CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
13 JUNE 2024

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, Megan Derrington and Nevada Hafer. Absent: Barry Farrell. Also in attendance were Rachel Stevens, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, Cindi Conley, Special Education Teacher and one community member.
II. Minutes of 9 May & 29 May 2024. Megan Derrington moved to approve the minutes as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence. A thank you note which was received from B. Toelke and her gym use group was shared– a donation was also received.
IV. Information
A. Speed Signs Highway 35 Project Update. The installation of the school speed limit lighted signs is to be completed prior to the start of school in August; this is according to the Flathead County MDT office.
B. Hiring Committee Update – the committee met to hold an interview for an aide on June 12 and pre-employment steps are in process prior to presenting any recommendations to the Board.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk. The monthly budget expenditure report was provided through 31 May 2024. The General Fund is 96% committed and the Total of all funds is 76% committed. Miscellaneous Funds and Eastside Interlocal accounts were also reported. Accounts are reconciled to the County Treasurer through March 2024 – unchanged from the May report. Information about the MTSBA June 2024 Ballot was provided – the ballot itself will not be voted on as the notice was received after the 6/13/24 agenda was set. The audit is scheduled to be completed by June 30th.
B. Principal. Student Enrollment is 102. The work on the parking & bus lots is scheduled to be completed mid-July. Overhead lighting was installed in the container – Thank you Mr. Hagen! The red playground spinner will be adjusted to make it a stationary piece of equipment prior to the return of students for the 2024/2025 school year. Clearwater Contracting LLC recently conducted a free inspection of our sewer pipes, as more information becomes available it will be provided. The last week of school included student and staff participating in spirit days as follows: crazy hat day, crazy sock day, crazy hair day, Creston pride day, and color day. The Creston Boosters provided an end of the year lunch for the staff and students. Monthly building inspections have been completed with one recommendation to tighten the handle bolts on the monkey bars which has been done. The School Facilities Inventory Report was provided. Third through sixth grade students have completed Smarter Balanced Assessments – data was provided. Reading and math benchmark assessments have been completed and data was provided. A report on Creston School Goals 2023/2024 was also provided.
C. Staff. Cindi Conley was present to provide a verbal report on the end of the year happenings.
VI. Policies – Consideration of Action:
A. Second Reading of MTSBA Policy Services Updates: 1420, 3410F, 2132, 3110, 5325, 8110, 8121, 8132, 3416F3; Delete: 2113, 7008. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the policy updates as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
VII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Employment Contract for Custodian June 2024 – CS. The probationary period of C. Sydnor is coming to a close and a specific term contract is recommended. Nevada Hafer moved to approve hiring Cassandra Sydnor as Custodian for June 18 thru June 30, 2024, as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Classified Contract Renewal or Non-Renewal 2024/2025 & Compensation. A list of employees with proposed wages was provided. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the employment agreements and compensation for the 2024/2025 school year as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Hourly Paid Classified Employees Stipend 2024/2025. A stipend of up to $3,060 per annum for a 1.0 FTE hourly paid classified employee was proposed – prorated by FTE. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the stipend to the listed classified employees for 2024/2025 school year as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
D. Extra-Duty Contract for Vehicle Maintenance 2024/2025 – JH. Megan Derrington moved to approve the extra-duty contract and pay rate for Jeff Hagen to provide vehicle repair maintenance for the 2024/2025 school year as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. Principal Salary Negotiation & Contract 2024/2025. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the compensation and employment agreement for the 2024/2025 school year as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
F. Business/Office Manager & District Clerk Salary Negotiation & Contract 2024/2025. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the compensation and employment contract for the 2024/2025 school year as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
G. District Clerk Authority to Process Claims Summer Months. Megan Derrington moved to authorize the District Clerk to process claims June through the end of August 2024 without convening a board meeting. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
H. Bus Route 2024/2025. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the bus route and stops with student crossings for 2024/2025 as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
I. Cayuse Prairie – Creston Transportation Interlocal 2024/2025. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the transportation interlocal agreement with Cayuse Prairie for 2024/2025 as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
J. Property & Liability Insurance Renewal with MSPLIP 2024/2025. Our current policy expires June 30. The premium for 2024/2025 is $15,302. The preliminary 2024/2025 General Fund Budget included an estimated premium of $15,000. Megan Derrington moved to approve the property & liability insurance renewal with MSPLIP for 2024/2025 as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
K. Transfer to East Side Flathead Valley Multidistrict Interlocal. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the resolution to transfer up to a maximum of $40,000 from the 2023/2024 General Fund to the East Side Flathead Valley Multidistrict Interlocal Fund as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
L. Records Destruction RM88. A form FM88 was presented to dispose of personnel records. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the records destruction request as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
M. Flathead County Planning & Zoning Preliminary Plat Request. A preliminary plat request for FSR-24-09 Many Lakes subdivision was received from Flathead County Planning & Zoning. Information only – no action taken.
N. Letter of Reasonable Assurance for Substitutes. A letter to current substitute employees giving them reasonable assurance of employment for the 2024/2025 school year on the same basis that existed during the past school year. Twila Brenneman moved to approve issuing the Letter of Reasonable Assurance for substitute employees as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
O. Flathead Special Education – Preschool Interlocal Agreement 2024/2025. The FSEC Preschool provides a comprehensive developmental approach to meeting the needs of children with disabilities ages 3 through 5 that meet eligibility criteria. Megan Derrington moved to approve the FSEC Preschool Program Interlocal Agreement for fiscal year 2024/2025 as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
P. Flathead Special Education – STAR (Communication) Program Agreement 2024/2025. The FSEC STAR (Communication) Program meets the needs of students who have Autism or related characteristics and behaviors that impede their ability to communicate and be successful within their neighborhood school. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the FSEC STAR Program Interlocal Agreement for fiscal year 2024/2025 as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Q. Renewal of KPS Interlocal Agreement for 7th & 8th Graders at KMS. The agreement is still being worked on by Kalispell School District Administration. Information only.
R. Property Disposal Resolution. A list of abandoned, obsolete and undesirable property was provided. Megan Derrington moved to approve the property disposal resolution as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
S. Early Entry Kindergarten Enrollment for 2024/2025. A request for early entry into kindergarten for next school year. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the enrollment of an early entry into kindergarten for the 2024/2025 school year as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
T. Transportation Contracts – nil.
U. Before School Care Contracts – nil.
V. Out-of-District Requests. Attendance agreement requests for nineteen (19) students that reside in our district, to attend another district in 2024/2025. Nevada Hafer moved to acknowledge receipt of these attendance agreements. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Eleven (11) requests for students residing in other districts to attend Creston School District for the 2024/2025 school year. Megan Derrington moved to approve these attendance agreements. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
W. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests – nil.
VIII. Claims Approval – Consideration of Action. Megan Derrington moved to approve the claims approval list as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
IX. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 8 August 2024, 7:00am, Budget & Regular Meeting
X. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:09 a.m.

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

CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
SPECIAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
29 MAY 2024

MINUTES

I. Call to Order. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. The meeting was held remotely via a Zoom meeting platform. Present were Board Trustees Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Twila Brenneman, Megan Derrington, Barry Farrell, and Nevada Hafer. Also in attendance were Rachel Stevens, Principal, and Tammy Bartos, District Clerk.
II. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
III. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Proposals for Parking Lots Maintenance. Two proposals were considered to maintain our parking lots from damage and wear out. Nevada Hafer moved to approve proposal #6959 for $7,027 from Double Diamond to do both parking lots as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
IV. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 13 June 2024, 7:00 am, Regular Meeting
B. 8 August 2024, 7:00am, Budget & Regular Meeting
V. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 7:35 a.m.

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

CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REORGANIZATION & REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
9 MAY 2024

MINUTES

I. Call to Order. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:01 a.m. The meeting was held in the gym. Present were Board Trustees Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Twila Brenneman, Barry Farrell, and Nevada Hafer. Absent: Megan Derrington. Also in attendance were Cal Ketchum, County Superintendent of Schools, Rachel Stevens, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, Cindi Conley, Special Education Teacher, Jen Johnson, 2nd Grade Teacher and CEA President, and Melissa Potts, Title Teacher.
II. Minutes of 11 April 2024. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the minutes as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
IV. Results of Trustee Election. The Trustee election was cancelled by acclamation. We had one trustee opening for a three-year term and one candidate filing. Elected by Acclamation was Jessica Sandven-Sorensen. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the trustee election results as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
V. Oath of Office for Newly Elected Trustees. Cal Ketchum, Flathead County Superintendent of Schools administered the Oath of Office to Jessica Sandven-Sorensen.
VI. Adjourn Meeting. This portion of the meeting was adjourned at 7:04 a.m. Cal Ketchum left the meeting at this time.
VII. Call to Order. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:04 a.m.
VIII. Reorganization of the Board of Trustees
A. Nomination and Election of Board Chair. Twila Brenneman nominated and moved to elect Jessica Sandven-Sorensen as Board Chair. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Nomination and Election of Vice-Chair. Nevada Hafer nominated and moved to elect Twila Brenneman as Vice-Chair. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Appointment of District Clerk. Twila Brenneman moved to appoint Tammy Bartos as District Clerk. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
D. Approval of Board Meeting Date and Times for 2024/2025 School Year. Nevada Hafer moved to continue having regular meetings at 7:00 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. Discussion of Procedures and Expectations. Items for discussion were special and emergency meetings, board packets and trustee resources.
IX. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
X. Information
A. Creston School Scholarship Committee. The scholarship was awarded to Tessa Troyer. She accepted the certificate of award at our school assembly on April 26th. The actual monetary amount of $500 will be given once proof of registration is provided.
B. ESSA School Report Card 2022/2023. A copy of the report was provided.
XI. Reports:
A. Clerk. The monthly budget expenditure report was provided through 30 April 2024. The General Fund is 67% committed and the Total of all funds is 54% committed. Miscellaneous Funds and Eastside Interlocal accounts were also reported. Accounts are reconciled to the County Treasurer through March 2024. Information about the auditor’s responsibilities and management controls on page 3 of the Audit Engagement Letter was provided. The year 4 data collection for ESSER compliance was submitted April 15th. Information about HB203 open enrollment, tuition receipts and the impact in the general fund expenditure budget was provided.
B. Principal. Student Enrollment is 102. The SRSA grant application has been submitted. Third through sixth grade students have been participating in the Smarter Balanced ELA and math assessments since mid-April and the testing is coming to an end; also fifth grade students participated in a science assessment; results will be shared when they become available. Kindergarten Roundup was conducted on April 17; predicted enrollment is approximately 14 students. A Learning Fair featuring kindergarten through sixth grade art, writing, projects, and music will be in the gym on May 23. A planning meeting for the 2024/2025 school year with the teachers was held in April. Creston School was selected to participate in the U.S. Department of Education’s annual survey on the use of funds under the ESEA Title II Part A “Supporting Effective Instruction – Subgrants to LEAs” program for SY 2023-24; the survey was completed in April. School Spirit Days will be held June 5 – 9; there will also be an ice cream social that week and a drawing will be held for our “I Love to Read” contest for three Kindles donated by the Kalispell Masonic Lodge #42. Mrs. Stevens attended a training in April regarding Title services and non-public schools. Monthly building maintenance inspections have been completed and the facilities inventory report was provided.
C. Staff. The report was shared via a Google Slide presentation and the teachers that were present at this meeting also provided input.
XII. Policies – Consideration of Action:
A. Review of Policy 1400 – Board Meetings. A review for information only. No action.
B. Second Reading of MTSBA Policy Services Updates: 1610. Twila Brenneman moved to approve policy 1610 as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. First Reading of MTSBA Policy Services Updates: 1420, 3410F, 2132, 3110, 5325, 8110, 8121, 8132, 3416F3; Delete: 2113, 7008. First Read only. No action.
XIII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Crossroads Interlocal Agreement for 2024/2025. The Flathead Crossroads Program provides a positive environment to meet the unique educational needs of students of participating districts who have chronic emotional and behavioral needs with the specific intent of building skills necessary to facilitate reentry into the regular public-school setting. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the Flathead Crossroads Interlocal Agreement for fiscal year 2024/2025 as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Reduction in Force. The school district is facing a budget deficit for the next school year and a reduction in staffing is recommended. The Reduction in Force Committee met on April 25, 2024, to review options. Barry Farrell moved to approve the recommendation to reduce both the Title 1 and Specials Teachers to a 0.8 FTE for the 2024/2025 school year as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Teacher Contract Renewals 2024/2025 including Renewal or Non-Renewal of Non-Tenured Teachers. Barry Farrell moved to approve the contract renewals for the list of tenured teachers for the 2024/2025 school year. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Barry Farrell moved to approve the contract renewals for the list of non-tenured teachers for the 2024/2025 school year. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
D. New Teacher Hire & Contract for 2024/2025. Twila Brenneman moved to hire Mary Moore as a teacher for the 2024/2025 school year, approve the intent to hire letter, and her teaching contract as presented, subject to and conditioned upon receipt of her fully executed Montana Teaching Certificate. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. 2024 MTSBA Annual Meeting. Information regarding the meeting was provided. No action taken.
F. Renewal of KPS Interlocal Agreement for 7th & 8th Graders at KMS. Waiting on Kalispell to forward the agreement. No action.
G. Resignations and Post a 1.0 FTE Classified Position for the 2024/2025 School Year. Mrs. Stevens has accepted the resignations of P. Choco and K. Hagen effective the end of this school year. This 1.0 FTE (reduced from 1.63 FTE) will provide staffing for various needs and may be filled by more than one person. Barry Farrell moved to approve the posting and hiring process to fill a 1.0 FTE classified aide position for the 2024/2025 school year as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the Hiring Committee and to appoint Barry Farrell to the Committee and to allow Mrs. Stevens to call upon a different trustee if Barry Farrell is not available when meetings are scheduled. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
H. MSSA Program Agreement 2024/2025. The Montana Small Schools Alliance (MSSA) provides appropriately endorsed professionals to help our district meet the Library and Guidance Chapter 55 requirement. This request also includes the Curriculum Consortium Agreement to meet our Title II federal requirements. New this year the request is to add the NWEA/MSSA Map Assessment Testing; the NWEA program meets the new State requirement for a research-based assessment tool and we will utilize testing for MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) growth & reading fluency. Barry Farrell moved to approve the Letter of Agreement for MSSA Programs 2024/2025 as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
I. Harvest Haying Agreement at 131 Creston Road with S. Wagoner. Steve Wagoner will harvest the hay and in exchange our property will have some needed maintenance – there is no exchange of money. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the haying agreement with Steve Wagoner as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
J. Parking Lots Seal Coat, Crack Seal, Striping Proposals. Waiting for additional proposals. No action.
K. Substitute List 2023/2024. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the new hire substitute teacher/aide/custodian list as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
L. Transportation Contracts – nil.
M. Before School Care Contracts. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the contract as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
N. Out-of-District Requests. Attendance agreements for 18 students grade K – 6, requesting enrollment in Creston School District as their school of choice for the 2024/2025 school year. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the attendance agreements as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
O. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests – nil.
XIV. Claims Approval – Consideration of Action. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the claims approval list as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
XV. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 13 June 2024, 7:00 am, Regular Meeting
B. 8 August 2024, 7:00am, Budget & Regular Meeting
XVI. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:16 a.m.

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