CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
SPECIAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
19 MARCH 2025

MINUTES

I. Call to Order. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen called the Board of Trustee meeting to order at 3:54 p.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, Cindi Conley, Special Education Teacher, Shanta Milne, Kindergarten Teacher, Melissa Potts, Title Teacher and Jen Johnson, CEA President and 2nd Grade Teacher
II. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
III. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Principal Contract 2025/2026. At the March 10, 2025, meeting the trustees voted unanimously to offer the Principal with Superintendent duties position to Cheryl Peterson, Ed. D. On behalf of the district, Elizabeth Kaleva presented the offer and negotiated a two-year employment contract commencing on July 1, 2025. Barry Farrell moved to approve the Principal Contract with Cheryl Peterson as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Trustee Resolution – Notice of Intent to Increase/Decrease Non-Voted Levies for 2025/2026
1. OPI Pre-Session Budget Data Sheet – report provided.
2. Preliminary General Fund Budget Fiscal Year 2025/2026 – report provided.
This is a required notice estimating changes in non-voted levies and listing the expected use of the Building Reserve State Major Maintenance levies. All funds were listed in the resolution to give a more complete overview of next year’s estimated levies. A preliminary General Funds Budget for Fiscal Year 2025/2026 and OPI Pre-Session Budget Data Sheet were provided and discussed along with the Resolution itself. The septic system upgrade was requested to be added to the notice. Barry Farrell moved to approve the Resolution. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Collective Bargaining Agreement Negotiations with Creston Education Association. Discussions regarding the information provided with the preliminary budget and requested item for negotiations. There are financial implications dependent on the outcome of the State Legislative Session and no final decisions were made. Discussion only.
IV. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 5:06 p.m.

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

CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
13 MARCH 2025

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, Megan Derrington, Barry Farrell and Nevada Hafer. Also in attendance were Rachel Stevens, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, Cindi Conley, Special Education Teacher, Shanta Milne, Kindergarten Teacher, Melissa Potts, Title Teacher and Jen Johnson, CEA President and 2nd Grade Teacher, and Nicole Noonan, CPA.
II. Minutes of 13 February, 26 February, & 10 March 2025. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the minutes as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence
IV. Information
A. Hiring Updates:
1. Part-Time Aide – interviews were held on February 5; however, the position remains unfilled; while the budget and enrollment for 2025/2026 are under consideration filling this position is on pause.
2. District Clerk & Business/Office Manager – Interviews were held February 28; however, the position remains unfilled; additional interviews are set for March 14.
3. Principal – Interviews were held March 10; we are waiting to hear back from Kaleva Law regarding the offer that was made.
Barry Farrell left the meeting at 7:20 a.m.
B. Audit Report. Nicole Noonan, CPA presented the audit report for fiscal years ended June 30, 2022, and 2023.
C. Special Education Division of OPI – Compliance Monitoring. OPI has determined that the district has met the standards for compliance – a copy of the letter was provided. Monitoring was to determine whether Creston is fully meeting its responsibilities to ensure that education programs for children with disabilities are administered in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Administrative Rules of Montana.
D. Fire Inspection Report. Both our main building and the annex were inspected on 2/26/2025. The inspections were approved with no violation noted – copies of the reports were provided.
E. Teacher Resignation – JW (aka JH). Janessa Williams (Harkins), 5th and 6th grade teacher, has submitted her resignation effective the end of this school year – copy of the letter and the acceptance from Mrs. Stevens were provided.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk. The Statement of Expenditure was provided through the end of February 2025. The General Fund is 53% committed and the Total of all funds is 43% committed. Accounts are reconciled to the County Treasurer through January 2025. Recent professional development meetings and trainings included Human Resources, OPI Tuition Reporting, and School Budget. Data entry of all current attendance agreements for district of choice in MAEFAIRS system has been completed – final data must be submitted after the last day of school and by June 30.
B. Principal. Student Enrollment is 82. Teachers participated in IEFA professional development developed by Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Davidson. Mrs. Johnson has agreed to volunteer to coordinate and supervise 5th & 6th grade student volunteers to serve as Creston Auction runners and selecting students is in process. The Family Event committee planned an Art Night that was held in partnership with the Artists and Craftsmen of Flathead Valley; the event was March 11 and was a success. On March 7 students selected books during a book swap; families donated books and Super 1 Foods donated reusable bags. Mrs. Johnson wrote and received the Karen Cox grant award in the amount of $494.88 for hands on, interactive spelling and phonics kits. The evidence for the Year 2 Accreditation Cycle was submitted to the Montana OPI on February 13. The CRDC data collection was completed, and the data was certified and submitted February 21. Monitoring for our Special Education program was in January and notice that the district met the standards for compliance has been received. The data collection for ESEA/ESSA monitoring is underway. Students and staff participated in a Shelter-in-Place drill on February 19. The Creston School Brochure was updated and will be provided at various locations/events. Monthly building inspections have been completed with no repairs recommended. The facilities inventory report was provided.
C. Staff. Teachers that were present provided additional information during the Google Slide presentation.
VI. Policies – Consideration of Action:
A. MTSBA 11/26/24 Policy Notes – 2nd Read: 5120F-Determination Form, 5120F – Dissemination Log, 5120P, 3311, 4332, 5223, 1240, 1332, 3141, 3416, 3612P, 3600F, 4340, 5251, 5334, 5450P, 7525; New: 5122F; Delete: 5120F-Notice… & 5120F–Re-Dissemination… Twila Brenneman moved to approve the policy updates as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
VII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Trustee Resolution – Notice of Intent to Increase/Decrease Non-Voted Levies for 2025/2026
1. OPI Pre-Session Budget Data Sheet
2. Preliminary General Fund Budget Fiscal Year 2025/2026
The information for this item will be provided/discussed at a future meeting. No action.
B. Collective Bargaining Agreement Negotiations with Creston Education Association – nil.
C. Student Handbook 2025/2026. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the Student Handbook for 2025/2026 as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
D. School Calendar 2025/2026. Two options were presented. Option 1 has a start date of August 27, and an end date of June 9. Option 2 has a start date of September 2 and an end date of June 12. Megan Derrington moved to approve option 1 of the 2025/2026 School Calendar as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. Begin Hiring Process for a 1.0 Teacher Position for 2025/2026. Twila Brenneman moved to approve posting an open 1.0 FTE Teacher position for the 2025/2026 school year as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen and Barry Farrell to serve as trustees on the hiring committee.
F. Property Disposal Resolution. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the property disposal resolution as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
G. Transportation Contracts – nil.
H. Before School Care Contracts – nil.
I. Out-of-District Requests. An attendance agreement for a student that resides in our district, attending Evergreen Crossroads. Megan Derrington moved to approve the attendance agreement. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously. An attendance agreement for a student that resides in our district, attending another district per request of the parent/guardian. Megan Derrington moved to acknowledge receipt of this attendance agreement. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
J. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests – nil.
VIII. Claims Approval – Consideration of Action. Megan Derrington moved to approve the claims list as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
IX. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 10 April 2025, 7:00am, Regular Meeting
B. 8 May 2025, 7:00am, Regular Meeting
X. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:32 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

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