Board Minutes

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

CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
11 APRIL 2024

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, Megan Derrington, Barry Farrell, and Nevada Hafer. Also in attendance were 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 14 March 2024 & 19 March 2024. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the minutes as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence. A letter from Gary Mahugh of Creston Fire was received with a thank you for the use of the facilities during the recent Creston Auction and appreciation for the partnership between the two organizations. Mrs. Stevens, replied in kind. A copy of the correspondence was provided.
IV. Information
A. Teacher Hiring Committee Update. The hiring committee held interviews in March and pre-employment steps are still in process prior to presenting any recommendations to the Board.
B. Audit Engagement Letter from Nicole Noonan, CPA. A copy of the document was provided to the trustees regarding the services that will be provided for the FY2022 & FY2023 audit.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk. The monthly budget expenditure report was provided through 31 March 2024. The General Fund is 59% committed and the Total of all funds is 48% committed. Miscellaneous Funds and Eastside Interlocal accounts were also reported. Accounts are reconciled to the County Treasurer through February 2024. Attended MASBO Region 1 Spring Workshop on March 21 and Election webinars on March 15 & 28. Our auditor plans to have the report ready for the June board meeting. The year 4 data collection for ESSER compliance is due April 15th.
B. Principal. Student Enrollment is 102. The Integrated Strategic Action Plan and all supporting documents were submitted to the Montana Office of Public Instruction on March 24. Fifth and sixth grade student volunteers served as runners for the Creston Auction – Mrs. Johnson coordinated and supervised this community service project. Teachers participated in IEFA professional development led by Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Davidson. Teachers learned about incorporating Native games and recipes into their lessons and also viewed and familiarized themselves with a newly created IEFA section in the library. Families engaged in a Family STEM event on March 21; they participated in activities such as tower building, catapult construction and others – a “Thank You” to the Creston Boosters for supporting the event. Two special assemblies were held in March: a quartet with the Glacier Symphony and Rob Quist and Halladay Blake with the Native Songs Program. Appreciation was expressed to the Creston Volunteer Fire Department for returning the gym and grounds in great condition; we value the continued partnership between the school and the fire department. Monthly building maintenance inspections have been completed and the facilities inventory report was provided.
C. Staff. Mrs. Johnson shared the report via a Google Slide presentation.
VI. Policies – Consideration of Action:
A. Second Reading of MTSBA Policy Services Updates: 3141. Barry Farrell moved to approve Policy 3141 as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. First Reading of MTSBA Policy Services Updates: 1610. First Read only. No Action.
VII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Addendum to Custodian Hire for Stipend. A stipend which is offered to all hourly paid classified positions to help maintain the operation and continuity of services at our school was presented for our new custodian; it is prorated based on FTE, and in this case paid out for May 1 and June 1. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the stipend for C. Sydnor as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Collective Bargaining Agreement Negotiations with Creston Education Association. On March 14 the trustees approved the increase in sick leave days from 12 to 15 as presented by the CEA; the CEA has approved the 1% increase to the base of the salary schedule as presented to them on March 19; and the CEA has approved the proposal to increase the exchange of 2 sick days for 1 personal day up to 3 personal days per year as presented to them on March 14. The CBA for 7/1/2024 – 6/30/25 was updated with all negotiated changes and was provided to the trustees. There was discussion, which included the CEA representatives present, to clarify the language in the CBA about when the exchange of sick to personal days can happen. Two separate motions were made regarding the CBA. 1) Nevada Hafer moved to add to the beginning of section 10.2.5 “Once all personal days have been used”. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Jen Johnson, CEA president accepted the addition. 2) Twila Brenneman moved to approve the CBA for 7/1/2024 – 6/30/2025 as amended in the previous motion. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Megan Derrington left the meeting at 7:41 a.m., prior to the motions and votes on VII.B.
C. Reduction in Force Committee. Due to a reduction in enrollment and estimated budget for next year staff reductions are anticipated. As per section 8.1.1 of the CBA with the CEA, if staff reductions are needed the District will form a committee made up of board members, administrators, and teachers. Barry Farrell moved to approve the formation of the Reduction in Force Committee and appoint Twila Brenneman and Nevada Hafer to the committee. Nevada seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
D. Creston School Scholarship Committee Formation. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the formation of the Scholarship Committee and appoint Barry Farrell to the committee. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. Renewal of KPS Interlocal Agreement for 7th & 8th Graders at KMS. The agreement is still in process at Kalispell Public Schools. No action.
F. Levy & Trustee Election Cancellation. Our levy and trustee election has been cancelled. The trustee election was cancelled by acclamation. The notice of cancellation was forwarded to the appropriate county officials on April 5, 2024. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the election cancellation as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
G. Transportation Contracts – nil.
H. Before School Care Contracts – nil.
I. Out-of-District Requests. Attendance agreements for 15 students that reside in our district, the students will attend Kalispell Middle School under a district-to-district placement in school year 2024/2025. Barry Farrell moved to approve these attendance agreements. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Attendance agreements for two students that reside in our district, attending another district in school year 2024/2025. Nevada Hafer moved to acknowledge receipt of these attendance agreements. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
J. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests – nil.
K. District Clerk Personnel Evaluation – Executive Session. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen determined that the demands of individual privacy clearly exceed the merits of public disclosure and at 8:02 a.m. closed the meeting for an executive session to conduct the personnel evaluation of Tammy Bartos. The meeting was reconvened in open session at 8:30 a.m. and Nevada Hafer moved to approve the personnel evaluation of Tammy Bartos and to approve the executive session minutes. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
VIII. Claims Approval – Consideration of Action. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the claims list as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
IX. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 9 May 2024, 7:00 am, Reorganization & Regular Meeting
B. 13 June 2024, 7:00am, Regular Meeting
X. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:35 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

_________________________________
Tammy Bartos, District Clerk

_________________________________
Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Board Chair

CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
SPECIAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
19 MARCH 2024

MINUTES

I. Call to Order. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:05 a.m. The meeting was held in the gym. Present were Board Trustees Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Twila Brenneman, Megan Derrington, Barry Farrell, and Nevada Hafer. Also in attendance were Rachel Stevens, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, and Cindi Conley, Special Education Teacher.
II. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
III. Information & Items for Discussion
A. Donations. General information was given regarding donations to a school district. Donations to a school district are tax deductible. Donations can be given for a specific purpose, the use of these monies are restricted to that purpose; or gifts can be given with no specific purpose, these are considered unrestricted.
B. Preliminary General Fund Budget Fiscal Year 2024/2025. Several preliminary scenarios were provided and discussed. The current year budget is $835,619 and is based on an ANB of 124 while the preliminary budget for 2024/2025 is based on an ANB of 117 and is $805,028.16.
IV. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Collective Bargaining Agreement Negotiations with Creston Education Association. Negotiations discussion continued from the March 14, 2024, board meeting regarding the Salary Schedule Increase. The CEA is requesting a 2% increase to the schedule. Twila Brenneman moved to propose a 1% increase to the base of the salary schedule for 2024/2025. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
V. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 11 April 2024, 7:00 am, Regular Meeting
B. 9 May 2024, 7:00 am, Regular Meeting
C. 13 June 2024, 7:00am, Regular Meeting
VI. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 7:43 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

/s/Tammy Bartos, District Clerk

/s/Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Board Chair

CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
14 MARCH 2024

MINUTES

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, Barry Farrell, and Nevada Hafer. Also in attendance were Rachel Stevens, Principal, Tammy Bartos, District Clerk, Cindi Conley, Special Education Teacher, Jen Johnson, 2nd Grade Teacher and CEA President, Shanta Milne, Kindergarten Teacher and Janessa Harkins, 6th Grade Teacher.
II. Minutes of 8 February 2024. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the minutes as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
IV. Information
A. Teacher Hiring Committee Update. The hiring committee held interviews on March 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 29 February 2024. The General Fund is 51% committed and the Total of all funds is 42% committed. Miscellaneous Funds and Eastside Interlocal accounts were also reported. Accounts are reconciled to the County Treasurer through January 2024. Attended OPI/MASBO Election webinars on February 16 and March 1; and the Flathead Valley Business Managers meeting on February 15; completed CRISS training on February 13. District Clerk evaluation is scheduled for April. Spring Student Count was February 5 and was 102 (Fall count was 104); the ANB that will be used for 2024/2025 Budget Limits is 117 and it is based on the three-year average. Mail ballot plans for the May election cycle were sent to the Montana Secretary of State and approved on February 27.
1. MAEFAIRS Spring 2024 Student Count. The report was provided.
B. Principal. Student Enrollment is 102. Teachers participated in professional development for the Social Studies Alive! program on February 28. Mrs. Johnson is again volunteering to coordinate and supervise the 5th & 6th grade student volunteers from Creston School to serve as Creston Auction runners. The Family Event committee has been planning a STEM night for Thursday, March 21; families will be welcomed into the gym to participate in hands-on learning STEM activities – Thank you to Creston Boosters for supporting this event. Students selected books on Friday, March 1 from our Book Swap event; many families donated books; also, Super One Foods donated reusable bags for the students to collect their books. Our teachers have been giving back to the educational community by hosting pre-service and student teachers; currently we have a pre-service teacher in 6th grade and a student teacher will begin in 2nd grade later this month. On February 16 our students participated in interactive learning activities taught by the staff at Creston School for an IEFA Collaboration Day; there are seven Essential Understandings developed by the State that guided our activities. The CRDC report was completed, and the data was certified and submitted by the deadline of February 26. Students and staff participated in a Shelter-in-Place drill on February 20; after a debrief the crisis team made suggested revisions to the plan and we will hold another drill in April to test the proposed revisions. Monthly building maintenance inspections have been completed and the facilities inventory report was provided.
C. Staff. Mrs. Johnson, along with the other teachers that were present, shared the report via a Google Slide presentation.
VI. Policies – Consideration of Action:
A. Second Reading of MTSBA Policy Services Updates: 2151F, 3431, 5223, 5330, 8132, 1240, 1520. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the policy updates as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

B. First Reading of MTSBA Policy Services Updates: 3141. First Read only. No Action.
VII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Trustee Resolution – Notice of Intent to Increase/Decrease Non-Voted Levies for 2024/2025
1. OPI Pre-Session Budget Data Sheet – report provided.
2. Preliminary General Fund Budget Fiscal Year 2024/2025 – report provided.
This is a required notice estimating changes in non-voted levies and listing the expected use of the Building Reserve State Major Maintenance levies. All funds were listed in the resolution to give a more complete overview of next year’s estimated levies. A preliminary General Fund Budget for Fiscal Year 2023/2024 and the OPI Pre-Session Budget Data Sheet were provided and discussed along with the Resolution itself. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the Resolution as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. Collective Bargaining Agreement Negotiations with Creston Education Association. Negotiations continued from the February 8, 2024, board meeting. Megan Derrington moved as follows: 1) regarding the Salary Schedule Increase, the trustees will meet again to further discuss the preliminary General Fund Budget for 2024/2025 and this salary increase; 2) agree to the request to increase sick leave days from 12 to 15; 3) decline the request to add a section for coaching leave and propose an alternative to increase the exchange of 2 sick days for 1 personal day from 1 day per year to 3 days per year. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The negotiated items will be presented in full in writing to the CEA for their response and a Special Board meeting was planned for 19 March 2024 to continue negotiation discussions.
C. Strategic Plan 2024 – 2027. The plan has been developed as a result of consultation with a range of stakeholders including parents, teachers, teacher’s union, staff, students, community members, and trustees. The Plan is guided by our vision, mission, and core beliefs and provides the framework that will guide us over the next three years. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the Strategic Plan for 2024 – 2027 as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
D. Request Renewal of KPS Interlocal Agreement for 7th & 8th Graders at KMS. Our seventh and eighth grade students attend Kalispell Middle School (KMS) under an Interlocal Agreement with Kalispell Public School District (KPS). Barry Farrell moved to approve the letter to KPS to request a renewal of the Interlocal Agreement for KMS as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. Custodian Hire and Employment Agreements. Twila Brenneman moved to approve hiring Cassandra Sydnor as custodian on a probationary status as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
F. Substitute List 2023/2024. Megan Derrington moved to approve the new hire substitute teacher/aide/custodian list as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
G. New Math Curriculum Adoption. Two math curriculum programs were made available to families and teachers to review: Math Expressions and Illustrative Mathematics. There is 100% teacher approval of the Illustrative Mathematics program; one public comment was received in favor of the same. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the adoption of Illustrative Mathematics as our math curriculum beginning July 1, 2024. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
H. Hold Harmless with Mountain View Mennonite Church. The Safety/Threat Assessment Team has suggested we have an emergency relocation shelter plan in place that is a further distance away from the school. Barry Farrell moved to approve the Emergency Relocation Shelter and Hold Harmless Agreement with Mountain View Mennonite Church as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
I. Bus Stop Request. A relocation of a bus stop to provide for a safer crossing. Megan Derrington moved to approve the bus stop request as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
J. School Calendar 2024/2025. Three options were presented; developed from the Kalispell Public Schools calendar and they all meet the state required instructional hours. Also, an option regarding the number of district provided teacher training days was presented. Twila Brenneman moved to approve option 1.1 as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Option 1.1 has the same start and end dates as KPS, 171 full instruction days and 9 early out’s (4 for teacher professional development) and 2 district provided teacher training days.
K. Student Handbook 2024/2025. Various revisions and updates were reviewed. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the Student Handbook for 2024/2025 as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
L. Property Disposal Resolution. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the property disposal resolution as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
M. Extra-Duty Teaching Contract for 2024 Summer Program. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the extra-duty contract for Melissa Potts to teach the 2024 summer program as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
N. Transportation Contracts. Barry Farrell moved to approve the transportation contracts as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
O. Before School Care Contracts. Barry Farrell moved to approve the before school contracts as presented. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
P. Out-of-District Requests. Megan Derrington moved to acknowledge the attendance agreement as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Q. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests. Becky Toelke requested to amend her current agreement end date from April 1 to May 27; Many Lakes HOA requested use of the gym April 19 to set up and April 20, 2024, for a Living with Wildfire community event; and Many Lakes HOA requested use of the gym September 20 to set up and September 21, 2024, for their annual meeting. Barry Farrell moved to approve the gym use requests as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
VIII. Claims Approval – Consideration of Action. Nevada Hafer moved to approve the claims list as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
IX. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 11 April 2024, 7:00 am, Regular Meeting
B. 9 May 2024, 7:00 am, Regular Meeting
C. 13 June 2024, 7:00am, Regular Meeting
D. Addition – 19 March 2024, 7:00 am, Special Meeting
X. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 9:25 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

/s/Tammy Bartos, District Clerk

/s/Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Board Chair

CRESTON SCHOOL DISTRICT #9
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
8 FEBRUARY 2024

MINUTES

I. Call to Order. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen called the Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7:06 a.m. The meeting was held in the gym. Present were Board Trustees Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Twila Brenneman, Megan Derrington, Barry Farrell, and Nevada Hafer. Also in attendance were 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 January 2024. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the minutes as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
III. Public Participation / Correspondence – nil.
IV. Information
A. Strategic Planning Process Update. The Strategic Planning Committee held the final meeting on January 16th. The Comprehensive Needs Assessment was reviewed, and a GAP Analysis was completed to determine areas of need. Based on the areas of need, the committee determined goals for the strategic plan. The team also determined the competencies for the Graduate Profile. The following documents were provided as information:
1. Comprehensive Needs Assessment Results
2. Draft Gap Analysis
3. Draft Strategic Plan
4. Proposed Graduate Profile
B. Custodian Hiring Update. The hiring committee held interviews on February 5th; and candidates are in the process of obtaining screenings needed prior to presenting a recommendation to the Board.
V. Reports:
A. Clerk. The monthly budget expenditure report was provided through 31 January 2024. The General Fund is 42% committed and the Total of all Funds is 36% committed. Miscellaneous Funds and Eastside Interlocal accounts were also reported. Accounts are reconciled to the County Treasurer through December 2023. Attended a meeting with the County Election Department on January 23rd; also, OPI/MASBO election webinars on January 19th and February 2nd. The auditor conducted the on-site portion of the 2021/2022 & 2022/2023 audit on January 26th.
B. Principal. Student enrollment is 102. Teachers participated in peer observation sessions related to district ELA and math goals on January 15th and 16th. Teachers also participated in a professional development /workday on January 19th where they debriefed the peer observation sessions and held discussions and research time related to math curriculum and a new assessment tool, information related to the strategic plan, and the Social Studies Alive! curriculum. Mrs. Stevens attended a Zoom training regarding the new accreditation tool for the Integrated Strategic Action Plan (ISAP) by OPI on February 2nd. Mrs. Johnson has written and received two math grants: one from The Karen Cox Memorial Grant for math stackers and another from The Montana Space Grant for STEM Lego sets. Mrs. Visnovske has written and received a grant for archery equipment for grades 4 thru 6 from the National Archery in Schools Program in conjunction with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. A summary of the Early Literacy Targeted Interventions options available to a school district through Montana House Bill 352 was provided. Bus service will not be available on March 21st and 22nd – families who use the bus will be given advance notification. There is a mandatory Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) which both Mrs. Stevens and Mrs. Bartos will work on together to submit by February 26th. The second required bus evacuation drill was completed on January 26th. Monthly building inspections have been completed with no recommendations for repairs. The facilities inventory report was provided. Math and ELA benchmark assessment data was presented.
C. Staff. Mrs. Johnson was present to share the staff report via a Google Slide presentation.
VI. Policies – Consideration of Action:
A. Second Reading of MTSBA Policy Services Updates: 1400, 1511, 2320, 3410, 3600F1, 3600F2, 3600P, 5121, 7320, 8110, 8125, 5231. Barry Farrell moved to approve the policy updates as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
B. First Reading of MTSBA Policy Services Updates: 2151F, 3431, 5223, 5330, 8132, 1240, 1520. A continuation of policies the MTSBA Policy Services team has prepared in response to legislation approved during the 2023 Legislative Session in addition to amendments to Chapter 55 as adopted by the Board of Public Education. First Read only. No Action.
VII. Consideration of Action Items:
A. Collective Bargaining Agreement Negotiations with Creston Education Association. Discussion continued on the three items under consideration for the 2024/2025 CBA: 1) a 2% increase to the base salary schedule – a preliminary budget will be presented next month; 2) an increase in sick days from 12 to 15 days – a comparison chart of other schools in our valley was provided; 3) addition of language regarding coaching leave for out of district extracurricular coaching – expanded language was provided and it will be forwarded for review by legal counsel. No action.
B. Teacher Resignation & Begin Hiring Process for a 1.0 Teacher Position for 2024/2025. The resignation of C. Nutt effective at the conclusion of the 2023/2024 school year was accepted and acknowledged by Mrs. Stevens. Megan Derrington moved to begin the hiring process of a teacher position for the 2024/2025 school year and appoint two trustees to the hiring committee as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Megan Derrington and Barry Farrell will serve on the hiring committee.
C. School Closure 1/12 & 1/18 & Calendar Revision. Due to extreme weather conditions, there were two unforeseen emergency school closure days in January. Nevada Hafer moved to approve a resolution declaring an unforeseen emergency cancelling school on January 12, 2024, this day will not be made up under the provision of MCA 20-9-806(2). Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Nevada Hafer moved to approve a resolution cancelling school on January 18, 2024, due to an unforeseen emergency. A reasonable effort to make up the lost hours has been made by advance planning of 15.33 excess hours in the calendar, which more than covers 75% of the hours lost, and the day will not be made up under the provision of MCA 20-9-806(1)(b). Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
D. Election Resolution. A regular school election for the purpose of electing one trustee to a three-year term will be conducted on the 7th day of May 2024. The election will be conducted by mail ballot. Approval of additional levies to operate and maintain the Creston School general fund, technology fund and building reserve fund for fiscal year 2024-2025 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. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the Election Resolution by mail ballot as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
E. FY 2021/2022 – 2022/2023 Audit Contract Amendment. A change to the date of completion from December 31, 2023, to June 30, 2024. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the audit contract amendment as presented. Nevada Hafer seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
F. Transportation Contracts – nil.
G. Before School Care Contracts – nil.
H. Out-of-District Requests- nil.
I. Gym & School Grounds Use Requests. The Creston Fire Fighter’s Association requested an amendment on April 4, 2024 to access the field at 12:30 instead of 1:30 and access to the gym on the same day at 3:00. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the request as presented. Megan Derrington seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
J. Principal Evaluation – Executive Session. Jessica Sandven-Sorensen determined that the demands of individual privacy clearly exceed the merits of public disclosure and at 8:16am closed the meeting for an executive session to conduct the personnel evaluation of Rachel Stevens. The meeting was reconvened in open session at 8:58am and Nevada Hafer moved to approve the personnel evaluation of Rachel Stevens and to approve the executive session minutes. Twila Brenneman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
VIII. Claims Approval – Consideration of Action. Twila Brenneman moved to approve the claims list as presented. Barry Farrell seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
IX. Board Work Session
A. Handling Threatening and Unsolicited Communications. A discussion as to protocol on what do if you receive these types of communications on behalf of the school.
X. Next Meeting Dates:
A. 8 February 2024, 7:00 am, Regular Meeting
B. 14 March 2024, 7:00 am, Regular Meeting
XI. Adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 9:04 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

/s/Tammy Bartos, District Clerk

/s/Jessica Sandven-Sorensen, Board Chair