001Okay. So, we're going to call this May 26 special board meeting order. Are there any revisions to do that? Is there uh so public comment, this is the appropriate time to make place comments about an item not on the agenda but within the board's jurisdiction. Each action item on the agenda has its own public comment period. In order to protect individual rights of privacy, avoid comments that identify students for staff members. Additionally, public comment cannot be used to make comments regarding investigative cases, grievances, or legal proceedings. Due to open meeting laws, the board cannot respond in any way to comments made during public comment period. Is there any public comment this evening? It's not appear. Okay, we're going to move right into our discussion and action items. Um action item A I'm going to hand
002over to Lucy Shay which is the election hand. >> Thank you. Presented for your approval are the official results of the trustee election held on May 5th 2026. The election was conducted by the county election office. There were four candidates for three open positions. Page 10 of the attached PDF document showed the n the number of votes received by each candidate. I will now read the results. Jerry Boxich received votes followed by Gloria Nelson who received 1439 votes and Karen Hilding who received 1276 votes rusty candid Hansen was not being elected. I recommend that you approve the canvas disposal. Are there any clarifying questions? Is there any public comment on this item? So, back to the board for further discussion or a motion. I move be approved as presented in a second. That's moved by
003Darcy and seconded by Quincy. All in favor? >> Thank you. I guess Okay, thank you. All right. Uh, moving on to B, which is the seating of newly elected trustees. Um, we have a change in personnel this evening. Uh, I might have Lucy. Can you explain that a little? >> I can explain. Thank you. >> Uh, in the absence of the found superintendent Amy Marovitz, notary public will administer the oath of office to the newly elected trust. So, I'm going to read and you're going to repeat after me. >> You ready? >> I do solemnly swear >> that I will support, protect, and defend >> the Constitution of the United States >> on the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of Montana >> and the Constitution of State of
004Montana. and that I will discharge the duties >> And I will discharge the charge the duties >> of my office with fidelity. >> So help me God. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> And now some signatures, please. >> Yes. So I prepped the paper. So I have Jerry right here. I need a signature here and it's on the second page as well. >> Okay. >> We had signature here and I need a second page as well. I want your signature here. >> Okay. And then in the not sign by name. >> You do you have to so hire to print it sign and address please. This is the charge. Sign an address. Just sign this. Thank you. Congratulations. >> Welcome. >> You're I will get you your coffee when I'm done. >> Okay. Change. You're
005welcome. >> Oh, okay. Smoke. In fact, you actually have to Congratulations. >> Nice to meet you, too. >> Yeah. Oh, thanks for meeting. >> Okay. Yes, unsettled. So, all right. So, we'll move on to C, which is the board reorganization with Lucy Shay. >> Uh, thank you. I will now accept nominations for the board chair. >> I recommend Elizabeth Pitman for board chair. I'll second. Any other nominations? I did. >> Yeah. >> Any other nomination? >> Okay. Well, Quickman is the next party. My darling. Okay. Uh so now I will facilitate um nominations for the vice chair of the board. Are there any nomination? >> I nominate Darcy. Second. I have asked three times. Yes. Okay. Are there any other nominations for the vice chair? Are there any other nominations for the vice chair? Are
006there any nominations for the vice chair? So that shall vice no. Yeah. >> All right. So now we will move on to D. action. >> Oh, so recognition we didn't >> Oh, you nominated both. >> She did not. So, I'm both above then. We didn't have public comment. Okay. Is there any public comment on item C? >> Back to the Wait, that back. Do we have And we vote. Okay. So back to the board for a motion or further discussion. >> I move we approve chair and vice chair as presented. >> Second as moved by Quincy, seconded by Jerry. All in favor? >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So D is the district clerk appointment. Um are there any nominations for the district school? I will be nominated. Yes. I second. Okay. So, are
007there any other nominations? Are there any other nominations? Okay. So, Lucy Sheay has been nominated as the district clerk. Um, is there any public comment on this item? go back to the board for further discussion or a motion. We approve to see Shay as the district clerk. I'll second. So that is moved by Jerry and seconded by Darcy. All in favor and we have an open. >> Okay. Yes. Yes. Yes. Just to make sure. Okay. >> Oh yeah. Are you ready? >> I do solemnly swear >> that I will support, protect, and defend >> the Constitution of the United States >> the >> Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of Montana. >> the Constitution of the State of Montana. >> And that I will discharge the duties >> of
008my office with fidelity. >> So help me God. We are moving on now to item E which is the activities transportation contract with Mr. >> Uded for the board's consideration proposal that's happen to renew the activities transportation contract through June 30th 2013. Um you can see uh on track with revisions copy of that we had a committee to trust Hansen or chairs and uh we reviewed them with rocket on transportation several times making modifications in tonight these final changes for consideration. And you can see in this contract under article two, there are a few changes there. That represents an increase of about 80% for the hour rate. Um, and you can see some of the changes where we crossed out school buses. We crossed out within a 102 mile radius radius. We changed that. just
009created a minimum charge at 325. If you go on to the next page, there's some other things just to highlight. Um, we updated the language related to in the event of a bus or mechanical breakdown resulting in a delay more than one hour, the district will not be required to compensate carrier for the trip segment. So, change of language there a little bit. And then you can also see that we've changed the language and scheduling of trips. This is probably the most significant change here. You can look at there we have activity buses will be prioritized over school buses for the farthest trips regardless of the specific sport or activity. If the demand for activity buses exceeds availability, the carrier will determine the final assignment of buses. And for any trips outside the county, two
010students per seat will be allowed unless the district approves otherwise. in a concurrent carrier. So, those are some of the changes we made um to this uh contract. And then one more that's probably another change that is under article 4 um where we change some language related to the carrier agrees to purchase an activity bus no more than 5 years old by the contract's effective date. Um this will ensure that a total of two activity buses neither older than 5 years are available for the beginning of the 26 27 school year and buses will be replaced when the odometer reading exceeds 200 miles over 13 years. So those are the big areas of the contract change and then there one more at the end and we could certainly take some questions here in just a
011minute. Just the other kind of significant change was under article 14 liquidated damages and majour should an activity bus not complete a scheduled trip. Carrier shall be assessed to liquidated damages of $500 per trip except the carrier shall be excused from performance and it lists out some of those other things there. So that was an addition to this contract as well. So those are the big changes. Just want to highlight those real quickly. Um and Seth Sullley from the mountain transportation is here. We also have our transportation director, Mr. Josh Bren. One question. >> I just have a clarifying question. So would a segment would that be >> one way there? Okay. What that word meant? Um, and then so we wouldn't have to compensate them for a segment if there's more than one hour
012delay. But then when you go down to what you were just talking about um the liquidated damages, if it if they can't complete a trip, then they're going to owe us money. I feel like we were paying them, now they're paying us. Is that what's happening? So it's an additional fee. Okay. They would be charged. >> Okay. Yeah. >> But that's only if they can't complete the trip. So 1 hour delay could be >> A segment. But >> this is for the entire trip. >> That's the entire trip. Okay. So there's a bit of a difference. Okay. Perfect. So thank you. >> That's a good question. >> And I just clarifying question on that too. It says in the event of a bus slashcharter mechanical breakdown and charter has gone and just bus. So does
013that mean school buses and charter buses? So now it's all the same >> like that includes all school bus and act buses. >> That does the chartered school buses are wrapped under one. Is that right? >> Yes, it's going to be do I need to go back. >> I'm sorry. I mean I think to get some clarifying questions on this because we discussed a lot of this in detail. So just >> Yeah. So kind of like a 40,000 foot view of this. So basically what we're stating now is we're going for a quality over quantity approach. Okay. So, we are going away from the days of having four or five buses that are sitting on the lot for gosh knows how many days in a row not being ran, not being touched, and going to
014more of a quality where you've got two buses that are under 5 years old in the fleet to carry these kids to and from safely. Okay. So, what happens if if we break down in either one of those? Again, you you've got the same charges, everything, but now we're adding in school bus to that. See, before we could only take a school bus 102 miles at the most to carry kids. Now we're saying no matter where these buses are going, the two furthest will be the coach style or activity style buses with the comfier seats and the luggage and all that. The remaining buses will be yellow buses. So yes, the bus could end up going a school bus could end up going to Missoula or somewhere like that if there are multiple activities stacked
015in one, you know, time frame or have an overlap, which everybody knows, we all have to be honest, there there are going to be some some days of overlap. Um we had it this year, I think there was six or seven buses on the road in one day. Um all to, you know, different locations here and there. We also have a history trip, you know, so there are going to be some things that we're going to have to be very very creative on, if you will. Um, but this to me is going to set a precedent of, you know, expectations for uh, you know, students, parents, coaches, so that they know, okay, this is how we're going to do it moving forward. the furthest trips, get the nicest buses, get the more comfortable buses, but
016at the end of the day, my job is to take them to and from safely with as minimal breakdowns as I possibly can handle. Right? So, on our school bus replacement cycle, we're getting there, right? We've already ordered a brand new school bus. We're I mean we're getting to the point where I tried to apply for electric buses but our buses are too new. So I couldn't get the grant because our yellow is so new. So to me seeing that it's like well why you know fight it when I know these things are just they're built to be bulletproof. Okay. The safest vehicle on the road is a yellow school bus. Right. Second to that is the white school buses that you see rolling around with, you know, the bulldog emblem on them. That's the
017direction we're going. Our biggest focus is getting kids to and from wherever they're going safely. The best way to do that is put them in the newest equipment I can. And I think this is the a great way to start doing that. But setting the expectation that yes, even the football team might have to take a yellow bus if there's somebody else that's, you know, further out. So we may have to take two buses but that is the ultimate you know goal of this is that >> can you tell a little bit about the updates to the yellow or for >> the new the newer buses? >> Yeah, so newer buses are coming. I mean they have collision mitigation in them. They have lane departure much like everything you see in your cars today. The
018new buses and trucks of the world have that. Um, so we are starting to see like the newer buses that we purchase, it's going to have air conditioning for a driver, which is something they've never seen in, you know, 150, 200 years of school bus manufacturing. There's now dash AC for the driver. We can put air conditioning in. We can do a lot of nice things with these yellow buses that make them extremely safe and extremely comfortable. Yes, it's still the old style bench seat, but the the goal is to get them to and from safely. Sometimes it doesn't mean you need a charter style seat to get to and from an event. So, >> this is actually a good Can I ask a question? Yeah. >> Um, about the bench seat, which I think
019is is fine, like you said. And in here, it does say that if you're going the wording was just kind of odd to me about the two two seats, two people to a seat. loud. I think allowed is the word maximum or >> I didn't like the wording and I and I hate to like >> it. Is anyone else find that wording awkward to me? I guess or why was that wording choice? I'm just asking clarification because I find it when I read it even though I know the intention behind it. I still didn't I didn't catch the intention based upon the wording. Is there any do you know what I'm talking >> I do not article three? So it says um the green part is activity vestage will be prioritized or school buses for
020the farthest trip regardless of border activities and then it goes on um that you the carrier and then it says for any trip outside the county two students per seat will be allowed unless the district approves otherwise in concurrence with the carrier. So it feels like it should say maximum of two seats maximum of two students per seat unless the district approves otherwise in concurrence with the carrier. That's how my >> brain understood the intention of that. >> Does that make sense to you though as the provider of us? You're on the wrong thing. >> That's what I was kind of wondering. Still >> I mean they are federally rated at three per seat. I mean they're 39 in seat. We all know that >> articles. >> Sorry. I think the issue is that um
021like you said they are very safe but that all of the butt has to be on the seat for it to maintain that safety standard. And when you have half of a human hanging off the side of the seat, >> um, then that just makes it a little less safe from just the size of the human to the to the size of the seat. >> I think any maximum would be >> like a maximum >> student per se. >> Yeah. >> It's a kindergarten field trip of the conversation that right >> to the fire station. Well, and this is already outside the county. So like if it's that it's fine to like >> Yeah. Yeah. >> But so how do we change that here? >> We would do it in our we have further in
022our discussion and then we would do it. >> Okay. >> Great. And then my other question was um you mentioned um emergency blankets will be provided. >> Um and I was just curious. I mean that's great. I think that's awesome to spell that out that emergency blankets will be provided. But why are we choosing to single out emergency blankets only as what will be provided? Because I know you guys are also you have like an emergency. >> It's not federally mandated thing to carry. >> Oh, okay. >> It's just something we started carrying. Obviously, when we had happened, what happened? We started throwing emergency blankets just cuz the cold weather we travel, things like that. I think it was just spelled out like we have to carry fire extinguishers, triangles, all that is already mandated
023in what we have to follow. >> Okay. >> The blanket is not. >> Got it. Okay. So just once that spelt out that yes, they will be on every bus that runs on an activity. >> Yeah. That's cool. >> So clarify like you mean emergency blankets for every student on the bus. >> Yes. Whatever it's rated at. Yes. Whatever it's rated at, it has that many emergency blankets in it. Um, and then as far as like purchasing the new activity bus, is that a reasonable time frame for you to get that bonus? Because the contract is effective August 1st, I think of 2026. >> Yeah, as of right now, we believe that is Yeah. Definitely. >> I just don't want to set up. >> Yeah. For failure. We're the one that put it in place.
024So, we're Yeah, we're Yeah. >> Okay. Any other questions? Any public comment on this? So, back to the board. >> Further discussion or a motion? Um, I would like to change that wording under article three when it's talking about trips outside the county. It's two students maximum per seat will be allowed or something or >> but you say a maximum. And I think it's fairly the district approves otherwise and concurrence with the carrier because it really is based on the size of each of the room that's traveling kindergarten. >> Yeah. >> So that's a motion. >> Yeah, that would be a motion that you want to make. I guess I do need to um I move that we approve the change to wording in article three and say for nature of outside county two students
025>> per seat maximum or maximum per student maximum students per seat >> and then the rest of the >> I second that. >> Okay. So that is moved by Darcy with the changes and seconded by Quincy. All those in favor? Anything? Here we >> need to do um to move the the building approved public. >> All right. Okay. Now we have a motion. Okay. To approve the entirety with the change. >> I move we approve. Dave, do you want to say something? >> Did we get public comment? >> Yes, we did. Add initially. We haven't gotten public comment on the change. >> Okay. No politics. Sorry. >> No, you're >> I move we approve the contract as >> Okay, >> I'll second. >> That is moved by Quincy, seconded by Jerry. All in favor? >>
026Thank you. So the contract is with the change. >> Thank you. And it cancel discussion and all the because motions I wanted to say thank I know you guys are working really really hard to change things and you're making a lot of strides and um I don't know >> it's easy for the people meeting to see how hard you're working and um you know sometimes being on the inside you get to know exactly what goes on and I just want to say thank you because I know it's been a lot you guys have taken on a lot and you're working really hard to keep our kids safe and and keep things moving. So uh we take we take a lot of pride in it. So, um, one thing I don't know if I've got time
027to talk here in athletics, one of the big things that we do want to do this year and going forward for the remainder, but as long as we're here is have meetings every whichever sport gets together, whether it's fall, winter, spring, whenever everybody gets together, parents, kids, coaches to go through rules of ridership. Like we do it for our yellow sign, right? Parents have to sign. They need to know the rules. we want to do with our student athletes and set up set set the parents and set them up for what we expect, you know, kids getting on the bus. I don't think it's smart that kids are getting on a bus in flip-flops when it's, you know, below zero outside whether they're riding in a bus or not. Okay? So, setting expectations up front,
028say you need to dress appropriately, you know, things like that to send the message that this is how we do transportation. >> Awesome. >> Thank you. Great. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. Okay, we will move on to F, which is the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction recommendation for hire with Sarah from I will I will I will make a um first I want to say that presented for your discussion is possible action is the recommendation for assist superintendent instruction Um and you can see by the attachment that you have u uh the number of applicants, number of finalists, you can see the interview team there, the board administrative committee and then the administrative and staff who are also involved in that interview process. So our recommendations is Mr. Josh Brenston and
029I asked her to come up if you have a question for her or I >> are there any clarif contract like we do yours or no is it more like an admin contract that's just additional >> any other questions for >> um I was just speaking of the contract so anticipate start date 71 and then how many days is it like is it >> uh >> the position I said >> for this year >> settled on 240 days >> 240 >> and the contract will be reviewed on an annual basis. >> Okay, any other questions? Is there any public comments on this item? back to the board for further discussion or a motion. >> I move approve as presented. >> A second. >> That is moved by Darcy and seconded by Quincy. All in favor.
030>> Thank you. >> Congratulations, Josh. Yes. >> Welcome. >> Say something. Get a new position to get rid of transportation. I did prepare a short little >> transfer date. >> Still get transfer and apparently I get the calendar committee back >> volleyball with that committee duty. >> Um first of all congratulations to our newly elected trustees. Welcome um and welcome back Jerry. >> Uh thank you for the opportunity to further serve the Whitefish School District. I'm excited for the new opportunity um into a new adventure with Whitefish School District and working with my colleagues. Um I value my time at the Whitefish Middle School as it was the only home that I ever knew for 25 years. Uh student teaching, teaching, assistant principal, principal and value and and grateful to all those u many in
031the room tonight that helped shape me for this movement into a new position. Um, and again, just appreciate the opportunity for the new chapter and working closely alongside of Lisa and still working with everyone here. >> Thank you. >> Good job. >> And also on a note, I continue to hear the how good of a job our the professionalism of these hiring procedures are going and so I Sarah Crown and you know, I hear very good things. So thank you. Uh so for G is personnel recommendations for hire with Mr. Dear. >> Well um front of you you have your recommendations for hire and you also has a substitute listed there as well. So the attachment includes the recommendations for hire. You see we have virtual invasions for the WHS health enhancement teacher and assistant
032football coach times two head golf coach summer jump start counselor teacher teacher you can see the number of athletes there of course and number for your recommendation consideration the candidates presented Any questions for you? >> Can I ask a clarifying question just because I always get confused when it's at the end of the year. So like just to choose the position the health enhancement teacher the date is 512 but I assume this is like the current teacher is finishing out the year and then this one's for next is that is that how >> that's what I'm like I'm trying to that's what >> Oh start date. There we go. Okay. Thank you. Great. Sorry. Excuse them all, please. Uh, any other questions? Is there any public comments on this item? Okay, back to the board
033for a motion or further discussion. I move we accept these candidates as presented. A second. Okay, that is moved by Jerry and seconded by Minty. All in favor? One last move. Oh, no, sorry. We are. >> Yeah, that's it. One last motion then >> and we second. >> It has moved by Darcy, second by Quincy. All in favor? Yes.