Agenda Setting - December 6, 2005

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Proceedings of the Board of Trustees

District No. 2, Yellowstone County

High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

Billings, Montana

 

December 6, 2005

 

Call to Order

 

The Agenda Setting Meeting of the Board of Trustees of School District No. 2, Yellowstone County, Montana, and the High School District, Yellowstone County, Montana was duly held at The Lincoln Center, 415 North 30th Street, Billings, Montana December 6, 2005 at 12:00 p.m.

 

Chair Katharin Kelker presided.

 

Roll Call

 

Those attending were: Trustees Katharin Kelker, Karen Moses, Sandra Mossman, Dale Getz, Mary Jo Fox; Superintendent Rod Svee, Kathy Olson, Dan Martin, Clerk Leo Hudetz, Shaun Harrington, Nancy Korizek-Hines, David Williams and Jeff Weldon. Trustee Conrad Stroebe arrived at 12:10. Trustee Malcolm Goodrich arrived at 12:15.

 

The meeting was called to order at 12:05 by Chair Katharin Kelker.

 

The first topic was the budget format report from the Steering Committee. Sandra Mossman reported that the Steering Committee had met. The committee is composed of Trustees Mossman and Getz and Business Manager, Thomas Harper. Ms. Mossman reported that the committee will have a report for the Board meeting.

 

There will be an item on MQEC. Trustee Moses reported that the latest news is that the MQEC will meet next Tuesday morning, prior to the Special Legislative Session which will start next Wednesday morning. There was a brief discussion of the different proposals. A report will be given to the Board after the special session.

 

Chair Kelker requested that there be a study session of the Board on January 23rd, 2006 to discuss planning task force on high school renovation and capacity. It is her feeling that there needs to be a subcommittee of trustees to work with administration. She stated that the Board needs to keep looking to come up with something to put before the voters by the fall of 2006. The educational consultants have been chosen. The question of boundary issues is limited for relieving overcrowding at West High. The subcommittee volunteers are Trustees Stroebe, Fox, Moses and Kelker, and they will meet in January.

 

High school principals will meet again with the Education Committee in January. Chair Kelker mentioned that the Board’s basis was students and the 20-year facilities committee’s focus was how to best use the buildings/facilities and did not take into consideration student needs. Ms. Kelker will write a charge for this for the January Education Committee meeting. Kathy Olson stated that it was the unanimous opinion of the high school principals at the last Education Committee meeting that the Board face the issues now and take care of what we have now.

 

It was also mentioned that there are educational considerations at the Career Center, whether or not students can do the technical program or the college bound program.

 

The School/Community Committee needs to develop a community process for decision making concerning the boundary study between Senior and West and the Boulder elementary area.

 

Thomas Harper arrived at 12:25.

 

Superintendent Svee reported that his research showed that the Board passed a motion to change the boundary for the Boulder area in 1998. Kathy Kelker feels that this was not done correctly and it should have involved parents who were involved and also people who were neutral to come up with a decision to recommend to the Board. Kathy Olson mentioned that it will be necessary to have a discussion about kindergarten attendance in January. School/Community Committee needs to figure out a process. Rod Svee stated that the issue is that all Boulder students go to Will James, then have the right to choose between Senior and West.

 

Dale Getz would like to see the enrollment data for now and projected for the future. Leo Hudetz has numbers of Boulder kids going to West which is about 20-25 currently in each grade.

 

Karen Moses would like to see a comparison of Lewis & Clark and Will James for the School/Community meeting. Kathy Olson stated that developments west of Shiloh are targeted for Senior High and Lewis & Clark. Kathy Kelker stated that the information is coming to the committee and they will need to determine a fair process for making this move. Rod will give Shaun Harrington the historical information. Kathy Kelker stated that this is a very small change for a very big problem but it is a question of fairness to some people.

 

Conrad Stroebe reported that high school principals said boundaries are not being enforced. Rod Svee stated that they are being used but there is a process to petition a different school. It is estimated that 50 kids change. The principals were very adamant about their not believing a boundary system is being used. Conrad Stroebe would like to talk about boundary issues. Kathy Kelker stated it is not a boundary issue; it is a question of lack of capacity. Conrad Stroebe stated that we do not look for new space for the short term or the long term for overcrowding and this needs to be revisited. Dale Getz would like to see results of boundary discussions of the long-range planning committee of three years ago. He feels that one of the parts of talking about capacity is the need to talk about boundaries along with that. Sandy Mossman got the impression from the principals that boundaries are not being enforced. Conrad Stroebe stated that there are teachers on carts at Skyview. Dale Gets would like to look at data from three years ago. Dan Martin will get copies of that study to the Board.

 

The dropout report will be presented to the Education Committee in January because Carol Wicker will be on sick leave this month.

 

At the request of the Facilities Director at MSU-Billings, the Chair has invited three Board members to meet with Mr. Barfield to learn about MSU-B’s plans for the COT and how they might relate to the Career Center. The recommended members are Joel Guthals, Malcolm Goodrich and Dale Getz. Dale Getz asked that someone from staff also be included. Rod asked for a schematic from COT and should have that for the next Board meeting.

 

The Chair is proposing a study session in conjunction with the Board meeting on December 19th to discuss the running start program. Rod Svee stated that this was approved by the Board in March and there were no questions raised, now students were prepared to sign up for the second semester and they are out. Karen Moses stated that the counselors have lots of problems that need to be worked out before next fall. Rod Svee said that the Board passed a motion to go with it. Dale Getz would like a refresher of what went on in March. It is his recollection that everyone was on board at that time. Kathy Kelker stated that it is not the Board responsibility to inform staff; it is the superintendent’s. Shaun Harrington reported that Carol Wicker had met with the counselors, had answered some of their questions, and had told them she would find out the answers to others and report back to them. The process has started to answer all their questions. Carol Wicker used the meeting as an information and open discussion.

 

Dale Getz had to leave the meeting at 1:05.

 

Rod Svee will cover the mold issue at Bench on his report.

 

The Chair stated that the building ownership committee needs to meet in December and do the following things: add another elementary trustee; elect a chair; set a schedule for determining compensation to both elementary and high school districts; make recommendation as to ownership transfer of Crossroads from elementary to high school district. Some decisions need to be made before any repair of Crossroads can take place. Sandy Mossman feels that the committee was close to a decision. The issue of Crossroads repairs will be deferred to this committee.

 

The audit report will be on the agenda and will include a new policy/procedure for travel/meal reimbursements. This can be on the consent agenda.

 

An Energy Committee is being formed. The membership will be approved by the Board. Rich Whitney will be notified to set a meeting date. The committee will need to elect a chair and determine their scope of work. Joel Guthals and Karen Moses are Board members on this committee.

 

Malcolm Goodrich stated that he and Joel Guthals had met for the Legal Services Committee. They will report to the Business Committee. Other items to be discussed at Business are results-based budget process, audit report, enrollment.

 

The Education Committee will discuss enrollment and the need for the Zangle system to track high school students when they move or drop out, Lockwood planning, Crossroads activities and a report from Smaller Learning Communities grant. In January the high school principals will again discuss educationally relevant factors related to high school renovation and capacity. Woody Jensen will also do a follow-up.

 

The School/Community Committee agenda will include the survey for all students, parents and staff as required by the crisis management grant, Senior/West boundary study relating to Boulder Elementary School, calendar update, MQEC.

 

Conrad Stroebe requested a statistical report on absences be included in the Personnel Report each month.

 

Karen Moses requested that the Business Committee also discuss more FTE for Senior High.

 

Kathy Olson reported that there is a cul-de-sac in the Heights requesting a permanent boundary change. This will be prepared for the consent agenda.

 

Trustee Kelker commented that according to the items on the regular agenda and the estimated time, they are over the allotted four hours. If the meeting takes more than four hours, the meeting will need to be continued to Tuesday evening.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:40 p.m.

 

 

 

_________________________________

Katharin Kelker, Chair

 

 

 

_______________________________

Nancy Coe, Recorder