CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
9 September 2021

MINUTES

I. Call to order. Matt Hartle called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:04 a.m. The meeting was held in the gym. Present were Board Trustees Matt Hartle, Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Twila Brenneman, Barry Farrell and Nevada Hafer. Also in attendance were Tami Ward, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, Deb Christiansen, Teacher and Jennifer Johnson, Teacher and CEA President.
II. Minutes of 12 August 2021 and 24 August 2021. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the minutes as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
IV. Information Items:
A. Special Education LEA Determinations – School Year 2019-2020. Based on a review of our 2019-2020 data, the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) has determined that our district meets the federal requirements of those established by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA). The full report was shared.
B. Crosswalk Creston Road. The Flathead County Transportation Department is pursuing putting in a permanent crosswalk on Creston Road just north of our parking lot entrance across to the Grange. A copy of the proposed project was provided.
C. MSPLIP Inspection Report. Our building insurer conducted their annual inspection. Each recommendation has either been completed or is process of being completed. The full report was provided.
D. ESSER III Plan. A survey was sent out and made available to families, staff and the community. The responses were used when Mrs. Ward wrote the plan. A full copy of the plan was provided.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk – The monthly budget expenditure report was provided through 31 August 2021. General Fund is 4% committed and the Total of all Funds is at 2% committed. Accounts are reconciled to the County Treasurer through June 2021.
B. Principal – Enrollment is at 109. Benchmark assessments for the 2021/2022 school year are underway. Classroom teachers attended a math training session offered by consultant, Eliza Sorte-Thomas. All teachers and staff completed annual safety training through Safe Schools. A new gaga ball mat has been installed. We have continually advertised for a substitute bus driver for the last 18 months with no response. Unfortunately, we will have to cancel bus services in the event our driver is not available to transport students. New social studies standards have been released by MT OPI and a link to them was provided; these standards remain relatively close to the previous standards for grades K-5 and we are working with District 5 to determine the scope and sequence for grades 6-8. Close contact with area administration, OPI and FCCHD regarding the ongoing coronavirus policies and procedures continues. Special Education Cooperative update given. The full principal report was provided.
C. Staff. Jen Johnson shared the staff report via a Google Slides presentation.
VI. Policies
A. Policy Updates – nil.
VII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. District Goals for 2021/2022 – Strategic Plan of Education (policy 1610). The goals included the school philosophy, mission statement, motto, educational goals and continuous school improvement goals. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to adopt the Creston School Goals 2021/2022 as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Coaching Contracts Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, 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 coaching contracts for boys basketball, girls basketball and cross country as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Stipend J. Shanks – Managing Google Classroom. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the extra-duty contract for Jamie Shanks to manage Google classroom as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
D. Safe Return to School and Continuity of Services Plan. The ARP ESSER Plan was posted to our website on 8/24/2021. The stakeholder survey results were used when writing the plan. Information only. No motion needed.
E. Furnace Replacement Bids. The furnace in the second-grade room is malfunctioning. Bids were provided. Barry Farrell moved to approve the purchase of a furnace from Great Northern Heating to replace the unit in the second-grade room. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
F. Extra-Duty Teacher Contracts 2021/2022 for Independent Study Students. Teachers are and will be providing support for students attending school through guided remote learning situations. This is time spent beyond the regular teaching contract. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the extra-duty contracts for teachers providing guided remote learning support to students 2021/2022 as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
G. Add Bus Stop to Existing Route. A request to add a stop along our existing route that may have students cross the street. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the bus stop at 70 Ranchetts Lane for the 2021/2022 school year. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
H. Substitute List – nil.
I. Transportation Contracts – nil.
J. Before School Care Contracts – nil.
K. Out of District Requests – nil.
L. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the request from the Stan Uskoski family to use the gym on Monday evenings as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
M. Principal Goals – Executive Session. Matt Hartle closed the meeting at 7:41 a.m. for an executive session to conduct a personnel evaluation. The meeting was re-opened at 8:12 a.m. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the principal evaluation of Mrs. Ward and to approve the executive session minutes. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
VIII. Claims – September 2021. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the claims list as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
IX. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 14 October 2021, 7:00 am Regular Meeting
B. 11 November 2021, 7:00 am Regular Meeting
X. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:14 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

__________________________
Tammy Bartos, District Clerk

____________________________________
Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Board Vice-Chair

CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
SPECIAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
24 August 2021
MINUTES

I. Call to order. Matt Hartle called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:01 a.m. The meeting was held via a Zoom meeting platform. Present were Board Trustees Matt Hartle, Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Twila Brenneman and Nevada Hafer. Absent: Barry Farrell due to prior commitments. Also in attendance were Tami Ward, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, and Jennifer Johnson, Teacher and CEA President.
II. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
III. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Classified Employee Notice of Hire – Aide for 2021-2022. A correction for the aide position approved on August 12th: there has been at least a one-year break in service and a Notice of Hire is required instead of an employment contract. Jessica Sandven-Sorenson moved to approve the Classified Employee Notice of Hire for Pamela Choco with a probationary period as per Policy 5140. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Hourly Paid Classified Employees Stipend for 2021-2022. To maintain the operation of and continuity of services at our school and in light of statewide and national employee shortages, up to a $2,025 per annum stipend for a 1.0 FTE hourly paid classified employee was proposed. The stipend will be paid for each month of employment during which job duties have been performed and an approved timecard submitted. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the proposed one-time stipend to the listed classified employees as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Safe Return to School and Continuity of Services Plan. No new information shared. No action taken.
IV. Claims – August 2021 – nil.
V. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 9 September 2021, 7:00 am Regular Meeting
B. 14 October 2021, 7:00 am Regular Meeting
VI. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 7:24 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

__________________________
Tammy Bartos, District Clerk

__________________________
Matt Hartle, Board Chair

CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
FINAL BUDGET & REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
12 August 2021

MINUTES

I. Call to order. Matt Hartle called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:03 a.m. The meeting was held in the school gym. Present were Board Trustees Matt Hartle, Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Twila Brenneman, Barry Farrell and Nevada Hafer. Also in attendance were Tami Ward, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, and Cindi Conley, Teacher.
II. Minutes of 21 July 2021. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the minutes as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously
III. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
IV. Information Items:
A. List of P-Card Users. A list of current card users was presented.
B. Remodel Project Update. Tami Ward conducted a tour of the school highlighting the remodeled areas.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk. Hard copies of the 2019-2020 Financial Audit were distributed. The Trustees Financial Summary will replace the regular financial reports given.
B. Principal. Predicted Student Enrollment for 2021/2022 is 111. Summer learning support was offered to students this summer. Interventions for Learning Loss – Additional staff have been hired for the 2021/2022 school year to provide interventions in the areas of reading and math; Title I support is also offered for reading and math; classroom interventions will continue; we also lowered our teacher/student ratio in 5th grade by creating two 5th/6th grade homeroom classrooms. An ESSER III Stakeholder Survey was sent to staff and families; a link was posted to our webpage, and responses are due by August 23rd. Several teachers attended the August Institute (technology); teachers will also attend the NW Reading Council Literacy Conference. Staff and teachers will participate in various training sessions this month and throughout the year to include CPR/First Aid certification, bullying prevention, mediation, and policies, safety training, six full days of PD for teachers for phonics, reading and incorporating social studies standards into English language arts. Our annual open house is scheduled for August 30th. Summer building and maintenance projects are nearing completion; a routine inspection of one of our furnaces indicates replacement is needed.
C. Staff. Cindi Conley, Teacher, was present and shared a slideshow that included teacher summer learning and things they are looking forward to this school year.
VI. Policies
A. Policy Updates: 2332, 3233, 3510, 3550, 3550F, 4211, 4331 – 2nd Read. Updates to policies due to recent State legislation in regard to student athletics and activities and updates to policies governing student clubs and groups in a manner consistent with the federal Equal Access Act. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve policies 2332, 3233, 3510, 3550, 3550F, 4211, 4331 as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Barry Farrell arrived at the meeting at 7:26.
B. Policy Updates: 3310, 4315, 5223 – 1st Read. Updates to policies due to HB102 legislation. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve policies 3310, 4315, 5223 as presented. Barry Farrell seconded Motion passed unanimously.
VII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. TFS. The Trustees Financial Summary (TFS) was not ready for presentation and this portion of the meeting was continued to 13 August 2021at 10:00 a.m. via a Zoom platform. 13 August 2021 Jessica Sandven-Sorensen continued the meeting at 10:01 am with Tami Ward, Principal and Tammy Bartos, District Clerk present. Mrs. Bartos gave an update and at 10:02 a.m. the meeting was again continued to 14 August 2021 at 10:00 a.m. 14 August 2021 Matt Hartle continued the meeting at 10:05 a.m. via a Zoom platform with Tami Ward and Tammy Bartos present. The reports were still in progress and at 10:06 the meeting was again continued to 15 August 2021 at 10:00 a.m. 15 August 2021 Twila Brenneman continued the meeting at 10:01 a.m. via a Zoom platform with Tami Ward and Tammy Bartos present. The reports were still in progress and at 10:02 a.m. the meeting was again continued to 16 August 2021 at 7:00 p.m. 16 August 2021, Matt Hartle continued the meeting at 7:02 p.m. in the school gym. Present were trustees Jessica Sandven-Sorensen and Twila Brenneman. Also in attendance were Tami Ward and Tammy Bartos. The TFS is the school district official submission of annual financial information to the County Superintendent and State Superintendent. The 2020-2021 TFS was presented in its entirety. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the TFS for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously
B. Budget. The Budget was not ready for presentation and this portion of the meeting was continued. See Item A for information on the continuation of this portion of the meeting from 12 August through to 16 August 2021. On 16 August 2021 at the 7:00 p.m. continuation meeting the 2021-2022 Budget report was presented in its entirety. A comparison to FY2020-21 was also provided. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the 2021-2022 Budget as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:08 p.m.
C. Safe Return to School and Continuity of Services Plan. 1) a letter from Governor Gianforte and Superintendent Arntzen was provided. 2) Revisions to policies 1903 and 1905 to align with the Creston School Reopening Plan regarding face coverings and physical distancing were presented. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the revisions to policies 1905 and 1903 as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
D. Cayuse Prairie – Creston Transportation Interlocal 2021-22. Barry Farrell moved to approve the transportation interlocal agreement with Cayuse Prairie as presented. Jessica Sandven-Sorenson seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. Extra-Duty Mentoring Contract 21-22 (DC mentor BJ). D. Christiansen has agreed to mentor our new teacher B. Johnson. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the extra-duty mentoring contract and pay rate as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
F. Substitute Teacher Pay Rate. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the 2021-2022 substitute teacher pay rate of $13.00 per hour. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
G. Substitute List. Nevada Hafer refrained from participating in this action item. Barry Farrell moved to approve the substitute re-hire list, approve hiring substitutes from the County Superintendent of Schools list, and approved the substitute custodian re-hire of Sheila Hafer and hourly wage as presented. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded. Motion passed unanimously (minus Nevada Hafer who refrained).
H. Classified Staff Contracts Renewal or Non-Renewal & Wages for 2021-2022. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the contract renewals and hourly wages as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
I. Hire Aide for 2021/2022. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to hire P. Choco as a classroom, playground and lunchroom aide for the 2021-2022 school year and approve the hourly wage as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
J. 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. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the hold harmless agreements for 2021-2022 as presented. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
K. Transportation Contracts – nil.
L. Before School Care Contracts – nil.
M. Out of District Requests – nil.
N. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests. Many Lakes HOA requested use of the gym on September 25th from 8:30 am to 1:30 p.m. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the request as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

VIII. Claims – August 2021. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the claims approval list as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
IX. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 9 September 2021, 7:00 am Regular Meeting
B. 14 October 2021, 7:00 am Regular Meeting
X. Adjourn. At 8:14 a.m. Matt Hartle continued the budget portion of this meeting to 13 August 2021 at 10:00 a.m. via a Zoom platform. Please see items VII. A and B.

Respectfully Submitted,

__________________________
Tammy Bartos, District Clerk

__________________________
Matt Hartle, Board Chair