CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
8 JUNE 2023

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 Rachel Stevens, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, and Cindi Conley, Special Education Teacher.
II. Minutes of 11 May 2023. Barry Farrell moved to approve the minutes as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence. Flathead County Planning & Zoning office sent us a copy of a resubdivision request at 964& 1020 Riverside Road.
IV. Information
A. Acknowledgement from Flathead County Commissioners Re. Speed Study. Received an acknowledgment from Randy Brodehl, Flathead County Commissioner regarding the public comment we sent on the recent speed study report for Highway 35.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk. The monthly budget expenditure report was provided through 31 May 2023. General Fund is 71% committed and the Total of all Funds is 59% committed. Accounts are reconciled to the County Treasurer through April 2023.
B. Principal. Student Enrollment is 114. Monthly building inspections have been completed with no recommendations for repairs; the facilities inventory report was provided with updates. Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Davidson and Mrs. Stevens attended professional development on May 17 and 18 for Indian Education for All; Miss Johnson also attended on the 17th. Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Davidson will share the IEFA Coordinator role next year. Mrs. Stevens will attend the Summer Institute in Polson provided by the Western Montana-Comprehensive System of Professional Development – two full-day sessions: Understanding Trauma and Behavior in Students and Legal Updates and Best Practices in Section 504 and Special Education Law. The students and staff participated in an Indian Education for All collaborative learning day on May 12. This week the students and staff have/will participate in spirit days: crazy hat day, superhero day, crazy hair day, Creston pride day, and color day. The Learning Fair was set up in the gym on May 25; many family members attended. Third through sixth grade students have completed Smarter Balanced Assessments; individual student reports will be sent home with report cards. Fountas & Pinnell reading and easyCBM math benchmark assessments have been completed. A report on Creston School Goals for 2022/2023 was provided.
C. Staff. Cindi Conley, Special Education Teacher was present to share the staff report via a Google Slide presentation.
VI. Policies – Consideration of Action:
A. Policy 8131 – Indoor Air Quality – 2nd Read.
B. Policy 8303 – Cleaning and Disinfecting – 2nd Read
Twila Brenneman moved to approve the addition of Policies 8131 & 8303 to our policy manual as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
VII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. New Teacher Hire & Contract for 2023/2024. Twila Brenneman moved to hire Barbara Visnovske as a Teacher for the 2023/2024 school year and approve her teaching contract as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Letter of Reasonable Assurance for Substitutes. A letter to current substitute employees giving them reasonable assurance of employment for the 2023/2024 school year on the same substitute basis that existed during the past school year. Nevada Hafer moved to approve issuing the Letter of Reasonable Assurance for Substitute Employees as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Flathead Special Education – Preschool Interlocal Agreement 2023/2024. The FSEC Preschool provides a comprehensive developmental approach to meeting the needs of children with disabilities. Services are provided to children ages 3 through 5 who are residents of the participating school district and meet eligibility criteria. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the FSEC Preschool Program Interlocal Agreement for fiscal year 2023/2024 as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously,
D. Flathead Special Education – STAR (Communication) Program Agreement 2023/2024. The FSEC STAR Program meets the needs of students who have Autism or related characteristics and behaviors that impede their ability to communicate and be successful within their neighborhood school. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the FSEC STAR Communication Program Interlocal Agreement for fiscal year 2023/2024 as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. Flathead Crossroads Interlocal Agreement 2023/2024. The Crossroads Program is an extension of special education services at Evergreen Schools and 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. Barry Farrell moved to approve the Flathead Crossroads Interlocal Agreement for fiscal year 2023/2024 as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
F. New Social Studies Curriculum Adoption and Quote. Two social studies curriculum programs were made available to families and teachers to review: Social Studies Alive! And myWorld Interactive. There is 100% teacher approval of the Social Studies Alive! program; only one public comment was received, and it was in favor of the myWorld Interactive. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the adoption of and the purchase of the Social Studies Alive! program as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
G. Coaching Extra-Duty Contracts 2023/2024. Janessa Williams has agreed to coach boys’ and girls’ basketball and Teresa Mumm has agreed to coach cross country. Barry Farrell moved to approve the extra-duty coaching contracts for 2023/2024 as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
H. Classified Contract Renewal or Non-Renewal 2023/2024 & Compensation. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the compensation and employment agreements for the 2023/2024 school year as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
I. Hourly Paid Classified Employees Stipend for 2023-2024. In order to maintain the operation and continuity of services at our school and in consideration of statewide and national employee shortages, a stipend of up to $3,060 per annum for 1.0 FTE hourly paid classified employees was proposed – prorated by FTE. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the stipend to the listed classified employees for 2023/2024 as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
J. Principal Salary Negotiation & Contract 2023/2024. Barry Farrell moved to approve the compensation and employment agreement as presented for the 2023/2024 school year. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
K. Business/Office Manager & District Clerk Salary Negotiation & Contract 2023/2024. Barry Farrell moved to approve the compensation and employment agreement as presented for the 2023/2024 school year. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
L. MontanaSky Networks Tower Agreement. Section 5 of the agreement we have with MontanaSky Networks which deals with compensation was reviewed – per the contract this may occur after the 5th anniversary and on each 5th anniversary thereafter. MontanaSky was contacted by Mrs. Stevens to discuss possible revisions and a draft of changes was presented to the trustees. Creston School will continue to receive $1,000 per month for rent from MontanaSky and the school will pay MontanaSky $1,000 per month for internet services. Also, the dedicated bandwidth will increase from 100 Mb x 100 Mb to 500 Mb x 500 Mb; and once fiber-optics are installed to the tower, the connection will be upgraded to 1 Gb x 1 Gb. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the changes as presented to take effect on September 28, 2023. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
M. Safe Return to School and Continuity of Services Plan. Information only.
N. District Clerk Authority to Process Claims Summer Months. Twila Brenneman moved to authorize the District Clerk to process claims from June through the end of August 2023 without convening a board meeting. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
O. Bus Route 2023/2024. Barry Farrell moved to approve the bus route and stops with student crossings for 2023/2024 as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
P. Cayuse Prairie – Creston Transportation Interlocal 2023/2024. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the transportation interlocal agreement with Cayuse Prairie as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Q. Transfer to East Side Flathead Valley Multidistrict Interlocal. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the resolution to transfer up to a maximum of $40,000 from the 2022/2023 General Fund to the East Side Flathead Valley Multidistrict Interlocal Fund as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
R. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests. The Mountain View Christian Church is requesting use of the playground and field on Saturday, July 28 & Sunday, July 29 as extra space for a carnival hosted at the Eastside Grange. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the grounds use request as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
S. Personnel Evaluation – T Bartos – Executive Session – rescheduled for a special meeting on June 29th at 7:30am.
VIII. Claims Approval. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the claims list as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
IX. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 10 August 2023, 7:00 am, Budget & Regular Meeting
X. Board Work Session – Training and Discussion for Board Professional Development. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen led a discussion covering the following two topics:
A. Contract overviews continued…
B. Funding & Budgets (see April 2022 – this will be a review of that work session)
XI. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:45 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

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

CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REORGANIZATION & REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
11 MAY 2023

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, Megan Derrington, Barry Farrell, and Nevada Hafer. Also in attendance were Rachel Stevens, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, Cal Ketchum, Flathead County Superintendent of Schools, Cindi Conley, Special Education Teacher, Jen Johnson, 2nd Grade Teacher and CEA President and Janessa Williams, 6th Grade Teacher.
II. Minutes of 13 April 2023. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the minutes as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence. A card was received from the Creston Volunteer Fire Department to thank us for the support we give to Creston Fire, especially during the Creston Auction.
IV. Results of Trustee Election. The trustee election was cancelled by acclamation. We had two three-year openings with two candidate filings and one two-year opening with one filing. Elected by Acclamation for three-year terms: Twila Brenneman and Nevada Hafer; for two-year term: Megan Derrington. Barry Farrell moved to approve the trustee election results as presented. Megan Derrington 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 Twila Brenneman, Megan Derrington and Nevada Hafer.
VI. Adjourn Meeting. This portion of the meeting was adjourned at 7:09 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 7:09 a.m.
VIII. Reorganization of the Board of Trustees
A. Nomination and Election of Board Chair. Twila Brenneman nominated and motioned 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 motioned to elect Twila Brenneman as Vice-Chair. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Appointment and Oath of Office of District Clerk. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen nominated to appoint Tammy Bartos as District Clerk. Twila Brenneman motioned to appoint Tammy Bartos as District Clerk. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Note that per Cal Ketchum there is just an appointment and no oath needed.
D. Approval of Board Meeting Dates and Times for the 2023/2024 School Year. Barry Farrell moved to continue having regular meetings take place at 7:00 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. Discussion of Procedures and Expectations. Items discussed were special and emergency meetings, board packets and trustee resources.
Twila Brenneman left the meeting after this item at 7:18 a.m.
IX. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
X. Information
A. Creston School Scholarship Committee. The scholarship was awarded to Hannah Davidson. She accepted the certificate of award at our school assembly on April 28th. The actual monetary amount of $500 will be given once proof of registration at a technical school, college, or university is provided.
B. MT DEQ Results of Sanitary Survey Inspection of Public Water Supply System. The report in full was provided. Our facility is required to have a sanitary survey inspection once every three years. Results of the survey in all areas were: No issues were observed. Regarding the maintenance, management, safety and operation: “The PWS appears to be well managed and maintained. The historical sample analytical results reflect a well-managed and maintained system. Your efforts are truly appreciated.”
XI. Reports:
A. Clerk. The monthly budget expenditure report was provided through 30 April 2023. General Fund is 64% committed and the Total of all Funds is 52% committed. Accounts are reconciled to the County Treasurer through March 2023.
B. Principal. Student Enrollment is 114. Teachers have reviewed Social Studies Alive! And My World Interactive social studies programs; an email will be sent to families May 12 with the links to review the materials and instructions on how to comment; after the May 12 – 26 review period, a recommendation will be made to the trustees at the June Board meeting regarding this curriculum adoption. Third through sixth grade students participated in the Smarter Balanced ELA and math assessments April 24 – May 11; also, fifth grade students began testing on April 17 as they are required to complete the science assessment. Kindergarten Roundup was facilitated by a team of teachers on May 10; we are predicting our enrollment for the incoming class to be between 18 – 20 students. Kindergarten through sixth grade art, writing, projects, and music will be featured in the gym on May 25 from 7:30 am – 4:30 pm in an open house format. On May 12 our students will participate in an IEFA Collaboration Day with interactive learning activities taught by the staff at Creston School using seven Essential understandings developed by the state of Montana to guide the activities. In April there was a teacher meeting to plan for 2023/2024. School Spirit Days will be June 5 – 9 with Crazy Hat Day, Superhero Day, Crazy Hair Day, Creston Pride Day, and Color Day; also, there will be a drawing held that week during the ice cream social for our “I Love to Read” contest, where we will hold a drawing for three Kindles donated by the Kalispell Masonic Lodge #42. Mrs. Stevens participated in the MTSBA Employment Hot Topics Training in April and attended two hours of Gifted & Talented Team Planning the end of April. Monthly Building Inspections were completed, with minor repairs and the spring/summer facility projects were noted on the Facility Inventory Report.
C. Staff. Jen Johnson, CEA President and 2nd Grade Teacher was present to share the staff report via a Google Slide presentation.
XII. Policies – Consideration of Action:
A. Board Meetings – Policy 1400. Policy was reviewed, no changes made, no action taken.
B. Termination of Emergency Policies 1900 – 1911. Nevada Hafer moved to terminate the Temporary Emergency Policies Numbered 1900-1911 and direct the administration to remove the policies and related procedures from the policy manual as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Add Policy 8131 – Indoor Air Quality. 1st Read, no action.
D. Add Policy 8303 – Cleaning and Disinfecting. 1st Read, no action.
XIII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Response to Flathead County Commissioners Re. Speed Study – Montana 35 (P-52) – Creston. A letter in support of the results of the Speed Study conducted by MDT staff was drafted. It informs the reader that the trustees agree with the conclusions and recommendations particularly with the proposed new speed limit transitions around our school. Barry Farrell moved to approve the letter to the Flathead County Commissioners regarding Speed Study – Montana 35 (P-52) – Creston as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Request for Leave 2023/2024 – J. Williams. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the request by Miss Williams to take leave with pay for track and field coaching with Columbia Falls High School up to a total of 40 hours from March 27, 2024, through May 26, 2024. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. School Secretary – Position and Job Description. A request to change our current Office Aide position to a Secretary. Barry Farrell moved to approve the addition of a School Secretary position and the job description as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
D. Classified Contract Renewals 2023/2024 including Renewal or Non-Renewal – nil.
E. New Title Teacher (M. Potts) Contract for 2023/2024 – Correction. An error was discovered to the years of experience and coordinating salary that was presented at the April meeting. This new contract corrects that mistake. Barry Farrell moved to approve the corrected teaching contract for Melissa Potts for the 2023/2024 school year as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
F. Safe Return to School and Continuity of Services Plan Review. The plan was provided for review. No revisions submitted from the community. Dates will be updated. Revisions by the administration include noting termination of Emergency Policies 1900 series and adding references to related policies in lieu of those terminated policies. Megan Derrington moved to approve the Safe Return to School and Continuity of Services Plan as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
G. ARP Plan Review. The plan was provided for review. No revisions were submitted. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the ARP ESSER Plan as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
H. District Clerk & Business/Office Manager Job Opening. Barry Farrell moved to approve the withdrawal of the resignation of Mrs. Bartos and approve the job opening as closed. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
I. Amended Employment Contract 2022/2023 T. Bartos. Contract requires amendments as Mrs. Bartos will be continuing her employment through the end of the fiscal year. Amendments include the job description change to Business/Office Manager & District Clerk, an addition of up to 25 paid days, and a job evaluation prior to June 30. Barry Farrell moved to approve the amended 2022/2023 employment contract for Mrs. Bartos as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
J. MTSBA Annual Meeting. A copy of the announcement was provided. No action taken.
K. 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. Megan Derrington moved to approve the haying agreement with Steve Wagoner as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
L. Eastside Parking Lot Improvement Proposal. Double Diamond will be here for another project this summer and was asked to look at the issue of pooling water and ice at the north end of our eastside parking lot. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the proposal by Double Diamond to put in a French Drain in our eastside parking lot as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
M. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests – nil.
XIV. Claims Approval. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the claims list as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
XV. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 8 June 2023, 7:00 am, Regular Meeting
XVI. Board Work Session – Training and Discussion for Board Professional Development
A. Introduction to Contracts continued…
XVII. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:32 a.m.

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