Jump to content
Billings Public Schools Forums

Planning & Development Committee Meeting, May 14, 2012


Recommended Posts

Proceedings of the Board of Trustees

District No. 2, Yellowstone County

High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

Billings, Montana

 

May 14, 2012

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

The Planning & Development Committee Meeting of the Board of Trustees of School District No. 2, Yellowstone County, Montana, and High School District, Yellowstone County, Montana, was duly held at The Lincoln Center, 415 North 30th Street, Billings, Montana, May 14, 2012 at 5:30 p.m.

 

Members present included Trustees Connie Wardell, Greta Besch Moen, Lindy Graves (left at 6:35 p.m.), Kathy Aragon (left at 7:00 p.m.), Teresa Stroebe, Pam Ellis, Allen Halter, Associate Superintendent Gail Surwill, District Clerk Leo Hudetz, and Superintendent Jack Copps. Others present included Brenda Koch, Kathy Olson and Lew Anderson.

 

Registered guests included Mary Westwood and Pam Christiansen.

 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE PUBLIC

The Board recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of listening to members of the public in its meetings. The Board also recognizes the statutory and constitutional right of the public to participate in governmental operations. The Board encourages members of the public to participate in and express opinions about issues important to the District. This part of the Board’s meeting is dedicated to public comment on any public matter that is not on the agenda of this meeting and is within the jurisdiction of the Board of Trustees. Members of the public may also address particular items on this agenda either now or at the time the Board considers the particular item.

 

Mary Westwood stated she was happy the committee was beginning on the important planning discussion. She urged the committee to include the public in the planning process.

 

Chair Moen removed the Fielding Nair Report and stated it would be scheduled for the June meeting.

 

PROJECTED CLASSROOM ESTIMATES 2012-13

 

Kathy Olson, Executive Director, reviewed the class size chart for the 2012-13 school year. The chart is a working copy and will continue to be updated as more information is received. Accreditation standards for K-2 are 20 students per class, grades 3-4 are 28, and 5-6 are 30 students per classroom. If students are bussed from their home school to another school, those expenses do not come out of the transportation budget. Cluster schools have been discussed before and sister schools were created to alleviate overcrowding in kindergarten classes.

 

Trustee Aragon asked if the district was moving to larger schools and less schools. Ms. Olson stated that discussion needs to occur in order to address the budget. Brenda Koch, Executive Director, reported that Bozeman, at one time, had open enrollment as to where the parents wanted their child to attend. They later went back to the neighborhood school model to make it more equitable.

 

Chair Moen stated the discussion would continue at a future meeting.

 

 

 

K-6 CLASSROOMS OVER ACCREDITATION STANDARDS

 

Gail Surwill, Assistant Superintendent, reviewed the chart showing the number of students over accreditation standards from 2005-2011. Research shows students leaving the third grade without being on level, in most cases, do not catch up. Any class that was over accreditation standards by four students received a para-professional. There will be only fourteen para-professionals in 2012-13. Trustee Stroebe reported the Office of Public Information (OPI) is aware of these concerns and will review the situation. She and Superintendent Copps will meet with OPI in July to address accreditation concerns.

 

TEXTBOOK OPTIONS

 

Ms. Surwill stated she was very disappointed when the mill levies failed. Proposals that might be considered are $400,000 for three years which would implement the new reading series. If a purchase is made with a publisher, the purchase would allow the district to pay $100,000 this year, another $100,000 the following year, and then allow the district a full year before the additional $100,000 was paid. If the district cannot afford to do it all, it needs to decide what can be done now. There are other AA schools that have purchased books and paid over a period of two years. Superintendent Copps voiced his concern that if a purchase was made, the district may not be able to finish the purchase. The K-5 reading series could be purchased and paid for over a two-year period for a total of $1,300,000. It might be possible that the common core standards funds might be used for textbooks. McGraw Hill Publishers will give approximately $650,000 for technology in the reading series. This issue will be a part of the May 21st agenda. Trustee Ellis stated she would not be able to vote on this issue at the May 21st meeting without all of the budget information.

 

EPA AWARD

 

Trustee Aragon reported she attended a meeting with the City Planning Division and had a conversation of the facilities master plan. The city officials recommended having an eighteen-month process but could trim it down to one year in order to coordinate the plan with the district. Trustee Stroebe felt it would be best to conduct the city and district plans together but Trustee Graves wanted to have the district’s plan completed in six months. Trustee Aragon stated the board wants more public buy in so that the district does not lose another mill levy. Chair Moen felt, since Trustee Graves had to leave early, the committee should wait and have the last of the conversation when he is in attendance.

 

Lew Anderson, Facilities Director, stated there is nothing in the Request For Proposal (RFP) that says the district would work with the city. However, it might not be a problem and he will follow up after a selection of the firm is made. Trustee Stroebe felt the previous vote may have to be brought forward again to take it from six months to twelve months for completion.

 

Chair Moen reported the committee met with the city officials on April 12, 2012 where the city and district each selected three members to serve on a committee to determine the scope of the project. Trustee Aragon stated it might be possible to share applications for the facilities master plan if one entity does not receive three applications and the other entity does.

 

FACILITIES MASTER PLAN UPDATE AND REVIEW OF PROPOSALS

 

Trustee Aragon reported she has submitted a recommendation to Lew Anderson for consideration to measure the criteria when addressed the RFPs. It is a basic report but offers criteria to hold a proposal accountable. A copy will be placed in the board packet for the May 21st meeting.

 

Chair Moen stated a subcommittee will meet on Thursday, May 17th, to review the RFPs beginning at 8:30 a.m. The committee will consist of Trustees Ellis, Moen, and Aragon, as well as Josh Middleton, Lew Anderson, and Scott Anderson.

 

Mr. Anderson reported the district received great responses for the RFPs with six companies replying. The costs range from $225,000 to $445,000 but will not be the only factor when considering the proposals. A rubric will be set up and proposals reviewed by the subcommittee and a recommendation will be brought back to the board. All proposals will be available to the public for review after May 17th with public communication requested.

 

Trustee Ellis felt the public should be allowed to view the proposals prior to the meeting on May 17th. Mr. Anderson reported it was noticed in the RFP that the proposals would not be made public until after the meeting on Thursday. A great response was received from local companies.

 

Jeff Greenfield, BEA President, stated, if the time period is changed from six months to twelve months, it could lead to litigation as that was not stated in the RFP. Leo Hudetz, District Clerk, will see a legal opinion.

 

Trustee Stroebe made the following motion with a second by Trustee Halter:

 

Motion to adjourn.

 

Those voting in favor were Pam Ellis, Allan Halter, Connie Wardell, Teresa Stroebe and Greta Besch Moen. The motion passed unanimously.

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.

 

 

 

Greta Besch Moen, Chair

 

 

 

Diane

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...