CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
SPECIAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
8 March 2022

MINUTES

I. Call to order. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:01 a.m. Present were Board Trustees Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Twila Brenneman, Barry Farrell, and Nevada Hafer (via Zoom). Also in attendance were, Elizabeth Kaleva, Kaleva Law (via Zoom), and Tammy Bartos, District Clerk.
II. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Safe Return to School and Continuity of Services Plan. Information only. No action taken.
B. Principal Applicant Screening – Executive Session. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen determined that the demands of individual privacy clearly exceed the merits of public disclosure and at 7:03 a.m. closed the meeting for an Executive Session to conduct the applicant screening. The meeting was reconvened in open session at 8:09 a.m. and Twila Brenneman motioned to approve the executive session minutes. Barry Farrell seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Elizabeth Kaleva will be in touch with the selected applicants and an interview session will be arranged.
III. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:13 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

/s/Tammy Bartos, District Clerk

/s/Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Board Chair

CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
SPECIAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
1 March 2022

MINUTES

I. Call to order. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:16 a.m. The meeting was held remotely via a Zoom platform. Present were Board Trustees Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Twila Brenneman, Barry Farrell, Nevada Hafer and Julie Horton. Also in attendance were Tami Ward, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk.
II. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Safe Return to School and Continuity of Services Plan. Information only. No action taken.
B. Principal Summative Evaluation – Executive Session. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen determined that the demands of individual privacy clearly exceed the merits of public disclosure and at 7:17 a.m. closed the meeting for an Executive Session to conduct the personnel evaluation of Tami Ward. The meeting was reconvened in open session at 7:48 a.m. and Twila Brenneman motioned to approve the personnel evaluation of Tami Ward and to approve the executive session minutes. Julie Horton seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 7:48 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

/s/Tammy Bartos, District Clerk

/s/Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Board Chair

CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
10 February 2022

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, Barry Farrell, and Julie Horton. Absent: Nevada Hafer. Also in attendance were Tami Ward, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, Elizabeth Kaleva, Kaleva Law, Jennifer Johnson, Teacher and CEA President, Deb Christiansen, Teacher, Shanta Milne, Teacher, Pauline Davidson, Teacher, Cindi Conley, Teacher.
II. Minutes of 13 January 2022, 27 January 2022, and 3 February 2022. Twila Brenneman motioned to approve the minutes as presented. Julie Horton seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
IV. Reports:
A. Clerk. The monthly budget expenditure report was provided through 31 January 2022. General Fund is 45% committed and the Total of all Funds is at 37% committed. Fund 115 Project Report was also provided. Accounts are reconciled to the County Treasurer through December 2021. The MSSA Rural Survey has been received which compares budgets, levies, and enrollment among participating schools. 2020 Census Data shows the total population of our school district at 1371, population of children ages 5 to 17 of 151 and population of estimated children ages 5 to 17 in poverty of 14; the USED will use the data to calculate fiscal year 2023 allocations under Title1, Part A. The Spring Student Enrollment Count Report was submitted – reported enrollment for ANB (Average Number Belonging) was 111, and the ANB that will be used for 2022-2023 Budget Limits will be 117.
B. Principal. Current Student Enrollment is 111. Monthly building inspections have been completed with no recommended repairs; however, there is insufficient heat in the teacher’s lounge and the installation of a wall heater is being worked on. Kelly Boswell will be in our building March 7 – 9 providing embedded professional development on effective reading and writing instruction. Benchmark Assessment data for Reading and Math was providing showing improvement in both areas. We had two confirmed positive coronavirus cases in our learning environment during the month of January and seventeen total cases this school year.
C. Staff. Jen Johnson shared the staff report via a Google Slide presentation.
V. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Principal Search & Hiring Process – with Kaleva Law. Elizabeth Kaleva joined the meeting via Zoom and discussed the process she will go through for our principal search. She sought out input from both the board and the staff to tailor the process for our needs. Topics included in the discussion were a suggestion to update the job description to include the superintendent duties, the salary range offered, and the criteria of qualifications to include those who are eligible for the position. Advertising for the opening will begin today, applications will close the end of the month, a meeting will be set in early March to screen applicants, and interviews to include district tours and meetings with staff will take place prior to spring break. Information and discussion only with no action taken needed.
B. Principal Hiring Committee – the process outlined by Kaleva Law includes the provision that the Board is the Hiring Committee. No action.
C. Collective Bargaining Agreement Negotiations with Creston Education Association. The CEA approved the date change in section 11.2.1 of the CBA from April 1 to February 1. Also requested was a deletion of section 4.2 to reflect current law; add nieces/nephews to the list of immediate family members in section 10.2; and a 3% increase to the base of the salary schedule. Discussion only as a preliminary budget gets put together. Negotiations will continue. No action.
D. Election Resolution. The complete resolution was presented to the Board. Summary: A regular school election for the purpose of electing two trustees to three-year terms will be conducted by Poll Election on Tuesday the 3rd day of May 2022. Approval of additional levies to operate and maintain Creston School for FY2023 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. Julie Horton moved to approve the Resolution as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. Interlocal Agreement with KPS #5 for KMS. A renewal to an agreement that allows our seventh and eighth grade students to attend Kalispell Middle School through June 30, 2024. Julie Horton moved to approve the Interlocal Agreement as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
F. Safe Return to School and Continuity of Services Plan. Information only. No action taken.
G. ARP ESSER Plan Review and Call for Stakeholder Input. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the ARP ESSER plan, with the January 13th update, for submission. Julie Horton seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
H. Substitute List – nil.
I. Transportation Contracts. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the transportation contract as presented. Julie Horton seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
J. Before School Care Contracts – nil.
K. Out of District Requests. Julie Horton moved to approve the attendance agreements as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
L. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests. Many Lakes HOA requested use of the gym on March 26th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for a Living with Wildlife Community Event. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the request as presented. Julie Horton seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Creston Fire Fighter’s Association requested use of the gym, teacher’s lounge and outdoor school grounds, March 31, 2022 (12:30 p.m.) thru April 3, 2022 (9:00 p.m.) for the Creston Fire Fighter’s Association 56th Auction and Country Fair with approval of armed and unarmed security services. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the request as presented. Julie Horton seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
VI. Claims Approval. Claims lists for January 18, January 31, and February 7, 2022. Julie Horton moved to approve the claims lists as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
VII. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 10 March 2022, 7:00 am Regular Meeting
B. 14 April 2022, 7:00 am Regular Meeting
VIII. Board Work Session – Training and Discussion for Board Professional Development
A. School Budget Symposium. March 2022 dates and times were provided, and trustees were encouraged to register.
B. Employment Contracts. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen led a discussion covering this topic.
IX. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:17 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

/s/Tammy Bartos, District Clerk

/s/Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Board Chair