001Deay, Teen Laferner, Emma Demorray, Gavin Bertusk, and Aaliyah Coar. Um, and we have our very first ever chili cookoff winner, Miss Connie Mack. SO, Anything else? Yeah, go ahead. >> Um, student of the month awards were freshman Eron Grafton, sophomore Rachel Stevens, junior Taylor Riley, senior Macy Sherman, our via Buddy Not a Bully winner was Ashley Zolstster. Um, and then the other big thing is I nominated Terry Bolan for the statewide Mildred Adams Memorial Award for MHSA for the outstanding support personnel and got a call last week that she was selected for that. So we caught an assembly with all the kids and surprised her and made her cry and so on got approved we did let her go up to the midyear MHSA meetings on January 19th and she'll receive that award up there.
002>> That's awesome. >> So it was fun. >> All right. With that move on to 4.01. Uh this is the point of the meeting for comments on matters already on the agenda. Comments on agenda items will be accepted when that item comes up during the meeting. Interested persons may also submit to use in written form for the clerk and those comments be brought to the attention of the board during the meeting. Do we have any correspondence or public participation? >> Nope. Okay. 6.1 consent agenda. I move to approve the consent agenda as presented. >> Second. >> Okay. I'll move to the vote. Francis, >> hi. >> Uh, >> I, >> Tiff, >> I >> had you on there. >> Steve, I'm on. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yep. >> Okay. I'll take that as a guess.
003Hi. >> Okay. Uh, governance calendar. >> We've got impact date on there. That will happen next month. Okay. >> Um, with only one meeting in December, it's really hard to get all that stuff. um gather because they have to have a parent meeting and things like that. So um that will happen later in December. So it's on the should we move that? >> Well, it should happen in December. It just may not happen by your first meeting in December. So >> but it is a good >> I don't know just to keep it >> I like it there. Yeah. Okay. >> It it reminds me too of like hey put this on your radar but it's up to you guys if you want to move it. I know. I think we're okay with that. All
004right. With that, we'll move into new business. Uh 9.01 from resations for your information purposes. She say that I'm not disappointed in any of those, but I understand. >> Yep. Mr. Keri. >> Yeah. >> So, >> we were lucky to have him sad to see him go. >> Okay. 9.02. >> It's you. Sorry, I'm having technical difficulties tonight. So, all right. I'd like to make the recommendation to hire Becca Hopkins for the council payable executive secretary position for the 2526 school year. >> I move the Culture Public Schools Board of Trustees approves the non-affiliated hire of Rebecca Hopkins as Coster Public Schools accounts payable clerk executive sec secretary for the 2526 school year. >> Second. Okay, motion second. Any public comment on this? Any for the board? >> Angie. >> Hi, >> Francis. >> Hi,
005Sabrina. >> Hi, >> Tiff. >> Hi. >> That's you again, Mr. O. >> Sorry, let me make it a little bit bigger for you. Here. >> Okay. I'd like to make the recommendation to hire Robert Wbear and Matthew Gibson as district substitutes for the 2526 school year. >> I move the Coaster Public Schools Board of Trustees approves Robert Wbear Wbear and Matthew Gibson as district substitutes for the 2526 school year. >> Second. >> Okay. Motion second. Any public comment on this agenda item? >> Robert Wbear is our bus driver. He's just um maybe looking to fill some time by something in the classroom or anywhere else in the district. So, >> perfect. >> Awesome. >> Okay. Any further board? Angie, >> I >> Tiff. >> Hi. >> 9.04. >> Okay. Okay. I'd like to make
006the recommendation to hire Laura Ling for long-term subcontract for the 2526 school year. She'll be covering for a current employee on medical leave. I move the Cola Board of Trustees approves a long-term subcontract for Laura Link for January 5th, 2026 to May 20th, 2026 for the 2526 school year. Second. >> Okay. Motion second. Any public comment on this? Any further board? >> Angie. >> I All right. I would like to Let me see. Okay, so we got extracurricular recommendation hired for Anna McCracken as the FBMS assistant girls basketball coach for the 2526 school year. >> I move the Coastal Public Schools Board of Trustees approves Anna McCracken for the FBMS assistant girls basketball coach for the 2526 school year. Second motion second. Any public comment on this? Any further board? >> Yeah, Hannah's been working
007as a volunteer. She's been doing a good job. Matter of fact, they're they're playing right now. We rescheduled the game and and she's done a very good job. >> Good. Anything else? Angie, >> I >> Francis, >> Hi, >> Tiff. >> Hi. >> Okay, we got two more. I'd like to recommend Lorenna Mandel for the FBMS math count sponsor. >> I move the Culture Public Schools Board of Trustees approves Lorenna Mandel FBMS math count sponsor for the 2526 school year. >> Second. >> Okay. Motion second. Any public comment on this? >> Any further board? >> Yeah, Florina. She was very passionate about math, about a math club. She'd done it before where she's been. Um, I think she's going to do a very good job just not with math house, but our kids go to
008school. Um, excited about math and kind of over those innovations that sometimes math. >> The kids love her. >> Yeah, >> she is exciting for sixth graders, which is >> hard to do. >> Yeah, it's pretty cool. this new classroom. I see that >> uh Andy >> I >> Francis >> Hi, >> Sabrina. >> Hi, >> Tiff. >> Hi. >> And yeah, one more. Like to recommend Lynn Crook for the FBMS head boys basketball coach. >> I move the Coastal Public Schools Board of Trustees approves Lynn Crook, FBMS head boys basketball coach for the 2526 school year. Second. >> Okay. Motion on second. Any public comment on this? Any for the board? Let's get some experience using Shepherd coaching there. So, I'm excited to get into >> Andrew. I >> Francis >> Hi, >> Sabrina.
009>> Hi. >> All right. Matt. Uh 9.06 outstanding checks. >> Okay. I'm requesting permission to cancel the following outstanding checks and extracurricular account per custodian. So check number 3245. Check number 3253. Check number 32542. Number 32859. Number 32875. And number 32891. The amounts are there. >> I move the Colster Public Schools Board of Trustees approves the following outstanding checks to be cancelled out of the extracurricular funds. Check 32 454. Check 32533. Check 32542. Check 32859. Check 32875. And check 328.991. >> Second. >> Okay. Motion second. Any public comment on this? Any further board? Angie. >> I. Francis. Hi. >> Sabrina. Hi. >> Tiff. Hi. >> Hi. 9.07. >> This is uh >> yeah um >> we took these two classes through the steering committee and are asking for them to be approved. The first is
010the life skills beyond high school um building on the next step. Um it's just an additional class on beyond career skills for seniors. Um and the second one is the transition algebra class. And I did talk with Mrs. Anderson and she did feel that a 2-year time span would be enough to have that transition class added. Take these one at a time. So, let's go school with the life skills. I move the Colster Public Schools Board of Trustees approves the course life skills beyond high school building on the next step as proposed by Mrs. Nansel. I'll second. >> Okay. A motion and a second. Any public comment on this agenda item? Any for the board? So, I went to the steering committee um meeting along with Steve. I took some pretty detailed notes, especially from
011like with his um prior to his departure. He said that this um aligns with um the Montana standards. Um it would be an elective class. It will part of it will fit within our title six goals. Um one comment he had about the course was regarding the assessments was um the class participation. Did we fix the class participation grade? >> Okay. because it originally said that the grade the class participation was like 15% of the grade and that is not aligned with any of the standards like it shouldn't be. Um he said uh as the curriculum director he was in favor of this class as long as the adjustment was made to the participation piece of that grade. So >> and the reason she had participation in and we're having this discussion with the other
012classes also um most of those are project based their things and so the participation was the daily what you're doing and that is being changed to more of a performance or a progress grade so that it's still like they're making progress on that. It's not that they're participating every day so it's not >> Yeah. He just said that the grade should not be ever be based on participation >> is what the is what the curriculum director said. So >> those are my on that class. >> Who's teaching that class? >> M. >> Anything else? >> Angie >> I Francis. >> Hi. Yep. >> I >> Okay. Uh, transition algebra. >> I move the Coaster Public Schools Board of Trustees approves the high school course transition algebra as proposed by Mrs. Lansel. >> I'll second it
013on conditions from Mr. Kurt and Mr. Okay. >> So, this is not a long-term solution. >> Yeah. So, I I did take extensive notes on that one as well. >> She's only wanting it for two years, right? >> Yep. >> So, he actually said we could probably do it in one. >> Um, presently it's being called sophomore algebra. OPI calls it transitional algebra. Um, this course is to be taken after geometry and before algebra 2. um we have two competent math teachers. They're seeing that there's a gap between algebra 1 and algebra 2. So they wanted this transition class. However, um intervention he wanted he said this is a this is a curriculum strictly a curriculum alignment issue for versus curriculum intervention. He said intervention should be happening in the classrooms and it because um
014when you go and you ask your child what you learned today and they said I forget like his exact answer but it's like he said I you know I learned 2 plus two that's your that's your call me out >> that's your curriculum okay and then when you if they come home and they say I learned page 47 Seven, >> That's the resource. So, um, the teachers need to be working on tier 2 interventions in their classrooms. The classes are small enough that there can be things done in the classrooms that are more effective than adding an entire course just to get these kids brought up to speed. So, um, as the curriculum director, he said he was not in favor of this. The only thing he thought was in order to get the kids
015that are in there now currently caught up, he said that um curriculum alignment does not take as long as it's not reinventing the wheel. It's just, you know, we need to we need to get on the stick with it. And um we haven't we don't have like a math curriculum. We talked about that. Um so he said, you know, theoretically it could be done in a year. Um he would he would not go any more than two years on this class at all. Um because it it is just enabling kids instead of raising the bar to where they, you know, can be achieving. We're just setting the bar. I don't want to speak like >> Steve, can I add to this? >> Yeah. Um I am I'm in support of it. As a person who's
016in higher ed, I think a year is enough. We are seeing across not just at us, but um every college that I visited with, we just had a a meeting in Seattle, the COVID gaps and a lot of schools are going to this one year, one or two year no longer to try to make up those gaps. So I think it is I would support it, but probably not a long-term thing either. But we are seeing those math gaps. They are real. And um anything we can do to close those so those kids are successful at a higher level. I would support. >> I agree. We get it done this rest of this year and next year and then I think that's ample time. I think >> so. >> I'm okay with that. >> Okay.
017One of the things we're going to change our heart into is how those kids are assessed and placed in math classes because part of this gap has create been created because algebra in 8th grade is taught by an elementary certified teacher who receives two math for elementary teacher classes throughout college versus algebra at the high school is taught by two content specific certified teachers. And it's different. There's just a a a gap. And so um we rather than just placing those kids when they come in based on the recommendations, we're going to do our own initial assessments and place them according to that. So >> wouldn't that go with alignment though >> to move kids? It it will come with alignment. Yes. Yeah. So which is on the schedule for next year. >> Yeah. >>
018Perfect. >> Lorenna is I'm not I can't remember about CO. Aren't they both content math now? >> Yeah. Now >> they both are. Yeah. >> Yes. Okay, we good. >> I know he's telling a lot, but >> All right, I'll move the vote. Angie, >> I >> Francis, >> hi. >> Sabrina, >> hi. >> Jeff, >> I >> Okay. Uh, central warehouse. So, um, since I supervised that position, I went ahead and, um, kind of took the lead on creating anou. Um, we didn't get this through CCA yet. Me and Connie have kind of been in um, contact, but it was um, kind of last minute that I threw it on the board. Um, so we know that there's still conversations that have to happen with CCA and um, probably a lot more conversations and
019boats and things like that. But if um, I bring it to you guys to just propose that the central warehouse position is um, only a two-hour position, it's really hard to get filled. um we did offer it to one of our employees that um was going to take it and then um she decided not to. So it's left us with um nonaffiliated our central office picking up the um when no one could do it. So, what I would like to do is either um allow that to be a non-affiliated position, which is what I'm requesting, or um also maybe leave it open to be able to do a co-op position um and have a student that's reliable be able to um go to the post office, pick up mail, deliver the mail. Um, we also,
020what I put in there as well is that the central warehouse has changed a lot from what it used to be. We used to operate that warehouse where teachers would order construction paper, paper, pens, pencils, everything out of there. We would buy, put it in, and then that person would then um pull it out, keep track of the inventory, and um deliver it. That's no longer a need anymore. The warehouse is basically just a place where UPS can drop off the packages and then the mail person picks up packages there and delivers and delivers them. That way the schools aren't bombarded with packages at their door. So the position is definitely still needed. It's not going away, but the warehouse part would um go away eventually. Um, so yeah, that's the that's kind of the
021reason why I want to pull it out of there is just to give us a little bit more flexibility and um, we're covering that position when they're not available anyway. So, um, I do welcome Connie to share any thoughts you have. Um, and as of right now, the union is not prepared to open discussion on this because we have not had ample time to even do it. I do have a meeting called with my board for Wednesday evening. So after that, we can get together and discuss it. >> And I think why I brought it too is that if if you guys feel like you're in favor before you get information from CCA, um if you are in favor of it, you guys can act on it so that we don't have to bring it
022then back to the board. Once CCA agrees with it, then they can sign it. you've already signed it and we can move forward because right now we're in limbo and it's really hard. It's either I need to post the job and I need to find somebody to fill it out of the classified union and I haven't wanted to do that because it's the perfect time to make the transition if we're going to. If not, we may get someone there in there again and then, you know, which is fine. >> No, makes sense. >> It's just a little bit harder to find somebody. So, >> harder. Yeah. Um, so yeah, >> and our office, like she said, has been doing it for >> we did discuss this a lot during negotiations, too. >> So, it's not
023like it's >> for anybody. >> Yeah. >> And if we approve this tonight and they come back with changes, then it would just come back to us. >> Yeah. Yeah. This just like helps the process if they do decide to if it's an easy change for them, then great. If not, we'll come back to the drawing board and >> Okay. Out again. >> Yeah. >> Works for me. >> Okay. >> Anything else? >> All right. I'm going to vote. Uh, >> wait. >> I move the coal for the memorandum of understanding. >> I guess I haven't wrote anything out. as presented for consideration and adoption by the CCA in culture public schools. >> Second. >> There we go. Now I have motion and second. >> Any other comment on this agenda item? Ne for the
024board. I think it'll work out just fine. So Angie >> I >> Francis Hi. >> Sabrina. >> Hi. >> Tiff. >> Hi. >> Okay. 9.09 >> election day, May 5th, 2026. Um, so what you guys will be doing today is either choosing to do a mail ballot election or a poll election and we have one three-year trustee position that will be open that is currently held by Angie. So, um she has obviously optioned to run again, but we have to hold the election for that. And then um later you guys will um oh this time too you guys also will be um voting on the election starting and running the levies. So we don't know the you know numbers. We haven't set that but um this is just a call for the election. I preferred
025to do the mail ballot election again, but >> I kind of put in there the voter. >> Yeah, I added that voter turnout for you guys to look at and included the bond >> election on there, too. But >> I like the mail just because everyone gets that chance and that reminder at home, >> right? >> Doesn't have to believe. You don't have to. Yeah, >> I'm fine with that. Okay. Um, I move the Coaster board of trustees for school district number 19, Rosebud County, state of Montana, will hold the annual regular school election on Tuesday, the 5th day of May, 2026, which date is not less than 145 days after the passage of this resolution. The election will be conducted by mail election. The purpose of the election is to elect one trustee for
026three-year term and approval of additional levies to operate and maintain the general funds of the elementary and high school districts for fiscal year 27. Second. Okay. Motion second. Any public comment on this? Any further board? >> I was just going to mention really quick, it doesn't probably really matter, but it used to be 70 days before. So there there's you guys are seeing it very early because of legislation changes. So now we had to do 145 days. So it really snuck up on me. So luckily um we got it done in time. But um just if that looks funny why we're doing this in December um we may want to add that to the governance calendar next time we talk about >> probably a good idea. >> Yeah. >> Send out that >> Yeah. >>
027letter about the use of the >> those proceeds and Yeah. >> Do we want Do you want to keep it in December? Do you want to move it? >> Do we have to have it in December? >> It has to be. >> Yeah. This >> No. No more. Yeah. But maybe we can put >> another government's calendar to >> communicate with the public about >> Yeah. >> Okay. I'm good with that. >> Anything else? >> Angie. >> Hi. >> Francis. >> Hi. >> Sharina. Hi. Hi. Hi. 9.10. exist. >> Steve does. So in in the case of school district as defined in title 20 chapter 6 compliance with requirements of law governing public meetings of the local board trustees including resulting dissemination of information by a board of trustees or local superintendent or designated employee
028in a district with no superintendent in support of or a position to a bond issue or that be submitted to the electors. Public funds may not be expended for any form of commercial advertising in support or opposition to a bond issue or levy submitted to the electors. So we need to appoint a spokesperson for the levy election. >> Is that a motion or you just appoint them? >> I think it's a motion. >> Okay. >> Sure. >> Who are you recommending? >> Yeah. I move the point back at you. >> I move the Col School District trustees appoint Superintendent Scott Otumba as the district spokesperson for the upcoming school elections as per NCA22121. >> Second. Okay. Motion second. Any public comment on this? Any further board? Tim or sorry Angie. >> Hi Sabrina. >> Hi.
029>> I here >> change. Make sure you guys >> Yeah, no kidding. >> Okay, perfect. Uh move on to reports. Uh superintendent evaluation. Um I think we'll use the one we've been using. I don't have a problem with that one. >> I don't either. >> So, and we have to do that next month. Correct. >> Yeah. >> So, >> I think it's in our second January meeting is when we >> Is it >> work session? >> The work session meeting is >> then we go into executive session >> is when we go into an executive session. >> So, you need to give us a date to have this done by. Somebody's got to compile it. You know what would be really cool? >> A Google form. a Google form. >> Evan, I do. >> Can
030you get us a Google form? >> Sure. Do you have the the document on here? >> Yeah, >> it's on there. >> It's on >> because then we just fill it out and then just get a summary report. Would be awesome. >> That would be awesome >> to give back to who wants to summarize it. >> Well, it'll summarize it. >> Oh, the Google itself. Yeah. >> Yeah. See, then I don't have to do it. because I was actually gonna give the tip. >> Thank you, Evan. >> Who for for that? Who needs to be able to see it like to see the answers? All of you be able to see. >> Just the board. >> And then we need to be able to like print the report to give to Scott. >> Mhm. >>
031So you if you could get that to us by the first week of January after we come back from break. >> Yeah, that'd be very first week of January. Yeah. when we come back and then I think as long as we can I'll have it done by what's that? >> The first board meeting. >> Let's look at a calendar real quick. So the first meeting will be the 12th and then the second one will be the 26th. So >> we have it done by the 15th. >> That's what I was going to say. The week of the 12th. >> Yeah. We week of >> We'll have it done by the week of the 12th. >> We will have it filled out. Is it talking about January 12th or >> Yes. Okay. >> January 12th. So,
032if you could get it to us like the week of the 5th >> and then we all get it turned in by the 16th. >> Okay. >> And then we can go we can have that meeting on the 26th >> week January 5th. Okay. Uh just for retention once this is filled out who would need to see it in the future like because it would be saved for you to get a survey. It's going to be out on the Google Drive. I can restrict it just to the schoolboard group. Doesn't need to remain there long term. Like once you print it out, it could just be >> gone because it goes into a file. >> Okay. Because I can save the the form just with blank answers but but blank out with the with the
033question but blank out the answer. So if we could use it again next year. >> That'd be fun. >> So I'd have to blank it out but give the final print out to to Britney. >> Yeah. zoo or can I get an electronic copy? >> No. >> Well, you could be emailed the PDF. >> Yeah, >> it's easy to keep track. >> Yeah, you can. >> I just don't think you can. >> I think we didn't we didn't give it out ahead of time. It was given to them in close session. It is. And then goes into the file. >> The file. >> Your file. >> Okay. >> Your employee file. >> After that, do I get an electronic copy? >> Oh, I don't. Yeah, I guess you could scan it to yourself. >> Yeah.
034Okay. >> Yeah, it's easy to keep track of. >> And then what the summary looks like is it's just like however many superior marks, however many proficient marks, just the number of marks. And then the comments are well, they're like anonymous. So they're just they don't have like who wrote them. They're just bullet points of the comments. >> Okay. Yeah, >> but we can all tell behind it and then >> Sabrina, can I send it to you just to you can test it and then send it out? >> Yeah. If it has foul languages from me at all, that was good. >> Can't wait till this is old. >> That works for everybody though. >> Good. >> That works for you too, Evan. You get out that week of the 5th. We get it done
035by the 16th. Yeah. >> Okay. >> That sounds so famous. >> Wait till we move to close session. >> Fair enough. >> That's when we get to throw things. >> Great idea. Sounds great. Sure. >> I have a football helmet in there. So, >> bring snacks in the middle. >> Bring Yeah. >> All right. With that, we'll move on to uh administrative reports. Um, I didn't I didn't have any questions. Anybody they went through their awards? >> I had some I had questions like on Derek's, but I don't know if anybody can answer them. >> Give us a try. >> Like on the the mast like the third grade mastformational score distribution window. What slide are you looking at? >> Like the second page. >> Oh, the third grade. Okay. >> Yeah. So when So
036he says band one means students scored in the lower third of all students who took the same test. Band two means the students scored in the middle third of all students who took the same test. Band three means the student scored in the top third of all students who took the same test. So when you look at that, does that mean out of 29 like the very first there's 29 students total >> that took that test? >> Yes. >> And 12 of the 29 are below where they're supposed to be. >> Yes. >> Yep. Okay. And the middle 12 are like hanging on. Yep. >> By fingernails. And then five are proficient. >> Um more than >> more than proficient. So then you go down to literacy and it's the same situation where where we
037have >> 16. >> So we have so more than half of our of a third grade is below proficient. Is that correct? >> Okay. I just wanted to like see if I was reading this correctly and try to like figure this out in my head. >> And the math tests, are those 10 question tests? Are they 10 questions? >> No, it's more than that. >> Are these the Montana ones? >> Yeah. >> It varies by test actually. um they are shorter than like the math test that the kids take. Um and they test on the the standards specifically that the teachers should be teaching during that time frame. Like they establish the criteria that they're going to test the kids over. Um and so they they arrange their standards in their year and they teach
038those standards up to that point basically and then they do it again two more times. So when you get to like the percentages like fourth grade map, so now they're in MAP testing. Fourth goes back. So there's MAP and mast, right? >> Two different tests >> is the district test that we give to the students. >> Math. MAP map >> that measures growth with a RIT score. So it says where the student should be at >> and then the math just has the bands and like students that took the mast last year there was no score because they never they didn't like figure out what the score was until last summer. So like new >> my daughter who's a freshman got the report as a parent how she did just like a month ago or
039this month we got the report because they didn't have it figured out where you should be. There was no norms to say this is where you would fall. So last year everybody was like guinea pigs and then they wanted to see where all the kids were scoring and then a group of teachers and administrators met as a team and decided where like where would you have to score to be that green band yellow band red band is why and then map is normed every year by NWA. So on like page five is where I'm looking at and it's says fourth grade map reading score distribution fall 25st through 20th there's one one and then it says 21st through 40th there's 15. So that's the percentile. So if you think of it as um so we
040have 15 kids in the 20th 21st through 40th percentile. >> Yes. >> Okay. and it just goes to eighth grade. Um, math goes 3 through 8. Math is given K through 10. >> Okay? And then you add different tests in there for different grade levels and it's great to remember. >> Okay. Anything you would like to add? >> No. >> Anything on your report? >> Nope. >> Okay. Anything else, guys? >> Okay, Mr. O. >> Okay. Um, I just kind of mentioned that large group, small group, administrative teams in meeting and some of the emphasis is there been emphasizing the attendance letters. Um, I wrote them, gave them out in August and the crew here has been going through them sort of uh updating and getting them adjusted for their schools. The other topic was
041the Rocky Mountain evaluation. It's kind of a container, a template that we've actually been struggling with a little bit. Um, so I know that uh Evan's been in touch with them trying to get it to work for us. if not um when we met we and small our small team we brought in Evan and asked him if it's something maybe you could do flow forms so he's been working on that I've been keeping Evan really busy >> so I I know beginning of school year I mentioned I know he mentioned this last meeting let's get this website updated let's make it easier to use let's make it our hub let's make it where everybody looks at um information nationwide wherever you're at you can Look us up. Let's get great things on there about our
042kids, about our classes, about our teachers. So, I know their department's been working on it and you've heard a little bit from principles. They have different people in their buildings that now have the ability to go in and update and keep things uh current. So, I know he's really short. You heard that some of that now from the admin last meeting like one button instead of like three or four. I know it was real cumbersome for me and I'm really used to a website kind of being the hub and so Evan's been working with these guys to get that to where it needs to be. So promote our district really well in a positive light and uh get things going for us there. Um 4day calendar uh kind of big topic this last month. Um
043we've met I think three times but we at our last meeting or the one previous to the last one we really wanted to get a survey out there as we'd kind of been attacking it ourselves different issues had different questions that came out of our research so we asked classified certified admin directors community and I gave the number of responses here which I was really impressed with. We had 177 community responses and those show um the reports how they're broken out. We I actually wanted to ask people that weren't in school yet too that were coming into school. So preschool age asked them got this out. 177 is really good. We think about our school community of probably around 480 kids and many of those have siblings. So family wise maybe a little over 200.
044Um we got a lot of responses. So and same with certified responses is probably I think we talked one time maybe around 60 employees 40 there 27 classified almost all of them we have it break broken down into categories of who responded um based on from classified and then non non-union the non-affiliated people kind of are in there but we're going to break those out um and we're going to after we we do um we're looking at another survey kind of a follow-up with some follow-up questions because with the comments it kind of led us to some other things like I put here there are more than just a couple that asked about the length of the day. Have we looked at maybe extending the school year? Um so I know some people in the
045committee said hey we really want to take those numbers. Uh we have some some mocks mock mockups they're actually other school districts what they do. So, I know a couple people in the committee were going to try to make some for us some some calendars to get out to people then as the next step. And then we also want um I I said let's get these to the unions so that they can look at them rather than us saying here it is now. What do you think? But we can get their direct input because with classified especially you know so many different um positions and then how are they going to get their hours in? How are they going to get their salaries in? and they maybe Britney recommended to me kind of a good
046suggestion. Why don't we ask them? So take it to your union, ask them how do you think this could or should work. Teachers too, what length of day, what length of year do you think we should have? Um, so we want to make some up because there's several comments too that said, "Hey, as far as a community, we really know what we're voting for here. What's it going to look like? What is a length of the day?" Because I think I put I knew it'd be longer, but we hadn't made any those decisions yet. I really wanted to know if like I did yes no questions. I really want to know are you for it or against it? Not in between, not the may. And so um the indications really were that people were for
047and the majority of all of these areas were for it. um the least amount would probably we're the certified teachers, but they they have the most amount of knowledge and background on the effect that a four-day calendar has on achievement, which we know the research shows hurts achievement. And then in Montana, it's been done, it was done last year from from Missoula. And then there's also the question about um as far as retaining to me the reason why when I got here last year that this was being discussed was to recruit and retain teachers. However, we found that from research I know Mr. Bailey was one of the researchers had that question to research and found and somebody else did too, but they found the same thing was that you may recruit them, get more
048recruits at first, but the retention of teachers in our state that are on a 4-day calendar, it doesn't show that it helps retain teachers. The things that help retain teachers are valuing your teachers, giving your teachers say, um there's three or four things, you know, how they're treated, respect, all those things. and then salary. So the calendar wasn't huge actually when we found when we looked at that. Um but we wanted to and I did ask that question you know do we want to even though research shows that do we want to give it a try in our district are we willing to do that to see how it works for us? And again majority said yes we do want to look at that. So we're pursuing that. Like I said we have some more
049things to do to get some models made up for how they would look. Um, and then we're meeting again in January on that >> and that comes up for adoption when in April. >> Yeah. >> So then we know >> So are you just calendar out there? Are you just going to Are you just bringing a 4-day calendar to the board for >> We work on a 4 day, a hybrid, >> and four day and a regular one. Yeah. and we know that work cut out for us, but we're feeling pretty good about this last survey and a couple of people on the committee said it won't take us long to get, you know, the times down from when the school would start to when it would end. And so we had a couple volunteer
050do that and get that written for us and bring that to us in January. So, >> are we going to pull with the three calendars? >> You think we should pull >> the hybrid, the four, and the >> what we're doing right now? I think we should >> and whatever four day calendar you can I think to me as a board I don't want four different four day calendars brought to the board. >> No, >> you come up with one one four day >> one hybrid and what we're or what we're doing what we're doing now. >> Yep. That's where we're at. >> Okay. >> And I would like to hear the information that's coming out of that committee because we can create three calendars, throw them out there, and people will be like, "Oh,
051yeah, that looks But if there's research saying why we should or shouldn't do something, then I want to know that. >> I agree. >> That's what I want to base my decision on >> is what's best for the kids, not >> what's best for scheduling doctor's appointments. >> I agree. >> Right. >> That's kind of I guess my question too and that to the committee is what's the goal? You know, >> I was asked to look into a 4day and come up with a viable one that answered a lot of the questions that might be out there. like one of the questions was child care, you know, and I was really surprised it came back about 70% saying that no, that's not a concern. Um, so kind of we tried to hit on all the
052different things. Listen, I wrote the surveys and sent it out to the committee before I sent it out to everybody else that we might have to answer. And that's what we're working on still right now is the beginning of the day, the end of the day. You know, we have questions like you said, classified, what's that going to do their jobs? But then what is the goal? I mean, you're right, Sabrina. Are we looking at a calendar that really improves achievement? Are we looking at one that we think is going to get us more teachers to recruit them? Um, you know, what do we want? Is it some of the And I'll get those to you guys. I think I sent them out just one right now so far to one board member, but then
053you can look at those, too, because you'll kind of get a sense of where people are at in the community and why. >> Yeah. And I just liked that too, like any type of resources that you're looking at because my initial like research very limited, not in depth was yeah, it really was um good for recruiting, but to hear that it's not the case in Montana, I'd like to hear like, you know, if you have information that's more specific to our community, I think I'd like that. We can share that. The the only worry I do have that I do keep coming back to in my mind too is like our student athletes if they're going to be gone like on a Thursday for other events. >> Well, there's big reasons why it lowers achievement.
054I mean, I did do this in a another district and our only goal that I was asked to do as a principal was to improve achievement for students. That was it. So then we came up with what's more kind of I guess we'd call a hybrid where we had a four and a half day week. We had teacher training every Friday afternoon and we used it extremely well. If you look at the results of that district, they went up like this skyhigh. Um so it does depend on what our goal is, you know, and we can bring that information because our committee's done a pretty nice job of getting some of those things to it. Surprised me that surprised me the whole recruiting and retention that does not go up. than we talked about as
055a committee. There's good reasons for that because if you think about some of your smaller places, you know, like us and more remote um you know, it might be really attractive what we pay and whatnot the 4 day week, but then once they get here, what's going to keep them here? you know, and and we've been talking, at least I know the drum that I'm kind of beating is we want to let people know what Cole Strip really offers, which is actually probably a little bit more for, you know, like the young people my daughter and her husband's age. you know, they have little kids and you got CPRD, you got parks, but some of those people coming right out of college. Not sure how much you're going to really keep them here, single people.
056We have some, but if you look at kind of the nucleus of our community, you have a lot of these younger families. You know, it's been kind of eye open to me just when I go places, all the different school events, whatever. It's kind of it's not that old of a um a community I guess that makes you see a lot with little kids and you know that age group but they you know anyway there's a lot to see and do in this but what is our ultimate goal? What does the board want us to do? I think the more information you can give us on those calendars y >> they're going to be specifically brought to the board the better. >> Reasons for reasons again. Does the board does the committee want the board
057to give you a goal? Like what what do we want to f what do we want them to focus on? Do we want them to focus on the best calendar for student achievement? Do we want them to focus on the best calendar for recruiting employees or retaining employees? because those are going to be different calendars >> or just what the community wants because we have comments in there >> that say we're tired of times getting asked and then nothing happens nothing changes right you know so is it that is it because we didn't really tell the community that's where this follow-up survey would be because we really want to know the yes no stuff is this a go-ahhead on it because if we saw like 90% of our community said we don't want it or
058they said we have problems with child care which we did not get that feedback but we didn't provide them with any information we didn't say based on information it says students will achieve lower I think one of my questions was on there about that was community certified that it possibly does lower achievement or just admin I wrote four of them >> but yeah we could provide that but right now we got the green might but they didn't have all the like you said those are good things to know they don't have all that information that's why I think certified teachers theirs was yes for it but a lot less percentage for it because they made a lot of comments about student achievement and we know this isn't good for students to achieve higher I mean
059because you got that they miss the Thursday you don't have school on the Friday you got four days they don't have class >> right >> it's to me it's a no-brainer as far as achievement When I looked at the research and stuff 20 years ago, we came up with my parents on the committee. In fact, they said, "Well, we want our teachers to be trained better." And if you have that ongoing, then you're and consistent types of like we talk about curriculum adoptions and and meetings, we get subs a lot, right? But if you have time for them, that actually shows that your students are going to do better because your teachers are on the cutting edge and they're together. So that's that four and a half day kind of week. And I know >>
060so with Montana laws, can you do that kind of stuff? >> Well, I'm I want to look at this hybrid because that came from one of the teachers on the committee and I asked the same kind of thing. Is is that kind I'm talking about is >> those P days and whatever days are that's state law how many you can have. >> So if you did a hybrid >> that's why the PDWs are out of the PI. >> So if you did a hybrid with intent to do training more training more all of that kind of stuff then are you allowed to do that? >> That's why we're working on this now before negotiations too right >> because there'd have to be agreements there too. I just feel like >> we used to have a
061lot more purpose is to educate children. I would think that the goal would be the best education we could provide. >> I I don't >> I disagree with you. That's what I'm here for. We're doing all these things to improve um education and improve achievement for our kiddos. So, you know, I'm trying to stay neutral because I've got a community to serve. I've got admin to serve. I've got you guys to serve. But if you want my educational input, it's that you want the best schedule to improve learning. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> I think that's what the board want. So, does the board want to direct the committee to create a calendar that is best for learning >> or do we want them to just keep researching everything >> and then bringing because I
062don't know do you guys does the committee want direction from the board or do you guys want to just keep doing what you're doing >> and then the community survey first? >> Yeah. I mean, and are we going to ask those questions like would you support a calendar knowing that achievement would be low? knowing that or would you support a calendar >> that would recruit would increase recruiting but not necessarily retention like all those things you talked about. I think those are the questions that need to be asked upfront because yeah 4 day weeks are awesome. They really are but at what detriment to our kids? >> And I think that too just are they or aren't they? because some school districts don't have a 4 day week for their like K2, their younger kids
063because of the length of the day. And I think that's why the community put that in their surveys. Some other people did too is well, can we lengthen the school year, you know, and maybe it's only two more weeks. We don't know for sure. We're doing that math. People are working on that right now. How much longer it might stretch out if we didn't have a longer day. Um, and some people don't want to vote until they knew that. And we didn't want to go ahead until we knew they wanted us to go ahead. >> Yeah. No, I get that. >> I get it, too. >> Okay. >> But yeah, you guys said, "Hey, Mr. O, you find the best schedule that's going to improve achievement for kids." I can almost >> I mean, we
064can say, "Hey, we want what's going to be best for achievement with the kids." And the committee could still say, "Well, we still want the calendar." Yeah, I guess we just want more information still then, huh? >> Yeah. >> At this point, >> I would like statistical data like Yes. >> Not just for the board, but for everybody else. >> Yeah. For everybody. Just put it out there >> and say, "Hey, this is >> this is what afford is because I mean, you're right. It shouldn't be for doctor's appointment because you can't get an appointment on Friday anyway." >> No, they're all closed on Fridays anyway. >> That question came up then, too. Is it a 4 day with a Monday off? Um, is it a true for day where if you have a Monday
065off or a holiday, then you go to school Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Some school districts keep their Friday off no matter what. Um, there was some, again, there were some things that got asked of us with the comments that we got to build a couple more surveys, but we, >> you know, I'm really happy though that >> Hey, I'm glad you're doing it now. Yeah, people are taking >> I want people to know that we value their opinions. All four of these areas, you know, classify. >> I want to hear >> and you could even ask like list your priorities when looking at a calendar. Would your priority be recruitment of teachers, student achievement, um, >> retention, and what else? And then that way you're asking them to prioritize and you can see you'll be
066able to see what the top priorities are and then you go from there to create the best calendar for that priority. >> Plus then I want to know a little bit more because how much of an issue I mean how many people left and somebody asked me that have you been doing exit interviews you find out why people left where they're going what's going on why they retire. I like to see how many over the last couple three four years have left and then how many are staying and then >> in other words how many do we really need to get how many do we need to recruit right >> if they were a little bit more solid than we used to be >> and the unions did do exit interviews and provided that data
067with us >> certified did >> I don't know classified did too okay but we would get that they did that to for a couple of And that's probably still available somewhere because it was shared in a board meeting >> if you want to look at those because they asked open-ended questions too and provided those to us. >> That's been Oh, then we had Christmas party. Okay. Uh that was great. Uh we had a lot of fun. I'm gonna give some shoutouts here to people who really helped. Uh we did a district get together on Friday night. Um and then we had food, we had games. It was a lot of fun. It was at the moose. Had uh pretty good committee. I know somewhere in here that were on it. Robin was on it. Bart
068came. I know Connie. Were you in there? >> I wasn't. >> You weren't there? Okay. Thinking you. I saw it. That's calendar committee. Yeah. We had, you know, some key players. Brandy Shred. She kind of MCed the deal and she and Noel. >> Yeah. Go figure. And they it just gave a lot of energy. Noel D, they planned the games together. Um Robert called I think I called him kind of towards the last minute because spearheading the committee with a million other things going on. I needed a lot of help. So Robert Robert went set up. Um geez, who else? Uh Robera was there doing food. Stephanie helped with the food. Um just was a great crew. I know Bill um Bill Hudson stayed late. I didn't that's the one thing I failed. I didn't
069really have a cleanup crew. So um Morgan was there, Morgan Clark and Jeff. They stayed with my wife and I and uh Bill for like an hour cleaning things up and then hauling things over here that was left over. Um so a lot of early um people as soon as you start their names people are going to miss somebody. But um I know Chris and and and Britney did some stuff with getting drinks there and the sodas and the waters, that kind of drink. Anyway, um >> yeah, the other part was open, too. So, but we had a little over 70 people there. Um and I know I had some teachers before we planned this flat out asked me, "Hey, can we do a district, you know, Christmas party get together?" Because what we wanted
070to are people from all buildings, you know, that don't get to see each other. And you got like your Tellelle who goes to all three and then, you know, other people, Jen that goes to all of them. Um Evans crew, that kind of deal that everybody would do individual parties, right? Yeah. >> And a whole bunch of them. And I did kind of I thought Carrie invited the subs, but we kind of dropped that ball by accident. Only had one sub there because we wanted to invite the subs. And then it was hard too because like which party would they go to? So I know we kind of went back and forth on what kind of a party to have this year and I just went back to this kind of took care of everybody.
071But um I just thought it was really cool the way that district had a lot of good comments. It was nice to see each other different people within the district that one thing coming together like that. So well you are a district how it should be. >> It is. >> Yeah. We like to fixology. >> Yeah, Evan was there helping and cleaning up team. But yeah, it was it was it was a neat thing. So hopefully more next year and there's even some good prizes given out. >> Oh, good. Cuz that's all I got. >> Good job. That's awesome. >> Anything else?