001Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America stand one nation under Gody and justice for all. Oh yeah. Uh, this meeting is being recorded. This recording does not constitute the official minutes of this meeting. Thank you. Any revisions to the agenda? None. Move on to public comment non-aggenda items. Um, are we starting with I mean maybe maybe we can start with Heather has a public comment on a non-aggenda item and then we can because the other ones are going to be a little bit longer I think. So the floor is yours. Start with you. Wonderful. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, my name is Heather Morris. Um, and I sent Dr. Shipman an email earlier today, but I just wanted to read it for all of you so you are all in
002the know. Um, now that SB260 has been signed into law by Governor Gene Forte, we would like to informally inform you of our desire to transfer into the Big Sky School District 72 and have the district boundaries match that of the Big Sky Resort Area District. We recognize while the re reconciliation payments are a win for our school, the goal has always been to join the district, vote for initiatives that impact the district, have our tax dollars benefit the district our children attend. We will be informing the NIS school district, the Madison County Commissioners, and the Madison County Attorney of our intent to leave once you hopefully confirm that you will accept our joining of BSSE. And um it's signed by Matt and myself. The Fairs, the Woodmans, the Sheen, the Smith, Cultas, Sigourney, Okconors,
003James, and Vander families. Great. And I gave Porky a copy for the official minutes, too. Perfect. Great. Thanks, Heather. Thank you. Appreciate it, brother. Okay. We also have um Deborah Tukman from the Tukman Family Foundation that would like to present a short uh kind of synopsis um of our they kind of help people with um shifting schools to telephone free policies and whatnot. Um they have supplied some reading material with us too I think through our library and whatnot. So um I'd like to open that up to Deborah. Um, and Deborah, if we keep it to like three to five minutes, that'll work. Maybe I won't even go that long. Well, thank you for joining us and taking the time. I appreciate it. I Well, I really appreciate this opportunity and um thank you so
004much for allowing me to um advocate for our thoughts here. My name is Deborah Tuckman as um said that I I'm here to um advocate that the Big Sky School District is ser going to Belltobell phone free bur there across the entire school district. Um, yes, you have the reading material, Ancient Generation, and um, I think if you if you take some time or even a few minutes to thumb through or read a few pages, um, I think you'll see how urgent this matter is to take care of the well-being of our youth. Um, there there have there are so many school there are a couple schools here that have done it. They've reaped great success quickly. Um, the bottom line is that these phones that are in our kids' hands are distracting them from
005focusing on their schoolwork. And I'm advocating bell-to-bell because when you allow the students to have the phone when they're changing classes or at lunch, then you're inhibiting from um the benefits of the social emotional learning that takes place and building relationships and friendships. Those are mostly really outside the classroom. Um the Boulder Valley School District, very large district, did it here. They decided in September, they implemented in January of 2025. Um they the biggest surprise was how quickly um they saw improvement um in focus, in grades, in attention, in um social interactions amongst the students and their overall reporting of their own well-being. Um, we all know the rates of anxiety and depression are skyrocketing for all of for a good number of our youth and the bottom line is that social media and phones
006are having a very large negative impact in that for our our kids and it's a battle. Um, I know everyone feels it because I talked to a lot of people and um, the bottom line is is that taking these devices out of our kids' hands during this entire school day actually has such a positive effect on their their well-being. And um, it's doable. It has to be enforced. And um, that's I would say that's about it. that I'm here to advocate that the Big Sky School District do it. Take a leader, be a leadership school in this effort. Um maybe other other areas, other districts across your state will follow your lead. And um I, as I keep saying, there's there's really no downside. There's no learning curve. It's free. Um but it needs to
007be across the school district because other kids don't like to hear that other kids in another school have that possibility. And um it needs to be everyone and it needs to be enforced. Um like I said, I think you'll find that um the impact is significant and positive and quickly. So I thank you very very much for allowing me this time today and um I urge you all to take action and support these efforts. Great. Awesome. Thank you, Deborah. Does anyone have any questions? Oh, great. Great. No, I think uh hopefully this is going to be a pretty easy decision for us all. So, one more thing, we do have ability to help you find u materials and and groundwork to help you um implement if you were to so decide to do that. There's
008toolkits available. You wouldn't be the first school and um I think it would be really helpful towards your your um making these moves. Perfect. Thank you, Deborah. We'll definitely be in touch. Thank you. Yeah, appreciate your time. Thank you very much. Thank you so much. Take care. Good day. Thanks. You too. So, we'll have a short discussion on this later, but I think Ashley, unless you want to wait until then, you can also address during public comment unless you'd like to wait for 20 minutes, 25 minutes. I can be really quick, please. Okay. Um, she's got time. And I am just going to read read what I jotted down so I can stay real on point. Um, I'm Ashley Jensen. I've been teaching in the district for 13 years. Um, I could not be more
009proud of our school district and all that we offer students in rural Big Sky, Montana. But I came here today to share with you that our students are at a disadvantage when it comes to the learning environment in our schools. How can this be? We have top tier facilities and outrageously supportive PTO. We have ski racks on our school buses. We send kids to Ivy League schools. And might I say, we have the best hot lunch in the state, um, if not the country. However, if you had the opportunity to be a fly on the wall in our hallways, classrooms, and learning spaces, you'd likely observe student engagement fractured by the constant psychological demand of personal smartphones. You might be aware of the governor's call um, in August, this past a August for phone free
010schools, but he's not the first one to take notice. new research and the March 2024 re release of a riveting book entitled The Anxious Generation. And the subtitle is really gut-wrenching, right? The subtitle is how the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness by Jonathan Height um has prompted national and global leaders to respond. So in the last several years, few years, lots of states have implemented policies restricting or banning cell phone use in schools and also several countries with France, the Netherlands, and Italy being front runners. In 23, Australia banned uh school uh cell phones, excuse me, banned phones in schools bell-to-bell, blanket bans, they call it. As you'll encounter in the agenda today, our BSSD staff is largely in support of phone-f free school policies. And for good reason.
011Efforts to confront this issue have already been underway this school year. And so I' I'd like to tell you about some. Our libraries have hosted a BSSD community book study on the anxious generation. We've gotten copies in the hands of parents and teachers. Our book club recently launched a grassroots effort for individual room parents to coordinate great uh coordinate grade level parent linkups to engage in dialogue around a playbased childhood versus a screenbased childhood. In November, our LPHs students rallied around no So November, pledging no social media for the month. And just last week, our elementary celebrated screenfree week, highlighting the brain science behind digital detoxing. And we actually had lessons in the media center about um brain health even uh down to kindergarten classes which the kids really enjoyed. Um I think putting the
012why behind it really helped them understand and gave them purpose. So one thing that's really important for um school decision makers to understand and I just love what Deborah said is that implementing a phone-free school policy has nothing to do with the parenting atmosphere. I just want to be clear clear on that. We can all have our own opinions on parenting, but really what it's about is creating the best learning environment within the seven hours of the school day. Um, and also it's nobody's opinion. It's research. And so if anyone wants a book, please take one. You don't have to check it out. Just grab one and go. Um, I just feel that we have an obligation to best practice and we have a responsibility to our students. Uh, when we know better, we do
013better. Thanks. Thanks, Ashley. Thanks, Ashley. [Music] All right, we'll move on to the approval of the minutes. I motion to approve the minutes. Um, from April 7th and May 8th. Matt, could I get a second from you? Second. Thank you. All those in favor? I I pass unanimously. Uh recognitions and accommodations. Class of 2025. Graduation Sunday 1:00 sharp followed by a gathering at the Wilson. Certainly all trustees and soon to be seated trustees welcome to attend and participate to uh sitting with us sitting with the faculty. So just let us know. will be staging right near Brian Squis's room at 10 to one. Okay, perfect. Move on to superintendent report, please. Yeah, so I handed that out. Uh you have it in front of you. I'll be I'll be really brief. So anticipated enrollment, right?
014We're now talking about anticipated enrollment instead of actual enrollment. So we hope to be up at this particular point. or plus eight uh across the 4K12. Um housing, the current project, we're still kind of in a disagreement with the HOA regarding some interpretation of the covenants and we've got somebody working on that, but we're definitely going to experience a delay. Um I wish it wasn't the case, but the funding's still in place and I've spoken to the funding partners. They're fine to stay exactly how it is um until we're ready to launch. So, I I'll keep you posted on that. We are going to have an we do have a need for some units in the fall. Um, so we'll kind of work through that. Our units are all spoken for, but if you remember
015a couple years ago, we were able to to get some cheaper units in the town that we were able to rent and then in turn rent back to our employees. I'm working with those partners right now and I think I think we're going to be able to come up with something. We shouldn't need a ton, but we we still have a small need. Um this summer just regular routine there's going to be some new carpeting at Lone Peak High School. Um and if you read through kind of the things like how many of the bills going through the legislature this year about how can we get more money into facilities, we're really lucky at this particular point that our facilities are all pretty new. Um, and then lastly, as of now, from a recruiting standpoint,
016knock on wood, we don't have any significant openings that we know about. Are we waiting to hear back from anyone? I think the 27th is the day contracts are due. We have two, four, five outstanding. By and large, we think we're good. Okay, perfect. Great. Thanks, Justin. Dr. Mitchum. Hi. Um, I will start by just saying thank you to our parents for a very special staff appreciation week at the beginning of May. Um, the food was healthy, but I think we still managed to put weight on because it was so good. Thank you. Um, academics, seniors have wrapped up their finals and their grade reports went out yesterday and so we get ready for we're getting ready for graduation on Sunday. And then, um, the other high school students will have their exams the first
017week of June. We finished map testing 610 this week and then we'll do our data dive next week to kind of see our growth for the year. Last week was very busy. We had the high school art show with the ac capella group and the theory of knowledge students um put on an incredible display of work and music. And so congrats to Mr. Zurkl, Miss Riley, Mr. Sullivan and our students. It was really a special event. Um, two weeks ago we had our group four collaborative science project that all grade 11 students do and they do independent research and then present their findings to the whole high school in the steam wing and um, that was really awesome. Thank you Dr. Eley, Mr. Gulak. And then lastly, we have begun the transition for our fifth
018graders coming up into sixth grade and we met yesterday with the elementary team and then Janet and I worked with the eighth graders I think it was last week to help with their transition to high school. Um, so that's great. student life. We had our middle school spring dance on Friday. Lots of energy in the room at the end of the school year. Harbor's Hero on Sunday and I think it was probably the biggest turnout. One of the biggest. One of the biggest. It was huge. And the best thing about Harbor's Hero was seeing all the alumni come back and do it with us. That was really special. Um and to see the families and students there and I think a record-breaking fundraiser for NHS. Pretty close. Yeah. Um Yeah. So big shout out to
019everybody in the community. lots of businesses coming out and I think we're going to be somewhere north of $6,000 that we'll have to donate to uh women or wellness and action once all the bills are paid somewhere in there. Yeah. And then last Wednesday night, we also had the are you smarter than a ninth grader at the Riverhouse and there was a surprise guest there and the teachers represented well academically so that was really good. Thanks to all the parents who came out and then our biggest events obviously we've got graduation on Sunday, uh the snow party on May 30th. Thank you for hosting that. um the field day on June 4th and then grade eight promotion on June 5th. So that'll be it. Just when we think it's tapering, it's still Yeah, exactly. Great.
020Thank you, Dr. Mitchell. I'll move on to the elementary school principal report with Britney, please. Yes. Um so we had a cohort of six teachers complete their online in-person training and letters, which is a really big accomplishment. that constitute about 50 hours of learning and that's one prong of three that they've completed but um big celebration for them. Um we're wrapping up end of year testing this week. We have MAP testing, mass testing, desks, early bird and it should all be done by Friday. So that's great. Um we kind of filter through all of that and we'll be meeting with individual teachers on the 3 to just celebrate the learning and growth that happened in the classrooms. Um, lots of practice for the end of your spring performance, which is next Friday. If you can
021mark your calendars, you should come. It's going to be entertaining and I feel like the audience will probably sing along to a lot of the songs. They will be familiar. Um, fifth grade is finalizing their exhibition projects, which is the culmination of their PYP experience. Um, and they'll be hosting those the last week of school. Um, it's a lot of a lot of time and effort that's put in. They have mentors throughout the building that are working with them on their research. And they're all going to have an action piece this year, which is new, something new that Miss Campa included and will be really great. So, they have something that they're going to accomplish along with that. Our math committee has been wrapping up a year of digging through math curriculum. Um, they're going
022to come out with a recommendation for a pilot next year that will be opt in. So, teachers don't have to do it. they can try uh a new a new curriculum next year just to see how it goes. And then um we had a couple shifts with 4K kiddos. So, we're going to be able to accept everybody who wanted a place next year which is really exciting. We didn't want to turn anyone away. And then I wanted to recognize Tristan Clack who came on for a short period of time. She's worked as an aid and she's going to leave. She's going to go back to college. we'd like to keep her here, but um she's been a great um infusion of joy in in our building and the kids love her and it's been really
023great connecting with her and I taught her in second grade so it's always fun to see those little moments, right? Yeah, that'd be great if she could stay. I know. I tried but she's my father so understandable. Yeah. Great. Thanks, Britney. Yeah. Mr. Hannis, activities, please. Thank you. Uh so back in um in April we officially hosted our first track meet. We had the 5B middle school meet along with a couple of 12 old 12C schools that attended. We had a total of eight and it went really really well. We got a lot of really great feedback from parents and coaches both on, you know, things we could tweak to make it better for next year, but also just a lot of great compliments on our facility and the a lot of the kids setting
024PRs because it's one of the only times the middle schoolers run on an actual track. Uh so it was a really fun fun deal to be a part of. Yeah. Great that we could get it out like you said, finally use it for Absolutely. Yeah. The weather finally cooperated for us. Yeah. Awesome. So, the uh just want to give an update on our postseason spring sports. Um I wanted to congratulate the baseball team and coach Morris Roth uh Johnson and Magguire on a great season. Um they did come up a little short of the playoffs this year, but I mean this is the third year we've been in this where we've playing both double A and class A schools. So for us to go out as an enrollment of 113 kids and compete and beat
025some of these schools say there were some good games is pretty impressive. And so I think that I'm really going to push and I'm hoping more teams join for next year so that we can get a two classification tournament to where double A is competing for their state title and the A and B's are competing for theirs because if you look at our record and take out some of the double A's, it looks quite a bit different. So great job baseball. Uh the golf team had an awesome postseason. Uh we secured the divisional championship down in Billings. Dylan Mona took first place overall. Olivia um Kamino took fifth. Matty Winski took seventh and then up at state we took third place just by two strokes behind Shelby which it was their home course. So um
026you know we were right there and then uh Dylan placed fourth there, Olivia placed ninth and Manny placed 12th. So we had three people medal at the divisional and as well as the state tournament. Great. um tennis. Um Libby, correct me if I said anything wrong here, but um they had a great showing at divisionals as well. Libby uh Libby Colta and Addy Malinowski took second in doubles. Rowan Mitchell and Poppy Tol took fifth. Katherine Colta placed third in singles. And those doubles teams will be competing at state. Is Catherine going to state as well for singles? That's awesome. That's a lot of representation from our little tennis program. Coach is very nice work. Congratulations. Yeah. And finally, track and field with coach Toy. Um, we qualified eight for divisionals down in Laurel. And from
027there, four of those athletes qualified for state in multiple events. Uh, Lola Morris, Harper Morris, Ursula Ble, and Haley Hajj will be heading to Missoula to compete at the state meet. And I think that's it. When are the state meets? When's tennis? Tennis's out tomorrow. Theirs is Thursday, Friday, and then state track is Friday, Saturday. So head on Thursday. Great. Best of luck to It was a good thing we changed the graduation. I was going to say it. Great. Awesome. Thanks, Mr. Hennis. You bet. Uh, Corki business report, your final. This is it. Yeah. So, you can see the fiscal year 25 budget funds are that's in the packet and happy to say that we were on target back to our August meeting last year. Okay. Um, we're going to end up using roughly $500,000
028on our house bill 408. So, based on what we brought in uh in January, it's you know, it was an extra there's a difference of $100,000 that will be um saved. So, good. Great. Fiscal year 26 is going to be interesting um with House Bill 408 with the House Bill 846 that just passed um with some donations that have come in from Spanish Peaks and PTO um as well as the general fund levy that just passed. I mean, it's the school district will be in good shape. Um, enrollment is going up, so hopefully that starts to pull back up our three-year average. So, the general fund should be okay going forward. Sure. You don't want to stick around? It's going to get so much easier. [Laughter] So, that's it. Great. Well, thanks again, Corgi, and
029thanks again for all your time with us. We truly appreciate it. I know what's make it official. Also, Brett, we can just add so as soon as we have the budget committee kind of reestablished after later today, we we can have a quick meeting because when we say it's going to be okay, it means we still have like Corky listed off a million dollars almost in monies that we're going to be bringing in um in addition to that. Great. Great. Thanks for working good. Uh move on to discussion and action items. Go ahead for motion number one. Uh I motion to approve the book How to Read Literature Like a Professor for Grades 11 and 12. Second. So this came from Patty Hamlin as a summer read for students 11 rising 11 rising 12. Uh,
030I put the synopsis in the in your packet. It's a good idea. Looks pretty good. Yeah. Does it really look pretty good? Any questions at all? Call for a vote. All those in favor? I I I. Any opposed? That's unanimously. This second item is just for your information only. Um Montana school boards because they're we'll be renewing with them shortly. So they sent this out as a you know asking us to share this with trustees across the state cuz really it we've been me I mean we've been members of of MTSBA for a long long long long time and as you know Carol is on the board of MTSBA. this particular session. Um, they delivered. Yeah. Not just for our community, but across the state. They really, really delivered. So, I think they're kind of
031sent this out as a just as a reminder of the services and that they provide for us, but also as kind of their own pat on their back, like they feel really good about the session, too. So, I mean, I would answer any questions. And as just as an FYI for the trustees who will be seated, you'll receive all sign up information to join the school board's association today. And it is good. We do encourage it. It's Yeah, it's definitely worth being part of. So great. Okay, move on to the next item, please. Um, I number three move to approve the contract with Toddle as presented. I think you said second, right? Did you say second? So, I put the invoice in the packet to student learning management system that could replace management. There's an
032increase in the cost. Actually, I put slight but it's about twice as much. um but it has it has better features and more user interface. So the principles had a training with the faculty and you guys can speak to the feedback if needed but it was it was pretty pretty positive and supportive of a change. Is it was there a problem with manage back or is it just something it's time to get a change or somebody came to me and said this new program and I was like no I'm doing a new program and then I sat there and I'm like oh my gosh it's incredible it really will transform the experience for the kids and enhance our teaching practice. Now I just learned manage by myself so much. So title was created by teachers
033for the field of education and their goal is to give educators back 10 hours a week. Yeah. Oh, nice. I saw that. With the efficiency, I mean, it's just it's incredible. Is there a transition period that we're going to have to have lunch back in place? No, they they talk to each other and they'll migrate everything back into like an iPhone. It sounds too good to be true. Now wait, what is Leant? Great. Well, yeah, I'm glad you guys found something that will make life easier. So, that's fantastic. Uh, call for a vote. All those in favor? I I I. Any opposed? Passes unanimously. I motion to approve the Ofer Elementary School handbook as presented. Second. Thanks, ma'am. Uh, yeah. So, Bri put this together. I don't think there really were any changes. So, I
034mean, the only thing might be lunch prices. No, we figured that all out. So, they're saying Yeah. Great. Awesome. Call for a vote. All those in favor? I I I Any opposed? Passes unanimously. I motion to approve the 2526 classified matrix matrix as presented. Second speak to this too. So we revised this. We've been trying to revise it for the last few years. So it was really more accurate to what we were doing. Um, so it's step raises of 5% which is up from two and a half which the steps were previously. And it doesn't necessarily always work on uh the same principle as the certified matrix where you know you get one for one, right? You give one, you get one on the we have more flexibility in this to go two or one.
035Okay. Yeah. We were able to use it to keep the 10% cooler within that. So we because the major complexity we can do one year. We'll have to go back and look at okay going forward but at least it gets everybody placed for this for fiscal year 26. Do they have a a negotiations? They don't. No association and yeah we have 17 classified employees including bus drivers. Oh more than that. More than that. I was going to say close to almost 30. when you go cleaning crew, fishing, fishing or kitchen, food services. Yeah, it's it's a lot goes up. Okay, great. Thank you. Uh I'll call for a vote. All those in favor? I I I was actually going to ask a question. Oh, sorry, Matt. Sure. That's all right. Um or Dustin, is it
036an automatic step raise or is there um sorry raises based on performance or productivity or any of that or is it just those that are contained in here automatic at least one sometimes two? That's what it's been in the past. Is there still room for performance-based raises and that sort of thing or individualized raises generally with the administration and that's exists in classified? Sorry, I didn't understand yes or no on the performance-based raises. Not. So if you're talking about like we could say there could be the potential for performance-based additional steps but not outside of what this matrix kind of determines um for the classified folks. I gotcha. So the only way we individually negotiate every single contract. I gotcha. Is there any flexibility for that for the class five folks? Deb there's flexibility. We
037feel like this year's increase, you know, because it would have been seven and a half off of what they were last year. Um, you know, resonates just about where the average was for the certified staff as well. So, that's what the contracts are. We'll go out tomorrow and then from there we'll chat with folks. We actually rolled the 10% cola into the hourly rate and then increase another 5%. And after the step that they had coming. Yeah. So it's a pretty good move for everybody. It was a very good move for everybody. The only adjust the only adjustments that we looked at where someone might have received a second step was to make sure that um positions were aligned so that custodians were aligned with other custodians. Bus drivers were aligned with other bus drivers.
038We were not doing as a performance base. Everybody got a step. Okay. So their stuff was actually 7 and a half% this year or not two%. Depends. I mean if if you keep if you if you roll cola in there also it's another 10% because that was an optional piece that was se that was separate to the classified contract. So we we included the 10 we gave the step of roughly two and a half then then added the 10% cola and then gave 5% on that. So the race is on an hourly base. I mean had was it was substantial. Okay. All right. That's helpful to understand. Yeah. Are they all hourly employees or all that are represented here classified? All but one. Yeah. All one. And should we pay her as a daily more?
039So yeah, it's more of a daily, but it's it's kind of it's more of a salary type position. Any other questions? I'll recall for the vote. All those in favor? I I I. Any opposed? Passes unanimously. Uh next is the policy 3630. Uh this is just a discussion item that we're getting going at this point, right? Um talking about our three options that we listed in the packet. Do we need to go over those might be a good place to kind of ground everybody? Um, so this is the baseline. This is where we're starting. Yeah, this is where we're starting and and and I have some suggestions possibly how we can move forward and then kind of see what we want to do next. So this isn't uh this isn't a meeting to consider 3630
040for change or for anything else, right? Um, so we have three options, right? Option one, these are in the packet. They can use they say cell phones, pagers, and other electronic saving devices. Does anybody Andrew can't get rid of it, D? Um, so this is kind of like the no rules, no nothing. Just say you can use them. Just don't be in violation of board policy. Option two is probably closer to what we have currently, and I think this is probably the language that we have currently. um kind of before school, in between classes, lunch times, things like that, just not in class. And if if they do use them in class, then they have u you know, they have to have parent or teacher permission. Um and then some a little bit about uh
041you know, we're going to confiscate your firm. And then the last one is kind of what we've been talking about or what we heard during public comment and that's you know, they can't use them at all at any time. building administrators have the permission. Now again, we don't have to pick one of these. We can add or subtract whatever we want. Um so those are the three and I guess we have to rewind to what September probably when Gianforte sent out the letter. This was kind of the first week we started thinking or talking about it and thinking very deeply about it. Um and then there was a couple bills. There was one bill that had some money attached to it. um that was going to be for schools that had cell phone free policies.
042That money got dried up. Um you know, I think Deb who from the Tukman Foundation would be willing to help with any resources that we need as far as money goes. So is what we need to decide kind of as a board and and it can be kicked to a committee too that we can establish in the in the second half of this meeting. Um like where are people at? I think we know where the faculty's at. There's a letter in your in your um in your packet from faculty I think was signed by 22 people. Okay K 22 and there's some people like oh I didn't sign my name after I sent it to you. I would say it's so more along the line of 25 and you know we can probably count another
04310 who kind of looked at it went I want to sign that and they just didn't even um so I think there's there's some pretty good buyin from from faculty. Um, and I think we'll see that there's good buy in for from from parents too. But that's probably like what what has to happen next or what would need to happen next is to gather some data around this and again it can get kicked to a committee a very small committee because this this is going to have to be a quick process if we make any changes. Um, so we have a summer to to think about that. So I guess right now I I would just kind of want to get a barometer on where where are the trustees at least the currently seated trustees
044and you know where where are you feeling where are you landing after after what we've heard and kind of what we've seen throughout the year. Any comments? I I personally um all for bell to bell. Um I worry about throwing the responsibility on teachers to enforce it. I would like to see it top down and not so the teachers do not have to worry about it. Um I don't know how to do that, but I think that's what we need to figure out is how to do that. Yeah, Matt, do you have anything to add? Yeah, I'm I'm fine taking away phones. I somehow knew you would be. No, I think it's great. I'm all for it. Like the more research we've done and looked at different studies and hear all the feedback from different
045places and schools and to have all the faculty on board, I think it's fantastic. So, I mean, I have a freshman. I deal with it at home all the time. I deal with it at school, too. So, um I'm all for it. And I think just the distractions, getting it out of their hands, not having teachers have to deal with it all the time, just out as you walk in the door, they're gone. You get back at the end of the day, it's going to solve so many problems, alleviate, I think, a thousand different issues. So many. So, I'm I'm excited that this is moving forward. And I'm happy to be as like you said, we'll talk about this committee later, but moving that forward and pushing it through and getting it, you know, out
046to the parents, see what their feedback's going to be, which I think will be very interesting. Um, and then moving forward with it so that we have this kind of done and out of the way before school year starts. That's I think what stopped us last year is it was just school had already started. Yeah. Yeah. And I think moving forward and starting is I think going to be you know certainly it was late. And I and I also think you know to your comment Danielle I I think the model is your phone comes into the school and then it's not in your possession. Yeah. And that that just that's almost the only way it can work. Yeah. I don't think there's any other way we could do it. Yeah. And then there will there
047will be places I think again that that that foundation could possibly help us um yeah come up with our ideas and what we do moving forward and we can get everybody kind of involved in their opinions and then I know I know there'll be a message issue like parents wanting to get messages to their kids. So like that'll be something that we'll have to establish a real clear policy so that Anita's not getting that. Totally. Yeah. like all she's doing is transferring messages. Yeah, I mean I I I can see that, you know, being something, but I I would just add this that, you know, at the elementary level, that's the only way to get a message to your kid to call the front office and it works. And a lot of times it's messages
048that don't need to get to the kid like, hey, soccer practice is rained out, right? High school kid, they're on their own, right? They can they can manage that on their own. But I I agree with you that we need to move quickly, but I also think we need to move thoughtfully. Yeah. Have it all problem solved before we Exactly. roll it out, get all the data. Yeah, exactly. Okay. So, we'll kind of see if that's a commit something to add. Yeah. an interception. Um so yeah, just to add really quickly, I think um forming a really clear policy because I pulled up the handbook for 202122 school year and then this past school year and it only got more ambiguous in our handbook and so just being really clear when we developed this committee
049just being so explicit and I think yeah thanks Ashley. We'll we'll have a very clear policy especially if you go with no right. It doesn't get any clearer. Yeah. And what the book says and what the reality is that kids who've left the school and gone to places all of the other programs the semester schools no phones and the thing that they most like and and some of them it's the thing they miss the most. And I talked to I wrote three of them and said what do you think? And they said, "Well, it has to be everyone and it's not." And if it's everyone, then everyone's fine. And they they're they say, one of them said, "What about listening to music?" And I said, "Okay, when you listen to music, do you ever change
050the channel?" And she was like, "Well, actually, yeah, I do all the time." So, you're right. It's a distraction. You're on for the committee. Be on that. I think we're all on board. I I think it's fantastic. So, I I think this is going to be a good decision moving forward. So, and thank you everybody for coming and talking and getting all the signatures and everything. So, we appreciate it. Okay. Uh we'll move on to number seven, please. I recommend the motion to approve the resolution to request Gallatin County to conduct elections as presented. Second. So this is every May. This is you're resolving to give Gon County the permission to do our elections next year. Call for a vote. All those in favor. I opposed as unanimously. All right. I motion to move to
051certify the election results as presented. And I think this is where we just certify them. Got a second, ma'am. Yeah. Oh, thank you. Sorry. Thank you. Any discussion on that? Really? It was interesting. The levy fell exactly where they always fall 4555. It's either for or against. Um, but I did hear that it was a record voter turnout. So that was that's good. Which is interesting because it's still only less than half. The number of registered voters keeps going down. The number of registered voters keeps going down. Yeah. But the turnout was better. Yeah. Which is great. Yeah. And we're still holding steady. So that's awesome. Yeah. So there's 2,800 registered voters. 1140 voted. So great. Um I'll call for a vote. All those in favor? I I I Any opposed? I move to adopt
052a consent agenda as presented. Second. Call for a vote. All those in favor? I I I Any opposed? Passes unanimously. Okay. Uh at this point, we are going to swear in our new trustees and John Nielsson could not be here. So, Libby will take that responsibility, please. I guess I'll call her to say invested in. Hopefully, I tried to break it up a little bit. I think we do one at a time. We can take it together up before. Okay. So, this is um just the oath of office. I do solemnly affirm I do solemnly affirm that I will support and defend that I will support and defend the United States and Montana Constitution. the United States and Montana Constitution. I will faithfully execute the duties of office with fidelity. I will faithfully execute the
053duties of office with fidelity and regard the best interests of the students and regard the best interests of the students and their education in all decisions and education in all decisions. Barbara. I do solemnly affirm I do solemnly affirm that I will support and defend that I will support and defend the United States and Montana Constitution. The United States and Montana Constitutions. I will faithfully execute the office of office sorry the duties of office with fidelity. I will faithfully execute the duty of office office with fidelity uh and regard the best interests of the students and regard the best interest of the students and their education in all decisions and their education in all decisions. [Applause] Okay. Thank you. Okay. So, now we'll move forward with uh with restructuring of the board. I motion to
054keep the structure of the board as presented. So Matt Jennings remains the chair and Matt Dodd remains one at a time. Yeah. And I get I I just want to make it clear. I was just putting in here who currently is. Um I would make a motion more along the line. I move that we elect Matt Jennings as Okay. I move that we elect Matt Jennings as board chair. I'll second that. Do I need to vote for that or we just Yeah, there I'll call for a vote. All those in favor? I Any opposed? As unanimous. Thank you everyone. Appreciate that. I motion to elect Matt Dodd as vice chair. I second that. Uh, call for a vote. All those in favor? I I I pass unanimously. Thanks, Matt. And then and then I don't
055with Libby. Do I appoint? You should vote to appoint. Okay. So I need to vote to appoint. Move. Move to appoint. Okay. Um, so I will move to appoint Libby Greybo as our new district clerk. We need a second. Second. Thank you. Call for a vote. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Pass unanimously. Does she have to be sworn in too, right? Swear. No, she's okay. She does not have to be sworn in. Thanks, lady. Thank you very much. Okay, we'll go through some of our our committees now and just uh fill in some of the blanks left. Yeah, on a lot. So, she was Yeah. So, we'll start with personnel. Danielle's on that currently and we need I would like to remain on that. Okay, perfect. Cuz anyone want to join me? Yeah.
056So personel do you want to cut it? So it's more like um we did teacher negotiations at and any new job descriptions would come to committee. You know any kind of restructuring like you know the business office will come to that committee to make recommendations here. It's a good one. It's it's good. It's not a it's a people person. Like I I'm not going to be on the budget committee. So, you want to give that one a shot? Sure. Okay. Betsy on that one. Um, and then budget is currently Matt and it was Cara. So, we have one person there. And like I said, that is not me. And this one has in the past been relatively active. Um, and probably I see at least unfolding over the course of the next six months being
057quite active and and and kind of the budget committee acting in a pretty important role with boundary relocations and things like that. Yeah. Yeah. I was going to say I'm happy to take that. We're all I think we talked about that earlier. So be me. Um, safety is next. That's myself and was Cara too. And that one's fine if you want to just leave one on it. So this is a quarterly meeting with Matt um with Matt Dhy in a in a small parent group and admin. Yeah. So all right. Policy. Um Matt, are you still good with policy? Would you want to get budget? Um would you be interested? I would be interested in that. Okay. I would swap you for that for sure. That's the other way. Yeah, I I've read a lot
058of policy. So So yeah, that's going to get pretty heavy here once the all the bills are signed. Yeah. Okay. Uh transportation, that's not very active. That's pretty quiet. Matt, are you good with that? We'll just leave that same. That's fine. Okay. Uh strategic plan, we have not So that was to be if we were to have a significant process which we we didn't end up doing in the last year and that should be who it is anyway. So we should leave that the same the full board when we do it. Yeah. And then we just have to notice it. Uh okay. Then we do building suspended facilities which has been suspended. We're doing good there. Um housing. So not active. Are we going to do any housing with that? I mean, we're kind of
059waiting to hear. We're just kind of waiting. I mean, it was Cara and Seth and that really just I was just kind of keeping them posted when we started to launch that was they helped me with the grants. We made sure you know they helped with the selection. Yeah. Should we reassign anybody at this point or I mean at this point? Oh, cuz they're both gone now, aren't they? Yeah. Just so one person wouldn't be bad to have just as to assist us. Do you want to do it? You did it before too for Yeah. For the other ones. Unless somebody else is interested in covenant conversationally passionate about. Oh, is it but is it then where is it that you're making here on here? I'm on the I'm on the BS. I was going
060to say you're already there. Yeah, it could be but they're not in the No, but then negotiation I can do that. I want to stay on that. So that would be you cuz we will have some we'll do something kind of similar in person. Yeah, we start we're going to have to rework the matrix. Yep. Uh then legislature. I'm happy to join that one after this last session. I thought that was great. So I'd like to continue on with that and maybe follow Cara's footsteps. Yeah, she was SBA. So I'm happy to do that. Matt, are you okay with that one still? Yep, that's fine. Thanks. Okay. Um, and then I would jump off communications if anyone wants to I might have some communicating. We really hadn't We were We had a whole lot. We
061didn't do a lot cuz we didn't have We thought we would have a lot more to communicate about the levy, but it was because of the pressure was taken on. Yeah. But get the voice out there and let people know what's going on. You know what your bio says? You have a four-year-old and a two-year-old. Don't tell Linda that you saw that. She bugs me all the time. Fine. I'll get that to you. It's just like I looked at it. I'm like, I'm pretty sure that's a there committee. Uh I'm on that committee. I will stay on it. I I will be better. iPad. Anybody else? What does that do? Sorry, Danielle. It's to kind of helps set up the professional development and stuff. And the more trustees we get on it, the bigger that
062group has to get because according to the accreditation standard, it's got to be a majority of uh faculty. So we just leave that as a single but it ties with personnel and negotiations. Yeah. And I mean it's run it just be on it and I would love to be on the phone committee. Yeah. We talked about that should be communications. Well that would be because you are going to do we want to look that under communications or no I think it's I think it's outside of you policy has to be made a policy. So and I think there should be teachers. Yeah, totally. So we can we should do this right now. And what do we want to name that? Whatever. Phones. Phones. Well, it's cell phone policy or electronics because they always electronics they
063always go to like when you see their policies that that Kuchin and the other ones put forward uh that other foundations they always say like also WMAN you or not [Music] Wman does anyone even know what it was but I was making a joke it came out because we were talking about imagine if you remember when the walk TV things first came out and I was talking with Marlo and I was like, imagine like if people would have just brought a TV to school. Everyone would have been like that's outrageous. Now they bring TV to school every day. Um, but it it is like all the music, all of the things and Bluetooth uh watches and glasses. Which reminds me, are we going to the the AI is does that deserve a committee or is
064that going to be handled by teachers or AI? I guess that would be in policy, but that's the next big that's the next big thing, right? So maybe can we back up and get the electronics committee set first? We'll do electronics. So, we have Barbara, um Daniel, I'll be on it. Yeah. Somebody from admin. Maybe one teacher probably Ashley would really I would do it, but I think Ashley really wants to be on it. Actually, there's a lot of teachers that volunteer for Ashley. Yeah, I might recommend Anita because she's going to she'll also have That's a good idea. But I think your point that was a really good point that the element I mean we we survived. We all went to school and there were no cell phones. Yeah. We got all the messages
065we needed to contact email their children. Yeah. Like really? Email will go through to their computer school. We block all Gmail. I mean all email school. Oh, but a but a parent can send to their to their student school. Yeah. Justin, can we put a kid a student representative? A student representative. Sure. And that brings up many years ago the board did have a student representative to the board. And which is a nice experience for a good, you know, sure we can do that. I just I just want to caution against making this too big and too many people. We want to move very very quickly. I I want to move as quickly as possible. So we need to find a student then somebody needs to talk to that kid with it by the end
066of the week. Okay. Right. So you will say the board can say like involuntary student I just meetings. We got nine days of school left after this week. Right. Yeah. So we might want to have a special meeting before our June meeting. These policies need to be read twice. Yeah. Right. Right. So, this is whoever the admin is, I'm happy to do it. Um, but we're going to be moving quickly around. Yeah. My point being, if we got an influential student, it would also help with the message to the students. Yeah, potentially. Potentially. I was going to say that could go the opposite way, too. Could go the opposite way. Maybe they shouldn't be on. I mean, maybe they're on blue. I mean, I think like if I'm going to be on this committee, I
067think one of the first things need to just be really I don't think it needs to I I don't think this needs to grow into anything more than it can be very lean survey to the parents, survey to the kids, surveys to the faculty. Here's the data. Let's make a decision decision. We'll move forward. You say you would say use surveys. Well, we at least want to get some feedback, right? I'm just saying it go to your point that your point not to use to make the ultimate decision. No, just to get the feel so that people have an inclusion out there, get everybody's voice heard. Yeah, I know. Okay, perfect. And then these are just committees that have kind of been historical. Um, are there any others that that Oh, particular moment that could
068become like an academic type committee. I mean, we were talking about looking at different things. Um, well, I think we should think of that if you can there be other I mean, is this the only time that you make a commitment? No. So I think as as the new board is together and they you know we have conversations but I think that could that would logically come from a strategic um planning place where I think I would love to to know what the goals are of the administration of the other board members of the faculty for the school and then then figure out the committees to do the work. Perfect. Okay, that sound good everybody. Yeah, that's great. Okay, so our meeting times have generally been the second Tuesday of every month at 3:45. There's
069always a Zoom option that that's not set in stone, but that's what we traditionally done. Keep works by me here. Okay, perfect. So, next meeting June 10th. June 10th. Can we get this summer on the schedule including August? Do you have the date? You want to set July too? July is up to the board. August 12th is the Tuesday that provides the opportunity to get things wrapped up by the 15th. That would be the budget the annual budget meeting. I know I'm not available then. That week at all even distance. Oh, from our media. Yeah, that's a distance. Yeah, I mean do we we could do it the week before. Did Matt did? What does your August is? Is not good for me. Second week look like 12th in particular. Um I'm out of state.
070August 12th. That whole week. Uh so if it comes if if I have to I can be available via Zoom and are you here available the 12th? Yes. But the week before I will be in the back country. The week before is not practical. We won't even get our will get our tax from the department of revenue until middle of next week. Does the following week work or is that too close because then everyone's back for like sport by the 15 by the 15th. Uh I'm here so we can get so we can get free and Matt Dodd has a and we'll just make sure Matt to have a significant budget meeting with all materials available prior to that budget and that's a trust financial statement to summary Um, and then July we'll just go
071everything like the 8th. That's the second Tuesday. Is that too early? I mean, the early one really is going to be the 10th. That's going to come up quick. Um, but no, I don't think so because again, right, if we're going to have any significant policy changes around electronic devices, it needs to be read twice. Oh, sorry. I wasn't going to. So, are your is your goal to have that before this next have this next scheduled meeting be when we read the policy? Yeah. I mean, we could we could read it once even as a special meeting. First read as a special and yes and then the second one June 10th um depending how quickly we can move. I think there's so much I think very quickly June 10th. So we'll decide who's going to
072be on this from an admin perspective and then there will be an email coming out to you. So we set July right now. I mean so we can set it as the 8th and then let's do that. So July, June 10th, July 8th, August 12th. Okay. Anything else? Uh that that's good for me. Okay. Meeting journ. Thanks everybody. Thanks.