001We're going to call the meeting to order a pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. So, next on the agenda is the agenda review. >> Um, the approval of claims for November 2025. Were you guys able to review prior? >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Any questions on that? >> I will take a motion to approve December November 2025 claims or December 2025 claims, sorry. I make a motion to approve December 2025 claims. >> Second the motion. >> All in favor? >> Motion passes. >> Um the next on the agenda is to review the payroll for 2025. Did you guys get a chance to do that? >> Yeah.
002>> Any questions on that? >> No. >> A non-action item. So, we'll move on to the previous month's minutes. Were you guys able to read through those? >> Yes or not? >> Yeah. >> Any questions on them or changes that need? Okay. I will accept a motion to approve the minutes from the regular board meeting. >> I move to approve the minutes of the November 2025 regular board meeting. >> Second. >> Ray second. All in favor? >> Motion carries. Um the activities ledger was printed by Mr. Salvig. So if you guys want to take just a minute. >> Did you print the activities? >> Yes. Sorry. >> Yeah. >> Written printed it for us. So we can just take a minute to review them and then if you have any questions you know my first
003pass is fast is that in January? >> It's actually tonight. It's right now. Yeah. >> Any questions on the activities report? >> No. Okay. I'll accept a motion to approve the activities ledger as presented. to approve the student budget for January 2026. >> I second. All in favor? >> Motion passes. >> Okay. And the budget versus actual is just for review. Did you guys get a chance to look at that? >> Yeah. Sorry, I didn't get the credit. It wouldn't print my house, so I printed it this morning. I have a lot printed it this morning. Any questions on that? Okay, we will move on. Would you guys mind talking sign? >> Um, while they're doing that, um, the board welcomes and encourages public comment. Anyone wishing to address the board is encouraged to do
004so with these stipulations. The board may limit the amount of time for comment if they become extensive. If the speaker begins to infringe on the right of privacy of another, the board may interrupt and end the comments on the issue. Even if the comments are entirely appropriate, the board will take no action on them at this meeting to ensure that others who want to address the same issue have the opportunity to do so. So, the item may be placed on the agenda for a later meeting. Okay, moving on. Letters to the board. Are there any? >> None. >> Okay. Student issues. >> None. Okay. Um, committee reports. Lance and I did meet to go over the agenda for tonight's, >> right? >> We met last Monday. Um, I don't think any of the other meet
005committees have met. >> No. >> Okay. And then moving on to the superintendent report. >> I just have a few things. Um, we had our audit for last school year done. Was it in December, I believe? >> Yep. First week of December. >> Um, there was a few minor findings. Um, and what we'll do is when they have their final report, we'll bring it to the board for them to approve, but it it was a very good audit. So, so that way we're sitting there. Um, we're looking at some things to do with the boiler with our building reserve fund. I've been talking to Dave and you know we talked about changing heaters out you know and doing a plan and I think we'll have money to do some work but suggestion is is try
006to get rid of the pneumatic ther thermostats right now and we're thinking that the pneumatics might be some of the problems why some of these heaters aren't working. So he's been in in contact with >> McKin Street >> McKin Street and so that's what we're going to plan on doing is replacing some of the pneumatic and then if the heaters aren't responding >> then we will look at replacing. >> Yeah. So I he's he's going to do that now. Um he's already talked to they're actually I think coming in tomorrow to kind of take a look at things so that we can get planned. I want to get it on our summer schedule before if it's too late and it's tough to get them to calendar us in. So, we're hoping to get that done.
007Um, I did receive notice and I don't know if the board did. The the union wants to negotiate this year. So, we'll have to set up a time uh for negotiations. >> I was on that email. I did forward it to them. >> Yeah. Other than that, that's that's it for me. >> Okay. Moving on to the principal's report. Yeah. Um, a few things. We have been selected for NAPE testing. NAPE is the US Department of Education's test. They are going to be testing our eighth graders and that will be at the end of the month, next month. And, uh, I've already had a meeting with the GA uh, and our tech has worked with me um, the browsers. So, all the the tech that needs to be in place is ready uh, for that.
008So, that's just something to note. Girls basketball is in full swing. Their first game is going on right their first couple of games is going on right now tonight. We appreciate um Coach Liry and Coach Craft and uh their efforts for our girls. Go Panthers. Uh this Thursday at 1:30 p.m. is the school spelling bee in our gym. All everybody, the community, grandmas, grandpas, moms, and dad are all in welcome to that. Each uh class will have a couple of spellers represented there. And some of the classes are still some of the teachers are still choosing which two that will be. Um then um our second mass testing window that's the Montana's new testing system open today but it's open through March 6. Most of our teachers like to wait a little bit to test.
009So in probably later February they'll be testing in math and ELA for our second math window. This Friday is already the end of quarter 2. So that means there will be an awards assembly on Friday, January 23rd, the following Friday at 1:00 p.m. And um since our our handbook says the board will recognize students with good attendance, if there's a board member who'd like to attend that and help hand out uh certificates for good grades and good attendance, just let me know. Again, it'll be Friday at 1 pm. Uh, also, parents and, uh, community members are welcome to attend that. Uh, the, uh, on January, Saturday, January 24th, JHS is holding its annual speech and debate meet. They will be using the junior high wing of our building for that event. So, Saturday morning from
0107:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. they will be in here hosting a portion of their speech and debate meet using our building. Uh, one thing of note, the calendar committee will be meeting this week. Uh, so anybody that had comments about we had a few changes. Our calendar this year is very similar to last, but any staff members or even parents or board members, if you had comments about the calendar or suggestions about the calendar, Mrs. Reer would be the person to forward those comments to and she'll bring them to the calendar committee when we meet. Um, and we'll be talking about next year's calendar. We wanted to get that uh we wanted to get a proposed calendar ready before the for a first reading for the February meeting. Uh, another thing of note, we're currently
011seeing a seasonal spike in several illnesses. We had a very large number of students absent or going home today. This includes influenza A as well as strep as well as some kind of stomach bug. One thing to note is this week, our uh custodial staff is going to be do doing some extra sanitizing. We're getting out the the uh Clorox gun as they call it. Making sure that surfaces like doorork knobs and handrails and desktops and tables, things that get touched a lot by little hands get sanitized. So that is our my January principles report >> for the calendar committee. to follow up on that. The fair and rodeo, which we normally start after, >> is starting late this year, >> right? >> Look at my phone. Hang on just a second. >> The fair
012board called me. So, I just wanted to make sure I brought this up. It's August >> 26. Have some thoughts. >> Well, Buzzy called me. >> So, it's August 26th through the 30th. Is that correct? >> So, it's on our agenda to propose to move it earlier. >> Okay. So the 20th to 25th. >> So that meeting is on Thursday. >> So it might >> I just said I would bring it up, but if you could let us know as soon because I know that that affects our calendar. >> Yeah. >> Not so much the high school, but it does affect ours. >> I said I'd bring it up. >> I'm glad you did. I was thinking in my mind. >> Thank you guys for that. Um moving on. So my child was one of
013the children that went home today ill. So, we're going to keep comments to three minutes at the maximum on this new agenda item so I can get home to my child cuz Matt will be gone. Um, so with that being said, moving on, we are going to open it up for the fourth brief discussion. Anyone who would like to speak, please stand at the podium. Speak loudly so our owl can hear you and state your name, please, before you speak so we can get it on. >> You want to go over >> Oh, and some points first. good idea. Some points that I just want to make before we start. Um, when we met, I just asked them to kind of get bullet points for us um about the fourth grade deal cuz my children
014aren't in there. And starting last year, 2024 2025, Mr. Jameson had several conversations with retired teachers to see if they would be interested in subbing for a maternity leave. In August, um, Mr. Mr. JSON and Tony had contacted the five teachers that they had kind of pre-talked to to see if they would be interested in the long-term sub position. We had believed that we had someone lined out until the first part of October and then they decided that they did not want to do it and then in September the 23rd to be exact. Um Mr. Jameson posted the position on OPI to pull for a long-term sub and it is still on there cuz I printed it. So, just so you guys have that information prior to talking, um, we'll open it up. Whoever wants
015to go first. >> Jesus. Girl, >> this is the second speech that I have given today. So, this is exciting. Um, am I speaking loud enough? Can you tell me to speak loud? >> I think so. Can you state your name? >> No. Uh, my name is Yandola. I have a student in the fourth grade. Um, I guess the majority of the concerns that I would like to raise regarding is just a lack of communication that the parents have received regarding the sub, how we get a point of, you know, what contact information we never received to in uh to get from the sub if we had concerns ourselves. I know obviously there is a command line or I don't know what the word I want right now. Thank you. Um to start with that,
016but none of that was provided to us. Um I think another thing is just updated grades. We don't know how our children are doing. Um I don't even know if the grades that were posted the that were that everything was included. Uh, I was informed I try to be basic, but I was informed that by my child that the fourth grade class flunked a math test, the whole class. And so for me, it's just, and I'm I'm not blaming um teaching staff whatsoever. I give them all the credit. I get, you know, I I appreciate their hard work. And so that's definitely not I just think needing more checking in onto the sub to make sure that everything was going smoothly while the teacher was on maternity leave. I didn't feel like it was necessary
017to contact the teacher that was on maternity leave just because she has a good baby. I didn't feel like it was appropriate at the time because there's staff here that we can reach out and talk to. Um I did send an email. I did CC Mr. Jameson, Mr. Selvid, and Andrea just because I heard sometimes emails get lost. I totally understandable. Um, but I just wanted to make sure that someone knew that there were concerns. Um, I really didn't get the best response back and I understand that things take time, things take but if we just had better open communication, I would love to work better with the administrative and staff of the at elementary and just to make sure that you know if our kids are falling behind, what is the plan to get
018them up to speed and um what is the plan to support the staff when they do come back from maternity leave just because that's going to be very overwhelming for her. and you know the staff that it's in there now are we supporting them and making sure that it it's not such a burden on them as well. So I guess those are my concerns. Just want to make sure that we're all communicating and that we are definitely putting the children first and making sure that they're that they don't fall behind because grays aren't going to get it any easier going forward. They're going to be tougher and they're going to be the expectations going to be a lot higher. >> So, we don't want our children to fall behind. >> Not the back of >>
019Okay. >> when when she's done. >> Okay. I'm done. >> Okay. I I I just want to uh say that um it has been tough with the maternity to leave. I I will say that we did try very hard to get a certified teacher. um so late most the certified teachers already got a job or and then you look for the other ones. Communic commun communication concern is very valid. Um my response to that is cuz I even though I'm only here part-time, my inbox is overwhelmed with email. Um and it's not always a chance to get through them and sometimes they do get missed. I just want everybody to know that what works best, especially for me and I would say any administrator is that if you have a concern, come in to the
020office, make an appointment to talk to the person. It's a lot easier than communicating through email. Um, I'm kind of old school. I I mean I do email but I do like I said my inbox is I must get 100 100 emails a day not just from parents obviously but so I I just encourage everyone you know with your concerns to come in to address the the grades and stuff. We did pick it I think we got that done in December. Correct. We started in December >> and that and honestly um when I became aware of it, I didn't realize the miscommunication between the sub's plans and the I should say the teacher's plans with the sub. When I did find out that me and Mr. Jameson, Mr. Jameson actually we talked about it. He
021finally went in and put in the grades. Um so that that one was our miscommunication which it is a very valid point. I just want to make it clear that we weren't trying to hide anything or anything. It was just it was an oversight on our part because of that. And hopefully we got that now. So that the grades are but um I will say that sometimes I have trouble we have trouble I've had trouble in the past with experienced teachers not putting grades on and that it's it's a sore point for me because teach parents have to know how their kids are doing at least put them in once a week and and just so they know. So, I just wanted to say that um on we do definitely know that there was a
022lapse for about a month, I believe, that wasn't getting put in and that that definitely is on us. I I will say that. Hopefully, we got that part corrected. >> Yeah. And I I 100% respect, you know, I I also work in a job where I get a lot of emails during the day and, you know, I have developed a a procedure of my own just to make sure that nothing does get missed. But that's that's my job. Yeah. Um but I I will say that um it's still part of my job. >> Yeah. >> To make sure and I I do worry with it coming to face to face because a lot of things can get said face to face. Um a lot of things can be later on hearsay. So I think for
023me documentation because of where I work >> it's more covering the circus than anything. So that's >> I I I will have to tell you if you want to email me, my email is david.selby, not Dave. Cuz I was getting an email from I don't check Dave.selby very often. I looked in there a couple days ago and I had hundreds of emails that I haven't checked for months. So it's David.selvic. If you want to email me, please. >> I just have Oh, okay. No, I'm good. >> Go ahead. >> I just have one question. Um, is there a way that we can test the class to see if this has caused them to fall behind? >> We're actually doing our mass testing. >> The mass testing will be done uh within the window. So, they
024have till March 6. So, I'm hoping that once our regular classroom teacher returns, uh, we'll still have plenty of time. They'll have the whole month of February actually to do the ELA and the math portion of the test. And so we'll have data that will show um where the students are. >> Okay. >> And they were tested in vaulted. >> They were tested uh the classroom teacher had the testing done in that testing window before she left so that it wouldn't be left to the sub. So we have data and then also that group was tested last year in the third grade. So, we actually have uh we'll have five sets of testing that we can go back on for longitudinal data to see where those kids are. >> And the new testing the way
025the state's doing, there's three test windows, the fall, winter, spring, so that it helps the teachers see where the students are at compared to, you know, the rest that we're being compared to. So, >> and if there's issues, will there be a plan? >> Oh, absolutely. Yeah. And and honestly, you know, sometimes the kids really don't like testing, but we're really not testing the kids. We're testing how the whole, you know, the whole class is doing, and maybe we have to change how we present, what order we presented in. Um cuz sometimes these tests, they think that a student has gotten so far already. So, our teachers actually went through to see what was going to be tested so they could set their um when they're introducing things to their class. It it's so they're
026not doing it after the test, you know, it makes it better. So, >> can I just interject that there's also they also are being dibbled. >> Yes. >> Right now and and those are being entered currently. >> Correct. Some of those should be >> in my understanding should be going home. >> Sure. >> Um with the report card is what it has done in is what we've done in the past. >> I'm not sure. Um we have to talk to um >> for grade um we can talk to Mrs. Chambers. We could do that another >> do we still do the wind groups in the classes? >> Yeah. Well, wind groups are response to the testing. So if you have a student say with dibbles or with something and it shows no >> fourth grade
027does not do win groups. >> Okay. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Next. >> Hi, my name is Leah Lewis and I'm glad that discussion came up on evaluations. Um, I feel like that is a big key why we're concerned as parents is that we don't didn't get debt dibbles with our first report card. I don't even know what group is. So that's anything about that. And my other big key concern is this class is very large and to not have a certified teacher at the head of 24 fourth graders is concerning me. And >> I know there's that, you know, you've tried. I appreciate that you brought that. That's still posted. I think not I didn't know that. So that's good information. Um and I guess I would just like
028to comment that maybe in the end of March when you the test scores are back that if they are really coming from kind of maybe consideration for an extra splitting the class would be consideration to have it be a practical size. >> We actually talked about it last summer but it just didn't fit budget wise. So that is >> just like to voice that again. I' I think I've come to previous schoolboard meetings I have I'd love for this class to split and all the surveys I say this would be great if this class was split. Um so I just want to say it one more time but thank you very much and I appreciate the people that have stepped into stuff for their class. I know that's really hard. >> I thought your husband
029say something. Yeah, >> it was actually if I could just make comment last year like he said that was on my on my wish list was a second >> I'm the one that >> a second elementary teacher just be like someone we could hire that wherever we had our big group we could split but it just wasn't as Mr. just said it just wasn't in the budget, but um I did try. So, >> hey, hi everybody. My name is Sarah Johnson. Um one thing I kind of want to point out is the fact that I have subbed at the Jefferson High School for many years. I did also sub for a teacher that was out on maternity leave. Um, and I do know it's hard being a new mom, but even if the sub was
030given the notes and the teacher at the end of the week could grade them, and I know it's hard to find subs cuz we still have that problem. Um, I am currently full-time at the high school now, but as far as you tried for very long, I think the communication wasn't there like, "Hey, we tried this." is like this is the first I'm hearing of it that you tried to find that teacher but you weren't able to and now we're our kids we feel are pushed back and that's kind of where in a way I do know a teacher that um was on maternity leave came in at the end of the week the tape gave the sub plans did what they were need to do and at the end of the week would that
031teacher would come in and grade them and put the grades in. As of right now on Infinite Campus, my son has no grades. >> He should have no >> I just checked again. >> Okay. >> Um I will tell you that we cannot obligate somebody on leave to do that. Right. >> That is totally the >> And it's a suggestion. That's what I'm saying. >> Agree. >> Is a suggestion as far as that if not I mean it is tough but that's just an option is the fact that that communication wasn't there. We all knew she was taking it but didn't know that nobody could come in at that time. >> Okay. Thanks. Thank you. >> Do we have a date for when she's back? >> It's February 2nd. >> Beginning of February sometime. >>
032Go ahead. I'm Christine Blue. My daughter is Jessa. She is a fourth grader. Um, and you guys will have to forgive me upfront cuz I am very upset at how this has gone. This has been completely unfair to these kids. And if I were to make a very bold statement, I would say this school has failed them. My daughter got homework last week and it was a complete meltdown because she couldn't remember how to do it because they've had months where we don't know what they're being taught, if they're being taught, because there have been no grades and there have been no communication. I still don't have a report card from my daughter Jessa before going home for Christmas break. I have no clue how my child is doing. We weren't told. We didn't get
033an email or a text message or anything when Miss Hansen left. We didn't get anything when Mr. Pettis started. And it's nothing against the people who have been in that classroom trying to help these kids. They are doing the best they can. My concern is if we can have text messages and emails and phone calls about parking or newsletters or any of that, why didn't anyone think it was appropriate for the fourth grade parents to be kept in the loop? That's unacceptable. We send our children here. We trust you with our children and we have no clue what's happening with them. My 10year-old is giving me adult news. And I think that that's completely unacceptable. And that is my big question. Why didn't he get an email or a text message? We we get warned
034though every day about something. Why didn't you send us one? And and I'm asking why didn't you send us one to let us know what the plan was or if there wasn't a plan or that you were working on it or that our children were going to be taken care of because that's your responsibility during the day. So, why didn't we get one? >> I just didn't think of it. It's just the honest truth. >> I'm just being honest. I mean, we had we the maternity leave ended up being a little sooner than we originally planned and uh we were really scrambling at the end to make sure we had >> sure >> a sub. And so, just the fact that Mr. Pett has stepped up in the end to do that, which we're very
035thankful for. It was a big relief for us that we had someone >> cuz up until like two weeks before we actually didn't even have anybody. >> So, >> and and I guess I appreciate you being honest and saying you didn't think of it, >> but that's also shocking to me that you didn't think of a room with a class that big and that many kids that their parents would want to know. >> That's very disappointing to me. a very large amount of our communication that goes home to parents goes through the teachers. And so in my part part of me in my mind, I was I made an assumption that wasn't true. And that assumption was that some of that communication went through the classroom teacher to the parents, which was not true. It's
036the same assumption I made about the grading. I didn't find out until we started doing the grading ourselves in December that the teacher had left a note in the subnotes that said, "Don't worry about grading." So, the subs had piles and piles of papers, but hadn't graded anything. And I guess in my mind, I assumed that the teacher had made a plan >> and I should have not made that assumption. I should have talked her through before she left what the plan was. In my mind, I just kind of thought there's, you know, there would be a plan in place for that and there just there wasn't. >> Well, I hope that moving forward since we still have a month, almost a month, um, that you are more active with these kids. And if I
037ever have I learned a lot in this experience. If I ever have another maternity leave as principal, there are several things on my list to make sure happen >> because that's an amazing class and unfortunately >> and it is a big class like it is a big class. >> Yes. And they've needed lots of support. >> It's a it's a big class to forget about. So, I'm just telling you that as a mother, as a very upset mother, that I feel this school has failed my child and every single kid in her. And that's on you. >> Thank you. I just have one quick thing I want to say. My name is Stacy Stlair. My son is Sawyer. Um, I know that our kids are behind, especially in math. Sawyer was just doing math homework
038before I came to this meeting and he's frustrated and he's scared because he is behind and he knows that. He's like, "Mom, I feel like an abandoned kid. That's not right for these kids." So I really really want to make sure that in the future and going forward that if they are found to be behind especially enough that there's a plan in place to help them get caught up to where they need to be. So thank you. Anybody else? I do not have a child here in the school. I'm out of basin. My name is De Rhodess. cuz I live in Basin and I'm a concerned citizen with that school district. Just want to let you know tomorrow we have our meeting, our board meeting and hopefully we'll be able to get the resolution passed
039to go before the county commissioners and NOPI about reopening basin. Why do I bring that to you? House Bill 203 allows you to send your children anywhere anywhere you want now. So there might be another option out there, but I certainly don't want to take anything from you guys. I know that the children from BAS that are coming over here are doing quite well. I I do know that unfortunately in working with BAS and Britain that you unfortunately nobody can just enter grades. It's very personal. It's confidential. So they have to have somebody who can officially enter those grades. Do you >> I would just like to interrupt a little bit. This isn't the topic of our agenda item. So for us to go there isn't correct. >> Okay. >> But that should have been
040done at the public comment part at the beginning since that was I thought this was >> No, this is an agenda item. So that honestly isn't our agenda item. I'm just pointing that out that that should have been done at the beginning of the meeting under public comment. Okay. >> Thank you for your time. Thank you. Uh Kyle Bua, um I just trying to get clarification on your hiring process for the teacher. >> Um we knew that this was coming as about spring of last year, wasn't it? >> In April, May. Yeah. So, we attempted to try to get to just because you don't usually get a certified teacher that's looking for a full-time job for a long-term sub. So, many retirees is who's who usually will be available or had a chance. We contacted
041I believe five retirees from the area. We actually thought we had one of them until the beginning of October. We thought we were set. It was great. and then that person backed out. But even then in September, it was September 19th or someplace in there, we did put it on the OBI website for teachers that didn't get a job last year, they could see that, hey, you know, maybe I could work for a couple months. So that was done also. And that honestly the only way to advert the best way to advertise for teachers is all teachers you know either present or looking to be teachers look at the Montana OBI job listings and that's where they kind of do their hunting for the teaching jobs. So that was put out there on that website
042for anybody that would have been interested. you don't usually get >> was it a pay issue or is it >> No, it's our our sub fees are set um and if somebody really wants to I that's why retirees kind of do it. I mean, retirees kind of know what the pay is. Um, and they can only earn so much money anyway being on teachers retirement. You can't make over a certain amount. So, that's why you kind of look at retirees. Um, sometimes they have the time. Other times, if they got another job doing something else, but that's usually who you get to apply for these positions. Um, and like I said, we thought we had one until it was beginning to meet up where we thought we were set. So, I mean, the attempt was
043very much out there to pick up. I know not only did Mr. Jameson talk to these people, but I think there was some talk from other people, too, to try to get them >> and Tony, Mrs. Pettis. >> Yeah, there was there was an effort to contact these people to to bring a teacher in, but one that actually was a teacher, a certified teacher. So, it was it was attempted and I I will tell you from experience, very seldom do you get anybody to commit. I mean, if they're retired, they don't want to do 2 months. You know, it's it's hard to get somebody to commit for that long. >> Well, you're looking at 4 months, four, five months. >> Yeah. Well, one, two, three is I'm hoping that's what it's supposed to be. It's
044not supposed to be that long, but you can take as long as you want. And some, you know, a teacher can actually take up to what is it? 10 weeks, eight. >> Well, they can request the year in their system. >> So, it's, you know, it put us in a spot. >> You can have a non-certified teacher in there for 4 months. >> Yes, you can. And it it's done all the time. It's unfortunate. Um, the last school I was at, we had two maternity leaves twice in the same year and you are scrambling to try and so it it's not an easy task to find somebody. Usually all the teachers that want to be teachers have found a job and then we're looking at a small area. We're not going to get somebody from
045outside our area to travel in for, you know, 2 3 months. >> Why can't >> Yeah. >> Why can't you do that? >> Cuz they don't have It's expensive to live. They'd have to find a place to live. >> Why can't we give them a place to live? >> It's um you can't >> pay their rent >> financially. >> That have to go for the board as a board. financially that that isn't something that's I've never known that to be offered. Um but financially that would put a school in a really big >> no certified teacher in that classroom. >> What's that? >> There's no certified teacher in that classroom? >> Not at this time. >> Four months. >> It would be 3 months. Yes. Yeah. But like I said, we tried everything we could
046do to get a certified teacher. That's just the that's just the way it is when you have a long-term sub. Uh especially when you're in a smaller area. If you're in a helmet, let's say, you might be able to find one. >> What's that? >> It's 30 miles. >> I have teachers that don't want to teach out here that have applied because it's 30 mi. It's expensive to drive back and forth. I mean, that's just the way it is. I mean, that's just the fact of life is trying to find a long-term job and that's, you know, we did everything feasible to get somebody. Um, and we just didn't get we like I said it. >> Okay, that's fine. But we did we did have somebody. So, >> one thing I would also like to
047say is you probably should raise your rates. I do know a lot of subs that have been lost in both schools because of the pay and it's just not enough. >> I will tell you that that was brought up for next year is to raise our rates. In fact, we did >> that is something that we are looking at as well. actually did for >> we did for our custodians and cooks but we have what the pay is for subs >> it's $100 a day for a non-certified and 120 for certified >> which works out to be >> is it I mean can you equate it to >> about 14 something an hour >> but that I will tell you that is >> uh >> well it's not it's high compared to other schools >>
048just so you know I I I mean we're comparable if not higher in area schools and that is always a discussion and that isn't a that isn't much and yeah it's just it's it's a tough spot. I mean there's no easy answers to to getting a certified even a certified even if you pull in a certified teacher they're only getting $120 a day and that's tough to pull anybody >> Yeah. from a place. >> You guys know what your policy is on hiring teacher >> here know? >> Yeah. >> What is it? >> We uh they apply >> your term how long they can be a sub for >> actually >> in a classroom. >> Actually, you can go 30 days with 30 consecutive days. If they don't go 30 consecutive days, they get the
049sub the substitute pay. You can you can actually have I know places that have had half a semester. >> It's just cuz it when you're in a smaller place, it's really tough to find somebody. >> Anyone else have any comments on the fourth position? >> Okay. >> Yeah, >> go ahead. >> Yeah. Um first um is teacher regular communication with the sub at all or do we know at all? >> I don't. >> Okay. >> Um >> they would they do have sub plans >> that that is not up to us. Again, we can't obligate a teacher to do if they're on leave. We can't obligate them to do anything. I mean, most the time a teacher that's out long will step in and help out, but we cannot obligate them to do that. >>
050So, I think the real concern is a certified teacher who who has this position, who's been hired, really has not prepared, who has class. >> We're not going to go there. We we can't go there. >> So, so >> Stephanie, we can't go there. That's that's a performance issue. You can't go there. >> So, who's supervising the performance in the classroom? >> Yeah. >> That what my next question is is do you meet with them like for regular lesson plan and make sure >> does anyone want to work smart? Um I uh especially at the beginning uh with our long-term stuff that we had before Christmas, I met with him very regularly. I was also in the classroom at least every day for a period of time doing frequent walkthroughs. We have another long-term sub
051position and um I've done the same. In fact, I'm I've taught a few of the class periods for that teacher because she has a challenging group of kids a certain period. So I I make a point of being in there and I also gave him a lot of pointers at the beginning about classroom discipline with a large group of kids. It's challenging. >> Um but I think that I think that he did a tremendous job and uh I think the one we have in there is doing a really good job. >> But um I check in with her at least every day just to see if there's any >> that's good. That's Sheena good currently until uh February 2nd and then hopefully uh that'll be the end of it. >> Can you jump in there
052and teach some math in fourth grade? >> Uh if I needed to, I could. I'm not a I'm not an elementary math teacher, so I'm not anymore certified to do that than the current person. I am, however, a junior high English teacher. And so that other situation where I've been subbing is a little easier because I am actually a certified teacher when I'm in that room and have lots and lots of experience doing that. But um uh I could try I could give him some tips at least on method. So >> and then um is there a par in that class? >> Yes, there's also a parah. >> Okay. And is it a pair with a lot of experience and stuff like that or >> No. No. Um but she was there when the regular
053classroom teacher was there. So, she has experience with that teacher's procedures and and expectations with kids and things. >> That's that's one of the things we did. Um because we couldn't split the class, we didn't have to put a pair in that, but we decided that with the numbers, we put a full-time pair in that class. >> Okay. >> Um it's it's a lot of kids. I mean, it's a lot of kids, but I don't think there's been very many issues on the what you kind of worry about when you have a long-term child is kind of behavior problems. >> Um, we've seen very little out of them. So, and again, no substitute teacher is going to be as good as a certified that's in the class. That's a fact. I mean, that's just the
054way it is. But we try and even even somebody that's certified coming in >> doesn't necessarily mean you're going to get >> the results of the teacher that was in the class. >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. Exactly. Yeah. >> Just a two second yes or no. Did you just say that the substitute does not have any lesson plans for these kids? >> No. No. Thank you. >> Okay. >> What I was going to say is at towards the end we got towards Christmas >> the sub that we had that was going out, Mr. Pettis, he made sure that the classroom teacher was up to speed on where they were in each subject so that she would know where to start her next lesson plan. So then on January So on January 5th when we had Mrs.
055Good take over, she was taking over with lesson plans that had been updated based on where they left off on December 18th before >> right that was left from Miss Hansen. Correct. >> Correct. And and that's part of it, too. Um that she is working off of lesson plans currently that have been created by Mrs. Hansen. >> Okay. We're going to wrap this up kind of. So, Diana, you're going to be the last one and then we're going to move on because I do have to >> Yeah. No, my my question is is like I I've asked the question before regarding uh who is the certified teacher to oversee the sub in the class. And my understanding was is that it's Miss Hansen. That's the teacher who's overseeing what the sub is doing. >> She
056Well, you go ahead. She did prepare all the plans. >> She has They are They are working off le plans that were prepared beforehand by Mrs. Hansen. >> Yes, that's correct. >> So, if the sub has seen that there's issues within the class with learning, who does that sub then go to? >> Well, they can like Mr. Sal is saying, they can email or communicate with that teacher for help. Um, and uh they can also like reach out to me or or Mr. Sy for help as well. There's one last thing. Policy regarding uh do you have a policy regarding uh submitting grades? Is there a policy? I >> I'm I'm not sure. My my policy in my past is always once a week you make sure grades are in. >> I mean, but then
057>> I don't know if that's written for us. >> Um I believe it there it it's not stated as a must. It's stated in our staff we have a staff handbook separate from the student handbook. And in there it does it's like a recommendation not a must that there should be at least one grade a week per subject matter >> regarding midterms. >> Well and they are required to post at midterm and a quarter. >> Okay. >> That's separate than like the number of grades you have to have per theme. It's really more like how many grades do you have to have in the math or in a socialist class. That's really the discretion of the teacher. >> So we have two weeks until she returns. is expected to return. >> Will we be notified
058if anything changes? >> Oh yeah. >> Yes. >> That's I mean we were actually >> will the parents be notified? >> We didn't really know until >> we things just didn't work out what she could come back when she was going to >> the board requests that we put test score evaluations on the board meeting for February or March. Would March be okay? >> Like what are you saying? to go over and look at fall testing, spring testing for the fourth grade class to make sure >> what what you can do is you can do it as a whole. >> You can't do it as >> No, not individual. No individual. >> You can you can do an overall see where they're at overall. Okay. >> You know, like a comparison. >> Yeah. >> So,
059I just think if >> but he's saying that they weren't going to do them until they >> they have to do them by March. So if we put it on the March agenda, >> prepare the mass test. >> They have to have the the mass testing window closes on March 6th. >> Will results be done by >> actually the results are pretty fast. >> If you test this week, then you have the results by the following Thursday. So like if our teachers were testing this week, they would have the results by uh Thursday. They Yeah. They would have the results by Thursday, January 22nd. So if they if the the testing window closes on the 6th, so if a teacher actually waited till the very last week, they would have results at latest by March
06012th, >> which would be >> right around our time. >> Does the school have to test all at the same time? >> No. No, it's the the OPI has a very wide testing window on purpose because what happens is a lot of our ELA teachers will test early in the window because for ELA the sequence isn't so specific but most of the math teachers will wait till later in the window because the sequencing of the tesllets like he was talking about that earlier the tesllets are very specific to core math subjects and so you align them to your actual texts and curriculum that you're teaching. So you make sure by the time you test you've already been able to cover all the topics. Each testing window covers four math tests. So in a sense, four
061math core topics. And so what'll happen is the classroom teachers then will often test ELA early and math towards the end of the window just to make sure they have that time to get them all in there. I my thought is considering the circumstances, wouldn't it make sense for fourth grade to test when right away when she returns so we can get the results on what she needs to work on them? What what I think would be good is >> versus waiting >> is to leave it up to first of all I think she's going to have to spend her first week back really assessing where the kids are informally formative assessment of her own and then I think that it would be best to leave it up to her still when she would like
062to test cuz she's going to have to do some reteing and some catching up. And that's that's usually the way it's done is that the teacher picks um a spot in their curriculum like if they got a unit break or whatever they say, "Okay, this is going to be a good time to test." So we it's usually left up to the teacher not to I mean we give them a certain date and they're in the middle of something then all of a sudden they got to start over you know from the beginning. So they kind of plan it in between units or whatever they're teaching. That's how they do it. I could with the high school. Do they have a school? Because it seems like communication is a huge issue here with everybody. They just
063like to be left in the loop. At the high school, do they have like a school messaging app? >> We have the same elementary here. Okay. >> Infinite campus is used. >> Okay. Okay. Sounds good. Okay. I was wondering about that. So, yeah. >> And we can batch those. So like Infinite Campus, we can send just a message to >> fourth grade teachers or all this great or whatever >> or like like when we had our our power outage, uh Tony was >> actually did it from home cuz we didn't have power. >> She did it at home cuz we didn't have power here. She was able to get a off her cell phone and have a a generator running. So that's the only nice thing about >> I will tell you Ray that is
064the issue that everything that I've written down and you know with my meetings prior >> um that is something that I I would say >> myself I dropped the ball on on giving that um just but I I we honestly did as far as what we could do for these students with the situation honestly. And I I I totally understand the future thing because a couple years ago it was it was hard to find. >> I remember how many interviews we did. >> Yeah. >> Anyone out there? We have applications in here if you would like to be a PAR or a sub. >> Yeah, it was in Wind. It's >> We advertised for two full-time PAR positions. We filled one of those. We still have one full-time PAR position open as well as sub
065positions. So, yeah. How long has that per position been open? >> Two weeks. >> I also have a question about the communication. Uh well, kind of a couple questions. Um do we have more than one or two staff that know how to send messages on campus? >> I call Tony. >> That's the thing. Is Tony the only one that knows how to >> I hand it off to Tony. Arena can do it. concerning. >> Erin is really good at Infinite Campus, so she can do it. She's been trained by Tonnie. She's our son. >> I'm sure it's something to learn. Infinite Campus is not the easiest. >> I know I'm an old school guy and it was really simple. >> So teachers can't communicate. >> Oh, yes. Parents through Infinite Campus. They can >> they
066can Well, most teachers had their own >> their own system that they used. >> So, did fourth grade have a system before? Yes. Mrs. Was there a way to get the sub access to that same system? >> I don't believe the sub does. >> We had trouble getting the sub >> uh to be able to get into infinite campus to put rates in. >> Is there like something else took took a few days for them or >> get it figured out. >> We had to do work to get >> Oh, okay. Cuz I know like >> Class dojo out >> and Mrs. So Mrs. Croft uses her own platform to send stuff out to the parent. There are several different platforms. >> Stephanie, what platform do you use for your parent communication for yourself? >>
067Through email or newsletters, but Miss Hansen was using through email. So everything at the beginning of the year went through email. >> Okay. >> That's the platform she used to be more standardized. Every teacher was the same. >> I I mean I get the freedom of in the classroom being having been, you know, a classroom teacher. I get that. And what works for one doesn't work for others. And I think it's okay. But I guess my biggest concern is the school as a whole. If only Tony knows how to send messages, of course we have lack of communication. >> Yeah. Um >> I could learn. >> And it sounds like it sounds like >> um if she was using email and the sub now has access to infinite campus, the sub would have access to
068the parents emails and could also use emails. that it's >> we I only get got the sub into the part of Infinite Campus where you can put in grades. I didn't get her into any other accessible part of camp Infinite Campus. >> I feel like some of the privacy stuff. >> It's that might be a good idea, but >> you can set it up so that they only see like the brakes. >> Um, but either way, no offense, you guys can learn if you're in campus. I could probably >> well I am the guy that troubleshoots teachers infinite campus problems on the admin end. It's just >> Tonnie loves to do it. What Tonnie does, >> but it shouldn't be, >> right? But it shouldn't be up to one person because what happens tomorrow? Tony
069quits. What happens tomorrow? We got it's a different >> and going on vacation. >> Tony can I will tell you. So that's not performance punish. >> I will tell you that if I needed to send out a message in campus, I would figure it out within the next 15 minutes. >> Fourth grade would love me. Just putting that out. >> I'll figure it out. >> I can figure it out. I just haven't yet because >> well I have tomorrow I can learn I can figure it out. >> I could take less than an hour and teach you how to do it. >> I would hope >> we should have tomorrow morning. >> I've seen it done and it's not. >> I have no idea. It's just >> the communication is is something that has to
070be done, but we don't. >> Okay. >> And we we all >> that in our kids' grades >> and and Mr. J, will you look into that since you have >> yours are up? >> Access. Can you look into his grades? >> I already made a note for myself. I'll contact you tomorrow. >> Okay. >> I'll I'm going to look. >> Everyone else here has grades or something posted. >> There was another one. Was it you? >> I don't know. >> No, we have something. >> Okay. I thought there was >> It's just It's just not. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, that is it for the fourth grade discussion. >> Thank you guys all for your comments. >> Appreciate you. >> I recommend using influenza as a spelling word on >> We're banning that
071word. >> Is Roxy still shaking? >> Oh, really? We have to put 11. >> I appreciate you guys all coming. >> I walked in the cafeteria this morning and I was like uh talking because we have two South Carolina. I was like it's really quiet in here. This isn't >> so moving on to sorry I got a time crunch so we're >> okay. >> Uh new business is p or new business item two is par profofessional position. Uh Tanya Taylor has applied for our open therap profession. >> I I will tell you that we started her she was started today but she has not being left alone with students. She'll always have a >> okay >> uh teacher with her until she gets her. >> Okay. >> So I will accept a motion to approve
072Tanya Taylor for the PAR professional position for this school year 2025 2026 pending background check. I make a motion to approve Tommy Taylor for the PAR professional here at Boulder Elementary for the 2025 20226 school year. >> Second motion. >> All in favor? >> The motion passes. Um non-resident student acceptance, nothing. Liquidation of school property is a standing agenda item and policy updates. We don't have any as of right now. >> Nope. U moving on to item six which is the election resolution. Um this is a standard thing we do every year where we appoint the c is it a point I guess appoint the county to do our >> ask the county to do it. Yeah we pay we pay for it. >> So in order to run the election you have to have
073this resolution um call an election >> and this is our school board positions and this is our if we have a levy >> a levy a levy. Yeah, >> we don't have one correct. >> Yeah, we're not going to >> if they would run them if we had them. >> Yes, correct. >> And we have one position open and if we don't if we come to it and we only have the one coming back, then you do not have to have it. >> Okay. We can just call the election like we Okay. Um I will make or I will accept a motion to approve the trustee resolution calling for an election. >> It's a long one to remember. That is over the trustes resolution calling for an election second. >> All in favor? Motion passes.
074Um item seven is the superintendent evaluation and given that it is personnel we will probably be going into executive session and Mr. Salvig requests it I should say. >> I don't want it to go on any longer than we've gone. So >> perfect. So we are going to go into executive session at 6:30 6:29 >> and do the superintendent evaluation. >> Thank you. >> I will now stop the recording. >> Thank you. >> Okay.