Special Board Meeting, October 10, 2011

[Diane Blevins]

Proceedings of the Board of Trustees

District No. 2, Yellowstone County

High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

Billings, Montana

 

October 10, 2011

 

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, October 10, 2011 at 5:30 p.m.

 

Members present included Trustees Connie Wardell, Greta Besch Moen, Lindy Graves, Barbara Bryan, Travis Kemp, Kathy Aragon, Teresa Stroebe, Travis Smith, Pam Ellis, Associate Superintendent Josh Middleton, and Superintendent Keith Beeman. District Clerk Leo Hudetz was excused.

 

Registered guests included Jodi Schreiber, Tom Hinthorne, Joe Michels, Pam Christianson, Don Bergeron, Mary Westwood, Karen Moses, Helene Ranweiler, and Chris Gooding.

 

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.

 

Mary Westwood addressed the Board to state the information she received on September 13th shows a discrepancy from the previous information she had received. She felt there was still a problem in the public relations area and the public information requests. Ms. Westwood urged the board to move forward as a unified group.

 

Jodi Schreiber voiced her concern, as she believed, parents no longer had a voice in the district. In the past, parents were able to use their voices in the School Community Committee, but that committee no longer meets. She requested a committee be formed for public relations to organize the parents’ voices. Ms. Schreiber reported a parent meeting has been scheduled at 7:00 p.m. on October 26th. This district needs to heal. Ms. Schreiber requested that no decisions be made until public input has been provided.

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S RESIGNATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE

 

Trustee Aragon made the following motion with a second by Trustee Graves:

 

Motion to approve the proposed Superintendent’s Resignation Agreement and Release and to direct the Chair to sign the same.

 

Jeff Weldon, District’s legal counsel, reviewed the process bringing the district to this point. The Chair asked if Mr. Weldon worked on the resignation agreement . Mr. Weldon reported he did, as well as three other attorneys. Trustee Ellis asked Dr. Beeman if it had been recommended for him to obtain his own attorney. Dr. Beeman reported he had been told. Mr. Weldon reviewed the termination agreement. The total amount to be paid to Dr. Beeman is $111,846.68 plus his benefits. An agreement was also received from Dr. Beeman that states he will not seek a lawsuit against the district.

 

Trustee Graves asked for an explanation regarding the Teacher’s Retirement System (TRS). Mr. Weldon reported the district is obligated to pay its portion of the TRS payments. The district would pay the full amount including Dr. Beeman’s portion. Trustee Graves stated he worked on the committee to develop this agreement and took the advice of the attorneys. Mr. Weldon stated he wanted to buy piece of mind for the district and that is why the no lawsuit portion was included in the agreement. Trustees Moen, Wardell, Bryan, and Aragon thanked Dr. Beeman for his service to the district.

 

Those voting in favor of the motion were Kathy Aragon, Greta Besch Moen, Barbara Bryan, Pam Ellis, Lindy Graves, Travis Kemp, Travis Smith, Teresa Stroebe, and Wardell, Travis Smith opposed the motion. The motion passed.

 

Trustee Wardell reported she wanted a special meeting in the near future to give an update on the interim superintendent issue. She asked the meeting be held on October 18th to discuss a process to obtain an interim superintendent, as well as a permanent superintendent.

 

As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:03 p.m.

 

 

 

 

Barbara Bryan, Chair

 

 

 

Diane Blevins, Recorder