Diane Blevins Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 Proceedings of the Board of Trustees District No. 2, Yellowstone County High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County Billings, Montana April 16, 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, April 16, 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, Susan Messerly, Kathy Aragon, Joel Guthals, Dawn Achten, Dale Getz, Katharin Kelker, Sandra Mossman, Mary Jo Fox, Superintendent Jack Copps, and District Clerk Leo Hudetz. Registered guests were Jerry Hansen, Shanna Henry, Kim Anthony, Janet Baum and Lana Lynch. 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. Jerry Hansen addressed the Board to say he took exception to the trustee election by acclamation. The reason for the election is the mill levies and trustees must be elected on that date. The only way trustees can be elected by acclamation is when an election is not held. 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, Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Dale Getz, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Susan Messerly, and Sandra Mossman. The motion passed unanimously. Gifts and Donations Trustee Guthals made the following motion with a second by Trustee Getz: Motion to accept the gifts and donations as presented with gratitude. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Dale Getz, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Susan Messerly, and Sandra Mossman. The motion passed unanimously. The following were the gifts and donations: Alkali Creek – Tryan’s Auction Center, newspapers Dr. Rob Bergeson, newspapers Michael Sample, newspapers Hendrickson, Everson, Noennig and Woodward, newspapers High Tech Construction, newspapers Pharmacy One, newspapers Laser 1040, newspapers Crystal Murdock and Julie Schauber, donation through Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign Yellowstone Soccer Association, soccer balls Arrowhead – PTA, $17,365.08 towards computer lab Burlington – Sharon Gardner, notebooks and magazines Castle Rock – Arby’s sandwich for each honor roll student Ace Hardware, three gift certificates Albertson’s, candy bar for each honor roll student Baskin Robbins, cone for each honor roll student Big Lots, 20 percent discount off one purchase Blues BarBQ, four gift cards Budget Instant Prints, printing Circle Inn, ten gift certificate Cluckers, 10 percent off dinner Coca-Cola, five cases of pop each quarter Coral Connection, gift certificate Domino’s, gift certificates DV’s Bikes, two bike tune-ups Eileen’s Cookies/Café Dessert, cookie for each honor roll student Godfather’s Pizza, 40 pizza coupons Height’s Pet Center, 10 percent discount Just Nails, gift certificate Kentucky Fried Chicken, gift card Lee Han’s Nails, gift certificate MacKenzie River Pizza, three gift certificates Pepsi-Cola, five cases of pop each quarter Pizza Hut, pizza or breadsticks for each honor roll student Beads & Beyond, gift certificate Height’s Little League, Powerade, snacks Sodexho, 100 discount coupons Off Main Deli, six gift certificates Taco Bell, 20 gift cards Subway, free sub/blue card Papa Murphy’s Pizza, discount on family pizzas, 30 gift cards Paper Trails Scrap & Stamp, 10 percent off purchase Red’s Popcorn, Candy & Snack Bar, pizza/blue card, popcorn/silver card, soda/white card Fuddrucker’s, six gift certificates Soup and Such, two gift cards Bob Ott, encyclopedias Daniel Bosch, used refrigerator Mill Levy Update Thomas Harper reported the only thing to report was that none of the dollars from the mill levy would go for general fund costs. Superintendent Copps stated the board has authorized the mill levy to be for the maximum allowed by law. There is a potential for the mill levy to increase due to the campaign that is going on but the amount of dollars that was previously authorized would be the amounts regardless of what is going on in Helena. The numbers would not change. The Chair felt the item should be placed on the agenda for the next meeting to clarify that amount. Legislative Update Trustee Guthals briefed the Board on what had been happening in the last few weeks. Trustees Mossman and Guthals represented the Board before the legislature on the Day of Advocacy. They participated in a dialogue with the leaders and gave them the message that the Billings School Board was concerned that the level of funding that was submitted to the legislators for the support of K-12 education is inadequate as it applies to School District #2 and asked them to do better. Trustee Guthals reported they would be a resource to them as to how the legislation impacts the school district and have been providing information to the Board members. HB417 and HB809 have been amended and changed but they have basically the same features. These bills do not change the method of funding of K-12 education. Last week HB417 was amended by the Senate and as a result the elementary district would receive $55,457,543 and the high school district would receive $33,307,747. It is an increase of 6.75% for the elementary and 4.22% for the high school district. The problem is that included kindergarten for the elementary district. There is a $10,000,000 proposal for new facilities statewide, which could provide approximately $1,100,000 for start-up funds for Billings Public Schools, which could be used to reopen Beartooth School for kindergarten purposes. The problem is that these amounts are inadequate for the elementary district to provide for existing programs and the kindergarten program and for the high schools to provide for their programs. The elementary district needs $55,900,000 and the high school district requests an increase of 5.7% or $34,800,000. In 2009, the proposed increase is 2.05% for the elementary and 1.75% in the high school district. Trustee Mossman reported HB417 went through the Senate and has gone back to the House without any changes. She urged the Board members to contact the legislators in the next two weeks and inform them that the entire Board is concerned. Trustee Fox noted that there is a 31% increase proposed for corrections and 2% increase for the elementary school district. Superintendent Copps reported the State is mandated to fund education at 80% and it does not do that at the present time. He was certain that the districts would return to court. Trustee Mossman also discussed the Billings Public Schools’ proposed legislation to allow an alternative mill levy election date. SB225, carried by Senator Lynda Moss, to accomplish this was passed and signed by the Governor. Budget Update FY2007-08 Thomas Harper reported there were no changes from the last meeting. The proposed 2007/08 budget is a balanced budget. The Chair stated the Board cannot look at the fine details of the budget until the legislature ends their session and after the mill levy elections. Elementary Single Member District – Zone 3 – Trustee Election by Acclamation; Elementary Single Member District – Zone 4 by Acclamation; Elementary Single Member District – Zone 7 by Acclamation The Chair asked if trustees had been elected by acclamation in the past. District Clerk Hudetz stated the Board had elected trustees by acclamation. Lockwood and Zone 5 have no candidates declaring they would run for the Board and would remain open until filled, possibly by appointment if there are no write-in candidates. Trustee Getz asked why these resolutions were only for the elementary as these zones represent both the elementary and high school districts. Mr. Copps stated the elementary district trustees were recognized as both elementary and high school trustees when the districts were split years ago. Mr. Hudetz will check with the election office if those zones can be declared both elementary and high school for the sake of voting by high school trustees. The Chair reported the Board has three options: wait until after the election and then declare by acclamation, declare acclamations tonight; or, table the item for a few days. Trustee Getz made the following motion with a second by Trustee Fox: Motion to table the acclamations this evening and therefore not step into it right now. Trustee Guthals stated he would feel more comfortable if the motion included getting a legal opinion. Trustee Getz amended the motion as follows with agreement from Trustee Fox: Motion to table the acclamations this evening, seek a legal opinion and to be done by Friday, April 20th. The Chair stated it would save time and money by having those opinions now then spending tax dollars on attorney fees later if it were to be challenged. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Dale Getz, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Susan Messerly, and Sandra Mossman. Katharin Kelker opposed the motion. The motion passed. Superintendent’s Report Superintendent Copps reported on the Yes for Kids campaign. There are community members who have stepped forward to help pass the mill levies. The campaign includes yard signs, window signs, and numerous fact sheets. There will be 38,000 mailers going out as well as radio and television ads. None of the taxes from 420 recently built homes will go into School District #2. That is to say school districts do not get increased revenue because the total taxable value of real estate increases unless a mill levy passes. If a mill levy does not pass, the taxes from new homes goes into a large fund and property taxes are decreased. The committee for Yes for Kids has raised $110,000 for the elections this year. The members of the committee have joined forces to make sure the District does what is right for the next generation of students. There is an estimation of 60% of the voters will be voting absentee ballots. Monthly Legal Report The Chair reported there were no changes on the Columbia Falls case, the M.T. case, the Opie case or the LeAnne Wickun issue. Trustee Kelker made the following motion with a second by Trustee Guthals: Motion to affirm the long-term suspensions. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Dale Getz, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Susan Messerly, and Sandra Mossman. The motion passed unanimously. Bills Paid – March 2007 Trustee Getz made the following motion with a second by Trustee Kelker: Motion to approve the bills paid. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Dale Getz, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Susan Messerly, and Sandra Mossman. The motion passed unanimously. The following are the bills paid: Fund Description Fund Total 101 Elementary General Fund $ 292,025.55 110 Elementary Transportation 200,937.70 115 Elementary Misc. Programs 122,304.11 117 Elementary Adult Education 2,314.05 128 Elementary Technology 18,795.65 160 Elementary Building 28,710.53 161 Elementary Building Reserve 36,059.81 184 Elementary Student ECA 27,768.69 185 Elementary Misc. Trust 5,646.06 201 H. S. General Fund 279,286.92 210 H. S. Transportation 143,402.62 212 H. S. Food Services 840,197.31 215 H. S. Misc. Program 48,482.75 217 H. S. Adult Education 15,461.94 218 H. S. Traffic Education 2,154.84 228 H. S. Technology 16,215.93 229 H. S. School Flexibility Fund 427.50 260 H. S. Building 27,066.35 278 H. S. Self Insurance Health 1,292,504.11 279 H. S. Self Insurance -- Liability 2,543.41 282 H. S. Interlocal Agreement 58,469.87 284 H. S. Extracurricular 167,037.16 285 H. S. Misc. Trust 8,800.05 286 H. S. Payroll 1,432,615.24 Grand Total $ 5,069,228.15 ACH Tax Deposits 1,528,031.68 Payroll Warrants & Direct Deposits 4,252,988.72 Procurement Card 310,377.86 (Mar. 2007) INTERCAP Loan by 2-15-07 Network Infrastructure Elementary Bond Payment TOTAL $11,160,626.41 Financial Reports – March 2007 (Unaudited) 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. Trustee Guthals asked if there was anything unusual in the personnel report or was everything routine. Superintendent Copps reported everything was routine. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Dale Getz, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Susan Messerly, and Sandra Mossman. The motion passed unanimously. 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, Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Dale Getz, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Susan Messerly, and Sandra Mossman. The motion passed unanimously. Items contained within the Consent Agenda are as follows: Regular Board Meeting Minutes, March 19, 2007 Special Board Meeting Minutes, March 16, 2007 Special Board Meeting Minutes, March 22, 2007 Budgeting for Results Committee Minutes, March 5, 2007 Planning & Development Committee Minutes, February 12, 2007 Approve Membership on Committees Addition of Bench Library Funds Extracurricular Account at Bench Addition of Chemistry/Physics Extracurricular Account at West High Lease of Property to Young Families, Inc. As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. Malcolm Goodrich, Chair Diane Blevins, Recorder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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