001This meeting is being recorded. Recording does not constitute the official record of this meeting. All documents from this meeting are available on the school board page of the district website. Pledge allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for its one indivisibley and justice. troops any revisions the agenda. Um I would just I didn't for cleaning up but I I wouldn't get through though because what you're going to see in February is simple. >> What is that? Just >> wanted to add the kids and talk about >> extracurriculars. >> I think that's great. When is an interactive Did you say >> I mean I can get interact I was looking for extracurriculars. Um, he's >> I know an extra. >> Yeah, I'm going to hit
002you by the spring. >> Uh, public. >> Sorry. Okay. Thank you. Public comment on non-aggenda items. Move on to the approval of minutes, please. >> I move to approve the minutes from 11 from November 11th and November 17th of 2025. >> Second. Any discussion? Both vote. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Let's move on to superintendent report. >> Yeah, I sent this out and I gave it to you. It's sitting in front of you. Um, we might want to take a second to kind of look. I just think this is this was interesting. Extremely interesting. Um, I gave one principles there too. um the enrollment trends across our county, across Madison County, the private school enrollment dial down to, you know, dialed down to numbers. Um and as you look, I meant to put
003page two is back to back and page two is probably the most interesting was the most interesting to me because it show the 10-year changes. So, you know, the 10-year change in Manhattan, Manhattan, Three Forks, and Mark Horton schools were the only three schools that increased over the last three years at the K to 8 level. And you can also see right at the the bottom bar, every high school went up >> as they moved through, right? Um, and again, I don't know what conclusions we can draw really without digging probably deeper. The one thing that did jump out at me though and I just mentioned it earlier is you know RK8 if you look at RK8 from 2020 2022 forward that just that significant drop between last year and this year and we have
004that in we have we know where most of those kids went but that that was significant. Um and then our high school obviously we're you know 24% increase over a decade looks great. Uh but but it's really you know it's a natural >> uh students. >> So when do you project out when do when does that when does the drop below start to affect us? How many years >> for to project this out now we can run some models. Well we kind of we kind of know right. So we look for our high school in two years probably to be back to the 24 number. Let's say if nothing big class >> we have one big group coming up then as we look back >> right as we look back then we can see that
005it's going to start kind of having some effect we'll be right around 98 to 100 I would say 86 >> that's what it looks like >> um and then you know when we look at Madison County really like and they're just kind of slowly moving up that's just that next page just that looks like this. It's not colorful at all. Um, you know, from fiscal year 21, 411 to 422 to 432 to 448 to 454 this year. Just real steady >> private school. >> Real steady movement. Yep. And then >> thanks for doing this. This is super interesting. >> Yeah. And I would love to take credit, but the county superintendent >> see >> Yeah. So then the last page of this particular piece of my report is private school enrollment across the county. >>
006So we then we can know exactly what we know. >> Yeah. So there's currently whatever 37 plus 16 uh 53 kids >> that are in private school >> just K8. Oh >> and then the high school is pretty small. No, I'm sorry. Just K12 and because they they've pulled out preschool. >> Oh, good. >> So, the preschool is that first line, but that doesn't show up at the aggregates. >> Never just >> Yeah, a lot of them aren't. and obviously they're pulling all this data because they're looking at changes to the funding. >> No, go hand in hand with that. >> This just happens every year. >> Okay. >> Always based on the the old county superintendent didn't do it. >> Okay. That's >> well it's really >> based on the official comments. >> It's
007good to know. >> And have we lost any part? >> Um yeah, we had one move. I mean I know one family just bought a house somewhere else too but we've picked up >> seven week next January. Yeah. January one. We've picked up we've actually picked up quite a few for the winter season, the ski season for parent. >> Um, >> great. >> But they don't >> they will they'll count as if they're not. >> But they're here, right? We have some cushion on either side for >> each Tuesday in February. They go from the first Tuesday. Oh, when the seventh semester starts. >> Yes, it's the first Tuesday in October, third Tuesday and February for the official. >> Then do they leave in the spring or do they stay? >> Some of them stay
008almost until the very end. Some leave the spring breaks kind of. >> How does that work? Is that is that disruptive to the teachers? Whereas I mean we can't do anything about it. People might say, >> right? There are >> curious how that feels. >> Used to it, right? >> Yeah. I think teachers used >> people that like transient people >> I'm used to that >> students. And then the second uh part of my present report has to do with the funding interim commission where there I guess I present this here to just kind of talk it through a little bit with you guys and as I started to do the numbers I I'm going to have to we're going to have to at least somebody from the board and myself get a little more
009involved in this. um because it's certainly not unfolding in the way I anticipated that it would the way some of the people thought it would. So this is a this is the document that the camps has set out in that sense for the coalition of advocates for Montana public schools. So, and it's made up of the associations from school administrators, Montana Schools Association, the Rural Education Association, Montana Quality Education Council, and then the Montana Association of School Business Officials. And so, they're feeling like they're pretty they feel pretty good about what you have sitting in front of you, which I shared today. So I ran the numbers, double checked the numbers, and if the current funding form, the funding formula they're proposing was in place today, maybe a half a million dollars less than what
010we got in fiscal year 26. And it's due to a number of factors. It's really it's they're they're putting big multipliers on things that we already don't get much money for like at risk students. and they is >> this particular group, this coalition that really wields a lot of influence. Um, so they're they're really increasing these multip they're putting these multipliers on on monies that are already very low for us. So, right, you know, one of them's 15 times the current at risk payment. We get 900 bucks. You know, that's $9,000. That's, you know, whatever that is, it's 14 grand. That's nothing to us. Whereas a school like West, their aspirate pay at risk payment is probably 22,000. >> Or schools that are functioning above 50% for reduced lunch, their at risk factor is their
011current payment is really pretty large already. So when you put a 15 multiplier on is really meaningful. >> Best way to help those schools that have lower income, >> right? >> Yeah. Well, they make this statement at the beginning which is interesting that they that um the constraints were predicated on a flaw assumption that peral spending was the singular indicator of both adequacy and equity in education. This assumption is no longer tone. So that's an interesting and pretty powerful >> because the per pupil even gets reduced slightly >> because all the other multipliers. So, I guess I I bring this to you because there also seems to be a little bit of appetite um with some people in the community to try to do something legislatively for communities um that just fall outside of what
012I would call a normal rural Montana commute. um like maybe to to start to work with some lobbyists to try to get some senators or or representatives on board to to just write something similar to what we did with Enis that's really specific to communities like ours like the white fishes, you know, that other town up there. >> What would that mean though? this like the it sounds to me like you're saying this is is leaning towards addressing more at risk schools and you know as I seem to often say around town people just don't feel sorry for people in goodstead in general they don't feel sorry for our school they don't feel sorry for the taxes we pay they don't feel sorry for rich people which is how it is perceived >> sure >>
013so it feels like we are in just it's in a you know look at our building look at what our kids get. >> Sure. 100%. >> I just wonder about I'm not saying that it's wrong. I'm just wondering politically. >> I think it's Yeah. I mean I think it's definitely worth the conversation because there is also right there's a there's a significant amount of taxes from our tax base that goes to statewide equalization and we'll continue to support that at least. So you can you can work one off because last year the bill it ended up being in three whatever it was so we can get the reconciliation payments for men that was written specifically for schools districts with a tax a taxable value of go north of 140 million which we both fall into.
014I don't think we want to go I I wouldn't want to go and say oh poor us. I would just want to be able to go and say, you know, to the interim commission at least needs to hear >> how it is. >> We're looking at a half a million dollar decrease. >> And that that's a good argument. >> And the half a million, mind you, is inclusive of a $330,000 vote of your local constituents in an already highly taxed constituency. So that's kind of the kicker at the end is you can get 10% of your quality educa or quality um what was it porky QA >> your quality payments >> so school funding just becomes it becomes called quality assurance so every school can provide a quality education you can get 10% above that
015if your voters agree which you know at 330,000 on this year's budget that's a lot of money from an already highly taxed constituency. So I think is what they need to hear is yeah great you're you're to represent every single school district and you know there are um Corin's on the commission shared she's one of our local representatives she should be able to carry some message for us. >> Yeah. Um, so I guess I I put this all out there that, you know, a year ago I was quite excited uh about this group getting together and and I'm still excited but in a different way. But I think I'm going to start to insert myself and probably try to utilize some re some community resources for help. I have a question, Dustin. Someone I was
016anticipating something different, which is what with seeing all these private schools, what's the risk of of a move to try to from the private schools to try to get their tuition in all >> like a full-on kind of voucher type? >> I mean, I think the risk for the attempt is there. >> Yeah. Um, I think there's not there's still not even with what I would call the conservative government that we have in place in Montana right now, it's not to the point where that's going to be up for discussion for at least two sessions. >> Okay, that's good to know. >> Well, they just came >> and Forte started private schools, >> right? But I just got the email right now before this meeting started that the special ed savings account which was going
017to be similar to a voucher system but for special education which is declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in state. >> Interesting. >> So um the short answer is it will come eventually but it'll be six take a while >> six yeah six to eight years probably. Did anyone happen to hear the the autism story daily? It was just about how many more the incredible amounts of higher need for special ed. It's really it was quite interesting and how so I would recommend it because I hadn't thought they said there's the competition to get the combinations and to actually be declared that and then you have kids that have really severe autism in in that it is a spectrum and the schools aren't they're spending so much on the kids on the one side of
018the spectrum which is easier and not not having the money to address you know kids who will never be able to live alone for instance for some fascinating speaking special ed and the numbers of special education students and students dependability rehabilitation by the floor >> is increasing significantly not just across >> across the country. That's what it was talking about. It was saying it used to be that people didn't want the designation and now it's helpful. They actually tied it to early academics being difficult for kids. So, they wanted their kids to give an accommodation to make it easier. You might find it really interesting. Um and so people sought it earlier um than perhaps needed and and it doesn't have a stigma and you just get more and more diagnostic. >> Yeah. I love
019that stuff. So, I'd be more excited. Great. Any questions? Move on to >> Mitchell. Academics. We have high school finals. Second week of January when we come back after break and the schedule went out in our newsletter before Thanksgiving and to go out. We have the holiday book stroll this Friday. Miss Jinx organizing with middle schoolers, sixth and seventh grade will just finish this Friday at 9:30 in the same room. Want to come by? Um, student life grade 8 as we already discussed is off Yellowstone. Things are going well. I talked to Dr. Eley this morning and she really just did a great job organizing the kids getting them excited for this trip. So, I'm really excited for them. 10 returned before Thanksgiving break from their DC trip and from all accounts was an extraordinary
020learning experience. Um, so a big shout out to Mr. Copa follow their sen and taking our kiddos. Middle schoolers began their second trimester clubs and specials. Middle school student council is leaving a toy drive for Rotary I believe. Um and then we're gearing up for ski days next month. >> I know hopefully there's every every single thing has slid everything out. >> So I believe >> yeah and I think that's it. We're just in the middle of tenure evaluations and moving ahead. >> Great. Thank you. Any questions to elementary, please? >> U we just wrapped up our first mast testing window. This the crossear measure from the state of Montana. Um and we got a 100% completion of all testlets. The number of testes varies from grade level to grade level, but even in middle
021school, we nailed them all. So, that was really exciting. Um, and we're over. Um, parent teacher conferences went really well. We had really great turnout from the families. Um, really good conversations. Um, we're going to approve our plan for coverage in the second grade classroom, I think, later on in the the meeting. But I wanted to recognize Laura McFersonson who has done an amazing job to step up and support these kiddos up to this point. Um I mean being in her classroom and you're a foundations teacher now and you're an amplified world. Just the language that she uses and the way she picked it up so quickly was really great. Um, and then we just had our data meetings today with every teacher in the classroom to just talk look specifically at kiddos who might
022be struggling and how we're going to support them um, as we enter into the winter break and then we it's tricky because we get back and then we start reading your assessments. So just looking closely at what those supports look like and then um, Mrs. Banks let the spelling be last week for our um, district. All of our kiddos had a lot of fun preparing um for that and a lot of courageous kids on the stage. >> There's a lot of nerve building. >> Great. Thank you very much. Um activities. >> Yep. Uh boys and girls basketball. They're both on your feet. >> Love it. Um, >> boys middle school is finishing up and girls will be starting. Girls middle school basketball will be starting January 5th and yeah, both boys and girls got off
023to a great start. So, their first games against Gardener and then we had a couple busy weekends >> and then really into the season. >> Great. Thank you. Business managers report. Um, I just have the short actually just keeping up with everything. Um, payroll, paying the bills, bringing in the money, you know, things like that. >> Um, a lot with fingerprinting is taking a lot of time right now. Um, which is coming up later. And, >> uh, really that's it. Just kind of keeping rolling. Um, staying on the timeline for the election just has some turning in things that you need to keep doing to stay on time for that. >> Thank you. >> Great. Thank you. Um, no committee reports I see early as of now. We'll move on to discussion and action items,
024please. Uh, I move to hire certified staff for the director of the for second grade. No, wait. Approve Susie Hoffer for the second grade long-term sub. Much easier the way to say it. >> Second. >> That was >> Yeah. um lives near a significant >> significant significant experience teaching in elementary schools. >> Um she kicked the can for a week which made us a little nervous but um has agreed. I think she started right after break. >> How long? She just wants to get back. >> That's awesome. >> She does. But I can tell you less her husband serves with me on the and they are traveling all the time. Probably why she >> kick her window. Yeah. I was going to say what is the end because those guys >> he is I've been
025he's been in person maybe for one meeting >> and it's like Tahiti >> so just saying that was I was like that's exciting I haven't met >> I'm glad they're the end season perfectly in her travel schedule. >> Yeah it's okay. >> Perfect. >> Any other questions discussion? >> All for vote. All those in favor? >> I I >> Any opposed? Pass. You Davidson. >> I motion to approve the volunteers as presented. >> Uh second. >> So I I put the list of volunteers in the consent agender in the packet. This would generally be consent but water clearing up so we can talk about this. In the last session, they really tightened up child protective rules for us. And then we also adopted a policy that all people who are going to be working individually
026or in a group setting without one of our background checked employees present C3B fingerprint background check and they can't do that. So actually the the resort came to us because they have to follow the same kind of some legal things they do. They have a less sort of standard. So they do a name background check. So through many back and forths is what we've come to um is Libby has been going up during their training and getting their fingerprints down and we run them through the same process >> because it was that or we had we had three choices. Try to have employees cover everything which is impossible. Parent volunteers >> that would have been impossible too and we would have been in the same boat or no heat. Yeah. >> Uh in you know
027all three of those those code of order. So we came up with this um it there is a cost associated with the fingerprint report um and we'll just pass that onto >> and then we'll keep our hope is at least from conversations with um Kristen and and Matt that on a lot of these are people who work for them for some time. So maybe next year it might be two or three or five, but it won't be such a significant list. And we do our te we only do our teachers or our employees upon employment. Um >> we don't continue to update it. >> We don't. >> Yeah, I think that's fine. That's correct. They had a lot of returning since >> and we don't and so we'll use the same kind of we'll use
028the same threshold that we use to whether you can work with our students or not based on the the FBI check. We don't have that impolicy like if a person's done this then this happens but you know we we make judgments along the way like you know certainly if there was a crime against children you would never even be considered but you know disturbing the peace from 1972 >> it would not be a big deal >> right or you see what I'm saying like >> I wouldn't say we use discretion we use common sense >> informed common sense background check. >> How much do they $30? >> Yeah. $30. >> Yeah. >> So, what if these people can't make it and have to like cancel or something? Is >> it sounded to me at least
029from what Kristen and Matt said, so we've also put all of their managers in this group. Um, so contained within this group is management and they'll sell. >> So, Christine and >> so like if you needed somebody, I couldn't be like, "Oh, I look I could do that today." You >> me personally? >> I could just because I was >> You've been background checked for basketball. >> Yeah, >> I've been background checked. >> You've been background checked. Actually, you've all been background checklist because >> I say I would assume that we're going to miss >> have some have a shortage at some point in time. Hopefully not. >> Yeah. And so all of you have been background check for some work with the students. >> Yeah. Okay. >> A very interesting reading. Um, >> mine
030was pretty boring either. >> So that's like in West on the EY, the rangers are all probably background check. >> No, because they're not alone. >> They're never with them. >> They have our >> And so like we have a significant number of moms who come in and work with our students and they just grab the student and maybe go to that table so they're not alone >> outside of Yeah. >> outside of our perview. But mentors are all background checks. anybody who's gonna be alone with >> I do hear and and they are alone and I actually I when I saw this I called I texted Christina and said don't we background check everybody she said we background check we don't finger >> you do name only >> we do name only okay >>
031um and because I was I was like that's a searing gap if we do so I was asking from the resort thing just out of curiosity said name but not >> any questions Call for a vote. All those in favor? >> I. Any oppose? Pass unanimously. The consent agenda. >> I motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. Second >> discussion on any of that. >> What's beer gonna do? >> Just a couple times. Nice. >> But >> yeah, >> for vote. All those in favor? >> I any oppose unanimously? Future dates? Uh 13th January. We get back from break. Yeah. February there meeting. >> Thank you. >> Thanks everybody.