Agenda Setting Minutes - July 3, 2007

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Proceedings of the Board of Trustees

District No. 2, Yellowstone County

High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

Billings, Montana

 

July 3, 2007

 

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 on Tuesday, July 3, 2007.

 

The meeting was called to order at 12:05 p.m. Chair Malcolm Goodrich presided.

 

Roll Call

 

Those attending were: Trustees Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Mary Jo Fox, Kathy Kelker, Tim Trafford; Superintendent Jack Copps, Clerk Leo Hudetz, Kathy Olson. Thomas Harper attended briefly.

 

The Chair passed out a draft of the agenda for the regular meeting on July 16. Vice-Chair Kelker will be conducting the meeting because the Chair will be out of town on the 16th.

 

The Board needs to approve the intent to exercise the option to purchase the Cottonwood Park property and declare the intent to call for an election. The option needs to be exercised by October. The election will be a paper ballot held with the city election. Trustee Kelker stated that there needs to be context with the agenda item. The source of funding is the Building Fund. This will not commit the Board to building a school on this site.

 

There also needs to be approval of the property sale agreement with MSU-B College of Technology. This is an odd-shaped parcel of land adjacent to the Career Center property which was landlocked. It is Jack Copps’ understanding that Faith Chapel has created an easement so it is no longer landlocked. He will check to be sure this is a recorded easement. Trustee Kelker stated that this agreement is important to the long-term plan and the growing relationship between the COT and the Career Center. Past objections were related to the possibility of turning the Career Center into a four-year high school. For this item there needs to be history, diagrams of the parcel and the partnership agreements. The University has an appraisal of the property. Trustee Trafford suggested that we should know what the intent is for the property. John Cech could be asked to attend the meeting and explain their intentions.

 

Trustee Guthals stated that the energy information for the CREBS alternative energy bonds needs to come before the Board on the 9th in order to have approval by the 13th. Regarding the energy management program, there is a meeting scheduled on Thursday with an interested vendor. We are waiting on a legal opinion from Jeff Weldon regarding the need to ask for bids again. Superintendent Copps stated that there are two issues: 1) whether or not a bid needs to be let; 2) whether bidding procedures were followed.

 

The Chair brought up budget discussion. The Board will need to start looking at themes for the 2008-09 school year. Superintendent Copps mentioned that Thomas Harper has information on the second year and will present that on the 9th. Budget discussion may be added as an item on the 16th to update the public. Information can now be provided on exactly where the mill levy dollars are being budgeted.

 

Trustee Kelker stated that if an elementary building reserve mill levy is passed, that could eliminate some shortfall in the elementary budget. Trustee Goodrich brought up the issue of having an elementary school built for us and leasing it back. This may not allow state reimbursement, however. He would like to start thinking about different options now.

 

There will need to be some second readings on policies. The committee chair positions will be approved in August.

 

Clerk Hudetz brought up that there needs to be clarification on the proposed administrative support salaries as the motion at the June meeting was confusing. Trustee Guthals clarified that his intent was to approve the recommended salary proposal as presented in the Board packet. He will clarify this when the minutes are approved at the July 18 meeting.

 

Trustee Fox would like to establish a policy similar to the gun policy which is specific to acts of terror such as bomb threats, which specifies a minimum of a one-year suspension, depending upon circumstances. She would like this to be approved before school starts in the fall to send a clear message to parents. The policy committee will meet at noon on July 13 to consider this. The Clerk will do research of existing policy language in other districts. The policy committee needs to consider a 1700 appeal hearing as well. They will discuss the proposed drug and alcohol policy also.

 

The Chair will check with Jeff Weldon to make sure all documents regarding Grand Avenue have been approved by the Board.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:50 p.m.

 

 

 

_________________________________

Malcolm Goodrich, Chair

 

 

 

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Nancy Coe, Recorder