Minutes of Agenda Setting Meeting of March 4, 2008

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Proceedings of the Board of Trustees

District No. 2, Yellowstone County

High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

Billings, Montana

March 4, 2008

 

 

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, March 4, 2008.

 

The meeting was called to order at 12:00 p.m. Vice-Chair Katharin Kelker led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Roll Call

 

Those attending were: Trustees Katharin Kelker, Mary Jo Fox, Joel Guthals; Superintendent Jack Copps, Clerk Leo Hudetz, Scott Anderson, Dan Martin, Nancy Hines and Thomas Harper. Trustee Mossman was excused.

 

Vice-Chair Kelker presided over the meeting. She noted that the first order of business was the regular Board agenda for the meeting on the 17th of March. The energy management contract should be ready for the Board’s review and approval. She asked if there is anything ready yet on wind energy. Thomas Harper said there may be a consulting contract for the feasibility study. Jeff Weldon is working on that. Trustee Fox asked about the public comment hearing on wind energy. Thomas Harper stated that the IRS has approved the three sites but the first item is the feasibility study. We need a contract with an engineering firm then arrange a tour of wind farms, in particular the one at Martinsdale. The IRS has to approve the sites because the bonds are tax exempt. Trustee Kelker feels the best date for a public hearing is in May.

 

Trustee Kelker stated that the Chair would like to have another forecast of the district’s financial status. The amount needs to be set for a mill levy and the date will need to be determined.

 

Thomas Harper has been asked to given some information on Tax Increment Districts and how they affect the School District.

 

The Superintendent’s contract should be coming forward for Board approval.

 

Trustee Guthals would like to expedite CREBS (wind energy) for it to be online and using electricity before the end of the year. He would like to see this agenda item moved to April. The feasibility contract will need to be approved first.

 

Superintendent Copps stated that the legal contract with the Felt Martin Law Firm needs to be approved. This will be discussed with Jeff Weldon.

 

Trustee Guthals requested that the Superintendent’s report contain information on student achievement levels. Scott Anderson stated that the information available at this time is old and the current information won’t be available until summer.

 

The audit report will not be ready for the Board’s acceptance but it can be on the agenda for discussion and public review.

 

The BFR Committee will meet on the 10th of March and will have discussion with the bonding people (D. A. Davidson).

 

The School Community Committee will meet on the 24th and will be asked if they would like an opportunity to go out into the schools and community to meet with people. They also could arrange to go to open houses and socials in the fall.

 

Trustee Kelker said the Planning and Development Committee could have a conversation about research on elementary schools and “good size” for such. Trustee Guthals had presented a definition of “neighborhood schools” and the number of students which would be appropriate. Trustee Fox asked about the possibility of having a discussion of a combination middle school and elementary school (K-8). Mr. Copps stated that there is a trend to go back to the K-8 model and there are advantages for staffing in such a setting. Scott Anderson said there are positives and negatives. The Superintendent will have information prepared for the group to discuss.

 

Trustee Guthals stated that in his last school visit, students asked about a meeting with the Board and the student councils at the schools. Scott Anderson will talk to the principals to work this out. Trustee Kelker is concerned that some trustee visits are not being made and will mention that to the Board. She feels it is important to be seen by employees in the school setting.

 

There will be a study session of the Board on March 31 and part of the discussion will be boundaries and how they could be adjusted as well as looking at current configurations in terms of bonding and how many projects can be done at one time. The meeting will last about two hours.

 

Dan Martin asked about what information the Board would want presented. He stated that they have worked on three issues: boundaries as they currently are, boundaries including Cottonwood, and boundaries using Joel’s definition. The definition uses 450 to 500 students which is based mostly on operating costs. Kathy Kelker said they could spend half the time talking about high schools. Mr. Copps stated there are a series of steps to make a decision of renovation or reconstruction. How big do you make your high school? What makes educational sense as far as children are concerned?

 

Trustee Guthals feels that by having the discussion it shows the public that we are interested in using the public funds wisely and efficiently and trying to come up with a long-term plan to do that. Trustee Kelker said we are responsible for keeping people on track to make policy decisions instead of specific school discussion, and we will talk about the concepts of financial and educational merits and the high schools as well.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:55 p.m.

 

 

 

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Katharin Kelker, Vice-Chair

 

 

 

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Nancy Coe, Recorder