Diane Blevins Posted January 26, 2007 Report Share Posted January 26, 2007 Proceedings of the Board of Trustees District No. 2, Yellowstone County High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County Billings, Montana January 15, 2007 Call to Order 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, January 15, 2007, at 5:30 p.m. Chair Malcolm Goodrich presided and led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll Call Members present included Trustees Malcolm Goodrich, Dale Getz, Rachel Stagg, Joel Guthals, Dawn Achten, Sandra Mossman, Katharin Kelker, Susan Messerly, Mary Jo Fox, Superintendent Jack Copps, and District Clerk Leo Hudetz. Registered guests were Sara Peila, Karen Henderson, Jeri Anton, Faith Johnson, and Janet Baum. 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. Approval of Agenda Trustee Kelker made the following motion with a second by Trustee Getz: Motion to approve the agenda. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Mary Jo Fox, Dale Getz, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Susan Messerly, Sandra Mossman, and Rachel Stagg. The motion passed unanimously. Gifts and Donations The following is the list of gifts and donations that have been presented to the School District in accordance with Board policy. Such items have been incorporated into the District’s inventory and an acknowledgment of the contribution has been made to the donor. Arrowhead – Patricia C. Remmer 1995 Charitable Lead Trust, money Big Sky – Village Golden K Kiwanis Club, money Burlington – Summit, Inc., Natalie Carson, computer software program Central Heights – Loren and Karen Graf, color printer to library Tammy and Roger Greene, money OPI School Computer Program, Scott Buswell, computer equipment Orchard – Village Golden K Kiwanis Club, money Eric and Cathy Johnson, boys’ clothing ConocoPhillips, Bonnie Burks, money Billings Rotary club, wrapped Christmas gifts for students OPI School Computer Program, Scott Buswell, computer equipment Mr. and Mrs. Craig Hoffman and Family, hats and gloves Dr. Larry Compodonico, Santa holding toys and sack (for decoration) Downtown Exchange Club, Christmas gift for every 1st and 2nd grader and visit from Santa Christ the King Lutheran Church, hats, gloves and scarves Ponderosa – Van’s State Avenue IGA, gift certificates for families District – ATM-Express, Inc., six boxes of binders EPA, Jim Maley, 2-hour asbestos awareness training for 23 employees at no charge Trustee Kelker made the following motion with a second by Trustee Messerly: Motion to accept these gifts with gratitude. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Mary Jo Fox, Dale Getz, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Susan Messerly, Sandra Mossman, and Rachel Stagg. The motion passed unanimously. Superintendent Evaluation Trustee Kelker reported the Superintendent’s evaluation was conducted this year by the trustees and COLT. With the agreement of the Superintendent, the results have been made public and are included in the packet. The results were very high with the results being in the 95-99% range. Mr. Copps thanked the Board for its vote of confidence. He felt the most important people in the district are those who are closest to the children and the District has a great group working with them. Mr. Copps stated he is also appreciative of the Board in the way it works together in a respective manner and going forward with the same goal in mind. Superintendent Contract; Renewal of Contract for Superintendent George B. “Jack” Copps; Clarification of 2006-2007 Superintendent Contract Trustee Kelker made the following motion with a second by Trustee Guthals: Motion to approve a one-year contract for Superintendent George B. “Jack” Copps for the 2007-2008 year with no salary increase, per Jack’s request, over the 2006-2007 year. Contract language shall be similar to the 2006-2007 contract with final contract to be prepared by counsel and approved by the Board of Trustees. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Mary Jo Fox, Dale Getz, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Susan Messerly, Sandra Mossman, and Rachel Stagg. The motion passed unanimously. The Chair reported that the Superintendent’s prior contract wording did not clearly convey the Board’s intent regarding relocation expenses. Trustee Guthals made the following motion with a second by Trustee Achten: Motion to clarify Section 9 of the employment contract of George B. “Jack’ Copps for the 2006-2007 year. Section 9, entitled Relocation Expenses, is intended to allow Billings Elementary School District 2 and Billings High School District 2 to either reimburse or pay directly to Mr. Copps the amount of $4,000. It is not necessary that Mr. Copps substantiate his expenditures related to his move. Mr. Copps shall be responsible for any taxes due for this benefit as required by the Internal Revenue Service and the Montana Department of Revenue. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Mary Jo Fox, Dale Getz, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Susan Messerly, Sandra Mossman, and Rachel Stagg. The motion passed unanimously. Report on Potential Facility Use Adjustments; Elementary District Facility Adjustments; High School District Adjustments Superintendent Copps reported he is looking forward to the future of the school district and the educational infrastructure. He sees full-day kindergarten in the near future and the primary reason for that is intervention at the earliest possible age is the best moment to help a child in need. In the Heights, Beartooth would have to be reopened as a K-6 school. Mr. Copps felt it would be best to not make it a kindergarten center and keep those other kindergarten students in their home school. Below the Heights, there is a difficult situation, as kindergarten students may have to be bussed across the city. There may also be a need to reopen Rimrock Elementary School, which means the ECI group and Head Start would need to move out of Rimrock. Another school will be needed on the West end, possibly in the Cottonwood subdivision area. Mr. Copps stated he is a very strong believer of neighborhood schools. We need to look at where the enrollment is the heaviest and look to build a new school. The Arrowhead area is the biggest problem as students are bussed pass their home school of Arrowhead to another school where enrollment is lower. The cost to build a new elementary school is approximately $6,500,000 for 400 children. If Crossroads was sold, the $2,000,000 could be used to reduce the cost to $4,500,000. If there were a bond issue for $4,500,000, the State of Montanan would reimburse the District 48% of that amount. A new elementary school could be build for $2,300,000 to $2,400,000. In 2008, the current elementary debt will be paid off. In the high school district, Mr. Copps did not feel a new high school was practical at this time. In order to provide more opportunities for students, administration could be moved out of the Lincoln Center and move the West High Freshmen Academy students into Lincoln to make more room for students who want to go to the Career Center. Rimrock could be used for administrators or area could be leased for about $.50 per square foot. Mr. Copps felt it was important to develop the Career Center into a work force school with a greater partnership with MSU-College of Technology. Trustee Kelker did not feel it was a good idea to continue the ninth-grade academies indefinitely. She felt Senior High needs to be addressed in a phase manner. Trustee Getz stated the high school district does not have the financial reserves to borrow at the most attractive rates, and potentially the elementary district also. Trustee Guthals felt the Board should go on a mission to raise the reserve levels and a mill levy needs to be passed to allow that to happen. There are at least 150 students who are on a list to take classes at the Career Center. If more classes could be offered at the Career Center, four more teachers would be needed. Superintendent Copps stated he will continue working at the administrative level and will come back to the Board for a decision. The Chair reported the January 31st meeting would address this issue as well as a possible mill levy. The Chair stated there is a growth in this community for support of the schools, a mill levy and for our funding systems. Report on Preliminary Budget Figures Thomas Harper reviewed the handout for those present. The total enrollment is 15,556 in both elementary and high school districts. Enrollments have decreased since the 2005 school year, but funding will allow for a three-year rolling average. With full–day kindergarten, there will be an increase of 530 more students. In the elementary general fund budget forecast for 2007-2008 without full-day kindergarten, the highest budget with a vote is $54,704,383 with the maximum voted amount of $1,391,000. With full-day kindergarten, the highest budget with a vote is $56,873,778 with a maximum voted amount of $1,845,000. In the high school district, the highest budget with a vote is $36,813,634 with a maximum voted amount of $3,048,774 for the 2007-2008 school year. The expenditures for the high school district include the cost of labor negotiations, deferred maintenance and weatherization of $298,000, and $75,000 in the high school activities fund. Trustee Kelker stated she would like to know what the impact has been on activities with the increase of fees and how it affected the individual student for the January 31st meeting. Monthly Legal Report The Chair reported the legal report is as contained within the agenda packet. Trustee Kelker made the following motion with a second by Trustee Guthals: Motion to accept the recommendation of the long-term suspension panel. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Mary Jo Fox, Dale Getz, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Susan Messerly, Sandra Mossman, and Rachel Stagg. The motion passed unanimously. Superintendent’s Report Rich Whitney, Facilities Director, reported about the recent water pipe break at Skyview High School. The floor at Skyview is being removed so dirt can be added to make it structurally sound. A structural engineer has looked at Skyview, as well as the mechanical engineer, to determine if minor repairs are needed. Fisher Construction will work all night and inform Mr. Whitney no later than tomorrow morning of any repairs. The hot water boiler has been red tagged until the foundation is repaired. Trustee Getz commended Rich Whitney and his staff for their work at Skyview. He asked the Board be informed of the cost of repairs and if the District is covered by insurance. Mr. Whitney commended the administrators and custodial staff at Skyview. The cost of repairs will be over $100,000 and the insurance adjuster has been to Skyview to view the damage. The adjuster felt the District was covered. More long-term repairs will be made next summer when school is out but the more immediate needs will take two weeks. Bills Paid – December 2006 Trustee Kelker made the following motion with a second by Trustee Getz: Motion to approve the bills paid as presented. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Mary Jo Fox, Dale Getz, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Susan Messerly, Rachel Stagg, and Sandra Mossman. The motion passed unanimously. Following are the bills paid: Fund Description Fund Total 101 Elementary General Fund $ 303,942.52 110 Elementary Transportation 178,693.19 114 Elementary Retirement 72.75 115 Elementary Misc. Programs 114,341.90 117 Elementary Adult Education 3,175.55 160 Elementary Building 15,511.19 161 Elementary Building Reserve 66,853.16 184 Elementary Student ECA 22,158.69 185 Elementary Misc. Trust 19,578.71 201 H. S. General Fund 299,597.56 210 H. S. Transportation 125,457.36 212 H. S. Food Services 353.72 215 H. S. Misc. Program 23,987.15 217 H. S. Adult Education 90,545.58 218 H. S. Traffic Education 965.80 229 H. S. School Flexibility Fund 475.00 260 H. S. Building 123,921.94 261 H. S. Building Reserve 647.02 278 H. S. Self Insurance Health 1,417,511.49 279 H. S. Self Insurance Liability 500.00 282 H. S. Interlocal Agreement 226,158.60 284 H. S. Extracurricular 114,937.88 285 H. S. Misc. Trust 25,174.99 286 H. S. Payroll 1,424,801.21 Grand Total $4,599,362.96 ACH Tax Deposits 1,554,940.92 Payroll Warrants & Direct Deposits 4,366,114.45 Procurement Card 140,502.98 (Dec. 2006) INTERCAP Loan by 2-15-07 Elementary Bond Payment 70,975.00 TOTAL $10,731,896.31 Financial Reports – December 2006 (Unaudited) The Budgeting for Results Committee has reviewed the financial reports and found them to be satisfactory. The following are the financial reports received: CS101 Account Expenditure by Fund CS102 Account Receipts by Fund CS105 Statement of Estimated and Actual Revenue CS108 Object Cost Analysis Personnel Report Trustee Getz made the following motion with a second by Trustee Kelker: Motion to accept the Superintendent’s employment recommendations as presented in the personnel report. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Mary Jo Fox, Dale Getz, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Susan Messerly, Sandra Mossman, and Rachel Stagg. The motion passed unanimously. Items contained within the Consent Agenda are as follows: Regular Board Meeting, Minutes, December 18, 2006 Special Board Meeting Minutes, January 8, 2007 Budgeting for Results Committee Minutes, December 4, 2006 Planning and Development Committee Minutes, November 13, 2006 Blue Creek Elementary School Agreement Consent Agenda Trustee Getz made the following motion with a second by Trustee Kelker: Motion to approve and accept the items within the Consent Agenda without objection to recommended action. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Mary Jo Fox, Dale Getz, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Susan Messerly, Rachel Stagg, and Sandra Mossman. The motion passed unanimously. Items contained within the Consent Agenda are as follows: Regular Board Meeting, Minutes, December 18, 2006 Special Board Meeting Minutes, January 8, 2007 Budgeting for Results Committee Minutes, December 4, 2006 Planning and Development Committee Minutes, November 13, 2006 Blue Creek Elementary School Agreement As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Malcolm Goodrich, Chair Diane Blevins, Recorder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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