McKinley Task Force - Tuesday, October 27, 2008

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School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

McKinley Task Force

Billings, Montana

 

Call to Order

 

The McKinley Task Force Committee of School District No. 2, Yellowstone County and High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County, Montana met at Orchard School, 120 Jackson, Billings, Montana, on Tuesday, October 27, 2008. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Committee members present were: Lisa Dubeau, Kristen Graves, Amy Griffins, Jeffrey Kay, Kevin Odenthal, Sara Olsgaard, Elizabeth Perius, Mark Restad, Julie Seedhouse, and Heather Zindt. Ex-Officio Members present were: Bert Reyes, Rich Whitney, and Superintendent Jack Copps. CTA Architects Engineers representatives present were: Keith Rupert and Karen Kelly.

 

Guest present: Mike Vermeulen

 

Communication From the Public

 

No one wished to address the Committee at this time.

 

Promotion and Advertising Neighborhood Meeting at McKinley School

 

Committee members discussed the format for the November 18th neighborhood meeting. It was suggested that the number of questions be reduced for the neighborhood meeting. The neighborhood meeting is an opportunity for the neighborhood to participate in the bond issue process and to convey their thoughts regarding what they feel is important or less important in a school. The consensus of the neighborhood meeting will help guide a direction for the McKinley Task Force.

 

Committee members asked for clarification regarding the districts enrollment standards for designing and building a new elementary school. Superintendent Copps stated the Board has established a four to four hundred fifty student enrollment standard.

 

Committee members asked for clarification regarding McKinley’s Task Force charge. Superintendent Copps stated the charge of McKinley Task Force is to represent the interest of the neighborhood in regard to the Boards intent to either completely rebuild or upgrade McKinley. Superintendent Copps suggested that the charge be broken down into three phases. Phase one; McKinley Task Force communicates the neighborhood’s desires, advises the architects, and learns about the building and site. Phase two; McKinley Task Force is to monitor what transpires as the building is under construction. Phase three; McKinley Task Force needs to advocate for the building if a bond issue is going to pass.

 

Superintendent Copps explained the law regarding the bond issue. The law states once the district moves into a stage of asking for the bond issue no public school employee can advocate during work hours. No public school in the district can send anything home supporting the bond issue. Superintendent Copps expressed that the laws limit the school district in advocating for the bond issue. Superintendent Copps suggested it is important for the public to be well informed regarding the bond issue and it is the public’s obligation to step forward to promote the bond issue.

 

Superintendent Copps explained that the McKinley Task force has an obligation to hold a public neighborhood meeting. Superintendent Copps suggested that providing an opportunity for the public to be heard is the first step in the advocacy phase. It was suggested that there be ground rules and particular boundaries regarding the questions that will be posed to the public in order to conduct an orderly meeting.

 

Clarification regarding the difference between a bond issue and a mill levy were discussed. Superintendent Copps explained that a bond issue is for capital construction paid for from property taxes spread over a period of time. A mill levy is money to operate the schools generated from property taxes. Superintendent Copps also explained that the entire amount of a bond issue has to be voted on, but the state of Montana will contribute a certain percentage. The percent depends on the wealth of the community. Billings receives approximately a forty percent contribution. Superintendent Copps noted that there is no long term guarantee from the state of Montana that they will always pay due to the legislatures changing their minds.

 

There was discussion regarding the original bond issue ballot language for McKinley, Broadwater, and Cottonwood schools. Superintendent Copps explained the bond issue ballot language for the schools was to be voted on as one bond issue. The Board passed a motion to present the bond to the public as two bond issues, McKinley and Broadwater schools as one bond issue and Cottonwood school as one bond issue. Superintendent Copps suggested from his vantage point that if Cottonwood school stands alone on the ballot and there is a strong campaign against the new Cottonwood school it will not pass. Superintendent Copps explained that if you look at how voting occurs in this community that dividing the community is not a good thing for voters. The reality is that the west end of town has the biggest voting activity and McKinley and Broadwater will not likely pass either if the community is divided. Committee members asked at what point the bond issue was decided to be separated by the Board. Superintendent Copps explained that a couple members from the Cottonwood Task Force posed this question to the Board and to date the Board has not responded. The committee members asked what the Boards justification was for separating the bond issue language on the ballot. Superintendent Copps sense is that the Board feels building Cottonwood school will promote urban sprawl.

 

There was discussion by the committee that the Billings community struggles with building and supporting new construction verses renovations of existing facilities.

Committee members commented that the Boards long range facility plan suggests that if new schools are built, existing school will be closed. Superintendent Copps explained that may be one of the possibilities of the Boards long plan facility plan. Superintendent Copps gave background regarding elementary enrollment over the last two years. Superintendent Copps explained that the elementary enrollment has increased. Superintendent Copps stated that with the capacity of this school district, this school district can not continue on this pace of not building a new school. Superintendent Copps suggested that if the community continues to enlarge schools instead of building new schools the reality is that Billings will eventually not have neighborhood schools. Superintendent Copps noted that new schools need to be built because the community is expanding.

 

Kevin Odenthal will lead and guide the neighborhood meeting. Kevin Odenthal will present a summary of the districts four hundred to four hundred fifty elementary student enrollment policy when looking to design and build a new school. Kevin Odenthal will explain how that policy impacts McKinley as McKinley school sits on a smaller site. Kevin Odenthal will remind the public, that whatever their desires are for McKinley school it will have to last for the next forty to fifty years.

 

The following questions will be presented at the McKinley Task Force neighborhood meeting for public discussion:

1. Do you want to renovate, add on, or build a new school?

2. What are some of the most serious shortcomings of McKinley original building and site?

3. What impact does parking have both positive and negative and how important is the parking issue?

4. What are the most important aspects of McKinley that the neighborhood wants to preserve?

5. How does the school integrate with the community?

 

Kevin Odenthal asked for volunteers to be on a sub-committee created to generate strategies that will encourage attendance and information regarding the upcoming neighborhood meeting. Kristen Graves, Julie Seedhouse, and Elizabeth Perius volunteered to be on the sub-committee. It was suggested that the public have an opportunity to tour McKinley school before the neighborhood meeting.

 

Tour of Orchard School

 

Mark Venner, principal at Orchard school, provided a tour of Orchard school. Mark Venner explained the renovations and additions to the old building.

 

Next scheduled meeting:

 

Neighborhood meeting at McKinley School 820 North 31st Street on Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 7 p.m.

 

Adjournment

 

Motion was made by Kevin Odenthal, seconded by Heather Zindt to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.

 

Kevin Odenthal, Chair

Brenda Cross, Recorder