Diane Blevins Posted August 27, 2010 Report Share Posted August 27, 2010 Proceedings of the Board of Trustees District No. 2, Yellowstone County High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County Billings, Montana August 16, 2010 CALL TO ORDER The Regular Board 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, August 16, 2010, at 5:30 p.m. Members present included Trustees Joel Guthals, Connie Wardell, Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Travis Kemp, Joyce Weber, Lindy Graves, Superintendent Jack Copps, and District Clerk Leo Hudetz. Trustees Bryan and Stroebe were excused. In the absence of Chairperson Barbara Bryan, Vice-Chair Kathy Aragon chaired the meeting. There were no registered guests. 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 Boards 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. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Trustee Guthals made the following motion with a second by Trustee Weber: Motion to approve the agenda. Those voting in favor were Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Lindy Graves, Joel Guthals, Travis Kemp, Connie Wardell, and Joyce Weber. The motion passed unanimously. GIFTS AND DONATIONS Trustee Guthals made the following motion with a second by Trustee Weber: Motion to accept the gifts with gratitude. Those voting in favor were Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Lindy Graves, Joel Guthals, Travis Kemp, Connie Wardell, and Joyce Weber. The motion passed unanimously. FAREWELL TO TRUSTEE MARY JO FOX Vice-Chair Aragon thanked Trustee Fox for her service on the Board. Trustee Guthals recognized Mary Jo Fox for her passion and dedication to the District. Trustee Fox thanked those who serve on the Board for their willingness to serve the District. She also thanked the administrators and staff at the Lincoln Center. PRESENTATION BY RENOVATE TO EDUCATE COMMITTEE Bruce MacIntyre, from the Billings Chamber of Commerce, addressed the Board regarding the upcoming bond elections. The Yes 4 Kids organization that supported the May mill levy election agreed that their committee would only address mill levies for the students. The group, Renovate to Education Committee, was formed for the purpose of informing the public on the recommendation of the bond elections for the Districts buildings. The Chamber and realtors have signed on in support of the bonds. As there is no money to campaign as in the past, it is a campaign through email to reach the public. BOND ELECTION UPDATE Vice-Chair Aragon reported Chair Bryan and Superintendent Beeman have been addressing various groups in the community on the upcoming bond elections. Anyone in the community who would like the Superintendent to address their group should contact the Superintendents office. There will be one ballot, and if both the elementary and high school bond issues pass, it would cost the owner of a $200,000 home, $8.66 a year. All of the interest is paid by the federal government which would amount to a savings of $9,250,000 over the 15-year period. Trustee Guthals stated one-half of the principal payment would be paid by the State of Montana. It is likely the cost to the taxpayer will be one-third of the total amount and approximately $100,000 a year will be saved in energy costs. CONTINUATION OF AUGUST 9, 2010 BUDGET HEARING FOR FINAL BUDGET REVIEW AND ADOPTION FOR 2010-2011 YEAR Trustee Guthals stated the budgets have been reviewed, scrutinized, and are recommended for approval by the Budgeting for Results (BFR) Committee. BFR has looked at each department within the District in order to optimize the maximum resources of the District and to save money for the District. Recommendations of the BFR Committee have been addressed. Trustee Guthals recommended Board approval of both budgets. Trustee Fox made the following motion with a second by Trustee Wardell: Motion to adopt Elementary budgeted funds for year 2010-2911 as presented and proposed by the BFR Committee. Those voting in favor were Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Lindy Graves, Joel Guthals, Travis Kemp, Connie Wardell, and Joyce Weber. The motion passed unanimously. Trustee Guthals is ineligible to vote on elementary issues. The following are the elementary funds and amounts: General Fund $64,858,461 Transportation Fund 3,513,913 Tuition Fund 300,000 Retirement Fund 8,800,000 Adult Education Fund 578,440 Technology Fund 115,368 Flexibility Fund 360,662 Building Reserve Fund 306,887 Debt Service Fund 98,616 * * Based on passage of bond levy and if bonds are issued by December 21, 2010. Trustee Guthals made the following motion with a second by Trustee Weber: Motion to adopt High School budgeted funds for year 2010-2011 as presented and proposed by the BFR Committee. Those voting in favor were Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Lindy Graves, Joel Guthals, Travis Kemp, Connie Wardell, and Joyce Weber. The motion passed unanimously. The following are the high school funds and amounts: General Fund $37,255,659 Transportation Fund 1,918,717 Tuition Fund 403,909 Retirement Fund 5,100,000 Adult Education Fund 1,487,365 Technology Fund 1,202,426 Flexibility Fund 281,539 Building Reserve Fund 400,845 Debt Service Fund 2011-2012 BUDGETS Thomas Harper, Chief Financial Officer, acknowledged the recently enacted Federal Teacher Jobs Bill and stated funds will be received by the State in the near future. Trustee Wardell asked which funding formula would benefit the District. Mr. Harper reported the regular state funding formula would benefit the most. Trustee Guthals asked if the money would be here for the 2010-2011 budgets. Mr. Harper responded that it was unclear but it would possibly be required to be accounted for any miscellaneous fund. Dr. Beeman stated there are details that we do not know about the new Jobs Bill and the State will choose if the funds will be used for the 2010-2011 budgets. Funds must be spent by September 2012 and must be used to support education, at the site level, not the District level. The Board will have to make decisions regarding the funds. UPDATE ON TRUSTEE VACANCY Vice-Chair Aragon reported that she, along with Trustees Wardell and Kemp, will be interviewing the one applicant for Zone 3. If the committee recommends approval of the candidate, the applicant will be approved and sworn in at the Regular Board meeting in September. POLICY 1111 ELECTIONS -- SECOND READING Trustee Guthals made the following motion with a second by Trustee Wardell: Motion to approve Policy 1111 Elections as presented in the board packet on second reading. Those voting in favor were Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Lindy Graves, Joel Guthals, Travis Kemp, Connie Wardell, and Joyce Weber. The motion passed unanimously. POLICY 1400 BOARD MEETINGS -- SECOND READING Trustee Fox made the following motion with a second by Trustee Guthals: Motion to approve Policy 1400 Board Meetings as presented in the board packet on second reading. Those voting in favor were Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Lindy Graves, Joel Guthals, Travis Kemp, Connie Wardell, and Joyce Weber. The motion passed unanimously. POLICY 1512 TRUSTEE CONFLICT OF INTEREST Trustee Guthals made the following motion with a second by Trustee Fox: Motion to approve 1512 Trustee Conflict of Interest as presented in the board packet on second reading. POLICY 2050 ENROLLMENT OVER 19 YEARS OF AGE -- SECOND READING David Munson, Director of Pupil Services, reported there were no further changes from the first reading. This policy would bring the District into accordance with mandated law. Trustee Guthals made the following motion with a second by Trustee Fox: Motion to approve Policy 2050 Enrollment Over 19 Years of Age, as presented in the board packet, on second reading. Those voting in favor were Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Lindy Graves, Joel Guthals, Travis Kemp, Connie Wardell, and Joyce Weber. The motion passed unanimously. POLICY 7121 BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS Trustee Wardell made the following motion with a second by Trustee Fox: Motion to approve Policy 7121 Budget Adjustments as presented in the board packet on second reading. Trustee Guthals reported this change in policy gives broad discretion to the Superintendent and he felt it would be good to have any significant budget transfers be reported to the Budgeting for Results Committee. Trustee Guthals stated he was not sure if he could approve this item in its present state. He wanted to include language in the policy to report transfers to the BFR Committee. Trustee Guthals amended the motion to refer the proposed changes to Policy 7121 back to the Policy Review Committee for further study on whether budget transfers and line item adjustments should be reported to the BFR Committee. Trustee fox agreed to the amendment. Those voting in favor were Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Lindy Graves, Joel Guthals, Travis Kemp, Connie Wardell, and Joyce Weber. The motion passed unanimously. POLICY 7520 FIXED ASSETS Trustee Fox made the following motion with a second by Trustee Guthals: Motion to approve Policy 7510 Fixed Asset as presented in the board packets on second reading. Those voting in favor were Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Lindy Graves, Joel Guthals, Travis Kemp, Connie Wardell, and Joyce Weber. The motion passed unanimously. POLICY 8410 RECORDS MANAGEMENT Trustee Fox made the following motion with a second by Trustee Guthals: Motion to approve Policy 8410 Records Management on second reading as presented in the board packet, and to encourage the District as this new policy was implemented, to allow the public to be able to access the records at a reasonable cost. Those voting in favor were Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Lindy Graves, Joel Guthals, Travis Kemp, Connie Wardell, and Joyce Weber. The motion passed unanimously. SEPTEMBER REGULAR BOARD MEETING POSSIBLE DATE CHANGE Vice-Chair Aragon asked the Board to approve a change of the September Regular Board meeting to Monday, September 27th as there is a conference in Helena on September 20th on Montanas Challenge: Rethinking Education for the 21st Century, and is sponsored by the Burton K. Wheeler Center. Trustee Wardell made the following motion with a second by Trustee Fox: Motion to change the date of the regularly scheduled meeting to scheduled September 27th at 5:30 p.m. in the Board Room. Those voting in favor were Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Lindy Graves, Joel Guthals, Travis Kemp, Connie Wardell, and Joyce Weber. The motion passed unanimously. COMMITTEES APPOINTMENT EXTENSION UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2010 Vice-Chair Aragon reported she requested the extension as many of the committees meet during the summer and have not completed their work. Trustee Wardell stated Lindy Graves has requested to serve on the Audit Committee. Trustee Aragon reported the audit committee membership would be discussed at next months meeting. Trustee Guthals made the following motion with a second by Trustee Graves: Motion to suspend portions of Policy 1130 and Procedure 1130-P1 in respect to the service of committee chairs and membership and to extend the current chairs and members of the committees through September 30, 2010. Trustee Fox felt the Board could do well by the members of the committee that these meetings not be postponed as often occurred in the past. The Board should make a commitment to schedule these meetings and not cancel them. Those voting in favor were Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Lindy Graves, Joel Guthals, Travis Kemp, Connie Wardell, and Joyce Weber. The motion passed unanimously. APPOINT COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEES Trustee Wardell felt the policy and procedure regarding committees should be reviewed. Trustees Aragon, Graves and Wardell volunteered to serve on the Committee on Committees. Trustee Wardell made the following motion with a second by Trustee Graves: Motion to appoint Trustees Aragon, Graves and herself to serve on a subcommittee of the Board to review and make recommendations regarding Policy 1130 and Procedure 1130-P1. It was suggested the committee could meet through email. Trustee Fox did not believe it was appropriate to conduct business on the email system. She suggested the issue be reviewed by the Policy Review committee. Trustee Guthals stated he did not agree with this motion as the previous Committee on Committees met on numerous times and it might need to be tweaked without too many meetings. Trustee Aragon stated it might be able to go through the Policy Review Committee without a meeting of the Committee on Committees. Trustee Guthals amended the motion to refer Policy 1130 and 1130-P1 to the Policy Review Committee to determine if any changes would be necessary in respect to Policy 1130 and 1130-P1. Trustee Weber seconded the amendment. Those voting in favor of the amended motion were Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Lindy Graves, Joel Guthals, Travis Kemp, Connie Wardell, and Joyce Weber. The motion passed unanimously. Those voting in favor of the main motion as amended were Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Lindy Graves, Joel Guthals, Travis Kemp, Connie Wardell, and Joyce Weber. The motion passed unanimously. SUPERINTENDENT REPORT Dr. Beeman stated he has attended and spoke at a variety of community meetings. He must remain neutral and give only facts based on information at the meetings. People are excited that they are a part of the informational meetings regarding the Districts issues. Dr. Beeman commended Sharon Tietema at Riverside and her staff for forming the Youth Leadership Group to work on various projects at Riverside Middle School. Dr. Beeman further commended Thomas Harper and his staff for the 2009 Comprehensive Report which earned a Certification of Achievement for financial reporting. Superintendent Beeman reported he spent part of a day with the leadership teams who work with the staff, parents and students. He felt the group was tremendous. The District has contracted with Davis Demographics at a reduced rate and will give us important information for future planning and provide information for the attendance boundaries. The report is expected by the end of February. Dr. Beeman attended a meeting in Helena last week where Senior High was used as a positive role model. A presentation on the Adequate Yearly Progress of the No Child Left Behind Act will be made at next months meeting, as well as the technology report. UPDATE ON MONTANA SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION Trustee Wardell reported five different districts made a report to the Montana State Legislatures sub committee on education in Helena. BILLS PAID -- JULY 2010 Trustee Guthals made the following motion with a second by Trustee Fox: Motion to approve the bills paid for July 2010 for $10,468,817.97 as set forth on page 86. There was nothing unusual in the bills paid. Those voting in favor were Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Lindy Graves, Joel Guthals, Travis Kemp, Connie Wardell, and Joyce Weber. The motion passed unanimously. The following are the bills paid: Claims $2,892,610.78 ACH Tax Deposits 385,892.67 Payroll Warrants & Direct Deposits 5,438,956.86 Procurement Card 244,219.30 EBMS ACH Payments 1,503,510.11 ECI Building Rental 3,628.25 TOTAL $10,468,817.97 MONTHLY LEGAL REPORT There was nothing new to report on the legal report. BOND INFORMATION Superintendent Beeman stated the information regarding the bond levy presented in the board packet is not taking a stand on the bond but is fact-based, and neutral. He urged the public to vote. The information was reviewed by legal counsel and is approved for dissemination. This information has been given out to communities groups, contained on the Districts website, and also sent out in a number of emails. PERSONNEL REPORT There was nothing unusual in the Personnel Report. Trustee Guthals made the following motion with a second by Trustee Fox: Motion to approve the Superintendents current employment recommendations as contained in the Personnel Report. Those voting in favor were Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Lindy Graves, Joel Guthals, Travis Kemp, Connie Wardell, and Joyce Weber. The motion passed unanimously. CONSENT AGENDA Trustee Fox made the following motion with a second by Trustee Weber: Motion to approve and accept the items within the Consent Agenda without objection to recommended action. Those voting in favor were Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Lindy Graves, Joel Guthals, Travis Kemp, Connie Wardell, and Joyce Weber. The motion passed unanimously. Items contained in the Consent Agenda are as follows: Regular Board Meeting Minutes, July 19, 2010 Policy Review Committee Meeting Minutes, July 13, 2010 Void Old Warrants Learning Objectives for Information Literacy/Library Media Comprehensive School and Community Treatment Services Agreement As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Kathy Aragon, Vice-Chair Diane Blevins, Recorder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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