CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
14 January 2021

MINUTES

I. Call to order. Matt Hartle called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:00 a.m. The meeting was conducted via a Zoom meeting platform. Present were Board Trustees Matt Hartle, Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Twila Brenneman and Nevada Hafer. Barry Farrell had a planned absence. Also in attendance were Tami Ward, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, Jen Johnson, 2nd Grade Teacher and CEA President, Shanta Milne, Kindergarten Teacher.
II. Minutes of 10 December 2020. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the minutes as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
IV. Information
A. Candidates for Trustee may file a Declaration of Intent and Oath of Candidacy between Thursday, December 10, 2020 through Thursday, March 25, 2021
V. Reports:
A. Clerk. Statement of Expenditures includes payroll and claims through 12 January 2021. General Fund is at 37% committed and the Total of all Funds is at 39% committed. Accounts are reconciled to County Treasurer for October and November 2020.
B. Principal. Student Enrollment is at 106. Mrs. Ward continues to be in contact with area administration and health officials who are meeting weekly to find solutions to current needs. Monthly Building Maintenance inspections have been completed with no recommended repairs and the School Facility Conditions Report was provided with no updates. Mrs. Ward met with the teachers recently to have roundtable discussions around the book Dare to Lead. Teachers also are meeting with her individually for a career goal setting session. Our Title I and classroom teachers continue to progress monitor students in math and reading, as well as screen for Dyslexia using DIBELS. A virtual Student Assembly with talent and awards will be held on January 29th. Updates on the various cooperatives and educational programs we participate in were given.
C. Staff. Jen Johnson shared the staff report via a Google Slides presentation; the 3rd grade was the focus class this month.
VI. Policies:
A. School District Policies 1st Half of 5000 Series – Informational Review. These policies were presented as a review only. No motion needed.
B. Policy 3110 – Revision – 2nd Read. An update to strike wording identifying specific programs with a general statement on district approved benchmark assessments. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the revision as presented. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Policy 3310 – Revision – 1st Read. Revisions to include email as a form of communication; also, revisions from MTSBA regarding recent legislation R-130 and/or I-190, full document provided for review. No motion at this time.
D. Policy 4315 – Revision – 1st Read. Revisions from MTSBA regarding recent legislation R-130 and/or I-190, full document provided for review. No motion at this time.
E. Policy 5223 – Revision – 1st Read. Revisions from MTSBA regarding recent legislation R-130 and/or I-190, full document provided for review. No motion at this time.
F. Policy 5226 – Revision – 1st Read. Revisions from MTSBA regarding recent legislation R-130 and/or I-190, full document provided for review. No motion at this time.
VII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Substitute Teacher Incentive Pay. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to clarify that the incentive pay of an additional $12 per day to Substitute Teachers approved at the August 24, 2020 board meeting includes, but is not limited to, the intent that they will need to adhere to and follow additional health and cleaning protocols as well as being prepared to manage remote learning and teaching. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. 2021 – 2022 Creston Education Association (CEA) Negotiations. As per the Collective Bargaining Agreement section 13.2, either party has until January 15th of the current year to notice the other party regarding the renewal and reopening of the CBA. No motion made.
C. 2021 Legislative Session Advocacy. Information was presented to help trustees understand how to lawfully advocate for Creston School at the current Montana Legislative Session. No motion made.
D. Substitute List. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the addition to the Substitute Teacher List as presented for the 2020/2021 school year. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. Transportation Contract(s). Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the transportation contract as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
F. Before School Care Contract(s). Twila Brenneman moved to approve the contract as presented. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
G. Out of District Request(s). Nevada Hafer moved to approve the attendance agreement as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
H. Gym & School Grounds Use request(s) – nil.
VIII. Claims – January 2021. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to accept the Claims Approval List as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
IX. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 11 February 2021, 7:00 am Regular Meeting
X. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 7:35 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

____________________________
Tammy Bartos, District Clerk

____________________________
Matt Hartle, Board Chair

CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
10 December 2020

MINUTES

I. Call to order. Matt Hartle called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:00 a.m. The meeting was conducted via a Zoom meeting platform. Present were Board Trustees Matt Hartle, Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Barry Farrell and Nevada Hafer; also, Twila Brenneman trustee nominee, sworn in during the meeting. Also, in attendance were Tami Ward, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, Jennifer Johnson, 2nd Grade Teacher and CEA President, Melissa Potts, 1st Grade Teacher, and Jack Eggensperger, County Superintendent.
II. Minutes of 12 November 2020. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the minutes as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Appoint & Swear in Trustee to Vacant Position. Twila Brenneman was presented as a trustee nominee to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Arnold Bjork – his term expires May 2023. Barry Farrell moved to appoint Twila Brenneman to fill the vacant trustee position. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Jack Eggensperger swore her in.
IV. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
V. Information
A. Candidates for Trustee may file a Declaration of Intent and Oath of Candidacy between Thursday, December 10, 2020 through Thursday, March 25, 2021.
B. Flathead County Superintendent of Schools Statistical Report of Schools 2020. A copy of the report was distributed to each board member. Jack Eggensperger shared some insight into the details of the report.
VI. Reports:
A. Clerk. Statement of Expenditures includes payroll and claims through 7 December 2020. General Fund is at 30% committed and the Total of all Funds is at 33% committed. Accounts are reconciled to County Treasurer for August and September 2020.
B. Principal. Student Enrollment is at 103. Mrs. Ward continues to be in contact with area administration and health officials who are meeting weekly to find solutions to current needs. Monthly Building Maintenance inspections have been completed with no recommended repairs and the School Facility Conditions Report was provided with no updates. Mrs. Ward completed Title IX training offered by MTSBA and MSGIA; staff has also completed required Title IX training; she will continue to put in place the needed requirements of Title IX legislation. Due to low participation numbers, intramural basketball will be offered to 4th – 6th grade girls in lieu of participation in the 5th/6th grade basketball league. Teachers continue to work on troubleshooting Google Classroom during Professional Development time, as well as discussion on professional development book studies. Title 1 and classroom teachers continue to progress monitor students in math and reading, as well as screen for Dyslexia using DIBELS. Parent/Teacher Conferences were completed virtually with a 100% turnout of scheduled conferences. Mrs. Mumm is in the process of coordinating a virtual Christmas music program. We continue to be in need of substitute teachers, custodians, bus and maintenance personnel. Updates on the various cooperatives and educational programs we participate in were given.
C. Staff. Jen Johnson shared the staff report via a Google Slides presentation; the 4th grade was the focus class this month.
VII. Policies:
A. School District Policies 2nd Half of 3000 Series – Informational Review. These policies were presented as a review only. No motion needed.
B. Policy 2110 – Revision – 2nd Read. An update to strike lines 7 – 10 regarding the reviewing of state accreditation standards was presented. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the revision as presented. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Policy 2151 – Revision – 2nd Read. Recommendation to strike the provision of a syllabus on lines 18 – 19 was presented. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the revision as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

D. Policy 3110 – Revision – 1st Read. Recommendation (Page 1, Line 42) to change the naming of specific programs for assessments with “district approved” assessments was presented. No motion at this time.
E. Policy 3310 – Revision – 1st Read. Recommendation (Page 1, Line 33) to add communication means to include email was presented. No motion at this time.
VIII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. MTSBA Voting on Association Matters – FY22 Dues Revenue Estimate. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve the MTSBA FY22 Dues Revenue Estimate as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Deputy Health Officer Agreement with Flathead City County Health Department and Deputize Principal as a Public Health Official. 1) An agreement that allows the School District to Deputize District employees to assist the County Health Officer with COVID-19 contact tracing functions. Barry Farrell moved to approve the Agreement as presented. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 2) Barry Farrell moved to deputize Tami Ward, to serve as a Public Health Official for the limited purpose as per the Agreement with the County. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Substitute List – nil.
D. Transportation Contract(s) – nil.
E. Before School Care Contract(s) – nil.
F. Out of District Request(s). 1) Students Reside in Creston School District, Choosing Placement in another District. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to acknowledge receipt of the attendance agreements. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 2) Students Reside in Creston School District, District Placement at KMS. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved to approve these attendance agreements. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously
G. Gym & School Grounds Use request(s) – nil.
IX. Claims – December 2020. Barry Farrell moved to accept the Claims Approval List as presented. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded. Motion passed unanimously
X. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 14 January 2021, 7:00 am Regular Meeting
XI. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 7:42 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

____________________________
Tammy Bartos, District Clerk

____________________________
Matt Hartle, Board Chair