School/Community Committee Mtg 10/10/05

[Marta McAllister]

Proceeding of the School/Community Committee Meeting

District No. 2, Yellowstone County

High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

Billings, Montana

October 10, 2005

 

 

 

Call to Order:

The meeting was called to order by Karen Moses

 

Members Present:

Karen Moses, Carol Wicker, Paul DiLorenzo, Jim Hartung, Tom Willis, Sandra Mammenga, Michael Hughes, Michael Burke, Mary Jo Fox, Jay Kirk, Lisa Posada-Griffin, Greta Besch, Shauna Kerr, and Jennifer Howe.

 

Excused Members:

Molly Holt and Jan McCandless

 

Guests present:

Burlington Elementary – Burt Reyes

Eagle Cliffes - Rilla Hardgrove and Jean Braden

Highland - Carol Forney, Susan Gregory

 

Communication from the Public:

None

 

School Reports on Parent Involvement Process for 2004-2005:

The following three questions were asked of the two parents present:

 

What did you learn by going through the process that you did not know about your school prior to the process? The parent’s responses were: The format of the process was challenging, complex, and restricted, especially the second year. They were frustrated that only a small group of parents worked on the process. It is a way to get parents from all schools together. They would like to discover ways to get parents involved in the schools. It was not known that Eagle Cliffs is the largest elementary school in the district, but the school is quiet, organized, and parents are welcomed by the staff. Eagle Cliffs is large, but have created a great learning environment. Eagle Cliffs has special education students in every classroom and has incorporated regular students to be mentors to them.

 

How can parents assist the school in meeting their improvement goals? Some suggestions were: Parents need to learn about their school. They would like to create regular scheduled times to get together with representative from other schools to share best practices and collaborate across the district.

 

How does the review process help parents become informed and empowered as a part of the team with the facility and staff? Parents communicated with staff members other than just their child’s teacher, saw a broader view of the school, and parents stated they would not have gotten involved if not for the process. They were able to collaborate with staff about issues and learning about goals of teachers was enlightening. Not all parents understand the testing that is being done at the schools. They were also able to get insight on children who want their parents involved in school, these parents are usually the ones likely to come to school. It was suggested that presentations could be made at events attended by parents that are successful.

 

The School/Community Committee discussed that all reports should be are available on the district web-site allowing parents to observe happenings at schools throughout the district. Personal contact such as calls for events at schools was suggested.

 

Communication Plan Update:

Carol Wicker reported that the bids for the Communication Plan closed October 7 and assumes interview will begin. Michael Burke suggested that we partner with large organizations that have been through a communication process and maybe they could even sit in on the interviews. Carol Wicker noted that because the funding is being contributed by other partners with the district it is likely they will be involved in the interviews.

 

The Communication Plan has been put out for bids because of the way it is funded. It is funded by a group of community members as a 4 to 1 match. A bid has been committed for 3 years and approximately half of the money for this year has been raised and the other portion is committed.

 

Review of Committee Work 2004-2005:

Carol Wicker went through last year’s agendas and minutes and made a list of the goals the Committee intended to do and what has been accomplished.

 

Carol Wicker reported that the Boys and Girls Club at Castle Rock has been started and it is successful.

 

It was noted by the Committee that a lot of small issues were addressed, but there are still two huge issues; state funding and the 20 Year Facilities Planning Committee’s recommendation. These two issues are huge projects mainly because the resolution depends on someone else other than this Committee.

 

It was recommended that School/Community Committee set definite goals this year that could be measured.

 

The Committee would like to see a serious time frame deadline regarding the high school facility issue before the public and work backwards. It was suggested when the district costs out scenarios they would like to see renovations done in levels, such as safe warm and dry, education excellence, and appearance.

 

Common Starting/Ending Time for Elementary Students:

Mary Fox reported that an ad hoc committee was created to study this issue. At this time the district does not have funding to move forward with this project. It was the opinion of the ad hoc committee that no further study would be done until funding is available. The ad hoc committee agreed that the ending time would be the same at each school in the district, but staggered due to transportation issues. Prep time during the student day and adding specialist at the primary grades were also discussed as a way of accomplishing this when funding allows

 

 

 

 

Daylis Stadium Project Update:

Temporary bleachers are in place. The contract for the new bleachers has been finalized and CBS Constructors has started work at the stadium. Funding of the stadium project is progressing. There is a possibility that one contributor may fund the entire project according to Mary Jo Fox.

 

Legislation and MQEC Update:

This issue is challenging. At this time the formula to fund by classroom was voted against. It appears the governor is not going to call a special session at this time. It was suggested the public needs to lobby legislators to call for a special session.

 

Possible Scenarios to Address High School Renovation and Capacity:

The Superintended has formulated four scenarios at the request of the Board Chair to address High School Renovation and Capacity. It has been requested that discussion be started by Committees to address costing out these scenarios.

 

There is frustration by some Committee members that after all the work the 20-year Facilities Planning Committee has done now information is being taken from past, present and future Committees.

 

The School/Community Committee discussed scenario two: the elementary district may deed one of the middle schools to the high school district to be used as a comprehensive high school, and build a new middle school to replace the vacated middle school which arose out of the ad hoc committee as a way of solving the ownership issue because three of the middle schools are partially owned by the high school district, etc.

 

A motion was made and seconded to remove scenario two from the list. It was a 13 to 1 vote.

 

A concern was made that we have already gone to the public to build a new high school and they said “no” and still renovations have not been completed and we are asking voters to approve a new school again.

 

A motion was made and seconded to remove scenario four. 5 voted for, 9 voted against.

 

It is recommended by the School/Community Committee that a deadline be set by the Board to choose scenarios to be voted on. It was suggested that the deadline be set by the elections to get them on the ballot.

 

Old Business/Announcements/Handouts:

 

Minutes of the School/Community Committee Meeting:

A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes from the September 12, 2005. The motion carried.

 

The next scheduled meeting is November 14, 2005. The Committee members will meet in the Board Room located in the Lincoln Center, at 415 N 30th at 6:00 PM.

 

 

_________________________ ___________________________________

Karen Moses, Chairperson Brenda Cross, Recorder