School/Community Com. Mtg., May 9, 2005

[Marta McAllister]

Proceeding of the School/Community Committee Meeting

District No. 2, Yellowstone County

High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

Billings, Montana

May 9, 2005

 

 

 

Call to Order:

The meeting was called to order by Mike Dimich

 

Members Present:

Mike Dimich, Karen Moses, Carol Wicker, Michael Burke, Lisa Posada, Tom Willis, Paul DiLorenzo, Greta Besch, Jim Hartung, Bobbie Larson, John Selvig, Michael Huges, Jay Kirk,

Bill Selph, Shauna Kerr, Gail Surwill, and Jan McCandless.

 

Guests present:

Barbara Bryan, Peggy Smith, Mike Marin, Randy Hafer, and Ludlow Howe, Sandra Mossman, and Donna Achten.

 

Communication from the Public:

Dave Riley and Tim Cramer, members of the Lockwood Steering Committee addressed the School/Community Committee. They reported that a majority of Lockwood parents are opposed to the 20-Year Facilities Planning Committee’s first scenario to place Lockwood students at Lincoln Center. They reported that Lockwood parents expressed that the 20-Year Facilities Planning Committee’s scenario #3 to place Lockwood students at Skyview is a good short-term answer, but they feel the only acceptable long-term solution is to build a new high school in Lockwood. They feel a new high school can be built in Lockwood for less than the cost of many repairs or renovations to district buildings. The high school in Lockwood could be opened to all students in School District 2 who want to attend a smaller high school.

 

Barbara Bryan and Peggy Smith agreed that Lockwood’s parents’ concerns are valid, but the 20-Year Facilities Planning Committee’s criteria is to use existing buildings to fix the overcrowding issue now.

 

The concern that Lockwood students currently attending a school will be asked to attend another school was addressed and the recommendation would be that any change would be transitional.

 

The Lockwood Steering Committee will be giving zoning recommendations to the County Commissioners regarding sites for a high school in Lockwood.

 

It was noted that there is no representation from Lockwood even though people had applied to be on the 20-Year Facilities Planning Committee.

 

20-Year Facilities Planning Committee Report:

Barbara Bryan, Co-Chair, presented the raw data from the public comments to the School/Community Committee and Education Committee. Barbara reported that the 20-Year Facilities Planning Committee is still entering comments from more that 400 responses.

Barbara reported that they have given 38 presentations to about 1,400 people.

 

Barbara Bryan explained that of those who responded, 29 percent liked scenario one, 27 percent liked scenario two, 17 percent liked scenario three and 13 percent disliked them all.

 

Barbara Bryan reported that 45 percent of respondents favored leaving the Career Center the way it is, 24 percent favored expanding the Career Center to a full high school without varsity sports, and 21 percent favored expanding the Career Center to a full high school with varsity sports.

Barbara Bryan reported that the community is in full support of the Career Center.

 

Barbara Bryan reported that seventy-five percent of the public said the district should use only existing facilities and twenty-five percent of the public supported building a new high school.

 

There were questions and concerns from School/Community members regarding Lincoln Center being deemed unsuitable 20 years ago, but now it is being considered suitable and the educational ramifications of enlarging high schools. Barbara Bryan suggested that Lincoln Center possibly could be used as a satellite school in arts, music or business.

 

Barbara Bryan expressed that the 20-Year Facilities Committee’s scenarios may not be the perfect answer, but the goal was to come up with something the voters will accept.

 

Barbara Bryan reported that the 20-Year Facilities Planning Committee will meet May 10, 2005 to discuss the comments and create a final recommendation to be presented at the Board of Trustees meeting on May 16, 2005 or in June. School/Community members would like the Board Chair to ask that the 20-Year Facilities Planning Committees final scenario recommendations come back to the School/Community Committee so they can make a jointly supported recommendation.

 

Legislative Update:

Mike Dimich reported that Quality Education for Montana has been defined. The Special Legislative Committee will meet over the summer to create a funding formula. The Committee has until December 2005 to find a way to fund the formula.

 

Mike Dimich reported that the legislature has focused on state issues but there is also on going discussion regarding how the federal government is going to fund No Child Left Behind adequately.

 

Communication Plan:

Carol Wicker reported that the Board has accepted the Communication Plan in its entirety with the instructions that the superintendent and his staff cost out some of the items and present them to the Board. The time line to cost out the items is between now and June. The Board will then be able to develop a budget for some or all of the recommendations. There were concerns that a Communication Director will be hired over certified staff. Carol Wicker said a Communication Director is one thing that they will cost out and decided upon. Carol suggested that the funds might be able to come from a different budget than certified staff.

 

 

Old Business/Announcements/Handouts:

Don Ami resigned from the School/Community Committee. Bobbie Larson was recognized for her commitment to the School/Community Committee as she is retiring from the District. Carol Wicker presented Mike Dimich with a gift to acknowledge his contribution to the School/Community Committee.

 

Minutes of the School/Community Committee Meeting:

A motion was made and seconded to approve the March 14th, 2005 and April, 11, 2005 minutes. The motion carried.

 

 

 

 

The next scheduled meeting is June 13, 2005. The Committee members will meet in the Board Room located in the Lincoln Center, at 415 N 30th at 6:00 PM.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________ ___________________________________

Mike Dimich, Chairperson Brenda Cross, Recorder