Diane Blevins Posted July 31, 2012 Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 Proceedings of the Board of Trustees District No. 2, Yellowstone County High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County Billings, Montana July 16, 2012 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, July 16, 2012, at 5:30 p.m. Members present included Trustees Connie Wardell, Greta Besch Moen, Allen Halter, Travis Kemp, Travis Smith, Teresa Stroebe, Pam Ellis, Superintendent Terry Bouck, and District Clerk Leo Hudetz. Trustee Aragon was excused. Registered guests were Mary Westwood, Pam Christianson, Karen Moses, Chris Goodridge, and Kim Olson. Chair Stroebe presided and led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance. RECOGNITION AND GIFTS AND DONATIONS Trustee Graves made the following motion with a second by Trustee Smith: Motion to accept the gifts and donations with gratitude. Those voting in favor were Greta Besch Moen, Pam Ellis, Lindy Graves, Allen Halter, Travis Kemp, Travis Smith, Teresa Stroebe, and Connie Wardell. The motion passed unanimously. The following are the gifts and donations: Big Sky -- Jody Nunley, 8 Frog Learning Kits valued at $680 Bitterroot -- Vickie Anderson, cold weather apparel Washington -- David Irion, St. Vincent Foundation, sponsorship in the Heart and Sole Run Kohl’s Department Store, sponsorship in Heart and Sole Run Billings Junior Women’s Club, dresses, t-shirts, and undergarments Simply Family Magazine, soliciting sponsorship of summer camps Ortho Montana, $100 summer camp sponsorship COMMUNICATION FROM THE PUBLIC Pam Christianson addressed the board on the school calendars. She believed the spring break was changed a couple of years ago due to testing dates. She voiced her concern about the students having a break to rest prior to the testing and felt the students needed the break. Ms. Christianson believed the Pure Performance program was excellent for students. She stated she had the pleasure of sitting on a panel when it was first introduced in the district. She hoped students, parents, and teachers get behind the program as it is best on accountability. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Trustee Wardell removed R-10 from the consent agenda for discussion. Clerk Hudetz amended the agenda that includes further information on the bonds. Trustee Wardell requested the superintendent’s report be given after the bond discussion. Trustee Graves made the following motion with a second by Travis Kemp: Motion to approve the agenda as amended. Those voting in favor were Greta Besch Moen, Pam Ellis, Lindy Graves, Allen Halter, Travis Kemp, Travis Smith, Teresa Stroebe, and Connie Wardell. The motion passed unanimously. REPORT ON PURE PERFORMANCE PROGRAM Cate Hannah, a West High student, stated she runs track and plays soccer. She felt Pure Performance could change the partying that is occurring in the schools right now. Partying affects athletic performance and this program would be an excellent program to change that. Drake Schafer, Skyview High student, stated he wrestles, runs track and plays football. The amount of research in this program is tremendous. The program trains athletes to be a total athlete in training, eating and how to eat. It also trains leaders how to deal with athletes who are using drugs and alcohol. Skyview has a good group of leaders to implement the program beginning in the fall. Superintendent Bouck asked Drake for an invitation to an activity for Pure Performance. Drake reported there are more activities planned when school starts and an invitation will be extended. Cate stated West High will start meetings with principals, deans and assemblies will be set up. Trustee Halter asked how many athletes are partyingMr. Wahl reported there is an increasing trend in drug and alcohol violations this year. Changes can be made through positive choices which are enforced in the program. Mr. Wahl stated he will come back to the board to request that a committee be formed to work on the drug and alcohol program. Trustee Halter reported he has joined a group working with athletes and the performance aspect in a positive way which has had a positive effect on the athletes. PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REPORT Trustee Moen reported the Planning & Development Committee did not meet in June. The main focus for the committee is on the demographics study and the master facilities plan. O2/DLR has been working on the master facilities plan. Cropper GIS was chosen to conduct the demographic study and will have preliminary information for the August meeting. O2/DLR Kim Olson, O2/DLR, stated she has visited with staff and trustees and will have further meetings with other district individuals. During the summer, the team will gain information for the educational findings. BOND RESOLUTIONS Bridget Ekstrom, D. A. Davidson, reported interest rates have been locked into as of last Thursday. The rate the district is required to pay for the Qualified Zone Academy Bonds for the elementary district is 0% and the payback term was stretched from fifteen years to twenty years. The taxpayers will realize a savings of $1,100,000 in the elementary district and $500,000 in the high school district over the original projections provided to the taxpayers before the May election. Ms. Ekstrom reported three bond resolutions need to be approved by the board tonight which releases the bonds for sale. If there is any money left after the twenty-year period, according to federal laws, funds must be used to pay down the bonds. Levies must be placed every year to pay for the bonds. The rating received for the bonds was AA- and resulted in an interest rate paid to bond purchases of 4.25-4.3%. Chair Stroebe stated the board is very grateful for the voters who gave approval to the district for these bonds. Trustee Wardell made the following motion with a second by Trustee Halter: Motion to approve the resolution relating to $4,553,502 Qualified Energy Conservation bonds for the elementary district as presented in the board packet, Item G. Those voting in favor were Greta Besch Moen, Pam Ellis, Lindy Graves, Allen Halter, Travis Kemp, and Connie Wardell. The motion passed unanimously. Trustees Smith and Stroebe are ineligible to vote on elementary issues. Trustee Wardell made the following motion with a second by Trustee Kemp: Motion to approve the resolution relating to $5,811,000 Qualified Zone Academy Bonds for the elementary district as presented in the board packet, Item G. Those voting in favor were Greta Besch Moen, Pam Ellis, Lindy Graves, Allen Halter, Travis Kemp, and Connie Wardell. The motion passed unanimously. Trustees Smith and Stroebe are ineligible to vote on elementary issues. Trustee Wardell made the following motion with a second by Trustee Smith: Motion to approve the resolution relating to $3,780,000 High School Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds as reflected in the board packet, Item G. Those voting in favor were Greta Besch Moen, Pam Ellis, Lindy Graves, Allen Halter, Travis Kemp, Travis Smith, Teresa Stroebe, and Connie Wardell. The motion passed unanimously. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT Superintendent Bouck thanked Teresa Stroebe and Jack Copps for their work on the overcrowded classroom issue. Recommendations were included into the accreditation standards in the presentation to the Office of Public Instruction. The plan is a long-range fix and not a short-term repair. Mr. Bouck reviewed the plan for those present. Possible action that has not been approved by the board would be to add fifty additional Para pros for $747,400 which is not a permanent fix. Classrooms could be capped and students bussed to the nearest school that has room which goes against neighborhood schools, cap elementary classrooms at accreditation standards, and make transportation a parent’s responsibility for those students who live three miles from the school. A discussion on cluster schools would be premature. Mr. Bouck stated hiring an additional forty-four teachers for $2,500,000, which the district does not have, is not an option. He recommended waiting for more options after the master facilities plan is complete. Chair Stroebe reported the Office of Public Instruction panel told her to lobby the thirteen legislators for Yellowstone County for additional funding. Denise Juneau, Superintendent of the Office of Public Instruction, has stated the Billings Public Schools would continue to receive intensive support. Opening Rimrock Elementary was brought up as an option but the school only holds 250 students. Mr. Bouck stated the plan for sixth to eighth grade classes is a good plan but must be reviewed further. He felt going back to half-day kindergarten would be a large mistake. The district also must look at additional funding. Trustee Ellis felt moving to half-day kindergarten would lose dollars for the district. Billings Public Schools receives less dollars than other districts and it is the largest district in the state. Mr. Bouck reported he met with Tina Volek, City Administrator, on the EPA Smart Growth program which helps the community with its growth projections. All of the EPA committee members will be announced this week by Ms. Volek as well as the next EPA committee meeting. Mr. Bouck stated he would select a district representative this week for the committee. Superintendent Bouck stated he appreciated meeting with the individual board members and he will work with them to move forward in fixing the problems of the district. He thanked the board members for their time and dedication. Mr. Bouck reported he visited the Boys and Girls Club and met with Brian Dennis, the director of the club and found it to be a positive place. He also met with members of the Chamber of Commerce who gave their support for the district. Mr. Bouck has pledged to sit on their board and will join the Rotary Club. STUDENT ATTENDANCE Brenda Koch, Leadership Support Director, reviewed the data on attendance information. Attendance ranged from 91-96% on a daily basis. 2013-2016 CALENDAR REVIEW Mark Wahl addressed Ms. Christianson’s question on the calendars. The most important discussion by the Calendar Committee was on the dynamics of testing and a spring break. The committee felt the shorter breaks were better for students. The one-half day pupil instruction related days (PIR) were also addressed. Elementary principals decided not to conduct parent/teacher during the second semester. The state wrestling tournament is also important as it would save money in not having to pay for substitutes for those teachers who volunteer to work. A parent was chosen to sit on the committee but did not show up for the meetings. Mr. Wahl reported community input will be sought on the calendars. A report will be brought back to the board in September after the community input is discussed by the committee. Trustee Wardell asked why there were so many early out days. She stated it is a burden on the elementary students’ parents to find daycare. She believed full-day PIR days would be better. She asked that the half-day PIR days be eliminated. Mr. Wahl stated he did not believe the committee had the option to eliminate those days. Jeff Greenfield, BEA President, reported there are 180 required teaching days in the school year with seven PIR days. One-half PIR days were started as teachers wanted time to speak with their colleagues. Trustee Ellis felt it would make a difference to parents if the committee could work with Brenda Koch and Kathy Olson during the school year to gain parent input. Trustee Moen suggested making the half-day PIR days the same for elementary and middle school students. Mr. Wahl reported he would look at the issue. Mr. Bouck reported he would meet with staff on the calendars. Trustee Graves state an energy savings would be realized if full day PIR days would take place instead of half-days. PARTNERSHIP WITH BILLINGS CLINIC Brenda Koch reported personnel from the Billings Clinic have requested the district participate with a grant on obesity. Three elementary schools are piloting the program for healthy bodies. The grant would help find community members to assist with the program. The clinic would also use a positive approach in the program. Trustee Wardell requested the numbers for the Highland program be made public to gain community support. DISCIPLINE REPORT FOR 2011-2012 Brenda Koch stated the discipline report was generated from the Power School software. This will be viewed as a baseline study in the future. Trustee Wardell asked for a monthly report per school. Ms. Koch replied the report could be done. Superintendent Bouck stated staff will also look at what can be done with data for the board. BUDGET UPDATE Mr. Bouck stated the district will be falling below the 5% for both districts in the reserve funds. In the future, staff will look at budgets to determine how it impacts students. Mr. Hudetz reported the board must adopt the budget by August 25, 2012. Budget hearings must be opened by August 20th in order to give time to approve the budget by the 25th. Trustee Graves asked for information on the warehouse budget. Two warehousemen have been moved from the warehouse to other departments. Trustee Graves asked for additional information on agenda items as to the cost and where the funds would come from. Mr. Hudetz stated the new program, AgendaQuick, will be able address those issues. Trustee Moen asked when the ending funds would be known. Mr. Hudetz replied staff will have those figures ready by the end of August or the first part of September, if there are remaining, ending funds, they will go to the reserves. Chair Stroebe reported any questions on the budget could be directed to Mr. Hudetz or Ms. Hubbard and the answers will be sent through the board email. BOARD COMMUNICATION UPDATE Karen Palmer, Technology Director, gave an update on board communication. AgendaQuick will allow the district to go paperless on agendas. Community 7 gives a video disk of the board meetings to the technology department which then puts it on the district’s website for viewing. Live streaming would allow people to watch the meeting as it is taking place. There will also be the opportunity to watch a certain agenda item by clicking on that item. The cost for equipment is $50,000. A request for proposal would be needed for that equipment. Trustee Graves felt a discussion should be held on the $6,000 paid to Community 7 yearly with the need for $11,533 for live streaming. He felt live streaming should begin as soon as possible as it could be used for educational reasons. Ms. Palmer stated grants have not been found to pay for equipment but a community partner could be found. Trustee Stroebe felt Community 7 staff should be invited to come to a meeting to give their input. Trustee Wardell felt the district should be careful with its relationship with Community 7. Trustee Ellis asked the superintendent to bring a budget forward in the next month that could begin this project especially for indexing the meeting. The item will be placed on the agenda for the Performance Monitoring/Stakeholder Relations Committee. Trustee Ellis suggested finding out how the city and county paid for the High Definition (HD) cameras. PERFORMANCE MONITORING/STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT Trustee Graves stated having a calendar of items to be addressed by this committee would help staff in preparing information and presenting to the board. A couple of retired teachers have approached him about helping the district in various ways, including passing mill levies and other ways to use those retired teachers. Travis Kemp suggested going one more month out in the calendar to give parents the opportunity to know what is coming up. TECHNOLOGY DISCUSSION Ms. Palmer gave a brief presentation on elementary technology. The high school technology levy plan is still in the draft stage as there is no money to put the plan into place as the levy failed in May. Objectives have been developed by the elementary advisory team and the high school advisory team. Sources of funding that have been eliminated or depleted include Title I, Part D, Microsoft Settlement, and Timber Funds. Sources of funding are PTAs/Grants/BPEF (Foundation), retired equipment from the high schools and donations. Trustee Ellis suggested a technology evaluation analysis be done and included in the master facilities plan. AA CAUCUS/MTSBA REPORT Trustee Wardell reported a presentation was given to the legislative members of the board by state legislator Llew Jones. He will also carry the major funding bill which will include a definition of quality education. Funds will be available to fund the inflationary factor but it has not been decided on how to distribute the funds. There is also a proposal to use oil and gas dollars that would go to the schools. Trustee Ellis stated AA schools are not treated as fairly as the other districts under the Llew Jones proposal. This district has more students but receives less dollars. She felt such large inequities between smaller districts and AA schools need to be treated more equitably. RETREAT/WORK SESSION Chair Stroebe stated goals and policies need to be discussed. A work session/board retreat could be held in September. She is contacting facilitators, one being Dana Toole who conducted the last retreat. McPherson & Jacobson’s contract, in hiring the new superintendent, contains a clause on superintendent goals and evaluation. Another option is for goal setting but not in the retreat. Trustee Ellis wanted a retreat that focuses on goals and work that needs to be accomplished. Trustee Wardell also wanted a portion set aside for discussion with the new superintendent. Chair Stroebe stated she would discuss it further with Dr. McPherson. Trustee Graves stated Jeff Weldon, legal counsel for the district, was going to work on board governance and bring it back to the board. APPROVAL OF BOARD RETREAT LOCATION Trustees Ellis and Kemp felt the best place for the retreat was the Lincoln Center. Chair Stroebe stated it will be discussed at a later date. Trustee Wardell suggested a 1 ½ day retreat on a Saturday and Sunday morning, then have a family event on Sunday afternoon. CONSENT AGENDA Trustee Wardell addressed Item R-10 in the consent agenda which was a donation for technology in a classroom. The donation is not something that was to be parceled out a little at a time. She wanted it to happen in the manner in which the donation was made. Ms. Palmer stated the funds will be used for IPads for one classroom at Eagle Cliffs for a model classroom for technology. More classrooms might be able to be done. Mr. Hudetz reported a separate trust account has been set up to track the funds. Trustee Wardell placed the item back in the consent agenda. Trustee Graves made the following motion with a second by Trustee Smith: Motion to approve and accept the items within the Consent Agenda without objection to recommended action. Those voting in favor were Greta Besch Moen, Pam Ellis, Lindy Graves, Allen Halter, Travis Kemp, Travis Smith, Teresa Stroebe, and Connie Wardell. The motion passed unanimously. Items approved are as follows: Monthly Legal Report Personnel Report Bills Paid -- June 2012 Regular Board Meeting Minutes, June 18, 2012 Special Board Meeting Minutes, June 25, 2012 403(b) Committee Meeting Minutes, September 23, 2011 Audit Committee Meeting Minutes, April 26, 2012 Audit Committee Chair Appointment Tuition Rates 2012-2013 School Year Contract with Head Start, Inc. Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Yellowstone County Memorandum of Understanding Establish New Trust Account for Elementary Technology Classroom Technology Grant Trustee Graves made the following motion with a second by Trustee Smith: Motion to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m. Teresa Stroebe, Chair Diane Blevins, Recorder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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