CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9

REGULAR BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING

14 March 2019

MINUTES

I. Call to order. Matt Hartle called the Board of Trustees Meeting to order at 7:00 a.m. in the

Creston School Library with the following members present: Jessica Sandven-Sorensen,

Julie Tikka and Joanna Massie. Absent: Shawn McDonough – work related. Also, in

attendance were: Tami Ward – Principal, Tammy Bartos – District Clerk, Jen Johnson – 2nd

grade teacher, Deb Christiansen – Title Teacher, Trevor Dahlman – Principal, Olney-Bissel

School, Gloria Graves – Friends of Creston Fire.

II. Information Item:

A. Middle School Considerations – including discussion with Trevor Dahlman, Principal,

Olney-Bissel School. Principal Dahlman shared information (enrollment, transition to

the high school, staffing, budget considerations, program offerings…) regarding the

middle-school program they have at Olney-Bissell. Will discuss next steps further at the

next Board meeting.

III. Minutes. Julie Tikka moved and Joanna Massie seconded approval of the minutes of the

14 February 2019 Regular & 19 February 2019 special meetings. Motion passed

unanimously.

IV. Public Participation / Correspondence.

A. An email from Annette Floyd was shared, which included a recent news report on Wi-Fi,

Bluetooth and possible link to cancer.

B. Gloria Graves, representing Friends of Creston Fire, presented information regarding

the upcoming Auction in April and the use of our school facilities.

V. Information Item:

A. Lawsuit William Rogers re. Wi-Fi Tower Installation – Update. Copies of documents

provided for information:

1. February 12, 2019 Order Dismissing with Prejudice

VI. Reports:

A. Clerk. Statement of Expenditure through 14 March 2019 was presented. General Fund

is at 59% Committed. Total of all funds is at 46% Committed. Also, the OPI Pre-

Session Preliminary Budget Data Sheet for FY 2019-2020 was provided for information.

B. Principal. Student Enrollment is 102. Kindergarten Roundup is April 24th. Shanta

Milne, Jen Johnson and Tami Ward will attend a NWRISE Conference for Teacher

Professional Development in June. Fourth grade students have begun CRT

assessments. Teaching Assignments for 2019/2020 were shared. Education

Cooperative, Special Education Cooperative and Crossroads updates were given.

Building Maintenance, Facility Conditions and Safety Committee reports were shared.

C. Staff. Jen Johnson shared the staff report via a Google slides presentation.

D. 4th grade Class Presentation @ 8:00 a.m. – Student/Teacher Reader’s Theatre based

on Colonial Times.

VII. Policies: nil.

VIII. Consideration of Action Items:

A. Resignation of S. Peters and approval to hire part-time custodian for 2019/2020. S.

Peters has resigned her position as our custodian effective June 7th, 2019. Julie Tikka

moved and Joanna Massie seconded to approve beginning the hiring process for a

part-time custodian, either an individual or a contractor for 2019-2020. Motion passed

unanimously.

B. Approval to begin hiring process for a .5 “Specials” Teacher for 2019/2020. A

recommendation was put forward, based on the preliminary budget from OPI, to attempt

to hire a .5 Teacher to teach Music, and other “specials”. Both a .2 Music Teacher and

a .5 “Specials” Teacher will be advertised at the same time to acquire a larger pool of

applicants. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved and Joanna Massie seconded approval

to begin the hiring process for a .5 Teacher to teach “specials” for 2019-2020. Motion

passed unanimously.

C. Coaching Contract – Cross-Country, E. Russell. Emily Russell, 6th grade teacher, has

agreed to coach our K-6 team. The rate is $400 (salary and mileage allowance). Julie

Tikka moved and Joanna Massie seconded approving the coaching contract as

presented. Motion passed unanimously.

D. Fiscal Year 18 Audit Engagement Agreement with Nicole M. Noonan, CPA. Jessica

Sandven-Sorensen moved and Julie Tikka seconded to accept the FY18 Audit

Engagement Agreement as presented. Motion passed unanimously.

E. Preliminary FY20 General Fund Budget Scenarios. This Preliminary Budget was

provided to the Board to assist in decision making for Teacher Negotiations. No motion

needed.

F. Teacher Negotiations/CBA. Creston Education Association (CEA) teachers requested

changes to the salary schedule including a base salary increase for the 2019/2020 and

2020/2021 school years and increasing 2 additional Degree Plus Credit lanes to the

salary schedule. Julie Tikka moved and Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded to offer

the Teachers of the CEA a one-year 3% increase on the current base salary schedule

for the 2019/2020 school year and increasing 2 additional lanes of BA + 75, BA +90,

and MA +75 and MA + 90. Motion passed unanimously. The CEA will need to meet

and vote on the counter-offer.

G. Trustee Resolution SB 307 – Estimating changes in revenues/mills from tuition, building

reserve, transportation and bus depreciation levies for 2019-2020. (The full resolution

was presented and is available for review.) Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved and

Joanna Massie seconded to accept the SB307 Resolution as presented. Motion

passed unanimously.

H. Calendar 2019-2020. Two options were presented. Option 1 followed Kalispell School

District beginning and end date. Option 2 begin date was after Labor Day and end date

was 3 days later than Kalispell. Julie Tikka moved and Jessica Sandven-Sorensen

seconded to accept the Option 1 calendar for the 2019-2020 school year. Motion

passed unanimously.

I. NW MT Educational Cooperative for 2019 – 2021 – Intention to Participate. This

Cooperative provides support services to its member districts to fulfill the requirements

of the Montana Standards of Accreditation including formulating and implementing

curriculum. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved and Joanna Massie seconded approval

to participate in the NW MT Educational Cooperative for 2019 -2021. Motion passed

unanimously.

J. Equipment Disposal Resolution – BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees …, will

sell or dispose of obsolete equipment because they have become undesirable, or

unsuitable for school purposes of the district. A list of said property … is available at the

District Clerk’s Office, … (The full resolution was presented and is available for review.)

Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved and Julie Tikka seconded approval of the resolution

as presented. Motion passed unanimously.

K. Creston Scholarship Committee Formation. Two $250 Scholarships are available to

graduating High School Seniors who attended Creston Elementary School. The

Committee includes one Board Member. Joanna Massie volunteered for the position.

No motion needed.

L. Substitute Teacher List – nil.

M. Transportation Contract(s). Joanna Massie moved and Jessica Sandven-Sorensen

seconded to approve the contracts as presented. Motion passed unanimously.

N. Before School Care Contract(s). Julie Tikka moved and Joanna Massie seconded

approval of the contracts as presented. Motion passed unanimously.

O. Out of District request(s). Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved and Joanna Massie

seconded to approve the agreements as presented. Motion passed unanimously.

P. Gym & School Grounds Use request(s). Randy Sundberg is requesting use of the gym

on April 20, 2019 from 9 am to 2 pm for the Flathead Firewise Council to hold a Living

with Wildfire Community Event. Joanna Massie moved and Julie Tikka seconded

approval of the request as presented. Motion passed unanimously.

IX. Claims for March 2019. Board approved all Claims for March 2019.

X. Next Meeting Dates:

A. 11 April 2019, 7:00 am Regular Meeting

B. Policy Meeting with MTSBA -TBD

XI. Meeting adjourned at 8:42 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Tammy Bartos, District Clerk                Matt Hartle, Chairman

CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9

SPECIAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING

19 February 2019

MINUTES

I. Call to order. Matt Hartle called the Board of Trustees Meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. in the Creston School Library with the following members present: Joanna Massie, Shawn McDonough, Jessica Sandven-Sorensen and Julie Tikka. Also, in attendance were: Tami Ward – Principal, Tammy Bartos – District Clerk, Kris Goss – MTSBA Director of Policy Services, Senior Counsel.

II. Public Participation / Correspondence– nil.

III. Board Policy Review – Kris Goss, is working with our district to customize our school district policy, procedures, and handbooks to comply with the legal requirements of state and federal law.  Today we reviewed 1000 and 2000 series policies.

IV. Next Meeting Dates:

A. 14 March 2019 7:00am, Regular Meeting

B. Policy Review with MTSBA – date TBD

C. Visits to other Middle Schools – TBA

V. Meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Tammy Bartos, District Clerk                               Matt Hartle, Chairman

CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9

REGULAR BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING

14 February 2019

MINUTES

I. Call to order. Matt Hartle called the Board of Trustees Meeting to order at 7:00 a.m. in the Creston School Library with the following members present: Shawn McDonough, Jessica Sandven-Sorensen and Julie Tikka; Joanna Massie arrived at 7:30 am. Also, in attendance were: Tami Ward – Principal, Tammy Bartos – District Clerk, Shanta Milne – K teacher.

II. Minutes.Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved and Shawn McDonoughseconded approval of the minutes of the 10 January 2019 Regular Meeting. Motion passed unanimously.

III. Public Participation / Correspondence– nil.

IV. Information Items:

A. Lawsuit William Rogers re. Wi-Fi Tower Installation – Update.Copies of documents provided for information:

a. January 2019 Settlement and Mutual Release of all claims

b. 17 January 2019 Order for status hearing

c. 01 February 2019 Stipulation to dismiss with Prejudice

B. Building Conditions Report – An update to the Facilities Condition Inventory 2008 Report.All repairs categorized as “safety”, “damage/wear out”, or “codes and standards” in the report have been addressed, except for the exterior steps off of the teacher’s lounge.  This is to be taken care of this June.

V. Reports:

A. Clerk. No report this month.

B. Principal. Student Enrollment is 100. The art mural project has been completed.Regular monthly maintenance tasks have been completed.  A current Facility Conditions Inventory Report (different from the 2008 report) was provided – details current areas of need, deficiency category and status.  Third grade is participating in a NWRISE engineering and design activity. The easyCBM (math) mid-year assessment results show that more students have moved into the proficient category (76%).  Fourth grade students will take the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Assessment February 19^th.  This month our school reached out to senior citizens. Students created Valentines and Valentine bookmarks for residents and workers at Rising Sun Assisted Living Center in Bigfork.  Updates on the Education Cooperative, Special Education Cooperative, and Crossroads program were given.  Middle School Considerations –   When considering a K-5 model, please note that Kalispell Public Schools is not able to take our 6^thgraders; If we choose to offer 7^thand 8^thgrade at Creston, parents will not be able to send their students to Kalispell Middle School; costs that included a prefab building, teachers, staff, curriculum, furniture, etc. were roughly estimated, as was the estimated increase in funding; the Board will schedule visits to other middle schools as a next step.

C. Staff. Shanta Milne brought in iPads with QR codes and the staff report was shared via a Google slides presentation.Each teacher provided a slide for the board to see the learning that is happening in the classrooms.

D. 6^thgrade class presentation – Several of the 6^thgraders shared call to action letters.

VI. Policies: nil.

VII. Consideration of Action Items:

A. Resignation of D. Klassy and approval to hire .2 music teacher for 2019/2020 – David Klassy has submitted his resignation to take effect at the end of this school year; therefore, it is necessary to seek a replacement. Julie Tikka moved, and Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded beginning the hiring process for a .2 Music Teacher for 2019 – 2020.Motion passed unanimously.

B. Trustee Resolution Calling for an Election – BE IT RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees for School District No. 9, Flathead County, State of Montana, will hold the Annual Regular School Election on Tuesday, the 7th day of May 2019…; The election will be conducted by Poll Election…; The purpose of the election is to elect two (2) trustees – two, three-year terms, or as otherwise designated. Approval of additional levies to operate and maintain Creston School for FY 2020 will also be requested. (The full resolution was presented and is available for review.) Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved, and Shawn McDonough seconded to accept the resolution as presented. Motion passed unanimously.

C. Calendar 2019-2020 – Two preliminary calendar options were presented to The Board. Option 1 follows Kalispell’s calendar closely (same start, Christmas and Spring Break, and end dates); Option 2 has a start date after Labor Day and the end date is three days later. Next month the calendars will again be addressed. As these were only presented as information no motion was needed.

D. Substitute Teacher List – rehire of S. Adams was recommended. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved, and Joanna Massie seconded to approve the Substitute Teacher List as presented for the school year 2018-2019.

E. Transportation Contract(s). nil.

F. Before School Care Contract(s) – Jessica Sandven-Sorensen moved, and Joanna Massie seconded to approve the contracts as presented. Motion passed unanimously.

G. Out of District request(s). Julie Tikka moved, and Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded to acknowledge receipt of the attendance agreements for students residing in the Creston School District and attending another district. Motion passed unanimously.

H. Gym & School Grounds Use Request(s). Many Lakes HOA President, Randy Sundberg, is requesting use of the gym on February 16, 2019 from 9 am to 2 pm for their annual HOA meeting. Joanna Massie moved, and Jessica Sandven-Sorensen seconded to approve the request as presented. Motion passed unanimously.

VIII. Claims.Board approved all Claims for February 2019.

IX. Next Meeting Dates:

A. 19 February 2019, 4:00 – 8:00pm, Policy Review with MTSBA Staff

B. 14 March 2019 7:00am, Regular Meeting

C. Visits to other Middle Schools – TBA

X.  Meeting adjourned at 8:09 a.m., then …Closed Session for Principal EPAS midyear conversation – Mrs. Ward will share evidence.

Respectfully Submitted,

Tammy Bartos, District Clerk                               Matt Hartle, Chairman