Diane Blevins Posted June 13, 2006 Report Share Posted June 13, 2006 Proceedings of the Board of Trustees District No. 2, Yellowstone County High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County Billings, Montana May 23, 2006 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 30th Street, Billings, Montana, May 23, 2006, at 5:30 p.m. Those present included: Trustees Katharin Kelker, Sandra Mossman, Mary Jo Fox, Dale Getz, Joel Guthals, Rachel Stagg, Dawn Achten, Malcolm Goodrich, Superintendent Rod Svee, Interim Superintendent Jack Copps, and District Clerk Leo Hudetz. Registered guests included Shirley Lee, April Eubank, Jacquie McDonald, Dan Batsch, Lisa Wood, Barbara Haws, Elise Merchant, Sara Miller, Sister Pat Fynderhide, Gail Hein, Charlotte Dolezal, Mike Hughes, Martin Rhoades, Cheryl Selle, Lisa Bazant, Heather Dahrling, Justine Summers, Liz Swimley, William Kelly, Robert & Linda Merchant, Sue Nord, Deanna Lenz, Adeline Schmidt, Faith Schaffer, Steve Patton, Beth Tocci, Lee Langhais, Grace Kim, Corinne Denegne, Joan Sleeth, Janet Baum, Marci Burrough, Anna Sanduk, Amber Sanduk, and Lidia Hein. 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. The following spoke in support of the non-closure of Crossroads: Sister Pat Funderhide, Brandy Long, Courtney Hamblin, Barbara Haws, Bobbie Larson, Jane Dews, Jeremy Lambert, Jessica Spears, Carol Blades, Shirley Lee, Nathan Lee, and Gail Hein. Patti Vierthaler, Skyview Special Education teacher, stated, if Crossroads were to be closed, those students coming to Skyview would be served well by the staff as they care for those students. Dr. Martha Rhoades urged the Board to close Crossroads, as the current expenditure per student at Crossroads is $7,157 and $5,475 at the other high schools. She did not believe the needs of 95 students were more important than 5,400 students. Those speaking on behalf of activities and AP classes were Cheryl Selle, Kimberly Clark, Zack Quiroz, Cherokee Rawls, Christi Lorang, April Eubank, Elise Merchant, Lauren Erickson, Charlotte Dolezal, Kyle Bjordahl, Jacquie McDonald, Grace Kim, William Kelly, Bob Merchant, Justine Summers, and Michael Hughes. Bruce Raw, Skyview High counselor, spoke on behalf of replacing teachers and counselors in order to be able to serve all of the students in the high schools. Dan Bartsch addressed the Board on insuring public trust, being a good neighbor by not turning the water off on school lawns, maintaining the AP classes, and not to attack the comprehensive high schools. Adeline Schmidt voiced her concern over the failure of the mill levies. Margaret Aukshun, math teacher, voiced her concern over the cuts in textbooks and the lack of staff development to analyze data. Lisa Wood, Senior High teacher and volunteer in the Bronc Café, spoke in support of the comprehensive high schools and serving the At Risk students in those schools. Sue Nord voiced her concern about both ends of the spectrum. She felt the District must be able to promise each student that they will learn something new each day. Administer Trustee Oath of Office Chair Goodrich stated the new trustee, Judy Johnson, was unable to attend this evening but will be administered the oath of office by the County Superintendent before May 30th, 2006. Medicare Retiree Health Insurance Trustee Kelker asked for the cost in the change of insurers. Dan Martin stated it is relatively similar but there are a couple of minor issues that must be addressed in the change. The participants in the retiree program pay the entire cost with the Hartford program having similar coverage. The number of retirees participating in our program has been dwindling the last few years. If it continues to decrease, adverse selection could very well occur. Trustee Kelker made the following motion with a second by Trustee Getz: Motion to accept the recommendation to change from our current Medicare supplement plan to the recommended Hartford plan. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Mary Jo Fox, Dale Getz, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Sandra Mossman, and Rachel Stagg. The motion passed unanimously. Administrative Recommendations The Chair gave a brief overview of the budget process. Superintendent Svee reported the District administrators have been working for several days on the options to fulfill the Board’s questions from last week. Interim Superintendent Copps stated every student counts and every student is as important as the next. The administrative recommendation is to close Crossroads High School and he will do everything in his power to make sure all At Risk students will have a better experience than before. Small learning communities could be implemented in each of the three high schools to address the needs and interests of the At Risk students. If Crossroads were to be closed, $680,000 could be saved with $450,000 going into the smaller learning communities in the high schools. Mr. Copps reported it is being recommended to raise activities fees or possibly cutting all sophomore sports. The three high school principals addressed the Board in regards to the three comprehensive high schools. Bob Whalen, Skyview principal, stated the principals did not want to close Crossroads but it was a scale of economy this evening in addressing the needs of all students. The Skyview staff will address the needs of the students coming back from Crossroads. Dennis Sulser, West High principal, felt this was an opportunity for change in the future and a turning point to secure the necessary funds to provide a Class AA education for every student. He stated the principals need to know as soon as possible in order to put their staffing lists together for the fall. Scott Anderson, Senior High principal, stated they are trying to build a safety net for every student in their community and the drop out rates have been significantly lowered. Senior High had previously failed AYP but has since passed. Trustee Kelker made the following motion with a second by Trustee Mossman: Motion to approval of the cuts recommended in the high school budget as recommended by administration as outlined on page 10 of the packet, which includes closing Crossroads High School. (see attached) Trustee Guthals stated he was not ready to support those recommendations and voiced his concern that nothing was being contributed to the reserves. He recommended asking administration to look at more cuts to replenish reserves. Superintendent Svee reported to build 1% in the reserves would cost 9 FTE, which he felt was beyond reason. He is looking at alternatives to cutting 9 FTE and has implemented freezes on all expenditures in the hopes of saving $100,000 to lessen the hits in the budget amendment. Mr. Svee stated the options would be taken before the Business Committee and then given to the Board before setting the final budget in August. Trustee Getz was not prepared to vote for the administration’s recommendations, as he was concerned for all students but particularly the At Risk students. He expected Crossroads to be effective in its delivery of its education. Trustee Getz recommended moving the Crossroads entity to the empty space in Lincoln Center; cut the supplies in the high schools to the 2005 levels, which would result in $160,000 being saved; budget severance pay at $200,000 less; cut another administrative position; and look at what adjustments need to be made in the teacher counts with the possibility of cutting 2-3 teachers. He stated some of his suggestions might contain risks. The Crossroads building could be sold and help out the reserves. Trustee Fox asked what the savings would be by vacating Crossroads and implementing an alternative education program at the Lincoln Center. Mr. Copps stated, as Crossroads was designated as a high school, it is required to have all of the programs that are identified in the accreditation standards. If a program were implemented, staff savings of $40,000-$50,000 might be realized. As a program, it could be affiliated with the Adult Education program but Mr. Copps stated there would be some cost associated with that affiliation. As ANB is shared with the Adult Education program, $2,700 would be lost per pupil to Adult Education. Adult Education for the Truancy Center and other programs is renovating the 4th floor at the Lincoln Center. Superintendent Svee stated the cost of approximately $310,000 for renovations is being borne from that program. If Crossroads were put on 4th floor, other sources would have to be identified. Trustee Mossman voiced her concern over Trustee Getz’s recommendation to lower budgeted severance pay for the next year. Trustee Kelker applauded Trustee Getz’s work but did not feel his suggestions would work as next year the District will find itself in the same situation. There are students in the comprehensive high schools that have similar needs as those at Crossroads. Trustee Kelker was also not comfortable in lowering the amount for severances. Chair Goodrich handed the gavel to the Vice-Chair and commended the Board and administration for their work. He felt the administrators have a good deal more experience in developing the proposals and would work to heal the gap between the At Risk students and other students. Trustee Getz voiced his concern that more At Risk students could be lost if Crossroads were to be closed. Trustee Achten stated the Board is here for the well being of all children and what is best for all in the District. Those voting in favor of the motion were Dawn Achten, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Sandra Mossman and Rachel Stagg. Those opposing were Mary Jo Fox and Dale Getz. The motion passed. Superintendent Svee stated the Interim Superintendent needs Board authority to make the necessary transfers. The Chair stated it could be done now, as the freeze does not affect those transfers. The clarification was made that option A of the administration’s recommendation (increasing activity fees) was chosen for the proposal for Activities. Non-tenure Teacher Notice Trustee Kelker made the following motion with a second by Trustee Guthals: Motion that we notice non-tenured teachers of non-renewal according to the contract language, which requires notice by June 1st. Mr. Copps felt it is only a handful of teachers that would receive non-renewal notices. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Mary Jo Fox, Dale Getz, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Sandra Mossman and Rachel Stagg. The motion passed unanimously. As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m. Malcolm Goodrich, Chair Diane Blevins, Recorder http://www.billings.k12.mt.us/attachments/20060613075018.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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