001This conference will now be recorded. All right. I'm calling the meeting to order. Mike Ziggler, chair. Go on the table. Tony Sazi, trustee. Alex Revas, trustee. And online, Bo. Bo Gibbs, vice chair. And Jay. Jay Sailor, trustee. Stephen Struby, superintendent. Okay, that takes us to consent agenda. Trust everyone's had a chance to look at it. Uh is there any questions or comments with that? No. Make a motion to approve. I'll second it. It's been moved and seconded. Any further comments or questions or comments? If not, all in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries. Takes us to communication. Is there any public comment for anything not on the agenda? Okay. Takes us to reports. Is there any questions or anything anybody wants to do or expand on in the reports? Anything? I don't have
002anything either. All right. Um we'll give you pass play twice by you for works session policy building updates. So, um couple updates. The Washington bathrooms as of right now, I believe are all up and running. So, You can use the lab. Full bathrooms over there. Um at the high school, our B C wing, we're waiting on flooring. Um once that gets put in, take a couple days to get everything put back together and they'll be up and running. So, flooring should be starting if not today, which it didn't, then I'm thinking tomorrow. Um so, uh things are looking pretty good on those. Um uh applying for one more little grant for the auditorium. Um and yeah, other than that, the the Jefferson new issue with Jefferson, um camera B uh so, it's the sewer service
003line going from um out of the building to the to Lark Lane where the sewer main is. And when they put the new sewer main in last year, it's a new main and then it comes off our our tap is moved up to kind of the edge of the street. So, it's new to that point, so we just have to go from that point up to the edge of the gymnasium. Um which is fairly a straight line, should be pretty easy, but it's a 6-in pipe and out of that 6 in, there's about that much that's open. So, it's pretty tricky and it's um 90% of it is roots from from trees trees that aren't even there anymore, but it's pretty much choked out that old clay tile pipe um that was put in back
004then. So, that'll need to be done this summer, but uh other than that, I think that's all my updates. The one thing I noticed from is the uh that was a $100,000 grant for the seats. I mean, that's amazing. When when we were first going through the bond, we were looking at what, half a million for them seats? I think it was it I think we were at Or was it a million? I mean, yeah, so it was we've come from a million to what was it? It was like a quarter million. >> Yeah, 230 something, I think. 230 something and so now it's down to like 130, plus we're going to have the the name. >> Mhm. So, it's like that's quite amazing how how that's come. I'd just like to point that out
005Where we Where we started at and where we're ending up. And then then the other 100,000 for the lighting. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, well yeah the the 100,000 that we were awarded was for the lighting. Um and the one that we're waiting to find out on Oh, okay. Okay, that's where I got them mixed up. And like I said, there's one more that I'm applying for this June on Monday. It's not that much, but Yeah. we'll see on that. Um you know, I mean I guess just for the record, too, the uh with the gymnasium floor getting completely redone this year, and I think thanks to Blaze and Foundation and Mr. Murphy there, um I think I can say without mine, there won't be hardly a dollar that goes into that that tax payer money at
006all that can be raised. Um the entire project pretty much paid by their work. Um that should hopefully make the public feel a lot better about that, too. So, something that's needed, it's a maintenance thing. Um one that we want to continue to get more life and more decades out of our floors, something we have to do. And for the fact that the Blaze and Foundation have to be a part of it, you and see Foundation being able to pay for all of it. And then when you look at there's all the extra money we had to spend on the H-back. Yeah. >> Yeah, that'll be nice to see cuz we're we're getting close to like um kind of seeing what the dust being settled as to what we have to shift cuz we've got
007to shift a lot of things to the H-back project. So, these kind of grants help us to and money that was dedicated to that is going there. I mean, it was just so much more than what we had expected. So, and um every every little bit will help. Yep. Hey Brett, um just for the sake of the video recording. Um, for some reason the your voice quieted down or at least from the recording standpoint right when you were discussing the impact that the Legacy Foundation had. Would you mind repeating that? Oh, well, just that the Legacy Foundation by raising all the money, um, there won't be any real public taxpayer funding going into refinishing the court for the summer. So, um, that I think is a a huge deal that uh the public should be
008very appreciative of, so. And all the people that donated to that and everything, that's that's really pretty good deal. So, I'm shy, that's why I don't know Thank you. Thank you for saying that. All right, so are there any more comments, discussion for building updates? If not, let's take us to action item A, consideration of petition for BCHS diploma for Montana Youth Challenge Academy graduate. Yeah, so for some of you have been on the board for a little bit, um, back in January of 05, I think it was 05 It's a long time ago. Um, the the board heard two different petitions that came in and and they were accepted for meeting the criteria, which is basically my policy, it's it's successfully completing the Montana Youth Challenge program, um, and then passing the HiSET exam
009uh, while enrolled and then, um, receiving an endorsement from the GPS administrative team. And so, all those pieces are in place again for, uh, Nicole and she is here in front of us and I'm going to turn it over to Mrs. Reed, um, to kind of All right. Nicole's really nervous. She's usually not quiet, but she is tonight. Um, so Nicole's brother, Frank, is here tonight, too. He was one of the first, uh, graduates of of MYCA to receive his diploma from the board. And so, I have been after Nicole. Nicole graduated last June. And I've been after her since then to get a letter into us. Nicole graduated with another ECHS student, and Mr. Larson and I both went to um view it in or not view it, sorry. In Dylan and went to
010the graduation, and we are part of their um after not care about, we're their mentors. So, uh so Mr. Larson and I are invested a little more we were invested in this whole thing to begin with, but we just have we understand it more because we're part of the after part of the graduation. So, um Nicole, I'm going to let her give you a quick little synopsis of her experience at MYCA. Go ahead, Nicole. Um overall the experience was pretty great. Like, I feel like I learned a lot more things there than I could have learned here. Um going into the program it was like at first I didn't like it didn't really hit me. It took a while. I think it was like maybe 3 or 4 days in the acclimation that I finally
011went into the like, "Oh, I'm not home anymore. I can't do the things that I used to do before." Um looking back on it, I was pretty like scared. I was mad that I was there. Um It was really hard going there and then coming home and high school wasn't going to be a thing for me anymore. It was just you know, I was wishing that I would have done that like a lot sooner. Um Things after the program have been pretty good. Uh I've been able to keep myself out of trouble. I have the same job. I did a semester of college at DCC. Um Sorry, I was trying to remember this. So, uh so tell them why you chose to go to MYCA. Um Cuz you should as much as you said she
012said she didn't want to go she was very excited to go until like 2 days before. And then her mom and I had lots of conversations with her because she was maybe not going to go but it was scary. But why did you choose that? Why did you think that was your better path? After my brother had left for the program I got myself into quite a bit of trouble. Um stealing, drinking, and partying, whatever. And um I first like I felt a little like abandoned that kid wasn't here. He left to go better himself and I was sitting at home getting drunk all the time, partying with my friends, just not trying to know what I was doing. I decided that I wanted a chance to better myself too. So my brother was like
013my biggest motivation to go in the program. Do you guys have any questions for Nicole? What were you going into for for college? Were you like at BCC? I was doing early childhood education classes. Um I decided that it wasn't something that I like was ready for. Um I do want to go into the military. And so like I'm saving up right now and then that's something that I'll revisit in the future. So she did say one of the harder things about being at the college was she was um very young. Yeah, there was a there most of the people that were like in the classes were like way older than me. And so I ended up doing online classes and then it was just super easy to fall behind cuz I didn't have like
014I wasn't like actually going to the classes or um I did fall behind for a little bit. I was able to catch up like at the end of the semester and that's when I decided that like it wasn't for me. So I don't want to do it. But you goal, that was a very responsible decision for her and I think a lot of that comes from NYCA. She knew what her boundaries were, what her limitations were, but she also knew she needed to finish something that she started. What do you think the greatest lesson was Um That you were right all the time? Yeah. That was a big one, right? We talked about that when you came back. Yeah. Um the entire time I was in school, I like get super upset with the staff
015members and teachers because but I felt like they were being disrespectful and it was really just me and them giving that kind of energy back and so like one of the the most important things I did learn then is that respect isn't given, it's earned. Mhm. So much for me. Questions or Do we need a motion and a second? Make a motion to approve. I had a question for Nicole. Um I just wanted to say I was really impressed with your letter that you wrote to the board. Um it displayed a lot of growth and some of the things that you had mentioned were things that I wish I would have learned at your age. So I I'm glad that you got exposure to that some of those life lessons now and can incorporate them
016through the rest of your life. But I'm curious, I know I read your letter but I was just curious if there's anything else that you had mentioned or that you can think of that you had learned or that you're excited to incorporate on a daily basis now as opposed to the person you were before. Um Oh yeah, It definitely um did you Did you hold a job before you went to MYC, Nicole? Oh, no. I keep a job for maybe 3 months at a time that I could. How long have you been at Reynolds? Uh almost 9 months. Actually, 9 months. Last year? Yeah. And how many hours do you work a week? Roughly 40. Did you hold down a job like that before? No, I was working on video games and everything. So, What
017are you saving your money for? School. A car? Okay. I had a motion. One second. It has been moved and seconded. Any further discussion or comments? Yeah, I'd just like to say good job as well, Nicole. That's uh It's just amazing. It's pretty cool, too. Uh I like both enjoyed reading your your letter to the board and uh just wish you all the best in the future. Thank you. So, any more discussion or comments? If not, all in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. That takes us to So, so I just want to say a little bit before you guys leave. Um so, Nicole and Frankie were some of my favorite students when back in the day when I was uh um principal. Um it's so cool to see where they're at
018right now. Um I've, you know, obviously lost touch because, you know, getting this job, but uh um the the amount of growth that they've had is just huge, but it's um to see you smile on my face that uh you guys are where you're at. So, good work. Good job. Congratulations. Good job. Takes us to action item B, approval of 2026-27 school calendar, including option two additional Friday student attendance days. You know, we sent it in another uh the calendars. It was in the superintendent report. So, yeah. So, there's three different links on my report. One was just to give you reference to the calendar from last year. Um then there's two two options um from this year. One is a very similar calendar to this year, and then there's another that um the union
019wanted to add two Fridays. They're They're Fridays tagged on to a um a no Monday. So, the Monday's not there that week, and so going to school on Friday. But basically, how the collective bargaining agreement reads is when when there is a change to the school term, school year, or school day. I think I got one of those wrong, but school uh school term, school week, or school day. Um then it has to be negotiated. So, um if you don't change any of those things, the board has the right to make the calendar. Um if it changes any of those three things, there has to be um it has to be negotiated. And so, for them to um you know, want to add the two Fridays on there. Um, there needed to be an MOU,
020um, memorandum of understanding. And last week when the board materials went out, there um, there was work on it that was done, um, but there was no agreement, on that. And the changes kind of came went to them and but they did send it back. So, it it's it's pretty it's pretty close. The reason why MOU needs to exist is because when you put two Fridays on there, um, right now in the collective bargaining agreement, teachers' day is spelled out on a Friday. Um, there's 1 hour with students, 2 hours for prep, 2 hours with professional development. Um, and and they get to get out at 1:00 on Fridays, um, if they don't take a lunch. Basically, their lunch is from 1:00 to 1:30 even if they end up going to lunch. But then if
021they do take a lunch, then they have to stay there till 1:30. So, that's all lined out. So, if you add a Friday, even just two Fridays, we can't just add it because the day is scheduled it's already lined out for what we normally do. And so, it would have to be changed to make sure that, you know, teachers are obviously there just like they would. Um, their same schedule would be from Monday through Thursday. And so, that's what the MOU is really just, um, putting that in place to make sure that it's it's it's a pretty simple MOU, really. It's really the the things that are being discussed is just how long is it just a year or 2 years? Um, are there, you know, what is the wording? But really, that's all it
022is. It's just basically saying that teachers will work the same schedule as they do Monday through Thursday on a Friday. That's basically what the MOU will, um, do. So, those two options are there. Um, one of them does not need an MOU. Um, it just is very similar to our, calendar that we have. And then, the option two is the the one that has two Fridays. So, they're exactly the same calendars. One just has two Friday normal like what we would call a normal Friday school day turned into a full day. That's basically what those are. Our My job is to make sure that whatever calendar comes in front of the board is um we are good with accreditation and school hours. So, we have to calculate I have to calculate all that stuff and
023make sure we're not going to get dinged on that because um the time that So, teachers are all in days like everything is done in days and students are done in hours. And so, it gets kind of confusing and it's it's hard to put the two together sometimes, but um but for students, everything's set on hours. And so, we have to make sure that every every grade is getting the amount of hours that we need to make sure that we get our funding. So, everything's based on funding, so it's really important. So, we have to make sure that that in both these calendars have that built into them. So, either one of these is is fine. Um it's up to the board really where you guys want to go. We try to do a little
024bit of the leg work on the front end so you guys can make a decision. I know that this being the first time you guys have seen it, you know, you know, it's the first time you've seen it, but there are two Fridays where you know, students would have to have a full day or they would get out of like the middle school and high school would get out 3:40 instead of 1:00 or excuse me, 3:45 instead of 1:45. Not 1:45. They They only have school Friday. Yeah, they have just the Friday school. Um pieces of that. So, that's a that's a change for parents and and so forth. It's a change for teachers, change for administrators. What was the reasoning for adding the Friday? Um there was lots of different reasons. Um some they
025want a they would have to I'll I'll jump in here. See, I guess where this originated is is when I think right after right before we had we had an insurance discussion with the GEA. They they brought up the possibility of uh of negotiating this or talking about it with an MOU and usually that would be the labor committee. And we haven't really had those discussions yet. You know, you've And I guess this from my perspective in negotiations with the CBA, a lot of time goes into what we have right now. And I'm always reluctant to to CBA, you know, you change that, it's etched in stone. The MOU, you know, it just kind of it just patches it together. Uh so we really haven't had a discussion with them to find out exactly exactly
026why. I think anything I have. Stephen has was has been between directly between >> them emails and stuff. We haven't But not at board level. So, you know, I I think you know, usually it would be like, yeah, we talked to them. Labor committee, Bo Frank and I on the labor committee, but uh Yeah, so I guess going forward uh if we pass the the the what? The no Fridays right now, we could change it in the future to Fridays. It would be a minor change, but we haven't really discussed the the side like the public side of this. Like, what's it going to do to parents? Is there public support for this? You know, it's I don't know. There's One thing I've learned is you pull on one little thread you think is small,
027it can pull in all sorts of things that we don't know. So, that's kind of my thoughts on this. And being Some of the Some of the things that they've said is they've said, you know, getting more time with students is a good thing. I think most people would agree with that. Uh I don't think anybody would disagree with that, I think. Having more time um to teach our students is good, I think. Some of it was trying to have some time built into our schedule just in case there's a snow day. One thing I I made clear to everyone and will say it again, um having extra time built in is not going to change how I make decisions whether or not we have school or not. Um my big thing is um every
028and you've probably seen this on email or heard this, but I'll say it again, um you know, every morning when there's a possibility I I'm driving the roads you know, 4:00 4:30 in the morning uh with rear rear rear-wheel drive vehicle and a truck that doesn't have much thing. I'm trying to get around, trying to figure out if it's a safe enough for people. Um you know, it's a it's one of my least favorite decisions because no matter what I decide, people are going to be mad at me. That's how it's going to be. Um but, the big thing is is there's a lot of students in our school district that uh does not have um meals and they don't have things at home and and they don't have, you know, this is their safe
029place. And so, um we're going to do everything we can to try to have school for them. I know for some people it's hard because they have other people also know when I cancel school, it affects our whole community with parents who are working in different jobs. And so, I I take that decision very seriously. And so, to me, if we have time built in or not, I'm going to be making the same decision based off the information I have, you know, that morning. Um trying to make the best decision I can with the information that I have. And so, that that was that was something and there was other things that um was kind of mentioned as to, you know, having extra time would be nice for different things, but um, you know, that
030was brought up. Um, trying to think of other things if anybody's ever remember anything else. Those are like those are the main things that remember hearing um, for our conversations. But like I said, we haven't really Typically we get together and do stuff. That hasn't happened this time, so it's just a lot of email stuff. And so typically when the calendar when we start doing the calendar we we're trying to get the calendar done as soon as we can. I Everyone needs to know and so the sooner we can get a calendar out there the better. Um, and um, so it it's always this kind of push to try to get things done, but trying to get an agreement. And we do, we try to get agreement. There's a lot of times where, you know,
031maybe the board doesn't have to get any agreement from the the teachers and you can still do it, but we try to uh, the best that we can to to do that, but sometimes it takes a little bit longer and um, so I mean, I guess your options are to go with option one. You can go with option two. Um, and if you go with option two with the MOU, you would have to like um, you know, I think we're pretty close, but I think the like you know, we'd have to make sure that everyone's on the same page and then do that. And so we've done that with other things where you've given, you know, like the authority to sign the MOU and it's it would be a really it's really simple um, one.
032I would be totally fine with what we have right now currently. Um, you know, but you know, you guys just have to decide you have enough information to to vote on that and then um, or another option is to you know, you can vote on the one, get the one in place. I mean, to me I don't want to leave this meeting without a calendar. You could vote on the one. The only difference in number two is in if you wanted more information um, for whatever reason you could um, vote on that next month. Um because really all this is doing is changing two days on that calendar. You know, but then that way we can start using utilizing this and people can start planning as to cuz it really it doesn't change much. It
033just changes those two days. It goes from a Friday school day to a regular day those days. So, um so then it's not necessarily just the one or if you guys were totally against two, then you just go one, but but but those are kind of the options that I see for you guys to kind of decide. I remember one of the in the short discussion we had with them, one of the comments was if we have like a long weekend, it would be nice. I forget how that was phrased to where they'd have more Say if we have a Monday off, they could go Tuesday through Friday and have a four-day. That's what it is, yeah. But is that that's That's what it is. >> it is. Oh, it is. Yeah. And that's that's
034exactly what it is. Oh, yeah. >> where there's two weeks where there's Monday off and so they're going So they're going Friday I just didn't know if that like what the Yeah. Yeah, so in that way you still get the four-day week and and it makes total sense. Um you know, with with different things. I mean, there's just other you know, there's I told them the very first thing when they mentioned it, one of the things I said, I just I just think you need a way to make sure that parents can remember it. Right. We're going to ask all the >> There's huge And this isn't like we're being >> was so much push back when we did go to four days to like what do I do now? And now they know what
035they're doing with their kids and they know what they So they're paying for daycare and now it's like now you're taking that away. So is it going to be a you know, I mean, nobody's ever We know I'm not a This is where you're going to go with it, you know. I mean, there's a reason why we went to this schedule to have, you know, some of the stuff that happens on Fridays happen. And so, you know, and and teachers will, you know, doing this, basically teachers are losing prep time um by by doing this, you know, um those two days are longer days for them and they, you know, um So, but but the union is they're the drive behind this. So, you know, obviously they have talked with their teachers on this and
036so um So, yeah. Yeah. I guess I guess first question I'll ask is do we at this time do we feel we want to discuss the the uh Fridays? Do we think we have enough information to where we can discuss and make that a possibility or would you guys rather the labor committee flesh it out a little bit clearer? I guess that'd be the first first question. If we do want to talk about it now, we can. But if not, then we then we could go with with the existing without and With option one without the Is that what you're saying? Yeah, we we could go with option one not ruling out two. Right. Right. I think that's probably and then meet with them and just kind of see where they're going with it. >>
037Yeah. Get a little more information and see exactly what the MOU reads cuz there was a little bit of I've been doing my most of the legwork on that. Yeah, probably. Yep. Um and I I felt pretty comfortable with it. Mhm. >> Um you know, they got back to me today um um with the with the changes that were suggested back to them and so, I mean, I could even pull it up now if you guys wanted to see it, but I mean, it's pretty simple, but it's uh Yeah. Bowen Jay, you got thoughts on how to proceed. I quickly wanted to just ask the only difference between the two calendars is the is just two additional student days, right? So, it's not like as far as the community planning um or the other aspects
038of why we want to somewhat of a decision on the calendar to move forward. The calendar stays the same, it's just it adding two Fridays, right? Correct. Yep. Our start day and end day are the same. Start days, end days, everything is the same. And the Christmas is the same. It's just adding two working class days. Yep. I mean, cuz the calendar, I mean it seems like because of the years, and this is it's cyclical, so it changes, but it just keeps the start of school just keeps getting kind of pushed forward a little bit just based on how the days are aligning, and that's tough. Like this year, we're going after Memorial Day. It's the first year in a very long time that our school district did that, and that's kind of a sacred
039cow a little bit. I was actually really surprised that that calendar went through last year. Um but um but it went back to being done before Memorial Day, and so they would love to start later in August. A lot of a lot of us cuz the heat, we still have air conditioning and stuff um in the building, so it gets kind of hot. And then and then being done before Memorial Day, and then as long as you can get off for Christmas, and then obviously there's different things that happen during the year that we've learned that we need to take time off for. Um you know, that is there, so I mean, the calendars it's been pretty there hasn't been too many changes that can happen to them cuz it's it's kind of set, but
040it's kind of like Lincoln is our is the school that is our um is our is it's the tough it's the tough child because of the hours that they have to have um and bussing. Maybe that's the big Those two things it makes it hard for a calendar to do much else than what we have, so. But, these are Yeah, but that's basically what it is. The same calendar, just adding two school days. Sure. Um, I guess my general thoughts on it right now. Um, I like the idea of students being in class for a few more hours in the year. Um, that I mean, it just gives them more exposure to exposure to learning materials. I think it helps make the those two holiday weeks, cuz there's Labor Day and Easter, um, so it
041makes those two holiday weeks a little bit more complete and normal and not kind of truncated artificially. Um, so it hopefully keeps a better learning atmosphere for that week. Um, but you know, for the people who are paying for daycare Friday daycares, I don't know if daycares are going to still make them pay for that Friday even though if there's if there's school. Uh, we don't know the public reaction to that. Um, and so there's a few things that I'd kind of like fleshed out a little bit more before we make a decision. That's just where I'm sitting at. So, I'd be comfortable um, moving forward with the first calendar um, tonight and then depending on continued conversations provide Mike or the the labor committee um, the ability to approve the second calendar option if
042deemed fit. So, that way we have a calendar moving forward since fundamentally they're the same calendar. It's just whether or not we add two more student days. So, are you saying, Bo, you would be in favor of passing option one and then letting the labor um, team look at the MOU and if they're good with it, having Mike sign the MOU and then we would then then basically option two would be approved. Is that what you're saying? That's what I'm proposing. Yep. That way we have a decision something workable tonight that we like we can agree on a the the the general form of this is is correct and that can be passed out to the community or to whomever would benefit from the calendar and then it's just that final decision of the Friday.
043Um that we can flush out in in labor committee. If that's if that's a reasonable option or if somebody else would like to propose something different but this is where I'm at. I I did purposely if you look at the agenda item I did try to put it very clearly that there was two Fridays added so that if someone in the public you know viewed it they would They come you know I mean that was another thing I tried to do to make sure that they knew what it might entail. Sure. One thing I've noticed a lot of a lot of the public reaction is the post. Yeah. We're going to make a decision and then Let us know between now and the next time we meet so. Yeah. So I guess uh I'll second
044that. It was it was Did you move that vote? Um I can. I guess I guess yeah for Robert's Rules I have to move first you second then we can discuss if you want to do something different. Yeah but so yeah yeah we do need a motion. Okay I'll so move then. Okay. >> I'll second. Okay it's been moved and seconded first option. Is there any The first option with giving authority to the labor management >> Right. to make the decision on option two having you sign that one. >> Yeah. Okay. Is that right Bo? Just want to make sure. Yeah. That's correct. Yeah. All right. Uh it's been moved and seconded. Any further discussion or comment? If not, all in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. And election other meeting of
045the court magistrate. Is with that? Adjourn the meeting. Thanks, everybody. Thanks, everyone. >> Thank you. Thank you.