CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
13 October 2022

MINUTES

I. Call to order. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:07 a.m. The meeting was held in the gym. Present were Board Trustees Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Twila Brenneman, Barry Farrell, Nevada Hafer and Walter Graves. Also in attendance were Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, Jennifer Johnson, Teacher and CEA President, Cindi Conley, Special Education Teacher, and one community member.
II. Minutes of 8 September 2022. Barry Farrell motioned to approve the minutes as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
IV. Information
A. Intercom/Phone Committee. The committee met on September 22, 2022 and discussed a plan for exploring options regarding a new phone/intercom system. On October 6th the committee met with representatives from Access Montana, and they presented options for a new system. A meeting is scheduled with Systems Northwest on October 27th and Mrs. Stevens is in communication with MontanaSky regarding setting up a meeting.
B. MSPLIP Inspection Report. The report in full was presented. There were a few minor recommendations, and they have each been taken care of.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk. The monthly budget expenditure report was provided through 30 September 2022. General Fund is 18% committed and the Total of all Funds is 14% committed. Fund 115 Project Report was also provided. Accounts are reconciled to the County Treasurer through August 2022. Worker’s Compensation Audit of policy period 7/1/2021 through 7/1/2022 was submitted 9/20/2022.
B. Principal. Mrs. Stevens was absent and Mrs. Sandven-Sorensen presented the report. Student Enrollment is 120. A planned professional development is scheduled in November for teachers to work together to focus on integrating math games in math instruction. Benchmark assessments/Interventions for Learning Loss for the 2022/2023 school year are completed for math and reading; data was analyzed and students needing additional services/interventions were identified and services have begun. A representative from Secure Education Consultants toured our facilities on September 28, 2022 and a report of his findings will be sent when it is completed. The first meeting of the Safety Committee is scheduled for November 2, 2022. We’ve had two safety drills to date and have a fire drill scheduled for October 14 in conjunction with the Creston Fire Department. Teacher evaluations are scheduled and in process. Homeless Liaison training is completed. Program Director of Indian Education for All training is in process. Gifted and Talented Program Director training is being sought out. Title IX training through MTSBA is scheduled in November.
C. Staff. Jen Johnson shared the staff report via a Google Slide presentation.
VI. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Bartos Employment Contract Amendment. An amended contract was presented with an end date of June 30, 2023, or sooner; this is to allow for a better transition in office administration. Twila Brenneman motioned to approve the revised employment contract of Mrs. Bartos as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. 2022/2023 Extra Duty Contracts – Custodian Duties. A list of current employees willing to fill in as substitute custodian was presented. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the 2022/2023 Custodian Extra Duty contracts as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Safe Return to School and Continuity of Services Plan. No updates presented. No action taken.

D. MTSUIP Annual Meeting. Information regarding the annual meeting was presented. No action taken.
E. Transportation Contracts. Two (2) contracts were presented. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the transportation contracts as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
F. Before School Care Contracts – nil.
G. Out-of-District Requests. Attendance agreement request for 1 student that resides in our district, attending another district. Twila Brenneman moved to acknowledge the receipt of this attendance agreement. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Attendance agreements for forty-one (41) students that reside outside of our district, requesting Creston School District as their school of choice. Nevada Hafer moved to approve these attendance agreements. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
H. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests. One request was presented for Mountain View Christian Church to use the gym on Sunday, October 16th and 23rd from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to plug in two bounce houses for children as an extension of an open house event they are hosting at the Eastside Grange. Barry Farrell moved to approve the gym use request as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
I. Board Work Session – Training and Discussion for Board Professional Development
1. Trustee Responsibilities and Meeting Protocols. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen led a discussion covering this topic.
VII. Claims Approval. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the claims list as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
VIII. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 10 November 2022, 7:00 am
B. 8 December 2022, 7:00 am
IX. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 7:47 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

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

CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
8 September 2022

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, Barry Farrell, and Walter Graves. Absent: Nevada Hafer. Also in attendance were Rachel Stevens, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, Jennifer Johnson, Teacher and CEA President, Deb Christiansen, Title Teacher, Cindi Conley, SPED Teacher, Nicole Noonan, CPA, PC, and one community member
II. Minutes of 11 August 2022 and 15 August 2022. Twila Brenneman motioned to approve the minutes as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
IV. Information
A. Audit Report 2020/2021. Nicole Noonan, CPA, PC presented the Audit Report.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk. The monthly budget expenditure report was provided through 31 August 2022. General Fund is 4% committed and the Total of all Funds is 3% committed.
B. Principal. Student Enrollment is 120 (second grade is at 100% capacity). Teachers attended professional development in August and a plan is being developed for other opportunities during the school year. The 2022/2023 ESEA Consolidated Application for title funds has been completed and submitted. All teachers and staff are in the process of completing their safety training. We had a great turn out for Open House with overall attendance of 85%. Benchmark assessments for the 2022/2023 school year are in progress for math and reading. The monthly building inspection has been completed with no recommendation for repairs; prior to the start of the school year a new balance beam and swing set were installed; we contacted Weyerhaeuser and were granted 2 CAD loads of wood chips through the Montana Giving Committee – the wood chips were added to the playground in August. Mrs. Stevens is registered for Title IX training in November. The Special Education Cooperative (FSEC) is staffed and providing support to our school through the provision of a speech and language therapist, occupational therapist, and school psychologist. Smarter Balanced (SBAC) Spring 2022 testing data show that 53% of our students are advanced or proficient in English Language Arts and 62% of our students are advanced or proficient in math; we will continue providing interventions where needed in the classroom and through our Title 1 program.
C. Staff. Jen Johnson shared the staff report via a Google Slide presentation.
VI. Policies – Consideration of Action:
A. Update All References to Reflect Name of New Principal. Barry Farrell moved to approve the policy updates as presented. Walter Graves seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
1. 3210 – Equal Educational Opportunity, Nondiscrimination, and Sex Equity
2. 3225 – Sexual Harassment of Students
3. 5010 – Equal Employment Opportunity, Non-Discrimination, and Sex Equity
4. 5012 – Sexual Harassment of Employees
5. 5120F – Determination of Eligibility for Hire
VII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. District Goals for 2022/2023 (Policy 1610). The goals included the school philosophy, mission statement, motto, educational goals and continuous school improvement goals. Twila Brenneman moved to adopt the Creston School District Goals for 2022/2023 as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Intercom & Phone System Committee. Mrs. Stevens is assembling a committee to assist in gathering information to upgrade our current intercom and phone system. The committee will consist of Mrs. Stevens as chair, trustees and staff. Barry Farrell moved to appoint Twila Brenneman and Walter Graves to serve on the committee. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Extra-Duty Coaching Contracts for Boys & Girls Basketball and Cross Country. 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 as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
D. Extra-Duty Contract for J Shanks to Manage Google Classroom. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the extra-duty contract for Jamie Shanks to manage Google Classroom as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. Safe Return to School and Continuity of Services Plan Review. The plan was provided for review. Dates will be updated. No other revisions were submitted. Barry Farrell moved to approve the Safe Return to School and Continuity of Services Plan as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
F. ARP ESSER Plan Review. The plan was provided for review. No revisions to the plan were submitted. Barry Farrell moved to approve the ARP ESSER Plan as presented. Walter Graves seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
G. MTSUIP Annual Meeting – nil.
H. MSGIA Annual Meeting. This is our Worker’s Compensation Program. An RSVP to the meeting or the option to represented by proxy to the annual meeting was presented. Twila Brenneman moved to accept the nominees as presented and to approve Creston School be represented by proxy. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
I. Extra-Duty Bus Driver Substitute Contract – KM. Katy Miller has met the requirements to be a school bus driver. Barry Farrell moved to approve the substitute bus driver contract for Katy Miller at a rate of $21.00 per hour as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
J. Extra-Duty Teacher Contracts for Guided Remote Students. Teachers may be providing support for students attending school through guided remote learning situations. This is time spent beyond the regular teaching contract. Barry Farrell moved to approve the extra-duty contracts for teachers providing guided remote learning support to students for the 2022/2023 school year as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
K. Extra-Duty Covid Related Contracts for Principal and Clerk. Extra-duty contracts for time spent beyond the regular workday to prevent, prepare and respond to the COVID-19 virus. Tasks vary and include but are not limited to the Reopening Plan, Safe Return to School and Continuity of Services Plan, ARP Plan, ESSER grant applications, etc. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the 2022/2023 extra-duty contracts for R. Stevens and T. Bartos as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
L. Hold Harmless Agreements with Creston Fire Dept & Eastside Grange. These are annual agreements in consideration of the use of their respective buildings for a temporary shelter during a school emergency. Barry Farrell moved to approve the Hold Harmless agreements for 2022/2023 with the Creston Fire Department and the Eastside Grange as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
M. Transportation Contracts. Twenty-one (21) contracts were presented. Barry Farrell moved to approve the transportation contracts as presented. Walter Graves seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
N. Before School Care Contracts. Nine (9) contracts were presented. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the contracts as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
O. Out-of-District Requests. Attendance agreement for 1 student that resides in our district, attending another district. Twila Brenneman moved to acknowledge the receipt of the attendance agreement. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
P. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests. One request was presented for the Many Lakes Homeowner’s Association to use the gym on Saturday, September 17th from 8:30 am to 2:00 p.m. for the annual HOA meeting. Barry Farrell moved to approve the gym use request as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Q. Principal Evaluation (Goals) – Executive Session. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen closed the meeting at 8:07 a.m. for executive session to conduct a personnel evaluation for Rachel Stevens. The meeting was re-opened at 8:22 a.m. Barry Farrell moved to approve the principal evaluation of goals and to approve the executive session minutes. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
VIII. Claims Approval. Barry Farrell moved to approve the claims list as presented. Walter Graves seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
IX. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 13 October 2022, 7:00 am
B. 10 November 2022, 7:00 am
X. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:26 a.m.

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