Diane Blevins Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 Proceedings of the Board of Trustees District No. 2, Yellowstone County High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County Billings, Montana May 24, 2010 CALL TO ORDER The Special 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 24, 2010, at 4:15 p.m. Members present included Trustees Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Travis Kemp, Lindy Graves, Connie Wardell, Barbara Bryan, Joyce Weber, District Clerk Leo Hudetz, and Superintendent Jack Copps. Registered guests included Candace Kautz and Andy Kautz. 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. There were no public comments at this time. PERSONNEL MATTER Jeff Weldon, legal counsel for the District, reviewed the process used in the personnel matter regarding Andrew Kautz. The law states, if a person were to be recommended for non-renewal during the mandatory probation period, no cause can be used. The individual has the right to privacy which might result in this meeting being closed. The public’s right to know in regards to this teacher must be considered. Mr. Kautz agreed not to close the meeting. Mr. Kautz made a statement regarding his non-renewal as a non-tenured teacher. He worked at Rimrock Elementary before it closed, then moved to Burlington where his first evaluation was excellent. He felt his current principal, Mr. Croff, was against him after a situation at the school. Following that incident, he did not receive his teaching assignment until August 17th, one week before the start of school. He was also switched to third grade which had a low reading level, and did not have a mentor. Mr. Kautz reported he only used two discretionary days in the last three years. Candace Kautz, Andrew’s mother and a teacher in the District, voiced her concern on what she believed to be disparity in the evaluation process from school to school. Mr. Weldon asked if the union had aggrieved any evaluation process in regard to Andrew Kautz. Mr. Martin, Human Resources Director, report it did not. Mr. Weldon asked if the District had reason for this process. Superintendent Copps reported it did. Mr. Weldon asked if the District had followed the process. Mr. Copps stated the District had and it’s most important duty is to hire teachers and the second is to make judgment calls on a teacher continuing past their non-tenured status. Mr. Martin reported all of the procedures have been followed by Mr. Croff. When a principal determines that a teacher needs improvement, there is an evaluation and areas are identified for improvement. Mr. Croff identified several areas and allowed for a certain of amount of time for that improvement. He then conducted a second evaluation and concluded non-renewal was recommended. Trustee Wardell made the following motion with a second by Trustee Aragon: Motion to accept the Superintendent’s recommendation for non-renewal of this non-tenured teacher’s contract without cause. Trustee Fox stated the Board relies heavily on the staff of this District. She has to look at who we hire in all positions and look at the process. She did not feel any area in the process needed to be changed. She further stated she respected the process and the no cause portion of the law. Those voting in favor were Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Travis Kemp, Lindy Graves, Connie Wardell, Barbara Bryan, and Joyce Weber. The motion passed unanimously. As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m. Barbara Bryan, Chair Diane Blevins, Recorder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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