001We're all like to welcome everyone to the regular board meeting on April 20th. Public portions of the board meeting are being recorded in accordance with district policy 1420 and section 2-2-214 MCA. By remaining in this meeting, all participants and attendees acknowledge they may appear on the recording which will be placed on the school district website for a minimum of one year from the date of the meeting. Like to welcome everybody. Anyone wishing to speak on an agenda item, please fill out the pink sheet and located at the end of the table and return it to the board secretary as soon as possible. First item on our agenda is the approval of minutes from the special board meeting March 9th, 2026. Motion from trustees. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> It has been moved
002and seconded. Do trustees have any questions or changes to these minutes? >> Hearing none. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. All those opposed. Motion passes. Approval of minutes regular board meeting March 23rd, 2026. Motion from trustees. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> It has been moved and seconded. Any changes or questions from trustees on the regular board meeting minutes? Hearing none. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All those opposed. Motion passes. At this time, we have Mr. Eric Zaylor from the West Elementary School presentation. Welcome, Mr. Zaylor. >> Thank you, Madam Chairman, of the board. Thanks for having us here tonight. Thanks for letting us take a minute to brag about West Elementary. So, uh, first thing I already kind of went around and passed them
003out. What you're looking at there is a a Pax book. So, at the beginning of the year, sixth grade teachers, uh, fifth grade teachers were kind of talking about how these kids are coming in new to the district and they have no idea what PAX is. So, the sixth grade teachers decided they'd get together, uh, and write a book. Kind of fell on Miss Conway to do it. So, Miss Conway uh teamed up with one of our elementary or excuse me, our our kindergarten teachers, Miss Dhy, who is new, has been a great asset to West Elementary. She's been an amazing teacher. But the two classes combined up. The sixth graders wrote it, illustrated it, uh or is their words, they drew the pictures. Um and then they uh the kindergarten classroom colored it. So,
004it's basically just the A to Z of what PAX is. Uh helps kids learn. Every classroom has a copy of the book. Uh, and it was just a really fun activity. The kids love it. Um, nice little introduction. The other part of that book is you got a little bookmark there, too. We have a little sixth grade STEM program where they go in and they meet with Casey in the morning and do math and, uh, they'll do 3D printing and and just anything science, technology um, related and math, obviously, engineering. So, they'll do anything like that that's related to those uh, topics and and they work with Casey and they may do the bookmarks. So, those are 3D printed Buffalo bookmarks also in those books. So, just wanted to say thank you guys for what
005you do and here's a little something that goes on at West. I know you hear the word packs thrown around all the time and maybe you don't know too much of what it is either. So, there you go. Read the A to Z's on packs. So, again, thank you guys for having me here tonight. Start out with some um just some data. Here's our dibbles data. K through two. We'll retest them here soon. I think it's the end of this week, maybe next week. We'll retest them. So, we'll have the data there, but all signs are pointing to pointing to being right around that 75th percentile. So, we should be pretty good there. Uh third through sixth graders right now are 76 proficient with their dibbles data. Last year this was 74%. So we're up
006a couple percent there. Uh sixth grade is obviously leading the way. They're 89% proficient. Sixth grade led the way last year also, but they were 86% then. So not only do we have great numbers, but they're growing from last year also. So that's huge to see. So we're pretty excited about our dibble scores. PreK these little guys. First off, you need a humbling moment or you just need a great moment, a great day. Come sit in prek room. These guys are so cute. It's it's it's adorable. I love it. It's when I'm having a bad day, it's where I go. I go hang out with the prekers. Uh it's just a breath of fresh air. So, they came in in the spring through their P at 51%. And right now on their last P scores
007were 75% overall. So, that's a tribute to the teachers. That's Miss Dickinson and Miss McCarthy. Uh they're doing an amazing job with those kiddos. And to see that kind of gain for for four year olds, 5-year-olds, that's pretty impressive. So, we celebrate that. This is the one that I really want to talk about. I know you can't really see the data there too much, but this is the writing data. Uh, we got together in December uh in a PLC and we started looking at our writing data from the MASS assessment last year. And I don't know if you can see that first column right up there, but at 2425 third grade, we had 72 kids score a zero out of eight. Didn't know what they were doing. They had to type it. Not really familiar
008with typing. So we got together and we decided we needed to make some changes. So if you look at this year's third grade, only 10 kids scored a zero. But if you cross over and look at the fourth graders, still had 15 of them, but but they did okay. So we said, "We've got to fix our writing." So, we got together through a couple staff meetings, few PLC's. We came up with the idea we're going to implement races. It's just a real easy writing strategy that we found online. We implemented that in January of this year. They took the writing test in March. Uh, and our goal was to have um third grade two or higher. We wanted every kid to get a two or higher. We didn't quite hit that, but 67% of our
009kids did. So last year was 4%. Okay. Fourth grade we had we wanted a two or higher. Um last year 33% of those kids got in the fourth grade. This year was 68%. Um fifth grade we wanted to see a three or higher. So this year 67 last year was 31 and then sixth grade 22% last year up to 57% this year. So just in a couple months implementing a simple writing strategy, we had significant gains and obviously we want to see these numbers continue to increase. Um a lot of that is just not understanding the mass writing portion. They took it for the first time last year. So the kids just really have no clue. So we were pretty excited about that. Uh teachers had no clue. We looked at released materials uh through
010OKI websites. We looked at different types of rubrics, came up with races uh and we saw what we feel is pretty tremendous improvements. Okay. Obviously, a lot more room for improvement, too. So, but we'll get there. But just to see those numbers and how much they improved. Uh the best score is an eight. Last year, we had one kid score an eight. This year we had three score an eight. So, you just across the board, you see the numbers going up and really we really like that. So, um yeah, you look at the fourth graders last year, the best score was a three. Those guys are fifth graders this year. And you can see we had numerous kids score four, five, six, sevens, and eights. So you're seeing the increase just from implementing this one
011strategy. It's one of those things we wish we would have got on earlier in the fall, but you have so many other things that you talk about and PLC's and different types of things that you're implementing. So um yeah, can't wait to see how they do uh next year. So students definitely rose to the challenge on that. Here's our MAP testing. I took some reading scores. So currently we're 63rd in growth, which is great. Anytime you're scoring green and blue, you're doing pretty good. Um, achievement, we're at the 56th percentile, but if you go back to the fall, we were at 43rd. Is that 49? It's a n 49th percentile. So, you see the jump there. We don't have our spring ones yet. We're currently map testing right now. Okay. So, we'll have our spring
012ones here pretty soon. Again, everything's on track to take that achievement score and bump it up into the green. So guessing low 60 percentile probably would be where I'd probably probably put us right now. Um the two charts on the bottom here, see the green dots? We want green dots. These are grade levels and it's by achievement and by growth. And you can see in the fall we had some orange in there. We want more green. And then here in the winter map test, you can see that we got more green heading in that higher growth, higher achievement route. We do have that strangling that little orange down there. what a great PLC meeting that was, right? To sit down and talk and say, why did we go the wrong direction? So, that was phenomenal.
013That's how we utilize this data. So, uh that was our reading data. Again, looking forward to seeing what happens here in the uh spring citywide hall of fame. We have six kiddos going. Super super excited about this. They did so well. Highest West has ever scored. We had so many kids. I think we had 16 actually earn sweatshirts this year and make the Hall of Fame. These are our top six that get to go and got the invitation. So, uh, May 7th, anybody's got some time, get there. I believe it's at But High School. Um, we got some real neat kids in there and I feel really, really good about their success and how much time and energy these kids are putting into it. And I just love the City Hall of Fame. So, little
014bit about West and what we got going on. Obviously, throughout the year, we've had a lot of stuff to to talk about, but here we go. Um, Homestake Lodge, obviously, thank to huge thanks to those guys. Uh, taking our third and fourth grade up there. Uh, we did have to cancel one of the trips, just no snow. Um, Discovery, everything that they do for us, fifth and sixth graders, and the BU ski club for taking on that and flipping that bill. Uh, the YMCA, our third grader, just got done with their water safety last week where they take them and flip them in the boat and they have to, you know, surface. So, pretty pretty cool stuff. This year, they were lucky. They got to go out to Fairmont and do it because the YMCA
015has been having some pool issues. So, they got to go out to Fairmont and do that. Food drive, huge, huge for our community. Um, we had a couple food drives this year obviously with with um what was going on in the times. Starlan, anytime we need something or prize or reward, they step up and they really help out. So, they're they're great to us at West. Also, Puget Tree programs coming up next month, search and rescue. So, they'll be here in May to do that. We have the snow plows in again in the fall. Um, they do a phenomenal job. get the kids up there, blow the horns, upset the neighborhood a little bit. I did have a lady come and say, "Hey, can you slow down on the horns?" Absolutely, ma'am. I'm sorry. We
016apologize. We don't want to be a bad neighbor. So, um, had to ask the plow guys to kind of back off on the horns, which is fine. Uh, but high, they they come down so much and they help us out with things like our Buffalo Buddies program, which is where we bring in community members or upper classmen to come and read to our younger kids. So, uh, as a matter of fact, I think the end of the week this week, uh, the 23rd, um, the softball team is coming in to do our Buffalo Buddies program and reach to our kinder. So, our prek kinder first and second. So, I'm pretty excited about that. So, the softball team coming to do that. Uh, Montana Tech, they're so involved with West Elementary. We have someone from Tech
017there. It seems like every week from Charlie, Oregon, they're football coach, volleyball coach, basketball coach. They're always in there. My favorite is when the science club comes because they get to blow up pumpkins and and do cool stuff like that and make elephant toothpaste. So, that's all cool stuff. As a matter of fact, the tech science club is coming Friday uh with the sixth grade and they have a little project they're going to be doing with sixth grade. So, really cool to invite these people in and they're so willing to come in and help out. It's just amazing for our kids. Uh other things we got going obviously family dinner nights. We tie this to like STEM night and reading night and math night and all these different types of nights. Um, so I think
018we had six of them this year. So they went extremely well. Got to shout out the National Honor Society because those kids come down from But High and they help serve, they help give drinks, um, they play with the kids. So we we absolutely love that. Quantis steps up big again for us um with the bug assembly. We had over 110 kids with the bug. Gave out their pizza ran certificates. It was really cool. Our PTO is huge. We need some funding. We need anything. um plaques. They'll get them engraved. They'll pay for it. So, our PTO is amazing. Uh they bought over 1500 donuts this year. That's up 300 donuts from last year. Sorry, sorry. >> No, they're not whole grain, but we try. Uh so, donuts with grownups went really, really well. Uh
019over 1500 donuts. They're planning our field day right now for I believe the 1st or 2nd of June. Uh and everything's going extremely well. I mean, it's just really nice to have a parent teacher organization that you can just call at the drop of a dime and are willing just to help out. So, that's a great relationship that we have going with those people. Uh, fire department, uh, police department, both these groups have been in to read the kids for Buffalo Buddies programs. Um, fire department stepped up big time this year and brought the truck and did some walkthroughs with the kids. Um, talked to the kids, just gave them some fire safety tips. So, that was awesome by the fire department. Uh, festival of trees. We finally got a tree up there in the
020festival. So, a huge shout out to the teachers that did that. Um, I believe you had Sarah Steppen, Jory, Lea, Britney, looks like Kaylee and Amanda Denny. So, they all stepped up and helped out so we could have a tree up there and support that also. And then obviously Montana resources and everything that they do for the community. And there's so many other people that take pride in in what school district's doing. I just don't have time to talk about every single one of them. So, these are the ones that help us out regularly and the most. Some activities that we have going on for our students here. Obviously, I've already mentioned the Buffalo Buddies program quite a few times. Uh, it's really it's really cool just having these organizations, these businesses, um, universities come
021in and read to our kids. You see some pictures there of um, some cops reading to our kids. You got some football players reading to our kids. See some of those pictures. But it doesn't end there. Santa Claus reading to kids. I mean, a lot of cool stuff going on with our Buffalo Buddies program. So, and that's Miss Steppen and Mr. Denny really kind of taking the reigns on that. So, huge shout out to them. Uh, prek uh through two holiday program. Again, got to have that holiday program for those little guys. The last two years, Miss Hall's put that on. It's It's been phenomenal and fun. The kids absolutely love it. They put on a whole show for the whole school the day before and do a nice little dress rehearsal. So, those kids
022love that. PAX leader of the month. We implemented that last year. gets really stuck. They get the handprint on the window. You can see the picture up there of Mr. Denny and Mr. Brown with a little girl on the step stool getting their handprints. They get a certificate. It's no different than student of the month. We just change it to pack leader of the month. So, it's pretty cool. Perfect attendance parties. Um, a lot of these revolve around treats and candy and things like that. And we decided to be a little bit healthier this year. We brought in Gym 406 for a perfect attendance party. Kids love it. Had a blast. So, they got to do some tumbling and some exercise. Gym 406 guys let it and they did a phen phenomenal job. We implemented
023anCCAL program this year. So through our K through three um they've all got now six weeks of through the spot program. So it's been awesome. You can see the difference in the kids. They're actually using the language of the SEAL program. So we're super super excited about that and continue that growth and see where that takes them to. Uh obviously one of our huge goals at West Elementary is to continue the unified national school, unified champion school. Um, so things that we need to do to make sure we get that obviously is implement inclusion schoolwide and do a bunch of stuff special Olympics like young athletes and little feet. So the uh young athletes is coming up here I think at middle of two days. I think it's Wednesday. So we're pretty busy. I got
024a list of the schedule of some events here at the very end. But so that's some cool stuff that we got going on. Um athletics, we did a great job with athletics this year. Uh West got a team in the cross country meet this year. That was fun. Kids had a great time. Spelling be uh uh uh chairperson Boston was there. She was our reader again. Thank you so much for doing that. Copy and good is new this year. Really cool program where every single month we pick a different grade level. The kids are they have the chance to basically just be caught being good. Open a door holding a door saying something polite being nice to a kid. Kid falls down on the playground, helps them up, whatever it might be. And they'll get
025a ticket. They'll get to put their name on the ticket. Ticket ends up in this bucket. We've had over 500 tickets in the bucket. So, we draw about 10 to 15 names and they get a nice little prize that the PTO pays for. So, pretty cool little program. Just some incentive to be good, you know, be good citizens. Talked about the Hall of Fame already. Spring concert went really well. Um, super impressed with Miss Rous and what she does, Miss Ralph with those kids. um the instruments they're playing four, five, six instruments and they're singing songs and I don't know in the little amount of time that they have the six weeks to to make those kids learn those instruments and play those songs and sing the way they do. That's pretty impressive. So a
026huge shout out to her. The concert was amazing this year. Um Big Brothers Big Sisters, we have 10 matches at but high so they're there regularly. It's or excuse me um 10 matches at West. So they're all most of them are but high students that come down and work with our kids in big brother's big sister and you can just see those kids' faces light up when their big brother can't make it or their big sister can't make it for that day. You can just tell their days ruined. It's unfortunate. Uh but uh they have a huge huge role in some of those kids and their success. Sixth grade stand where they put together our videos. We do every other week we do a video anywhere from about 5 to 15 minutes. Um and it
027just highlights the things that we've done the last couple weeks. So we do have a schoolwide video. We usually play them on Fridays. Uh we do it through teams. I introduce it at play on the video and the kids absolutely love it. So that's been awesome. STEM kids are doing that 3D printers which you got a sample of that with your bookmarks things that are doing the kids are doing there and they're really kind of focusing on morning math right now. So those kids are coming in in the morning. So it's been awesome. It's been great for the kids and the activities. Um have to mention the staff. Last year I talked about each one individually. I think that ran me pretty long. So this year, you know, I just I'm going to talk about
028them as a whole. This group of people I put up against anybody in the state, right? They show up. They show out every single day. They give every ounce of of their heart and soul to these kids. I mean, I've never seen so many people willing to make such a big difference in people's lives. And that's what these teachers do. Um, they understand their role. They understand how important they are. They understand how they influence kids. They understand how they can change a life every single day. And those are things that you ask for in a teacher. Um, notice it's not just our teachers. We have our engineers on there. We have our cleaners on there. We have our lunch ladies on there. We have our paras on there. Our monitors are on there. Um,
029school psyches on there. So, we have everybody on there because they all contribute and they all make a huge huge difference uh in what we do at West Elementary. So, um, can't do any of this without them. We did have a low there for a minute. So, we decided as a group uh at a staff meeting uh back in December that we needed to basically establish our shared values and beliefs. So, I put together a list of my 15 12 15 um gave it to them, gave them a little assignment, told them to pick it apart. These are my values. You guys pick it apart, add yours, change mine, rank them from 1 to 10, whatever you want to do, and then we'll meet at the next, we'll come back together at the next staff
030meeting and we'll create a list. So, they basically had this homework sheet. They turned it all into me. I created a list. Um, and then at that staff meeting, we basically went in and just organized it and came up with what our values are. Uh, basically, we need a culture. We need a value. And this is how we established it. few things I would do different. I think I took the lead on it a little too much. I'd like to have them take the lead on it a little bit more. So, I would change that for the next time. Um, but we needed something. So, now everybody has this printed off in color laminated on their desk just as a friendly reminder of the 10 reasons we show up to work every single day. So,
031I mean, it's pretty cool stuff. So, I mean, I don't know if you guys have access to the PowerPoint, but we can also take time and read through them if you want. Yeah. Um, so we'll just keep going here. And then obviously the last thing, we're kind of looking ahead at what we got coming up the end of the year. These are some of our big events. We have a lot of others. Yeah. Young athletes is coming up. Looks like it's Wednesday the 22nd. We're inviting parents in for that of the kids that are participating. So it'll be our our self-contained kiddos and our kindergarteners. And they'll be supported by sixth graders helping out. Uh really cool event. We'll have student body on one side, the parents of the athletes competing on the other side.
032Hopefully, we get some chance going back and forth. Have a ton of fun with it. Hall of Fame's coming up on the 7th. Again, we're looking for some huge success there for West Elementary. Uh track meets coming up on the 13th. And then we have our Little Feet track meet on the 27th. Kennedy usually sends some guys down. We're looking including Whittier this year, some of their uh kiddos as well. So, see if we can't make that happen. Um end of the year carnival. It's going to be a carnival theme. It's going to be June 1st and then our sixth grade and PK graduation. It's going to be a tight fit, but we're going to get both those in on June 5th. So, they'll stay there the whole year. Um, yeah, I just want to
033say thank you guys for having me here and on behalf of West Elementary, go Buffs. >> Thank you guys. >> Um, Madam Chairman, I just want to congratulate uh Mr. Zaylor on a great year. I also want to reiterate on those writing scores. Please know that um they are deflated across the state. Um um everybody is seeing those kinds of scores. It's not just west that are seeing those. In fact, that's why they're having a statewide virtual meeting on April 30th with the in um connection with University of Montana regarding those. So just FYI that you know those scores were not unique to West. >> Thank you Judy. Appreciate it. I was just ecstatic to see the growth. Thank you, Mr. Taylor. Appreciate it. >> Um, Miss Jonard, Highland Meadows Residential Subdivision. Yeah, Madam Chairman,
034members of the board, I just wanted to bring to your attention that we were approached by Wet Technology to write a letter to the but uh Silverbo planning department regarding um the Highland Meadows residential subdivision, which is planned for um right across the street from Margaret Larry on the south side um just right off of uh Four Mile Road. I think it's very important for you to know that um there will be only access into the subdivision from Warren Street um so that um there won't be any tra you know a huge amount of traffic um right in front of this um school during the year. So, um, this has not been approved yet, but it's going to the planning board. And in order to do that, they had to have a letter from the
035school district. And what I submitted to them was that on the behalf of But School District, uh, the letter is to confirm that we've been number one informed by the proposed Highland Meadows subdivision, which is part of their duties, um, to be located across from Margaret Larry School. and then also discussed uh based on the current enrollment projections and existing facility capacity, the district has reviewed the potential impact of this development. And at this time, we anticipate that school age students generated by the Highland Meadows subdivision can be accommodated within our existing elementary, middle, and high school facilities. um stating that our schools do have a capacity to serve additional students that may uh arise from this um subdivision. Um so that letter was sent to Wet Technologies which will then be included into their
036packet for the planning board. >> Thank you, ma'am. Next is the election update. Mr. Patrick. >> Madam Chair, members of the board, I just want to let you know we delivered the ballots to the post office today. So, go to Billings and then hopefully they'll show up on Wednesday. And then just wanted to publicly um thank Cindy Sherman up at the county and her staff for all her help. Um it's a big a big lift to get all those ballots out and stuff and they did a great job helping uh the school district and so just wanted to make sure we thank them for all the work they put in. >> Good. Thank you. We also received in the mail the u printoutformational printout I did. >> Oh, was that from the um >> Yeah.
037>> Okay. >> Thank you, Mr. Patrick. Anyone wishing to speak on any matter not on the agenda may step forward now. Please identify yourself before you begin. I must caution anyone wishing to speak. You may not discuss personnel issues, student issues, or pending litigation during the comment session. Due to time constraints, each speaker will be allowed three minutes. Do we have anyone wishing to speak? Public comment on items not on the agenda. Seeing none, we will move on then to approval of payroll claims, budget transfers, revenue reports, budget versus actual reports, travel requests, grant applications, and school budget reports. Motion from trustees. >> So move. >> Is there a second? >> It has been moved and seconded. Do trustees have any questions on these? >> Hearing none. All those in favor, please say I. I.
038All those opposed. Oh, thanks Henry. >> You're welcome. >> All those opposed. Motion passes. Approval of the PAR for April 20th, 2026. Miss Alli. >> Madame Chair, members of the board, I present the April 20th, 2026 PAR. On it, we are requesting approval for five appointments under certified personnel, five resignations, two retirements, and one leave of absence. Under classified personnel, we are looking for approval of three appointments or resignations, one retirement and two removals. And under supplemental personnel, we are looking um to appoint two employees, the resignation of six and the removal of one. I appreciate your support of that. April motion from trustees. >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> It has been moved and seconded. Trustees have any questions to Miss Ally regarding the FAR for April 20th? Hearing
039none. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All those opposed. Motion passes. Moving on with Miss Alli. Approval of the 2026 2027 staffing projection. >> Madame chair, members of the board, following staffing meetings and discussion with the superintendent and administrators. The following staffing staffing projection projections for the 2627 fiscal year is presented. Your approval is greatly appreciated. Um and that was attached. So I'm looking for approval of the staffing projection. >> Thank you. Motion from trustees. Is there a second? >> Second. >> It has been moved and seconded. Any questions to Miss Alli regarding staffing projections for 2627? Hearing none. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. I. >> All those opposed. Motion passes. Approval of the adult community education supervisors contract. Miss Allen. >> Madam Chair, members of the
040board, following and attached as a contract for Melissa Johnson for adult community education supervisor. I would appreciate your support of this contract. >> Motion from trustees. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> It has been moved and seconded. Any questions to Miss Alli regarding the adult community education supervisors contract? >> Hearing none. All those in favor, please say I. I. >> I. I. >> All those opposed. Motion passes. Moving on to new business. Approval of the Montana School Boards Association membership dues for 2627 school year. Miss Jonart. >> Madam Chairman, members of the board, uh I'm asking permission for you to approve our the membership dues for the Montana School Board Association of for uh cost of $21,164. Um this this represents about a 3% increase and as noted in the um handouts that
041trustee Biline has has um provided um you can see all of the programs and all of the um programs and all of the all of the uh um professional development that they do provide for us and all of the legislative um um work that they do on behalf of our schools. And so um I'm asking your approval for this >> motion from trustees. >> Is there a second? Second. >> It has been moved and seconded. Any questions, Miss Jonart regarding the Montana School Boards Association membership dues? >> Hearing none. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. All those opposed. Motion passes. Second reading and approval of policies 5303P 5303F1- F5 staff evaluation and 543P evaluation of non-changing certified staff. Mr. Miller. >> Uh Madam Chair, members of the members of the board in
042front of you um policies as they were presented last month. Um I ask for your your your your support need and acceptance. >> Motion from trustees. >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> It has been moved and seconded. Any questions, Mr. Miller, regarding the policies for staff evaluation? Hearing none. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. I. >> All those opposed. Motion passes. Approval of the fiscal year 2025 financial audit report. Mr. Patrick. >> Madam chair, members of the board, I'm asking for your approval of the 2025 um audit report. We received an unmodified opinion which is a clean opinion. So I'm just asking for your approval. >> Motion from trustees. Is there a second? >> It has been moved and seconded. Any questions, Mr. Patrick, regarding the financial
043audit report for 2025? Hearing none. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. I. >> All those opposed. Motion passes. Approve. >> Madam Chairman, um, could I just would like to congratulate Mr. Patrick and his entire staff on a on a a a wonderful audit this year. again um that's a lot of due diligence on their part and um um it's extremely important to get that kind of a report. So congratulations again Mr. Patrick and your and your entire staff. >> Yes. Thank you. >> And for those of you who question the words unqualified, unqualified means there were no problems and in any part and they didn't have to come back to Mr. Patrick to have him qualify any answers. So for some people who've never been through an audit, that really seems strange
044to hear. Unqualified, but that's what that means. >> I know. All right, Miss Jonard, approval to adopt the K5 core reading curriculum using multidist agreement. Madam Chairman, members of the board, I'm asking you to uh approve the uh first of all to approve and utilize the multi-dist agreement funds to support the purchase of the K5 reading program. Um um both Mr. Rickettts and myself can go through this core the the how the adoption process went um went um how we the process that we went through in terms of um of choosing which of the uh textbooks we were going to use. But this proposal also comes with the approval of using the multidist agreement funds to fund um a part of the the overall cost of the textbook which would be a five-year adoption. Um
045and also we would use Montana Reeds grant monies that we just received. Um, and we would use approximately $200,000 from the Montana Reeds grant, approximately $400,000 from the multi-dist agreement to purchase this um this um K5 um literacy textbook um from open court. There's been a there was a huge vetting process that went on. Um, and we also had to get approval from the Montana Reeds um, uh, director that made sure that our choice was going to be evidence-based and meet the and be in compliance with the science of reading um, criteria that that we need for all of our textbooks. And I will um like to congratulate our group because we just got we just heard back from OPI that they did approve open court as our textbook. But I do want um I'd
046like for Mr. Ricketts to go just explain a little bit of the process. Um it was huge and the whole committee did a wonderful job and I can't I can't thank them enough because um it was a great it was a huge vetting process and um I know we've got a great program um and if it with approval we'll be able to provide this program for the next 5 years. So Mr. Dr. Rickettts, do you want to add maybe you could go over a little bit of the uh checklist that we had to provide to the state um as we went and looked at all of our different textbooks? Um and you want to if you want to go through that um Ron? >> Sure. Sure. Um, so what you see on the I don't
047know if you can see that on the screen, but this is a checklist that the um Montana Reeds grant uh requires districts to complete in um reviewing curriculum. If you're choosing new curriculum, um you have to go through all of this checklist. And it's it's it's very detailed. Um there's a lot to it. Um it's it covers everything in in literacy and writing and uh funological aware and it's just it's it's very detailed and um it took a a lot to go through it. Um I had the opportunity to work with uh a great group of of teachers and reading coaches and administrators. We had uh six different teachers uh representing one of the great spans. Uh we had three elementary um administrators um that's in our very first in the reading program and um
048so so all and and then the six reading coaches. So all the other we have 15 people on that uh committee and we met and we narrowed it down to two um two publishers, two vendors um and then we invited them in to do presentations for us and then we ranked them and um this that this experience was probably the best experience I've ever had um in curriculum. Uh it's it's very fun to go through curriculum. It's enjoyable, especially when you have wonderful members to the team that know the ins and outs of the program and what to look for. And so, uh, you know, we we went through that whole process. Uh, we listened to the vendor speeches and their presentations and then we came back together and came to consensus and, uh, decided
049on open court. Um, no program is perfect. So we identified what we will have to look at and if we have to supplement it um in in ways then we can we can know that in advance and have discussions about you know what what programs we're going to need to put into place to support it as well. Um so um yeah that's that's the process. uh we had to get it approved through the Montana Reeds grant and now we're asking for for your approval um for the program um and this program will come with um training. I asked that uh the whole package put to be put together uh so that our selection committee would actually receive more training uh than all of the teachers. So we're planning on having them get training first. uh
050before the teachers get trained in August and then um that committee will also go to that training as well. We also ask that the publisher um send all the materials including teachers guides to our district and to have them in the schools and in the teachers hands before they leave for summer break. So they'll have a chance to to look at them and and understand, you know, the differences in in our our last programs versus this program. A great thing I want to add is uh um that it does uh it does include some of the programs we we've already used um with reading mastery used as a tier 2 tier three intervention and corrective reading for our tier three. So the whole package um that that we asked for includes um tier one, tier
051two and tier three materials for 5 years. And uh we had a pretty successful negotiations with the vendor with McGra Hill in that um by doing a five-year contract, we we saved about 1 well about almost $1.4 million. Um, so that's that's incredible. If we were going to, uh, do one one year at a time, it would have been close to $2 million out of 600,000. So, um, we're pretty proud of it. I'm proud of all the the members work in it and all of the, um, work that they into the time. So here to ask for your approval of um adopting the open court uh K5 reading. >> Thank you. >> Sonard anymore? >> No. Only also included in that approval is is also the use of the multi-dist agreement funds. >> Okay. Thank
052you. A motion from trustees. >> Is there a second? >> Been moved and seconded. Any questions to Mr. Mr. Rickettts Ormish Jonard on the K5 core reading curriculum hearing none. All those in favor please say I. >> I. >> All those opposed. Motion passes. Approval to advertise and hire instructors for the early literacy targeted intervention summer jumpstart program for 2627. Members of the board jump the gun there. I'm sorry. Um, so what you have before you is a request to hire uh uh early learning um teachers for our summer program, our jump start program. That program is uh set to start June 15th and go August 4th. Uh it it does it's it's going to um function Monday through Thursday for 4 hours a day. uh on the um mandatory requirement of uh holding the
053sessions for 120 hours through the set uh through the summer. And so I'm requesting that um we hire two kindergarten early literacy interventionists, two first grade early literacy interventionists, two second grade early literacy interventionists, and two third grade early intervention early literacy interventionists. Um I just want to uh point out also that um the this program is for kids or students going into kindergarten, first, second, and third grade. Um that is that is also set by the state. And um the students that attend have to be screened and found to be delinquent in one or more literacy skills to participate in voting. >> Oh. Um I u thank you for your time and consideration with this request. >> Motion from trustees. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> It has been moved and seconded.
054Do you have any questions to Mr. Ricketts regarding the program and hiring instructors for the early literacy targeted intervention summer jumpstart program? Hearing none. All those in favor please say I. >> I. All those opposed. Motion passes. Approval of the partnershipou between BSD1 and Western Governor's University. Mr. Rickettts. >> Madam Chair, members of the board, uh what you have before you is anou. It's an updatedou with Western Governor's University uh to allow us to enter into an agreement to uh host student teachers in our district. Uh we have worked with the western governor's uh university in the past and this year they have uh requested one student teacher um for our districts and arts. >> Motion from trustees. >> Is there a second? It has been moved and seconded. Do trustees have any questions for
055Mr. Rickettts regarding theou with Western Governor's University? >> Hearing none. All those in favor please say I. I. I >> I >> All those opposed. Motion passes. Approval to advertise and hire for high school credit recovery. Miss Johnson. >> Madam chair, members of the board, I'm asking for your approval to advertise and hire for four summer school positions, uh, two English, two math. Each teacher will work 45 hours to get to the 90 of accredited hours for each subject area. The pro and the program will run at the Webster complex. >> Motion from trustees. >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> It has been moved and seconded. Do trustees have any questions to Miss Johnson regarding the Pathways High School credit recovery? >> Hearing none. All those in favor, please say
056I. I. >> I. I >> I. >> All those opposed? Motion passes. Uh approval to advertise and hire for the Pathways Summer Program. Miss Johnson. >> Madam Chair, members of the board, I'm asking for your approval to hire three teachers to run our first ever pathways elective um work community-based summer program. The students will need to earn 60 hours of commu in community or work-based learning and 12 hours of classroom services to earn the elective semester credit for the summer and they need to be enrolled at the pathway academy to receive the credit. >> Motion from trustees. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> It has been moved and seconded. Do you have any questions of Miss Johnson regarding the pathway summer program? >> Yes, sir. Uh, Miss Johnson. So, the community work piece,
057have you identified locations or maybe just how does that work? >> So, we once we get approved, we're going to talk um we're going to work with juvenile probation a little bit about any volunteer hours opportunities they have um or current employees that these kids are already working at. Um if they will sign the um rubrics of workbased, the criteria we set for soft skills and that they will be working on in class and then any community events that we can volunteer in. um the teachers will be working with them or myself to get them those elective credits and then they have to write a journal entry on every time that they work or on things on what they've learned. There's five questions answer every time they do the experience. >> Okay. >> And it's
058trying to keep them engaged in the summer so then we can try to keep them coming so when fall comes around we have back. >> Any other questions? We have a motion on the floor. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All those opposed. Motion passes. Approval to advertise and advertise and hire one adult basic education teacher for summer school. Miss Mc Johnson. >> Madam chair, members of the board, I'm asking your permission to hire one adult basic ed teacher. The teacher will work um 16 hours a week through the month of June to get us through the fiscal year with the Department of Labor. um they can work some afternoons, some mornings, whatever meets our community's needs to provide that service through June um to earn their high set or different
059workbased learning opportunities. And the teacher must be TA certified through the grant to teach the class. >> Motion from trustees. >> Is there a second? Second. >> It has been moved and seconded. Trustees have any questions, Miss Johnson regarding the adult basic education teacher? Hearing none. All those in favor, please say I. I. >> All those opposed. Motion passes. Approval of the sponsor to school food service agreement for Vet Central Elementary. Mr. Marthaler. >> Madam Chair, members of the board, before you is the agreement for school nutrition services to provide meals, administrative services, and reimbursement claims for View Central for the school year 2627. Um, so at this time, just asking approval. Motion from trustees. >> So moved. >> Is there a second? It has been moved and seconded. Any questions, Mr. Marthala regarding the
060service agreement with Central for meals? >> Hearing none. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All those opposed. Motion passes. Thank you, sir. >> Approval of the sale of existing equipment in the but high school weight room. Mr. Whitlock. And who's standing in for Mr. Whitlock? >> I I Madam Chairman, um I'll u take his we're asking for the approval to sale um for the sale of um existing uh uh weight room equipment that's at But High School that's being replaced by the generous generosity of the BU Athletic Council. Um and so we're looking to um um to uh for the sale and the approval of the sale of the existing equipment. >> Motion from trustees. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Has been moved and seconded. Trustees have any
061questions? Miss Jonart, regarding the sale of the existing equipment? Do you have a date yet, Mr. Jonard? >> Um, we we have to we'll have to notice it in the paper for 14 days after that then uh >> and we'll be able to put out bids or however we decide to do it. But >> okay, >> thank you. >> Motion on the floor. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All those opposed. Motion passes. Approval of the renaming of the but high school weight room. Mr. Johnson. >> Madam Chair, membership of the board, I'm asking for your approval to name our soontobe brand new weight room, the Colt Anderson Strength and Conditioning Center. As Mrs. Jonard said uh the but athletic council with their generosity we will have a brand new wait
062room hopefully will be completed and when uh Colt has the dream big camp that he holds every year in B that's when they plan on doing the renaming or the naming of the new weight room at high motion from trustees. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> It has been moved and seconded. Trustees have any questions to Mr. Johnson regarding the renaming of the but high school weight room. >> Go ahead. What's it currently named? >> Nothing. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. So, it's a great start and there's no one better now and we appreciate everything the BU Athletic Council has done for our kids and this is huge for our our current kids and our future kids of BU High School. So, thank you. >> Any other questions? All those in
063favor, please say I. I >> I. >> All those opposed? Motion passes. At this time, we have completed our business for the month of April. I would entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Has been moved. All those in favor of adjourning, please say I. >> I. >> All those opposed. >> Motion passes. Thanks, Henry. >> Thank you, everybody. Thank you. that we offer. Thanks everybody.