Special Meeting of November 13, 2006

[Diane Blevins]

Proceedings of the Board of Trustees

District No. 2, Yellowstone County

High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

Billings, Montana

 

November 13, 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, November 13, 2006, at 12:00 p.m.

 

Those present included: Trustees Katharin Kelker, Sandra Mossman, Dale Getz, Joel Guthals, Rachel Stagg, Malcolm Goodrich, Dawn Achten, Superintendent Jack Copps, Scott Anderson, Kathy Olson, Thomas Harper, and District Clerk Leo Hudetz.

 

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. There were no public comments.

 

Appoint Appeals Panel

 

Chair Goodrich reported Board members are needed to serve on an appeals panel. Trustees Goodrich, Kelker and Guthals volunteered to serve on the panel.

 

Discussion and Decision of Legislation Priorities

 

Chair Goodrich reported the Board meeting with the legislators, Chamber of Commerce, and business leaders has been scheduled for December 6th at 7:00 p.m. There are five things the Board would like to present with the discussion held in a panel format with business leaders included in the groups. Items to be discussed include school funding in general and School District #2 issues. Trustee Getz felt the focus should be on only those few issues, as the legislators are being overloaded with issues right now, and that relationship building was very important. Trustee Kelker believed it was very important to revisit the kindergarten issue on December 6th. Mr. Copps reported Kathy Olson is putting together a packet that addresses the kindergarten issue. Trustee Mossman felt that facilities should also be a topic of discussion. Trustee Getz suggested another topic as finding qualified teachers, recruitment and retention, in the next few years with the number of retirements expected will be difficult. He also suggested changing dates in mill levy cycles in the years that the legislators meet because information is not known until the eleventh hour.

 

Trustee Getz did not feel health insurance should be a topic of discussion. Trustee Goodrich stated the topics for discussion are facilities, kindergarten, retention and recruitment issues, school funding, and flexibility of timing of mill levies. It was suggested Board members call the legislators the night before a vote, as it would have a big impact.

 

A legislative subcommittee of the Board was formed which included Malcolm Goodrich, Rachel Stagg, Joel Guthals, Sandra Mossman and Katharin Kelker. Trustee Mossman recommended a VisionNet meeting be held with other ‘AA’ schools and would check into the matter and report back to the Board.

 

The Chair instructed Leo Hudetz to arrange a lunch meeting for the subcommittee.

 

Trustee Getz made the following motion with a second by Trustee Achten:

 

Motion that the Board appoint a legislative subcommittee comprised of Rachel Stagg, Sandra Mossman, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals and Katharin Kelker and empower the subcommittee to review and present to the legislators, School District #2’s position on legislative issues.

 

Those voting in favor were Malcolm Goodrich, Dawn Achten, Rachel Stagg, Sandra Mossman, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, and Dale Getz. The motion passed unanimously.

 

As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:15 p.m.

 

 

 

Malcolm Goodrich, Chair

 

 

Diane Blevins, Recorder