Belgrade School District Regular board meeting

001I 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 the As required by Montana law, members of the community are given an opportunity to make brief comments to the board on any matters not included in the agenda. Individuals wishing to be heard shall first be recognized by the chairperson. Individuals after identifying themselves will proceed to make brief comments. The board would like to remind everyone that to avoid violations of individual rights of privacy, a member of the public wishing to address the board will not be allowed to make comments about any student, staff member, or member of the general public. No action may be taken on any matter discussed during the public comment portion

002of the meeting until such time as the matter is specifically noticed on an agenda and the public has been allowed the opportunity to comment. Are there any public comments? >> Okay. >> How yall doing? I'm Jordan Crow. Uh I'm one of the board members of the baseball. Got Angel Schaffer, Mike Bell, and Joel here too. Uh, so I'm just coming up to let you guys know that for the land transfer, not let you know or like let y'all know that we uh we have some things we'd like to do this for all the fields, specifically the Baboo Fields. Um, just to make them better for everybody. Excuse me, I've been coming off a storm or something. Just to make them better for everybody to play on. uh we have a list of improvements that we

003want to uh get put together with our board and then bring a proposal back to you all to show you like hey these are some things that we want to make this these fields better for not just the BYB community but also would help out the high school uh ball players that play over there because we're not just about a feeder program for the high school I feel like that's how I feel to make it better for them too because I know they use them as well so I think next month we'll come back with the list of things that that hopefully we can try and get around and get done. That's all. >> Thank you. That we get on an agenda so we can do more discussion items maybe be able to before >>

004Yeah, we can probably maybe we should schedule a meeting ahead of time. Do that and then we can get ready for if there's board action that needs to be taken >> prior to the next board meeting. Yeah. So you and I can get the question. >> Perfect. Yeah. Thanks. >> Would this be something that maybe should get possibly if they want to present in our work session here in two weeks? They had any suggestions. Can we throw that on there? >> Yeah, we'll see. At first, I'll meet with them and then know where to go from there. So, >> okay. We have >> Yeah, thanks for the Um, superintendent report. All right, we're getting ready. It's right around the corner, the new school year. Um, we have a long list of facility updates and maintenance

005projects that have been completed this summer summer. They're all listed in the board book and so we welcome you to take a look at that, including um, bathroom updates in the middle school that were much needed and very much appreciated. Um, new teacher orientation will be held over two days. We've increased that in one day to give our new staff time to look at the curriculum that they're going to be teaching and and really get ready for their students and we're excited about that. It's on August 14th and 15th. Our teaching staff all return on August 21st and they have four days of professional development, building level meetings, and time to get ready for their students. The rest of the staff um besides the teachers join the teachers on August 25th and 26 to get

006ready for the start of school. And the first day for students in first grade through 12th grade is Wednesday, August 27th. And our kindergarteners will start August 28th. We are completing our move out of the HEC building. They're going to start renovations next week. So this is our deadline. So we're having a little um hideand-seek game tomorrow for some of our staff. for hiding like candy bars and things in cabinets and drawers and so everybody has to go clean everything out and if you find a surprise you get to keep it. So we're hoping that's a fun way to totally get everything out of that building. Um and obviously we have been working on um moving the people who were staffed over there into this building and uh these guys have done a great job

007of making this a inviting happen workspace. So I appreciate their hard work with that. >> Yeah. >> Board report. Does anybody have anything to report? >> I had a question for D. >> Yes. >> How much longer are we going to be in here? in here. >> It's terrible for them to hear us. >> I know we have to talk really loud. We know. Make sure everybody can hear. Um we the city had planned to move their meetings out of across the street city hall uh this month, but they their microphones weren't working in the new library and so they're backordered and so we're hoping pro it'll probably be September before we move. >> Thank you. Um, I uh want to give an update to the other board members. Rocky and I have met with

008um Dee and um started the evaluation process. Um we've got our notes on it and are starting to get that put together to where we can then submit that to the lawyers, have them review that process. Um I've got a rough draft uh built kind of. Um, so we'll have that and then you can all see it and we can make any adjustments needed before we have an official evaluation process set into place. >> We haven't had one on the back. >> This is in regards to the superintendent and the clerk. >> Yep. That's I figured that's what >> um principles are not here tonight. They're all getting ready for back to school. Um but in Simly um we do have information listed for both the all three of the elementarymentaries the middle school and

009the high school. >> Frank were high school schedules available for the students yet. Okay. >> Think not I think they made a post about that. >> I know my kid said they were available and he's off and missing something. So I thought of that. I think I said I asked that question today too and did not get the answer yet. So >> okay >> facilities is Leroy going to present tonight anything >> you guys want me to >> I would like to see your face. >> Oh, can we stand up there so you can see closer? be closer to the end. >> Yeah, I'm going to find an old map. >> What? >> Um, sorry. Well, I guess I'll present before you have a bulleted list of uh things that we did this summer. It's

010not every single thing. Um, but it's quite a list. You guys have questions on any of that stuff? >> When's the track scheduled to be finished if they're starting here? Ah, if all goes well two weeks after they start. >> Oh, that's awesome. >> Uh, we may bleed into a football game. Um, I I was going to meet a kickoff construction kickoff meeting with Toby so he has all the information necessary. Um, these guys said that they can they can build us a a bridge to get over the track so we're nobody's walking. Um, but yeah, they were made aware also of these days. Of course, they this isn't the first time they've had to uh work around a school schedule. >> What's the way finding >> signage? >> Oh, just signage. Okay, thanks. >>

011Um >> I didn't know either. >> How are the playgrounds? Like is there you know is there like a time frame that you typically say okay this playground you know we have to consider for you know additional prayer replacement or is it just that you know since that repair you know and inspection just happens yearly they kind of you know remove maintain >> yeah you could have a 100-y old program 100y old playground um and as long as everything is within compliance that's still fine our playgrounds Mike said a lot of playgrounds are really well at our grade schools and so you guys are doing great. >> Great. Thanks. >> From my perspective it could be better but also very picky. >> Anything anyone else anything? >> Um I would highly recommend that you guys

012at some point go walk through the middle school and see those bathrooms. Also, I've seen the dumpsters. >> I've got some uh some before pictures. >> So, um once it's all done, I'll I'll I'll bring it to a board. I'll show >> a tour or something. >> I'll schedule a time for you guys. >> Yeah, they they were really bad, so they'll be pretty cool. Never >> want little race cars anymore. >> We love those. Those are historical. >> Yeah. So, were the gyms sanded and recotated or they reced? >> No, just recoted. We didn't have any that needed to be sanded and repainted this year. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Leroy. >> Next item is consent agenda. Do we have a motion to adopt the consent agenda items? Motion adopt a consent agenda items

013through 1 through six as listed on the agenda board packet. Authorize necessary action for these items and include the same in the minutes. >> We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> We have a second. Motion is to adopt the consent a motion and second to adopt the consent agenda items 1 through six as listed on the agenda and board packet. Authorize necessary action for these items and include the same in the minutes. Any public comment? Bring it back to the board. Any board comment? >> Question about putting a policy in there. Is that just because it's identical and we're updating it to have a better >> That is exactly why we have a lot of policies that um have not been reviewed in a long time. And so when

014there are zero changes, it's word for word. TSBA's model policy is exactly the same. And we're going to put that to agenda for you. >> Okay? >> So you'll see that more often this year, >> okay? as we go forward. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion passes. >> Yes, Steve. >> Oh, sorry, Steve. Steve. >> Oh, can you hear me? >> Yeah. >> I vote I. >> Thank you. I didn't know you were on. Hi, Steve. >> Hi. >> Moving on to prior business. Do we have a motion? Make a motion to adopt policy 8560, display of flags and banners on district property. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> There's a second. Motion and a second to adopt policy number 8560, display of flags and banners on district property.

015Is there public comment? >> Bring it back on public comment. Is there any board comment? >> I think this is a solution. looking for a problem, saying that what it really was was in, you know, the state law to prevent pride flags from being flown on school buildings. They Well, the city state law says municipal flags can be Missoula and Boseman have both made them municipal flag. So the work around the loopholes there I I I just think this is putting ink on paper that's not going to do anything other than maybe cost possibly cause problems in the future. I just think if there's any point to it >> any other comment bring it to a vote. All in favor >> I >> Any opposed? N >> motion passes 5 to two. Moving on. >>

016Next item. Consider bus route changes updates for the 2025 2026 school year. Is there a motion? >> A motion to approve the proposed 24 route changes. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second to approve the proposed 24 route changes. Um, well, I believe last time I talked to you, we were missing about 380 kids or something like that. Um, we made phone calls to those families, left messages, and now we're down to about 130 uh students that are still not registered that were registered for bus last year. Um, we're not getting any more drivers. Um, the numbers are low, so we've deleted a route and renamed MS11 MS1. So, we're down by the 117 miles from last year. However, four year olds, when we get those uh registrations,

017we will put those miles back on. And we do have we're working with two families on Boseman still. So, those miles might be coming back as well. >> What happens if like mid school year after the first week these families rejoin? >> You're going to become a bus driver, right? And help me out. >> I can trust me to drive a dude. It's a lot easier to drive a bus in winter as well. >> If I can do it, you can do it. Joan, >> I'm not driving. >> Agrees with me. >> Bus, a car. >> Hey, apparently I'm good enough to drive everything else. A bus though. Not so sure. >> You're big. They get out of your way. >> That's not true. They actually >> they get in your way. >> They want

018to get in front of you. >> Yes, >> that's true. >> Some concern in your voice >> that we're going to be driverless. >> We always seem to make do, so we'll figure it out. Any public comment? Bring it back to the board. Any board comment? >> I have a comment, Jesse. >> Yes. I was just wondering, maybe this is more a DD, but I noticed the uh news article on the Boseman uh school bus drivers and the amount they're paying them per hour now. Do we need to address that? >> Um, >> or will we Does that scare you as much as it scares me? >> I mean, we Yeah, but but you know, that that's been true before and they've raised their rates and still couldn't get people either. So, um, but yeah,

019I mean, obviously we've made adjustments, you know, during the school year before if there are things, you know, inequities that are out there that are keeping us from moving forward. So, but that option is never on the table for any group. >> Okay. >> Thank you, >> Steve. You're not wrong. this what we pay for this area for the lensure required is significantly undermarket. Um and uh I'll leave it to the budget committee to figure out how to raise that up but uh >> I was going to leave it to the transportation committee. >> Fair. >> It's coming your way. Walt. I just wanted to let you know. >> That's right. >> Thanks. >> I need more money. It's not hard money to find. It's just hard to make equitable with the rest of the

020staff. >> The money itself is a non motor. >> So, >> okay. >> But it's >> how do you pay a pair of that and a bus driver 41? >> Well, you saw what they pay their pairs as well, right? >> SD told me the other day they passed levies. You need to pass levies. Absolutely. >> All right. Any other comment? Bring it to a vote. All in favor of moving the proposed 24 route changes. I >> say I >> I for a little bit. Okay. >> And all oppose. Okay. Motion passes seven to zero. Thank you. All right. Consider a resolution calling for a bond election for the fourth elementary school. >> Motion to approve the resolution calling for a bond election for the fourth elementary school with a separate question regarding the bond

021amount for a full-size gym. There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. There's a motion and a second to approve the resolution calling for a bond election for the fourth elementary school with a separate question regarding the bond amount for a full-size gym. Is there any public comment or is there anything that we want to discuss before public? >> I'm asking you because you're the contact person. >> Um I do have Frank as so so two things. First of all, we just got updated resolution language um and I'll explain that in a minute. Um because of the we we were trying to figure out how to frame the question and how we framed it the last time. So, I'll talk about that in a minute. Um I gave you copies of some papers. Um

022one is the elementary enrollment by building. You had that one last month, too. That just shows that we don't have the capacity at this point without building that fourth elementary school to move fifth graders back into elementary. So when the community said move fifth graders back into elementary school, we cannot do that with our current capacity. So there's numbers there to show that the um I also drafted what it would look like um to staff the fourth elementary school and what positions would possibly be new positions versus ones we were pulled from another school. So this is all a little bit of an estimate, right? We don't we don't have a magic eightball to know what it's going to look like in three years. Um, but if we were to to match, you know, in

023a in a positive supportive way with staff that we have in other buildings, um, we would potentially need to add 1.5 teachers. So that would be half of an academic support teacher, half of a behavior support teacher, and half of a librarian. Um, and if you took kind of the average sort the average salary with benefit 20% for benefits, um, that would be about $91,000. And then um it would need a full-time school secretary that's eight hours a day, a library aid for two hours a day, a health aid for seven hours a day, an academic interventionist, so a parah to support academics for four hours a day, and then a playground lunchroom crosswalk dies at five hours a day, which is half of what the other schools get. And then one custodial position. Um

024and that um based on kind of an average salary for those people plus 20% for benefits would be 132,400. Those are all rounded up. They're all they're bigger numbers probably than what they would be. Only half of our staff take our benefits. Um but you know, we'll we'll go with the bigger number. So that you have that in your head. So that comes out to that $225,000. um which uh you know could be new money that we need. It could be adjusted money from you know changing our staffing patterns in our the way we currently staff. Um so but I know you had asked for some information on that. So that the third sheet is our new updated numbers based on um the um current tax values that just came out and they dropped the

025overall ass dropped about $50 a year for a $600,000 house um from what we have been talking about before. So it's aboutund $115.19 if everything were to pass and we issued the 20 understand why that happened. I'm not super said that >> I was having a hard time figuring out how this new tax structure worked. I had an idea about it, but then I asked Chat GPT to help me and it did. So now I have a formula for um how it works compared to the old system when when we were taxed in the past. we were taxed at 1.35%. Versus now the first um $400,000 of your house is taxed at 7.76% and then from $400,000 to 1.5 million it's taxed at 1.1%. So both of those numbers are less than the 1.35. So

026that's why when you look at your taxable value it's gone down compared with your market value. even if your market value went up, your taxable value probably went down. Also, they had an assessment freeze this year and so they didn't do reassessments. They kept everybody at their previous assessment. So, um there wasn't an increase what they said, >> right? 50. >> I thought there was a lot of increases. >> It's not true. >> No, it's not true. >> No, my ours went up or value tax value up value went way down. >> My market value went up but my taxable value went down. >> Yeah. Belgrade. So I don't know. >> Yeah. So you can see for a $600,000 house with this example um under the old model from last time it would be approx

027for the um elementary general fund that I'm presenting tonight which is 111.07 mills is what um we're looking to adopt. It would be $89967 under the old model. under the new model that drops down to $582 um and one cent for the year. And so that's a savings of $31766. And then if you add on the $400 you get back for a rebate, it's really only $182 rebate. >> Yep. The onetime rebate. So for this year for the low low cost of So But that's how that is is uh is uh penciling out now. >> So the 111 includes includes the gymnasium. >> No, that's just the elementary general fund >> or elementary budgeted funds that we'll adopt tonight. I didn't do it on the bond. I did it on our budget. >> Okay. >>

028Before we get too much into com comments, let's open it up to public com comments first and then we can bring it to the board. Is there any public comment? Okay, now we can bring it back to the board. Does anybody have any comments that they'd like clarity on? Questions? I love when we say 317 savings, which is just less taxes. It's not a savings. It's not quite as much spending, but it's not savings at my point. I'm sorry. You ought to know drill math. When you go to TJ Maxx, >> I know. >> It is a savy >> and then but sales. >> So, are we going to be voting on whether or not we're going to be moving forward? >> Well, we have a motion. >> That's right. >> Yeah. So, um, with

029the additional comment on the gym, yes. What is everybody thinking as far as if we're going to do this? Do we do it with the gym? Do we do this? Do we What What are we thinking? Does anybody have any comments or questions? >> So, the way I understand this, you're going to have two two components. one they're going to vote on for the >> fourth elementary >> without the gym and then they're going to vote on the gym which is another 5 million >> but it's contingent on the first home passing >> right >> because we're not going to just build the gym >> might get that full >> well I thought we I thought at the meeting that we do but that would be the best way to approach So that the public

030had the option. >> That's the way I understood it was alleart. >> Yeah. >> So that was so I'll just tell you that. So the draft of the bond language that's in your board book. We just received the update for that. What we did was we took a look at the last time we put bond language like this in. Right. It's weird to have that $20 million floating out there because what do you do with that? So the last time we did it, we were asking for $60.5 million in addition to the 20 million. So there was a line in the bond question that said in addition to the whatever you're paying on the 60, you're also going to pay on that 20, but there wasn't a dollar amount there. And the dollar amount there

031compared to the $300 that people were going to be paying on the, you know, the big bond seemed less relevant. But here the big dollar amount is on the 20 million. And so we we went ahead and gave the total amounts including that 20 million and kind of rewrote it to say you're going to be paying for the 20 million and the 6.63. And the total for that is going to be this >> because it seems disingenuous to say you're going to be paying $15 a month. Well, really there's another $84 a month on top of that, >> right? Because this one was flowed. So the the draft that we have now makes that clear. The totals all around including the 20 million and they're at that bottom line, you know, for a $600,000 house.

032I don't have much. Is that $84 a month? >> 818 year. Sorry. That's a lot higher than 80. >> So for an estimated about $10 a month, less than we can get the fifth grade out of the middle school. So, I think that that, you know, the positives of moving forward at this point are the voters asked us to build another school and we're moving forward with asking them if this is how they want to do it to remove it. Um the you know, we don't know what's going to happen to that 20 million if we don't spend it. Um, and the our community also asked us to move fifth grade out of the middle school and we know that for some people that's a really big concern and we can't address it unless we

033build more elementary space. So, I think those are the reasons why we're here talking about this. I think the, you know, on the con side, we know that our taxpayers haven't seen their taxes go down yet. I mean, presumably they're going to see a drop this year and it's going to feel better and we're going to feel some relief and recognize that, you know, there is a change and and for most people it's going to be positive. Um, but that hasn't happened yet. Um, and you know, we will have 75 days to talk to our public about that. You know, I can say that I've talked to a number of people that I thought would be kind of hesitant towards this. They were once explained to them, hey, look, you know, this will help us

034pull fifth grade out and it'll give us room in all grade levels for the ne foreseeable future to be able to absorb expansion without having to come and ask for a building because all of a sudden we got another, you know, 200 kids that came in in the last three years. they uh they're auntie explained that you know it's going up about 8% a year in terms of building costs and that's why we got in this situation where we're asking for an extra six um they're receptive to it which like I said the people most of them I've had a couple that are you know amazing but most people are oh you know that makes sense and you know especially when you say hey look it's going to be you know this this willow us

035to not have to build for foreseeable future. >> The only thing I'd say to this is that you know during the last vote it's 3 to one against. So we need to not go into this uh with the idea that it's a you know that's that close. We need to go in with the idea that we've got to really put a great story together and put the leg work in to communicate exactly what the value is. The values are as mentioned before, but there's also the fact that this continues to be the fastest growing community in Montana first of all. Second of all, you say the costs are only going to get higher. It's a million and a half to2 million dollars a year for every delay. And then lastly, one of the things that

036I think is really important is that a good share of the costs that go into this project uh are the infrastructure. The the costs that are would be if we were to expand this from 250 to 500. there would be a big savings on a cost per square foot basis because all of the cost for the sewer, water, and a lot of the things in parking and all of that have already been invested into this building. So, we get a a break on that. So, there's a there's an upside. So, future spending uh would be a lot more economic for the tweet. I also think it's important to note um you know as with the last bond there will be you know a lot of events that schoolboard members are would be um really necessary

037to attend um and and be there face forward with the information as much as you are able to attend any of those events. It's really important that if this does get voted through um to to show that you're willing to to put yourself right out there and talk to people about it as well. That's how other communities have gotten these things passed is with the the full united support of a board if we decide to move forward. um there the last bond there was several events and um I know that people's schedules um prevented them from participating in a lot of them but it is important visibility of the board is very important on these kind of issues. Well, I think the other thing we heard was you could it's the amount of traffic you

038get if you schedule something is one thing but the thing that you need to do is during schedule activities where the community is already being drawn in we need to pay pay particular attention to that's a good time to have a dialogue >> all festival >> and then another thing is I'd say is that we need to have a good packet of information that we could >> share directly with the people. I mean, I have no problems with losing a little shoe leather. If I had a good a good pack at the table um and walk around and talk to people about it and share at least some information with them, I think it does make him fresh on people if you're willing to to uh you know, do a little bit of face to

039face with them and let them have a a go at you if they will. As long as they we have the data in front of us, I think we can make good case that this is right to do. >> Yeah. Again, advertisement meeting for it last time and you had one family that lives across from the current school that came and all the people that have a financial vested interest. That was the extent of our participation. You know, you don't go where the people go, it won't matter. Remember the people that are most likely to be honest with the people that have kids that are in elementary >> and or med school. Mhm. >> Those are the kids, those are the families that we really need to connect with some fashion because uh they have

040the the numbers to help with the with the overall uh and you know, one of the things here this the volume the number of voters is not going to be high >> never is. So on this particular on this particular deal, so we need to make sure that we talk to the people that have got a vested interest. >> Yes. >> In this activity and as many of those people to the post as possible. >> I I I I'm I'm optimistic with this. Actually, it's going to be supported by the community. The big one that everybody I talk to is, hey, this will allow us to help fifth grade out of the middle school and they know the middle school's got some challenges getting the fifth grade out of there. I've had multiple parents saying

041fifth graders are just too young to be in the middle school and this is the the solution to the luminol. The chest piece is the final. >> Steve, did you have anything you wanted to comment? only that uh we have to try. >> Yeah, agree. >> I wish we had uh the kids show up that we'd projected, but uh we need to keep moving forward. >> Yeah, I'll I'll be probably the sole decent voice here. Apologies. I I think it's disingenuous to uh say that we asked the voters to build another school and they voted for it because we asked them to build another school on where we'd have, you know, several hundred more elementary kids right now and we don't. So, I have trouble with that statement. And I also have trouble with the

042our voters overwhelmingly supported moving kids fifth grade out. I think the people that had fourth graders going in and some fifth grade balls who voted that way and that pretty much comprised our numbers. We didn't we didn't qu ask the community, would you like to move kindergart or fifth grade out of the school and are you willing to pay an increase in your taxes to support that? We didn't we didn't ask that question. We asked a collective group of people that had kids in that school. At least that's the ones that responded. >> I don't know. It was on the ballot. I voted on that. Yeah, you voted on that when the escalation of kids was going to be through the roof. That's why we were so easily swayed. I'm not but I also Rocky's

043point to me is really valid that we're not going to get get to build it for this again. Price isn't going to go down. And >> the people I've talked to that that surprised me are generally very fiscally conservative almost I hate to say anti-government but very limited small government and they're the ones that are going you know in terms of school support you say hey fifth grade's in the middle school the long-term plan was to always pull them out and you you know they go oh you know that they need to be pulled up well the way to do it is to build this and you explain to them what the reason why we're in this situation now is because we didn't build in 2019 and they you say look it's going up 8%

044per year compounded and it starts and then the wheels start turning but they and the ones you know offline I'll give you the names if you want them but the people are >> I don't want to throw them out so we don't record the conversation but the people are >> very fiscally conservative tax-wise and uh they're the ones that are supporting it which like I said some of them I had a couple of them that were aware of thought but some of them really like oh you're you're buying this wow I'm impressed >> so my general demographic would be probably not that fiscally conservative but still fiscally conservative but usually would vote yes on anything schools and anything fire and anything police and they they're cost and you talk about Um, >> and that that's

045where the burden comes on us to educate to sway that mentality and to show the benefit of why filming now is better than trying to play catch up later. >> Oh, yeah. I was just going to say a couple things. One one is um the big thing that's hurt us is the fact that the the taxation on property has taken a significant increase >> and I think um the perception in some fashion is that the schools get you know equal portion of that increase which is a which is uh you know if you look at what the numbers are It's it's not that's not a correct analysis. So I think part of this is kind of overcoming that that perspective from yes we understand it's gotten higher. I think a lot of people had said

046we see all this information that there's more people but why isn't our rates coming down. So, so for the first time since we have been talking about the rates going up, we actually see a decrease >> as as the numbers of people coming in have actually started to to change that a little bit for everybody that's in the third. So, that's a positive thing. Um, you know, one last thing that I'm going to say, and this may not be comfortable. Um you know we had the the period 2020 we all know what happened. Um, one of the things that we need to do as board and as an admin is to do the things that we need to to make our school as attractive as possible >> for the kids for the families that are

047in the area so that we get make sure that we get as many of those kids as we possibly can given the fact that the uh, you know, I think we're making some good progress um and with with curriculum and the elementarymentaries and and uh we're starting that starting to move its way up through the schools. I think we can we can start to see that we're going to see some progress and that with our support, board support will start to give people the confidence that the Belray uh school district is the right place to put kids. And I think uh we have just continue to work on that is it's a part of why I think we haven't seen the numbers. Um, we have some positive things out there, you know, that we're doing.

048We just have to continue to work on that and make make as much progress as we possibly can. Um, in every avenue that we're that we've got a challenge in front of us. We're talking about some of those tonight. But, uh, we have to be a better place to come so that we attract more people, so this makes more sense to all of us. >> Yeah. Steve, you have a comment? >> Yeah, I just wanted to ask another uncomfortable question, kind of pigging backing off of what Rocky was saying. Part of me feels like we have to go forward with this because of all the effort and uh time that we put into this and resources, but when you listen to what Rocky said, and I kind of feel the same way. It would be

049better for us to wait for a couple years until we've proven oursel a superior value to every other district in the valley because right now the forces are kind of tilted against us. You know in the state I saw an article from a couple state representatives who are you know against public education. If we know this is going to fail, do we sit back and get our ducks in a row a little bit better and try again in a couple years? I think what Rocky was saying and maybe I misunderstood but I thought Rocky said that we should go forward with this because it would make us more attractive. Is that correct or >> Yeah. No, I think this is I don't I'm not saying not go forward. What I'm saying is we have we

050have a brings up a good point and that point is that our numbers haven't increase. We do see an increase. all around us. We see more buildings. >> We see more residents. We don't see an increase. >> We have to ask ourselves the hard question of what do we need to do as a school? Make sure that >> uh eventually our numbers start to show, the kids start to show up at the front door. And I think that's what that's what I'm saying. It's not a matter of not doing it, although that that might be a point made. I think the problems that I see with not doing it is >> if we don't do it in two for two years then we'll be looking at something around three or4 million difference in price. Uh

051and for me that's not going to be that's not going to make this any more popular. uh we may not make it but I think it's a good thing to be persistent and continue to tell the story and even if we don't make it we can come back in two years and then maybe we have the some of the parts and pieces in place although the price will likely be >> more >> I think it's also important to keep in mind you know >> okay >> um the community has repeatedly come forward and said they're frustrated with being reactive instead of proactive, which is why we went out originally for the bigger one. Um, now we're coming back with this. We we listened to them. We assessed that we've come back with a second option.

052Um, I think it's important that we're listening to the community with about the fifth grade um issues. We know that there's issues at the middle school. I think this does show that we have been listening to the community of trying to provide a solution to that. Um, we're all taxpayers, too. We know that it's going to hit us as well. I don't think anybody up here is taking any of this lightly, but I think, um, Rocky nailed it with we have to be more attractive. There's going to there's going to be charter schools coming into our state. There's going to be so many other alternatives that if we aren't really making sure that we're doing what we can to make our district the best that it can be, then we are going to fall behind

053on the times and then it's going to be really hard to catch up >> because those other schools, those charter schools and those private schools, they have the funding to pop up. We we have to ask. So, just keep that in mind, too. >> Steve's got another >> Steve. Yeah, I just I didn't mean to put words in your mouth, Rocky. But it's something to think about. If you antax, so if you know it's going to fail, >> does it make sense to wait another year? Just saying. >> But do we know it's going to fail? We haven't even try to put any effort into it yet. >> Yeah, but you don't want to be doing this every year either. Then people will start to tune you out. De, maybe you didn't have an answer.

054What is the lifespan of that $20 million approval? [Music] >> It it has never happened before as far as we can tell in Montana. So, we're not sure. I guess what I wonder is if we start punting on this a few more years, would that put us in jeopardy of okay, we go past the school based on it and then somebody throws a lawsuit up saying, "Hey, you didn't do this in a quote unquote timely fashion." So the 20 million's not there even though the other bond passed. >> Yeah, >> we do run at risk. We just don't know. Ultimately, I think our job as a school board for Belgrade schools is to make Belgrade schools the most attractive schools out there uh in this ballot. And I think that uh you know, I can

055make a lot of arguments. I mean, I can make arguments both ways, but sitting in this position here, I think that we have to try. I think that we are very I think the community is starting to soften on the resistance to things. Um if we explain that their taxes are actually going to be reduced. I think it's a lot of education. I think it's going to take some work. I'm not scared to wear I talk to 3,000 people a week. Um receipt touch them and see them. And you know it's amazing how many people that you know don't even realize them until I talk to them. like, "Oh, you're that you're that guy that drives the trash truck on the school board and if just, you know, every person everywhere we go, if we

056start to if we sell this and and explain it and and show how it's going to benefit the community, I really, you know, and I can't believe I'm arguing a favor, is cut spending money, but uh I really think that we can make this happen." And uh you know, the worst we can do, right? You know what we're doing is we're putting it out to the community and saying, "Hey, do you want us to do this?" And if they tell us no, they tell us no. But at this point, I think we we just we need to give them the option. We need to let them vote. You know, they've got ballots and come November. And, you know, I think I think we need to give them the option. And uh if we if we're

057willing to work, and I'm willing to work, I've already talked to um some media people that I'm friends with and uh they've agreed to help, you know, push this a little bit and uh I'm optimistic, but we've got to go forward with it as far as I'm concerned. >> Any other comments? >> Should we bring it to a vote? the chair. Sorry. So, I would ask that the vote reflect that you're adopting the um revised Carrie. Is that >> So, we need to amend the motion. Is that what you're >> Yeah. What car you want to amend it? We need to amend the motion >> because they're not adopting the one that's on the board, but they're adopting the revised one as we just saw. >> Well, the person who first made the motion and

058then the person who seconded it agree with it, then then it can be amended to say revised. We're good. >> I adopting revised. >> Yes. I'm not >> the revised is just recalculated with the new numbers. >> Yeah, I see. I thought there was an additional >> No, no, it's just with the new information from the county from the state. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Basically, all it is is this here with more updated history. >> Yeah. >> And that it includes the total dollar amount with the planet. So, we are very clear with our voters what the ask is. There's no shipping 20 million. Okay. >> I see having internet issues and he's trying to hop back on. >> Good for you. >> Don't let him get away without having to throw his vote for

059it. Considering as large as this is, do we want to do a roll call vote? >> Yeah, just [Music] he was on for a second then knowledge. He's great when it works. Everyone just call pretty much >> right. Um, all in favor to approve the resolution calling for a bond election revised resolution calling for a bond election for the fourth elementary school with a separate question regarding the bond amount for a fulls size gym say I. >> I. >> All opposed. >> I. >> Same sign. Um, motion passes. What's the number? >> 520. >> Okay. >> Is there uh moving on to review and consider the um fiscal year 25 trustee financial summary for the elementary and high school. Is there a motion? >> A motion to approve the FY25 trustes financial summary for the

060elementary district and high school district at the bottom. Is there a second? There's a motion and a second to approve the fiscal year 25 trustees financial summary for the elementary district and high school district as presented. D Carrie would list a second on that. Uh Laya. Okay. >> You want to present on this one? You guys have any questions? >> There's a lot there. This is our annual report. It just breaks down how we spent our money. There's lots of things that go into it that they they take from it on how make whether we made maintenance of effort for special ed. Um there's new um US Census Bureau information in there for detailed expenditures where they want to know how much you spent on all teacher salaries on CTE teacher salaries. There's all that

061kind of stuff. But basically this this reports um my nemesis this week and reconciled. Yeah, we're we're good on um the I will tell you the capital assets that are in there have not been adjusted yet. Um they'll get adjusted before I submit it. Um but everything else is >> got all those pennies figured out that you were struggling with on. >> It's funny. I I was laughing because it's like this is all fine. Four cents and you're like really >> four. Before we get in the weeds on anything else that you want to talk about before we'll open it up to public comment. >> No, I I I mean it's pretty self-explanatory. There's a lot of information there. Um >> but um we were able to transfer um funds into the AB2 fund. If

062you pull up the balance sheet, which is one of the first pages in there, it will show you what um was transferred in. Show me 82. It's fine line 82 or >> no it's fine 82 which is your >> so you can see that we did um transfer in from the um ridge view transferred in some money story transferred in some money and then um the curriculum was the one that you guys um approved at the beginning of last fiscal year and then we were able to move some money for the um into the sub fund for uh the Tripper activity buses. >> So, >> there will be a quiz on this later so you guys know the new board members. >> Well, what are you going to do if I fail? >> I'll flunk

063right here. >> All numbers. >> We'll open it up to public comment. Is there any public comment? Seeing none, bring it back to the board. Any additional board questions? >> The only question I have is how does this compare to last year? >> They have the year comparison there on a lot of the funds that'll show you what our expenditures were last year compared to this year. And um it depends on on where you are in the budget on how it compares. Um, some expenditures are higher, some are lower. I noticed a lot of the teaching ones um were similar. They weren't like extremely higher or lower. They're staying in line. But that's a lot of work that we've done with um staffing in all of our schools, too, that I think makes a difference

064um with that. Uh >> what about janitorial services since we had to do so many outside contracts? There was some of that in there for sure. Um, >> we were higher there this year, right? >> Yeah. But we also didn't have people. So, I mean, your people costs are down and then your contractor costs are up. So, which unfortunately contractors are usually more expensive than people for the most part. >> Yeah. The >> the area that we get hit hard for contractors is special ed. Um because you're contracting out OT, PT, speech, all those kind of things right now because there's just no one to hire here. So, >> any other questions? We'll bring it to a vote. All in favor of approving the FY25 trustees financial summary for the elementary district and high school

065district as presented, say I. I. I. All opposed. Motion carries seven to zero. Next item, review and consider FY26 budgets, elementary and high school. Is there a motion? >> A motion to adopt the FY26 budgets for the elementary and high school districts as amended. >> Is there a second? >> Second. Walt or Rocky. Rocky got that. >> I don't think we care. >> All right. There's a motion in a second to adopt the FY26 budgets for the elementary and high school districts as presented. Carrie, would you like to speak on any of this as well, please? This one, um, I put a graph in there that shows the taxable value history and our taxable value went down about eight million dollars. painful. >> Oh, because of the >> it went down quite a bit >>

066because of the land. >> No, no, not the land swap. The taxable value in the district. You know how we were talking about it went down because of the tax property tax changes. So um you can see from the graph this is the first time since 2017 where we've seen a dip in taxable value. >> We've been steadily climbing and then we took that big jump. I think it was 200 uh FY23 we took and 24 we took that huge jump and then it kind of leveled out and then now it's it's taken a a dive which is not a bad thing for our taxpayers. um we get the same amount of money regardless of what the taxable value is because that's how our um budgets work for our general funds. And so the taxable

067value doesn't make any difference to us. All it does is change the number of mills we have to ask for. So the lower the tax value, the more mills you ask for. >> Basically, we're asking for the same raw dollars, just how that calculates to a million, right? Thank you. >> And so the the state sets our uh both of our general fund budgets which are 01's on there 101 and 2011. They set the limits on those budgets. Those budgets um for us are at the maximum without a vote because our mill levy failed this year and so we didn't get any additional uh budget authority above the the u maximum without a vote. And so, um, we're still seeing an increase of almost a million dollars between the two of those. Um, but we

068did do significant teacher raises, um, custodial raises, paras. I mean, we did, so we are eating up that difference um, this year, but I think it's good. I think, you know, you want to invest that money that you're getting extra into that kind of stuff. So, um, one area that I think people might be surprised on is the um tuition. You know how you have open enrollment now and people can go other places? Well, um when they go other places, we have to pay for that. Our district does and we got a bill from we've been getting bills and our um bill for elementary school is two oh gosh, it's over 200,000 that we have to pay out to other schools. That's Boseman, Montfort Fortune, Manhattan, um Gall Gateway, there's quite a few. And then

069we have it's um about 30,000 that's at the high school level um that's going out. Um coming in um you can see that on your general fund budget. Um >> huge. >> Did I not attach the budgets >> budget documents? Not on this one. just under 600 and >> some thousand 600. Yeah, there's a >> that's for all students. That's not for >> Oh, shoot. >> I was like, well, we are Yeah, we're killing it. >> Wish. >> Well, now uh we we're we're putting that out. Are we receiving anything from tuition? >> Yeah, she's trying to >> try to pull that. >> Yeah, definitely not as much as we'll put now. >> Well, let's fix that. We we're going to do that. We're working on that. So, for um elementary, we have to uh

070we're going to bring in 32,000 um $833.32 um or high school. And that's on uh page six of the budget. And I'll get that sent to you guys. I'm sorry I didn't attach it. I thought I did. I must want to hit save. I'm I'm good at that today. Um for high school it's $12,27128. >> Say you >> um 32,000. >> Okay. >> 32,833. >> So what about 200,000 to the the on the wrong side? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> That's wrong. So, um that's going to that is increasing our tuition levy substantially. Obviously, um I still think we were able to stay within some u mills. We we had some I did lower our budget in um transportation on both the high school and the elementary a little bit and in retirement because we've had

071a lot that we've had at the end of the year. And so there's no reason to keep the budget high if we're not using it. And it's been consistent. Um, and I think that we can can do that. And then we were able to reappropriate some. When we reappropriate, that means that you um put it back in so that it's not taxed. You basically take that budget authority from the previous year and the cash that was earned through those tax levies and apply it towards the next school year. So then you're not taxing to get up to your budget where you were. Um you can see the in column F on those comparison sheets. That's your reappropriations. And so you can see where um we've reappropriated. So like transportation, we we were able to transfer

072some out to the interlocal agreement and reappropriate 300,000 in the elementary. So, I lowered our um levy and our budget there because I don't feel that we we need it. I mean, we're down routes, we're down drivers, things like that, and we need to account for that and not um do that. So, so I did lower those. And then our um retirement has been the same amount pretty much since I got here because it's I haven't needed to raise it because it was already there. So, I lowered that as well this year to try to offset some of those increases in mills in other areas. And we've reappropriated over two uh let's see retirement $479,000. So, I only I think reduced it uh 200,000. So, I'm trying to offset some of those other um increases

073in the tuition fund with that and still keep our mills somewhat steady. Thanks for your hard work. Will you do public comment on this one? >> No, I don't think I did. Um, thank you for the information. We'll bring it open to public comment. Is there any public comment? No public comment at this time. Bring it back to the board. Any final questions? I have a question about the u archer of that elementary partic in particular. Um we done a survey on what's going on or what the specific causes of those are >> of the I thought was reaching out to families to find out what >> but have we gotten any feedback on that? We did get some feedback, but some of the kids hadn't even come here, right? Like some of the elementary

074kids just never started school here. They went somewhere else. >> So it on the forms that we get from the state, we don't get an address and a phone number and things like that. So when we can, we've reached out. It's just not 100% and we can't require them to give information if we don't want to. But um uh a lot of it, especially with the little kids, is like the parents work in Manhattan or in Bosezeman and so child care is easier to have close to your work. It means you're paying less money. So that's something with the elementary. Um we've heard, you know, I want a smaller school district. >> So Manhattan, you know, some families are choosing to go there because it feels like a smaller environment. And again, I think that

075goes back to things like we have one of the largest middle schools in the state, >> right? Um, so that's kind of the the bulk of what we're hearing about. Occasionally we'll hear about sports or other activities. Um, sometimes it's a split family. Some, you know, there are people that just have circumstances. I just you know for me it's just like can we come up with things that we can work on what can we point ourselves at right >> you know that's something the goal I think we should have in our head is >> what are our main cause I mean I think we know internally >> some of the things that we could do better but >> what are some of the things that we could uh focus on >> there's been nothing that's

076come to our attention that we don't already have things in the works to try to remediate Okay. >> Any other questions, comments? Frank, do you have anything? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Well, does Steve have anything? >> No comment. >> Oh, okay. >> I was like, I don't see anything. >> Okay. Uh, we'll bring it to a vote. All in favor to adopt the FY26 budget for the elementary and high school districts as presented say I. >> I. >> Steve says I. >> Okay. Thank you. All opposed. Motion carries. Seven to zero. Review and consider 2526 student handbook. Is there a motion? >> Move to approve the 2025 26 student parent handbook. >> Is there a second? A second. There's a motion in a second to approve the 202526 student parent handbook. Um Trey was

077going to talk on this. Do you want to? >> Yeah. So we had brought it to the group before and then there were some things that we needed to fix in there and also we wanted to have some more discussion around three areas. Cell phones, attendance, and dress code. So we did meet have some discussions and revised those sections um and cleaned up the other parts that um that needed to be cleaned up. So this was with those changes and typos were also >> and typos were yes. >> Is there any public comment? No public comment. Bringing it back to the board. Is there any questions or comment? I think some of this revision is good and I can hardly wait to see what happens when it's implemented. >> I do think u in particular

078the cell phone is the one that'll uh we just have to make sure a lot of these things I think even the dress code >> it's going to be hard the first few months of the process to to maintain. We're going to have a challenge not only with the kids but with uh >> staff, >> you know, staff and uh even admin. So, it's going to be a it'll be something that'll be a bit of a challenge probably as possible. >> I think it's going to come down to accountability. And not just on staff, but the students owning up for accountability as well and and shifting that narrative. Anything else? >> Okay, bring it to a vote. All in favor to approve the 202526 student parent handbook. All in favor say I. I. >> I.

079Sorry, Steve. Steve says I >> Allo. Any opposed? Motion carries seven to zero. >> Consider revisions to policy number 5255, disciplinary action. Is there a motion? >> I'll move to approve the revisions of policy number 5255, disciplinary action. Is there a second? >> Second. There's a motion and a second to approve revisions to policy number 5255, disciplinary action. Dee um so the next series of um agenda items are policy revisions that came from the legislative session. So these all are connected somehow to a law that was passed. Um this one and they're all the um recommended um changes from NTSBA. Um, so there are minor updates to the policy to MGSBA's model policy. And in addition, this policy now includes language to comply with House Bill 400 regarding the use of names and pronouns, which

080states that no employee, regardless of the scope of the employees official duties, may be subjected to an adverse employment action for declining to A, identify the employees pronouns while acting within the scope of employment, or B address a person by using a name other than the person's legal name or a derivative of the person's legal name, or by using a pronoun or a title that is inconsist. with the person's sex. So, this is now state law. Um, and so MTSBA helps craft policies that will follow state law. Um, and so th those are the changes in this policy. The 5,000s are employee things. The 3,000s are student things, right? So, this one is related to employees because it's a one in the 5,000s. We'll open it up to public comment. Is there any public comment?

081No public comment. Bringing it back to the board. Any board comment. >> So this means we can't put pronouns. Can we have open up the programs or just eliminate the problem of >> So we just can't we can't discipline an employee for using a person's legal or pronouns that are associated with their sense. So if an employee says I'm not going to use their the name that they've asked use, I'm going to use their legal name, then we can't discipline the employee. Even if they're doing it as a bullying matter in state law, >> which how this is written also goes with like nicknames and anything too. >> So I mean it's anything that somebody doesn't want to be called. that they can that that somebody can call them their legal name and not be

082disciplined for that. >> I have a quick question or maybe something I should point out. >> It appears the attachment that's uh referenced in this thing is uh different. It's for employee discipline versus student. >> I'm looking at it. Hold on. Now 5255 is an employee one. >> Yeah, we talk about employee on this one. Yes. >> Which attachment are you looking at? >> Well, all I can see is 5255. It could just be my computer. >> It's your poor thing. Um, no. There's 5255. >> Oh, I see the draft. I see the draft. I'm sorry. I apologize. Yeah, gotcha. My bad. Any other comment? Bring it to a vote. All in favor of approving revisions to policy number 5255 disciplinary action say I. >> I. I. >> All opposed. I. >> Motion passes 6

083to1. >> Oh, Steve. I vote I. >> Okay. 6 to1. Sorry, I just >> You're fine. I was muted. >> Consider revisions to notice form 5430 NF1, volunteers volunteer agreement form. Is there a motion? Motion to adopt revisions to notice form 5430-N parenthesis 1, volunteer volunteer agreement form. >> Is there a second? Second. There's a motion and a second to adopt provisions to notice form 5430- NF1, volunteers volunteer agreement form D. So the um the policy that was in the consent agenda was the volunteer policy. That wording hasn't changed in many years, but the um volunteer agreement form that language has changed. And so our last one I think was redone in 2015. It contains a lot of verbiage that we have in our volunteer handbook but doesn't really belong in a in a formal

084volunteer agreement form. So what we have in there is striking what was in our old form and using moving forward with the MTSBA's recommended language in the volunteer agreement form. We have other documents that talk about you need to show up on time, you need to, you know, be friendly to the kids. unique to those other kind of things. But um >> is this the exact form? >> The the one that's in your >> the draft is >> the draft has MTSBA's at the top and then this the one down below and Brad that struck out is our >> the reason why I'm asking is this the exact voluntary way. Would you shorten it up so that the volunteer signature is not on the site? >> We'll figure out we'll put it on a different

085document. >> Okay. Is there any public comment? No public comment. Bring it back to the board. Any questions? >> There were things that existed in the old one that were there because they're important. Do they exist in the volunteer handbook for administer? Yeah, we'll we'll match those up to make sure that anything that was critical that was in the old so referring that to other documents. >> We got one the one couple that was minister of medicines. >> Yeah, on the top >> there's several. >> No, it's it's a different policy, but yeah. >> Um whatever happened to the fingerprinting that we were going to do? Yeah, we fingerprint everybody >> in house, right? >> We have a fancy setup that we're required to have more. [Music] >> Any other questions, Steve? Any questions? >>

086None. Thank you. >> We'll bring it to a vote. All in favor of adopting revisions to notice form 5430- NF1 volunteers volunteer agreement form say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Seven to zero. Consider adopting policy number 2165, early targeted intervention. Is there a motion? >> I'll move to adopt policy number 2165, early targeted intervention. >> Is there a second? >> Second. There's a motion and a second to adopt policy number 2165, early targeted intervention DB. >> So, this will be a new policy. That's why we're adopting, not revising. We actually started our early targeted intervention program last year. We somehow missed adopting the policy. Um, go figure. Um so which is fine because they've revised the policy because uh they changed it but you know they um up they they did some

087updates to that in this legislative session to make it not just about literacy. It's now about literacy and math. They opened up the screening time so we can screen kids around rather than just for three months in the summer. So they made some changes to it. So, we're adopting this one that incorporates all of those MTSBA sent out again with all those revisions. So, what you have in front of you is MTSBA's version of it um as a after it was revised after this legislative session. So, we'll open it up for public comment. Any public comment? No public comment. Bring it back to the board. Any questions? Comments? Steve >> none. None here. >> We get reimbured by the state for this. >> We do >> in part full >> full the full AMV >>

088plus some if they do the jump start program too. So we get a quarter A and B for kids in the summer program which is the jump start program and then we get a full A&B for our 40-year-olds who are participating in the um school group. >> And are they participating in the homebased program already? >> We haven't had a lot of interest in the homebased program. They put it out there and offered it. It's a zero cost to us. So we just keep putting it out there. We haven't had a lot of interest. But I locked it in the policy because we want to be allowed. Move to a vote. All in favor to adopt policy number 2165, early targeted intervention, say I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion carries. 7 to zero. >> Consider

089revisions to policy number 3612. School provided access to electronic information services, equipment, and networks. Is there a motion? >> Move to approve revisions to policy 3612, school provided access to electronic information, service, equipment, and networks. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second to approve revisions to policy number 3612, school provided access to electronic information, services, equipment, and networks. Ed. >> Okay. So, this is a 3000. So, that means it's about students, right? Uh the proposed revisions are based on the MTSBA model policy. Our policy hadn't been updated in a while and of course the technology um there's some changes to our you know we have to update language in our policy. It also includes a statement on student responsible use of artificial intelligence. Um that basically says students

090have to use AI responsibly for educational purposes. They can't use it for anything dishonest. Um, and so it just describes that. Um, so, um, I think it's important as we start to dip our toes into the world of AI that we make sure we have this in our policy. We'll open it up for public comment. Any public comment? No public comment. Bring it back to the board. Any comments, questions? Is there stuff added in here or is it just a bunch of stuff stricken out? >> No, it's just updating it for setups. >> Okay, >> I guess >> and then added for the AI. >> Oh, >> so the part at the top is the new part. Um, our policy was so old. Um, there was a little bit of overlap, but it was easier

091just to >> adopt it. Okay, that that that makes >> I'm I'm sitting here trying to figure out what's been strict what's been added in and straightened up, but that makes more sense. Okay. >> Yeah, the majority of it was was needed to be revised because it had been a while, >> right? >> 2012 was the last time and stuff's changed since then. So, >> yeah, couple things. >> Steve, any questions? I'm using the uh AI companion tonight on the Zoom plugin. It's amazing. >> Responsibly. >> I'm going to give you a full report next week. >> Thank you. >> We'll bring it to a vote. All in favor to approve revisions to policy number 3612, school provided access to electronic information services, equipment, and network say I. >> I. >> All opposed. >> Motion

092car. Oh, I didn't qu >> I uh motion carries 7 to zero. Consider revisions to policy number 3410, student health. I'll move to adopt provisions to policy number 3410, student health. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? Second. There's a motion and a second to adopt provisions to policy number 3410, student health meeting. >> Uh the updates to this policy. So, there's two health policies, right? There's this one. The one below it is medication. So, it's two different things. Um, this one, the updates in this policy are designed to comply with House Bill 599, which requires that districts provide parents with notice of the right to opt out of any physical or mental health screenings and to be notified of the results of such screenings. Um, in our district, we're not currently doing any

093mental health screenings. Um but we do do physical screenings and um vision and hearing screenings typically. Um so parents do so we have to we will notify parents that they have the right to opt out of that um if they choose not to and that we'll give them results which we did anyway. It also requires the district to provide notice at the beginning of the year of anything we anticipate doing during the year. So, which I think we've also been doing notifying parents there will be vision hearing screenings. At this point, we're going to open it up for public comment. Any public comment? >> No public comment. Bringing it back to the board. Any board comment or questions? >> Steve, >> I have none. Thank you. >> Okay. Bring it to a vote. All in

094favor to adopt provisions policy number 3410 student health say I. >> I. >> Steve says I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries 7 to zero. >> Consider revisions to policy number 3416 administering min medicines to students. Is there a motion? >> I'll move to approve revisions to policy number 3416 administering medicines to students. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. There's a motion and a second to approve revisions to policy number 3416 administering medicines to students DD. The proposed revisions by MTSBA provide updated language that matches our current medicine and medicine administration. Um so in the past we've been able to districts have been able to stock EpiPens. Now there is something called a nasal a nasal version of an epi pen called a nephy. Those have been approved for school districts to

095stop. Also um aluterol has been approved as an emergency um medication for asthma for us to stop that. And um narcan or um anti what are they called? Um whatever narcan is uh Um, so for all of those things, we're required to have procedures in place. Where is it stored? Who gets trained? How do they train other people? How do we um what's our response when we use it? Meaning, you have to call 911. Um, so there's there are procedures that we have to put in place before we can actually say we have these things in there out there. Obviously, we we've had EpiPens for years. Um, and so we're working on the procedures and the training for the other pieces. >> We'll open it up for public comment. Any public comment? No public comment.

096Bringing it back to the board. Any board comments or questions? >> Question on self-administration of other medication. Uh, bullet one. The physician, dentist, or other licensed health care provider provides a written order for self- administration of said medication. Is that otherwise known as a prescription? >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Remember that attorneys wrote this. >> My child three out of three years of high school >> and it's been a pain in the ass. So, thank you for making me not go get a know each time my kid goes on a trip that we can indeed >> take his medicine. >> No, have somebody else fast. >> So, this is much better. >> Yeah. >> Um, >> yeah, >> there's a lot of stuff in here. We ready to handle and store everything appropriately, have secure

097locations and environments. >> Nurses are all over. They got trained on the nar train the trainer I think Monday. No, was it today? >> It was >> I think it was last it was last week. Yeah. >> Um and there's there's support from the state to do this. There's a lot of support to make all this. >> Is all our staff able to do the AR can? >> So we will decide who we're going to train, >> right? And so that's part of creating the policy, creating that practice of who gets trained, how many people get trained in each building, what makes sense. Um, you know, we epi pens became so common place and, you know, um, important that we trained, you know, we trained a lot of people on EpiPens. So as it moves

098forward, I could see them that are >> Are we going to have a policy or are we going to have the ability? I mean, this will this just be in the building available or are we going to have it where if they go out out of leave the building, go on trips, are we going to have it on the buses? >> Right. So, right now we um we we send EpiPens on field trips. >> Okay. >> Um >> with this, would we have a bag with the other with we'll we'll figure that out. And we're looking at other districts and what their procedures are and how that. So yeah, we'll look at that. But but then there has to be someone who's trained to administer it on. So yeah, Steve, any questions? He's either on

099mute or he's not. >> He's still muted. >> Okay, we'll bring it to a vote. All in favor to approve revisions to policy number 3416 administering medicines to students say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Motion passes seven to zero. >> Consider 2025 MTSBA membership electronic poll. Is there a motion? I'll move for the build school board of trustees to vote approved for all items presented on the ballot. There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second for the Battle Grade School Board of Trustees to vote approves for all items presented on the ballot. DD carry. So, um, MTSBA is one of the organizations that provides you with valuable things like model policies. Um, and they also serve as an advocacy group for for trustees um, for things

100that are going on in the legislature, things that might be going on nationwide. Um, and so every year they put out this this is our plan for next year. This is these are our kind of big picture ideas of where we believe education in Montana is headed and what we need to be advocating for. Um, and so this is this is just saying yes, we we acknowledge that this is, you know, what the work that they're going to be doing on behalf of trustees in >> We'll open it up for public comment. Any public comment? No public comment. Bring it back to the board. Any board questions or comments? >> Yeah, I have a question about these uh posts. Um, do they have a record or a history on the their portion or their how

101their advocacy has improved >> the education process in my town? >> Yeah. because I seems to me that I'd like to understand a little bit more about what value they're bringing. >> I I hear a lot of noise. I get a lot of emails. >> Don't tell me what they do. >> I know this guy named Lance Melton. >> Yeah, >> he's a kind of like the guy with the big thumb. >> I was only up there once and I figured that out right away. Well, you're welcome to come to Mel and you can have Yeah. October a couple of days with them. >> Well, yeah. I'm not sure. >> Well, I I just I'm just curious. I'm just wanting to understand >> I think >> what what what their value is to us. >>

102Yeah. I mean, I think they're one of the advocacy groups that's working on making sure that public education stays strong, that we um are able to do what the Constitution says we're supposed to be doing. Um so they're out there fighting for that. I think they um in terms of they're in a little bit of a hard spot because they're advocating for a tiny C school as well as the double A's, right? and and there are really different things that need to happen between those two groups for to be successful, right? And so that's a really hard place to be. You know, they have 400 districts that they represent. Eight of them have 40% of the students and the rest of them don't. Um, and so there are things that, you know, we look on

103as a double A and think, well, that doesn't make any sense, but it does when you're looking at the bigger picture. Um, so we're not always in sync with them, I would say, probably. Um, but overall big picture, they do do a lot of work and, you know, have had success in making sure that some things that could have been really damaging to public schools didn't happen. Um, so I think from that perspective, you know, I would say we need to continue to be a part of MTSBA and continue to talk with them about what we need as a double A in order to succeed so that our voice is heard. >> Yeah. So, this is just as far as I can see, this is just straight legislative. I'm I'm not seeing a uh specific

104set of results on Montana educational performance. >> No. And I don't I don't know if they can give that straight up because they're one of, you know, one of five organizations that were working together to advocate. Okay. >> So pulling what they did out of what what those groups did together, I think would be hard to do. >> Um so >> what do we spend on that money? like I think the membership alone is like 14,000 >> that was total >> then you add in like simply is or has been really >> I I guess what I'm asking is are we getting the value out of it 14,000 um to just simply go through our policies and write these if we were to hire an attorney independently I don't think we could do it for

10514 or >> I don't even 20,000 either way. So, the value proposition there alone >> to me is, you know, this is just a better deal um because they're able to do it in mass. >> Yeah, >> we get that. We get some proono attorney support, which is nice. We don't have to call them big for everything. There's things that they handle. There's things that we don't want them to handle. We would rather have some be. Mhm. Um, MTSBA also offers training for school board members and if you have any questions or concerns, you're represented by MTSBA as a board member. So, you can reach out to them whether you want to ask something about, you know, even the way like our roles and responsibilities or anything like that. Um but the trainings that they

106offer as well and this is you know this is just part of their work right they're asking for approval to change their bylaws with some things and you know so this is some of just their you'll see this >> annually because nobody ever goes to their in office thing they have to vote remotely >> yeah always any questions None here. >> We'll bring it to a vote. All in favor for the B school board of trustees to vote approves. For all items presented on the ballot, say I. >> I. >> Any oppos? >> Motion carries 6 to one. >> Lucky is now playing the role at Mara. >> That's a bad role. Yeah, we skip the vector. >> I know. Um, declare trustee position vacant. Is there a motion? >> I'll move to declare a

107vacant position on the Belgrade board of trustees. There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Reluctantly, yes. >> There's a motion and a second to declare a vacant position on the Belgrade board of trustees. Carrie, you're assigned to this one. >> Why do we need a motion to quit? You guys have to declare it open. >> Yeah. >> Advertise until you declare it open. >> Okay. >> You don't get to approve me resigning. >> Um but then uh you declare it open and then hopefully you can find somebody between now and what's your last day? The 28th. >> The 28th >> going to advertise or whatever. and hopefully appoint someone um around that right after that time ideally so that they can take over right away >> so you sign it is potentially >> yeah

108from the from today you have 60 days now the clock is ticking to invite somebody >> that didn't start ticking till she left >> her yeah that's what I thought too right >> if you can't find anybody just so you know then the County Superintendent can then appoint. >> Yeah. >> So this appointee would assume >> one year >> well till the school year. Yeah. Then they go Yeah. I mean and they would have to run again. Run >> and then where are you at in the cycle? >> Uh this is like I only have one year left on >> Okay. So So May would be up anyway. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> So in May it would be a full three-year term. Yes, >> we'll open it up for public comment. Any public comment?

109>> July. >> Yeah. >> I'm sorry, sir. Could you state your name? >> We'll bring it back to the board. Any comment, questions? >> I will be set. I think >> I just want to thank all of you. Like if you >> It makes me emotional, so I'm not going to say much, but it's bittersweet and I I love this district. So, I'm going to be around just in a different capacity. And I just want to thank all of you for teaching me and helping me become a better person, a better community member. And um yeah, thank you. >> That's it. Well, this school district appreciates your hard work and dedication and serving as vice chair and all the other leadership aspects you took on. Thank you. >> Your endeavors, whatever they are. >> Thank

110you. >> Let us know whatever we can do to support you in >> Likewise. Likewise. All right. Um, all in favor to declare a vacant position on the Belgrade Board of Trustees say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. 70 to zero. >> Uh, approve the plan for filing trustee vacancy. Is there a motion? I'll move to allow letters of interest for the open trusty board position to be due when siting. >> We'll just say blank. >> Okay. To be due blank. Whereas letters of interest can be dropped off at the district office to the district office, emailed to board chair or or mailed to district office and set date and time for interviews. >> Is there there's a motion? Is there a second? >> Second. There's a motion in a second to allow

111letters of interest for the open board position to be due blank where letters of interest can be dropped off the district office facts to district office emailed to board chair or mailed to the district office and set date and time for interviews TV dating. >> Okay, so um in the past this has been an occurrence. The board has chosen to just have people submit a letter of intent. You're welcome to do a resume. You're welcome to do whatever you want. In the past, it's just been a letter of intent to send any people okay with that. >> Okay. So, we'll um with that or a letter of I guess is what we call it. And then so um I guess we would propose that you advertise it for two full weeks to make sure that

112anybody in the community who would like to submit their letter of interest has that opportunity. Um so that would be if we did it we started advertising tomorrow, Tuesday, August 12th. um and went through till 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 25th 6. Tuesday is >> the interview's on the 27th, so I can do that. >> Actually, that's a no question. Do we run into trouble doing that or we're interviewing for a vacant position that isn't vacant? Well, I >> our district superintendent our superintendent >> I I think as long after I'm >> you can wait till the first week of September. >> We'll just ask for that. >> They the MTSBA because I asked them as um and they said that we could um do everything now so that it's declared vacant as of that date

113and you can you can prepare to appoint somebody so that you can do it as soon as you're done. So, >> okay. April. >> Nope. We asked. Yeah. I' I've never had anybody resign this far in advance. Didn't notice. I believe people had. >> So, usually it's like tomorrow. I'm done in a week. August 12th through August 26 gives a full two weeks plus a day. Does that work for everybody? End of day on August 26. And then you can decide if you want to do the interviews that week or the following. >> I won't. >> You're right. >> Huh? >> You're right. You won't. >> What day are you proposing for Kennedy? >> I was going to say the second or the fourth just cuz I have second the third, but I can change

114it. So you can do it the third if you want. You know, maybe I I would propose a little more accelerated schedule, have them due on the 22nd just because we could have uh conduct the interviews in the work session possibly on the 25th. >> That's too much. But the work session stuff. >> Okay. I guess I'm just trying to >> try >> utilize the work session >> rather than push >> because the the second Yes. >> Second is Labor Day is the Tuesday after Labor Day. The fourth is the Thursday after Labor Day. That week's going to be certifiably jacked up for everybody. >> We're going to go off at Labor Day. But like that first week is school starting and stuff like that. That >> I think that's why >> I'm gone the

115week from 2. >> Yeah. Are you back um in September? Obviously rough week 29th. Steve, do you have any preference? >> He's not talking to us. No, >> I'm sorry. I was on mute again. I don't have a preference. No. >> What about September 8th? What's the regular next regular board meeting? All right. >> Second, third. [Music] >> I have I this this makes me sound old. I have cataract surgery on the third. So maybe the second. >> Yeah, there we go. Go with the second. >> Tuesday the second. If it works for other people, right? >> At what time? >> Six. >> Tuesday the second 6 o' 6 o' the same. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Now that that's been clarified, is there any public comment? No public comment. Bringing it back to the

116board. Any additional questions, comments, concerns? >> If you only get one person, are you still interviewing? Yeah. >> Exactly. You can open it back up and see if there's other people that would Maybe I'll put my name back in. >> So much already. Okay. >> Okay. >> Do we have a vote? >> Nope. We're gonna do that. Um, all in favor to allow letters of interest for the open board position to be due August >> at 4:30 p.m. Whereas letters of interest can be dropped off at the district office, faxed to district office, emailed to board chair, or mailed to district office, and set day date and time for interviews on September 2nd at 6:00 p.m. Uh, all in favor say I. >> I. I. >> All opposed. Motion carries. Seven to zero. I'm not

117sure if we know that, Steve or not. >> He didn't say Steve. >> Yep. Steve said I >> Good job, Steve. >> Hey, Steve. See you later, Steve. >> Wait a minute. Are you selling pillow windows? >> I used to be a certified installer. >> Oh, sorry. Johnny.