Special Board Meeting, April 30, 2012

Diane Blevins · May 15, 2012

Proceedings of the Board of Trustees

District No. 2, Yellowstone County

High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

Billings, Montana

April 30, 2012

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 30^th Street, Billings, Montana, April 30, 2012 at 5:30 p.m.

Members present included Trustees Kathy Aragon (arrived at 6:45 p.m.), Greta Besch Moen, Pam Ellis, Lindy Graves, Travis Kemp, Teresa Stroebe, Allen Halter, Connie Wardell, and District Clerk Leo Hudetz. Jeana Lervick, Human Resources Director, was also in attendance. Trustee Smith was excused.

Registered guests Mary Westwood and Mike Bale.

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.

Kevin Nelson urged the board members to look at all of the procedures for the correct levy district.

Mike Bale voiced his support of Jim Nygaard as the next superintendent as he is a product of Montana.

SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATES

Dr. Thomas Jacobson, McPherson and Jacobson, reported 21 applications were received and 5 applicants were being presented for consideration. The candidates have been vetted, references contacted, and background checks completed. The five candidates are as follows: Terry Nelson Bouck, Gig Harbor, Washington; Joseph Clark Farnsworth, Mesa, Arizona; David L. Gray, Ridgefield, Washington; Jim Nygaard, Cordova, Alaska; and, Douglas Reisig, Missoula, Montana. The following are the attributes of the candidates:

Terry Bouck has good communication skills and many communication strategies. He has set up a number of superintendent forums in his community. He is a visionary leader, respects students as the top priority in his district, and spends one-third of his time in the schools, one-third in his office, and one-third in the community. He has been able to trim dollars over a period of five years without impacting students. The references stated he was straight forward, honest, ethical, and transparent.

Joseph Farnsworth is planning oriented and into strategic planning. He demonstrates accountability in the use of tax dollars and puts students in the center of each decision.

David Gray is an excellent communicator and a people person. He has increased student achievement in each district in which he has worked. He believes a quality learning environments play a vital role in student learning and staff morale. He is also actively involved in the community in which he has lived. He is open, outgoing and personable.

Jim Nygaard has previously worked in the Colstrip school district. He is from a small district but McPherson and Jacobson believed he deserved to be a candidate as he has excellent qualities. He is very trustworthy, honest and a visionary with keen insights. He has been successful in passing bonds in his district. The students are top of the priority list for him. He also uses strategic planning and has a proven record of working collaborately with all groups.

Douglas Reisig has great communication skills. When he has left a district, student achievement has been at a higher level than when he arrived. He has created long-range plans and runs all potential educational improvements through a filter. He is dynamic, charismatic, intelligent, honest, open and trustworthy.

Dr. Jacobson stated the board will need to decide tonight which candidates to bring to Billings for interviews. Trustee Ellis asked how people from small districts transition to a larger district. Dr. Jacobson stated all five candidates know how to build a team and bring people together. All five candidates are viable candidates.

The board members reviewed the five applications.

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

Motion to invite all five to Billings for an interview.

Trustee Wardell felt it was too expensive and the list should be narrowed down. Trustee Graves believed all five were viable candidates. Trustee Ellis agreed and wanted to hire someone who will stay for a long time. Trustee Stroebe also felt all five should be interviewed. Trustee Wardell voiced her concern about a candidate from a district of 400 students coming to a district of 16,000 students. Trustee Aragon believed it was a good idea to look at everyone but was also concerned about someone jumping into this district from a smaller district. Trustee Kemp felt it was a good time not to be cheap and the district needs to give the community a chance to meet the candidates. Trustee Halter believed it was good to interview all five candidates.

Chair Stroebe stated the candidates could be in Billings starting on May 7^th. In order for a trustee to vote for a candidate, that trustee must be present for all of the interviews. Ms. Lervick, Human Resources Director, reported it is very important for a trustee to be at every interview as it would give consistency. Dr. Jacobson recommended one candidate per day or two per day with one and one-half hours for each interview.

Trustee Moen suggested the interviews start on May 7^th with one candidate each night. Trustee Wardell made the following motion with a second by Trustee Aragon:

Motion to rescind the earlier decision on the way interviews are conducted.