Diane Blevins Posted March 1, 2012 Report Share Posted March 1, 2012 Proceedings of the Board of Trustees District No. 2, Yellowstone County High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County Billings, Montana February 2, 2012 CALL TO ORDER The Legislative Sub-Committee 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, February 2, 2012, at 9:00ap.m. Members present included Trustees Connie Wardell, Teresa Stroebe, Greta Besch Moen, and Kathy Aragon. Registered guests were Pam Christianson and John Quandt. MONTANA LEGISLATIVE ISSUES Trustee Wardell reported Jeff Weldon, legal counsel, was called out of town so was unable to attend. Those present reviewed the draft of the transportation bill. A sponsor was being sought in order to take amendments to the bill. Yellowstone County basically rubberstamps this district’s transportation requests. At the last legislative session, the bill was presented and received several amendments and the bill eventually died. The bill will be carried again in the next session and the sponsor will try to broaden the authority for local boards in order to get students safely to schools. Trustee Aragon reported there is an interest for students to walk or bike to school. She asked Bob Vogel, Montana School Boards Association, to clarify if the bill would cover crossing guards. Mr. Vogel stated it could be used for crossing guards. Trustee Stroebe stated one reason the bill died is because Helena and other districts were using these funds in other ways. In some cases, part of salaries for superintendents were paid out of the transportation funds. Trustee Wardell believed the term ‘transportation’ should be defined in the bill. Trustee Aragon stated this district’s curriculum did not start teaching safe walking/biking until the fourth grade. The bill could include funds for professionals to walk/bike students to schools. Trustee Wardell felt Taylor Brown would co-sponsor the bill. She hoped legislators from both sides of the state would sponsor the bill. Pam Christianson asked why Jeff Weldon is paid to write bills instead of using the legislative service. Trustee Wardell felt it was money well spent as he only bills the district when doing research and not when he attends meetings. Trustee Wardell reported the committee will discuss basic entitlement at the next meeting. The cost to the state to fund basic entitlement for high schools is $1,700,000 and $80,000,000 for all schools. Jeff Weldon will bring the proposed bill on basic entitlement to the next meeting. Trustee Stroebe stated the Montana School Board Association is working on basic entitlement for 2015. She will try to push the organization to bring it forward earlier. John Quandt felt the public should be educated as to transportation funds as a permissive levy. Trustee Stroebe stated it is not a local issue but it is at the state level. The state has gradually raised taxes to pay for transportation. Pam Christianson suggested giving the public answers without explaining where the money comes from and how it is used. She believed the information should be kept simple. Trustee Moen stated she has information she would like to share with the public. Pam Christianson asked that the legislative link be added to the district’s website for bills going through the legislature. Trustee Moen stated the public can connect with their legislators online to give feedback. John Quandt asked the members to give him information when a bill is started and he would help get it out to the public. Ms. Christianson asked that all information be put on the website to be more transparent. She felt the district needs to be creative in ways to get the public to help with the passage of bills. Mr. Quandt believed the public also needs to be unified with the board when members go to Helena. He stated he wanted to share the burden of the board members as much as possible. Ms. Christianson asked if television sound bites could be used. Trustee Wardell felt the district could use public service announcements free of charge. As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:10 a.m. Connie Wardell, Chair Diane Blevins, Recorder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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