Diane Blevins Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 Proceedings of the Board of Trustees District No. 2, Yellowstone County High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County Billings, Montana September 17, 2007 Call to Order The Regular 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, September 17, 2007, at 5:30 p.m. Those present included: Trustees Joel Guthals, Mary Jo Fox, Peter Gesuale, Dawn Achten, Sandra Mossman, Tim Trafford, Malcolm Goodrich, Katharin Kelker, Kathy Aragon, Superintendent Jack Copps, and District Clerk Leo Hudetz. Registered guests included Jeff Greenfield, Jerry Hansen, Janet Baum, Travis Niemeyer, and Shell Strouf. 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 Guthals made the following motion with a second by Trustee Achten: Motion to approve the agenda. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Peter Gesuale, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Sandra Mossman, and Tim Trafford. The motion passed unanimously. Recognition and Gifts and Donations The Board recognized Travis Niemeyer, a teacher from Eagle Cliffs, as the recipient of the Presidential Award. Trustee Achten made the following motion with a second by Trustee Aragon: Motion to accept the gifts and donations with gratitude. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Peter Gesuale, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Sandra Mossman, and Tim Trafford. The motion passed unanimously. The following are the gifts and donations: Bitterroot – Shiloh United Methodist Women, school supplies Jackie Bailey, school supplies Montana Council/Billings Field Office, school supplies Melissa Gould, school supplies Broadwater – Gretchen Haynie, school supplies McKinley – Shiloh United Methodist Women, school supplies Faith Chapel, playground work, plants, gravel, school supplies Billings Clinic, Patient Accounts, backpacks and school supplies First English Lutheran Church, backpacks and supplies for kindergarten Meadowlark – St. Vincent Healthcare, Marketing Department, field trips for independent living classes and Materials for classroom Cold Stone Creamery, field trips for independent living classes and materials for classroom Orchard – Big Sky Oncology Nursing Society, backpacks and school supplies Edward Goodman, school supplies Paulette Laszlo, school supplies Ron and June Panian, school supplies Costco Wholesale, backpacks and school supplies for every student WalMart, school supplies Trading Card Program – Keith Cook, President, First Interstate Bank, $3,500 General Fund Budget & Forecast Thomas Harper, Financial Officer, reported enrollment is going to remain the same or decline. Budgeting for Results Committee reviewed the budget assumptions for FY2009. The revenues are projected to grow at 1.9% in the elementary district and 2.4% in the high school district. Funds available for major repair and maintenance projects are zero in the high school district and an estimated $916,716 in the elementary district. The proceeds from the sale of Crossroads and the Career Center property will also be available. The range of the projected cost increase of insurance is 5-10% with all other cost increases being at the rate of inflation or higher. Facility costs will need to move back into the general fund after one-time money that is estimated at $1,700,000 for FY2009 is depleted. There is no one-time deferred maintenance and weatherization money in the high school district but there is $916,716 in the elementary district. Projected retirement savings should be $500,000 in the elementary district and $200,000 in the high school district. The Board needs to keep in mind that the bargaining units have a one-year contract. Energy management savings must also be considered for FY2009. The present rate of inflation is approximately 3%. Superintendent’s Report Superintendent Copps introduced Cheryl Malia McCall, principal at Beartooth elementary. Mrs. McCall gave a brief presentation on the reopening of Beartooth. There are 350 K-6 students and 16 section classes were made available during the remodeling. The project took the efforts of many people in the community, facilities personnel, warehouse personnel, and staff. Superintendent Copps reviewed the numbers from the school enrollment report. In the high schools from September 4th, 2006 to September 4th, 2007, the numbers might be down 100 students, which would amount to approximately $500,000 from the state. There has been an increase of approximately 48 students in K-8. Superintendent Copps further reported Pete Carparelli did not renew his contract as Executive Director for the Montana Quality Education Coalition. Mike Nicosia of Columbia Falls has volunteered to step into that position and has taken a leave of absence from the Columbia Falls School District. MQEC has requested the State fulfill its obligation for funding. The Governor has agreed to meet with MQEC to discuss the issues. Three months have been set aside and then it will be determined if the meetings have benefited education. A membership meeting may be called to determine what direction to take and could possibly mean a return to court. Trustee Gesuale asked if there was anything the Board could be doing. Mr. Copps replied, at this point, there is nothing that can be done but that may change in three months. He did not feel the State was making an effort to make up the funding as mandated by the court a few years ago. MTSBA Report Trustee Guthals gave a report on the Montana School Board Association’s meetings that were held last month. The MTSBA board met on August 24th and the delegate assembly was held on August 25th. One topic discussed was how to motivate the delegates in participating and supporting the MTSBA in its advocacies and priorities. MTSBA is the main source of legal services for school districts, insurance services including health insurance, workers’ compensation, and participating in the National School Board Association. Mr. Voss gave a presentation to MTSBA on communicating with the public, not only when they are needed to pass a mill levy, but also keeping them informed on various issues facing the school districts. The Board of Delegates passed two resolutions. The first was that MTSBA would seek additional flexibility in the Board of Education rule that requires all distance-learning providers have a Montana certificate in the content area of the course offered. The second resolution is that MTSBA would continue to work on efforts so students can work on dual credits with higher education and universities. The MCEL will be held in October in Great Falls with three days of meetings. Policy 3250 – Student – Discipline – Bomb Threats and Threats of Hazardous Substances Trustee Kelker reported the Policy Review Committee worked on the preparation of this policy and wanted to be clear on the consequences for the students and families. The policy recommends that the consequences of making a bomb threat are significant and a potential discipline action could be expulsion from school for one year. The Superintendent would also have the ability to look at the various consequences in each instance. Trustee Fox reported the approach of this policy change is that anyone who would put forth a bomb threat, either real or a hoax, would be expelled for one year unless the Superintendent determines there is some mitigating factor. Trustee Kelker made the following motion with a second by Trustee Achten: Motion to approve changes to Policy 3250 Student Discipline – Bomb Threats and Threats of Hazardous Substances on first reading as presented in the agenda packet. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Peter Gesuale, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Sandra Mossman, and Tim Trafford. The motion passed unanimously. Policy 5007 Alcohol and Drug Free Workplace Trustee Kelker reported she worked with Jeff Weldon, District legal council, on this policy as it relates to Policy 5008 and 9315. The language of 9315 matches the Federal Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988. Policy 5007 deals with the work place itself and has to do with the employees as opposed to the work site. The change in the title of Policy 5007was made from facilities to work place. Trustee Kelker made the following motion with a second by Trustee Achten: Motion to approve Policy 5007 Alcohol and Drug Free Workplace on first reading. Trustee Guthals did not like the use of ‘get a buzz’ and requested it be removed. Trustee Kelker made the following amended motion with a second by Trustee Achten: Motion to approve Policy 5007 Alcohol and Drug Free Workplace on first reading with the suggested changes by Trustee Guthals. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Peter Gesuale, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Sandra Mossman, and Tim Trafford. The motion passed unanimously. Policy 5008 Alcohol and Drug Dependency Trustee Kelker made the following motion with a second by Trustee Achten: Motion to approve Policy 5008 Alcohol and Drug Dependency on first reading. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Peter Gesuale, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Sandra Mossman, and Tim Trafford. The motion passed unanimously. Policy 9315 Alcohol and Drug Free Schools, Events, Activities and Facilities Trustee Kelker made the following motion with a second by Trustee Achten: Motion to approve Policy 9315 Alcohol and Drug Free Schools, Events, Activities and Facilities on first reading. Trustee Guthals felt a definition of facilities should be included and suggested that the definition be added as ‘facilities as defined in Policy 5007’. Trustee Guthals also recommended that the word ‘buzz’ be removed. Trustee Kelker made the following amendment with an agreement from the second: Motion to approve Policy 9315 Alcohol and Drug Free Schools, Events, Activities and Facilities on first reading with the changes recommended by Trustee Guthals that parallel changes in 5007. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Peter Gesuale, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Sandra Mossman, and Tim Trafford. The motion passed unanimously. Trustee Fox asked if it also included tobacco. Trustee Kelker stated there is a smoke free work place policy that covers the tobacco issue. The Chair stated the Policy Review Committee might want to consider that during the second reading. Trustee Guthals felt having a single policy to cover all drugs including tobacco would be better than two policies. The Policy 9315 will go back to the Policy Review Committee for second reading. Monthly Legal Report The Chair reported the Columbia Falls issue regarding quality education funding is in a holding pattern for three months. There was nothing new to be reported on the M.T. case or the Opie case. The LeAnne Wickun matter has had some activity as the Superintendent spent the day in mediation. There were no long-term suspensions. Trustee’s Financial Summary – FY2006-2007 Trustee Kelker made the following motion with a second by Trustee Fox: Motion to approve the submission of the Elementary Trustees’ Financial Summary Report Fy2006-2007 to the Office of Public Instruction. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Peter Gesuale, Malcolm Goodrich, Katharin Kelker, and Sandra Mossman. The motion passed unanimously. Trustees Guthals and Trafford are ineligible to vote on elementary issues. Trustee Kelker made the following motion with a second by Trustee Guthals: Motion to approve the submission of the High School Trustees’ Financial Summary Report Fy2006-2007 to the Office of Public Instruction. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Peter Gesuale, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Sandra Mossman, and Tim Trafford. The motion passed unanimously. Bills Paid – August 2007 Trustee Kelker made the following motion with a second by Trustee Achten: Motion to approve the bills paid for August 2007. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Peter Gesuale, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Sandra Mossman, and Tim Trafford. The motion passed unanimously. The bills paid are as follows: Claims $3,418,973.89 ACH Tax Deposits 331,481.68 Payroll Warrants & Direct Deposits 1,041,662.17 Procurement Card 266,463.81 (August) INTERCAP Loan 41,257.15 (Network Infrastructure) Elem. Bond Payment TOTAL $5,099,838.70 Financial Reports – July & August 2007 (Unaudited) The following financial reports were received for review: CS101 Account Expenditure by Fund CS102 Account Receipts by Fund CS105 Statement of Estimated and Actual Revenue CS108 Object Cost Analysis Personnel Report Trustee Kelker made the following motion with a second by Trustee Achten: Motion to accept the Superintendent’s employment recommendations as presented in the personnel report. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Peter Gesuale, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Sandra Mossman, and Tim Trafford. The motion passed unanimously. Consent Agenda Trustee Kelker made the following motion with a second by Trustee Achten: Motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Those voting in favor were Dawn Achten, Kathy Aragon, Mary Jo Fox, Peter Gesuale, Malcolm Goodrich, Joel Guthals, Katharin Kelker, Sandra Mossman, and Tim Trafford. The motion passed unanimously. Items approved in the Consent Agenda are as follows: Regular Board Meeting Minutes, August 20, 2007 Special Board Meeting Minutes, August 14, 2007 Audit Committee Minutes, November 27, 2006 Audit Committee Minutes, December 4, 2006 Budgeting for Results Committee Minutes, August 6, 2007 Planning & Development Committee Minutes, April 9, 2907 Policy Review Committee Minutes, August 9, 2007 Request to Cancel Outstanding Payroll Warrants Addition of Student Council Extracurricular Account at Bitterroot Committee Appointments The Chair reminded the members of the reception for the Arts in Education on Tuesday evening, September 18th. The school visits calendar will be compiled and given to the members in the near future. As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m. Malcolm Goodrich, Chair Diane Blevins, Recorder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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