001Okay. So, we're gonna call this uh November 11th uh business meeting to order. Um is there someone who would like to lead us in the pledge of >> algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and for any religions to the agenda. Repeat. Public comments. U this item is the appropriate place to make comments about an item not on the agenda but within the board's jurisdiction. In order to protect individual rights of privacy, avoid comments that identify students or staff members. Additionally, public comment cannot be used to make comments regarding contested cases, grievances, or legal proceedings. Uh due to open meeting laws, the board cannot respond in any way to comments made during the public comment period. Uh and
002it looks like we do have a public comment tonight. Ei, uh, come on up. And then just a reminder, we're two minutes. So, we are we have to time a twominut timer. >> I will do I will time and give us like a 10 seconds. >> Go first. >> Yeah, you're up. >> All right, I'm up. Here we go. >> All right, >> I'll leave it. >> Get that hook ready. Right, here we go. All right, beautiful people. I'm overdue actually. You know, I had promised I'd be back in September sadly with a legislative update about the evanging school. I'm not doing that tonight because press for time and I'm in a really good mood. Okay. I I really I said I have a lot of good things to share. So, music. Oh my gosh.
003I went to that joint band extravaganza. Wow. That high school band guy. Unbelievable. just super super rapport with the great and mccrady of course that's not that's not new awesome awesome so kudos beautiful it was just such a great evening awesome um second singing praises singing in the musical vein there um speech and debate is she here okay so I judged which I've been 17 years amazing this was the best oh my gosh it went so smoothly the tamarak whatever the title Sarah Sarah um please pass it was amazing wellrun um extra kudos to food services because I had to message her who provided this pasta salad and Caesar salad extraordinaire because I've had all kinds of food over the that was so she said that's our so so kudos to them. So, let's see.
004I praise the music. I praise food service and Sarah and everybody involved in the speech and debate. Um, meet Oh, I know what, Dave. Cuz I looked at the agenda. I was kind of like scrolling through online. Dave, I saw this is like the your official whatever. Okay. So, I just want to tell everybody here in all the years I've known Dave, he and I go way back, right? Care board, other stuff. I have only had one issue with Dave on a decision that he made. And Dave, I have to tell you because you know I'm honest and upfront. It turned out to be the best decision that you made for me in not for me because I've had the best this is my final year. And so thank you Dave and really good luck
005to you. Enjoy your retirement. You deserve it and all that good stuff. Thank you beautiful people. Keep doing the awesome work you're doing. and I will see you again when we have time because they I do have an issue to discuss, but I'm in a good mood. We had Veterans Day assembly today. Nothing like seeing kindergarteners singing their hearts out if they're not crying or exploring their parts and whatever. So, it was awesome. So, thanks all. Thank you. All right. Yay. >> Love it. Love it. See you. >> All right. So, we will move as all the public correspondents I have tonight. So uh or sorry public comment public correspondence. There's a letter attached. I think everyone's had a chance to look at um and then we will move on to F which is approval
006of minutes. There any clarifying questions on that? I can just abstain from all these items. We can bring it up to the up aenda. specifically because lately we've been having those issues when we move to break it into pieces. So that's how >> Thank you. >> Okay. I'll move that we approve the October 14th. >> A second. >> Okay. So that's approved by Katie, seconded by Quincy. All in favor? Okay. Thank you. >> And then I'll move that we approve the October 28th minutes. >> Second. >> Moved by Katie, seconded by Rainy. All in favor? >> And then last, just so you don't change the name. I'll move that we approve the October 28 special meeting minutes. Second. >> Moved by Katie, seconded by Quincy. All in favor? >> Thank you. All right, moving on
007to G, which is our student trustee report. So, Carmela, you are up. >> No. All right. Um, I will start with the high schools. So, fall activities are coming to a wrap. Volleyball divisionals just happened this last Thursday through Friday. They played Frenchtown first, who was first in the seed on Thursday, and then Dylan, and their season ended on Friday. Um, football won against Laurel, which is taking them Oh, I'm sorry. Football won against Frenchtown, which is taking them to the semifinals. And oh, I'm sorry. I switched that up again. Football one against Laurel, which takes them to the semifinals, and then they'll playing Frenchtown on Friday. And feel good about that one. Um, speech and debate. They had a meet at Whitefish on Saturday and I think it was also in the mold too
008but over 20 schools attended which was pretty cool and from what I've heard it was a pretty long night. Um entertainment is starting up. Midsummer Nights Dream put on by the drama club and director April Williams is doing I think school performances on Wednesday and then Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at 7 p.m. opening shows. >> Um for general outstanding first quarter across the school, each grade level has a data team that analyzes student achievement and identifies students in needs of intervention or student support. and it particularly focuses um more to that end of the order area. Um something new that's been happening with the school are startup of some recognition programs. One called unsung heroes where staff will identify five students attending Wish High School um gradewide and they will be awarded for their
009gooding around the school. This award is honored to students who are noticed for making significant improvements and giving great things back to the school. And there's a little ceremony that's held which they will receive recognition and a little I think some sort of treat or something at the in the chest room. And then another award is the top dog award which is for teachers. Staff members are identified for going above and beyond to support school. And each each top dog will be identified every month and the former top dog will identify and nominate a new top dog and get a little dog name for their guest. These pro these are great programs. I will give thanks to the people who make the White Fish High School the amazing place that it is. And little quote
010from Mr. Drown, that which gets recognized gets repeated. Very true. All right. Early applications are just coming to a close as well. So, seniors had a pretty busy week about two weeks ago and they're working hard. And then we have parent teacher conferences which happened last week. Over 300 conferences held at the Whitefish High School. 50% of those were freshman. 30 were sophomores. 10 of each juniors and seniors. Also staff feedback helps with the intervention and supports of students at Bulldog and school. >> Veterans Day was also held today and in my opinion was a great success. There was a lot of amazing people that were speaking and just there to support veterans. Um it's ran and organized by students council with the help of hospitality as well as our student council adviser helps see
011student helps students see our world from a broader perspective and honor students that educates further generations. And now we are going to the middle school which is a report by Trey Weller. Um Whitefish Middle School has made it through the first quarter of school with a lot of fun moments and a lot of running. On Friday, October 10, the entire school participated in the Montana Crunch Off event sponsored by the WSC services. Whitefish Middle School Student Council is sponsoring a fundraiser for the North Valley Food. >> Pardon me for interrupting. >> Oh, thank you so much. Okay, sorry guys. >> The fifth and sixth graders will be competing in a pen war. The seventh and eighth graders can contribute through the bring a book fundraiser and every book that is donated earns a raffle ticket.
012There will be multiple prizes that students can win. All money raised goes directly to the North Valley Food Bank. As reported last month, the White Fish Middle School Student Council has hosted the annual White Fish Middle School Halloween dance. The seventh and eighth graders had a chance to try out their costumes prior to Halloween. And the dance entertained 255 seventh and eighth graders. That is 76% of the seventh eighth grade student body. Great turnout with a lot of fun had by all. The sixth, seventh, and eighth grade bands have had their first concert. Very successful with some great sounding music. Our Whitefish Middle School musicians brought >> the entire Whitefish Middle School actively participated in Halloween on Friday, October 31st. Students came dressed in costumes as well as staff and it was a fun day
013for a bunch of people. We have 26 total seventh graders out of 24 total eighth graders. And then this is what is happening there. M down. Halloween was a huge success. Students and staff alike participated in the festivities. Staff chose a theme for their respective members. It was a great it was gracious to see everyone participate in that fun. They had parent teacher conferences on November 6th and 7th. Conferences were all were well attended and the trimester ends November 25th. Reports will be sent home. Any questions or >> is there a bus ride to Frenchtown? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And they're taking cheerleaders and students who want to sign off. >> Our part is Frenchtown. >> Okay. >> It's right before Missou. >> Turn off for Missou. So yeah, >> exciting. >> Laurel. >>
014All right. So we move on. Thank you Carmela very much to a WBA or WCA updates which >> Okay. So move them into discussion. >> Discussion items. >> Thank you. Thank you >> for uh we will move into agenda item A with upper seven law and funding. Uh I'll turn it over. >> I'm sorry. I have just lost >> Oh. Oh. Oh, there they are. They're still there. Looks like >> All right. I'll let you introduce them. >> So, we have representatives from upper 7 L to present information about school funding. >> Andre, are you available? >> I am here. Can you all hear me? >> Yes. Y >> Wonderful. If if you can't hear me while I'm uh jabbering on, raise your hand. I can I can see you. I know you all can't
015see me. Um, thank you all so much for having me. Thank you for letting me zoom in this evening. I'm actually down in Stevensville. I'm about to talk to your counterparts um on the Stevensville uh school board as well this evening. Um, as the superintendent said, my name is Andre Halliday. I am a staff attorney at Upper 7 Law in Helena, Montana. And I think the reason that uh we've been invited to come speak to you and your peer groups across the state is that you may have seen in the last month or two that the Missoula um school district trustees um approved moving forward with a potential school funding lawsuit. Um and so what do I mean by a school funding lawsuit? And I apologize if some of this is repeat for some of
016you. Um, we'll start with the Montana Constitution, right? And the Montana Constitution says that the legislature needs to provide uh adequate funding its share for you all the local districts to provide a basic system of free quality public elementary and secondary schools. Right? So there is an obligation on the part of the state to give you guys enough money to create a quality education system. The second piece of it is that the state has to fund that system equitably. Meaning, you've got to make sure that resources are spread correctly given the vast differences in the rural and urban and distance nature of our state. So, you've got an a quality function with enough funds to fund that quality education and an equitable system um on how the state should be funding that education. So, how's
017that played out historically? Back in the 1980s, there was a case called Helena Elementary, and that case dealt with the equity piece. Um, in in a in the simplest form, were getting richer and the poor were getting poorer. Districts that had a lot of public land, districts that didn't have large tax bases were finding themselves unable to provide programming um and basic necessities for their classrooms. Um meanwhile, a lot of more urban districts, districts that had uh extensive commercial um or industrial or uh operations were able to afford significantly more opportunities for their students. Right? So where you were born dictated the quality of the education and the equity of that education funding that that children received. So the outcome of Helena Elementary found a way to better share resources. Um, and the simplest the
018way to think of it is in a lot of the GTB funds or the funds that the state provides to get districts up to what we think of as base today um shook out of that uh lawsuit. Uh there was another lawsuit in 2005 called Colombia Falls and that case dealt more with whether or not the state was providing sufficient funds for that quality education. um the district court there said, "Well, we do have a problem here because the state hasn't defined what a quality education is." So, the state went back to the drawing board and used some guidance from the district court and it defined uh about eight items um that constitute the basic system of free quality public uh education in the state of Montana. Those are curriculum um and accreditation standards, students
019with special needs like at risk students, students with limited English proficiency, um children with disabilities, gifted and talented students, elements like Indian education for all uh qualified and effective teachers and administrators to provide this basic system of quality education, facilities and technology, transportation of your students, um procedures to assess and track student achievement and preserving local control of school boards like yourselves. So coming away from the Columbia Falls case, the legislature sat down and it created a a a funding mechanism that you largely all experience today when you all are setting your budget and incorporating that with the base and max funding systems that I'm guessing most of you are aware of. um we have the system that we have today. Um that's a lot of jargon. One thought experiment I like to tell people
020to think about is um think about your school funding today. Think about uh what you're providing. Think about what you're struggling to provide. Think of the things you wish you could provide more of. whether that's programming or paying your teachers more or socking away money for um capital improvements or major maintenance needs. And now think about whether you could provide all of the programming you're providing today and plan for those future needs with the 80% base level that the state uh provides because that 80% base level is what is supposed to be capable of providing all of those elements that the state defines in statute as a basic system of free quality public elementary and secondary schools. And it appears to be getting harder and harder for most districts in this state to provide uh
021those services. And that's usually evidenced by use of other budgeted funds like um bonding, asking your taxpayers to build um and debt servicing those bonds, your major maintenance or school reserve levy funds, your transportation funds, your tuition funds, right? all of these other funds that you have to go out and ask your local taxpayers to fund because not enough money comes in from the state chair. And that gets back to the problem of equity. Maybe you're fortunate enough, and I I think you have been in Whitefish, which is fantastic, of your electorate, to approve operational levies or technology levies or um capital needs. Some places can't. And that's exactly where we were, you know, almost 40 years ago in Helena Elementary where some districts simply couldn't get enough money and other districts found themselves relying
022too much on requiring their local taxpayers. So, um, we're we're hitting a point, we believe, and the Missoula school district believes where the the state is no longer providing sufficient funding, right? so that state so that school districts can provide that basic system of free quality elementary and secondary education and those funds aren't being distributed in an equitable manner where once again we aren't slipping into a situation where children in the state of Montana don't have their educational opportunities and outcomes dictated by which locality which school district boundaries they were born into. So, we're going around sharing this information, talking to school boards, seeing what questions they have, um hoping that they are interested potentially in signing on in the future. Um participating as anformational um body that provides access to um sharing your stories,
023right? sharing sharing what's working for you, what's not working for you, so that we can ultimately put together um um an argument if and when it comes time to file a a school funding lawsuit. That was a lot of information and um I'd love to know what questions you have for me. >> Um Andre, my name's Darcy Shinger. Um and I have a question. I actually wrote an article or letter to the editor oped um last fall kind of talking what you're talking about and I think a couple of your colleagues actually from upper 7 reached out and we had a conver is why now when the legislature is forced to look at the funding and there's already a lot of momentum happening with funding. So, I'm wondering if this lawsuit and this publicity is
024taken away from possibly what um is happening through other lobbying groups and legislative actions. So, I'm curious about the timing. >> Yeah. No, that's that's that's a wonderful question and we hear that a lot. Um there there's a couple of reasons why um I think there's a value in a lawsuit. We think there's a value in a lawsuit. Now the the first is that it helps focus right the discussions of funding and what a system should look like on critical issues that are facing. >> Oh we lost you. >> Oh no. Can you hear me now? >> We can hear you. >> Oh no. Okay. >> Sorry. So yeah. So yeah great great question. I don't know why my headphones went out. The beauty of our technology. Um uh the So, it's um I don't
025know where I dropped off, but we we think that there's a couple of reasons why. The first is that having a lawsuit that focuses the issues that explains the problems in the system existing today and pointing out where there are gaps existing today actually hyperfocuses right those funding discussions going forward. the the committee has a um horribly truncated and it's not their fault, it's the design of our system um timeline for how they're supposed to both analyze the current uh shape of Montana's educational system as a whole, putting aside funding and then also make determinations regarding uh should they do a cost study? What should should they change the funding of the system? Should funding be increased? Should new areas be added in? Um, I think a a lawsuit traveling in tandem with that is
026extremely helpful in saying here are the one 2 3 4 eight areas where right now things are just deficient um across across the board. The second piece of that is the if any of you are have been involved in the painfully slowmoving nature of civil litigation. When the Columbia Falls lawsuit started, um, it was in about 2002, I believe. It finally laid its head to rest in about 2008. The Montana Supreme Court decision came in in 2005. So, you had about three plus years between the inception of litigation and the actual decision by the Montana Supreme Court that then prompted legislative action following on that. I was just at an education law conference and one of my colleagues was telling me about their Arizona case recently that had begun in 2017. They've went to trial
027in 2024 and they got a decision from the court um a couple of months ago in 2025. These cases move slow. getting them parked in place with right the information that this committee needs right now to think about um is is the time to do it because we'll be heading into a legislative session um really a year from now which is kind of wild to think about um and ultimately know by May of the following year whether sufficient actions have been taken by the legislature to cure right the constitutional deficiencies likely the leg the lawsuit itself would remain dormant for some period of that time while you wait and saw what the legislature did. But if you wait until after the legislature, right, after the committee is done with all of its recommendations um to
028uh proceed, what you do is just set yourself on essentially another two-year timeline. So if you start in 2027, you're looking at more like a 2029 20 2030, which is um wild wild to think about in terms of um it being 2025 today. So that's why th this this makes more sense to do right now in our mind um timing wise. >> Perfect. So you kind of like looked at the calendar and worked your way backwards. >> Yeah. I mean, and and that that's a that's a great description of it. And also, if the legislature does ultimately appropriate, right, sufficient funds to cure the deficiencies, um cases will go away, right? That's what happened in the wake of both Colombia Falls and Helen Elementary. The legislature stepped in, took the necessary steps, um and a
029court said, uh you know, your lawsuit no longer has legs because there's sufficient funding, right? where there's equitable funding at this point, the legislature fixed the problems, which is I I think what you all would want. >> Thank you. Thanks for answering that. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Any other question? >> Can't think of any. >> Thank you for explaining the background. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. Thank you so much. >> No, thank you all. Um we're happy to answer any more questions. If you guys want to have any continued discussions, please let the superintendent know and um we can keep the conversation going. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Andre. >> Thanks. Have a good night. >> You Elizabeth just and Dave and so is this saying that this ersment of funds needs to be further evaluated.
030um the amount that I'm sent from the legislature for example and we have an HR department now personally um it seems to me we should have been able to have enough funding to have had one before and the only way we got funding to have it now is because of Lucy's magic with the budget penny pinch >> yeah I mean so where we feel or and this is going off time to discuss it. We are in relation to the questionship the questions that Andre's brought up as far as are we adequately funded to provide quality education and we're lucky because our bond passed and so we're doing physical changes but are we budiz but ticket >> well I think it's it's a really good question that speak to that too with the fund we receive
031we are very forunate in our community. you uh his support for our responses supported our school district services here the level that's that's helpful to our to our community our students um whether that's adequate and fair and equitable those are all questions I think conversation discussion um >> is Are they meeting is a legislator meeting the constitutional requirements? >> Well, I would I there's one component of education developing sorely unfunded and it always has a special education. We do not receive the funds necessary to support that. Those are through the federal government that goes from the state to to school districts. So, If there's one area I was to point to just tonight about that would be one area that is not adequate. >> And I think the other way to think about it is
032what he said there. Imagine we had to do all of this for 80%. Yeah. >> Right. >> Which most say that's what they're really talking about is a dollar amount that 80% hits. They're claiming that 80% is enough to fund education, >> right? >> And everybody except for certain legislators. No, that's wrong. And that's where I think of HR as support staff grossly underfunded, you know, and I'm sure they don't misalign this >> art teachers like that's >> I'm sorry like other other places also just you know cutting teachers in larger classrooms. Yeah. >> Yeah. And that's where you get to like quality and equitable, right? Because so we're really lucky because we typically pass levies, >> but you know, Calis didn't pass a levy for like was it 20 years until last year 25?
033So, you know, I mean, so the disparity in education in 12 miles is great. And that is where a lot of this >> that comes back to the constitution and how the constitution's written um for funding education. And so that's the that's their you know that's where you can but it's also you can they can say that legislature can make votes and say well this is quality education these kids just get more this is you know so but the equitable part is where >> that's where it's subjective >> right >> and where you're putting the burden of financing >> burden back on the taxpayers >> in the community that you're living in. So I definitely I was I was wanted to hear what they had to say mostly because I was really curious as to
034the timing of it uh with the decentennial happening study. So I was just wondering why they were kind of starting this process now. >> And I just one other comment regarding that. of course is well known to teacher salaries and staff salar here state compared to the rest of this country and that's another issue to address as well we've made some gains in that area to the last legislative session but I think there certain >> especially considering cost of living places >> where the salary doesn't cover the expenses Okay, we good to move on. >> Yes. >> All right, so we will move to B, which is the WHSA expansion owners representative report. >> Speaking of funding and bonds, we can save the update here. Um, good to see everybody. Uh, this is the November
035update to the high school expansion, um, academic and athletic side. Um things are progressing nicely moving forward. Uh the design is progressing well, full steam ahead. Um so it's getting exciting as we get closer and closer to our targeted breakground dates. Um the report you guys have, it's similar to the previous reports. Um starting off with the budget. Uh this is consistent with previous months. The only update is to the total spent to date, which is just under 1.3 million. Um that is as expected. So things are on track there. Um and some of this data will again infill as we get closer. Um the next section is the construction GCCM contract status. This also will update as we progress and get closer to breaking ground on the project. Um so that's consistent with previous
036updates. Uh jumping into schedule and current milestones. Uh some minor changes this time. Uh that top section had some old data. So that dropped off and I I infilled some current data. Uh I think we talked about last time that um we were doing some asbestous testing in the areas that are going to be demoed as well as uh installing some pathways and infrastructure for um prepping the work that'll occur in March. Those two things did occur. So those have been completed. Um and the other item of note for for major milestones upcoming is that we are tracking um getting a helical peer test pile completed at the high school to give us some more data for uh structural foundations and some of the peers that need to occur at the the new portion of
037work at the northwest area of the high school. Um other than that, the two phases uh the dates that we're tracking for, uh key milestones have all stayed the same. So that is consistent with previous months. Um, no major changes there. And then jumping into the key monthly updates. Um, item number one, we've uh completed or I say we, but A&E has really been um spearheading the design obviously and they completed the 100% DD set for uh the athletic phase of work on on October 22nd. Um, so that they hit their milestone there and we are right in the middle of understanding the cost of that. Martell has um put put together a cost estimate on that and we're working through an exercise there to understand the budget versus the design. Um so that is
038progressing well. Um I did want to clarify that that 100% DD set is um the design is not complete. Um that DD means design development. So it's a step in the process of design. Uh from here we're right into uh CDs which is construction documents. Um, so that will go to 50% CDs, then 100% CDs, which gets more detail and gets us ready for bidding and permitting and ultimately building off of. So, the design is still being worked on. It's not It says 100% DD, but it's not actually 100% complete. That's just 100% DD. Um item number two, uh Martell has completed the construction cost estimate for the academic phase that 100% VB set of documents and we've went through a value engineering exercise to understand the impacts and how that could align with the
039budget and we are at a place where we feel comfortable that the design does align with the budget. Um and that will continue to be refined to the design process. U so that's a great milestone to achieve there. Um item item number three. Um last month we talked about the Martell GMP contract amendment number one which was for the bleachers and grandstands. Um it feels like we just did this but now we have a contract amendment number two for a very similar scope for the stadium lighting. Um it's a design build scope that brings in the vendor and manufacturer. So an RFP went out for that and we selected ESI uh to be the installing contractor for Musco Lighting. Um I think it's the next board agenda to uh approve that for um a contract
040amendment to Marcel. Um and then there's another one that's not noted here, but for Annie design, there's a contract amendment to add some scopes to that. So that's another agenda item that we'll talk about here in a minute. Um item number four we talked about up above those um minor asphalt pathways and infrastructure work did occur uh as well as the hazardous material for asbestous testing uh just to get us ready ahead of um of spring break and breaking ground just to be prepped for for the work. And then the last item of note here is that we're tracking a community update for December 3rd. Uh that will be at the high school um the cafeteria as the previous ones have been u from 5:30 to 6:30. So it's an opportunity for the public to
041um come and ask questions, get a design update from A&E and uh see where things are at. So I encourage everybody to go to that. Uh the visuals this time uh to be honest, they're not that exciting. Um we we haven't progressed or changed anything really from the rendering perspective. So the first photo is just a snapshot of the cover sheet for the 100% DD set on the athletic phase. And then the next visual is um the phasing plan, the site logistics plan, which I think we've looked at uh maybe it was a few months ago. Um this is a a work in progress as we get closer and understand the design further. Martell put this together uh for where the work's going to occur, the impacts, um looking at things like storage, movement, uh
042site safety, um and workflows for start and finish times. Um so just a snapshot there. I think it's very small, so I apologize for that. It's kind of fuzzy and you might not see those dates, but uh just a snapshot of that work in progress for the phasing plan. as we get closer that will be more detailed and the communication will be pro uh presented in more phased approach uh detail as we as we progress the work. Um so that is the November update. Any questions? >> So it looks like we're like starting in March like demo things are really going to start happening. I just wasn't sure. Have we has that been like broadcast to the general public other than have we put out any announcements? Has it been in any I don't know
043newsletters or anything? I just feel like maybe people aren't aware like spring break is kind of like go time. So I suppose I just I I don't know if it's possible I wasn't paying attention to the broader scope of what the public is hearing. I also do things. >> It's a good question. It's the consistent message that the date that we're tracking for starting. Uh we talk about it in our community updates. As far as a newsletter type correspondence, um I don't know Dave, do you know if that's gone out in any newsletters? >> It's a you know a component of them, but I hasn't been a major emphasizing all of that though. Okay. And let's I think it's a great idea for the future. >> Yeah, we're kind of dubtailing on that. I think
044one of the biggest questions I get in the community. So, I would love to have on the record and I can reference this meeting is the March 22nd start date and how that impacts high school and middle school track specifically their access to the track for practices, not just the ability to have a meet. And I've sort of talked to Dave about this 211, so I'm not trying to surprise anybody, but it is a big circle. >> Yeah, >> there's like 150 middle school kids that use the track every day. >> Yes. You know, that's a just a lot of bodies and a lot of families and a lot of questions about even if you delayed it one more week or one more week. You know, obviously some of that season's going to get messed
045up, so to speak, for their routine, but later. >> Totally. Definitely a good good question. And this phasing plan, if you could see the dates that are a little bit small up there, it would it would show a little bit better. But, uh, it is phased differently between the academic side and the athletic side. So, the colored boxes you're seeing that are around the whole athletic portion, um, our date there is actually April 13th to close that area off and it is right after the last track meet that is here. Um, and so we strategically did that to be the least impact as possible to track. Um, I think that practices after that date are in the works. Dave, I don't know if you have more detail on being at Columbia Falls or um how's
046that >> work in that area in partnership possibly with falls and >> Okay. So, yeah, I think there's still details, but as far as the construction work, we're trying to plan that for um the least impact as possible while also trying to achieve opening for that extra season. >> Sure. >> Y >> Thank you for explaining it. I'm on the record. Are there any other uh questions? >> Had a question on the lighting contracts. Are there very many when the RFPs were sent out was there much response? >> Yeah, we I think there were five responses if I remember correctly. Um and across the board different vendors we ESI with Musco lighting um was right in line with our budget that we were tracking for that scope. um and enabled us to um bring a
047team member on that was a local electrical contractor as well as a the preferred um lighting vendor. So there was good response and competitive nature all good components. It was good process. I think that is the next agenda item. Correct. Yes. >> That's a good segue. Should we any other questions or should we jump to that? >> Right. You can stay all you >> couple more. >> Okay. This is an expansion contract amendment. Uh I see. >> Perfect. So yes, this uh stadium lighting um component is a design build component that we are similar to the bleachers trying to integrate into the design. Now um it brings on that team member that we can look at placement uh foundations things that the design team needs to work through and that the contractor needs to work
048through. So bringing them on board now um similar to the bleachers is a key component of getting things progressed through the design process. Um the total amount is 290,1 yeah 290,169. Um so that would be in addition to what we did last time uh for the bleacher scope. And just a side note kind of the we're tracking at least one more for the full scope. Um possibly two more uh to do some other early work but um just so you're not you know sidetracked by any future ones. There's no nothing that we're tracking for like the next board agenda at this point. But uh these two are very specific design build scopes the bleacher scope and this one to get them integrated with the sign. Does this This is probably stupid. Sorry. But does this
049include um the scoreboard like that? Like because to me it's all electrical. That's a whole another thing. >> Totally different. Yep. This is specific to those big lights that you see that illuminate. Yeah. The whole track and field area. Um just lights and um everything else. There's other components that integrate with these like data and conduits, things like that. Um so that's why it's important to get that looped in now. Um but this is Yeah. Just stadium lighting. >> Thanks. And it says that the total guaranteed maximum price will be about 291 169. So there possibility it'll come in lower. >> Um it could it always can. Uh this yeah this is for that scope. So this will add to the to the previous scope. So the 290 169 is what we would be contracting
050Martell for to contract the bleacher stadium lighting or the stadium lighting. Um it's for the intended design as we currently understand it. If things were to change um either deductive or additive then it would either go down or go up um potentially potentially. >> That's the guaranteed maximum >> for yes correct for the current design. And so assuming that nothing changes which we don't expect any changes that's where it would say and finalize that >> as far as I'm thinking of Chad or I don't know who ease of use to like change these light bulbs or maybe they probably don't change that often because end of the day are not being realized that much. But I'm just thinking like did we look at that component when we were sourcing? >> We did. Yeah. And one
051of the design components that went into the RFP were LED lights. So that's there's a lot of advantages to having LED lights as opposed to the older lights that you might be familiar with that take a while to fire up and uh they also last longer. Um, so that was one component of the design that we're looking at for for what will be installed. Uh, but the other component is a local subcontractor that will be installing the work, ESI, um, through with Musco lighting. They're the vendor, but that was part of the selection and part of picking them. Um, it was a key component. >> Thank you. >> You did. >> There any other questions? Are there is there any public comments on this item? >> It's the next item. >> I think the next
052Yeah. Wait. Okay. And then back to the board for a motion or further discussion. >> Make a motion that we approve the item as presented. >> I'll second that. Okay. Moved by Shannon and seconded by Darcy. All in favor? Everybody. Okay. Moving on to D. So you're going to continue here. Uh the WHS expansion A&E report. >> Yes. >> Take over. >> And I am here. Uh I believe Shane is with A&E is on the phone here if there's any. I I I think what we're going to go over here for this item is the contract amendment for A&E for some scope ads. Um I think that the broader design update is basically what I updated and there's nothing really further on my uh side of things to update that design process. Um so with
053that in mind um there is I think also attached here um a contract amendment for A&E to uh for some design service ads um that are specific to a couple things. Uh the first one is and the majority of this is for deferred maintenance items uh that were not included in their original scope. Um part of that was just understanding what exactly was going to be involved with those those deferred maintenance items and what they were going to end up being. And as we've progressed through the process um they've gotten a full understanding of what we're trying to incorporate into this project. And so um these are now being added to their scope from a design perspective for them and their engineers. Um, we also are finalizing a kitchen ser food service scope. Uh, we
054had a placeholder for that, but it wasn't fully vetted for what the the total amount was going to be. Um, the placeholder was 35,000. It ended up being uh 42,900. So, there's an ad of 7,900, which is a part of this. And then there's also a deduct uh for a placeholder that we had. Um, I'm sure you remember at one point we were trying to fasttrack the athletic portion uh and do that this summer. Um, but for various reasons we didn't end up doing that. And so, uh, the placeholder of 32,430 is being credited back as a part of this. Um, so the total ad for a design for a contract amendment to A&E is 90,670 for this scope of work. Um, and that would be to integrate the those design components that I mentioned
055before. And if Shane can hear us, I don't know if he has anything to add to that, but um I know he was on the road, so if not, uh feel free any questions that you guys have on that one. >> I have a question actually. Um just the 429 seems like so much. >> Not to be naive, I mean I know all this stuff costs a lot of money, but especially when we're already paying A&E, like I just don't understand why have to pay another 42 to a whole another company. I know kitchen stuff is very specific, but it seems like a lot of money >> for the food services. >> It's just for the design, right? You're not paying I mean >> correct >> to the Lord. >> If you could explain to
056me what we get for $42,000, that would be really helpful. Great. >> Yes. Um Shane, are you able to feel that question better than I can? >> Yeah, you bet. Can everybody hear me? Okay. >> Yep. Y >> I'm standing on the top of Homestake Pass looking at the northern lights. the um so we suspected that there was going to be some uh some food service design um or some food design services necessary as part of the project but we weren't sure what that scope was when we started in down this endeavor. So we couldn't define it. We included a placeholder in our initial proposal um because we thought there was something there. I'm glad we provided something rather than nothing. So there's at least there was some coverage there initially as we've defined it
057really culinary arts they're moving moving out of their current space that's south of the current production kitchen and that there's going to be a little bit of space left over between that and some the majority of that space is going to be um going to become um changing rooms for the CTE and the rest of it is going to become a receiving area for culinary arts. So, it is helping with um the design of those systems. So, likely to have a walk-in cooler there specific for them. And then culinary arts will move over into the new addition. And so, it's selection and design of the commercial systems associated with that that commercial equipment. And then also both culinary or excuse me, both um concession areas. So, one being in the high school off the gym
058foyer, the other being associated with the um with the athletics concessions. >> A very nuanced situation apparently >> specialty design for those components. That's why it's separate from A&E. Um but yes, >> and multiple locations that helps me understand because that was just somewhere that you know that it's also good social. Um, so this is just something I just noticed. Um, so in our attachments, page 19 of 29 and it's the first page after the last bio of Ben Dallas, but it talks about the agreement and it's between us and the facility be known as Whitefish School District, the project located in Pindale, Wyoming. >> Um, so I just want to make sure we get them coming to the right location before Lisa and I never give them any money. >> That is a good
059catch. I'm sure just a typo. too. And I'm I'm sure they was probably wherever they just did a project, but I want to make sure 19. >> Yeah. You know, make sure we get them coming here. >> Yes. Yeah. Shane, we'll note that. I'll show you where that is. We're looking at it on our screen. I don't know if you see it. Um but you guys, we can we can make sure that that's correct. And >> thank you. >> I did have one more question if that's the um just about the mechanical um which is on page seven. just this is I think deferred maintenance. Is that right? >> Correct. >> Um so one of the things that has come up and we had the letter to us as well um about heating sources and
060that such a things and it mentions adding a boiler um if I'm interpreting that right and I had thought that we actually had a voice. So if you could just explain the heating system decision that helpful. >> Absolutely. Yep. And I know um Shane, you'll probably do better than I will at this as well, but I'm going to take a stab at it. Um throughout the process, there's been a we've been trying to understand what's existing, what components are working or not working, how to upgrade, uh make it really efficient. Um and the design team is taking an approach as to be as sustainable as possible and meet code as best as possible. Um these this one specific to the boiler is what is working, what needs to be upgraded for the additional space. um
061and how it integrates into what's existing as best as we can with the budget that we're working with. Um so there's also that component of it. Um with where we've landed on it, there's been a lot of work in this deferred maintenance list that Morrison Merrell's investigated where we're at with things. And Shane, that's where you might be able to um provide some added detail on this boiler component with Morrison Merly. Have you had discussions with them in detail on that one? You ask about me on the other side of the passed here. >> If he's not there. >> Yep. I'm I'm back. I'm back. Yep. Um, so there is a new boiler being added for the to be able to serve the additional square feet of the addition. And then there are a handful
062of deferred maintenance items in that space. There are uh there's a pump that would either need some replacement or some work. There's a pressure tank issue. There's some glycol leaks. Um there's also a floor drain in issue in there. And then I think there's one other item that uh I can't recall off the top of my top my brain. I think there's five different items in that boiler room. And so these would all be associated with now is really the time to do this work because you're adding on to the boiler system itself. And then to be able to calibrate, rebalance, and do these other improvements at the same time makes a lot of sense. These have been items that have been on Chad Smith's list um essentially since the last edition was was open
063and occupied. There have just been a few issues as he's been building that list over the years since. >> And this this would be adding that design into so they have a lot of work to do from here to get to that final design um for what it actually ends up looking like in detail. Um, and I know a lot of the discussion around the boilers is as part of other letters and things like that. Also something that the design team is working on as far as formulating uh the responses in detail to all of those items to understand how and why and what the options are. >> Any other questions? >> I'm sorry. >> Yes. Um, it was any public comment. Yes, thank you. Um, >> sorry microphone. Sorry. >> Yeah, my concern is
064>> Oh, I'm sorry. I'm gonna do two minute timer. Yeah. >> Oh, thank you. Yeah. >> Yep. >> Great. Um, yeah, my concern is three-fold on this issue. And uh we just heard Shane say that a new boiler is being added and the existing system has leaks, pressure tank issues, leak uh I already said leaks issue and drain I mean okay I did a search for lead um lead is the leadership and energy and environmental design and if you do a search to compare heat pumps with gas boilers. Heat pumps are more efficient and envir environmentally friendly friendlier than gas boilers because they transfer heat instead of burning fuel which can lead to lower energy bills and reduced carbon emissions. And there's a whole table of items. Energy efficiency. Heat pumps are highly efficient, can
065proide provide three to four times more heat energy than electrical energy consumed. Boilers less efficient. They have an efficiency of around 90%. Environmental impact heat pumps significantly lower carbon emissions. Of course, you know, gas uh burning gas releases CO2. Um operating costs, lower running costs, potentially saving up to 75% on heating costs, especially with solar panels and smart tariffs. We talked about potential for solar panels. Um, gas boilers high higher running costs as natural gas gas prices can fluctuate. Um, maintenance heat pumps require less maintenance. Filter cleaning is typically all that's needed. >> Is that it? >> No. 15 seconds. >> Oh, thank you. So, anyway, I'm also concerned about the heat uh the gas domestic water heaters. Why not use heat pump water heaters? Same arguments apply. Please uh think about not approving this.
066I just feel like we need to have another month and take another look. Thank you so much. Uh okay. So any other comments? So we'll come back to the board for further discussion or a motion. So I guess Luke, what what like if we were going to completely revamp everything and go from a different system to the one that's being proposed and do you have any ballpark an idea of what kind of something like that would cost us? >> Um I do know that uh cost is a consideration with the existing facility to change the system that is currently there. So it's part of the response that A&E is working on and Morrison Merely would dive into that evaluation and what makes the most sense. um this component of the design aspect is integrating getting
067more sumely kicked off to have them give them the ability to look at those systems and design it however makes the most sense for the project. >> So it's not saying that it absolutely will be an added boiler. It's saying that most likely that's a deferred maintenance item that needs to be addressed from a design perspective and adding it to their design scope. So uh approving this document is just giving the ability to do those design services uh into A&E scope for Merson. Does that make sense? >> Yes. >> So could that be identified in the um approval process that that needs to look outside of gas or >> it is already being worked on. Yes. uh they are evaluating what the most efficient uh system is and what the most what works with our
068budget um from a cost perspective. Um the thoughtfulness of the lead service or the lead component and sustainability component is very important to the entire team. Um so they're looking at that and they're also formulating a response to a lot of those items that have been talked about for a while. So that analysis is in the works of if it does make sense it would be something that would be integrated into the project and if not the reasons why. >> Okay. So there could be a head comparison. >> Correct. >> There should be headers. >> Yes. Yes. >> That we've seen before moving on. >> Correct. Yeah. And I don't want to speak for Shane if he's still here, but that is what they do for all components of the building, not just MEP systems.
069They're looking at kind of head-to-head comparisons for what makes the most sense from a design perspective. Um these the technical aspect of the mechanical electrical plumbing gets into a lot of the sustainability aspects. So um those are the ones that are yeah a head-to-head comparison is what they're formulating for response to there's a letter and a lot of topics like the boiler that's been brought up. >> Yes. I think that I mean I think in general that's the architect's job is to try to find the best and most efficient and more money but we're also design as contractor you know like design looks pretty um that's why we have the COGC process >> yes the Martell's involved from a cost perspective and sometimes we would love to have systems that are very very efficient but
070they're also very expensive and cost prohibitive for the budget that we're working with. Um so we have to evaluate those things on a case by case and uh make the best decision for the project in the district. Um but the full team's involved Martell from a GCCM perspective uh the design team not just A&E from an architectural perspective but the MEP designers that are the experts at these things and >> that's kind of the point of this right is so that we can get all the experts at the table at right just to prove >> correct it's adding that to go into their design services correct >> but voting yes doesn't mean that we don't end up with the def not necessarily correct All I know is my parents heat pump doesn't work when it's
071less than -4 degrees. >> Mine's yours is 20 and yeah. So anyways, but is there any further discussion >> or question? I think I move that. Okay. Moved by Quincy. Second by Darcy. All in favor? >> Thank you guys. >> Thanks, James. Enjoy the rest of your drive. Be safe. >> Northern Lights are out there. That's what I'm hearing. >> Yeah. Or just got a text out here. >> Oh, okay. Yeah, we can't hurry. >> Okay. Um, we are moving on to item E which is um me. Um, so this is a superintendent retirement. Um, and so we are in considering the retirement resignation of Mr. Me as of as the superintendent white school's effective June 30th, 2020. There's a letter attached as well which is very nice. Um are there any clarifying questions? >>
072Yeah, we don't approve this. You can't >> absolutely keep them in duress. Yes. Hold them post. Is there any public comment on this? Back to the board for further discussion or a motion. I just wanted to say before we approve this or don't approve it just that um it was an honor to be the chair when you became the superintendent and I wanted to acknowledge that Dave did not apply to be the superintendent. He was the special services director and um the board went through the entire search process with the committee. All of us did. And at the last minute, our hire fell through and it was like too late to do it all over. And we knew that Dave was really respected by the people in his department and had done great things for
073the district. We called him in to this room and said, "Please, will you do it just for a year?" you know, the the district needed a stabilizing force at that time and uh Dave didn't hesitate. He said he didn't even call his wife that if that's what you need, sure, I'll do it. And he really brought a very stabilizing force to our district and also a sense of kindness and a culture of collaboration that I think we're all better off for. And I wanted to mention that we asked you to do it for a year, >> but five years later, here we all are. And I think that we're all stronger and better as people and as a district because of your leadership. And I wanted to mention a few things that um we all
074appreciate. So we grew in size. We have more students. We have more faculty. We have more staff under your leadership. We navigated co together which was not easy but you were a very stabilizing calm collective force throughout all of that. Passed the high school expansion bond for more space for athletics and activities and academics. Um increased our academic offerings and services. Also it's important to know over the last five years our academic outcomes across the district at all levels and in all subjects have improved. I mean that's not a small not a small fee. and we've had new curriculum adoption. But overall, I think that the legacy that will stick with me and I think all of us is the culture of kindness that you have really created. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. So, I
075think that we're all excited for your next chapter, but also very >> I told everyone Dave he needs to watch the prime minister. I don't know how to say it. I think he has a lot in common. Yes. News you pregnant. >> Very good. >> Thank you. That was really kind of to to share those thoughts. Can I share a few thoughts? >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Well, I just really want to say um people say this a lot, but it truly has been an honor service. There is no question. I find um being a part of this amazing like fiscal district community. And when I say community, I mean community. That means everybody involved in helping this school district. It's been truly an honor and I'm proud to be a part. Um I'm deeply grateful
076uh for this continued focus on educational excellence. It's just ever it exists in every part of this community. Everyone's focused on supporting each student's growth and success. This is our staff, administrators of trustees and the greater community. Great. Really feels good to be a part of that. I'm confident that the district will continue to thrive for sure. No question. Thanks to this ongoing collaborative work and this commitment to outstanding education from everyone involved in this great district. So I look forward to finishing this year strong working with all of you working with this community this meeting June 30 to take I think you should take it because you were the first chair. This is a terrible feeling. I never told me that you but of course we support you Dave. So we will move to
077approve. >> I'll second. >> Okay. Good. Now Shannon needs it. >> I'll second it. >> Okay. That is moved by Katie and seconded by Shannon. All grudgingly in >> congratulations Dave. >> Congratulations. >> I think your family will be very happy to have you back. One year from now, you'll be watching the Northern Lights. >> They're out. >> Okay. So, now we will move on to F um which is the next step which is a superintendent search committee. Moving right along. >> Moving right along. Okay. by uh the board chair me will appoint committee members to select a superintendent search firm um and I've already reached out on this and so um I talked to Shannon and Katie and myself um Sarah Crumb and Lucy Shay and we will start the process of searching for
078a firm. >> Yeah. >> And I've never done it before so I'm >> I've done it twice. >> Okay. I did it last time too. Sh and I were both on the committee last time. So, timeline wise, what happens now is the committee will meet and then we will select search firms that we'll interview and then we will bring that recommendation to the board. So, the committee is not at all the people who will pick the next superintendent. We just pick the group that helps us conduct the search and then >> we pick the candidates that come before the board basically. >> Well, the search the search firm >> the serve well we the search firm will make recommendations that then we'll review and before even all that happens the search firm typically gets input
079from administrators, from faculty, from staff, from community members, from board members so that they know what we're looking for. and then based on that they post the posting that specifically asks what this community is seeking and then start reviewing the applications and then when we get it down to the people that will interview it'll probably be rounds of interviews so that there will be >> yeah last time we had that came in that that provided a video >> and the committee reviewed those videos and chose to read from that. >> Yes. So there'll be lots of opportunities for input along the way and the search committee is just pretty much in charge of picking the first that then will guide all of us through the process. So everybody get excited. >> We all have >>
080Yeah. Are there any other questions on that? Okay. >> Okay. So we will move on to G which is the personal recommendations for hire with Mr. Me. So you have um substitutes are listed there for recommendation for hire and then on the PDF attach that as well. You can see we have some recommendations provided in front of you administration. We've gone through our human resources process and administration reference approval for remote school secretary WMS special education educator and elementary long-term third grade teacher. >> Is that like a long-term sub or what's a longterm teacher? >> He is a long-term sub. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Are there um any clarifying sessions of >> I'm sorry. Apologize. >> You just had it just brought to mind. I always try to touch base on this question. Do we
081have enough Paris M. How are we staff? >> Right now we're down. I think one or two >> in a minute when you said >> one or two on that right now. >> Okay. >> All right. Any other clarify any public comment on this item? Okay. back to the board for further discussion or a motion. >> Wait for it as presented. >> Second. >> Moved by Darcy and seconded by Quincy. All in favor? >> Now, how many? >> Yeah. The numbers. >> Well, it appears that there will be new postings. >> Now, we will move into reports. Um, and we moved it. So, the administrator report is first crowd. >> We do. >> I'll be quick for the northern lights. >> Okay. Um, NOLA is my topic. Good evening. Last year, Mr. Dan and I
082agreed that I would take on more of an administrative role at the independent high school. So, this is was to establish dedicated point person for addressing and planning the future of the independent school. I was happy to accept this opportunity and am enthusiastic about what it involves. As we grow and expand during the next couple of years, our goal is to look at programs that align well with the independent high school. That being said, Al Hamill, Dave Pertho, and I went to look at some competency based education conferences and Lisa Bloom started looking at some of those professional learning opportunities for us and found one in New Orleans. Um, so we went to the full symposium conference. So the NOLA conference confirmed that our district is ahead of the curve compared to most Montana schools.
083It was empowering to be surrounded by like-minded professionals and to interact with experienced educators and leaders from around the nation. I appreciate knowing our independent high school program is part of a greater community outside of the Plat Valley. We are moving in the right direction with a clear focus on the future. Key topics covered in the conference were AI compet competencybased education and project learning based um learning all of which are informing our work. A significant area of focus for the district is now applying our graduate profile to our class offerings and we saw this at work in other schools in the nation and how they were applying this and also using the community to help further the student learning. Competency based education CBE emerged as a key topic demonstrate demonstrating its potential to shift
084focus from steep time to actual mastery. This approach can yield significant benefits including cost and time savings partnering with our community while simultaneously better preparing students for the demands of the modern job market. Furthermore, focusing on a school's durable skills, which is what we're doing with the graduate profile, academic knowledge, communication, critical thinker, ethical, adaptable, and responsible, can effectively lead to successful job pl placements for these graduates. The conference also addressed grading, noting that major colleges and universities are increasingly accepting and often valuing CBE transcripts on par with the traditional ones. The conference divided or provided Dave, Al, and myself a valuable opportunity to deeply discuss each session and examine successful practices implementing by other other schools that we saw. We were incredibly appreciative of the time and the experience. The takeaways were so good
085for us and by the but the ability to discuss and plan during the conference was rewarding and bene beneficial for all of us. >> Great. Thanks for going to training. What a cool place to go. >> Yeah, I think it's really cool though. Three of the best. So much better than just one. >> So hard to get away. >> Thank you. Okay, moving on to B, which is our trustee announcements. Um, and it was October, so it meant we did our school visits. And so, would anyone like to share their highlights or impressions? >> Well, I always love going to school, but I did really miss it last year. So thank you to the administrators for um going along this experiment with us that real life and we made a mistake and letting us forget
086it because one it's great to connect with each of you individually and spend some time with you um not in this format uh but it's also just always good to be in the classroom or in in a school and see the kids and my biggest takeaway was how well behaved these students are I mean like they're so I couldn't believe it they're quiet and they're working diligently and they're not like disruptive and you weren't seeing any crazy or chaos even we were at the high school during lunch >> and so it's like I don't know maybe 300 kids out there and overall until like maybe the last five minutes as Mr. Brown pointed out they know when they're inal clocks like it's time to get moving but it was they were so well behaved and
087so quiet and just it was amazing to me and so I think it speaks to how what we're teaching them about effect and also just the kids in our district and and how our staff treats them with respect and then they give the respect back to all of our staff members. So that was my big takeaway. >> Anyone else? >> I was also impressed with the relationship aspect. Like I really love getting to go with all the elementary kids think he's a celebrity. It's like Mr. Coin Mr. Coin. It's fun to be in your entourage, but also >> it's fun to see you guys walk into a classroom and the classroom be so receptive to you. Whether it was I got to see the infamous secret gym upstairs, right? Middle school. Like >> just getting
088to be in the schools is always energizing and a nice reminder of why we spend our nights here. I did not get to go to the um high school because the types didn't work. But Sarah, I heard that you killed it at career club and that everyone wants to be in international relations now. Well, that you're bringing people from the community into the schools to educate the kids and kind of making all these connections and it was just I thought invigorating. So, thank you all for doing what you do. I would echo the community part. That's definitely something as someone who started on the board in I guess 2021, you know, coming out of the dark days and then not having a school visit for your commit, it just feels so different in each school.
089It feels so much more open. There's just that sense of um >> flow and >> yes, there's safety measures always, which is beautiful and also needed. And you asked for bonds to pass those as well, you know, and grateful for all the safety, but it still doesn't feel unwelcoming because of them, which is And they are very structured and not chaotic, but it doesn't feel cold. Exactly. >> It feels very just safe, >> warm, inviting. >> Yeah. Like you can It's beautiful. And I really appreciate actually taking the time to walk Rainey and I and explaining the construction because I'm such a busy. So that was a really great window of opportunity for me specific to the high school to say, "Oh yeah, that's where like the independent high school is going to blow out
090this wall." Like that makes so much sense. And just the flow gets me really excited for all these architectural reports to come. >> Yeah. And I just thought it was really generous of suppose to take time away from all the things they were doing. >> Absolutely. >> And I've decided I'm going back to fourth grade. figure the things they were learning about. I am sure I had not learned about fourth grade. Probably it's true in sixth and but that one look like something I could get into. >> I was also really impressed by the artwork, you know, in every school works. >> Yeah. And that didn't remind when he says fourth grade. We did we walked into a classroom during reading. And I was like, I'm so glad I'm no longer in elementary school. This
091is really hard. I can't remember what they were learning about some medieval time. And I was like, this is unbelievable. But it just it really brought forward the curriculum that was great >> and but also how the curriculum is adding in the social studies aspect of things. And so it's just so well-rounded even though it seemed daunting. I mean the kids really seemed to be enjoying it and >> yes it was high level stuff like fourth grade was doing Greek >> Yeah. Greek goddess come to see KLA or whatever the also neat to see how it's happening in every classroom down the hallway. >> Yeah. So that part was really u it was fun to see that in action to see one of the books and she asked this student I was like can I
092look at your book and she let me look at it like take it back. Oh, that was fine. >> Yeah. >> And the classroom Quincy and I went into they were um answering questions the teacher presented and knew so much about medieval pines and serves versus lords. Who would that be? What was the best? >> Yeah, it's crazy. Yeah. So, it's very great program. That's good job. Thank you. >> Thank you for the opportunity. >> Yeah. Thank you. And I similar as always, you know, I have tons of memories and those schools and I knew the effort gym was there because I ran through it, you know, and Mr. Drown taught me in seventh or eighth grade Sims class. And so I think it is just like it is this consistently welcoming place and I
093get the sense that I think I had even when I was a kid. Um, and I think those traditions continue to carry. So I appreciate it very much. We had to watch a puberty video at that time. >> So that's my upstairs. >> That's awesome. >> So okay. >> Now we are moving into the upcoming policy committee meeting on policy 17. >> Who would like to >> I'm not that >> who would like to speak to that? >> Um okay. So at our work session when we talked about 1700 and there were some questions about 1700 about like okay now we have a HR person well we were all in so I don't have to recal it but anyways from that the policy committee thought maybe it would be a good idea to check out
0941700 and see if there was language in there that kind of followed the direction that we talked about at our meeting. So, we're going to meet with um Deborah and talk about if it's possible right now. It says uh it says, you know, first go and talk to the person that you have an issue with and then you can then you may file a formal complaint, but we were like we need something between those two. So, we thought maybe we could put then you may consult HR and or you may file a complaint. So, it just gives that extra step of being able to meet with somebody and saying, "Would this work? Would this not work?" So, anyways, Sarah and Dave and policy committee and the legal advisors, maybe Lucy, too. We'll have to be
095there. I don't know. We're gonna meet and talk about >> I don't know what. But anyways, that's our goal there is just to ask questions and get answers to the questions that came up in that work session. >> Um, thanks for ting and we'll move on to you'll see a message of gratitude attached there. That's we >> just like we can't >> we can't but we can say >> I would just say I feel like there's apostrophes but maybe is >> the foundation of our student successes like over to the is that just >> yeah I think it's a spacey just the way came over >> I think it's the way it came over >> yeah so it's like on the real one that's Okay. Amy usually she frees them all. >> Okay. >> So,
096when do we want it sent? >> When do we usually send these? Is it the week of Thanksgiving or is that conf? >> Yeah, usually we coordinated it. >> Yeah. Go ahead. Go ahead. Whenever >> I We could send it next week and then Thanksgiving or something. Yeah. Yeah. We can send Monday Thanksgiving or we could send it at like the 20th and the event is on the weekend and 24th. I don't care. We just like Yeah, we just turn the train up space out. >> That sounds good. >> Okay. 20th and >> no other team. >> Well, my name is Oh, yeah. Yeah, it's fine. So two teams and an >> I know >> and imagine they got oxit right I didn't have rainy on there at all just cut off completely so that
097we can make the changes >> okay >> great we trust >> I think a nice method >> it is lovely Yes. Thank you. I really like this. >> It's great. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, we can move on to stuff. >> Oh, you do. Says yes. Go for it. >> I want to talk about himself a little bit. Uh you think about himself. Um, first of all, I'll say this that one of the things that I've sort of volunteered been volunteered to do is the blow the horn for MTSBA a little bit more. One of the things that was sort of apparent in MCL is that there's a lot of fall off like and and we we determined that they just did they really don't define what they do and they don't
098um you know they don't so a lot of board trustees and as many people on the board will know I'm probably one of the bigger critics of MTSBA so it's natural to ever be talk about that so but I want to talk a little bit about I'll start at the end of the of the conference um because I thought this was particularly badass. Um there was a a gentleman that spoke uh a Native American gentleman um and and first of all the um to say that the end end note was subdued compared to the beginning would be a complete unchang but it but it after I'll talk about in a minute the opening keynote which was amazing but he one of the things that he said that I that I thought was really cool was
099he um he challenged everybody he said how many people in this room could quote your um mission vision values and like nobody like nobody could you know the whole thing but but the one that that struck me is that he he taught or teaches still but in the Hayes Lodge Pole um district and I really liked their mission it's not their mission anymore but it's I will walk anywhere and fear nothing oh my god that is >> that is pretty bad and it was >> but it was indicative of the of what he was talking about sort of the the warrior spirit. We also had the road show. Um, we talked a little bit earlier about the interim committee that their job is to go back to the legislature and recommend make recommendations about the
100state of education. This the D7 um there they had been putting on a road show going around state and they came to themselves and it wasn't anything like what I would have expected that it was. It was really cool and it was very well put very well put together and very well done. Um, but it was It's different than than what I would expect and uh and I don't know how they're going to with what they presented. I'm sure they have a a path in mind. These are very intelligent people. Uh it's very seem to be very well put together how they're going to craft that into what education looks like in the future. But I trust that they're going to do that. Um and then they're on a as was mentioned earlier, they're on
101a very sort of compressed timeline to get this done. Um and they, you know, get it done for the recommend recommendation back to the intercom. Um the opening uh so the M cell overall was um usually when I go to MEL I have to choose for the four sessions there are there a day I have to really sort of sometimes roll a dice and like I want to go to this one and I want to go this there was never that point. So it's really fallen off in in the number sort of the scope of things that they're presenting. There were clearly those that were more gay and there were clearly those that were more me like more trusty where you know as before there were some that were you would be in a room
102with superintendent and you know there were super few superintendents in a few of them but they were they were more clearly defined as far as this is this is something that the trustees would want um and then this is something the superintendent want. So but I did go to all four sessions and learn a few things. Um but the opening uh keynote was was pretty inspiring and um this guy started a the day of Dave Clark gave Clark he started a school in New York that teachers go to and it's a do not only do they teach kids they teach teachers and they're just gone with it and just their their approach to education was pretty refreshing very much a charter school and I I thought it was interesting that he said that and I
103think this is by design. They are one-third special ed, one-third um uh you know free and reduced lunch and one-third just sort of people that don't fall in that group that that are in the school and that's by design. That's how they how they do it. But he his speech and Dave talked a little bit about it at the other meeting. The 1% things they're just some of the innovative things that they've done. He's worth looking at. Um I was telling Dave I looked up a little bit and his speaking fees are not public but there's been some people it's leaked he gets up to 100 grand to speak and I don't know if he's worth 100 grand but and I I hope he has but that's what he what he has has charged past
104he was pretty fantastic and um just some of the stuff he has a a book out that's probably worth reading etc. So, as we go forward, I will be bringing you guys u announcements of trainings that are available. I'll be better about that. There's one coming up that um I seen, but I couldn't find it enough information on it to bring it to you tonight. So, yeah, I may email you guys and just let you know because this this one would be a training where you would be all a lot of their training all that's all I know. >> Thanks. Anyone else? So, I got one shout out. >> It's the White Fish School's book club. It was so cool. The um Montana One Read, I think I mentioned last time, was becoming Little Shell
105by Chris Latree. And so, he came and did a community lecture at FBCC. And he gave a shout out to all the local book clubs, and he was like, "And the White Fish World District is having a book study about this book, which was really neat." And then, of course, there were people from the book study that were there that night. And so earlier I talked about how people from the community are coming into our schools, but also people from our schools are getting out to the community and representing Whitefish, I think, in a in a cool way. So, thank you for having those cool professional development opportunities. >> That was a teacher actually that volunteered to do that. >> It's really cool. And they meet regularly and talk about book and Indian education for
106all and how to integrate these ideas into their classroom and then circle back on how it went. So, it's not just a onetime thing either. It's like a throughout later study. >> It's really cool. >> And and she there will be copies of the book in the library. So, any you want to check one out? >> Thank you. >> Any other announcements or shout outs? >> Okay. All right. We'll move on to Superintendent Bean's report. >> Um, upcoming meetings, events, and important dates. Of course that was covered again earlier pretty thoroughly in the districts and upcoming activities and events as well for each building as well. So that was nicely done. But I will touch on we did talk about some important dates. Those phasing plans more information will keep coming up about that as
107we go through this process as we uh A&E and others present to us give us more information about that. Again, the high school is, you know, working closely with some partners and developing some plans related to track, but there's a lot of other uh some conversations going about plans as well for the building itself. So, uh more information will be coming forward about that Zoom. Um the middle school is also developing some plans as well. Um I wanted to talk about um school surveys a little bit. I've been I'll be meeting with Deborah Silka again tomorrow. We had some preliminary conversations about she has all the previous surveys that we've done. She's continuing to look at those and trying to put them together and she has some ideas about putting at least two together and
108then so having two different survey windows, survey times potentially. Um some dates that she's throwing out there are January and March or April potentially because of um how they were done last year and then aligning them with when we get data regarding end of your data with academics. So try and prepare yourself for next year with all that data so that looking at your action plan comes together. So those are some kind of con conceptual ideas that are being thrown around. Nothing formal yet whatsoever. We'll bring more information to you in a further upcoming work session or meeting and um updates on the governance calendar. We're getting starting on that. We're doing a little bit of tweaking based on that. The feedback we received on that. Hopefully we'll have that ready for some conversation in
109the December enrollment. So you could see enrollment trends there. Um first of all I'm going to start with just the the general enrollment page we have there. We have all the information related to enrollment and you can see our enrollment number is the same as in October. >> That's it never happened. >> Exactly. Yeah. The exact same number although we've had fluctuations. So you can see uh there has been some fluctuations of people moving in and moving out. We also are identifying preschool students in our enrollment. So those are things that have changed a little bit but you can see our overall numbers overall total is the same. Enrollment overall from 2014 through 2026. So on this next slide or next link you can see our 12year now you know we tracking a 10 year
110previously in some of our communications this is our 12 year old you can see a 1.81% rate over that time. So really close to that 2% projected but the high school growth rate is at 2.82% 82% over that same period of time. So again, that trend is still going up upward as we um and then we have resignations here. U see for M playground supervisor social questions about any of that. >> Good. So, when you're talking with Deborah about surveys, >> yeah, >> remember last year we were like, quite often we get too many surveys that one time. >> I think we should also anticipate that there will probably be a superintendent like who what are you looking for survey? >> I know that she we talked about briefly. >> Okay. >> So, yeah, you're
111right. >> Yeah. Need to like plan it all out so that it's not all that one. And I also wonder I wonder if one survey could serve both like what are your perceptions and what are you looking for in >> I don't know >> so that we avoid the survey fatigue that we >> the initial one I think she I can't recall I the initial one she was proposing I guess one >> okay >> the earliest >> so I don't know if that align in my >> I don't know I'll have some discussions with her >> totally makes sense that she would also be on top of that you know most >> I was just going to comment on the enrollment Am I looking at this right? Because I I just go Gosh, it just
112seems like such a giant jump. But from like fourth grade up to fifth grade, does it really go from 114 to 151? >> Yes. >> Oh my god. Nothing right there. Okay. I was like, is that right? But then I thought I must be looking at that wrong. I know middle school gets slammed, but that is something. >> Yep. >> Okay. Josh yesterday. More Josh. And you know what we've seen of course >> you know it's it's accurate >> sometimes have those differences >> grade levels things like that but what we have seen here that pattern the middle school high school of new enrollment not just that >> well part of it is that that one part kind of low >> it's exceptionally low yeah because yeah like If you look back at 2425, it
113was like 152, you know, 160. Like there's, you know, 10 15 that's a huge >> 151 is actually lower. >> It's kind of wild. >> Yeah, it is. >> Which is like 20, which is kindergarteners in 2020ish, right? That's what it is. >> Anyways, thanks for clarifying. >> Any other questions? All right, we'll move on to the director of business. Business. >> Thank you. >> So, in front of you is uh our monthly update for the last day of October. Uh you may notice that we have quite a few months where uh our cash balance has dipped below zero and that is because uh we are waiting for tax revenues to come in November and we're also waiting for brand reimbursements from OPI. So this is the time of the year where we usually see
114a bit uh but uh we'll see more income next month. Uh as far as spending goes, uh there are no red flags. Uh everything is where it should be for this time of the year. uh both for um operational expenses as well as federal and state grants. And as Luke Hammond mentioned before, uh uh the expenses or spending to date on on the construction project uh have been very low so far. Any any questions? >> Thank you. Can I just ask a general question? Dave and I were talking about too. But here you can hear upstairs. Has the pack been rented out this? >> No. >> So I think um >> the greatest >> uh the greatest loss of revenue was the loss of life for church. >> Oh yeah. The pressure. >> Yes. uh
115we have since replaced that revenue income with a different church. However, uh the revenue from the church is not as high as they don't have as members. So it's little. So when you look at U page one cash balance for fund 172 you can see that the cash balances is further down the the red uh we started the deal with about $32,000 in the red and down to the red and I think that's partially like to end Historically, that one's always kind of Yeah. been down. >> Unfortunately, it's we've been uh subsidizing it from the >> Well, I was say it seems like there's been more use for schools that >> which I think is neat to see. Yeah, great. It's getting used. >> It's getting used. >> Yeah, >> it's not a cash cow.
116>> It's just not a cash cow. That's right. We can alop >> cookies and water punch don't really want to eat cabaret. >> Okay. Any other questions from you? We're good. Thanks. Thanks. >> Thank you. We're moving on to D, which is the consent agenda. Uh, is there any clarifying questions on it? There any any public comments on the consent agenda? Back to the board for further discussion or a motion. I'll move approved. >> Second. Moved by Katie and seconded by Darcy. All in favor one last second. That was by Darcy 7. All in favor? >> I know, >> you know. I don't know. Just and