coen Posted February 25, 2009 Report Share Posted February 25, 2009 Proceedings of the Budgeting For Results Committee School District No. 2, Yellowstone County High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County Billings, Montana February 9, 2009 Call to Order The Budgeting For Results Committee Meeting of School District No. 2, Yellowstone County, Montana, and the High School District, Yellowstone County, Montana was duly held at The Lincoln Center, 415 North 30th Street, Billings, Montana, Monday, February 9, 2009 at 6:25 p.m. after a special meeting of the Board of Trustees Chair Malcolm Goodrich presided and led those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll Call The following members of the committee were present: Trustees Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, and Mary Jo Fox; Thomas Harper, Joan Sleeth, Peter Grass, Shanna Henry, Kelly Donovan, Rod Gottula, Deana Elder, Paige Darden, Ross Johnson, Bruce MacIntyre, Jane McCracken. Guests present were: Scott Anderson, Gail Surwill, Bob Whalen, Stan Barr, Dennis Holmes, Dave Cobb and Becky Shay. Consent Agenda A motion was made and seconded to approve the items in the consent agenda. The motion was approved unanimously. Items in the consent agenda included: 1. Minutes of January 12, 2009 2. Minutes of January 26, 2009 3. Addition of ECA fund accounts at Skyview 4. Addition of PTO trust fund account at Bench 5. Addition of care trust fund account at Bench 6. Addition of West High alumni scholarship trust fund account. Bills Paid – January 2009 (Summary Sheet) Peter Grass moved and Bruce MacIntyre seconded a motion to approve the January 2009 bills paid. The motion was approved unanimously. Financial Reports – January 2009 (Unaudited) Financial reports are presented for information only. Health Insurance – Financials – December 2008 (Unaudited) Peter Grass asked about claims for the month of December and whether it was a high claims month because it is the end of the year. Thomas Harper stated that the biggest months are July and August and we are actually catching up now. Budgeting For Results Program/Budget Review (continued) Scott Anderson, Executive Director of Secondary Education, and Gail Surwill, Executive Director of Curriculum, presented information on preparing students for life, college and work. Students need a rigorous and relevant curriculum taught in a climate of positive relationships. There were various handouts given to members of the committee. Malcolm Goodrich asked about the relationships in AP classes, are they better because of smaller classes? Mr. Anderson replied that it doesn’t matter what the class is, that relationships have to start somewhere, but added that smaller classes may be easier for the teachers to relate to the students because they would have more time to devote to each student. Class size is less important than quality of class and structure. Mr. Goodrich asked if this is determined by how much money is spent. Mr. Anderson replied that it is how we approach education interaction and how we teach the students. Staff development for teachers is important. Some classes, such as science, are more expensive than others. Mr. Goodrich stated that we need to improve our standards while cutting our budget. Mr. Anderson said it is difficult to get to higher standards without investing money. Mr. Goodrich asked about cutting activities to save money for classrooms. Mr. Anderson replied that cutting activities is not good because that is where a lot of the relationships start. Relationships do not have to be with a teacher just someone who knows something about that kid. Kids are looking for someone to interact with. Relationships are number one. Distance online learning is available. A teacher can have only 150 students per day. Online learning does not have to be done during a class period. Joel Guthals asked if a teacher at Skyview could teach German online to students at the other schools. They can as long as they have no more than 150 students per day. A paraprofessional can monitor classes also but this could cause issues with the bargaining units. Gail Surwill explained how expensive development of curriculum is. She explained that to establish a curriculum for Earth Science she had already spent $12,310 and the curriculum is not done. The process is needed in order to build rigor which involves providing time to get teachers together. Mr. Goodrich asked if it would be possible to trim the curriculum budget. Mrs. Surwill does not know where it was be possible right now. It could be possible to not have as many course offerings. Rod Gottula asked how much freedom there is with scheduling. Dennis Holmes stated that there is a problem with busing and, in particular, scheduling with the Career Center. Mr. Gottula asked about making the Career Center a high school and having specialty high schools. Scott Anderson replied that it would increase busing issues because of free busing over three miles within the city limits. There would also be issues regarding activities, four teams, etc., and the need to have all the support services that go with another school. Paige Darden asked about cutting costs with teachers not being at the same location to work together. Gail Surwill replied that there would be no savings because it is based on their time. Malcolm Goodrich asked about mandate of numbers to write tests. Gail Surwill stated that we need to have buy in from all three schools, all schools have to be invited to give input. Bob Whalen, Principal at Skyview High School, explained the programs started for at risk students. First, he explained that there are two types of at risk students: those who are at risk for life (at risk, at risk) and those who are academically at risk. At Skyview they have 35 at risk, at risk students. Their goal is to give them food, make sure they are warm and dry, and can come to school. They have a time in the morning to get issues off their chests from the night before. They hand pick and hand schedule their classes. For the academically at risk students, they have basic classes where there are two certified teachers in the same classroom. The goal is to have all of them graduate from high school. There are 300-400 students who are in the at risk programs. They have lunch time learning labs as well. They have a study hall to encourage students to get their homework done and get tutoring in difficult areas. Math is an issue for a lot of students. In language the Read 180 program has been very successful. Read 180 is in grades 4-9 helping kids learn to read. There are also NovaNet labs and online classes during the summer. Malcolm Goodrich asked about the cost per pupil for this pathway. Bob Whalen estimates that it is about double that of other students. We get between $5,800-$6,000 for ANB and it costs about $12,000 for at risk students which includes the academically gifted students. There is no reimbursement from the state for these programs. Jane McCracken asked how many students are affected by these programs. There are 32 at risk, at risk students and 300-400 academically at risk students at Skyview. Jane McCracken asked about using Partners in Education volunteers instead of two teachers for the classrooms as they do in elementary school. Mr. Whalen stated that they would need to know about the subject area. Joel Guthals asked about the $150 thousand allocation after the closing of Crossroads. Mr. Whalen stated that it is actually $300 thousand because there is the $150 thousand from Crossroads and $150 thousand from Smaller Learning Communities for each school, ongoing so far. Joel Guthals asked if these programs could be provided for less than $300 thousand. Mr. Whalen said that it would depend upon what type of product we want. The dropout rate is on the rise even with these programs. Bruce MacIntyre asked where do the problems start. Mr. Whalen feels it is the culture we live in. Most kids want to graduate. Mr. Whalen stated that they provide lots of extras for the at risk students. He said that 43 percent of 9th graders received one F or more the first semester. Dennis Holmes, Principal at Senior High, stated that the at risk academically at Senior would include one-third of freshmen, more at sophomore year, then it improves. Dave Cobb, Principal at West High School, stated that first semester 141 or 20 percent of 9th graders received one F or more, and 96 10th graders received one F or more. Bob Whalen stated that they are trying everything to make kids successful. Dave Cobb stated that at West High School they are adding more programs. He feels they should try to give a better math class rather than two classes because most kids struggle with just one math class. He stated that many of their programs were in place when he became principal. They have Rimrock Foundation, Tumbleweeds and an At Risk Coordinator. Needs develop in each school. Academy time is limiting also. Dave Cobb and Dennis Holmes explained the special programs they have at their schools and extra personnel. Dennis Holmes stated that chemical dependency is an issue as well as students going into treatment and follow-up when they get out of treatment. Peter Grass left the meeting at 7:30. Malcolm Goodrich asked about the dropout rate increasing and asked if more money would help. Bob Whalen feels the No Child Left Behind Program is a problem. He feels the Department of Education will make changes made which will make it better for kids and teachers. Scott Anderson attempted to explain how the high schools are going to meet services for the at risk students by determining what programs make a difference and prioritize. Malcolm Goodrich asked if reconfiguring class offerings and other programs could be done to be more efficient. He asked if they were in a position to identify how to address the shortfall and probably shortfall in years to come, how to make some sort of systematic change. Scott Anderson said it would take numbers of discussions, keep in mind actions = reactions to see how many teachers will be retiring and in what areas, three or so years down the line, possible reduction in number of students in the schools. Malcolm Goodrich is concerned about what steps are being taken in delivering services in light of impending budget and economic shortfalls. He suggested that District needs to use this as an opportunity to creatively look at ways to restructure the budget and delivery of educational services in light of economic realities. Jane McCracken left at 7:30. Malcolm Goodrich would like to be able to identify topics or area changes to make to increase learning experience, etc. He asked the Scott and the principals to look at that and make a presentation or at least work towards that goal. What we can change? Scott Anderson stated that there is lots of data and conversations and it will take lots of time to get those numbers and presentations together and right now is not a good time. Trustee Goodrich suggested that the Committee take a break from high school and go into elementary for four to five weeks and wait for high school to address subject shortfalls in a proactive way. Bob Whalen stated that the footprint of three high schools is somewhat the same but wonders what could be cut. Mr. Goodrich is looking for any innovative cost savings or delivery of services increasing the academic performance and meeting the budget. The purpose of these meetings is to get innovative by not cutting programs but meeting the budget. Mr. Goodrich said we need to maintain priorities with insufficient funds and shortfalls. Scott Anderson can give lots of ideas. What can we do in the short term and how can we be innovative? Mr. Goodrich would like to initiate a dialog to have the explanation of programs that work and their charges. Malcolm Goodrich explained the need to understand we may not have the money, where are the dollars going to be for next year, and look at things that have to be trimmed. Rod Gottula feels this is “getting more bang for your buck” or getting more for less money to show the public we are doing what we can to make the most of our dollars. The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. _________________________________ Malcolm Goodrich, Chairman ________________________ Nancy Coe, Recorder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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