026 Coaching & Athletic Director -TM, MP. Barry Farrell moved to approve the extra duty Athletic Director contract and pay rate for Teresa Mumm as presented and the extra-duty Coaching contracts and pay rate for Teresa Mumm and Melissa Potts as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Extra-Duty Contract 2025/2026 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 as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
D. Extra-Duty Contract 2025/2026 Before School Program – CC. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the extra-duty Before School Program contract and pay rate for Cindi Conley as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. Stipend for Combined Class 2025/2026 – PD. The stipend for teaching a combined class was inadvertently omitted from an employment contract. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the amended employment contract for a Multi-grade Assignment for Pauline Davidson in the amount of $5,000 for the 2025/2026 school year as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
F. Business/Office Manager & District Clerk Contract 2025/2026 – GM. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the employment contract and rate of pay for Gina McWilliam as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
G. Classified Contract Renewal or Non-Renewal 2025/2026 & Compensation. Barry Farrell moved to approve the employment agreements and requested compensation for the 2025/2026 school year as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
H. Hourly Paid Classified Employees Bonus 2025/2026. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the bonus to the listed classified employees for the 2025/2026 school year as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
I. Substitute Rate of Pay for 2025/2026. Nevada Hafer moved the Board approve the pay rate of $14.85 per hour for Substitute Teachers/Aides and the pay rate of $17.50 per hour for Substitute Custodian for fiscal year 2025/2026 as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
J. Employment Contract to Consult, Train and Substitute in the Business Office 2025/2026- TB. Barry Farrell moved to approve the specific term employment contract and pay rate for Tammy Bartos for the 2025/2026 school year as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
K. Substitute Bus Driver Contract 2025/2026- JH. Barry Farrell moved to approve the substitute driver contract for Jeff Hagen for the 2025/2026 school year as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
L. Abstract of Water Right Claim & Consultant Review. The District received a preliminary decree for our water right claim. The DNRC found no significant facts, data, or issues to report; however, the period of diversion does not include the summer months. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the use of Water Environmental Technologies to do a review of our claim and provide assistance with completing required steps with the Montana Water Court to assure we are in compliance; should the expense exceed administrative authority, this item will be brought back to the Board for review. Barry Farrell seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
M. Staff Handbook 2025/2026. Minor changes, grammatical fixes, and updates are recommended for the 2025/2026 Staff Handbook. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the 2025/2026 Staff Handbook as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
N. Individual Transportation Contract Approval (OPI Form TR-4). Nevada Hafer moved to approve Individual Transportation Contracts #56645 and #56646. Barry Farrell seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
O. Interlocal Transportation Agreement 2025/2026 – Cayuse Prairie – Creston. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the Transportation Interlocal Agreement with Cayuse Prairie for 2025/2026 as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
P. Bus Route 2025/2026. Barry Farrell motioned to approve the bus route and stops with student crossings for 2025/2026 as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Q. Bus Driver Contract with Harlow’s for 2025/2026. A proposal from Harlow’s was received and at this time no action was taken. The district will continue to advertise for a bus driver.
R. Property & Liability Insurance Renewal with MSPLIP 2025/2026. The Property and Liability Insurance Renewal with MSPLIP for 2025/2026 is $14,843. Barry Farrell moved to approve the Property and Liability Insurance Renewal with MSPLIP for 2025/2026 as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
S. Transfer to East Side Flathead Valley Multidistrict Interlocal. The interlocal agreement allows for the flexibility to transfer funds from the District’s General Fund, and other funds as defined in 20-3-363 MCA. This allows for increased flexibility and efficiency of the District without an increase in local taxes. The amount to be transferred will be determined at the year end June 30, 2025. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the resolution to transfer up to a maximum of $45,000 from the 2024/2025 General Fund to the East Side Flathead Valley Multidistrict Interlocal Fund as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
T. Records Destruction RM88. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the records destruction request as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
U. Letter of Reasonable Assurance for Substitutes. Issuing letters of reasonable assurance to our substitute employees lets them know that we are giving them a reasonable assurance of employment for the year 2025/2026 on the same substitute basis that existed during the past school year. Twila Brenneman moved to approve issuing the Letter of Reasonable Assurance for Substitute Employees as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
V. Property Disposal Resolution. A list of broken, obsolete, and undesirable property was provided. The items would be disposed of after the required notice to the public. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the property disposal resolution as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
W. District Clerk Authority to Process Claims Summer Months. The District Clerk requires the authority to process claims through the summer months without convening a board meeting. A claims approval list will later be presented at a board meeting for approval. Twila Brenneman moved to authorize the District Clerk to process claims from June 13, 2025 through August 14, 2025 without convening a board meeting. Nevada Hafer seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
X. Transportation Contracts. Ten contracts for the school year 2025/2026 have been received and one contract for 2024/2025. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the transportation contracts as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Y. Before School Care Contracts. Six contracts were received for 2025/2026. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the contracts as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Z. Out-of-District Requests. There are seven students that reside in our district. Students will attend KMS, these are district to district placement. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the attendance agreements. Nevada Hafer seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Attendance agreements for two students that reside in our district, to attend other districts in 2025/2026. Barry Farrell moved to acknowledge receipt of the attendance agreements. Nevada Hafer seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Nine agreements for students that reside in other districts requesting placement at Creston School for 2025/2026. Nevada Hafer moved to approve these attendance agreements. Twila Brenneman seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
VIII. Claims Approval – Consideration of Action. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the claims approval list as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
IX. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 14 August 2025, 7:00am, Budget & Regular Meeting
B. 11 September 2025, 7:00am, Regular Meeting
X. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:18 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

/s/Gina McWilliam District Clerk

/s/Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Board Chair