CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
14 MARCH 2024

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, 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, 2nd Grade Teacher and CEA President, Shanta Milne, Kindergarten Teacher and Janessa Harkins, 6th Grade Teacher.
II. Minutes of 8 February 2024. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the minutes as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
IV. Information
A. Teacher Hiring Committee Update. The hiring committee held interviews on March 12 and pre-employment steps are in process prior to presenting any recommendations to the Board.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk. The monthly budget expenditure report was provided through 29 February 2024. The General Fund is 51% committed and the Total of all funds is 42% committed. Miscellaneous Funds and Eastside Interlocal accounts were also reported. Accounts are reconciled to the County Treasurer through January 2024. Attended OPI/MASBO Election webinars on February 16 and March 1; and the Flathead Valley Business Managers meeting on February 15; completed CRISS training on February 13. District Clerk evaluation is scheduled for April. Spring Student Count was February 5 and was 102 (Fall count was 104); the ANB that will be used for 2024/2025 Budget Limits is 117 and it is based on the three-year average. Mail ballot plans for the May election cycle were sent to the Montana Secretary of State and approved on February 27.
1. MAEFAIRS Spring 2024 Student Count. The report was provided.
B. Principal. Student Enrollment is 102. Teachers participated in professional development for the Social Studies Alive! program on February 28. Mrs. Johnson is again volunteering to coordinate and supervise the 5th & 6th grade student volunteers from Creston School to serve as Creston Auction runners. The Family Event committee has been planning a STEM night for Thursday, March 21; families will be welcomed into the gym to participate in hands-on learning STEM activities – Thank you to Creston Boosters for supporting this event. Students selected books on Friday, March 1 from our Book Swap event; many families donated books; also, Super One Foods donated reusable bags for the students to collect their books. Our teachers have been giving back to the educational community by hosting pre-service and student teachers; currently we have a pre-service teacher in 6th grade and a student teacher will begin in 2nd grade later this month. On February 16 our students participated in interactive learning activities taught by the staff at Creston School for an IEFA Collaboration Day; there are seven Essential Understandings developed by the State that guided our activities. The CRDC report was completed, and the data was certified and submitted by the deadline of February 26. Students and staff participated in a Shelter-in-Place drill on February 20; after a debrief the crisis team made suggested revisions to the plan and we will hold another drill in April to test the proposed revisions. Monthly building maintenance inspections have been completed and the facilities inventory report was provided.
C. Staff. Mrs. Johnson, along with the other teachers that were present, shared the report via a Google Slide presentation.
VI. Policies – Consideration of Action:
A. Second Reading of MTSBA Policy Services Updates: 2151F, 3431, 5223, 5330, 8132, 1240, 1520. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the policy updates as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

B. First Reading of MTSBA Policy Services Updates: 3141. First Read only. No Action.
VII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Trustee Resolution – Notice of Intent to Increase/Decrease Non-Voted Levies for 2024/2025
1. OPI Pre-Session Budget Data Sheet – report provided.
2. Preliminary General Fund Budget Fiscal Year 2024/2025 – 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 Fund Budget for Fiscal Year 2023/2024 and the OPI Pre-Session Budget Data Sheet were provided and discussed along with the Resolution itself. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the Resolution as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Collective Bargaining Agreement Negotiations with Creston Education Association. Negotiations continued from the February 8, 2024, board meeting. Megan Derrington moved as follows: 1) regarding the Salary Schedule Increase, the trustees will meet again to further discuss the preliminary General Fund Budget for 2024/2025 and this salary increase; 2) agree to the request to increase sick leave days from 12 to 15; 3) decline the request to add a section for coaching leave and propose an alternative to increase the exchange of 2 sick days for 1 personal day from 1 day per year to 3 days per year. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The negotiated items will be presented in full in writing to the CEA for their response and a Special Board meeting was planned for 19 March 2024 to continue negotiation discussions.
C. Strategic Plan 2024 – 2027. The plan has been developed as a result of consultation with a range of stakeholders including parents, teachers, teacher’s union, staff, students, community members, and trustees. The Plan is guided by our vision, mission, and core beliefs and provides the framework that will guide us over the next three years. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the Strategic Plan for 2024 – 2027 as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
D. Request Renewal of KPS Interlocal Agreement for 7th & 8th Graders at KMS. Our seventh and eighth grade students attend Kalispell Middle School (KMS) under an Interlocal Agreement with Kalispell Public School District (KPS). Barry Farrell moved to approve the letter to KPS to request a renewal of the Interlocal Agreement for KMS as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. Custodian Hire and Employment Agreements. Twila Brenneman moved to approve hiring Cassandra Sydnor as custodian on a probationary status as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
F. Substitute List 2023/2024. Megan Derrington moved to approve the new hire substitute teacher/aide/custodian list as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
G. New Math Curriculum Adoption. Two math curriculum programs were made available to families and teachers to review: Math Expressions and Illustrative Mathematics. There is 100% teacher approval of the Illustrative Mathematics program; one public comment was received in favor of the same. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the adoption of Illustrative Mathematics as our math curriculum beginning July 1, 2024. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
H. Hold Harmless with Mountain View Mennonite Church. The Safety/Threat Assessment Team has suggested we have an emergency relocation shelter plan in place that is a further distance away from the school. Barry Farrell moved to approve the Emergency Relocation Shelter and Hold Harmless Agreement with Mountain View Mennonite Church as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
I. Bus Stop Request. A relocation of a bus stop to provide for a safer crossing. Megan Derrington moved to approve the bus stop request as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
J. School Calendar 2024/2025. Three options were presented; developed from the Kalispell Public Schools calendar and they all meet the state required instructional hours. Also, an option regarding the number of district provided teacher training days was presented. Twila Brenneman moved to approve option 1.1 as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Option 1.1 has the same start and end dates as KPS, 171 full instruction days and 9 early out’s (4 for teacher professional development) and 2 district provided teacher training days.
K. Student Handbook 2024/2025. Various revisions and updates were reviewed. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the Student Handbook for 2024/2025 as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
L. Property Disposal Resolution. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the property disposal resolution as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
M. Extra-Duty Teaching Contract for 2024 Summer Program. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the extra-duty contract for Melissa Potts to teach the 2024 summer program as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
N. Transportation Contracts. Barry Farrell moved to approve the transportation contracts as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
O. Before School Care Contracts. Barry Farrell moved to approve the before school contracts as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
P. Out-of-District Requests. Megan Derrington moved to acknowledge the attendance agreement as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Q. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests. Becky Toelke requested to amend her current agreement end date from April 1 to May 27; Many Lakes HOA requested use of the gym April 19 to set up and April 20, 2024, for a Living with Wildfire community event; and Many Lakes HOA requested use of the gym September 20 to set up and September 21, 2024, for their annual meeting. Barry Farrell moved to approve the gym use requests as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
VIII. Claims Approval – Consideration of Action. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the claims list as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
IX. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 11 April 2024, 7:00 am, Regular Meeting
B. 9 May 2024, 7:00 am, Regular Meeting
C. 13 June 2024, 7:00am, Regular Meeting
D. Addition – 19 March 2024, 7:00 am, Special Meeting
X. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 9:25 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

/s/Tammy Bartos, District Clerk

/s/Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Board Chair

CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
8 FEBRUARY 2024

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, Barry Farrell, and Nevada Hafer. Also in attendance were Rachel Stevens, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, Cindi Conley, Special Education Teacher, Jen Johnson, 2nd Grade Teacher and CEA President, and Melissa Potts, Title Teacher.
II. Minutes of 11 January 2024. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the minutes as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
IV. Information
A. Strategic Planning Process Update. The Strategic Planning Committee held the final meeting on January 16th. The Comprehensive Needs Assessment was reviewed, and a GAP Analysis was completed to determine areas of need. Based on the areas of need, the committee determined goals for the strategic plan. The team also determined the competencies for the Graduate Profile. The following documents were provided as information:
1. Comprehensive Needs Assessment Results
2. Draft Gap Analysis
3. Draft Strategic Plan
4. Proposed Graduate Profile
B. Custodian Hiring Update. The hiring committee held interviews on February 5th; and candidates are in the process of obtaining screenings needed prior to presenting a recommendation to the Board.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk. The monthly budget expenditure report was provided through 31 January 2024. The General Fund is 42% committed and the Total of all Funds is 36% committed. Miscellaneous Funds and Eastside Interlocal accounts were also reported. Accounts are reconciled to the County Treasurer through December 2023. Attended a meeting with the County Election Department on January 23rd; also, OPI/MASBO election webinars on January 19th and February 2nd. The auditor conducted the on-site portion of the 2021/2022 & 2022/2023 audit on January 26th.
B. Principal. Student enrollment is 102. Teachers participated in peer observation sessions related to district ELA and math goals on January 15th and 16th. Teachers also participated in a professional development /workday on January 19th where they debriefed the peer observation sessions and held discussions and research time related to math curriculum and a new assessment tool, information related to the strategic plan, and the Social Studies Alive! curriculum. Mrs. Stevens attended a Zoom training regarding the new accreditation tool for the Integrated Strategic Action Plan (ISAP) by OPI on February 2nd. Mrs. Johnson has written and received two math grants: one from The Karen Cox Memorial Grant for math stackers and another from The Montana Space Grant for STEM Lego sets. Mrs. Visnovske has written and received a grant for archery equipment for grades 4 thru 6 from the National Archery in Schools Program in conjunction with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. A summary of the Early Literacy Targeted Interventions options available to a school district through Montana House Bill 352 was provided. Bus service will not be available on March 21st and 22nd – families who use the bus will be given advance notification. There is a mandatory Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) which both Mrs. Stevens and Mrs. Bartos will work on together to submit by February 26th. The second required bus evacuation drill was completed on January 26th. Monthly building inspections have been completed with no recommendations for repairs. The facilities inventory report was provided. Math and ELA benchmark assessment data was presented.
C. Staff. Mrs. Johnson was present to share the staff report via a Google Slide presentation.
VI. Policies – Consideration of Action:
A. Second Reading of MTSBA Policy Services Updates: 1400, 1511, 2320, 3410, 3600F1, 3600F2, 3600P, 5121, 7320, 8110, 8125, 5231. Barry Farrell moved to approve the policy updates as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. First Reading of MTSBA Policy Services Updates: 2151F, 3431, 5223, 5330, 8132, 1240, 1520. A continuation of policies the MTSBA Policy Services team has prepared in response to legislation approved during the 2023 Legislative Session in addition to amendments to Chapter 55 as adopted by the Board of Public Education. First Read only. No Action.
VII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Collective Bargaining Agreement Negotiations with Creston Education Association. Discussion continued on the three items under consideration for the 2024/2025 CBA: 1) a 2% increase to the base salary schedule – a preliminary budget will be presented next month; 2) an increase in sick days from 12 to 15 days – a comparison chart of other schools in our valley was provided; 3) addition of language regarding coaching leave for out of district extracurricular coaching – expanded language was provided and it will be forwarded for review by legal counsel. No action.
B. Teacher Resignation & Begin Hiring Process for a 1.0 Teacher Position for 2024/2025. The resignation of C. Nutt effective at the conclusion of the 2023/2024 school year was accepted and acknowledged by Mrs. Stevens. Megan Derrington moved to begin the hiring process of a teacher position for the 2024/2025 school year and appoint two trustees to the hiring committee as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Megan Derrington and Barry Farrell will serve on the hiring committee.
C. School Closure 1/12 & 1/18 & Calendar Revision. Due to extreme weather conditions, there were two unforeseen emergency school closure days in January. Nevada Hafer moved to approve a resolution declaring an unforeseen emergency cancelling school on January 12, 2024, this day will not be made up under the provision of MCA 20-9-806(2). Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Nevada Hafer moved to approve a resolution cancelling school on January 18, 2024, due to an unforeseen emergency. A reasonable effort to make up the lost hours has been made by advance planning of 15.33 excess hours in the calendar, which more than covers 75% of the hours lost, and the day will not be made up under the provision of MCA 20-9-806(1)(b). Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
D. Election Resolution. A regular school election for the purpose of electing one trustee to a three-year term will be conducted on the 7th day of May 2024. The election will be conducted by mail ballot. Approval of additional levies to operate and maintain the Creston School general fund, technology fund and building reserve fund for fiscal year 2024-2025 will also be requested. If it is later determined that any portion of the election is not required, the election administrator is authorized to cancel that portion of the election. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the Election Resolution by mail ballot as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. FY 2021/2022 – 2022/2023 Audit Contract Amendment. A change to the date of completion from December 31, 2023, to June 30, 2024. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the audit contract amendment as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
F. Transportation Contracts – nil.
G. Before School Care Contracts – nil.
H. Out-of-District Requests- nil.
I. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests. The Creston Fire Fighter’s Association requested an amendment on April 4, 2024 to access the field at 12:30 instead of 1:30 and access to the gym on the same day at 3:00. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the request as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
J. Principal Evaluation – Executive Session. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen determined that the demands of individual privacy clearly exceed the merits of public disclosure and at 8:16am closed the meeting for an executive session to conduct the personnel evaluation of Rachel Stevens. The meeting was reconvened in open session at 8:58am and Nevada Hafer moved to approve the personnel evaluation of Rachel Stevens and to approve the executive session minutes. Twila Brenneman 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. Board Work Session
A. Handling Threatening and Unsolicited Communications. A discussion as to protocol on what do if you receive these types of communications on behalf of the school.
X. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 8 February 2024, 7:00 am, Regular Meeting
B. 14 March 2024, 7:00 am, Regular Meeting
XI. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 9:04 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

/s/Tammy Bartos, District Clerk

/s/Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Board Chair