CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REORGANIZATION & REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
9 MAY 2024

MINUTES

I. Call to Order. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:01 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 Cal Ketchum, County Superintendent of Schools, 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 April 2024. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the minutes as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
IV. Results of Trustee Election. The Trustee election was cancelled by acclamation. We had one trustee opening for a three-year term and one candidate filing. Elected by Acclamation was Jessica Sandven-Sorensen. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the trustee election results as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
V. Oath of Office for Newly Elected Trustees. Cal Ketchum, Flathead County Superintendent of Schools administered the Oath of Office to Jessica Sandven-Sorensen.
VI. Adjourn Meeting. This portion of the meeting was adjourned at 7:04 a.m. Cal Ketchum left the meeting at this time.
VII. Call to Order. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:04 a.m.
VIII. Reorganization of the Board of Trustees
A. Nomination and Election of Board Chair. Twila Brenneman nominated and moved to elect Jessica Sandven-Sorensen as Board Chair. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Nomination and Election of Vice-Chair. Nevada Hafer nominated and moved to elect Twila Brenneman as Vice-Chair. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Appointment of District Clerk. Twila Brenneman moved to appoint Tammy Bartos as District Clerk. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
D. Approval of Board Meeting Date and Times for 2024/2025 School Year. Nevada Hafer moved to continue having regular meetings at 7:00 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. Discussion of Procedures and Expectations. Items for discussion were special and emergency meetings, board packets and trustee resources.
IX. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
X. Information
A. Creston School Scholarship Committee. The scholarship was awarded to Tessa Troyer. She accepted the certificate of award at our school assembly on April 26th. The actual monetary amount of $500 will be given once proof of registration is provided.
B. ESSA School Report Card 2022/2023. A copy of the report was provided.
XI. Reports:
A. Clerk. The monthly budget expenditure report was provided through 30 April 2024. The General Fund is 67% committed and the Total of all funds is 54% committed. Miscellaneous Funds and Eastside Interlocal accounts were also reported. Accounts are reconciled to the County Treasurer through March 2024. Information about the auditor’s responsibilities and management controls on page 3 of the Audit Engagement Letter was provided. The year 4 data collection for ESSER compliance was submitted April 15th. Information about HB203 open enrollment, tuition receipts and the impact in the general fund expenditure budget was provided.
B. Principal. Student Enrollment is 102. The SRSA grant application has been submitted. Third through sixth grade students have been participating in the Smarter Balanced ELA and math assessments since mid-April and the testing is coming to an end; also fifth grade students participated in a science assessment; results will be shared when they become available. Kindergarten Roundup was conducted on April 17; predicted enrollment is approximately 14 students. A Learning Fair featuring kindergarten through sixth grade art, writing, projects, and music will be in the gym on May 23. A planning meeting for the 2024/2025 school year with the teachers was held in April. Creston School was selected to participate in the U.S. Department of Education’s annual survey on the use of funds under the ESEA Title II Part A “Supporting Effective Instruction – Subgrants to LEAs” program for SY 2023-24; the survey was completed in April. School Spirit Days will be held June 5 – 9; there will also be an ice cream social that week and a drawing will be held for our “I Love to Read” contest for three Kindles donated by the Kalispell Masonic Lodge #42. Mrs. Stevens attended a training in April regarding Title services and non-public schools. Monthly building maintenance inspections have been completed and the facilities inventory report was provided.
C. Staff. The report was shared via a Google Slide presentation and the teachers that were present at this meeting also provided input.
XII. Policies – Consideration of Action:
A. Review of Policy 1400 – Board Meetings. A review for information only. No action.
B. Second Reading of MTSBA Policy Services Updates: 1610. Twila Brenneman moved to approve policy 1610 as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. First Reading of MTSBA Policy Services Updates: 1420, 3410F, 2132, 3110, 5325, 8110, 8121, 8132, 3416F3; Delete: 2113, 7008. First Read only. No action.
XIII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Crossroads Interlocal Agreement for 2024/2025. The Flathead Crossroads Program provides a positive environment to meet the unique educational needs of students of participating districts who have chronic emotional and behavioral needs with the specific intent of building skills necessary to facilitate reentry into the regular public-school setting. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the Flathead Crossroads Interlocal Agreement for fiscal year 2024/2025 as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Reduction in Force. The school district is facing a budget deficit for the next school year and a reduction in staffing is recommended. The Reduction in Force Committee met on April 25, 2024, to review options. Barry Farrell moved to approve the recommendation to reduce both the Title 1 and Specials Teachers to a 0.8 FTE for the 2024/2025 school year as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Teacher Contract Renewals 2024/2025 including Renewal or Non-Renewal of Non-Tenured Teachers. Barry Farrell moved to approve the contract renewals for the list of tenured teachers for the 2024/2025 school year. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Barry Farrell moved to approve the contract renewals for the list of non-tenured teachers for the 2024/2025 school year. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
D. New Teacher Hire & Contract for 2024/2025. Twila Brenneman moved to hire Mary Moore as a teacher for the 2024/2025 school year, approve the intent to hire letter, and her teaching contract as presented, subject to and conditioned upon receipt of her fully executed Montana Teaching Certificate. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. 2024 MTSBA Annual Meeting. Information regarding the meeting was provided. No action taken.
F. Renewal of KPS Interlocal Agreement for 7th & 8th Graders at KMS. Waiting on Kalispell to forward the agreement. No action.
G. Resignations and Post a 1.0 FTE Classified Position for the 2024/2025 School Year. Mrs. Stevens has accepted the resignations of P. Choco and K. Hagen effective the end of this school year. This 1.0 FTE (reduced from 1.63 FTE) will provide staffing for various needs and may be filled by more than one person. Barry Farrell moved to approve the posting and hiring process to fill a 1.0 FTE classified aide position for the 2024/2025 school year as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the Hiring Committee and to appoint Barry Farrell to the Committee and to allow Mrs. Stevens to call upon a different trustee if Barry Farrell is not available when meetings are scheduled. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
H. MSSA Program Agreement 2024/2025. 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. New this year the request is to add 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. Barry Farrell moved to approve the Letter of Agreement for MSSA Programs 2024/2025 as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
I. Harvest Haying Agreement at 131 Creston Road with S. Wagoner. Steve Wagoner will harvest the hay and in exchange our property will have some needed maintenance – there is no exchange of money. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the haying agreement with Steve Wagoner as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
J. Parking Lots Seal Coat, Crack Seal, Striping Proposals. Waiting for additional proposals. No action.
K. Substitute List 2023/2024. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the new hire substitute teacher/aide/custodian list as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
L. Transportation Contracts – nil.
M. Before School Care Contracts. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the contract as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
N. Out-of-District Requests. Attendance agreements for 18 students grade K – 6, requesting enrollment in Creston School District as their school of choice for the 2024/2025 school year. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the attendance agreements as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
O. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests – nil.
XIV. Claims Approval – Consideration of Action. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the claims approval list as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
XV. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 13 June 2024, 7:00 am, Regular Meeting
B. 8 August 2024, 7:00am, Budget & Regular Meeting
XVI. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:16 a.m.

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

CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
11 APRIL 2024

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, Jen Johnson, 2nd Grade Teacher and CEA President, and Melissa Potts, Title Teacher.
II. Minutes of 14 March 2024 & 19 March 2024. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the minutes as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence. A letter from Gary Mahugh of Creston Fire was received with a thank you for the use of the facilities during the recent Creston Auction and appreciation for the partnership between the two organizations. Mrs. Stevens, replied in kind. A copy of the correspondence was provided.
IV. Information
A. Teacher Hiring Committee Update. The hiring committee held interviews in March and pre-employment steps are still in process prior to presenting any recommendations to the Board.
B. Audit Engagement Letter from Nicole Noonan, CPA. A copy of the document was provided to the trustees regarding the services that will be provided for the FY2022 & FY2023 audit.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk. The monthly budget expenditure report was provided through 31 March 2024. The General Fund is 59% committed and the Total of all funds is 48% committed. Miscellaneous Funds and Eastside Interlocal accounts were also reported. Accounts are reconciled to the County Treasurer through February 2024. Attended MASBO Region 1 Spring Workshop on March 21 and Election webinars on March 15 & 28. Our auditor plans to have the report ready for the June board meeting. The year 4 data collection for ESSER compliance is due April 15th.
B. Principal. Student Enrollment is 102. The Integrated Strategic Action Plan and all supporting documents were submitted to the Montana Office of Public Instruction on March 24. Fifth and sixth grade student volunteers served as runners for the Creston Auction – Mrs. Johnson coordinated and supervised this community service project. Teachers participated in IEFA professional development led by Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Davidson. Teachers learned about incorporating Native games and recipes into their lessons and also viewed and familiarized themselves with a newly created IEFA section in the library. Families engaged in a Family STEM event on March 21; they participated in activities such as tower building, catapult construction and others – a “Thank You” to the Creston Boosters for supporting the event. Two special assemblies were held in March: a quartet with the Glacier Symphony and Rob Quist and Halladay Blake with the Native Songs Program. Appreciation was expressed to the Creston Volunteer Fire Department for returning the gym and grounds in great condition; we value the continued partnership between the school and the fire department. Monthly building maintenance inspections have been completed and the facilities inventory report was provided.
C. Staff. Mrs. Johnson shared the report via a Google Slide presentation.
VI. Policies – Consideration of Action:
A. Second Reading of MTSBA Policy Services Updates: 3141. Barry Farrell moved to approve Policy 3141 as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. First Reading of MTSBA Policy Services Updates: 1610. First Read only. No Action.
VII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Addendum to Custodian Hire for Stipend. A stipend which is offered to all hourly paid classified positions to help maintain the operation and continuity of services at our school was presented for our new custodian; it is prorated based on FTE, and in this case paid out for May 1 and June 1. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the stipend for C. Sydnor as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Collective Bargaining Agreement Negotiations with Creston Education Association. On March 14 the trustees approved the increase in sick leave days from 12 to 15 as presented by the CEA; the CEA has approved the 1% increase to the base of the salary schedule as presented to them on March 19; and the CEA has approved the proposal to increase the exchange of 2 sick days for 1 personal day up to 3 personal days per year as presented to them on March 14. The CBA for 7/1/2024 – 6/30/25 was updated with all negotiated changes and was provided to the trustees. There was discussion, which included the CEA representatives present, to clarify the language in the CBA about when the exchange of sick to personal days can happen. Two separate motions were made regarding the CBA. 1) Nevada Hafer moved to add to the beginning of section 10.2.5 “Once all personal days have been used”. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Jen Johnson, CEA president accepted the addition. 2) Twila Brenneman moved to approve the CBA for 7/1/2024 – 6/30/2025 as amended in the previous motion. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Megan Derrington left the meeting at 7:41 a.m., prior to the motions and votes on VII.B.
C. Reduction in Force Committee. Due to a reduction in enrollment and estimated budget for next year staff reductions are anticipated. As per section 8.1.1 of the CBA with the CEA, if staff reductions are needed the District will form a committee made up of board members, administrators, and teachers. Barry Farrell moved to approve the formation of the Reduction in Force Committee and appoint Twila Brenneman and Nevada Hafer to the committee. Nevada seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
D. Creston School Scholarship Committee Formation. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the formation of the Scholarship Committee and appoint Barry Farrell to the committee. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. Renewal of KPS Interlocal Agreement for 7th & 8th Graders at KMS. The agreement is still in process at Kalispell Public Schools. No action.
F. Levy & Trustee Election Cancellation. Our levy and trustee election has been cancelled. The trustee election was cancelled by acclamation. The notice of cancellation was forwarded to the appropriate county officials on April 5, 2024. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the election cancellation as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
G. Transportation Contracts – nil.
H. Before School Care Contracts – nil.
I. Out-of-District Requests. Attendance agreements for 15 students that reside in our district, the students will attend Kalispell Middle School under a district-to-district placement in school year 2024/2025. Barry Farrell moved to approve these attendance agreements. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Attendance agreements for two students that reside in our district, attending another district in school year 2024/2025. Nevada Hafer moved to acknowledge receipt of these attendance agreements. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
J. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests – nil.
K. District Clerk Personnel Evaluation – Executive Session. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen determined that the demands of individual privacy clearly exceed the merits of public disclosure and at 8:02 a.m. closed the meeting for an executive session to conduct the personnel evaluation of Tammy Bartos. The meeting was reconvened in open session at 8:30 a.m. and Nevada Hafer moved to approve the personnel evaluation of Tammy Bartos 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. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 9 May 2024, 7:00 am, Reorganization & Regular Meeting
B. 13 June 2024, 7:00am, Regular Meeting
X. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:35 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

_________________________________
Tammy Bartos, District Clerk

_________________________________
Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Board Chair