001Mrs. Clark, roll call. >> Trusty Burlesen >> here. >> Trusty Black >> here. >> Trustee D >> here. >> Trustee Lucine, >> excused. >> Trusty Moran >> here. >> Trustee Neil >> here. >> Trustee Sandy Wilson >> here. >> Trustee Sarah Wilson >> here. >> Thank you. Please stand for the 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. >> Welcome to the September 22nd Boseman School Board meeting. Thank you for joining us. Public comment will be taken throughout the meeting on agenda and non-aggenda items. During public comment, no member of the public will be allowed to comment on contested cases, other adjudicative proceedings or personnel matters. The public
002portion of this board meeting are being recorded in accordance with district policy 420 and section 2-3-214 MCA. By remaining in this meeting, all participants and attendees acknowledge they may appear on the recording which will be placed on the school district's website for a minimum of one year from today. Further instructions about participating will be provided throughout the meeting. Before we engage in the business of the board, I would like to share a core purpose of the Bosezeman School District which can be found on the back of our name plates as well as to the left of me on the wall. It reads, "Boseman school public Bosezeman public schools exist to ensure high level learning for all students." Well, welcome again. Um, all right. Uh, tonight we have some great guests with us. Um, so we'll
003just move right into the Bosezeman experience. Um, it's the board education which is the Tfellows. Uh Montana State University office of international programs is partnering with the Bosezen public schools to welcome 22 teachers and 19 different from 19 different countries on fullbrite teaching excellence and achievement program T. The program is funded by the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State and facilitated by international research and exchange board in Washington DC. The program provides secondary school teachers from around the world the opportunity to develop exercise in their subject areas, enhance their teaching skills, and increase their knowledge about the United States. T Fellows are here in the United States to participate in a six-week professional development program at Montana State University, which is one of four universities hosting the program this
004fall. The Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program is a six-week professional development program for full international secondary school teachers that provides professional development to enhance teachers experience. Oh, is that teaching disciplines sorry um and equipment for the equipment for the evidence-based best practices in teaching methodology, curriculum de development and instructional technologies. The program continues to improve in to improving secondary education in participating countries by preparing program participants to serve as teacher leaders and to have them share experiences and skills with their colleagues and students upon returning home. The 22 international teachers are currently partnered in Bosezeman public school teachers at Bosezeman High School and Gallatton High School for a 40hour field experience. the overall program dates are September 10th through October 27th and we are thrilled to welcome them to our district. Um I'll turn
005it over to Armando. Um if you can come up he'll say a few things and then and then they'll all introduce themselves. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good afternoon everyone. It's a real honor to stand before you today to share about an experience that bring together teachers from 19 countries under one common purpose strengthen education through leadership collaboration and innovation. This experience known as TEA full of right program is funded by US department and where is believed that teachers not only transmit knowledge but they are also leaders of change in school and communities. When teachers grow the entire nation grows. One of the central areas we explore here is EFL. Teaching English as a foreign language. So today is learning the language is an essential tool because we are living in an interconnected world.
006English is more just than a subject is a bridge that connects students to global opportunities. This program emphasizes methodology that are student centered. We have been working on that in our previous classes. Interactive and inclusive of course culture inter interchange. We are able to connect with teachers around the world and we can share best practices and a lot of use of technology too. Here in Bosman I have seen firsthand how schools embody these principles. Uh visiting the high schools has been truly inspiring. Walking through their halls, I feel I could feel an atmosphere of community and respect. The high school of Boseman stand as a role model not only for Montana but for the whole world. Finally, let me highlight the leadership that TA uh program has shown us shown us that every teacher is
007a leader whether inside the classroom within the school or in a wider or in their community. So today as I reflect on this international fellowship I carry on a key message. Teachers are a role model of hope and progress. With the right support and collaboration and vision, we can make education not only relevant but transformative. Thank you. I'm going to pass it on to my my Tfellow so they can also introduce themselves. Thank you so much. >> Happy evening. I am Samatkumar Kokula from India representing. I'm very happy to be here on this day. Thank you everyone. Okay, I am Miguel Suarez. I am from Timmerste. I'm so very happy to be part of this program in order to empower and learn more experience and to share whatever that I have with our friends and
008also here in United States. we learn and we will bring more experience that we have learned we gained here to uh share more with our friends in our home country. I think that's all and thank you very much. So happy evening everyone. I am I am from Usbakistan. I am very excited to being and participating in this program. Uh it is a culture exchange and experience exchange program. Uh we are in one board in one uh cruise and uh in one aim in order to develop uh our country's um education share our ideas here and contribute I hope that I am going to contribute uh to the education of my country. Thank you very much. Thank you. Hello everyone. I am from Kyrgyzstan. My name is Dr. And uh it is a great opportunity to
009have uh exchange exchange our experiences and also uh to learn other culture and also to um to learn education system and all uh learning styles. It's a great opportunity to uh bring to my country everything about education. Thank you. Hello everyone. My name is Gfrey Christian from Tanzania. I'm very happy to be here in Bosma. Thank you. >> Hello everybody. My name is uh Mariam Kunate from Mali. I'm very happy to be here. Thank you. >> Hello everyone. My name is Rafi Rodriguez. I'm from Dominican Republic. Thank you for having us. >> Hello everyone. My name is Meline. I'm from Bolivia. I'm happy to be here to share our experiences. I'm happy to know you. Happy to to stay in this fabulous place. So I hope I will take a lot of inspirial to my
010country. Thank you. >> Good afternoon. My name is Shafid Aoni. I am from Jordan. >> Hello everyone. Emman from Egypt. I'm incredibly thrilled to be here with you to know such a prominent culture and history of American history. Thank you. >> Hi all. Uh I am Bar from Usbakistan and uh I'm feeling so happy nowadays as well uh to be a part of this program and uh by this I'm having lots of experience and exchange both cultural and educational as well and thank you so much for paying attention so uh much that we didn't expect before and uh good luck in your future. future job as well. >> Greetings Mateos all the way from Mozambique. Thank you so much. >> Good evening everyone. My name is Jading from Vietnam. Thank you for having me. >>
011My name is Alanga. I'm from Tukan. Thank you a lot for having us. >> Hello everyone. My name is Rjand. I'm from Mongolia. Good afternoon everyone. My name is Daniela Brontes. I'm from Timor Lee. Thank you. >> Good afternoon everyone. My name is I'm from Vietnam. I am I'm very happy to be here. Thank you. >> Good afternoon everyone. My name is Janita Gonzalez from Ecuador, South America. >> Hello everyone. Uh my name is Loren Akifa. I'm from Papa New Guinea. Thank you. >> Hello everyone. My name is Abdu from Nijer. Thank you for having us. >> Hi, my name is Lorena. I'm from Bosna. Thank you. >> Armando. Um, I didn't hear at the beginning. Where are you from? >> Central America. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. Didn't want to miss out. Well,
012thank you guys. It's a pleasure having you guys at our meeting. You're more than welcome to stay for the whole meeting, but also we won't be offended if you leave. So, um again, thanks for being in our district and being a part of this program. Um any other comments? All right. Again, thank you. Have a great evening. Enjoy your the rest of your time here. All right. Next up, um, recognition is an award. Uh, National Merit finalists. Um, I think it's, uh, Mr. Mills and Mrs. Schneet. Come on up. Okay, thank you for having us. Um, as you know, as many of you know, you've seen National Merit Semi-finalist before, so I won't spend a lot of time elaborating, but and Pax has to leave soon for a violin lesson. So, I want to get
013a little bit of information in before Pax has to go. But as you know, these students from both Gallatton and Bosezeman High represent less than the top 1% of all of um students in the current senior class. They qualified by taking the PSAT their junior year and um are also chosen from the top scores in all of throughout the state of Montana. Um all of these students, it's one of those awards where you're recognized and then you have a lot of work to do. So they win this um earn this recognition through their PSAT score that qualifies them and then they complete a number of additional steps to become hopefully a national merit finalist. Um and all of them I I don't know the Boseman High students but I feel like I can probably speak
014equally about both groups and that they are academically strong. They're taking AP classes. They're highly involved and engaged in our schools. They're musicians. They're athletes. They're speakers and debaters. Um, but I'm going to take a few minutes just to tell you about the Gallatin High students specifically and what makes them uh exceptional and unique. So, I'm going to start with PAX. Uh, when I asked PAX's counselor uh for a little insight or quote, Mrs. Williamson said, "Pax is pretty amazing because they are extraordinarily interesting and extraordinarily interested." And I thought that was a great summary of a human being. Um, one thing that I I said I wasn't going to talk about academics, but I have to a little bit with PAX because as many of you probably know, you need 23 credits to graduate
015from the Bosezeman School District. And PAX at the start of their senior year already has 24. And while many students are, okay, I'd like to get out after lunch or can I stay third period and have an early release. That's the common for many seniors, but PAX has seven credits this year, five of which are advanced placement, including calculus, statistics, and physics. So, not shying away from a challenge uh for their senior year. PAX has a lot of other interesting things as well. Um PAX is a citizen scientist who tracks the water quality for the Gallatin River and reports that data. uh also um while there's the STEM side to PAX, PAX also is very involved in our Gallatin theater program and is the president of our theater club and uh was also a finalist
016for a program and I forget the name and you can ask PAX about it if there's time but um just a really unique and exceptional program that about making the world a better place. So that is PAX. Um, I'm going to start next to go to Jameson. Uh, Jameson Palmer has, uh, two really interesting things stand out to me about Jameson. The first time I met Jameson was at a community forum for the transition to the block schedule. Uh, not highly attended generally speaking and definitely not highly attended by students, but Jameson was there with a lot of wonderful questions, really insightful and thoughtful input. And I just thought to myself, I think Jameson was a sophomore that year and I was like, this is a person that I need to know a little bit
017better. And fortunately, I've had the opportunity to do that. And another memory that stands out to me about Jameson is last school year before his senior or before his junior year, weeks before school started, weeks before fall sports, Jameson was out in front of the school with the tenor drums, which are like the four to six drum set that they play in marching band. and he was meeting one of our um former graduates going over like really making sure that he had his part down and knew what he was doing and was ready for marching band camp. And I think that was just really an important testament to Jameson's dedication and concept of servant leadership and really um willingness to go above and beyond to really excel and do a good job which I see
018him um embody that in many many ways. And then finally last u from Gallton High is Axel Butler. Axel is another student who exemplifies servant leadership. He is uh in Key Club. He's the vice president, one of our most active service organizations. He's the service vice president for the National Honor Society. And in addition to all of the service for those organizations, he also creates his own service projects. So he and another student develop um science projects for uh they work with our special ed teachers and develop engaging science projects that are accessible and inclusive so that all of our students regardless of their abilities can participate in the engaging exciting components of science experiments. Um, Axel's also a avid outdoorsman and a member of a whitewater kayaking team, which I think sounds exciting and
019also terrifying. And, um, he is also an intern for this organization that I have to read to you because it's impressive and complex. The early career alternative dispute resolution network. So, you can ask him about that later. But um those are just a few small insights into these exceptional human beings from Gallatin High. So thank you for the opportunity to tell you about them. >> Okay. Thank you, Principal Schneay. I have the honor of introducing the Boseman High National Merit Semi-finalists, the six individuals to my left here. Um, it's one of my favorite times of year when I get to go uh talk to these this year's semi-finalists and take them out of classroom and congratulate them and um and see where they are around school and what they're up to that day. Um, this
020particular group, I will say um particularly kind and humble when when I met with you. We schedule a picture, which nobody's really all all that interested in doing, but I get them gathered on the steps and we do a picture that week and and and they were they were very kind and humble about that. and I appreciate that and getting to know you a little bit better. Um, just this fall, um, I'll I have these in alphabetical order, so if you could kind of wave at the trustees when I when I introduce you so they know who I'm talking about at that particular moment. But first, I'll start with Adam Bukowski. Um, Adam is a is a member of our uh, human rights club, our acade academic Olympics team, the national business honor society, and
021this will be a theme here for these six individuals, is a member of our speech and debate team. Um, the other thing that I enjoy about this process is looking at at all these students historical grades, their transcript, and seeing obviously, I shouldn't say obviously, but it goes without saying that their transcripts are pretty dominant and impressive, but I like looking at all the different courses you've all taken uh to to to have subtle nuances in your in your academic dominance. Um, next individual I I'll introduce is Phoebe Cross. If you can wave there. Um uh Phoebe is a standout member of our speech and debate team. Um specifically, uh participates in policy debate, which is one of the more intensive and rigorous activities within the speech and debate world. Uh Phoebe has been an
022outstanding member of our wind ensemble as well in our our music world. Um I'll move to Alex Hansen. Alex is a member of Model U United Nations, Academic Olympics, Academic World Quest, and Speech and Debate. Um, Alex also plays the harp in the school orchestra, which is real unique. We don't always have a a harp in the school orchestra. Then I'll move to Aubrey Hansen, um, who is participates in academic worldquest, the Spanish national honor society, our Arabic club, our human rights club, uh, is a is holds one of our four leadership positions in our national honor society, also participates in academic Olympics and speech and debate. um outside of school uh or co-side inside outside school is a volunteer with Special Olympics and also has volunteered with Bianos and the Montana Fish Fish and
023Wildlife and Parks. Um moving right along to Ryan Lost Garden. Ryan is a member of our wind ensemble, which is our top band. He's member of jazz band, chamber choir, jazz choir. You're sensing a theme there, but that's not his most passionate musical exploit. Uh Ryan is a marching band section leader. I have the opportunity every year to sit in on the interview process um uh for the section leader, the leadership positions within marching band. I have never seen someone a student so passionate about marching band as Ryan is and and that shows on the field every Friday night and in their competitions. Um and of course Ryan is a member of speech and debate. Um, and then last but not least, uh, Cooper White, um, is a member of our Hawks Theater Company on
024stage, is a member of our future health professionals hosa club, and also is a standout member of our speech and debate team. So, these are six Boseman High National Merit Semi-finalists. [Applause] >> All right. Well, congratulations to all of you. Um, Pax is taking off. All right. I was just about to tell you, Pax, we couldn't see you at all. Well, some of us couldn't because you were behind the column. But have a good night. Congratulations. Um, again, congratulations. Um, great honor for all of you guys. Are there any comments by trustees for the recipients? Go ahead, Lyanna. Um, I just want to say congratulations on all your hard work. That's um, it's really a wonderful thing and we're so proud of you. Um, can I ask a question? >> No. Okay, I'll hold off.
025>> Congratulations. >> If you would like to ask questions, you could um, volunteer for the reading. >> We have some new rules, so not always easy to get used to new rules. So, um, um, any other any other anybody else want to make a comment? Um, I don't know very many of you, but, um, Ryan, I do recall from younger ages, uh, you were on a couple of the teams I coached, you were one of the kids that was the had the most, Mr. Mills mentioned, passion. uh regard regardless if you were on the field or off the field, the amount of passion you had celebrating something positive on the field was always amazing and it'll always stand out. I've coached a few different teams so that was always fun. Um and then also I
026do recall uh Cooper a little math work in Morning Star probably wasn't very hard for you. You're probably pretty bored. You're probably pretty bored with what I was Ryan. Were you in there too? >> Potentially. I might have also thought you been at the middle school. >> I don't know. This this was Morning Star. So I think this was like second grade or something like that. So that was probably you were probably then anywhere anyways. But so those are a couple memories I have with you guys going to Morning Star and seeing you. So congratulations. I'm not surprised that you're having us honor. So um turn it over to Greg. >> Well, thank you principles and Mills for the presentation. And did any of you actually have this honor targeted when you took the PSAT
027as juniors? Anyone have it identified as a goal >> or even know what it what it was at that time? I mean, I think a lot of us go into PSAT, you know, something you go into and see what you get because it is free. I'm certainly incredibly grateful to have >> Well, listening to your accolades, you're all top tier representatives of our school districts and your your high school. So, thank you for being such productive and amazing members of our high school community and and um it's it's going to be an honor to see you walk across the stage next May. Um so, would you like me to ask your question? >> Okay. Well, with that said, I would support the recommendation that the board of trustees adopt the following resolution. Whereas approximately 16,000
028semi-finalists have been named in the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship Program from across the United States. And whereas semi-finalists are designated on a state representational basis and are the highest scoring entrance in each state. And whereas Adam Bowski, Phoebe Cross, Alexandra Hansen, Abriel Hansen, Ryan Loftsgarden, and Cooper White have been designated as Boseman High School National Merit Semi-finalists. And whereas Axel Butler, Jameson Palmer, and Pax Watson have been designated as Gallatin High School National Merit Semi-finalists. Therefore, be it resolved that the board of trustees recognize and honor Adam Bowski, Axel Butler, Phoebe Cross, Alexandra Hansen, Abriel Hansen, Ryan Lofsgarden, Jameson Palmer, Pax Watson, and Cooper White for this accomplishment. >> Second. Motion made by Trusty Neil, seconded by Trustee Sandy Wilson. Any public comment? All right. All those in favor? Motion passes 7 to zero.
029Um since you guys are the only group tonight, you guys just want to come up around this area. We'll huddle up a little bit and we'll take a picture up here and Greg has a couple of um handouts for you or one per person. You guys might >> you guys might know the squat slightly. Maybe >> that Thanks. >> Hey, congratulations you guys. >> Y >> congratulations. Axel gets that surgery done. What surgery is that? >> Oh jeez. >> Let's go on social media now. So I'm getting myself out of my >> All right. Section three, action items. Consent. Uh We have a policy reading, second reading, uh 3.1.1. I would entertain a motion. I would entertain a motion from a trustee. Sandy, >> I I move that we approve uh action item consent 3.1.1.
030Second. >> All right. A motion made by Trustee Sandy Wilson and seconded by Trustee Moran. Any public public comment? All those in favor? Motion passes seven to zero. Um, next one is elementary district. So, entertain a motion. Approval of non-residential enrollment. >> I move that we approve action item 3.51. Second. >> Motion made by Trusty Moran, seconded by Trusty D. Any public comment? All those in favor? Motion passes six to zero. All right. Action items singular. Uh Casey, I think you're up. 4.2.1. Uh consider approval of high school baseball. >> Thank you, Chair Black. uh trustees, it was about a year ago that we began um a formal conversation at the board table regarding uh moving forward with high school baseball. Um since that time, a lot of um work has been done um in
031the community um and by district administration um to bring us to a recommendation this evening. Uh a reminder that um shortly after the September 24 meeting, we communate communicated publicly an if then pathway. The if part was around addressing Title 9 proportionality. Um and then then were all the logistics regarding high school baseball. uh pleased to um bring a recommendation um this evening that we are um formally recommending that we move forward um with a five-part proposal here. I'll walk you um briefly through those five pieces and then um answer any questions you have. Um part A is approving recommendation to approve adding MHA MHSA sanctioned high school baseball as a male spring sport at both Gallton High School and Bosezeman High School beginning spring 2026 inclusive of both junior university and varsity teams given
032sufficient player turnout for both teams. Um you there's a link there to a non-compete memorandum of understanding between the district and the Boseman Bucks American Legion Baseball Club. had ongoing conversations with that board and are in a good place that there's an understanding um that um while um there may be some avenues um for students who are not involved in our high school team for example students who are cut um from a varsity or JV team or from subvarsity athletes um you freshman sophomore um type students um that the Bucks may um engage in um workouts with those students but there's a a clear understanding that um the American Legion season and the high school season will not overlap one another. Um C is um approving that the district move forward with continue to negotiate
033um it's anticipated to be a one-year only sub lease of Heroes Park um not to exceed $20,000 per year and a direct um it my team to negotiate the terms of that short-term sub lease with the involved parties. Um there's a clause there if the parties cannot reach an agreement. Preparations for moving forward with high school baseball for spring 2026 would halt. Um that's in there because um Heroes Park really is our short-term um option within the community and we need to uh we need to um make that agreement work. Um you you'll notice in the in the language there it says sub lease of Heroes Park. There there could be um pieces of the pub puzzle to that sub lease that involve the indoor facility. Um and we left that um open u for
034the district to explore with the American Legion program. Uh part D uh is we've communicated along the way that we have um potential um Title 9 implications uh regarding facilities for baseball and softball. Um brought the board um to the board's attention. um some Title 9 issues and complaints that have been filed in a neighboring um doubleA district. Because of that, um we've communicated we need a firm long-term solution um for high school baseball. Um that also takes into account the Title N implications for um softball. And um consistent with the processes of this board, we've had one um general long-range facility planning committee meeting uh where long-term facility use for baseball was discussed. Uh our recommendation is to go back to that committee. Uh we've generated some more information, have more quotes on some
035of the um options we're exploring within the community. And the process would be that the long-range facility planning committee would make a formal recommendation to this board about the long-term facilities for baseball taking into account Title 9 implications for girls softball. And then finally uh as we do in many um me memorandums of understanding that we would approve the district naming Boseman Bucks American Legion Club as an additional insured party subject to the use states established in any Heroes Park short-term or long-term field use agreement. Uh so it's a five-part um recommendations. I think all five pieces of the puzzle um are important. Um, we are appreciative of the fundraising efforts that have happened in the community. They've raised over $100,000 for upfront costs. We have the fiscal impact there. We've built high school baseball
036into the long-term um budget for athletics and activities. And um it's my recommendation that this um board approved the five-part recommendation. >> Thank you, Casey. Uh any trustes comments or questions? >> Sandy. >> Yeah, I just would like to thank that the district people who worked on this, it was it's been a lengthy and very in-depth process that I feel very comfortable with all of this. Um all the bases I feel have been covered at great length. There's been an incredible collaborative effort between the baseball community and and the district and so I really support this. >> Greg, I support this as well. Um, just have a quick question then happy to make a motion to approve. Um, did we have dialogue with our insurance carrier that they're able to list Legion as additional insured?
037Um, >> no, not yet. We're we're waiting on this. It's we we add additional insureds all the time. So, I'm not concerned about that. Uh, but, uh, we we'll make sure it can be done. >> Okay. I'm happy to make a motion unless you want to call for more comment. >> Guess if there's any other comments or questions. >> If not, >> sure. >> My screen just changed. Okay. Um, motion to approve the superintendent's five-part recommendation as presented. Second. >> All right. Motion made by Trusty Neil, seconded by Trusty Burlesen. Any public comment? All those in favor? Motion passes seven to zero. >> All right. Thank you. First time we've been a Is that the first time that we've >> Somebody's giving us applause. >> Wow. It's pretty nice. Come on back in two weeks.
038We'll be here still. >> All right. Uh next item, board discussion. Um first section is 5.2, which is committee reports. >> Thank you, Chair Neil. Um the the only standing board committee I'm aware of that has met since our last meeting was the DOCC district ongoing collaboration committee. Just a reminder to trustees that this was born out of the long um our our longtime processes of solving things via consensus. Um and as actually um as per the recommendation of uh trustee lucine and some other trustees um questions around why do we wait two years um to um sit in a circle with our negotiated um union um contracts and is there a way to get together more often? And so um out of that came the DOCC. The DOCC has a variety of purposes. One
039is to solve problems at the lowest level possible. Um another one is that it it oversees the um if and when we go to full-blown consensus. They make recommendations on um whether consensus is needed and who would facilitate consensus. And then more recently, the the DOCCC is also the group that's um sort of overseeing the staff well-being goal um in terms of the LRSP. There are so many moving parts um to that action plan. And so that group kind of takes stock of of how that's going. Uh we met in we meet monthly. We met in September. Um unpacked um there's some new members. So DOCC 101 um had a grow your own teacher update and staffing update um from HR. um talked about class size, current reality of um class size in our K5,
0406, 8, and 9 through 12 classrooms. Um reminders that we operate in a neighborhood school model. And because of that, um there are classes that are overflow and classes that are under accreditation standards. um reminders that uh we made some procedure changes that all mid-year transfers if a family moves in in our K5 schools right now midyear we fill up classrooms at schools that are below accreditation standard regardless of where that family is moving into um to help ensure um equitable class numbers. Um and then also a reminder for the BEA that class size was not prioritized by the BE BEA during negotiations. Um salaries were the priority and that's um that's where the dollars went. Um, also we um dug into the staff well-being goal, all the many items that are um that are
041uh we're putting in place to um help support our staff. Um and then gave some reminders around um the five-year plan for for a lot of the folks on that committee. Um they're in summer mode when this board is passing the five-year plan. Um and and so just reminders that um it's massive action around the same four goal areas and and six measurable goals that we've had. um and that um massive action does not equal a 100 new initiatives. It's a hundred new items that are um massive action tied to achieving those those goals. Um trustee um um the Wilson duo um are the um trustees on the on the committee. Um and again uh take any questions you had on the DOCCC. None. Okay. Uh any other uh committee reports? >> No. >> All
042right. All right. Next item 5.3 202526 superintendent evaluation formative assessment discussion number one. Uh vice chair D and I bring the first formative discussion component of the superintendent evaluation. You have been provided with an evaluation at a glance form for notes for over the next few months. I dropped those off for you before the meeting. So, they should be at your chair. Um, the purpose of tonight's board discussion is to formulate publicly and transparently begin the evaluation process of Superintendent Bertram's job performance. Superintendent Bertram is choosing to wave his right to privacy for the valuation based on his personal belief that his position as superintendent is a position of public trust and the public's right to know outweighs his right to privacy. Please remember that evaluating the superintendent's job performance is one of the primary
043responsibilities we are tasked with as a school board. It is in human nature to be hesitant about giving critical feedback, especially in an open meeting. There will be two formative conversations and then a final summitative summative discussion in this process. Uh so I'll turn it over to Casey. Um thank you um Mr. Vanver if you can click on the first here and go to page three where there's a um timeline. There you go. Uh so we are at the September formative assessment um part of this evaluation. and we'll have another formative conversation in um sometime in October and November and then a reminder um that it's that November December timeline when the formal rubric um and formal process um happens. Um if you go to page four uh a reminder that there are um um
044this evaluation tool has formative and summitive components and it's tied to a criterion. um to the criterion be the professional standards for educational leaders. Um I've done um a self assessment at some point in the process. Um you'll get blind copies um of the rubric um from Lori Ross and and you all complete um um your your assessment um of my um leadership uh during this opening formative discussion. Um typically provide you with what my professional learning goal or goals are. if you go to the bottom of page four there, Mike. Thank you. I've typically had um two goals um after a lot of discussion with my team and board leadership um have kind of boiled it down to um one goal. I continually um reiterate to trustees and to the community that the long
045range strategic plan um is my job description and um we've connected dots to that tool um more than we ever have in the past and have um an incredible amount of um action items tied to each one of those goal areas. So my my goal is um that I'll ensure effective leadership coordination and accountability in advancing the district's four LRSP goal areas and six measurable goals for 2526. It includes overseeing and completing the associated action items tied to each goal, monitoring progress, providing regular updates to the board and to the community. Um, in carrying out the work, I will intentionally connect initiatives across goal areas to avoid silos, to leverage shared resources, and to ensure the district strategies are cohesive, efficient, and aligned to the longterm mission and vision um of our of our district.
046Um so that um I if we actually and effectively if I actually complete this goal um in an effective manner um we are um leveraging what the long range strategic plan um has in store for our students and for student learning and we're going to see great outcomes on the back end. So, I feel like it's um there's a lot to it. And because there's a lot to it, um I have to delegate a lot of that and and have um an executive team working on many different parts of this. And then there's um 12 buildings that we're managing that all have their ownership of the long range strategic plan. So, it's it's a um it's a big goal, but I feel um good about um all the players we have in place that are
047all rowing in the same direction. all the dots we been able to connect um to make setting this type of goal um attainable for me um as as a superintendent. I would like um trustee feedback on the goal um if possible. And the only other thing I'll say is um the rubric um which is linked in here multiple times. It's also linked in the board um packet. The rubric has been updated for um 2526. It has my self assessment. Um all the evidence that um that is in there is evidence from last year. So between now and our next conversation, I'll be updating that evidence um with with current year LRSP documents and um um the strategies that we're um and the evidence to support my self assessment on any of those standard areas. With
048that, I take any questions or feedback you have. I also want to reiterate that um it I I understand that it can be uncomfortable to give critical feedback in a in a public meeting. That's not why I'm waving my right to privacy. Uh I truly believe that um uh this position as a community um public school superintendent um the public has a right to know about what I'm doing or not doing and how effective I am. So, I am hoping for candid and um open feedback from trustees. >> Thank you, Casey. Um I'll start with uh any trustee comments. If it's not rolling off your tongue right away, I'll come up with something myself. >> All right. Well, um with everybody jumping to the mic, um Sandy, thank you. Well, first of all, I I
049have to say that I'm really proud that we live we um live and breathe um a document that a lot of work and thought has gone into and we've engaged the community to do that and we're actually using it that there's many examples of long range strategic plans being developed and then putting on put on a bookshelf and and there is no dots or connected to it andor it doesn't guide the the goals of the district. And so number one, I'm really really proud that we've gotten to the point where we are using this document and it's being developed to be you used in a way. So um thank you for that. I uh you always have such lofty goals, Casey. Um I support this wholeheartedly. Um, I support also the idea that you're engaging
050a a lot of the different people in the district to help you put this all together and make this work because that's that's not top down. That's collaborative. And um, so I just need a I think hopefully Trusty Black will give me an idea or a moment to think about some some feedback to give you in order to do that. I just need to think about it a little bit more. But I have to say that I'm just really proud that this is how it's going to roll. And it has actually been rolling like this for a couple of years. But now you have a formal goal. So um I'll be I'll be back in a minute. Casey. Um, Casey, I I uh from talking about this the last week or so um and and
051looking at with you um narrowing it down to just the L LRSP and having one goal um seems like well that's just one goal and it's not very much. But then when we have Patrick two weeks ago come here and talk about everything that all the layers that go into what he's just looking at and multiply that and um that's been a part of our conversations as well is that um to um execute the all the things there's so many little pieces that have to be coordinated um I would agree with Sandy um which your approach has been a team approach um on many different things that you've done in the district and the successes that we've had um or the challenges that we've faced in in different situations. Um, and I encourage you to
052continue to work in the collaborative format that you have done such a great job at. Um, and I I think this is, you know, this makes it very transparent for everybody like here's what our document is. It should be able easy easy for people to navigate looking at, okay, yeah, this checking checking boxes. Um, and appreciate that your willingness and vulnerability to have this conversation in public. Um I I I agree with you. I think that makes people I mean if if they want to come, which there's so many people here tonight um for this conversation, you know, if if um the information is there and obviously as I read at the beginning, this is out there in the public for for a year. So, um I'm feel great that we have these opportunities where
053we can point to things that even though all the communication we try it doesn't always seem to um even though it's there, it's not always read, it's not always heard, um but at least we can point back to it. And that's what I feel really good about our district is that um the bill how much we try to communicate um regardless feel sometimes it feels like it it it's a fail. And that's probably as far as just um as far as feedback for you, that one piece is just reminding you that even though we're doing a lot of lot of different work and sometimes it might fe feel like a fail based on a survey or feedback or whatever happens to be uh I know that we're doing a lot of work within our district
054to not make those things happen and that um there's two sides of communication and somebody has to want to receive communication and and see it. So, um, it might not always be a failure, but the words might feel like it at times and trying not to take it personally. I haven't seen that from you, but just a reminder. It's one thing. Other Sandy, >> can I I just I remember last year I asked you Casey, what do you what do you feel like your strength is um as a leader? And one of the things you mentioned was that you are really good at building systems. And I I agree with that. I really do. And when you put that with this lofty goal, which I love lofty goals, too. Um, I just would encourage you
055to keep track of how much of your life this is taking and the people below you and in the schools and everything because um, looking at this and knowing all I don't know all the things that go on in the district, but there's a a whole lot um, and well-being is um, I feel like we need a third goal to staff well-being, student well-being, and then um, district administration well-being and it's not in there but I'm just going to add add that in for feedback >> Lyanna >> um I just want to add in in addition to everything that people are saying and I told you this the other day that you're um I I'm just so thankful for your leadership and everything you've put together and when I'm when I'm going through this document
056and seeing all the new things. I I mean it's it's a lot but I can also see the system and the team that you've created to support all those things to make that come about which um is an incredible uh testament to what your leadership is to have faith in all that you know happening and happening in that way. Um as I was sitting here just listening and and thinking like what kind of feedback um so here's here's my wonder and you don't have to answer it specifically. Um I guess when you when you plan something right and uh what happens on a rainy day you know and I imagine you have a system for that like you know all all best laid plans out there and you don't need to answer it specifically and
057that's um purposely a little vague but you things don't always go as planned and I think it is your system that is the backup that just just something I'm wondering. Thank you, Greg. >> Uh, yep. Thanks. Thanks, Casey. Um, good job as always. After reading through everything, I I felt it relevant to comment on the the mass massive action theme for 202526, which after going through everything, it it adds bullet points to the six measurable goals. and those six measurable goals um already had comprehensive bullet points attached. So, when I look through through the new bullet points, um, specifically rel related to the massive action, um, I'm not going to read all of this, but I took notes on on things that I I found noteworthy. And, um, just a couple examples, the grade grade
058level reading goal, new add 1.0 literacy language coach at Highlight and Whittier. Add new tools, language screen, and Nelly piloted in PK and K5 buildings. Skip down to graduation goal. Um 202526. Use the LRSP goal to document support for multil- language English learners. Um again, I'm not going to read everything, but just a couple just to get them out there. Um the early literacy goal increase capacity at Bosezeman Reeds early early learning community. Um, Boseman Reeds pursues a membership in the campaign for grade level reading. Skip down to staff well-being goal. New um all this is new massive action um for the upcoming year. Uh teacher workload and support guidance document developed at consensus. Um uh strengthened communication between the between the site and central office which includes more superintendent visibility in the buildings. um
059launch a PK a preK to 12 attendance committee launch internal stakeholders process addressing the realities of one Boseman all these things are huge um and really really relevant and really important student wellbeing goal massive action new community surveys on cell phones for schools that's maybe one of the most important things we can do right now next on the list massive of action, community engagement campaign, youth resil youth resilience project. That's equally as important. I mean, these are all just uh profile of a graduate, unpack and build the K12 continuum of essential academic and social behaviors for the five main durable skills under profile of a graduate. So, I guess I I just kind of wanted to get these these words out that were already in here. Um, one one topic we've addressed with things that
060we've attacked in the past is um how hard do we push? Um, you know, examples of that are getting the block in. you know, lots of other things. And um you know, somewhere on here was um approach the uh the foundation for a um for a suicide prevention specialist that I mean that so these are all every single one of these things there's a reason that they're on here. Um approaching the foundation that'll that'll be one presentation and you're done. Those guys will sprint sprint away with that for sure. a lot of these other things um are are enormous and when I when I go through it and actually read it and not just my own notes, it it feels enormous. Um and so I I I know that you've done this because I know
061you, but since we're in the evaluation and we're talking about it, I'm just going to put it out there. Just do a do a good job of zooming out to 50,000 feet and look at all this um and decide how much. I mean, nothing probably happens in a in an organization our size without some pushing. I understand that nothing would ever get accomplished. So, pushing is part of a part of the animal. >> Um, but how much how much pushing is this all going to involved in taking people out of their comfort zones and the whole thing? Um, I hope we get it all in. Um, so that yeah, those are my comments. Thanks. >> Thank you, Greg. Lauren, >> um the other day when we sat in our leadership meeting and you said you
062had one goal, there was a that you were going to switch from two goals to one. Um my mind kind of went, "Oh, let's see what this is." Because I knew that you weren't going from two goals and trying to do less. Um that it was going to be one really lofty goal. And that's exactly what it was. Um, with that being said, I think that this speaks to what you've always done. I think it speaks to your leadership style and it reminded me of the stuff Patrick said the other day when he was here, um, that you were intentional, that you were always connecting. And what we've heard from the beginning since you, uh, moved into the Wilson building is you broke down those silos, you avoided them, and you helped everybody work together.
063And then the word efficient really um speaks out to me because in everything we've done, I think you've respected our time. You've respected the time of the employees throughout the district. um whether that's at a meeting, at a leadership meeting, at a breakfast, you come to the table with um what needs to be talked about while taking time to listen to everybody and um you just help things go smoothly. Um so when I see the key words in there, I um I still think you're crazy. Like it's a big undertaking and I get it. Um but a lot of those are your natural characteristics as a leader. And so um I am in complete support of this. My feedback would be after sitting on the committee where we talk about our student well-being and all
064of the work with our employee well-being. Um that we just remember that we also need to take that time for ourselves which I think you've done a better job of in recent years of u making sure that you step away when you need to breathe. also um because we can't keep all these systems in place if people are burned out. So um I think it's super important to protect you as well. Um but with that being said, I am very grateful and I think this is great for the community because we should be really proud of our LRSP and now we're also tying it into our leaders um goal for the year. So thank you Any other comments, questions, Casey, do you have what you need? >> Yes. Thank you. >> Okay. All right. Thank
065you for everybody's comments and thoughts and Casey, uh, your time putting this all together. All right. Um, item six, public comment on non-aggenda items. All right. Reports. Executive cabinet. >> Mike. >> Yeah. >> Oh, >> this mic. Sorry. Yeah. >> Eyes here. >> Um, >> the other mic put his flipped his thing on too. >> I know. >> Yeah. >> Armor. >> Um, I do want to talk about and and uh Trusty Neil mentioned the literacy coach. I sat in a great meeting today over at Highlight. So our literacy coach is part-time at Highlight Elementary and at Whittier Elementary. And a great discussion on developing the pathways for students. One of the goals that we have for this position is that we know that um the development of reading skills has two major components, the
066language development component and then also the word recognition component. And we also learned um with some time with Dr. and then over the summer that we need to um be able to differentiate a pathway, a core instructional pathway for students that are coming to us with low foundational word recognition skills. We have to maintain and so you've heard this discussion in education quite often that um we still need to teach grade level standards. And so that grade level is going to be the language instruction. Every student's going to receive if you're a first grader, you're going to receive first grade level language instruction through our core resources. um it is if you are identified as a a more complex learner that needs additional instruction and those word recognition around those word recognition skills and so
067that's where we and then the other term in education where we need to meet students where they are that's where that's the part in in developing reading instruction that we need to meet students where they are and that foundational reading um word recognition skills. So, um it was a great discussion. Um Katie McKini is is leading that that discussion and and working um to develop these pathways that are very similar at both schools um where the the needs are the most. So, just wanted to report out connecting it to that um grade level reading um goal that we have and and bringing it back to the the literacy coach position that we talked about earlier in the year. >> Thank you, Mike. Other mic. Good evening, trustees. Um, can you put up that slide I
068sent you, please? >> Oh, that's right. Um, school funding interim commission met last uh Monday and Tuesday in Helena. We had a two-day meeting. Um, the meeting was facilitated by NCE and it was a kind of a deep dive into um a lot of the things Gary's been talking about the system of education um in in the state and and and where the uh committee generally wanted to go. I put up there was a bunch of slides they went through. One of them really resonated with me. I shared that um you hope Michael put it up here in just a second. Um talking about some I don't want to get ahead of my there it is right there. Um this is a study uh from this year world economics forum future of jobs report um
069discussion in the in the committee about um what employers are looking for. These are the um top 26 I don't know why they came up with that number. 26 current core skills that employers are looking for on here. And I thought the the list was was super interesting. There's a color code uh for each one of the 26 and it's kind of categorized over there on the upper right. So, as you look down at the first, you know, seven or eight things, the things that you see that bubble to the top, you see a lot of um pinkish per there's two kinds of purples. That also threw me off, but the the the pinkish purple uh for cognitive skills was um numbers one and four. Um then you start looking into self-efficacy skills, resilience, flexibility,
070agility, motivation, self-awareness, um leadership, social influ influence, working with others, empathy, active listening, all um working with others. Um those are things that you learn through a variety of different ways and the and the committee took um took note of that. There's not a class that you take that teaches those particular things. you learn them from doing other things u throughout your academic and and um just general um general development. Some of those things can be learned, you know, we um principal Mills talked about all the kids learn speech and debate. You can learn those doing speech and debate. You can learn them on the football field. You can learn them in the classroom. There's a lot of different place on a job. There's a lot of different places you can um learn those things.
071But as we talk about having our students being future ready um the importance of these skills I think was was um critical for the the group to understand. Interestingly I thought and Casey can speak to this as well but if you look down at number 21 that's where you start to see reading writing and mathematics. It's important obviously that you can that you can perform those skills. Uh but these interpersonal skills, these um um engagement skills, I guess, with with with others is is the things that are going to be important to employers regardless of the type of job that we can't even probably fathom. Um what's going to be important for our kids to for jobs that don't exist yet, I guess, is is is what it uh what we speak to. Did you
072want to jump in, Casey? >> Yeah, I just I want to connect dots a little bit. Um um one of the LRSP action items and that Patrick Mlen is leading is the building out of the profile of the graduate. Right now it's you know five items um five buckets. Um but uh we're going to build out K12. What exactly are those behaviors and skills for social and academic? Um if you fast forward that plan, if you fast forward three years, um we're reporting out to parents and to our community around those skills. So, you would graduate with a transcript on reading and math and all all of your courses, but also reporting out on how are we doing on these. Um, they used to call them soft skills and now the language is they're not
073soft, they're durable, and so they're um they're calling them durable skills. But, um, it the it's uh we know that those are the important things. Our community values those things and when I'm looking to hire people, they need to have those things um that are um on on the top of that list. The other thing on a on a and it's also interesting I won't I won't belabor the point but if you look at the things on the bottom the the blues and the greens ethics um physical abilities are on the obviously the top within the top 26 I don't know how how deep the list actually went but as far as the ones that made the slide those were um towards the bottom so interesting discussions about that u the other topic not necessarily
074related to this slide but of interest to me was conversations about and we've talked in this room many times about how there's 400 school districts in in Montana and that creates um a lot of operational um inefficiencies. There's talk about um having schools, the smaller schools having access to curriculum and perhaps the state should should vet curriculum and and and weed things down to a list of four or five reading curriculums that will work um for for schools to teach from. and they could pick still retain local control but they could pick um the particular curriculum they wanted to proceed with. So we talked about that and then I I threw into the room the fact that the recent legislative sessions have have worked to standardize the 400 school districts we have with a with
075a relatively common salary schedule from the stars act. Um house bill 332 self- insurance. Um we've talked about house bill 203 was the open enrollment. So, we've all got the same enrollment rules now. Policies are being standardized. Tax equalization is everywhere. There's uh money set aside for countywide um interlocal agreements. So, the the the state set aside that. So, so a common um theme was that we have these 400 school districts, but they're all looking increasingly the same. I thought that was going to be kind of controversial to throw into the room, but it wasn't. The the legislators were there actually embraced it and said, "Yeah, that's what we're doing." So, I I thought that was a an interesting turn to the conversation, kind of a an acknowledgment almost that there was 400 school districts
076and it wasn't um that efficient. Um but that was part of the the plan um to to move forward. So, the group meets again in uh October. There's a a meeting right before I um there's a road show specifically in Callispel and some place H and and Callispell and then there's a virtual online one uh for for everyone else across the state who wants to participate. Those uh road shows is what they're calling are being facilitated by NCE. There will be questions that you can answer on your phone, feedback you can provide um with with with all that. So if you have time that would would be an interesting um thing to participate in. Happy to answer any questions for you. But those were kind of my takeaways from the the two days. >> Sandy
077>> Mike, can we get a copy of this? I I'd love a copy of that. >> Awesome. >> Yep. >> All right. Uh any other executive cabinet reports? All right. Thank you. Uh 7.2 board of trustees. >> Um just an update with MTSBA that MEL is in about a month. Um a couple of things uh about the de delegate assembly and what we're voting on there. Um what's going to be coming up is the um the proposal that we put forward um here about talking about systems which really dovetales with what the school interim um finance committee is is talking about. Um and uh one thing about MEL is that Janice Casease who's with NCE she's going to be there and I've I've participated been um with a couple of things that she's done had
078conversations and she's really incredible to talk to. I really appreciate her facilitation and her forward thinking. Um I feel like that's an important conversation to be connected to at that level and understanding what we're we're looking at because I think we're on the right I think we're on a similar path of what that committee is talking about and what our resolution is coming up that we're voting on. >> Um and then if you are going to MEL uh you'll see that the the board of directors um put forward a gap analysis resolution. It looks similar to the one from last year. Um, couple interesting things also in addition to what Mike was saying about um, just local governance and what that means to different people um, in terms of the 400 different school boards that
079we have. So, there's there's a a little interesting language in there if you're interested. Um, and then lastly, I just want to say that um, as far as my schools, I'm going to I'm going to switch it out of MTSBA and talk about um, I'm planning to see my schools. have been in contact with my principles and hope to be visiting them at the end of the week. >> Thank you, Lauren. Um, on Friday I was at Highlight for three hours for their PLC's and had the pleasure of listening to Katie McKini talk about um some of the reading um things that they're putting into place and then watch the teachers work through their process with Walk to Read and um once again I'm just inspired by all the work they're doing behind the scenes
080to collaborate and work together and the growth mindset in our teachers is really phenomenal as some of the teachers are pivoting from things they're used to doing in the past and um I was impressed with all the work being done. >> Thank you Sarah. >> Yes. Um this past Thursday I had the opportunity to go to both of my schools because their back to school nights were the same 1 hour from 6:30 to 7:30 on Thursday evenings. So I went to two different schools in two different parts of the community. So, I was able to visit the teachers in the classrooms at Metallark Elementary and got to meet all the teachers as they welcomed their families back from 6:30 to 7:30 and then went over to Whittier and did the same. So, I had the
081opportunity to meet wonderful teachers and I was just blown away by the energy. I walked into these really great, creative, fun classrooms that just made me want to sit there and learn. And they were all different, but they all just had their own things that made them feel warm and welcoming and great. And then the other thing that really stood out to me was how much experience our teachers have. When I went to Whittier, I talked to more than one teacher who had been there for 30 plus years. And that's just really, really cool. >> Thank you, Greg. I attended back to school night at Irving on Thursday night and listened to principal Westfall give a presentation on title one and then went out to the playground and um stood at the table while ice
082cream was being served to students and parents and um they've got a good little community going there. Very supportive pack. Um, I learned from principal Westfall that their numbers are up higher than they've been since before 2020, I guess, enrollment numbers. And uh, there was some more that I can't think of right now, but it was it was a good visit. So, >> I don't remember what the numbers were, but they were higher than last year. >> Sandy, >> um, tomorrow. I think it's tomorrow, isn't it? your guiding coalition. The meeting is so um I'm the leazison to Gallton High this year and Bridger um academy, but I'm going to continue to attend the guidant coalition uh meetings that they've had. Uh I think I've been going for a couple of years. It's incredible to
083be in this room of teacher leaders led by these two administrators in our room right now as they move forward with all the things that are going. So, it'll be interesting to see year or two of, you know, what I don't know what's on the agenda necessarily, but um year or two of block scheduling and of collaborative collaborative work or whatever. Um so, I'm going to stop by tomorrow and just hang with them for a while. >> All right. Thank you. Casey, you have something else? >> Yeah, I'm sorry. I forgot it on executive cabinet report. Um I think I've mentioned this a couple times but it's uh we have a date now. So um Megan Roth is part of um her outwardfacing um work um um she has two main projects. One is um
084the fellows program where she has about 16 um prek um preschool providers that she's doing um professional development and coaching in collaboration with Dr. Christine Lux at Montana State University. The other one is a Bosezeman Reeds community coalition which is trying to bring together um a variety of stakeholders, Thrive, United Way, City of Bosezeman, the list is quite long um to own the birth to five um literacy and numeracy goals. Um it's uh the she has a kickoff meeting October 9th from 9 to 1. Um I'm not sure on location. I can get location. And then it's um likely going to be a quarterly meeting. Um we uh we are looking for a trustee or trustees that are interested in being um part of that group um and kind of seeing it through um seeing
085it through through the end. And so if one or more of you are interested, I'll have you let board leadership know um and then I can get you um connected with Megan and all the details. So again, the kickoff is October 9th from 9 to 1 >> Casey with that. Will you have the dates for the other three meetings also? I >> I don't think she has those dates. I think it's a bit dependent upon um the will of the group. Um >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh again, thank you. Um also, thank you for to the trustees for reporting out kind of what you're doing in schools. I think that's um I appreciate that in putting out in the public that we not only meet here every other
086week or twice a month at times um but also the other work that we're doing in going to schools and seeing what's going on. Um so appreciate those um that additional work um as well as making uh uh putting it together and bringing it here and communicating it out. So thank you very much. Uh with nothing else, I'll adjourn this meeting.