001meeting is being recorded. The recording does not constitute the official record of this meeting. All documents from this meeting are on the school board page of the victim site. Call the meeting to order. Please stand for the pledge. I to the stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Any resision for today? >> No. >> And then we'll move on to public comment. Any public comments on non agenda items? >> Sure. I got something two minutes. >> You're welcome to come up and read it. >> Where do you want me to stand? >> Uh just kind of Yeah. The camera is good. >> So um good evening Dr. Chipman trustee. My name is Matt Zimba. I'm a parent in the Big Sky School District. I'm here tonight to speak about
002the district's compliance with its harassment, intimidation, and bullying policies, specifically 3225, 3226, and limited procedures such as 1700. These policies establish clear expectations for reporting, investigating, and documenting bullying incidents, including timelines, require communication with parents, mutual oversight, and the responsibility to ensure a safe environment for all students. When they're followed with fidelity, they protect the children and maintain trust between families and the district. In just six weeks of school, our families encountered multiple incidents that reveal gaps between what our policies require and how they're currently being implemented. I'm not discussing any student by name or giving any specifics, but I'm just highlighting procedural and systematic concerns that impact every family. So, you know, incidents are being repeatedly categorized incorrectly, which delays appropriate protection. Parents are not being informed of their rights to request a formal
003investigation of appeal under policy 3226. Emotional distress in young students is being minimized instead of addressed through trauma informed practices and communication timelines and documentation doesn't consistently align with the requirements laid out in the policy. Local reporting, including Explorer Big Sky March 2025 coverage, has already shown that many families feel confused when trying to report bullying. Our experience confirms those systematic issues. They're not isolated missteps. They reflect a pattern that leaves students unprotected. Parents unsure how to navigate the process. and the district vulnerable to recurring breakdowns in safety. So tonight, I would respectfully request that the board take the following actions. Clarify, publish, and consistently communicate the procedures for reporting, documenting, and investigating harassment, intimidation, and bullying. Ensure all investigations are overseen by a neutral administrator with no direct connection to the students or classroom
004involved. Provide staff with updated training and trauma-informed bias-free responses in the mandated reporting and investigating procedures and policies 3225 and 3226. Establish transparent communication timelines and ensures parents are notified of their rights including formal investigations and appeals. Uh the last one kind of most important for me is survey the community and parents to create a focus group allow for open discussion to come up with a collaborative plan of action or solutions. Our intent here is not to criticize individual but to ensure that the district policies are implemented accurately, consistently, and in the best interests of every student. Big Sky is a small community community. Our kids all share the same classroom and playgrounds and teams. And when the system fails, one family that we can trust for everybody. So, we want to work collaboratively with
005the district to restore confidence, strengthen safety practices, and make the sky a model of transparency and accountability. Thank you for your intention and your commitment to protecting every student guide respectfully Matt and Daniel as well. So thank you. >> Appreciate your time. >> Yeah. Thank you guys for coming in. Really appreciate it. >> All right. >> Thanks, guys. We'll >> move on to an approval of the minutes, please. >> I move to approve the minutes from the May 25. Second. >> Any discussion? Proper vote. All those in favor? >> I. Any opposed? >> Pass unanimously. >> Um, move on to our student report. We're going to say table that for >> Yeah, but I'll just maybe give a quick statement about it. I know last time it was expedition. Next time I'll have some fall
006sports kids come in and then I'll I'll bring some we have some kids in for academics and things like that as gracious. >> Perfect. U great we'll move on to superintendent report please. >> Yeah I sent this out actually it's kind of no news and then I think there's also some good news report this week for this month. Um see we're at 361 which was the official count. I mean we're anticipating right now a decline in the general fund for fiscal year 27. We'll know more in January and you're going to see there are new committee reports. will start to gear up and get closer down and at our facilities um next month. And then uh the second phase of housing got approved by the HOA. >> Oh yeah. >> With really nice language in
007their email. So I attached a more detailed budget. Um so the anticipated expenditures the real only estimates at this point and I think I have a pretty good the project manager the taker has given us pretty good estimates on those just on the infrastructure and foundation everything else we're basically there and then also the services that they provide is also relatively high in that budget it's an additional 50 grand when really their work's almost done um as soon as they get the prices. So worst case scenario overrun is going to be between 120 and 150. Um I'm anticipating more around 50 and I have a donor uh almost on the hook to pick up that for us at least up to 100. So if we can get there that's going to be great. And then
008lastly um you know if we come in about 1.44 million that's about 360 a square foot in this community right now. Um, I think that's a great great great investment for for the district at this point in time. Um, and it's going to give us an additional, you know, almost 5,000 square feet of housing. There's 700 square feet, six of them. Um, it' be really, really nice for us. >> Yeah, that's going to be great. Oh, that's good news. >> Yeah. >> And for August occupancy. >> Yeah. >> So, if you remember, I talked about Yellowstone Park. We got in. So, we're in the that they're going to start building it, I think, in April. And we're going to take delivery like late July, early August. >> Yes. Awesome. >> So, that's it's been a
009long time. >> It has. >> But thank you. >> Yeah. Great. Any questions? >> Yeah. Thanks, Justin. Move on to middle and high school report, please. Mark, >> thank you. academics um PSAT results are have gone out to families and students. We did that at the beginning of October. Great 10 students leave for DC. We're hoping they don't have a flight delay and lots of things are open for them when they arrive. >> Our fourth bus doesn't crash or >> on Saturday. They're there with Mr. Copel and Miss Hamlin and Miss Felner are all taking our 10th graders and they they've worked hard to be a great fit for them. We start our parent teacher conferences tomorrow night and then the following Wednesday and we look forward to that. um high school exam schedules about
010before Thanksgiving break. We were fortunate to have Montana Shakes come and perform Richard III to our high school students and they really put on some fantastic workshops and kind of cracked open the mystery of Shakespeare to some of our students. Um and I really loved that. Um they raved about that experience. We also had a nice um partnership in the elementary school too with Pix Arts Council and they brought a wonderful mariachi band from Utah right before Christmas and um they >> don't jump ahead. >> Oh, sorry. Yeah, was it last week? good in my head like I want to see [laughter] >> tell you it's so amazing to have performers in our music room in the new steam wing like the acoustics it's incredible and we're so fortunate and I could see high schoolers
011like starting to jam out listening to the mariachi band and to see them have a little bit of freedom and enjoy that moment was really nice >> um and then I just want to Thank Britney and Dustin for helping to bring Dr. Jessica Minahan to us during our um P days. She does a lot with um working with students that have challenges with you know self-regulation and it was brilliant work um and she gave us so many tools that we're implementing and aging already right now and we've already seen like seeing a positive impact on it. So it's really wonderful. And so for student life, student council had a successful Halloween. Um, and and it's always kind of festive [clears throat] and wild in those costumes. And then I just want to give a shout
012out to Barbara and and John and Tim for the Adams family was so joyful. Um, and it's so neat to see the younger kids participating and taking on these big leadership roles in our school. And with that with AC Capella today, they were just outstanding during the Veterans Assembly. And all those middle schoolers with those voices, we have a really good future, right? performing arts program. >> Uh, and so student council did a great job at Veterans Day. Bobby Gilbert was an amazing keynote speaker and then we're doing your annual food drive right now. So that wraps it up. >> Never a dull moment still. Somebody that has been in the military recently, you know, as opposed to somebody. It's been great to have my neighbor and all these older people, but um you know,
013a lot of our kids don't have any >> experience or understanding about military families and the Gilberts are such are are unique. >> Yeah. >> In our job, >> I'm sure she did. >> Didn't you do it last year? >> Did John do it last year >> or two years ago? >> I think it was two years ago. >> Last year with Matt, don't worry. >> Yes. >> Oh, Matt. Wayne maybe at some point >> Wayne back and forth Wayne Hill the World War I one world yeah [laughter] >> he wasn't there >> well he is 103 >> heck somebody follow him >> I don't know he's really slacking >> he's my neighbor >> questions anyone thank you Dr. move on to the elementary school report please. >> Um I too was going to say
014our MRP day train my brain in October um with Jessica Mahan was really rich. She does trauma informed strategies to support students with anxiety. Um and you know the big her big idea that she starts with is that's half the kids that sit in classrooms. So it's really impactful learning. um and our MTSS teams had a follow-up um PD with her so we can really start to work on structures that we can use throughout our school system to support those kiddos. Um I have all non-tenured evaluations complete. So that's one big check off of the year. Um in this building we also held our second data meetings of the year. We're breaking the kind of pattern of the past of just doing beginning of the year, middle of the year, and end of the year
015to meet and talk about kids more frequently so we can pivot and support as needed, be more responsive in that way. >> Um, and so we'll do that again um in January. Uh, Miss Breamer in second grade had a baby, >> which is really exciting. Came two weeks early, so sent us seeing how many ways we can pull things together. But our team really rose to the occasion and we've we've figured it out. We have Laura Mc McFersonson in there four days a week, Monday through Thursday and Ashley Jensen is stepping up back into the classroom for Fridays and that'll carry us through December break and then I'm working to create um hopefully to get a long-term sub in there for after the holidays. So if you know of anybody anyone um I'm open to
016that. Um and then for our win block, which is the period of time that our school shares every day, um we had a couple highlights which the mariachi band, they had 150 elementary students out on the floor dancing at one point together which was really entertaining. Um we also had children's book week that um Miss Jen leads the charge of and the teachers decorate their doors to look like a book in celebration of the book fair that's happening right now. U Miss Nell taught flag etiquette for the American flag. um to all of our kiddos. And then today they lined the walkways going in hopefully using their flag etiquette um as the veterans came in. >> And then it was really great. The Rotary came and they um did a whole lesson on peace and
017how it starts with us. And then we finished out here. We have a peace pull out here that Jonathan Gans led the charge to have um put out there and it's just a reminder that um you know they all kids have a hand in all that starts and it starts with them. So that was really fun connection that we had too. >> Great. Any questions? Thank you so much. Still busy as well. >> Uh move on to activities. >> Yeah, I have it. He's working the best over. Um congratulations to volleyball on a successful building season with a lot of improvement. Um soccer boys made the quarterfinals of the playoffs. Girls made the semis. That's a big deal. uh football team made the first round of the eightman playoffs. Uh all state and all conference,
018he has them listed. Football, we don't talk about them until the season's over and they have two more weeks. Um but first team all conference and all state and it's all soccer players. First team all conference and all state were Dudley Davis, Keegan Lucini, May McCrae, Manny Linsky. Second team, Oliver Magguire, Thaddius Davis, Miles Ramy, Lola Morris, Harper Morris, and honorable mention Sophie Kendrick and Ava Stout. >> Um, unbelievably next Thursday, I think it was their first day of basketball practice. Um, and he's unsure of what the the roster is going to look like, but I you know, Rich numbers should be should be strong. But that's that's fast. >> Yeah, that is fast. Great. Wait, there's a whole week in between. >> Two two depending on what football team might not be any. >>
019Usually with basketball it goes spring sports and basketball. Boom. >> Spring sports is really close to >> I really know a lot about sports. >> You do. [laughter] >> You know that's not that is not >> I'm not a joke. >> Excellent. Great. Thanks Tessa for that. uh business report with Libby, please. >> Um okay. Um two meetings ago, I believe we mentioned the workers comp audit that um they were conducting. We uh received the results of that. Um we had two food service employees that were coded the wrong way, which we've now fixed and moving forward. Um, we also had a little bit additional workers comp exposure due to a lower than average price of housing for our staff housing. So, we will just kind of um cover that and figure out how to
020do that um through November payroll and all of its pieces that go along with that. And um we've also been doing a lot of reporting um state reporting. We have the official count which Dustin u mentioned. We've done Medicaid uh teacher incentive which is part of the stars program personnel quality educator all that stuff. >> Fun stuff. >> Moving along. [laughter] >> Excellent. [snorts] See, anything? Oh, sorry. >> The the work comp thing we're trying to figure out right now. Yeah, >> cuz they set a rate for particular areas and then anything that we have to figure out two things like what that how we can report that back out to the employee and then whether that's going to be a taxable event for the employee. So what we charge and what their rate the
021stated rate is. So the very least we're probably going to have to start paying more comp on that gap. But we need to figure out, we're investigating right now to see if that becomes a taxable event for our employees. >> And what would that >> that just means they would have to start paying taxes on that gap? >> Yeah. So the the work the the work comp is pretty straightforward from a standpoint. It's just a it's the we are charging less than the Gallatin County average. >> We just had that documented incorrectly or we just didn't >> we do, right? charge less. So, you charge less. So, you're supposed to pay one comp on that on that benefit, so to speak, because it's really kind of wages. >> And then we we have to investigate
022to see if that if that becomes a taxable event, then that'll be another thing to like talk to people about because it very well could. >> Okay. I mean our the our work the work comp comp the work the state work comp group it's every dollar that's under you know we're going to pay 06% or whatever it might be it's pretty minimal the IRS code usually runs about 20% under market value market and we're not they're not below that threshold so we may not have to report report it per tenant we the school will just have to pay a few dollars in work M [clears throat] >> when you said that's based on different areas like >> so they have Yeah. So they have it's all listed out really confidently statewide >> uh G count
023by county. >> Okay. And we'll know that >> next month whenever I >> we were >> I mean the work comp the work comp is is a minor issue. The individuals will have to figure that out by the end of >> calendar. Well, no. By January when we'll report W2s and wage income >> because the work comp's a done deal. Basically, it's going to be that you say like a handful of dollars in district have to increase. That's just something we need to be aware of. >> Y questions anyone? >> Thank you guys. Uh we have no committee reports and seeing that we'll move on to discussion and action, please. Move to approve the season request as presented. >> Yeah, a second. >> So that's in the packet. I mean all the requests meet the
024criteria of the law policy and there could be some additions. Um >> usually are usually [laughter] >> and I think John might be here. This would be the time to talk to anything about this motion. John's here. >> Yeah, looks pretty straightforward. It looks like a great lineup again for sure. Thank you for that. >> That's the following up. That's not even the only question I had and I know I asked this before I can't remember the question. We can't preapprove them for a year at a time or five year period of time. >> It's got to be by event. >> So it has to be individually listed >> or you know kind of we can list all the events out but if you can't we can't just say yep we're going to serve for
025the next five years. >> For example, we wouldn't serve at a high school musical right. So there might be some >> conflict that might come up or whatever. >> Yeah, there's like things that >> wouldn't be >> anything. Yeah, if it's okay, Mr. Chair, I have a a handout that I >> maybe isn't directly related to the motion, but it's interesting information. >> Thank you. >> I just want >> I texted a picture to Daniel. Thank you. >> Mainly I'm jealous of all the other um staff members who get to do reports and I I realize I I seldom get to come in in front of this board and give you a report. Um so thank you for uh continuing the partnership on the alcohol. I know it's always complicated. We try to get everything
026we can. Usually why the additions happen is because someone approaches me after we've announced our season with a new idea and then I try to get it to you all as soon as possible. So, thank you very much. I just wanted to take um a minute of your time to say thank you. Um when I go around the region as an arts representative, Wampac is one of the most respected arts institutions in the Rocky Mountain West. I see it in Colorado, all over the state. People know us. And when I'm at these conferences and talking to people, they've heard of us. They say, "What's the secret to your success?" The first thing I always talk about is our relationship with our local public school. uh especially around Montana, people might say, "Oh, Big Sky, that
027makes sense because you've got all those all those wealthy people who are going to subsidize it." And what I tell them is, "No, first and foremost, we're on the campus of a public school, which is the frontier version of a public private partnership because we have no municipality." And then the other one we talk about is reserve tax. Both of which are are drawn from uh local government services. So, I'm really excited to share um this the most boring accounting sheet ever that I never get to share anywhere else. But this demonstrates um the commitment that the school district has to wack um and it's prorated out uh building costs that I worked with business office on. I haven't done this for about 10 years actually. Um and so it was it was good to
028update all of this, but now it's going in every single grant application that I'm filling out to talk about our partnership. Not only is it symbolically important, but it it is also financially substantive um in the underwriting of the building. I put a little snapshot at the bottom of this to just let you know the community benefit. Um these are things that are happening in Wampac outside of school hours. 41 performances in the last year. 7,000 attendees sitting in those chairs. And that doesn't include any of the inschool day performances like Shakespeare in the Parks or the MRP event that happened all day. Um, so this community is getting a great bang for their buck. Um, and the point of this sheet is just to say thank you. Um, the cost of running Wampack, just
029the bare bones, was about $50,000 last year. uh 20,000 came from Wampac the nonprofit organization and 30,000 came through PR rat share from the uh school district. So again that's WAC plus school district couldn't do it without you. We hope that we bring a benefit to the community and to the school community with our services. Um but here I'd love to come once a year to say thank you again because without you WAC wouldn't exist. >> Great. Thanks. We appreciate all all your work and everything you guys do there. I think it's a great benefit obviously for the community and know my family been involved. So yeah, I see it. >> John, I have great. >> I do have one question just one >> because I don't I I haven't revisited this. When Wampack was
030made, there is a priority that's given to school um and kid local kid events for that facility. Is that right? Still >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh Dr. Rowley, um that is correct. there in the originalou uh when we were building Wampack there was a prioritization system that we've worked through organically over the last decade uh priority is given to the school first uh then it's given to uh groups that are affiliated or next to kind of adjacent to the school usually including kids from the school or locals and then nonprofit organizations in the community and then the last priority is given to commercial operators but we've managed to kind of build about schedule schedule infrastructure everybody feels a home in a certain time of year certain week so community theater has it this week
031right >> right which is part of adult which is part of the school system so I'm just I just want I'm just underscoring Mr. that [laughter] you benefit the school as a priority in your bones of the the founding documents. >> Thank you. >> Great. >> Any other questions? >> Wouldn't it would have been fun if I wouldn't have asked him something [laughter] way >> and we did it in color printing. >> Yeah. >> What did that cost? >> Good question. We did school back. Another 10. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Great. Okay. No more discussion. I see. We'll call for a vote. All those in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Passes unanimously. >> Right. I move to approve the snow contract with Jake Horses as presented. Second. >> Any It's in the packet. You'll
032see. >> Yeah, we do. >> He He still keeps it. I think it was 20%. I asked uh Mac from Big Sky Snowman to just give me a cursor read and he was like, "Look, it would be a lot more expensive than that. About $100,000 was the range he was talking. He's like, even if I'm off by 20, we're still >> his point was, and the point I made with Corky and Libby, too, is I don't know how much longer Jake's going to be performing a community service for us, right? So, we'll need to figure out, you know, a plan for the future." Max volunteered to help with that. But Jake has been great to us. >> Great. You know, he does >> it's a lot of plowing. We include the housing >> and all
033the new territory for $36,000. >> It's crazy. >> It's really good price for sure. >> And it was 30. >> Yeah. >> And we didn't have any issues. We didn't He didn't miss any days. He's not >> No. No. >> He seemed like he stayed up on everything pretty good. >> Yeah. I mean, we had to pay extra only on Sunday, >> right? It feels like snow plowers are the next bus drivers that are going to be >> it's they're rotating out and getting people >> like you don't get to >> you don't get to push back against your bus driver or your just say yes. >> Yes, please and thank you. >> Well, yeah, it is great that you still >> the future is going to be it's going to be a jump. >>
034Yeah. Yeah, they're gonna be a significant job. >> Well, maybe that'll be my puppy driver, snowplow operator. >> Why not? That'll be >> Well, you'll have housings. >> Perfect. >> A little bit extra for the work. >> Yeah. Yeah. [laughter] >> Great. Um, helper vote on that. All in favor? >> I I >> Any opposed? Passes unanimously. I move to approve the Boseman Lacrosse as of a non-school related activity for attendance purposes. >> Second. >> We had a couple of these last month. Um there's only one kid that participates at this particular time, though I think he has a sibling that is also going to participate and in the past we've had a handful of kids participate in the Blue Cross. Uh I don't think they miss a ton generally just for competitions. >> Yep.
035same as everything else we do all those other programs. >> Any questions? Call for a vote. All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Passes unanimously. >> I move to approve the resolution for a trustee election as presented. >> A second. >> So the law changed and we need to get, you know, the trustee resolutions done 150 days before the election. just the trustee resolution. So, if we do it now, I mean, we know we talked about it last week, there's you'll see in there, there's one term that's trusty Dodd up for a three-year term. Barbara actually had a good idea, too, and I'll get that done by the end of the week to post the terms. Um, I always need an update. >> I was going to say, I'll update my bio finally.
036[laughter] >> I keep forgetting that. >> And then any levies. >> Yeah. that we intend around we could stick on in the normal time frame of January, February to the resolution. So, >> so we're we're way out in front of this. Perfect. >> Great. >> Any other questions for vote? All those in favor? >> I >> Any opposed? Pass unanimously. >> Then move to approve the >> consent agenda. Consent agenda. >> Yeah. >> I move to approve the consent agenda. >> Second. >> I know. >> Is Chris Toy be the head the or is Bedway doing it? >> I think Yeah, I should have put that on if she's an assistant. So, it's Jessica, Bedway, Libby, and Christoy. >> Correct. So, it's just those three and they were last month. Okay. No, this was called
037promote. All those in favor? I opposed. pass unanimously. >> Thanks. >> All right. Uh next meeting day we have set for the 9th December and January 13th on that. So meeting journed. Thanks everybody.