001The pledge. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> People can see. So, first we'll do public comment. Is there any public comment for non-aggenda items? Hearing none, we will move on. We don't have any presentations. We'll move on to correspondence. We had several donations. Um, I'll just move through them unless we have any comments or questions from the board or the public. Amy and Sean Melany, Yellowstone Bank, Kohl's Pantry, I don't know how to say that. Sound Min Law Firm, Town Pump Charitable Foundation, Steve and Shelley Dansma, and then there were um donations to each of the schools, um Little Locos Food Pantry Donation, and then Yellowstone Pathology Institute.
002We appreciate all of the donations to all of our schools. >> Next is the consent agenda. Do I have a motion? >> Can I make a comment? >> Mhm. And correct me if I'm wrong, but when I read the agenda, an attachment to yesterday, the November 24th minutes actually had the 10th connected to it also. >> Did anybody else have that issue? >> They're right now, but they weren't yesterday. >> No, they are. I'm showing Phil. >> I'd be able to answer your question. I did not read this yesterday. Oh, and when I opened it just now I'm on I'm actually on the website. I went to >> and I'm on our agenda. So, it still has the 10th connected on the website. >> Pull those off. Yeah. >> So, we have a motion >>
003to remove the November 24th >> number two on the November 24th because they're reading November 10th. Is there any other comments? Is there a motion? I make a motion to approve the consent agenda removing approval of minutes number two of the November 24th due to the incorrect attachment. >> I'll second. Is there any other discussion or comment? Is there any public comment there on the hiring of Melissa Dwight? She relocated to Laurel, Kansas. >> Mute, I would think, in her car because she's so correct. It says she relocated to Laurel, Kansas. >> The recommendation's a little confusing. Oh, is Peggy here? No, >> she's not here right now, >> but >> okay. I mean, it wouldn't change. >> The recommendation says the interview committee formally recommends Melissa. She >> Montana living in >> Yeah, that's
004that's our information, but the actual recommendation does that. So it just missed the word for I think for from Okay. Any other comments, questions from the public? Hearing none, we will vote. There's a motion by Britney and a second by Donnie to approve the consent agenda removing item A2, the November 24th, 2025 regular meeting minutes. All in favor say I. >> I. Any oppose say nay. Next we have policy revisions. Second reading. Do I have a motion? I'll move to approve the second reading of policies 5213, 5222, and 5226. I'll second that. I have a motion by Donnie and a second by Britney to approve the policies stated. Is there any discussion from the board? Any public comment? Hearing none, we'll vote. We have a motion to approve the policies listed under action items section
005A. A motion by Donnie, a second by Britney. All in fi favor say I. >> I. Any oppose? Say n. Motion carries. Okay. B. Laurel student attending Roberts for this is for the LA for last school year. >> Julie, do you want to give us some info on that? >> Well, actually there's two more, but the problem is that they're supposed to fill it out of the F um 14 and send it to the schools and they never um got them to us. last year and then all of a sudden I get this bill from them, you know, and I'm like, "No, we were never told that there were students attending there." So, I actually wrote them a letter that got Belry and Roberts both and Belfry was on the last agenda and so I
006called them and then the Roberts clerk told me she only had the one FB14. So, so if you notice in the bills, we are paying Robins cuz we have to pay him by December 3rd and 1st, at least the first half of tuition. So, they are getting paid if we want. But I, you know, we got to have documentation if those kids even do they not have a deadline to file. They were supposed to yeah by June 30th file all the paperwork but I just don't think those clerks understood the rules and it's all new you know so that's why you know I called them and and uh sent me an old so did get me theirs you know their verification and we did approve those last meeting but Roberts only had one out of
007the three students. Okay. I'm just trying >> obligated to pay it if they didn't notify us. >> I think we're still kind of not obligated in a way, you know. >> Do we know that for a fact? >> Well, they were Yeah, cuz they they were supposed to have it in the Mayfair system by June 30th. And um >> June 30th of that >> Yeah. 2025. Yeah. And but they must have if they were able to build me. I went and looked at the Mayfair system and I never did see those until after the fact. So I don't I it's just you know I tried to do my due diligence the best I could on them and they didn't send me the one from Roberts. She said that was the only one she had >>
008that who had that the the clerk there had possession of. She said they had somebody else doing the tuition. Then they must have not followed through correctly. So >> So we should have had three, but we only have one. >> So we're paying for three or we're only paying for the one. >> Paying for the one. >> I would like to know if we have a deadline. What's our obligation to the deadline? >> I know we can pay half in December and half in June. Well, this is 2024 and 2025. >> Yeah. And it is it's half half of 2425 are due in December 31st and the other half is due to 30 of 2026. They're in the year. >> So you're paying in a rear >> in the rear. Yeah. >> Within that year.
009>> That way you were able to budget for the >> Well, exactly. >> Is what the deal was. So I didn't budget for them because they weren't, you know. So yeah, that's kind of And so hopefully they understand the rules now a little better, you know. I just, you know, it's really hard. It's a first year for the school tuition thing, you know, and the rules are they have to send those FP14s and then we have to acknowledge that those kids are going to school there, you know, and that's what I bring to the board. And then um they have to get it into the Mayfair system then by June 30th and then you can go in and then you could set your budget for those kids that went out of history because we're paying
010for those >> I have two questions. Did we get their invoice by July 15th? >> I believe we did. I have to look. Do we have funds available in our tuition fund to cover this? >> It's iffy because of the fact that along with our tuition fund, we've got some um special um uh special needs aids. And so if it gets towards the end of the year and I don't have enough, I have to move some of that payable out of there and probably put it in the general fund. um to pay for it just because if there's a shortage for paying for these. >> Okay. So, by June 30th, they have to have at least done their R their RP14 or FP14, but then Donniey's asking if we've received their invoice by July 15th,
011but we're not getting this until December 8th. >> So, how would we if we if we got an invoice? Oh, I did get an invoice soon in July. Yeah. And that's when I wrote them letters and I said, "Hey, >> you know, I don't know anything about these kids." You know, I didn't get any forms on them. You know, >> do they have forms done now? >> Yeah. Before sent me theirs last month and you guys approved them and then the only one I got from Roberts was one out of the three kids that supposedly went to school in. So, in the next year, we'll probably get all three of them. >> Yeah. They're still going to school there. >> Yeah. It's um it's a mess is if the clerks don't understand their duties, you
012know, fall in that school for not doing these. So that's why, you know, I'll pay the one the want because I do have the M14 pay for the other people till I get verification that they went to school. Um, I don't really think OPI is going to hold a hard line on this stuff this year. >> I don't think so. when when they do their trainings, all they say is play nice with each other. >> So that makes >> Since they're worth three and we got the FP14 on one, I guess I we paid Belffrey already who was really in the same situation. >> Like I didn't know that though. We didn't know that information when we had it last week. >> Five on the last one too. your 42 on those ones with balry
013if I had >> highlighted. >> So these other two that are in Roberts, we could get build for them at any point or is there a point at which they can't bill us for those? >> I don't know. I I think that's I understand that we need to play nice with each other. That's fine. But if we're going to govern each other that way, then we have to learn by fire sometimes. I'm sorry. >> And especially when we have to set budgets that are >> Yeah. >> so dependent on those numbers. There isn't leeway in those funds to >> take on I mean, what if it was 10 kids? >> I mean, >> all different. >> I'm willing to play nice on this one, but I would like to know the information. there is a
014hard deadline that they don't get their FR their FP14s in >> and all of that and we don't just get an invoice. >> Yeah, we get the invoices. >> I would like to know that. >> What >> is it worth putting in our minutes that moving forward we're going to follow the letter of the law on these tuition payments >> and we covered? >> Well, all the deadlines are there. It's just that >> well deadlines to me are deadlines. If I didn't fail if I failed a deadline in a real estate transaction, >> I agree. >> I have a client that's paying or I'm paying. >> So, they're not just there for >> I'm with you. I I feel the same way. >> And this isn't like they screwed up like I mean this is
015months later. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So I just wanted to add a few things on the the process for the foster students. So >> this was oh just a regular >> just regular students. So >> these weren't foster. >> Okay. So even if it's not foster, there is a process through OPI where the first the first thing is they'd like you to contact them and try to negotiate with both districts to come to like a consensus. But the district of attendance is typically favored under the FB14. But they do have where you can have a mediator from OBI come in and you can let them know like what you didn't know in time and all of those things for the tuition fund. But the problem is is even if they get to it enter it
016into the Mayfairs before July 15th, even if it's like if you didn't find out in time, but they still entered it in and they the the form is kind of just like a form. Um as long as it's in the system, but you can still ask for a mediator to come in and speak with the superintendent and like your clerk. Well, I may have to do that for >> to help negotiate between the two if they're having a problem with >> especially if it's tuition is done prior to your knowledge of them, >> right? >> Yeah. >> So, I guess we could not approve payment of it and we could request that Julie request a mediator mediation through OPI. I mean, I don't know that it's going to change the outcome, but I think it
017makes >> I think it makes some of these schools though more aware of this is a problem. I mean, I don't I mean, I don't know how they don't know that's a problem cuz if they get bills now, that's a problem for >> I send them a letter and explain that to them that, you know, we have to know so we can put it in our budget and, you know, >> do we need the mediator or do they we can just not pay >> and then they need the mediator to get us to pay. Mhm. >> I would think so. >> So, we could choose not to pay. >> Any other comments or discussion? >> How much money are we talking? Well, the robber >> how much it was still tuition. tuition just says tuition
018to other school bell >> Roberts was yeah,21 that's the full payment that's not have I I'm paying all full right now so I know where I'm at for the one student that's just for the one student >> can we go back now that we've approved the bill. >> Fine. I would like to know more information. I want to know hard dates. I want them to be on notice that we've approved this. We're willing to pay it. But >> yeah, >> it's not it's not >> I guess if we have any more of these moving forward that they that we make sure that Well, who knows when they could show up. Yeah, >> I mean, but that we have notice of them and that like to Donny's point that they need to be before the consent
019agenda. >> I mean, probably all of these need I mean, if we're approving the payment of them before we're approving the out of district, then we've already paid it anyway, so it doesn't really matter if we approve it. So, we need to make sure that any of these attendance things need to come before the consent agenda. and they both generally would this month got caught up with one board meeting and um having it be due by December 21st. That's where that and it's just the Roberts one. and bell curriculum was included at the last meeting, >> but again, we didn't know that that was what it was for. >> Yeah, that I mean, I don't we talked about it. I talked about it with Matt this last week, but the one previous to that, he
020had mentioned it. So, I guess we need to make sure that those school year dates like this one are on there and that we note those um to the attention of the board chair. so that we can have this discussion moving forward. >> Make a motion to approve Laurel student attending Robert's back date of 2024 2025 grade 1. I second. Any other discussion or questions? Any public comment? Hearing none, we have a motion by Britney and a second by Kelly to approve the Laurel student attending Roberts for the 2425 school year. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Say nay. >> Moving on to C. Laurel student attending Canyon Creek. >> We don't have a problem with this one, right? >> No. Those forms are pretty sure and they're good. I make
021a motion to approve the Laurel students attending Canyon Creek for grade 7 for 2025 2026 year. >> Second. Is there any discussion or comments from the board? Any discussion from the public? Hearing none, we will go ahead and vote. We have a motion by Britney, a second by Kelly to approve the Laurel student attending Canyon Creek. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose say nay. >> Moving on to D. Recommendation to conduct elections. Um we have elementary and high school. We can either vote on them together or separate. Um do I have a motion or do we want discussion first? >> I'd like quick discussion just for a Okay. So, this is where we we're kind of deciding two things. One to have the election and then the other portion of it
022is if we're going to do mail or um inperson polling. And if we're doing in person, what location are we going to use? So, we asked for the board of trustees authorized the district clerk. So, we changed Julie's name either. So, I see that um we can put all three on there, but we don't have to always go for all three, but we have to of course call for it if we want to. I'm I don't know. I'd like to hear what other people have to say, but I'm still for doing it in person and doing it at our high school, especially if we're going to go for a bond. I can physically walk through that high school. >> Well, Julie, um, we can have >> It's really hot. Just kidding. >> It's Julie attached.
023There's a there's a law related to bond elections. >> So that's that um first attachment I believe. >> Yeah. So Julie, do you want to speak to that a little bit? >> Sure. You know what? If you run a mail ballot for the bond election, then you're subject to different um voter statistics. And um looking at the that's why I attached bond stuff for the last time just so you can kind of get an idea. We it would have passed the last election with the mail ballot. Um you know you have to have >> So you're saying we did the mail ballot? >> Yeah. >> And even if we would have selected in person we still would have passed. No, because we don't know what in person would have been with mail. You have to
024have a certain percentage return. I never did get the numbers on >> I never did get the numbers from the county um elections person as far as how many are in in our district and how many you know the cuz he wanted some numbers and I asked twice. Got him. So I emailed him twice. So anyway, that's why I just you following problem with Polish is you've got, you know, you're subject to certain percentages. If you get 40% more, the school bomb proposition is approved and adopted if a majority of the votes were cast in favor of the proposition. So that would include both your male community votes came back and your chances are probably good. Um the only thing with the uh pole election you have to remember it's going to cost more. You're
025going to be paying three election officers and um it's just and it's yeah it's going to be a lot more. We go all we I tried to go back when the last time they did poll election for school and I could find I went back to 2013 and it was all by mail. So it's been a long time since they've done a poll election. >> I'm not budgeted for a poll election. I'll tell you that right now. Well, and if we don't meet the percentage, then it's basically I mean it's like not passed. Whereas if you do a meal, it doesn't matter. It's just by a majority. That means everybody has to come to the high school to vote. There's not absentee ballots to If you're signed up to be absentee, you'd still get absentee.
026But >> if you're not signed up, you would have to be come vote in person or go down. And >> what's my thought was people just won't come. Then there just going to be more people not voting. >> Well, but at the same time with mail ballots, they get it, they forget, they put it underneath the desk, and then they never turn them in. So, what was that percentage? >> Do we know the percentage? Because the elementary school bond for 2023, we had 1,868 votes yes, 1552 votes no. The voting of yes was 54.58% and the voting no was 45.42. That was for the elementary. >> And that be 40% or more. >> So >> it would have passed. >> But that was male. But so are we going to get that number of voters
027to either are they and that's why it would have been helpful to know what your absentee numbers are. >> I know >> because then you would know how many of those are going out mail regardless. >> Yeah. >> But we don't have that information. >> It's a risk. What do we know of those at the last election that number of ballots that we had cast what percent of voters that was? >> Yeah, that's what you just read. >> No, that was >> that was a percent yes and no. >> That was what voted. So it was on there. I don't >> Was it? >> I thought there was 7500. >> It was 45.38% voted. >> Mhm. Yeah. >> So, total of >> we got that many to come in then it would majority >> in
028the district. >> Well, I'm thinking about myself like, oh man, I forgot to mail it and so if I mail it today, the day it's due, it's not going to get there in time. I have to drive into it. Oh, but I can show up at this place and vote. That's easy, right? So, maybe that is a good idea. And you can always go vote. Even if you got an absentee ballot and you forgot, you can always go vote. It's just provisional till they cure them. So >> how much money are we talking like >> 10,000 whole vote? So I don't know, >> you know, like if it's >> you got three three election judges you're paying, >> which is not very much. Yeah. >> And if we run a poll election, do we have
029to count them or can we take them to the county for their machine? >> Ask a question. We pay for that. >> I'm thinking we're going to have to count them because time or >> see that was the other thing. The county sent a >> a thing out the other day contract to do the mail ballot because we approved last year in the county to run our elections. Mhm. >> And in May last year now they sent out a contract for mailers but and I'm holding on to it until I can figure out what we're doing in line and that's another thing I try to have to by the well I got to have that you know I have need to have these two by the 10. >> If there's a contract with them does
030that mean we can't change our mind at this >> Well we haven't signed it. I didn't sign a contract yet. >> No, you didn't sign the mail ballot, but there's a contract with the county just because we requested >> them run the election, but we didn't say we wanted in person or >> contract. Gotcha. We just asked them to run our election. >> Yeah. See, and it says on the contract, election conducted by mail ballot. That's the one they want us to sign. But the school shall reverse the county for action cost of all elections conducted the school including but not linked to to the cost of the cost of election judge wages and mileage premium ballots and absentee mail ballot envelopes programming voting machines. Any necessary publications regarding notification use of voting machines posted
031for absentee mail ballots. Supplies purchased for use in school elections. Any additional costs incurred by designated additional places of deposit or school election. Greasable is estimated cost for retention, storage and disposal unless school accepts customary files which most generally we do. So school must be shall be responsible for completing all unless their legal procedures in a timely manner to meet the time requirements is determined by an election. So that's the IQ ballots. Yeah. >> So >> place for excuse me it would only be established by a male counted election. >> So the only thing I can find is back in 2020. So I mean that's so far off. It's cost uh Great Falls roughly about um they said an estimate of 40,000 >> to run their own election. >> They ran their own in 2020.
032>> Uhhuh. Um it's they're back in a in their great falls the electric. Um that's just what it was. So I don't know what that all goes into. >> So what did we pay for them to do our mail ballot? like in previous years like last year >> not too low but it seems like it's around 15 grand by the time we're done a lot less than 40 with inflation. >> I don't know if we have enough answers. >> Yeah. to to make the call, but we've got to do it now. >> Yeah. >> Do we >> I don't know. I think I mean I like the idea of I inerson voting at the high school, but I I mean I'm concerned about what they're going to charge us to do it. And And then
033if we don't meet the percentages, then it's like we just we didn't even really get an election and we didn't meet the first. >> Again, at the same time, I know risk and fear and I'm not trying to persuade. I'm just trying to be factual. I mean, even if we were to run on a ballot, we're still going to have to go out and beat the streets. We're still going to have to be having the discussion we did like we did on the elementary bond. This isn't, oh, we're just going to do it and then hopefully pray for the best. There's still going to be a ton of effort and work into it. So whether it's a mail or in person, the same amount of effort, the same amount of marketing, the same amount of
034touching base from the community is still going to have to happen. So I just don't want to be held that, oh, we might not get it all. Well, we might run a ballot and be told no and then we had to have a different amount of percentage to have that done. So, I just want to make sure that we aren't in fear of that one thing because at the end of the day, it's still going to have to meet the community where they're at. >> It's just the money. >> Yeah. Like, how are we going to pay for it? >> That's the other thing. And if we say we're going to do it and we then we're stuck, right? We can't change our mind after. >> Well, I mean, I'm always figuring we do have
035the sale of the admin building under contract and even if they fall out, we have a $100,000 donation sitting right there that we haven't earmarked to do anything. Now, I know we have a ton of other needs and wants, but I mean, is a small chunk to help with the bigger goal? Sure. >> I got another question. So, do we have any idea if the county only considers running a school's election if it's mail ballot? So, if we don't do mail ballot, they're just they're out. We got to, >> you know, I don't know that answer, but I would think that they would do a poll election just because they do it for the general elections and stuff. You know, >> my other concern is the elections in May and we will have a new
036business manager. >> Well, then I feel like the year that the elementary bomb that this was like happening before, right? Like we're already December. Like I feel like these conversation or the conver at least on what I can remember it was a blur but it was like September when those conversations were happening like we're already in December. >> Well this conver this is actually moved up our date our date for the board to make this resolution is actually move it's been moved up. We didn't have to do this until February or something previously >> in February. So it's yes we've been having the discussion as a group and then we did as well but >> like presentations no >> yeah I don't think you're far off I do think that we were doing some marketing
037and some discussion but because we were doing basketball cuz we did some stuff during the basketball season which >> which we'll be doing which we were basically on the same time. Like when we looked at the timeline in the committee, we were on essentially the same timeline as we were at the elementary bond. This resolution, we didn't used to have to make this resolution until later and that law changed and we have to have this resolution done by the 10th, right, Julie? >> Yep. >> My only last question is you said this has to be approved by the 31st of this month. No, >> 10th. still has to be. There's no way we can have even a special birthday by Wednesday. Do we have a motion? >> Pull straw. H >> I don't know if
038you can pull straw, but just kind of feel how everybody feels about What are you leaning towards? >> I feel like we're kind of we have to, right, if we're going to do it, but at the same time, I kind of feel like it I I just don't feel positive that it will go well >> on the on the in person. >> Oh, in person. >> Yeah, >> we're already going for it, girl. >> No, I know that. But like I don't I think people I don't think they'll show up. But I I mean why not I guess have it in person? It's too much money. It's too much money. I'm thinking Don't ask me yet. I don't >> does not know. >> Um it's hard. If it's going to be like $50,000 then no.
039I don't think we're probably going to have 70% of them are absentee ballots anyway. Pay $50,000 for a few people to come with the percentages added. The cost and benefit analysis to me doesn't outweigh. If it was just like I don't know $2,000 extra, I think then yeah, it's worth it. >> Can I just try to figure out please? So during this one, I'm sorry, Kelly, and then I'll I apologize. Um, Great Falls apparently, and I don't know, would be nice to see if they've been doing it the last five years. They run their mail ballots over the last 15 years. So, they were doing mail or uh um pollots for 15 years. Oh, excuse me. No, mail ballots for the last 15 years. So, doing it in person. Never mind. I apologize. you know,
040so it definitely be a new thing. Um, I think what's hard to take a position one way or another is that we do absentee and we don't misplace it. I mean, it comes in and we vote right away and get it in the mail. And maybe that's not typical, but I think the work that's needed is before the vote even takes place, regardless of how we do it. Um, and I don't know if you're set up for people to come in. I don't know. Can you incentivize that they do that? >> Yeah. something. >> Let me just say here. >> It's just it hasn't been that way for a long time. So, there's two ways to look at that. It's a change or it's unique enough that it draws attention to it and maybe it
041makes the difference for the boat. >> Wayne, do you want to give us your two cents? two cents. How much >> or 10 or 20? >> Dollar 298. >> Okay. >> Um, if we do our job to get out and beat the streets and do what we're supposed to do to make this happen, I think it's going to bring people. >> I think if they come I think if we have it >> live without middle and just take it, I believe that we can do it. I mean, we did a good job last time. We're going to do better this time, but we haven't got a lot of time. But I do believe that there are people out there that are willing to jump onto this bandwagon and be a part of it. And we
042have to do our part to make it happen. I'm all for walking boats. >> Let's do it. $1,875 the last time you ran elections. >> How many? >> $11,875 last year. >> Mhm. >> For mail. >> Well, it's a lot easier to invite somebody to come both than it is to get it in the mail. Babysit them through that process. >> Well, and you're not going to have postage on every mail. I mean, so you're going to have some the postage is going to be less. >> So, you might 15 grand before >> the mail or for the polling station. You're still going to be paying for them to count the votes just like you did before. >> Kevin, >> I just sorry I need a lot of people who want to go families that
043balance or mail ballots. I can get hired for a photo because I could show up that way. Hey, >> which is a bulk of our community. And I guess that's where when we walked through our schools and our our older population walked through our schools, they were astonished by what they had voted for. And some I think probably voted no and still were like floored on what we did for our votes. And so I'm just I I keep resonating with that that they walked through and kept just saying, "Wow, I had no idea." And then for us to then reinvite them into the high school and go, "This isn't just, you know, the footprint of our high school. This is the footprint of these children's lives going forward for CTE and all of that. and
044this is what we can offer. I don't know. I'd rather look at somebody in the face and say, "See you at the school." than to go, "Hope you get your mail ballot in." But I'm done. I know. I know my position, so I'll just I think it's most important to have them walk through. I think Yeah, it's going to cost money, but everything costs money. Um to have them walk through the school is the most important piece. And I don't know if you can have stuff up about while the voting is going on or not. I don't know what that looks like, but um having them walk through the hallway of the place they're voting is I think that's going to change a lot of people's minds, especially if you can have them go through
045that area and say, "Vote for this because our students need this and this is their condition. You've seen what we've done in the past. we can do it again. Like this is what I think it's important to have them come to the high school. And again, what Britney said is I'll see you on election day. Like I will see you at the poll, whatever. It's >> broken doors. >> But do you think you're going to change minds the day they come in to vote? >> No, that's why we're going to preemptively strike the week before and invite them all into the high school. >> Um I think >> let's make a public comment. >> Yes. and state your name. >> Bridget Poland. Uh I am a taxpayer of Laurel and I have two young kids
046in the school system. And to follow on to Devon's comment, I do vote absentee, but if I did not vote absentee, I would not be able to make it into the high school to vote. Period. Um and I work at the school, but for all of the student all of the parents who work in Billings or elsewhere, I think that that'd be really really hard for them. And I don't disagree that walking through the high school and seeing it could make a big impact. But the point of having their voice heard, having to be there on a specific day in between these specific hours would be really really difficult for a lot of people. >> Thank you. >> Even though with an absentee vote, you would still get it >> with an absentee. Yeah, absolutely.
047Because I >> no matter what whether it was >> Yes. I want my tax money to go towards the school and not other stuff. So, I would make sure >> Okay. >> Well, it's just it's not really expensive. I guess >> Gabby, >> my only concern is that like random people just start wandering through the school during >> not really. There was one person last time that was lost and ran through the school. I mean, I don't think that that's like we don't have people that are creeping around the school. I was there the entire time and I I don't really think that's a valid reason to not do it to be honest with you. I don't think they get lost. Yeah. But >> Well, there'll be arrows floating this way. >> Well, and Dr.
048Bington sat out in the hallway that almost the entire day. Mhm. >> It's from 12 till 8. >> Oh, it's only noon. >> Noon to 8. >> I think 8 p.m. >> It can be sooner than >> I'm just wondering if we're going to miss if we can't open the >> early birds. >> Yeah, >> early bird. >> Usually seven to 9. like 11. >> I guess you could say your own time, I would think. >> Matt, can you hear us? >> Yes. >> So, do you want to note that Matt joined us? >> Okay. preparing yourself. >> So, Matt, we're just talking about the um the recommendation to conduct the elections and whether to do it a mail ballot or a in person. >> Okay. >> I'm convinced if that matters. >> Okay. Donnie,
049what do you think? I don't know. I I think we're I know this goes against popular opinion, but I really think we're going to get a better turnout through the mail election. And that that's just what I'm sitting with. It's simple majority if it's mail ballot. So that's the way I'm going. Okay, >> Britney, >> you know how I feel. We know how Britney feels. Very well. >> How do you feel? >> Yes. >> I don't know. >> That's what we're >> I could go either way. I mean, I I I like the idea of in person um voting for lots of reasons. I um I think it gives an opportunity for people to see our schools and for our kids to see the process also. Um, but I I think that the majority I
050mean I think a lot of the people that do in-person voting are of the older generation and I think that I think having a feel for the last bond election that probably our yes votes that were like they were trying to decide our yes votes came from our younger families and our families. amilies of our students in our school and I feel like they're more apt to vote male than they are to come to the school. So then are we going to get enough of those the older population to say yes which I think we can do. I do agree with you that I think in our tours of our schools that we just opened. We had a lot of people there that I know were probably no votes that were excited about what we
051did and impressed with how we went about doing what we did and what it turned out to be. And so I I think that we have momentum on that end. But when it comes to money, then there's always that. >> To give some insight, in the 2024 election, 37% voted in person on election day and only 30 voted by mail and ballot. So, >> historically, more people have voted in person. >> Yeah. >> Is that here or the whole nation? >> It's nationwide. >> I'm not sure on the specific statistic in Montana. this last election was I mean whether it was just an anomaly or if it's what we'll see moving forward we did have a huge in-person turnout and we had a lot of first time voters but was that a one time thing
052or was that a >> will be will be we be able to sustain I mean are those people going to come back and vote again. >> Um, I could go either way. >> Do we want to wait till an election year? >> Um, 65% voted in person total early voting and on election day in general. So, 65% compared to 30 mailin in person. What about >> day of elections is uh 37% in-person voting before election is 35 and mail and ballots were only 30. >> Are you looking at a school election? >> Uh I'm looking just specifically at election administration that just the 2024 major election in the United States. I can look specifically for Montana really quick. >> I have Montana schools. >> Hold up schools cuz they're different. >> Yeah. >> Montana >>
053currently from like the Daily Montana which is a newspaper obviously um that currently in 2024 that over 3,000 people had put in their absentee ballots in their local election offices. Um that's just what it says and it's been counting every day. The um Montana Secretary of State's office doing that. >> So it I don't know how much can like change if it's on the local level, but that's what it just says right now. As probably Julie already stated, I'm more worried about the uh turnout percentages that it's not a national election or it's not a uh you know even a state election, it's just a school election. I worry about getting the full number of people there uh and then they keep us in a simple majority. That's my biggest concern. Yeah, that that is
054a good concern. >> I Yeah, like why create an extra hurdle? >> You worry about that extra hurdle for no reason. You could argue that it opens doors, too. So, I could see that side. >> And I'm really concerned about what the county might do if we want say that we're going to do a poll election. I'm afraid they're going to say then you're doing it on your own, >> which >> and that's going to put a lot on the district. That means you stuff and send your own absentee ballots. You >> Yeah. >> All the effort we could be talking to people is now making. I got it. >> This one man show over here. So, don't worry. >> Yeah. So, um, >> well, you can tell how close I was to teach >>
0552024 statewide, according to the report from the US election. Um, for just Montana was 30% of voters cast mail ballots while more than twothirds voted in person. That was either earlier on election day for Yellowstone County Elections Office, which does include Laurel. Local reporting from Q2 News back in 2024 stated that roughly 80% of voters chose absentee mail voting under normal conditions >> and they'd still get absentee correct when they do in person. >> Well, there we go. >> So, most of them are going to vote absentee. >> Yeah. Say 20. Well, this would be for the 20% of people that are >> Well, that's and then it says many voters are absentee but mail them, but that doesn't guarantee are returned. Mhm. No, >> I was thinking 79%. >> There you go. You're You're
056close. >> Look at you, girl. >> All right. >> If I have said it, it would have been No. >> Do we have a motion? >> I got to know what exactly All right, I'm going to put it out there. I'm going to move to approve the resolution for the May elections as listed on the resolutions with mail ballot voting. I'll second it. Is >> that Kayla? >> Yeah, I know. I changed my mind. >> I know. >> Okay. So, we have a motion by Donnie to approve May elections with a ma male ballot. Um second by Kayla. Is there any other discussion or comment from the board? Is there any discussion or comment from the public? Hearing none, we will vote. There's a motion on the table by Donnie, a second by Kayla. All
057in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed say nay. >> Nay. >> Motion carries. >> Oh, no. You're good. Hold your ground, girl. Hold your ground. >> I did put the address in just so you know. um >> get conducting a full election and I did put just the high school address there just even though we're not doing full election I feel like I need to put the address in on >> on the recommendation >> as if they could turn them in at the high school. >> Yeah. I would like to have Julie request of the county that we can at least have a dropbox at the high schools. >> Okay. >> We have in the past. >> Okay. >> They've gone away from it, but that's not much more to ask. >> I volunteering.
058Oh, you won't be here. I was going to volunteer to run it into the county. That's like that's like kind of the best of both worlds. >> If we >> save a drive into downtown Billings, that saves a lot of things >> if you forget to because we've had people come in on election day and they get mad when we go. >> Yeah. >> We don't accept it. >> I know. We can't. >> So, yeah, it would it would help a lot to have a drop off and have somebody run a bill. I think that's their big complaint is that they have to come out and get it. So they would let us run it. >> I really think she's the district clerk cuz they're the election administrator. >> Yeah. >> Well, we can do
059that. Well, we just volunteered our our first job. >> Perfect. >> Okay. So, moving on to item E. recommend county to rebuild property taxes. Do we want to do discussion first >> or do we have a motion? >> I'm going to make a motion to direct the county to reassess taxable values. >> Do we have a second? >> I second that. >> But then I do have discussion too. >> Okay. Go ahead. So, Julie, do we know by what they've told us if this reassessing of the taxable value was going to do anything for that payback? >> No. Um, we don't. In fact, um, I am meeting with Jeff Welding on Thursday to go through the protestant tax payback part because >> we really don't have any recourse, do we? >> No, I don't know.
060That's why I want to find out. I I asked Matt if we could just reach out to the lawyers cuz we're not getting the information from OBI or the Montana School Board Association. I mean, they're just well, read this law. Read that law. You know how Montana School Board Association >> interpret it for yourself. >> It's just so vague. And so I finally asked him if we could reach out to Jeff and he did. And then Jeff got a hold of me today and I sent him some more stuff, correspondence from the county and he asked that I come down there on Thursday and go through it because that's a lot of money on the tables. >> Yes, it does. >> Yeah. >> And so even if we don't get it till next year, at
061least we'll try to get, you know, get it. You know, I might have to do a interfunnel loan to back bill for this year and then make sure it gets assessed next year for the protest and taxes. >> Any other comments, questions from the board? Oh, >> one more. Oh, in the documentation you provided, it said that the commissioners were going to meet to do their voting on a resolution on the 8th, which was today. Did you get any feedback on what happened? >> No, communication is awesome. >> Yeah, the communication is terrible. I mean, I I probably have better communication with the county than filling schools and awkward schools. That's purple, >> you know. And so, um, yeah, it's awful. Probably send me an email when Okay. And any other questions, comments from the
062board? Any public comment? Hearing none, we will go ahead and vote. We have a motion by Donnie and a second by Britney to recommend the county to rebuild property, Texas. All in favor say I. I. >> I. Any oppose say nay. >> Moving on to F, adding elementary miscellaneous fund. Have a motion. >> I make a motion that the board approve authorizing the new fund with the elementary school miscellaneous named Little Locos Pantry with a project number 144. >> A second. Is there any discussion or questions? Any public comment? Hearing none, we'll vote. We have a motion by Britney, a second by Kayla to add the elementary miscellaneous fund as noted in the recommendation. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. G changes to 202425 TFS recommendation. So I have
063a motion. I make a motion to approve the proposed changes to complete and submit by OPI for the TFS changes for 2024 2025 >> by December 10th because everything apparently is December 10th. Yeah, >> I'll second. Is there any discussion or questions from the board? Donnie, >> Julie, can you explain a little bit about why the drastic changes in the fixed asset pages? >> It's just what um the auditor went through it. um you know we taken a little extra to do it because it's just been so far behind since even I don't know maybe even before I came on I don't know. So, we went through, we deleted some stuff that I've had go I sent the list to to the main to the facilities and they went through and said, "Oh, we no
064longer have this, we no longer have that, we so we deleted a bunch of stuff and just a lot of changes, you know, throughout the whole thing. So, what they did is they rebuilt a whole brand new spreadsheet to use and for the new uh business manager and we've got specific instructions how to do that spreadsheet from year to year. So, it automatically calculates everything, the additions and deletions. And so, by changing this TFS, I'm hoping it'll help the next person come in with the correct numbers. And then all they have to do is add or delete. and then those numbers will flow, you know. So that's why I wanted to send those changes in part December 10th so we could cuz we just got that asset thing done and I just wanted to have
065it done so it was right. >> Very good. >> Cool. >> Any other questions, comments from the board? Any public comment? Hearing none, we'll vote. We have a motion by Britney, a second by me to approve the changes to the 202425 TFS. All in favor say I. >> I. Any oppose say nay. Motion carries. On to H updated job descriptions. Do we want to go through them individually? >> Yes, please. >> Okay. So, one uh will go over security first. Do I have a motion? >> I make a motion to approve the updated job description for security. Just renaming it correctly. Second. Any discussion or questions from the board? Any discussion or questions from the public? Hearing none, we'll vote. It's a motion by Britney, a second by Donnie to approve the security updated job
066description. All in favor say I. >> I. Any oppose? Say nay. Motion carries. On to number two, testing aid. Do I have a motion? >> Uh, can we have discussion on this one? This is the new one, right? >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Yep. We can have discussion first. >> Okay. So, Miss P is here. >> Okay. >> Um, my mom is not here right now. She's not feeling good, so she hasn't shown up, but if you want anything to tell to ask of her, I can pass the message on. >> Thank you. Of course. >> Um, so the Woodcock Johnson test is what's required. I thought there was another thing that was commented. The cogs and that's not Cognney. It's the Is it start with a C? Does it start with It's like the
067lifting. She said something about the lifting the >> the whisk. The whisk is the psychological assignment where you're essentially just proctoring for the student while the psychologist complete the test. >> Okay. But it's not. >> So does that need to be in this? >> They're not. >> So that person is basically just sitting there and the school psychologist does everything all the >> Okay. And maybe I was confused on what was said that there was one that all the aids were supposed to take it but only one took it or something like that. I don't remember Peggy. This is from Peggy's on the last meeting that there was something to do with all the aids were said they could take it and only one took it. I think that one's I think that was the
068addition to just the special needs aid that lifting or something certification that they wanted just the special needs aid not the testing aid specifically to have it was called something I don't remember what it was called >> something it wasn't really a test it was just like something >> Matt do you have any I can't rec >> yeah I do Christina Christina will be able to explain if it's K hero training. >> The training. >> Yeah. The deescalation training. Uh that it has a physical component to it with some with some mats you have on your you carry. Uh the old way of doing it used to be uh you know hold you taught people holds and things like that, but we're trying not to do any of that kind of stuff. Uh so Christina
069can probably explain it better, but we had some teachers that didn't excuse me. We had some special needs aids that didn't feel like they did not complete all the physical portions and we need them that was part of the SNA job description was they need to complete those physical portions unless there's some medical reason you know medical diagnosis or something that prevents them from doing it for whatever reason but u so Christina could explain that I would appreciate it but that's basically what I think you guys are talking about. >> Yeah. So go ahead. >> Oh, that's okay. That's I guess that's my question because that was stated that this position also got it or needed it or had it or before job description needed it. This one, I don't know whether it does or
070doesn't, but originally the SNA that they added that as well to that job description. Just the SNA job description. And then they added the testing aid. And then we ask that they take the testing aid to its own job description. >> Then does this >> so all of our aids, counselors, administrators, and special education teachers are trained in New Hero. >> Okay. >> Um I don't know. I have asked Mr. Torx and Peggy to be a part of the onboarding process since we have a lot of aids that start at different times or teachers and we do have things that we need them to be trained on before they're thrown into the classroom or start working with the students. I don't know if that's what they're talking about that people are starting and maybe they're
071not getting that right away and then we have to find time. um it's a day and a half training for a new person. So if we don't have like a PI day to have that training on, then we have to like pay people to train them on the weekends unless we find subs for depending on how many people need to have that training. >> Okay. Thank you. Can I make a couple comments from the district operations committee? So, we went through these four job descriptions and a lot of time was spent on this particular one, the testing aid, and Kelly was also at the meeting. And basically, the request from the last board meeting was that there needed to be a separate job description. So that is what we did with this one. Um when
072it comes to the special needs aid that is listed next, all we did is remove the one line that was added referring to the testing. Um Kelly, I don't know if there's more you want to add regarding the discussion on this testing aid position. I know you had some pretty strong feelings in the committee meeting. There was a ton of discussion. We went well over an hour and didn't get through our agenda. So, >> I think um the combination there's the summary up above, but if you go down and look at the additional information, that was a section that was put in there. >> So, Oh, additional information. >> Yeah, just as cautionary. um to show that, you know, they would give the test, but they're not going to be responsible for drawing conclusions and
073making the recommendations on placement. And that I think that information came from another school district that is utilizing a person to do the Woodcock Johnson. >> Trying to see if in an a position. >> Okay. So then I'm just trying I'm just trying to understand them too. So again this is not all online right this this this is not done all online we also have some hand it's >> okay so I'm going to just so it might it might be a dumb question so please bear with me. So, if I'm the student and I don't even know what to do on that paper at all, what does this position? Do they just stop them? Do they say do they say, "Okay, do they help them in any way? Do they guide them?" Like, what does
074this position do if I'm a child and I just don't even know where to move forward? >> Well, there's so many questions that they have to go through if the student gets them incorrect and that section is stopped. So, they really can't prompt, say anything. They're literally following the script. >> Okay. >> Just uh mark on the form what the student is doing. And there's a lot of the form that the student is filling out themselves, like the math problems. We're not supposed to really show protocols out, but if anybody ever wants to see a protocol, we could have you come in. You just have to check off your name that we that you looked at a protocol. Um that way when OBI comes in in February, it just shows that who's looking through the
075assessments. >> Okay. So if the student just doesn't even know where to begin or stop or any of that, but just say just clearly doesn't even know how to answer or do anything. What's what does that look like? >> They just stop that section. >> They just stop it. >> Yeah. They they read they read a script. >> Okay. >> So it's very scripted. So you read the script and if they get so many wrong within a sequence then that section stops and then the student moves on to the next. >> So am I assuming that some of this will be read to the student if depending on if the student is at that level >> or the student can read themselves but might take them a little bit. They're just >> all scripted. Yes.
076>> Okay. Okay. >> Okay. Last one. So, we're talking specifically about the Woodcock Johnson, right? Are they doing the Mattel or are you doing the Mattel? >> I'm doing the excl. >> So, Miss Canon and I are the ones who are doing the Woodcock Johnson um and have been doing it. So, it is like Miss Peterson said, is very very scripted. They have the words that you actually read highlighted in blue. You read the words they have. If the student does not answer within 30 questions, 30 seconds, this is what you say. If the student gets these first two questions wrong, this is what you do to move on to the next section. So, there's no um determining um what you do next on that person. All you're doing is following the directions explicitly lying
077out in the book that you were literally reading off of to the student. And if the student doesn't understand like that's built into the test. They are expecting students at a certain level to not even understand what they're ask. >> And then on the time is this is this just like a is it like on a I'm assuming it's not on your phone. So do we have like something that's on the desk? Is it on a a handheld? Like just stopwatch. >> There are only three sec or sections that are timed. So there's timers for 3 minutes and 5 minutes. And those we do have stopwatches or you could use your phone because the student is working independently. You're not prompting in any way. >> So you read through the scripted directions and they understand
078what their time limit is and you're just monitoring through the time limit because part of the data that you take to is anecdotal watching what their thought process is. Is it too difficult? How long are they taking to respond? So that if it is to a point where it's a frustration level for them, the test builds that into it gives you your set starting point. And if you miss, let's say one of the ceilings is six questions in a row. If you miss six, this is the question that you go back to and start again. >> So you're really then also watching behavior, demeanor, just I mean you have to kind of physically watch how they >> Yes. But that doesn't necessarily play into the scoring. >> Okay. >> It's just monitoring to see if
079there's a section that's more difficult or a concept that's more difficult for the students. >> So the person who does this has to be able to observe behavior and communicate that it was observed too, right? >> Not necessarily. Um that information is not required for the scoring and it doesn't play into the scoring by any means. It just gives more of an indicator where a student scored low in math. Um, their behaviors reflect that it might be a source of anxiety for them. So, it doesn't play into the final score, but anecdotally, you can say, I can physically see your response in that student. >> Frustration, upset. Okay. Okay. >> Thank you. Appreciate that. Any other comments or questions from the board? Any comments or questions from the public? >> Please stay awesome. Like a
080professional at this point. I get really nervous. So >> professional commentator professional commentary Lisa Pickkins LUA certified co-president. So there are two problems that I have with this. The first one is what I said before and I printed it off so that you can see that I'm not just making up stuff. So, as a first grade teacher, we were required to have somebody out at recess supervising our eights. Mrs. Anderson was my principal. So, here's your rules for ACEs. Instructional pair professional shall be under direct supervision of the licensed teachers responsible for instruction assessment of students. The supervising teacher shall be available while the instructional prep professional is fulfilling his or her responsibilities and shall not be simultaneously assigned to another teaching due preparation time. The second part says um that you can't delegate any
081activity to an instructional care professional that requires professional skill, knowledge and judgment, which is what that anecdotal stuff is. So that's hyperscal. My second problem is that this um uh special education coordinator position was approved by the board in February and it specifically states that this is what they're going to be doing. It says Woodcock Johnson, they will be administering Woodcock Johnson to all case students for initial and re-evaluations. So that's certified work that you're trying to put onto classified individual and we can't do that. We can't just decide that it's too expensive to have teachers. So I don't know what exactly has to be done but um my two objectives. >> What are you reading from Lisa? >> This >> Yeah, >> this is the job description. I asked Mr. Tors to share it
082with you earlier today. >> Which one are you from? I guess that's >> I have a teacher on special assignment to special education coordinator. It's under Do you guys want one? >> Yeah. Yeah. So, I guess I should share that I highlighted those two pieces that are in the TOSA special education coordinator position um that Mrs. Pickkins is talking about. Um, so that was the goal at the beginning of the school year was to try to have the coordinators do all of the testing for all of the students. Um, as we eb and flow through the job and are learning the pieces a little bit more with us here in Laurel, um, we have found that there is not enough time for them to be able to do that piece on top of all of
083the IEPs, the meetings, and all of that portion. Um, they still oversee everything of those pieces. So, they're still scoring the assessments. They're just not administering. I'd also like to add that last year um as the student services secretary, I did get trained with all of the special ed teachers on administering the Woodcock Johnson. And as the year progressed and teachers did not have time to do testing, I stepped in and I did testing at every single school as a secretary because I had my bachelors and because I had gone through that specific Woodcock Johnson testing with the school psychologist that came here and did it with all the teachers and then I also practiced with our teachers. I was able to do that testing for the teachers and the teachers would reach out to
084me and tell me the students that needed testing and I would go collaborate with them. that I was the one administering the test at that point >> Because they didn't have time. And just to put it into perspective, so far this year in 3 months, we've had 34 evaluations. 13 of those have been initial evaluations. Um, so this is a huge time commitment. So your case load, Kayen's form 32 and yours is 75. >> Yes. Um >> and there's no way that you could fit anymore into either of yours. You'd have to have this extra physician. >> Well, just to provide some clarity for how long it takes to administer with the Woodcock Johnson, especially with secondary students, the Woodcock takes approximately 2 hours to administer. So I'm currently testing 10 just to have 10
085on the docket for the month of December, but 21 through March. So two hours for each of those students is an intense amount of time. And then you add on top of that the scoring, the writing of the evaluation, the meaning that goes along with the evaluation. And then that doesn't factor in the IEP portion, too. So of those 132 IEPs, an IEP takes approximately 2 and a half hours to write. So within the testing amount of time, you're not able to complete the other portion of the duty, which is the annual IEPs, the amount of time in the day doesn't add up and that's where it's been a challenge. I would also add that for the high school students, they have additional assessments including the transmission, but for the younger students, we do the
086tell. Um, and so 2 hours is a very, very conservative estimate. If you sit there and you get through every single test immediately and you don't take breaks and they don't go to the bathroom and there's no recess and they don't go to lunch, you can do it in 2 hours. with little kids, um you're breaking it up into half an hour chunks essentially. And so it could take up to four hours for this one assessment. So for reference with a life skills student last year, it took me 5 days to complete a wood. >> So I don't doubt that it takes a long time. Like there's no doubt in my mind that it takes a long time to do it, but each of the schools ended up with less um special education teachers who
087can actually serve um students because we have coordinators who are doing some of these things that that's taking off their plate. Um the reason why we don't have a full-time coordinator is because there was a choice that was made to not replace the ECS um teacher where we're going to have one. So we have somebody who's splitting their time. And it might not seem like very much time, but in the grand scheme of thing, that's scheme of things that's a lot of time. So those kinds of choices are why we're here. It's not because there's not um it's it's a choice that we're making. Instead of going for certified personnel, which are more expensive, we're looking at an option that I don't know how you can do it because you have to have those people
088under supervision, just like Kelly made me go out to recess with an aid because they couldn't be by themselves. But this is more than recess. This is actual testing. So, I know that it might not sound like very much, but instructional pair of professionals are supposed to be under direct supervision. You can't give that teacher a different job during that time. They can't be on their prep. You have um a job description, which maybe that's where the problem starts is that you're writing job descriptions without actually thinking about if these people can actually do these jobs and not asking anyone else um for input on that. that says that they're going to be doing all of these initial MRE reevaluations and I don't think that you can just pick parts of the job to give
089away to AIDS and I don't think you can give away the parts that require skill, knowledge and judgment to AIDS. So I don't know exactly what the solution is. I do know that um the amount amount of testing that you have to do varies a lot from here to here cuz those breeds don't happen all the time. Like there's a schedule, but a testing isn't your answer. Your answer is figuring out what you need to do so that they can do their job more effectively and maybe looking at getting another half-time either um coordinator or halftime spent teachers actually do the things that they're supposed to be doing. So, I'm just going to say part of the reasoning why we tried to lump ECS in with the coordinating position was because currently this year it
090is a 4hour elite position. So to hire someone at the time we were we did have the money or one um and and we talked about the FTE of this person and what time they'd actually be spending in that position. Um, and with the case load numbers, the way we split it when we met with the ladies, when we met with the SPE teachers, um, this is what we decided we would try, like we would trial and error. No one said it was going to be perfect. There are lots of bumps in the roads. You just have to work through the process and try to make it better. Um, I wouldn't have fought for these things if the teachers weren't asking for it. I agree with Christina on those comments. This this was something that
091wasn't flippant. This was something that we wanted to do even two years ago with the coordinators. Uh but we couldn't make it happen. We could only come up with one coordinator a couple years ago. Um and we were able to do it with two this year with our current staff. And the aid is a again that's something that Christina came to me three years ago about getting a testing aid to help and we just weren't able to make it happen and this year we can make it happen. And this takes a ton of of the goal is to take the vision is to take a ton of stress off of the the special education teachers. So they're in front of kids teaching and they're not sitting out testing and uh and the coordinators, they had
092every intention and and they they busted their butt the last few months trying to get all this stuff done, but they just can't do it effectively. And if we can take and again it might change next year a little bit but if we can take a a a classified person who's qualified to do go ahead to and is capable of it and wants to do it um then we'll train them and we'll we'll have them do this testing. They also act as the SNA for that ECS class but in this year it's a low numbers. Next year we anticipate needing higher numbers. So, we'll re-evaluate everything in March and April and and make our decisions uh based on what kids we think we have incoming and uh and this this could all go away. I
093am not in favor of taking out the testing for the SNA. Uh taking that line out. Um I'm not in favor of it at all. Um I I I understand it's also in the the coordinator's position. That's great. I don't I don't want it taken out of there either. Uh though it fits into those all those places and then we have make administrative decisions between myself and between Christina or the principles or whoever it happens to be and whatever decision we make administrative decisions as to how we're going to implement that based on the money we have and the staff we have. uh if we had no one uh to to apply for this position, this testing aid position, we would have looked at other options. We would have uh maybe assigned somebody. We might
094I mean, who knows what we can do, you know, next year. But I I do worry about being able to keep these things going from year to year. But I also worry about a lot of different positions we have from year to year. Uh money's tight and it's not getting any better. And we're trying to keep the staff that we have. We're trying to constantly balance this teeter totter with keeping staff on one end and just overworking one on the other because we can hire extra people and we're just going to do our best. And I I still feel like these are administrative decisions and I'm not being trying to be disrespectful to the board, but uh these are administrative decisions and if the board doesn't feel like I'm making the right decisions, then that's
095a different conversation. But I feel very strongly about uh this decision. I think this is going to work and we'll do our best to keep it going from year to year, but we may not be able to monetarily. >> Britney, >> well, now with this job description and this job title and because it is a practically new position, right? I mean, we would have to go out and put it out for filling the position and going through all of the interview processes and all that too. Correct. >> I believe so. >> Yes, I believe that's I believe that's what we'd have to do. Correct. >> Yes. >> Are you going to go to jail? Um, so the hopes in having this and when we had our two kiddos move in um, twins for ECS that
096needed one-on-one days, I was able to do the funding through the SNA position. So that is how I was able to say hey this person can do their 4 hours then ECS and then we can have them support. So anyone whoever would have applied would have had to do the SNA portion and then that because that is how I'm funding it. um with a new job description and title. Um probably can't do that. Uh so next year, I don't know how feasible this would be. Um I know Mr. Tors's famous words is who are we going to let go of to keep things right? So, um there's more going back to the drawing board if this is something that I can't do through our SN the way I fund the SNAS. Um SNAS are based
097off of the tuition fund. So, they're all tied to students. Whether people know like really that information, I don't know how they were doing it prior to me being here. Um, but it is based on student minutes, the need, um, and how I can tie into get the money through the tuition fund. Um, right now we are running, if you are really true about it, we're running on skeleton crews in our buildings. Um, but some of that can be fixed through scheduling and making sure that we're ensuring like for, you know, maybe our high school, for example, that teachers don't have just two students in their classroom for a period or three students the next period. Like we need to be strategic about how we're placing kids and how we're grouping them so we can
098meet the needs with the staff we have. And that's something that we will make sure that we look at this next school year. But currently, it does feel like we're short because of the way kids are spread out on the schedule. And I know high school's different because you're trying to meet electives and and all of the things. But if we want to be responsible with our funding, then we need to make sure that teachers don't just have two students in one period or three students in one period and not just instead. So, So I went ahead and looked back. So when the ACS position was posted in February, it was for 12 and a half hours a week. So I actually talked to both of the people who have done it previously and they
099had been running um a more robust program I guess. So they were having their students in the classroom more um and they also had had more students which I'm sure is just the nature of how things work. But when this was posted it was 12 and 1/2 hours a week and that ECS was going to be split between this ECS and I believe student service secretary. So instead now we have a full-time student services secretary. So part of your funding went there. I mean, if you're looking at it as far as how money kind of works. >> Sorry, I was forcing her to just take things on. >> Yeah. Well, I understand, but that's the way that it was supposed. Um so initially it was 12 and a half hours a week which I think
100in the past it had always been our kindergarten sped teacher had basically split their day between um ECS and um doing the kindergarten case load. So if you look at this year at the elementary there is one and a half sped teachers for three grade levels whereas last year if you added them together there would be two full ones. So you basically lost half of a sped teacher >> only one full time. Just putting it out there. >> Um so I guess I think that there's some things that have happened that have made us where we're at. And it's partly that because we had initially two full-time coordinators and for personal reasons they decided to shift into different jobs, but those were approved. That's like what was approved by the boards was those two full-time
101coordinator positions and that 12 and 1/2 hour um ECS teacher. So, I think we somewhere along the line something changed, but I'm not sure exactly what, but I don't think that it's it's not um just >> Well, I think that it's important to note that the board approves the job descriptions and then it's up to admin to decide how those positions fit together. So that's within the purview of admin to decide how those how that all fits in that puzzle to make sure that the budget equals how many FTEEs and all of that. So that's outside of what we approve as a board and it really doesn't shouldn't matter that much to us as long as we're within our budget. Um, so that's pieces that we don't move around at a board level per se,
102>> but I'll share some information so that at least you have. Um, so we were gauging a time frame on the students that we had the previous year. So this year our numbers have dropped. We had um a few districts that wanted like parents want us us to service their students um which we could have and have our numbers higher but currently the way the funding is for ECS um we don't get like A and B money the way we do for all of our other programs. Next year we will next year we probably will have a very large group of ECS students for um early childhood in Billings and that's who we work with to for our ECS kids that are like 3 years old 2 years old turn three. Um, so we anticipate
103needing at least a full-time teacher for ECS next year, but um, as of now, the numbers are much lower than what we've had in the past. And I think that's just part of the like right the student population right now. So we we I am reaching out to Park City and like Goliath and surrounding districts for parents that wanted to bring their kids this year that couldn't um to let them know that next year we will have like the funding the A and B part and part of our preschool um grant that comes through IDA. So we will be able to take on more students that way too. Oh, Leanne, I should probably add Okay. Um, the other thing is, um, so I did I think about all these things. I'm always pre-planning. And then
104at first I thought, okay, so we're probably going to have to hire an ECS person part-time and then we're going to need a part-time person to do 18 to 22 year old students now that that law has passed. Um, so I envision the person that does ECS doing our 18 to 22 because we can make it work that way. Um, that's just >> for a super person right there. >> Yeah. I guess my only question is I mean to the point of having this in the job description for the um TOSA where it says administering to all case loads. I I mean that that I mean I don't know that that forcludes us from approving this job description. However, I think that may be a change that needs to happen just so that we don't
105have contradictory language within two job descriptions. Um >> well again we don't have this special needs aid in the future but we still have this >> well but they can still do it. I just think the word all I mean in any job description saying that someone's going to do every I mean I think that language like that in general might be avoided just in case then we don't have contradictory language within I mean it's still fine cuz these people still could technically be they're certified to do it so they may still do some of it. So if they needed to jump in or if there was a really difficult case, they could still make sure that they do that. My only worry is that I really hate to change the job descriptions like every
106single year. So like right now they can still do it. They've been doing it up until Friday. >> Well, and I don't think that it needs to be removed. I just don't know about the word all. If we're saying these people are doing all of them and then we hire someone else to do it, then there is an argument. Well, you said these people were doing all of it. >> What why is this person doing? I mean, that's like a small really editorial change. >> Yeah. >> I mean, and Matt, this has been ran by legal. >> Yes. >> Might not be there anymore, >> but yes, it has been. Yeah. >> Okay. Any other comments or questions from the public? Do we have a motion? I make a motion to approve the job description
107for the special needs testing aid. >> I'll second. >> I have a motion by Britney and a second by Kelly. Is there any other comments from the board? Questions? Any other public comment? Hearing none, we will vote. So have a motion by Britney and a second by Kelly to approve the testing a job description. All in favor say I. I. >> Any oppose say nay. >> Motion carries. Next is number three, the special needs aid. Do I have a motion? I make a motion to approve the specialized needs aid job description with the update. Second, >> do we have any comments or questions from the board? Done. >> I'm just going to put out there that why remove this line from this job description. Yes, we have the other one for testing specific, but if
108we can't fill the testing one, why not leave this in here if they get the certification and we have a need in the future instead of have to go back and redo it again. It's just my thought. >> This is what we talked about at the leadership and learning as well or the district operations, excuse me. This is what we talked about at district operations was just leaving it in there because down the road just get allows us for flexibility down the road without having to come back to the board. If we think we can't keep the testing aid, we'll try to bring it back to the board long before we need to. Meaning, but I just think it's simple to leave it in. It doesn't doesn't mean they have to do it. It just
109simply means that that if if trained properly, um we could move somebody into that position if we needed to. It just allows for flexibility. >> Great. And I understand and I get that, but I'm also have I I I'm trying to support, but I also hear what Lisa has to say on other things. So for me it's it's looking at that department and knowing that you have the responsibility but then if we leave it on this just this one just in case then once again who truly is monitoring or who truly is keeping track or who truly is supervising and so I would rather remove it at this point. If it comes to be a point where we need to redisuss it, then that's because it becomes an issue or it becomes something that the
110district can't afford or we need to then it it comes back to that board and that board can then discuss what's truly happening within within those departments. Anybody else have any questions, comments? Any public comment? Hearing none, we will go ahead and vote. We have a motion by Britney with a second by Kelly to approve the specialized needs a job description. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed say nay. Nay. Motion carries. We move on to four, the business manager, clerk of district job description. I just have a quick question. Is this just because we're kind of anticipating that we're going to be searching for this position and maybe we need to broaden that availability or because equivalent training and I mean it's nice to have a degree and I know we're all in
111his with degrees but we all also know that on in training on training doing the job is also highly ex you know can get that so is that what I'm understanding from the committee. >> Yes, >> that discussion. Okay, >> any other questions or comments? >> We have a motion. >> I make a motion to approve the business manager and clerk of the district. Clerk of the district job description updated and highlighted in yellow. A second. We have a motion by Britney and a second by me to approve the business manager clerk of the district job description. Do we have any other comments or questions from the board? Any public comment? We'll go ahead and vote. We have a motion by Britney, a second by me. All in favor say I. I. I. Any oppose
112say nay. Motion carries. on to I 2526 calendar change. Do I have a motion? >> I'm Anyone have a question on this at all? >> Just ready. >> No, no, >> I was going to approve it. I uh make a motion to approve the parent teacher conference date change for secondary from April 16th. Move it up to March 2nd. Time will remain the same. >> Middle school >> and middle school. H just fine. >> I'll second. >> March 12th as well. >> I'm sorry. March 12th. Okay. I will redo that. I approve. Make a motion to approve the parent teacher conferences date change for secondary and middle school to be on March 12th instead of April 16th. Times will remain the same. >> Any other questions, comments from the board? Any public comment? Hearing none,
113we will vote. We have a motion by Britney, a second by Kayla to approve the 2526 calendar change as noted. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose say nay. On to J. LHS animal health vet science class recommendation. Do I have a motion? I make motion to approve the class to be added to the high school course catalog. Second. Have >> a motion by Britney, a second by Donnie. Is there any questions or comments from the board? >> I just appreciate this. I think with the new vet school that's coming into Mont into Billings actually and the only one in Montana and the north of this. I think this is amazing. So, I appreciate all the work that was brought on to this. Thank you. any public comment? >> I'll just say I that's
114a class that MTVA offers and it has been super popular the last and I've supervised it now for six, seven years. So I appreciate it too. I think it's great because it's really popular with our kids for kids. >> Very good. Any other public comment? Hearing none, we'll go ahead and vote. We have a motion by Britney, a second by Donnie to approve the animal health vet science class. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose say nay. Motion carries. So now we're onformational items. I will go through them and pause if you have anything to add. Get my attention. So, first activities. >> Andrew, can you just give us a little lowdown on the games that are going to be at the Metra that we're hosting or I don't know, are we hosting them?
115>> Yeah. Um, so our first two games, high school basketball games are December 12th and 13th. We play Mile City and Hav. Um, they are considered basically our home games. Um, we usually try and play in the Metra every year. Just prevent prepares our kids for that competitive nature of playing in a big arena. We lost games in the Metra against Billing Central this year. We're not playing them in the Metra anymore. The Eastern Conference um always has their divisionals in the Metra. So the Northeast Havern and Mile City, they reached out to the Southeast, us and Lockit, and said, "Could we do a double header?" They both had both of us on their master schedule, so they're coming to town anyways. We're going to play back to back anyways. Um, it helps out our
116Eastern Conference to try and play basically a big double header in the Metra. >> Other question on that? So, I mean, we're kind of losing some revenue then from our booster club because we would have been able to kind of have that and our concessions and stuff like that. Is there and our 50, you know, like our cash 50/50 and stuff like that for our seniors. Are we able to do that since it's our home game? >> Um, not concessions. I'm in contact with them to see if we can still still do our 50/50 at the games. um haven't heard back from them yet on that. Um the thing that has benefited us with revenue is I've brought in a lot of those class C district tournaments. So we're making even more headway from a
117concession standpoint to bring in those tournaments to our schools. And then they're also uh paying a rental fee to use our gyms. So with this, they take a portion of the ticket sales of all ticket sales between the Laurel and Lockwood games. So all four varsity games and that's what pays for the Metro rental fee. >> So is it like you pay one ticket to get into all four games? >> Um >> so the boys and girls, right? >> So you can adult could go watch four varsity Eastern Division games for $10 >> for one ticket. Okay. Then Saturday have to pay again. So no season passes are allowed at these games cuz they're at the metro. >> That's my perk. >> I mean paid enough for this. That's not >> It just provides our
118kids. This is the first year we're kind of doing it. Um we can definitely evaluate it after this and see if it works. It was just something the Northeast teams reached out to us and said, "Hey, can we can we do this?" Um, I did get our sub varsity JV teams into a tip off tournament in Red Lodge, so they're not losing those competition games if we were just playing varsity at the Metro. >> So, one sec, one more question. So, do you see us doing this a lot at the Metra or just like couple of games? >> No. >> Okay. Um the only other time we plan to match it this year is with we played against Billing Senior in the Metra and that's something new we're trying this year too. Um Laurel Lockwood
119Billing Central, three class A schools in Yellowstone County are meeting up with the three double A schools and playing a non-conference games at the metro >> and well just sorry just just a lot and then so busing and everything. So, >> we've got that figured out. Um, it's a a great shovel system that's provided, but our Red Lodge games worked out where we can Friday we can get to our Red Lodge games and then come back, pick up our varsity teams, go to Metra, basically same bus, and then Saturday it works the opposite. So we can get our metric games in and then come through here and go to Red Lodge for our subs. >> And we're okay on all of our times and everything with our bus drivers. >> Yes. >> Interesting. All righty.
120I'm kind of curious. I guess >> it it'll be interesting. It's something brand new that we're trying out and we're going to talk to the other ads as well and see, hey, did you like this? Did you not like this? What parts didn't we like? All those things. It is. I mean, for the competitive side of things, it makes a big difference for kids to be able to play in a with floating back um backboards and especially when some schools are getting that advantage on a regular basis. >> And and the thing with um it worked out this year where Mount City and we played M City twice, but we only played Hatter once. It worked out where Hatter was coming down to play non-conference with Lockworth and us. So, it just worked out. Hey,
121let's try it out. You guys are coming down only one time this year and then next year we're going to go up to them. So, try it out. See how it works. >> Very good. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. On to curriculum facilities >> there. I I do have a curriculum question or not curriculum something to point out uh and and just to let the board know uh it talks about the update there the my view update and so we're in the process of purchasing uh updating our English curriculum and this is for uh oh I believe is 3 through five and this is um the current program we use is this is just the updated version of it. And I went ahead and asked Charlotte to go ahead even though it's just
122an updated version. We're going to still treat it like uh it's a new curriculum adoption unless the board wants to do it otherwise. Uh it's the same company. It's just an updated uh no longer servicing. There's no longer online stuff and we can't we won't be able to get like the workbooks and things. So, uh, they're just this is the last year for the old one. Um, so if the I told Sharter to go ahead and proceed less if it's a new curriculum with the advertising and things like that. Uh, if the board doesn't want to, if they just want to because it's an update, if they just want to uh go the other direction as an update, that's fine, too. But I did tell Charlotte it to go as if it's a new curriculum.
123So, do so we'll need to approve that after the >> No, eventually this is Yeah, we'll we'll eventually approve the purchase because it's over $80,000. So, you'll you'll approve that purchase, but it's on here for information and it'll come to the board. Uh, and we'll uh we'll we'll get it approved by you guys. >> So, we'll have to do the two week. >> So, we'll have to do the public for the curriculum piece of it. We'll have to advertise it, >> right? >> And then bring it after it's been advertised. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Correct. Correct. >> And then the other question I had was on that advanced opportunities grant intent to apply. We have the board has to make a resolution on that. Is that correct? >> No, I believe the the board
124just needs to to talk about it. Uh essentially if we need to do a resolution, we'll we probably will have to have a special board meeting. In fact, we will probably have to have a special board meeting. It's due it's due before our next board meeting in January. And one of the requirements of the uh the meeting or of this grant is that the board it goes to the board and the board agrees to apply for the grant. So, he'll she'll do a presentation. We'll probably have to have a special board meeting the week before Christmas just to address this. And then if we have other things we need to throw on there, we certainly can, but we don't want to make it a complicated board meeting. We would hopefully make it just a pretty
125simple one. >> Okay. I just wanted to make sure we didn't need to do something tonight >> to make sure that that is fulfilled. So, we'll do that at a later date. >> We can't because it's information. Okay, sounds good. Anybody else have any on the curriculum piece? >> I just had one. It's interesting that handwriting report and how cuz I saw one school and I don't remember where it was at. Kansas, Alabama, they took all of their technology out and have gone right back to books and handwriting because of how kids are struggling with even writing and spelling. because when we're so used to the computer doing it for us that we don't even know how to do that. So, it's interesting that we got some tidbits on that. >> Yeah, I I would
126I that was somewhere in the south. I don't remember if it was Alabama or something like that. >> Yeah. >> But, uh I tell you right now that Matt made me think all that evening after reading that. >> Uh I think that handwriting is far more than just handwriting. It's it's it's motor skills, fine motor skills. It's brain development. Uh it it obviously is just a skill you need to have. And I think it has really been put to the curb a little bit the last probably 10, 12, 15 years. And I think it's something that um I understand technology is very important, but so is so are these basic things. And kids are lacking writing skills, physically writing as well as as the uh process of developing because you don't think the same when
127you type out something as when you write it down. Uh that includes notes, that includes uh writing a paper. Um it there's a research more and more research coming out on this and I'll be interested to see where this goes in the coming years. But it's like cell phones. I mean, no one thought much about cell phones 10 years ago, and now we realize that they're a real detriment to what's going on in the kids' life in education. So, all right, my my soap box thing. >> I I agree with that point. I grew up doing all the handwriting and it definitely helped out with cuz not everything can be done typing. Like I type a lot now, but it was very nice to get the all handwriting. And I see I was in some
128classrooms uh previously um helping with tech stuff or whatever and like they'd be on the iPads doing stuff. I don't think I could learn that way. I when I was a kid I had to read the textbook and >> your sister's running out. >> I love it. He doesn't get it. >> I I >> turned 18 on 13. >> But it's nice to hear from that cuz I think >> kids don't even read cursive anymore. >> I mean, there's not a lot of there's not a lot of people who even know how to read cursive, let alone write it. >> I I I can't read. >> Um >> I can >> like shocking thing about that we're not even barely apart in grade and I grew up on like technology. I went to a very
129STEM type of elementary school where they really promoted technology as like this new way and like now I can't even really like I can't spell most basic words because we were so onto that technology like I did math on there English I wrote like all my essays on there so that's all I know so >> interesting. Yeah. Oh yeah. >> I also do disable check on a lot of our stuff for those reasons because I want kids to learn how to write things better. work in Google Docs style. >> I can tell >> when you have to write and you have to sound it out to spell it. It's different than typing it and going I'll just hit auto. >> You think you can't write as fast as you think. So you have to think
130more clearly. >> You you think through probably what you're going to say about four or five more times than you can actually write it. You type it. keep up your brain and you end up writing >> but it keeps you sharp too I think. So, sorry. What's happened? >> I don't know. >> I think what I did was great to learn just no no technology up through like middle school and then start working it in and then eventually >> kids have gotten pretty good at both. I don't know. >> Okay. So facilities not straight away food services technology. >> Yeah. >> I know. I'm reading the article and I'm like, "Oh, that's >> was pretty intense." That was a like you could like send that off somewhere and like could get credit for that. >>
131Transportation. >> We just have 11 more trips this month than what was listed on the list there. >> Oh, just received the put it in the sharing was helpful. I didn't >> Oh, there was a couple. >> Okay. So, no financial reports. I'll go down there. If anybody has anything, stop me. Cash report, revenue report, expenditure report, bond expense report, Montana great works, principal reports, elementary, intermediate, middle, high school. I don't think they're here. Um, let's see. So, then we next we have just the 25 26 intermediate donated books. >> Do we know who the books were donated by? What's that? Did I miss it? >> Um, I was not told, but uh Mrs. Seni uh I just told her that the books had to be approved prior to putting them in the library. So,
132they'll go to the board for an action item at the next meeting. Um, yeah, but I don't know who exactly donated them. >> So, if we could know them for the action. >> Yeah, just so we can recognize who donated them. >> I'm guessing it's probably like multiple people, >> which is fine. Tell us. >> Yeah. Well, and it might have been I know they had wish lists, but anyway, next time when we approve them when we approve them, maybe we could have a little more information. Um, committee meetings on that. >> The three items listed, those look like agendas to me. I couldn't tell anything about what happened at the meetings by reading through that. So, I guess I feel like I need to ask for a verbal report because I can't really tell
133anything from But they're so old. We've already moved on a lot of things. So, >> have we changed? That's I mean, >> yeah, like look different than they used to. Matt, >> are these >> is it? I mean, I guess maybe Julie just needs to look back at how they were done before and make sure that we have a little bit more information. >> I I will pass that on. Yes, >> thank you. >> Okay. And then superintendent report. Do you have anything else to add, Matt? Um I don't know. >> Okay. Designation report on to discussion items. Polling location. >> Well, we decided not to have an inperson one, but and I guess we could have that discussion later. >> Um >> so it wasn't that we have a polling election. It was just
134the middle or the admin building versus the high school is really what that was about. Just to let you guys know, uh we don't need to make a decision or anything, but uh that's that's still something that was on there from the last meeting. >> Okay. Anybody have any comments on that? >> Any public comment? Okay. Um, I do have a comment on it just, >> you know, I guess you guys talked about the high school, but only because specifically because of the bog election, but the next election, even if it's a general election or a primary or something for polling through the county, would you like to have it here or at the high school? I mean, it's more convenient if they come here because they're not interfering with education of the students. That's
135I guess that would be my comment. I know that Dana um the elections officer or the anyway administrator from uh Yellowstone County was here and she did it site inspection on this facility. So, and she's fine with it. So I guess that would be something because I know they always ask us when they want to do a election where we want it, you know. So would you guys be in favor? I that's probably why it's still on there. I mean would you want to have it here? I still think that we should always try to put people in our schools because that might be the only time they ever come to the school. And I know inter it comes in and sometimes yeah you have to work around the student body but I honestly still
136believe and I think locationwise the high school is better. >> Yeah. >> I'm not to say that it's not nice to come down here but you are buzzing down to do a polling location and get stuck behind a train or can't get in because of a train. It's not all that convenient as somebody who does like to vote in person. you kind of got to go out of your way to make it here. So, it's way more centrally located at the high school. >> So, that because I know it'll come up. I mean, we have some lectures coming up and they'll want to know. >> I have a degree in social studies education and I think it's a great way to educate your kids about your civic duty. >> There's my county and everybody. >>
137Yeah. I I was so intrigued. I was like, whoa, like people actually vote >> and the kids are involved in it. Like I think the civics runs as they're doing stuff with it. Like I think it's a great way to get the kids involved in how it how it goes. >> I agree. Yeah. Wayne voting boosts that we presently have or worn out already. >> Talk to the county about replacing them because they belong to the county. >> Yeah. Cuz they would not fit in this this room. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And another issue is there are a lot of people with reducing lift up and down all the time. >> Good point. >> Darling access. >> Well, that's you, Wayne. You're the lift guy. >> Is that the job description? >> Yeah, that's the
138oldest guy. >> I agree. I like it at the high school. I think it's good for >> kids because >> and I think that the new parking lot makes it a lot easier to I would guess to block off some spots and there's closer parking than we've had in the past. So, >> I mean, if I had a vote, that's >> we have a whole slew of handicapped. >> Well, handicapped and there's just those ones that are right there that are closed. So, >> thank you. >> It's so parking spots. >> Oh, I thought you said they're paid. I was like, who are you paying anyway? >> I have nothing to do with them, but if they want to pay. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. So, the next item is selling of land. So, this
139is our land that we own north of town um that we bought 5 years ago. Yep. Right when I got on the board. Um, so we I I guess we just this is a discussion point of do we feel like we want to move forward with kind of like we did with the admin building and having I don't know if we'd have to go through that same process, but choosing someone to list it um or are we just going to sit on it? >> We would have to go through cuz it was voted it was voted by the public to buy it. we'd have to go back through. >> Well, I know we have to vote on it, but and we talked about has to go back to the elementary um fund, >> but is
140that something we want to move forward with or is are we do we want to kind of just wait and see? I mean, now that we have an offer on the I don't know, whatever we want to call that, the Colorado building, the old middle school >> storage is >> Betty's house storage building. >> Is the land costing us anything? I kind of thought that way something >> so we don't have to maintain >> spray weeds maintain >> people ride four-wheelers on it >> I live right next to it people >> there are no trespassing signs >> yeah there's that thing we do need to know >> it could be a liability if someone is up there >> yeah so now you just randed So there's the big ditch. I live right south of that.
141So I'm like in my backyard. >> So Wayne, do we do anything to maintain that property? >> Um no. Uh uh cuts it per day for us so that we don't have >> mask. Um, I think it's a I think it's a good location for May or anyone. We can run probably 35 in on that couple of months or whatever they want. Be a good opportunity for the kids to learn to take care of the critters and it could be used for that. And we talked about they could also plant and uh harvest and >> and irrigation gets you. >> And how many acres is it? >> It's about 21 acres. >> And it's a nice piece of property. Uh I think it has some real future growth potential as some of the facilities get
142brought into that area become more valuable. >> Let me just say what I would tell anybody with acorage. They're not making it anymore. >> It's not gonna make any cheaper. >> No. Period. >> So, I mean, if we're not costing it and and unless we were in the dire need that we really do feel we're going to need it, that's why you hold. I mean, it is an investment. Properties and land are always an investment. They're the toughest to get in, but they also are the toughest to get your investment out just because of time, effort, you know, and all that. So, but at the same time, it's you're you're holding it for longevity. That's what properties are. It's just to be held for longevity. I like the idea as we move forward with our
143CTE plans to have it in case we need it for um whatever that looks like up there, whether it's egg stuff or it's >> if we're going to do the space to do that. And I think it's becoming more and more um >> I don't know if popular is right now but for kids to learn where things where their food comes from and where how that works. So >> well I know with new CTE pathways whatever you got the CTE programs you've got a in shop. You've got FFA. There's a lot of things that can be done with it. And since it's not costing us anything as long as we don't need the money right now. No trespassing sign. >> Yeah. Well, then we might need a gate that's closed >> and security >> or
144some game cameras >> because that that could be that could start becoming if they're using it as an access and everything and we don't do anything about it over so much years, they could actually come back to us and say that they have the right to use a road. >> The good thing is you can't really get anywhere from there. That's kind of the nice thing. I don't think anybody's really using it for access. Um especially it's kind of out of the way. You got to go with the little bridge. >> So maybe with a drone. Um >> he has a map of it with a drone. So that's cool. Um but I think people just use it as a recreational area which is not very good for us. Um because they seriously >> right
145side by sides or whatever around it. >> You're telling on yourself or >> No. No. Actually, you know, like put something in the middle of the bridge. I >> mean, if you blocked off the bridge, >> I don't think you can block the bridge. Um I'm not sure. I know like for water access in the state of Montana, nobody owns the water. I don't know if that applies to the bridges on the water. owns the water. >> Well, I mean like no, but no personal >> person owns the water. >> So Wayne, >> are you hearing this that people are riding their four-wheelers and stuff on that property apparently? So can like we put up a no trespassing sign or something so that at least >> there is one to that piece of is actually
146over a bridge. Does it have a gate or how did we has a >> gate but it's like >> we can take take care of that. >> Okay, >> we can fix that. >> I just want a prescriptive use easement >> to start. I just don't want a prescriptive use easement to start being established because >> then that particular person could say that they are considering it to be used that they can and then we're in a legal battle in five or six years. >> Yeah, we'll take care of that. language. >> Thank you, guys. >> Any other comments, questions, public comments? >> Oh, someone lit it on fire once. >> Moving on, Chase. Moving on. Moving on, Chase. Okay, I know you might have have a lot, guys. I called the fire department. You're
147welcome. >> Okay, so moving on to C, the 26 27 food service contract. So, our food service contract is up this year. This is our last year on that. So, this is just kind of a heads up that that'll be um coming up and we'll have more discuss. >> In addition, the auditor contract too will be coming up. >> The auditor >> Mhm. because it's on a third year too. So, we'll be doing RFPs. I'm hoping to get the RFPs out. I'd like to get them out like the end of January if I can. I gotta work with uh OPI on that. >> Uh Marcy, how do you feel? I mean, how how are you how do you feel that Sidex was doing? Should we look at somebody different for a new contract? I mean,
148what's your >> Oh, yeah. You do. You're right. >> Oh, >> well, thank you. >> I mean, I just trying to make sure that we're I know I feel like we're doing a good job, >> but I don't eat the food. I feel like I >> told you. >> We should keep the contract. They got cheesy rest day Fridays. >> That's all I'm saying. >> I think I mean future discussion. I know Billings with Facebook. >> I guess I'm just trying to like >> and I know that you you know we've had some different changes to the menu and everything like that. I really am just trying to make sure like we are getting as healthy as we can, right? And I know that we've reduced a few of the not so many options to
149get better choices to get healthier choices is really what I'm looking at to be honest with you. and just making sure that our kids cuz some of our children don't get that kind of nutrition at home and so can we make sure that we're providing it. Sedexo does. I had a couple several months ago, I think you were on that day when I did the had the piece of paper that told me all the different things, but all of Sedexo's food that we use has no um >> gosh, I can't think of the word now. >> Preservatives and yeah, no preservatives. No. Um I can't even >> high fructose corn syrup. >> The only one that has high fructose corn syrup is the corn dog and there Sedexo is working on a new recipe for
150that for the corn dog sandwich. But all of our food and like no GM. >> Yeah. >> I think I would know this after restaurants. >> That's okay. Well, and I caught chef guard. So >> yeah. Did you hear that? >> But um yeah, I think I've been working really hard this year. Um, I feel like I have got my ground now after a couple of years of learning and stuff like that. So, this year I've really been um working on new menu items and different things like that to try to find things that the kids like to eat >> and get more students eating as well in the school. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Any other comments, questions? I know that I Billings did switch this year and their reviews have been very positive.
151I don't know who they switched to. >> Yeah, but kids like it. >> Charle, but there's the vote. >> I mean, I can come back. I mean cheesy breakfast. >> So I still have one. >> Okay. So future discussion items, anything? We won't meet again unless we have a special meeting until after the new year. But is there anything? No. Okay. Then we will adjourn. It's