Budgeting For Results Committee - April 13, 2009

[Guest sullinss]

School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

Billings, Montana

April 13, 2009

 

Call to Order

 

The Budgeting For Results Committee of School District No. 2, Yellowstone County and High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County, Montana met at Lincoln Center, 415 North 30th Street, Billings, Montana, on Monday, April 13, 2009. Acting Chair Mary Jo Fox called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. and led those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance. Committee members present were: Mary Jo Fox, Paige Darden, Deana Elder, Rod Gottula, Ross Johnson, Kelly Donovan, Bruce McIntyre, Peter Grass, Shanna Henry, and Joan Sleeth. Members Don Stanaway, Jane McCracken, Malcolm Goodrich, and Joel Guthals were absent. Also present were CFO Thomas Harper, Budget Analyst Becky Zent, Controller Sheri Weidinger, Executive Director of Elementary Education Kathy Olson, Executive Director of Curriculum Gail Surwill, Executive Director of Secondary Education Scott Anderson, Executive Director of Facility Services Rich Whitney, and Middle School Principals Shaun Harrington, Steve Pomroy, Rusty Martin, and Lance Orner.

 

Communication From the Public

 

No one wished to address the Committee at this time.

 

Orchard – Intermediate Playground Phase III

 

Rich Whitney said this project would finish the intermediate playground phase and would be funded by donations from the Sample family and Sample Foundation. There will be a balance of about $75K of donation funds after this project is completed.

 

Ross Johnson moved to recommend Board approval to award the Orchard-Intermediate Playground Phase III project contract to The Good Earth Works Co., Inc. for $361,441 to be funded by private donation. Bruce McIntyre seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Will James – HVAC Project 2009

 

Rich Whitney said a CMAR proposal was let for a new HVAC installation at Will James, and two contractors submitted bids. Rich recommends the bid be let to Mechanical Technology. This project should save 50% on gas bills and 30% on electricity bills with a payback of 40 months. A reimbursement of $32,750 will be received from Northwest Energy upon project completion.

 

Ross Johnson moved to recommend the Board award the bid for the Will James-HVAC Project to Mechanical Technologies for $97,962. Bruce McIntyre seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Ponderosa – Boiler Replacement 2009

 

Rich Whitney said QZAB funding would pay for the boiler replacement. Bids were called for a 94% and 88% efficiency boiler. The 94% boiler is more efficient, reliable, user friendly with a 7-8 year payback. Rich recommends the bid for the 94% boiler from Hi-Tech Boiler Makers, Inc.

 

Ross Johnson moved to recommend the Board award the bid for the Ponderosa-Boiler Replacement to Hi-Tech Boiler Makers, Inc. for $112,086. Joan Sleeth seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Riverside – Boiler Replacement

 

Rich Whitney said this item is for information only and it will be presented to the Board next Monday for approval since the bid opening won’t be until Thursday, April 16, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

Consent Agenda

 

Peter Grass moved to recommend Board approval of the consent Agenda items as follows:

1. Minutes of March 09, 2009

2. Minutes of March 23, 2009

3. Addition of Social/Staff Trust Fund Account at Sandstone

4. Addition of Student Council ECA Fund Account at Bench

5. Addition of Library ECA Fund Account at Will James

6. Addition of CAPPS ECA Fund Account at Will James

7. Addition of Student Council ECA Fund Account at Rose Park

8. Addition of Bear Bash ECA Fund Account at West High

9. Addition of ECA Fund Accounts at Senior

10. Addition of Independent Living Trust Fund Account at Highland

11. Addition of 6th Grade Trust Fund Account at Highland

12. Addition of Homeless Trust Fund Account at Washington

13. Addition of Rodeo Club ECA Fund Account at Skyview

Bruce McIntyre seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Bills Paid – March, 2009 (summary sheet)

 

Ross Johnson moved to recommend the Board approve the bills paid for March, 2009. Bruce McIntyre seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

 

Financial Reports – March, 2009

 

The Committee reviewed the Financial Reports for March, 2009. Thomas reported the fiscal year is 75% complete. Thomas has not seen any visible decline in tax collections from the November report.

 

Deana Elder arrived at 5:40 p.m.

 

Budgeting For Results – Program/Budget Review

 

Elementary Education K-6 (continued):

 

Executive Director of Elementary Education Kathy Olson and Executive Director of Curriculum Gail Surwill presented the Committee with information on the Elementary recovery programs.

 

Read 180 is a computer based reading intervention program for students in grades 4-12 with reading achievement below the proficient level. Language is another reading intervention program for students in grades 3-12 with reading and language achievement below the proficient level. Early Literacy Intervention (ELI) is an in-depth reading training for teachers funded by Title I and Title II to work with struggling readers in first grade. The Scott Foresman Early Reading Intervention (ERIC) is a program for students in kindergarten and first grade that lack letter identification. This program can be delivered by Para pros. Successmaker is a computer based program used only in Title schools to support math skills. It is used primarily in grades 4-6, but can be used K-8. Waterford is a K-2 program for beginning reading skills in the Title schools. Testing results demonstrate significant improvement in reading, language, and math skills for students engaged in these early intervention programs. Funding and space for computers are the limiting factors for these critical early intervention programs. Our District’s combined grades 3-8 proficiency testing scores exceed the average State testing scores in reading and math.

 

Middle Schools:

 

Middle School Principals are Shaun Harrington at Castle Rock, Steve Pomroy at Lewis & Clark, Rusty Martin at Riverside, and Lance Orner at Will James. Scott Anderson, Executive Director of Secondary Education gave an overview of the middle schools’ demographics.

 

 

 

500 students is a preferred size for a middle school. Only three Class A Montana High Schools are larger than Castle Rock. Will James is at capacity for space. Riverside MS is the only “school-wide” Title school. This is based on the large number of students that qualify for free and reduced lunches, which means they can use Title funding for any student. Lewis & Clark MS is a “targeted” Title school. This means you can only spend Title funds on specific students.

 

The State pays Middle School ANB at the High School rate; but this funding goes into the K-8 budget. K-6 Elementary funding is inadequate; therefore, their budget benefits from utilizing about $5.5M of the Middle School ANB funding. If the District had junior high schools instead of middle schools, we would only receive K-6 ANB funding.

 

The Middle School Concept is based on a philosophy of expectations that focus on intellectual, social emotional and physical development accomplished through innovative instruction and interdisciplinary work as opposed to the Junior High departmentalized program of requiring a specific number of units to be completed in different studies.

 

The Middle School principals presented information on the importance of preserving the 7-period day Middle School Team Concept. This concept provides academic opportunities through recovery and exploratory courses, as outlined in the goals of the Budgeting For Results process for both the proficient and non-proficient students. Students are required to take five core classes and two electives. If the Middle School concept is cut the non-proficient learners (39% in Math and 20% in Reading) may not be given opportunities to take intervention recovery courses such as SuccessMaker Math, Fast Track Reading, Read 180, and Learning Strategies. If the Middle School concept is cut the advanced learner may not have the opportunity to explore elective classes in technology and languages. Cutting programs would jeopardize accreditation standards and the Team Concept. The Team consists of teachers in math, science, English, social studies and health enhancement. These teachers have one period per day (200 mins./wk.) to get together to discuss students, parent/teacher conferences, pre-referrals, CST/IEP’s and, plan team building activities, curriculum integration, and interdisciplinary planning. Each student is placed on a team with 130-150 other classmates.

 

Committee members asked where the Middle Schools would cut if it’s necessary for the budget. The Principals emphasized the importance of activities to middle school students, but would have a hard time supporting activities if it required cutting instruction. They would like to know the dollar amount the budget is short, and then they can agree on options to best serve students.

 

The Committee asked if there was an advantage to early release days. Scott answered they prefer to keep these four half-days. Two are for parent teacher conferences, and the other two are for staff development initiatives.

 

Adjournment

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:23 p.m.

 

 

 

 

Mary Jo Fox, Acting Chair

 

Sherrill Sullins, Recorder