CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
10 APRIL 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.
II. Minutes of 13 March 2025 & 19 March 2025. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the minutes as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
IV. Information
A. Safewater Testing Simplified Letter -New Drinking Water Regulation for PFAS. EPA has made a ruling that requires public water systems to monitor for PFAS; there will be additional sampling and laboratory costs for this new requirement.
B. Amerigas Kalispell Propane Dispenser to be Deactivated. The District has been notified that Amerigas will be deactivating the propane dispenser we use to fuel our bus effective 8/1/2025. Mrs. Stevens and Mr. Hagen are in the process of locating a new source for our propane needs.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk. The Statement of Expenditure was provided through the end of March 2025. The General Fund is 54% committed and the Total of all funds is 43% committed. Accounts are reconciled to the County Treasurer through February 2025. Recent professional development included the MASBO/MTSBA School Budget Symposium, MASBO Region 1 meetings, MTSBA/MASBO Employment Hot Topics Webinar and weekly MTSBA legislative updates. The Clerk evaluation tool will be sent out later this month. The United States Department of Education (USED) has released the 2023 Census data regarding population, and poverty estimates for all Local Education Agencies; they use this data to calculate school year 2025/2026 allocations under Title 1, Part A – Information was provided.
B. Principal. Student Enrolment is 83. The evidence for the ESEA/ESSA Monitoring was submitted March 31, 2025; upon completion of the review a report of the findings will be sent to the district. Mrs. Stevens has engaged staff in conversations about the transition for next year and the opportunities for growth and new experiences; she has also been in touch with Dr. Peterson to discuss opportunities to work together to assist with the transition in administration; (Dr. Peterson has stated she is looking forward to working together to provide a smooth transition for staff, students, and families). Fifth and sixth grade student volunteers served as runners for the Creston Auction – Mrs. Johnson coordinated and supervised this community service project again this year. Mrs. Stevens regarding the Creston Auction: “We’d like to express appreciation to the Creston Volunteer Fire Department for returning the gym and grounds in great condition; we value the continued partnership Creston School has with the Creston Volunteer Fire Department.” Kindergarten Round Up is scheduled for Wednesday, April 30, 2025; appointments are being scheduled. Mrs. Milne, Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Stevens will be attending a new math standards training provided by Montana Small Schools Alliance on April 16; the new Montana Mathematics Standards are scheduled for implementation in July of 2026 and the workshop will prepare for the implementation by exploring the new Montana Mathematical Practices Standards. 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. Revise District Clerk Job Description. To be prepared for the passage of new legislation in HB252 and to qualify for the payment provided for in the proposed revision of 20-9-327 MCA, an update to the District Clerk job description is needed. Barry Farrell moved to approve the revisions to the District Clerk job description as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
VII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Collective Bargaining Agreement Negotiations with Creston Education Association
1. Revised Preliminary General Fund Budget Fiscal Years 2025/2026 & 2026/2027.
A Pre-Session Preliminary Budget Data Sheet Including HB15 Inflationary Increases from OPI was provided along with a revised Preliminary General Fund Budget and Notes to such. Nevada Hafer moved to approve as discussed and presented as follows: 1) agree to a 1% increase to the base of the salary schedule for 2025/2026 and add language to section 11.1 of the CBA to meet the legislative goal for base teacher pay as proposed under HB252 and to 20-9-324 MCA and in the event HB252 fails to pass this language to become null and void; 2) agree to the increase in the multi-grade class stipend from $3,000 to $5,000; 3) agree to add a new section addressing a mentor program with compensation of $1,500 for the first year and $1,000 for the second year; 4) agree to the rewording of complaints section 6.5 as rewritten and presented today; 5) agree to the section 5.2 Procedure regarding grievances as rewritten and presented today; 6) agree to the grievance form and adding an appendix with appendix A – Grievance Form and Appendix B – Salary Schedule. (Note: the original item #2 request for an increase to section 11.4 Annuity was withdrawn at the 3/19/25 board meeting.) Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The negotiated items will be presented in full, in writing to the CEA for their response.
B. Open Teacher Position 1.0 FTE for 2025/2026. Other options have been developed to fill the position in-house and reduce the budget deficit; postponing hiring this position. Information only.
C. Trustee & Levy Election Cancellation. Our trustee and levy election has been cancelled. The trustee election was cancelled by acclamation. The notice of cancellation was forwarded to the appropriate county officials on April 4, 2025. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the election cancellation as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
D. Staff Handbook 2025/2026. -nil.
E. School Closure 1 April 2025 – Unforeseen Emergency. Due to extreme weather conditions and a power outage at the school we had an unforeseen emergency school closure on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Megan Derrington moved to approve a resolution declaring an unforeseen emergency cancelling school on April 1, 2025, this day will not be made up as per the provision of MCA 20-9-806(2). Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
F. District Clerk & Office/Business Manager in Training Hire & Probationary Contract. Twila Brenneman moved to approve hiring Gina McWilliam as District Clerk & Office/Business Manager in Training on a probationary status as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
G. Revise Summer Program Employment Contract – MP. An amendment to strike the wording/requirement of program days of Monday – Thursday; Mrs. Stevens and Ms. Potts will collaborate to develop a schedule that will still be the desired 12 days. Megan Derrington moved to approve the amended summer program extra-duty contract for Melissa Potts as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
H. MSSA Programs 2025-26 Letter of Agreement. The Montana Small Schools Alliance (MSSA) provides appropriately endorsed professionals to help our district meet the Library and Guidance Chapter 55 requirement. This request also includes the Curriculum Consortium Agreement to meet our Title II federal requirements. The agreement also includes the NWEA/MSSA Map Assessment Testing; the NWEA program meets the new State requirement for a research-based assessment tool and we will utilize testing for MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) growth & reading fluency. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the Letter of Agreement for MSSA Programs 2025/2026 as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
I. Bus Stop Request. Addition of a bus stop allowing students to cross the street. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the bus stop as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
J. Substitute List 2024/2025. Barry Farrell moved to approve the new hire substitute teacher/aide/custodian list as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
K. Transportation Contract. One (1) contract was presented. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the transportation contract as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
L. Before School Care Contracts – nil.
M. Out-of-District Requests. Attendance agreements for two (2) students residing in another district and requesting Creston School District as their school of choice. Megan Derrington moved to approve these attendance agreements as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
N. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests. A request to use the gym by the Many Lakes HOA for a Living with Wildfire Community Event, dates requested 4/18 – 4/19. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the use request as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
VIII. Claims Approval – Consideration of Action. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the claims list as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
IX. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 8 May 2025, 7:00am, Regular Meeting
B. 12 June 2025, 7:00am, Regular Meeting
X. Adjourn

Respectfully Submitted,

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