001All right. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. minutes. >> Yeah. I was just going to say, does anybody see anything that stands out that's not right or anything on that to you guys? >> That's all right. We'll make a motion to approve the minutes of last month's meeting on October 3rd, 2025. October 13. >> Sorry. >> Say I >> I So we have any questions on any of the No. What's the technology? >> The technology. >> Yeah. What is the technology? >> Most of it monthly stuff, but then there was some work they had. Yeah. >> Some work they had done here is make a motion to approve the expend.
002>> I know >> 2025 with payroll in the total of $29,31469. Williams $33,29.99,3 in favor say I. >> I. So I so move. Okay. Public presentations. >> Okay. Principal report. >> Okay. We took the younger kids to the pumpkin patch on October 24th. It was lots of fun. The kids got a pumpkin and got a few big months with car. We did some projects with here. Uh this month we are taking the kids swimming on Thursdays in November. And this last Thursday we did a tour of the Smoke Jumper Center. >> Was that what K through eight? >> Uh so that was preschool through And then I'm working for the 20th one doing a tour of the natural history center, but I don't have confirmation. I'm working on that. >> Is that for all of
003the children? >> Yeah. >> Is that the one for? >> No. So the natural history center is kind of near current. It's about right in there in the middle district. >> It's kind of hidden. >> I don't think I've seen that. >> Yeah. Unless you kind of you go down a little side street >> from the baseball stadium and yeah, unless you knew it was there. >> And what all do they have here? >> All kinds of stuff with fossils and animals and skeletons. Everything about animals within this area you'd ever want to see. >> They actually Yeah, they actually do a naturalist um that comes out to our school, too. So they come out every month. We have a grant for that program. >> Um in December we're going to take second through 8th
004grade to the Nutcracker and the planetarium at the university. So we this year got free tickets to the Nutcracker. >> Is that Children's Theater? >> No. So it's Garden City Ballet. The folks that gave that they're putting it on and giving me the free tickets. Awesome. >> Yeah. >> And mass testing. The first round starts November 1st. I mean December 1st. So that's coming up. >> That's the first test. >> The first test of five >> because now they do it in those >> small segments instead of one test at the end. >> So that's going to be starting soon. In January we're going taking on the skiing trip. Um the holiday program and we're also going to put on a holiday book event will be December 19th in the afternoon. So one of our
005plans as part of the literacy grant is to have um a holiday book read. We're kind of still planning who's going to be doing their reading and whatot, but we're going to do that before the concert. So >> yeah, should be lots of fun. >> So that's So is that the the basic program. >> Yeah. So, there'll be that. In addition, there'll be some book reading. So, probably >> like holiday is that? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. We'll have some more parent events as part of the grant too around. >> Um we I have a donation for t-shirts. And what we've decided to do, a company is going to donate them um and it's actually a shirt shop in Missoula um in Network Financial, a financial company that supports schools. Um and they're going
006to do an art contest. So, all the kids in art are going to design part of the t-shirt, like a picture for it, and then we'll choose one, and then we'll have our school logo and their logos on the back, and they're going to provide those free of cost. >> That's nice. >> So, it'll be a like will it be a contest between the students or something to get something that everybody? So, one kid will get their picture on the front of the the t-shirt. >> that they draw. >> I'm glad I I didn't think before I said that in our contest. So, >> excited about that. >> And uh we have a new look to report cards this year. So, we have a completely digital look. Um so, the information actually hasn't changed. Um,
007it's the same standards, but it's a new look being printed uh off of Infinite Campus. So, it has a new streamline look to it. Um, >> is it a printed off paper that Okay. Did you just have a parent teachers conference? >> We did. >> Okay. >> Great attendance for that. And that's when we rolled out the new look the report card. >> So, no more handwritten or typed in a word document. actually comes straight. >> So that has all their their any absences they've had or tardies or anything else plus all their grades. All of their grades essentially just the final. >> Okay. Because you can look on that infinite campus a parent can to see that their child is >> accomplishing their material. Can't you? >> That is a goal for us. >>
008Okay. You're not there yet. >> We're not there yet. this when I first came they weren't using infinite campus at all and it's been a slow process of getting things implemented so first we started with attendance putting them in the computer they were actually handdoing the attendance before that which >> yeah wow I mean poor business crews having to do all attendance by hand that's a that's a job >> so I got us going first on that and we've recently started getting all the grades in And I don't know roll out hopefully next year will be parents being able to get in there access to things. But the cool thing is it does automatically put the um attendance in there so that information comes straight from the computer. >> Yeah. Do the teachers do each
009room then for each class? >> Yeah. The secretary or myself goes over it each day and codes it and that the state part of this is part of our accredititation process. The state wants all this information. So, they want to know the attendance information. They want to know the grading information. Um, the state wants more and more information. Um, and that's a much easier way. >> What do they use the information for? >> Reporting to the federal government. >> Okay. For grant purposes >> and hopefully like increases in grading scores and stuff for your school. >> Yeah. >> Does that can you get some valuation that that way as well? >> Well, they want it for giving us accreditation. >> Okay. >> But they're not >> basically just not for the students just >> for
010the district and then the school. They're not looking at individual kid information. >> Okay. >> But certainly that's part of that whole process. I talked about we do have the grant for Missoula Missou Children's Theater coming up April 27th through May 1st. >> What will they do this year? >> Alison Wonderland. >> That's right. So, I have been notified from OPI that they um this month are going to be releasing the state testing data from mass from last year. Um so, do be prepared that they're going to be releasing that information per district, per school, >> and what does that look like? >> That's a question I have for OPI and they've not given me a clear answer to that question because I'm like, well, some grade levels we we can't be releasing information by
011grade level for our school because of our small numbers. Um so that question has gone unanswered to myself. Um I actually had a meeting last week and the deputy superintendent of OPI was there and I expressed strong concerns for the mass testing. >> And what exactly does mass stand for again? Yeah. Measured annual >> assessment. >> Yeah. >> Part of my concern is the amount of time that it's taking um from teachers from teaching over five sessions instead of one. Um and also our results. If you look at the results across the state, they have gone way down. testing and that's not district to district, that's the entire state as a whole. >> Is that the children's train the children's testing scores? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Um but I really have strong concerns about
012the validity of this test and the vendor that they chose to go with. Um it's a company that's never made a state test before. >> Um I have really strong concerns about this and I expressed that again to OPI. I've expressed it many times and probably feel on a broken record that I've talked to the state superintendent as well. Um and all the superintendents feel the same way. Um so we are expressing concerns um across the board on this test. So do be prepared that our scores like every other districts will look lower. Um and that in my opinion is the students the district >> is that lower than other ones within the state or in comparison to what they were right >> yeah comparison >> is oki a state um okay it's not federal
013>> yeah it's the state education agency >> okay >> um so yeah just a lot of concerns on the part of most um school districts uh what we are pushing for as a superintendent an administrative organization is the district being able to determine the test because almost every district in the state is using um um a valid test such as maps which is what we use is um all of us are going out and getting a test that has great data. Some states are starting to allow districts to use tests like that instead of having one that's chosen from the state agency letting districts control and so that's what we are advocating for. >> What's the difference in the test from the previous tests that you see or do you know? >> So I have
014not seen a good analysis of the test scores that just came out and unfortunately the system is not user friendly. I tried to get in and access parent reports to give to parents and they don't even have a parent report. Um so it's has major flaws to the system that they keep saying they're going to be working on. But >> have they let districts choose before in the past? >> Okay. So, that's a new battle. >> That's a new battle that is being fought in several states and starting to happen. >> Okay. >> But that is a new battle. Okay. that we are pushing for and part of it is um tests like maps have been valid and normed for multiple years where this test map um is brand new um doesn't have a lot
015of norms or reports on it. It's from a company that's never made a state test before. >> Yeah. concerns. So get that the next meeting. >> So will we be able to see like the like you said the maps test is a lot more accurate. Will we be able to see like overall um not scores but like an overarching like a better idea essentially of where the kids are at in this like they're in different subjects in the school. Yeah, I could work on an analysis for spring. >> Okay. >> And kind of show you overall for the district. >> And do you feel like the mass test is like substantially better for the mass testing or just like the less like a better >> Yeah. >> Um I've not seen great reports yet from
016the state test. That would be my feeling is >> the map would be much more valid. >> Um I want to also talk about health insurance and start this conversation and we are going to have an agenda item most likely on the next board meeting. Um, so if you go back gosh, three years now to the state legislature, they actually uh voted in a bill. So not this last session, but the session before to have $40 million put set aside for a new health insurance for education staff. And they are just now starting to get this up and running. Um, it's called Bridge to Alliance is the name they've decided for the um um education, health insurance, and they are in the process of getting quotes to all the districts. Um and then we'll have
017a decision to make if we want to go with this new health insurance or not. Um so Jessica and I are researching about this and trying to find out more information before bringing it to you for a vote. Um one of the things that most likely will happen is if enough districts decide go with this new health insurance trust, then the current one we have must will dissolve and so we won't be able to be with must if that's the case. Uh and we'll have to either go with the new insurance or we're going to have to go shopping to insurance companies and try to find something. Um so right now there's a lot of unanswered questions. I was at a meeting with our lawyer about this and she has a lot of questions as
018well. new health insurance. Um, so she's trying to get those answered to be able to give us legal advice one way or another. Um, but this is something that because they've set a due date of December 19th if we want to join or not, we're going to have to make a decision. >> Kind of pressing, but I feel like we have all the answers yet and we kind of need them. >> We don't even have a proposal from >> We don't even have a quote yet. So, we can't even tell you if it's better. >> All the names of the companies yet. >> Well, and one big change that we do know is that they are not going to go with Blue Cross, who we are with now as the provider. They're going to go
019with a regent, which is actually Sigma, I believe. Um, and so that will be a change for staff. Um, and I don't know individual doctors and whatnot if um, how many take sign >> versus Blue Cross or not. >> Well, for Medicare sign, I've never That's kind of what we know on the but be prepared >> for that to probably be something we'll have to decide. >> How would you like us to prepare? >> We're not even sure yet. >> Okay. Well, >> what if we get any good information, we'll pass it off. >> Okay. >> Yeah. It's hard to prepare and take a vote when >> we don't have all the answers. But the tricky thing is usually you would just then stay with what you have. But if that's not an option, >>
020well, and push comes to shove, they need to hit a certain threshold of districts, >> 150 districts have to sign off >> and 12,000 >> 12,000 employees >> employees before it even kicks into being a possibility. And so if we were to essentially I've been going back and forth with the guy who's in charge asking him questions and I'm like so what if we decide not to I'm like if it ends up passing without us Musk goes away who is our current you know can we then if we decide to join can we do and we could like if if we decided we still don't have enough information but then enough schools get together and they they pass it must go away we can be part of can choose to be part of health plans
021in a few months. Um or look around, see if there's any other options. Um they've kind of been touting it as a um a cost savings, but um so I I got the I did get the proposal for subset. It's about a 6% savings, you know, from from what with what they're offering, but it's also not quite the same coverage. >> That was my And so we've always had a $500 deductible of 1,500 out of pocket. It goes up. They don't do $500 deductibles. They the minimum they lose a,000 >> and then 2,000 out of pocket. Still an 80% co-ay and all that sort of good stuff. So it's not like a horrible, you know, but it's different. And it's not >> it's everything like dental and vision. >> So that's the other part is
022is they're like we will have dental, we will have health or vision, we will have life insurance. We don't know for sure all the details on it. it'll be competitive. That's really all he can say. >> So, there's just a lot of big empty spaces as far as you're supposed to go in with a >> blind faith, I guess, and and hope for the best. Do you see new, it sounds like, whether it's the testing or whether it's the the insurance and stuff, do you see new things coming on the market in all areas these days or whether it's, you know, heard? >> Well, that's just like it gets together and they just be happy. >> That's what I'm just trying to do a bunch of that stuff. >> Definitely a lot of changes. >>
023I don't want to go backwards for employees without insurance and that's a big concern of mine. I mean, from a $500 deductible to a thousand. I mean, as an employee myself, that is a big deal. >> Um, and then, yeah, with right now, we have BSP for vision and we have Delta for dental, which are both reputable companies. They haven't told us who they're going through. Competitive doesn't mean comparable. So, I'm definitely concerned um about what they have to offer and I certainly don't want to have less for employees. I always want to get better for what we pay. >> So, if they don't get enough people signing up if we don't have to worry about >> it just stays the same. >> And to get 12,000 employees, they're going to have to have some
024double A schools like Billings and Missoula Great Falls to get that many employees. those districts are selfinsured. So, because they're selfinsured, I don't know why they would necessarily go, >> but they seem to think they will. But >> when do you when do we find out if they've made enough? >> Well, the deadline is December 19th for for schools to sign on. I have no idea what the timeline is after that. >> It's part of the bureaucracy, so it's probably be like two years. >> They don't have that long. It's supposed to It's supposed to all start July 1st. >> Okay. >> Is the next It's the new plan year for the new >> Well, you think you'd have they'd have all the details together by now if you have to have it if you
025have to make that decision in less than a month. In a month. >> That's what I'm sounds kind of sketchy. >> Well, and it passed in the 2023 legislature, so it's not like it just, you know, they've had they a few years a couple years now they've been working on it. The sad thing is if they can't get enough people then that $40 million >> is going >> Oh, I got you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> That's probably the calling card to get the other people out the other schools. >> But we've got to do what's best for our district. You know, we can't worry about the $40 million. So once we have the club, we'll share that and >> Okay. >> We'll go from there. >> Is that something that like teachers are made
026aware of? You said it's not it wouldn't be into effect till like July. >> Yeah. >> So I've let the teachers know there's a possibility the health insurance changing. I haven't given them details because I don't have it yet. Um so I don't I didn't really want to worry them, but I certainly gave them a heads up about this. Um once we have more information, we'll let them know. >> Um enrollment continues at 51 total. Uh the parent group, we met last month and we're going to have a meeting again on November 18th at 3:45 p.m. Uh we had a fall lunchon on Halloween and the tricker uh trunk that went really well. We talked about a spring fundraiser. We've talked about a March spirit week and a coin fundraiser. We talked about a spring
027launch in and an egg hunt. And we talked about um a fundraiser for shirts and gear and hats and things like that. So, lots of great conversations and we've been meeting every month. Um facilitywise, you might have noticed that we had our last mowing and trimming done for the year. escaping company. They also did a lot of work on the hill to make it ready for sledding and got all the the weeds and everything taken care of there. Uh still trying to get things set up for the handyman to come out and do some of the repairs and that window. still working. That's what I've done. Any questions? >> Okay. Publications and acceptance of agenda. >> I might I was I have a question. Um and I'm thinking this is probably Um, I had a
028question on a that I would like to ask about employment, student or staff employment. Would that go here >> or or would we add it here and do it in the new business? Add it to the new business or can we just discuss it right here? That's the question. >> Kind of depends what it is. If it could be done in my report. in your report with the >> it's just a question or >> um well I have a question that if Okay, so we got some new teachers. So just guide me through this. Okay, we got new teachers. I I know from some of the past uh school board meetings that there were that um that parents and some schoolboard members had been interested in evaluations of the teachers. I don't see that we
029have anything like that in a policy. >> Evaluations of teachers are done by >> by the what? >> By the administrator. >> Okay. So, do do you have that those evaluations can transpire back to the school board as well for whenever we do their, you know, whether we keep them another year or we don't keep them another year. You know what I mean? And I'm saying this because I I think with new teachers, if there is any bad um If there's anything that parents are disgruntled about, then having something like that to continue on. We've worked so hard to get our school up to 51 students right now. And I think in the past there was just lots of gossip going on and stuff going on. Parents and teachers were not happy. And I think
030we've overcome a lot of that. And I'm wondering how can we keep that that way? And so I know some of the thing the things that I've heard in past school board meetings that I'm kind of wondering they had parents that had children in the school that are probably not even here now. And maybe they were rebel rousers too. Who knows? But anyway, and I don't know what I mean, I do know some of the things because I heard some from parents that was going on, but I think that that was kind of harming our school to where we weren't getting a lot of the students. So I'm thinking on ways to prevent that from happening again. >> How our school can continue moving forward with whether it's an evaluation with the parents for the
031new teachers at some point once or twice a year. I mean I see your you know you're older and I don't know maybe you'd have to do it for all teachers you know so that you weren't discriminating against any of them but We have I I can't recall that we've had any. I thought we might have had one at one point. Did we have one? >> So, we've done a survey. >> Okay. >> And that would be something that we certainly could do and I was thinking about doing spring >> overall. So, the evaluations evaluations are done by the administrator and that's in policy as well as procedure for every single school district. The biggest thing is as board members, if people come to you um and they have concerns, have them start first with
032talking to the staff they have concern and then if that concern is not addressed, have them come to the administrator >> um and have them address that with me. Right? >> Chances are, and this is the same with almost every organization, a lot of times people are talking and they're not coming >> and sharing that information. Would that pick that up in a survey if you had a survey to the teachers or I mean to the parents on all their teachers? You know, if you saw a pattern of any concerns would then the other part is communication from the board's perspective. Uh if you have questions about hiring and whatnot, especially as we get closer individually, please come and meet with me and have those um concerns stated because we cannot in public. >> Yeah.
033And we want to keep stuff moving forward. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. >> So, communication I think is the big thing. >> Okay. Okay. I was just wondering how that would the survey sounds really good as long as there's a survey to where you can the the parent and then that way the parents feel like they're heard too. you know, if they do have something, they can add their gripe or blessings and phrases to the, you know, in a way. That was my question. So, I guess we don't have to go further on that one unless anybody else has any questions. Um, all right. Thank you. Okay. the order of business, old business, Montana reads literacy. >> Yep. So, finding out more information uh about the literacy grant. Um we have a state meeting
034coming up on the 19th and they're actually doing a site visit on the 18th coming out to meet with me. Um so, starting to learn more money um more about the monies and about the grant itself. unanswered questions. Unfortunately, the next round of money that was supposed to come in October 1st has not. They said there's difficulties because of the government shutdown and >> money going through the state offices and whatnot. So, we have not seen that money come in yet. We're waiting on that. >> Did I hear that government opened up today? Is that true? >> I think that I know they were voting in the Senate passed something. I don't know if the it's official official yet, but it's at least going that direction. Um, so hopefully we'll see that new money really
035soon. >> Um, so that's kind of what's going on with the grant. >> Okay. And school safety. >> Yeah. So, I've been busy working on this and part of the reason, the long-term goal is to write a new school safety plan that's more formal. So, the work that we're going to do over the next several months if that's the result I'd like. But I'd like to hold off writing it until we do some of this work. Um because it's going to give us more information to make um this more formal plan written down. Talking particularly with Mrs. Wilson who's been here a while. They've done a lot of work in the past, but some of that work just isn't here anymore and stuff has changed too. We have made repairs to the building. Um different
036have changed and whatnot. Um, so kind of going through some of the things going on. Uh, today we had a lockown drill. Um, so that was our fourth derail. So we usually do eight for the year. So we're right on target. >> So the lockown drill they go to their their perspective same places. >> Yep. Just as I showed you. >> Did they get and stuff out of the bucket? >> It wasn't very long. Just a drill. Just a few minutes. >> The other thing I wanted to mention is we have emergency buttons that link directly uh directly to 911. >> Each teacher >> uh each building >> each building has one and we have those in strategic spots that the staff knows. So if they were in a lock down and um they would
037be able to push that button and it goes directly to dispatch. So kind of cool thing that we have. Um, another thing I wanted to talk about is I got a free sample from a company and this is called Night Lock and they gave me one for free. And this is a lock that can be placed into the doors um to for uh further fortify the door. So, it'll go in there and then lock in place. Um, so people on the bottom. Yep. Um, so this kind of sets in. It makes it even harder for somebody to get through a door. Um, so this is something I've been talking with the sheriff's department about. Um, next I need to talk to the fire marshal and get approval and then I need to talk to the
038handyman to see if we can have them install that. So, but this one was free. So, I thought at least check it out. So, I thought about putting those in the doors that are in the lockown zones themselves. >> Yeah. Um I am going to have the Montana Safe Schools um organization. They've offered me a free site assessment uh where they come out and assess the physical space and write up a report um and see if there's anything that we need to change or whatot. There's from the state government uh to pay for that so we won't have to pay anything. So uh I've been talking and trying to set that up. Um and I think that'll help with writing the report as well. Um I've also had a lot of conversations with the sheriff's
039department and something that uh they um are going to do is I've set up for Christmas break for them to come out and do a 3D scan of the interior of the build. So, this is something new where they come out and I don't know exactly how it works, but they actually can scan the inside of a building and make a 3D picture model >> and that's to where they can observe it from somewhere else to everything. >> So, if there ever was an intruder or event, they would have this 3D model. knowing where what >> where what is at everywhere there's some >> milk and basically >> um so they're willing to do that for free so I'm going to come out on Christmas break and have them do that >> that's a good
040deal >> and then they also are trying to get um a drone for an aerial scan um of the buildings for the layout for them to have that. That's some of the work with the sheriff's department um that I work closely with. Um they also have come out for lockown drills before. They did that last year and assisted with that. Um the other thing that I'm working on is having alternative locations uh for us to go to. I've talked a little school about a minute. Um and I'm going to talk to them to see if we need a formal agreement or not. certainly somewhere that's close that could accommodate us by bus. Um and then certainly we have locations if we're on foot to get to such as going up to the cabin, you know,
041if um people were going to run from the situation um and then going to the ranch too, probably across the street. And a lot of that's up to the teacher's discretion about where the intruder is. Is it safe? Um sometimes it's safer to stay locked down. Um really it's um situation by situation. So continuing to work on that and things safety questions on that. >> Okay. New business resolution calling for an election. So the last page of your packet has the the resolution. So it's the same resolution we do every year. The only difference is the legislature changed all the dates up. So everything is on a little bit of a different time schedule. So normally we would be looking at this at the February meeting. Um and now under the new um timelines it
042needs to be done before December 11th. So, um, pretty much what it's saying is that election day is Tuesday the 5th of May, 2026. Um, the purpose of the election is to elect one trustee. Tessa, you're up. >> It's you this year. Yeah. >> Um, and then I put in there a little section, approval of additional levies to operate and maintain. You can put the general fund, the building reserve fund, whatever. Um, this is not making a commitment that we're going to run a levy, but if there's a possibility, we may want to consider it. This is where we would kind of fill that in. If there's a chance we might want to run a general fund levy, we can discuss that over the next couple months. Um, but we want to put it in
043the resolution if that's even a thought on anybody's radar. Um, this is the last year of our building reserve levy. Um, another something to consider if that's but also just to throw that out there. permissive portion of the building reserve levy got bumped up quite a bit this year. So, >> okay. >> Um, so, uh, I don't know if a levy is on anybody's radar. It's November, but, um, >> if there's a a possibility, even an inkling that we might run one, we might want to we'll want to put that into the resolution. Um, >> better to be safe just in case. gave us, >> right? Um, and I was thinking honestly general fund. Um, thoughts on that one. >> Um, >> or should we put both? >> I was leaning more towards the building
044reserves >> for the safety portion of >> possibly. Um, one of the things that's a huge need is the camera system as well as we really could use a new door system. Um, it is really starting to have problems. You'll you saw repairs for that. Um even we've got new doors, but the fob system is the same. Um there's a lot of great systems. I'd love to have like a camera at the front door for the office for see who's there. It also can connect um through the cloud. Um the camera system um is out of date and will begin failing. >> Are there Would it be possible to apply for a grant like Janfore or something? >> It certainly could be as well. Um I've talked with the sheriff's department and they applied for
045a grant uh for these for us and that they did not receive. Um so that's there's cost. >> So what do we have? We have we have that G42. We got what was the other one? Washington >> Washington there's one more >> yeah so possibilities um but yeah my recommendation at this time is um let's put them in this this doesn't obligate us from just gives us an option if we want >> okay so should we put both in for the moment and then just discuss later >> yeah that's always work. Yeah. >> And I will need a motion on resolution. >> Okay. These new ones I get kind of boogered up here. Thank you so much. >> I was say you don't have to go too into the dirty details. Just you approve the
046trusty resolution calling for an election. >> Okay. >> You know. >> Thank you. Okay. >> I make a motion to approve the trustee resolution calling for an election. All in favor say I. >> I. >> And I also wanted to say, let me see here. Um, candidate filing starts December 11th. >> Okay. >> And with the new timeline, it's a little shorter window. Stops. It ends February 9th. >> 121 through 209. Thank you. >> Yeah. Okay, next meeting will be December 8th.