CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
14 DECEMBER 2023

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, and Cindi Conley, Special Education Teacher.
II. Minutes of 9 November 2023. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the minutes as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
IV. Information
A. Candidates for the May 2024 Trustee Election may file a Declaration of Intent. Candidates for Trustee Election may file a Declaration of Intent and Oath of Candidacy from Thursday, December 14, 2023, through Thursday, March 28, 2024. There is one 3-year position subject to election in May 2024. Trustee candidates must be registered voters within the boundaries of Creston School District.
B. Strategic Planning Process Update. The committee met for a second time on December 12. They reviewed the work from the first meeting and began brainstorming ideas for the graduate profile.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk. The monthly budget expenditure report was provided through 30 November 2023. General Fund is 28% committed and the Total of all Funds is 24% committed. Accounts are reconciled to the County Treasurer through October 2023. Miscellaneous Funds and Eastside Interlocal accounts were also reported. The on-site portion of the 2021/2022 & 2022/2023 audit is planned for January12.
B. Principal. Student enrollment is 104. Mrs. Stevens attended online training regarding the graduate profile for the Integrated Strategic Action Plan (ISAP) provided by OPI on November 29. The November service project of the Bobcats/Grizzlies food drive brought in 752 items! The items were delivered to the Bigfork Food Bank. The December service project is to collect items for the Kalispell Heart Locker. The formal evaluations for tenured teachers are complete. The non-tenured teachers will receive a second evaluation in either January or February. On November 17, teachers honored students who demonstrated flexibility at our awards assembly. We had many parents and families attend the Trimester 1 Author’s Parties to celebrate student progress in writing. We also had an excellent response to parent/teacher conferences. Monthly building inspections have been completed with no recommendations for repairs. The Terms of Employment, Accreditation, and Master Schedule (TEAMS) report submitted to OPI has changed; information that was once submitted through the TEAMS report is now collected through Infinite Campus or through the ISAP reporting process for accreditation with OPI. Notification that the mandatory 2021-2022 Civil Rights Data Collection opened on December 11 and the data must be reported and submitted by February 26, 2024.
C. Staff. Mrs. Conley, Special Education Teacher was present to share the staff report via a Google Slide presentation.
VI. Policies – Consideration of Action:
A. Second Reading of Policy Updates: 1007FE, 1700, 2050, 2158, 2168, 2170, 2170P, 3110, 3121, 3121P, 3150, 3413F2. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the policy updates as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

VII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Flathead County Planning & Zoning – FSR-23-13 Riverside Glen. A preliminary plat approval of Riverside Glen, a proposal to create four (4) residential lots on 39.32 acres. No action.
B. Amerigas Price of Propane Agreement. A contract for the term of 01/01/2024 to 12/31/2025 was presented. Barry Farrell moved to approve the Amerigas Price of Propane contract as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Review Collective Bargaining Agreement with Creston Education Association. A copy of the current 2023/2024 CBA was provided. Notice by either party is required not later than January 15th if any provisions are to be reopened and negotiated. Information only. No action.
D. MTSBA FY25 Dues Revenue Estimate. The MTSBA Dues Revenues Estimate was voted on via electronic vote in July of 2023. The vote passed as presented and our dues for FY25 are $1,372. Information only. No action.
E. Transportation Contracts – nil.
F. Before School Care Contracts – nil.
G. Out-of-District Requests. An attendance agreement for one 8th grade student that resides in our district and is attending Kalispell Middle School under a District-to-District placement. Megan Derrington moved to approve this attendance agreement. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Attendance agreements for three students that reside in our district, attending another district. Nevada Hafer moved to acknowledge receipt of these attendance agreements. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Attendance agreements for three students that reside in another district, requesting Creston School as school of choice. Megan Derrington moved to approve these attendance agreements. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
H. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests. One request by B. Toelke to use the gym on Tuesdays and Saturdays, January 8 through April 1, 2024, for pickleball with friends. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the gym use request as presented. Barry Farrell 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 January 2024, 7:00 am, Regular Meeting
B. 8 February 2024, 7:00 am, Regular Meeting
X. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 7:46 a.m.

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

CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
12 DECEMBER 2023
6:00 PM – GYM

Members Present: Rachel Bodick, Pauline Davidson, Megan Derrington, Nevada Hafer, Teresa Mumm, Rachel Stevens, Jordan Potti
Members Absent: Kevin Skinner, Louise Tidwell

I. Call to Order, Welcome and Introductions.
The meeting was called to order at 6:02 pm.

II. Review and discuss the work from the first meeting to include:
A. Vision Statement
B. Mission Statement
C. Core Belief Statement
III. Graduate Profile
D. Information/Discussion/Brainstorming

A slideshow was presented with information on the vision, mission, core belief statements and graduate profile.
The committee was separated into two teams. Each team reviewed and revised the vision statement and mission statement and finalized the revisions to the core belief statements. The teams reviewed graduate profiles from multiple school districts and proposed the following six competencies: collaborator, communicator, creative innovator, critical thinker, continuous learner, and community minded. The team selected statements that represent each of the competencies and those will be revisited at the next meeting.

IV. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 7:41 pm. The next meeting will be held in January.

Respectfully Submitted,
/s/Rachel Stevens, Principal and Committee Chair

CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
9 NOVEMBER 2023

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, Megan Derrington, Barry Farrell and Nevada Hafer. Absent: Twila Brenneman. Also in attendance were Rachel Stevens, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, and Cindi Conley, Special Education Teacher.
II. Minutes of 12 October 2023. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the minutes as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
IV. Information
A. Speed Study – Speed Limit Highway 35 (P-52) – Creston Update. Most of the new speed limit signs have been placed. They (MDT) are expecting the arrival of the bouncing ball flashers soon and will place remaining signage as soon as possible – weather dependent.
B. Strategic Planning Process Update. The first committee meeting was held November 7. The team reviewed the mission and vision statements, core belief statements, and received an introduction to the Graduate Profile.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk. The monthly budget expenditure report was provided through 31 October 2023. General Fund is 20% committed and the Total of all Funds is 17% committed. Accounts are reconciled to the County Treasurer through September 2023. Miscellaneous Funds and Eastside Interlocal accounts were also reported. Professional Development: 1) completed the online MTSBA 2023 School Board Leadership Training and 2) attended the MASBO Seasons of Budget Webinar. Fall Student Enrollment Count for Average Number Belonging (ANB) was submitted; the reported enrollment was 104. The Out-of-District Attendance Report was submitted to the County Superintendent; based on the Fall Count there were 35 students reported. The Compensation Expenditures Report for FY2023 was submitted to the State. Auditor is continuing to work on documents delivered prior to on-site visit – the date of the on-site visit is pending.
B. Principal. Student Enrollment is 104. Mrs. Stevens attended training for the Integrated Strategic Action Plan (ISAP) provided by OPI on October 13; there is additional training in November. Two assemblies were held in October: Kindergarten through third grade students attended a fire prevention assembly hosted by the Creston Fire Department on October 11; and on October 27 we had our first awards assembly where teachers honored students; the 6th grade students are excited to volunteer to emcee the assemblies this year. Teachers participated in an IEFA professional development session led by Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Davidson, our IEFA coordinators. The first round of formal teacher evaluations using EPAS are in progress. Tenured teacher evaluations are scheduled to be completed in December; Non-tenured teacher evaluations are scheduled to be completed in February. Monthly building maintenance inspection has been completed with no recommendations and the School Facilities Conditions Inventory report was provided with updates. The safety committee held the first meeting in October and revised the Emergency Operation Plan. The safety team members will also serve as the threat assessment team and will begin to meet monthly. This month students and staff will participate in a food drive – a Bobcats/Grizzlies competition; all donations will be taken to the Bigfork Food Bank. Mrs. Stevens completed the Title IX: Compliance Overview training and viewed an Office of Civil Rights Webinar on How to Report Sexual Harassment under Title IX. The Crossroads Advisory Board met on October 26 and our next meeting is December 14.
C. Staff. Mrs. Conley, Special Education Teacher was present to share the staff report via a Google Slide presentation.
VI. Policies – Consideration of Action:
A. Second Reading of Policy Updates: 1009FE. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the policy as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. First Reading of Policy Updates: 1007FE, 1009FE, 1700, 2050, 2158, 2168, 2170, 2170P, 3110, 3121, 3121P, 3150, 3413F2. Policy 1009FE removed from this list. Policies reviewed. No action.
VII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. ARP ESSER Plan Review. The plan was updated to include 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 goals. Megan Derrington moved to approve the ARP ESSER Plan as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously,
B. Safe Return to School and Continuity of Services Plan Review. Plan was provided for review. No updates submitted. No action taken.
C. Emergency Operations Plan. The safety committee met and revised the plan. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the Emergency Operations Plan as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
D. Amerigas Price of Propane Agreement. The current agreement terminates the end of December, and more information is being gathered to present at next month’s meeting. Information only. No action.
E. Comprehensive Needs Assessment Surveys. As part of the data collection portion of the Strategic Action Plan, surveys need to be sent to our various stakeholder groups. A link to each survey was provided for review. The surveys have been developed by the Office of Public Instruction (OPI). Megan Derrington moved to approve the Comprehensive Needs Assessment Surveys as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
F. MTSBA FY25 Dues Revenue Estimate – nil.
G. Creston School Scholarship Offering to Graduating Seniors. One scholarship offering of $500 to a high school senior who is a Creston School Alumni and that is college or technical school bound. Monies from the Miscellaneous Fund are used to pay for this. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the scholarship as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
H. Post Custodian Job Opening & Form Hiring Committee. Mrs. Stevens has accepted the resignation of our current custodian. Due to this resignation, there is a need to post an open position for the remainder of this school year. A custodial service may be needed in the interim. Also, a trustee is needed for the hiring committee. Megan Derrington moved to approve the posting of a custodian job opening and to appoint a trustee to the hiring committee. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Barry Farrell volunteered to serve on the hiring committee and Nevada Hafer volunteered as a backup if needed.
I. Substitute List. Barry Farrell moved to approve the new hire substitute teacher/aide/custodian list as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
J. Transportation Contracts – nil.
K. Before School Care Contracts – nil.
L. Out-of-District Requests. Attendance agreements for two students that reside in our district and are attending Kalispell Middle School under a District-to-District placement. Nevada Hafer moved to approve these attendance agreements. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Attendance agreements for forty-six students, grades K-8, that reside in our district, attending another district. Barry Farrell moved to acknowledge receipt of these attendance agreements. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously. One attendance agreement for a student residing in another district, requesting Creston School as school of choice. Megan Derrington moved to approve this attendance agreement. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
M. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests – nil.
VIII. Claims Approval – Consideration of Action. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the claims list as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
IX. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 14 December 2023, 7:00 am, Regular Meeting
B. 11 January 2024, 7:00 am, Regular Meeting
X. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:16 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

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