April 2026 School Board Meeting

001Um, just a reminder to everyone, this meeting is being recorded and will be posted. Okay. 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. Amen. >> So first up is the approval of minutes. So moved. Second. Are there any corrections or questions? All those in favor? >> Opposed? Okay. Sorry, I did not do this before, but we do need to make amendment to the agenda. Um, the maintenance, it's awaiting a truck that should be here at 7:30. So, we do need to move his report up to um right before the board chair's report just so he can make that time. >> Okay. Approval of claims. Second. I did have a question for Kelly

002just um some point here there's a kil the kil repairs I imagine >> so it's for um the pottery kiln use it for adult ed and park >> okay so did you split it between two different uh okay >> high school and elementary for you Okay. Are there any other questions? Okay. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Okay. Um, public comment on non-aggenda items. Just a quick note that we're going to allow for public comment. Please note that comments cannot be made on any contested cases or personnel matters. The board chair may put a reasonable time limit on public comment to maintain and ensure effective and efficient operations of the board. The board shall not take any action of any matter discussed unless it is specifically noticed in the agenda. Is there anybody

003who wants to speak during public comment >> On non-aggenda items. Yes. >> Let's follow that. >> No, that's on the agenda. Okay. Thank you. >> Y >> Okay. Um communications to and from the board. We received a um letter from Angie about helping the class of 2027 on the prom. So, I'll go ahead and share that with the board. >> And that is all I have for that. So, we will go ahead and let Russ speak now. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. >> Very quick report. Um want to thank you list as always. We thank Jordan for doing the high school. Unfortunately, we do have a a letter of resignation this evening that will be read. Um he'll be leaving and going on to a a little bit better job and something that he

004uh has been looking forward to. Um so we're in the need of um people at the high school level and at the elementary obviously to clean. Um Larry's help has been instrumental again um helping on Saturdays and whenever he can on the weekdays to clean and then the elementary teachers have all pitched in um as we are short-handed and they're doing a great job to keep up with the rooms and having their students help out. So um thank you to the elementary teachers working on the outside stuff right now. um getting ready for um the sprinkler systems to be turned on here in a week and um the target date um in contact with them is June 2nd or 3rd to start the climbing project again at the elementary um we'll move all the stuff

005down or they will um back into the shop um out of the shed that um we started in over the winter and they will proceed to um go on with phase two of whatever it's phase one but it's phase two as far as are concerned into the next year. Um coming up we have senior citizen lunchon in the uh elementary and Longhorn day here on May 7th. Um you're all welcome to come and participate. Um tomorrow we do have the sixth grade wax museum and uh they're doing a great job getting that together. They did a great um one up here at the high school and I look forward to to helping them get that set up tomorrow morning. And um graduation is May 24th. It's just around the corner. 2 p.m. right here in

006the gym. Questions, right? >> Back in time. Close record time. >> Thanks, Russ. Thank you, Russ. >> Yeah. Okay. So, moving on. board chair's report. The only thing I have is just a reminder to the board that graduation is coming up and we will need three people to hand out diplomas. So, if you guys are interested, let me know. >> Yeah, I'm guessing. >> Okay. Um, let me I after we can talk. Okay. >> Okay. >> Um, it is Rox's turn. >> Perfect. >> Do you guys mind passing those around? Awesome. It seems like from now until the end of school, it is a fast and furious time at the elementary school. We had a great spring parent teacher conferences. Um, and our teachers put in a lot of extra work and time to make

007sure that they're prepared to share all the amazing progress that our Longhorns have made this year with their families and also do a great job at rescheduling conferences, catching parents when they're available. Spring can be a busy time, so we're always thankful for the families that attend. And we also um had a wonderful parent team that helped provide meals to our teachers for three of the nights. So that's always helps for late nights. Good food always helps. Um we had a wonderful March spirit rally. So that's where we like shift into our grade level teams. And the focus of that um was somewhat festive. The kids got to pick out leprechaun names and create pots of gold. I was going to bring you guys the sheet to see if you guys wanted to pick out

008your leprechaun names, but it's like a busy night, so we'll save that for another time. Um, we had Miss Rodeo Montana visit on the 24th of March, and so that was awesome. A big thanks to Bentley. The kids loved it. We had a wonderful March assembly on the 31st. First grade was the class of the month. Our next assembly will be April 30th and kindergarten will be the class of the month. So, if you're around, stop by for those. Um, I also wanted to give a huge thank you to the Shoto County Health Department. They provided our like kind of what was stranger danger but now is stranger danger um safe touch and then um a third fourth grade program that talks about touch troubles and then fourth and fifth grade maturation to our students

009and I felt like those were really wellreceived this year and we were really thankful to offer them to a few other grade levels. So that went really well. Do you guys have any questions? so far. >> Awesome. On to everybody's favorite topic, data. Um, we will be doing spring doubles soon and our teachers are right now working on their third and final window of mast testing for the year. They're quite excited to get done with that. And we will also be working on um finishing up our MAPS assessment. So, kind of looking forward to having one year of that under our belt. And I think even looking towards the future on how we can better use that data to inform our instruction, we're hoping to include a few more grade levels next year in that

010assessment as well. Also in the works, as Mr. Axeman mentioned, we have the sixth grade wax museum. We will have prek screening on Friday, the April assembly on the 30th, um, Longhorn day and senior citizen lunchon on the 7th, and then May registration the 11th through the 15th where we just invite our families to come in and double check their paperwork. Super simple. They don't have to fill out every single piece of paper like they have in the past. So hopefully they should enjoy that and they can just check and kind of be their like end of the year checkout. So, and don't worry in the April like May, we'll have a list of quite a few events coming up as well. So, any questions? Okay, great. Thank you very much. >> Good timing. Is

011it my turn? >> I don't I didn't really put much on there because I didn't think I'd be here. Um, >> I've got your record. Governor I well I may have to refer to it. Hold on. I can probably pull up the email. Um obviously uh spring sports are up and going and so we've now all had uh competition of uh some sort. In golf you have 10 boys out and six girls out. In tennis, you have 10 high school girls out and seven high school boys out plus one manager. Track, we have 18 boys. We have 12 girls and a manager. And then in middle school track, I have um 24 boys and 13 girls. And the only thing that I put on, we're still in the middle of a lot of discussions and

012finishing up and wrapping up some things and hopefully making progress for next year. But for this meeting, um, I had put down for Pat to recommend if I wasn't here, um, hiring Corey Walker as an assistant middle school track coach because we have over the number of participants in the CBA. Um, plus we need a little extra support. So, it's my recommendation to hire Mr. Cory Walker as an assistant to the middle school track program. And do you want me to separate the volunteer? >> Yeah. Okay. >> All moved. Second. >> All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. >> And then because of the volume of the students, Shannon Gman has offered her knowledge and the support to assist as a volunteer to the middle school track program. And so it is my recommendation

013to approve Shannon as a volunteer. >> Second. All those in favor? >> Opposed? Okay. >> And that's that's all I really had. This I didn't assume to be here, so I wasn't sure. So, unless you have any questions for me. >> No. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Oh, sweet. Yeah. >> Okay. This um I don't really have a lot. the general reports in the back there for our funds and the remaining balances. Um, we're sitting good to finish out the last quarter of our year with everything going as expected. Um, we should rest our school audit tomorrow and things have been good. There's just been a few little minor things with changes from OPI that I maybe missed or didn't quite fill the worksheet out correctly, but pretty minor. Um, and that's

014about it in the clerk's office. It's been pretty busy with the audit. The only other things I have is obsolete property. Um, the third one on there is a kiln. It was an older kiln that we used down at the elementary school. It's a pottery kiln. Um, it's a smaller one. We on your plans you notice we ordered a larger one. We had been operating a kind of medium and a small one um and we just got one larger one. Um it fit the needs better for our students and for adult tech classes. So we have the one um like smaller film up for sale. It's probably only about this tall. So it's much smaller. I don't know what you guys wanna Russ left, didn't we? >> Yes. >> Um, put on there if if

015you wanted a reserve or a minimum bid amount >> on it. Is there any sense of what it was? >> Um, I think the last one of this size that we put a minimum bid was $150. I mean, it is older. >> Does it work? >> Yep, it works. >> Okay. Because the other one, the larger one, um, we had the pottery look at and felt it was unsafe and so we didn't offer that one up for obsolete property. Um, but this smaller one was a little bit newer and it they felt it was safe to resell. >> I'll make the motion still in the middle. >> Okay. And then the other obsolete I'll second that motion. Oh, just moving right along. Okay. All those in favor >> opposed. >> The other piece of obsolete

016property belongs to >> Paul, so I will let him speak to that. >> Uh, so what we're putting up is a 20 ton D shop press. It's a hydraulic shot press. It was originally in the shop over here and they were going to put it on props property. Then I figured I'd take it, use it. Well, I haven't used it in here as much as I thought. So, it's more taking up space than it is. So, we're going to put it up per obser. >> You have a minimum that you have. >> I think before they were going to be 150. So, I think about that 150. >> Well, what's a shop press? >> You use it to press in bearing races and heavy machinery parts that are press fit. So instead of smacking it

017with a hammer possibly something >> I didn't want to agree to out of state I didn't know what it was that doesn't sound complete. >> I know. >> We have a motion and a second. So all those in favor >> I >> opposed. E. >> Okay. >> That's all I have. >> Okay. Good. Good evening everybody. Nice to see you. I want to begin tonight by sharing with you um results from our we had our honoral third quarter honoral assembly on Monday midday. And uh what you have in front of you are the results if you will the numbers of students that you recognize. Um, and I certainly would make this available to any in the community that would like a copy, but you've broken this I've broken this down by the three assemblies we've

018had so far this year. So, this was held on April 13th. Um, 103 students out of 150 in the high school and middle school were recognized, which is is pretty awesome. And uh we uh uh also recognized students with the be the bridge award. And I've also shared with you a program from that assembly. So, you can see the names of the students who were honored. And um this is a tradition that I hope uh lives for for years to come at Fort Benton Middle School and High School. Um it was a really nice assembly, good uh sampling of parents attended as well. And uh I give Kathleen Fry, my secretary's credit that when we sent out the third quarter report cards, she puts little stickers on the report cards um identifying to the parents

019that their their student is going to be recognized at the assembly. And uh uh the cool thing about that is that instead of sending another mailing or me sending a newsletter or whatever, parents almost always look at the report cards. So that you know I think I feel like we're getting a good response from parents to who are attending because of those little stickers and I'll give her full credit for that. So um that's just a little results from our recent honoral assembly. The second thing I'd like to share is a little shout out to Mr. Lennington and our music students. We I had the good fortune of joining them last Thursday and Friday for the district music festival in Great Falls. Our band and choir did extraordinary. They did an exceptional job. Uh both

020the band and the choir received ones on their performances and their site reading. And as a former music teacher, I can tell you getting a one in sight reading is not is no easy task. Um I think Mr. Lennington, I'd have to double I should have written this down, but I think he said there were 12 bands in choir. 12 different groups that that very few people got ones. uh um of the of the 12 or 20 maybe 20 only a couple schools got both ones in in re the performance and in reading very very few people bands and choirs so that was pretty extraordinary they looked great they sounded great they we have very very much what to be proud for musicians so bravo to Mr. Lennington and his musicians. Um, middle school, high

021school kids had a fun ski trip. While we have been uh not enjoying snow at this level and in our great state, they had plenty of snow up at Showdown here on March 18th. And we had a a good mix of middle school and high school kids that took a a ski trip on March 18th and had a good time. Um, I also want to report that uh number four, I have um we have an interesting thing. We we have the good fortune of having a Leos club at Fort Benton High School. And um we are, as it turns out, we're the only active Leos club in the state of Montana, come to find out. So, two of our students, the local Lions Club, invited a couple of our students to attend the state Lions

022Club convention this coming weekend. And I'm just going to read to you. Lucy Johnson was unable to be here tonight, but she gave me a report. Um I just told I'm just going to read what she had to share. This weekend, April 17th and 18th, Zoe Donner and I have the opportunity to attend the Lions Club International District 37 Convention in Columbia Falls. This event will introduce the Fort Benton Leo's Club to Lions Club from all across the state. At this time, we are the only active Leo Club in Montana and are very thankful for this opportunity. At the convention, we will be very active as we will be selling raffle tickets, which we will earn half of the money from, and hosting a table during speed learning, which will help us to be introduced

023to more community service opportunities as well. uh as well as encourage other Lions Club to start a program of their in their own town. Um the local group sponsored by uh Carly Veu have done a really great job. Uh lots of community support from the local Lions Club. Uh and we we look at it as an honor that they've been invited and an honor that they're going to present and be a part of the Lions Club convention. So a little feather in our cap in my in my estimation. So later in the uh agenda uh because of the timing and and such we are transporting student students to want need to go to convention as much as Lucy would love to drive herself to the convention. We have asked Lucy's mom we're going to I'm

024going to ask for you to approve her as a volunteer tonight so that she can be insured to drive the traverse the school vehicle to be able to transport the two girls to the state convention. Um and that that'll come up later on in the agenda tonight. Okay. Um I want to thank again uh Angie Hucky for sharing the letter about the prom. Um though I was unable to be there this year which was a real disappointment for me. I was collecting my dear wife. the uh 2026 prom was really great and in the letter she highlights the junior class and their great work that they did to put it together and if you have I hope you have a chance to read the letter but I thought you know from all reports I had

025the grand march and the prom were a great success and uh thank you Roxy too for covering for me in my absence but um uh yeah it was just a it was a it's a nice event for the students and it was a really it was a really well attended and and a nice event for for the community as well for the grand march Um wanted to share that earlier today uh we held a committee a meeting of their crisis intervention team. Um the crisis intervention team is a team uh that's the school district hosts and it's one of those committees that you hope never has to meet. The crisis intervention team is a team that of uh community people, school people that schoolboard that would meet in the event of a tragedy in the

026in the the school district community. So, um, in my experience in past school districts, um, when a, uh, a staff member had an untimely death, if there was a a tragic tragedy with a student, this committee would meet together to decide upon communication, what happens at the school, what what kind of things, what's our response? Um, how do we support our people, student, staff, and community? And so, that committee would come together. Um we put that committee together a year ago and have not met since then. But we met today to review the the um practices that guide the crisis intervention team are found in our emergency handbook. And so we met today to review some of those procedures, what our role is in the event of a tra tragedy. And again, it's it's a

027committee truly we hope never has to gather. Um so we met today to review some of that um uh the um things from the emergency handbook and just talk about our role and and we just had a chance to to visit. There was no um real actions that came out of that necessarily. Um but um uh it was also reported I thought I had it on my list. My next thing, um, we are, um, one of the things I reported to the team today was that we are having a, a mandatory child protection workshop for our staff tomorrow afternoon at 3:45. And, um, it's something that we probably as a of the menu of options we provide to our staff coming in the future to um, support them with professional development. This is a thing

028that we needed to have done sooner, but we're doing now. Uh so that m that mandatory child protection workshop and and Bethany may want to talk to you about that as well. Maybe ask for your attendance, but that'll be tomorrow afternoon at 3:45. And that was information that was shared with the crisis intervention team today. Okay. Other upcoming events, um this room will be busy the next couple days. Pac for sophomores is tomorrow. ACT for juniors is on Thursday. And our annual uh senior trip that you find folks approved before at a previous board meeting is off uh to Billings uh starting on Thursday. They'll be on Thursday and Friday. And I think we got it all sorted today. Did we not, Landon? We're good. Yes. Okay. Um I'll send this out again tomorrow so

029you can see the electronic version of this report and it has some um calendar items on the back. But also note that um Mr. Iverson, your new superintendent. We hope to have him on campus on on April 30th and May 1st for a site visit for a couple days and he's hoping to come for a second visit and um just to get to meet people and and see the inner workings of the school, but we hope to have him on campus at least twice. And uh again, he should be here April 30th and May 1st. You'll find that in the report as well. Any questions about my report? >> Is that prom letter hanging out over there somewhere? >> Yeah, but sorry >> that's all right. Sorry, Angie. It's making its way around. >> Do

030we make the motion now for this? The teacher contract or >> it's under my report right now. Okay. So, um I have before you. They don't have copies of this. They do have copies of it. >> No. >> Okay. >> But I don't read people's names. >> Do you want me to go copies for you? Do we I mean let's make a we take a pause for a second >> coffee machine here. >> Yes. Sorry. What did you do? I can assure you that in my 43 year career, I've never had so many people watch me make copies before. So, >> you read them aloud. >> I do read them >> after all of that. Sorry. That's what that's what we've done. >> Okay. >> So, I would like to recommend to the board the

031following teachers at the elementary school be rehired for the 2627 school year. Uh, Anna Argenbrite, Mark Ers, Jamie Ball, Justin Cartwright, Colobby Klene, Brooke Cunningham, Amber Disney, Mindy Evans, Deanna Farwick, Angela Fondale, Raina Folultz, Peggy Ganon, Damon Gilbreth, Jessica Hanford, Beth Jones, Milo Lane, Megan Lords, Eric Lennington, Tanera Martin, Mandy Romaner, Elizabeth Suther, Esme Peters, Carly Beu, and Mandy Wright. >> So, Second. >> Madam chair, I abstain. Yes. Thank you. >> Okay. All those in favor? I >> opposed. >> Okay. I also like to recommend the following elementary school teachers to rehire with their fourth contract. I guess these are teachers. I just would point out that you have a list of five teachers there who will receive their fourth contract. Their 10ear status in Marks, Brook Cunningham, Beth Jones, Esme Ters, and Mandy Wright.

032Okay. For high school teachers, I recommend the following teachers for the 2627 school year at the middle school high school. These are high school teachers. Marks, Jamie Ball, Amanda Brown, Milo Clark, Colobby Klene, Brooke Cunningham, Amber Disney, Angela Fondale, Raina Folultz, Damon Gilbreth, Eric Lennington, Megan Lords, Miranda Lynch, Tanner Martin, Wendy Truax, and Carly Ve second. All those in favor? >> Opposed? >> Again, I would draw your attention to the three teachers who received their fourth contract and received tenure status. Mark ays, Brokenham, and Wendy Turz. >> Okay. >> Fair. >> Okay. And then I would ask the board I would kindly ask for a recess to executive session to discuss a couple of student situations uh in which the students right to privacy outweighs the right for the public to know. boardroom. >> We

033can do it that way. We can go next door to a classroom. Um, >> let's do that so they don't have to move. >> I don't Yeah, it won't require any stuff. Don't leave your notion of somebody. >> No, we'll be back. >> Okay. Um, thank you for uh listening to my um tale about uh our upcoming high school graduation and the attendance of a couple students at that graduation. >> Thank you. >> Okay, so next up is the committee reports. We're going to start with the personnel committee. So we had several negotiations just with the personnel and the staff and what we came to agreement on is the 2 and 12% increase uh for 26 27 year and then 2 and a half% for 27 and 28 and then the insurance we're going to

034do $920 >> for the classified. Yes, bird classified >> certified certified sorry >> one of those um certified and then also we are offering the same to Roxy and Cal that's what we're recommending um we did have quite a bit of discussion um just some of the stuff that we discussed was just that uh just the reality of the lower numbers that are coming up um and the seeming of costs increasing we did discuss the um cisial is the teacher they're doing a lot of that work too right now. >> Yeah, we had a lot of discussion but that's at the end of the day that's what we would like to recommend. >> So move. >> I'll second that. >> Okay. Any discussion or questions? >> Okay. All those in favor? >> Opposed? >> Okay.

035extracurricular committee meeting. >> All right. We met actually we met twice the last was our last meeting I think and um I don't we had a lot of discussion too a lot of discussion in both both of our meetings and I think that um it was a difficult decision for us as a committee to make and we all kind of have the same feelings about the um what we were meeting about is moving eighth graders up for um well originally was brought to us for tennis and then we had a larger conversation but um it was difficult and there was a lot of conversation there was a lot of um I think there was a lot brought to the table um you know I think personally I I've never been a big fan of bringing

036eighth graders up for several reasons but over the years it's slowly been brought in front of our board continuously and I think it's and we had to kind of take a different look at it with each time each time it's some twists. We've had different We've had to look at it different ways. So, um we made we're Did you want to make the mention of recommendation? Yeah, I can do that. Okay. >> You ready? >> Yep. I'm ready. >> Okay. So, um so yeah, so the committee's recommendation was that we move forward in the fall with allowing eighth graders across the board with um with the understanding that coaches could put in place performance standards. So for instance, track um would have performance standards set for each event um for you know a sport like

037golf that uh I mean they could have a performance standard score as well but uh maybe since there's no um junior high golf maybe like a try out some sports would need need to implement a try out. Um anyway that this decision came mainly because yeah we it becomes difficult as a board to to handle the situation fairly um and >> sport by sport and have it continuously come to us and we feel like it's even in class B it's super prevalent for class for eighth graders to be competing and for us to compete as a team against these other schools who are also bringing up eighth graders. We just feel like it's the direction we're going whether we like it or not. >> Numbers are going down. >> And since our enrollment's Yeah. probably

038going to go down over the next few years. So, um the committee's recommendation um and what I'd like to do is make a motion on the recommendation going forward and leave the question about spring tennis to a separate motion. So, like make a decision about what's what we want to do going forward. So that would be my motion that we um allow eighth graders for every sport with the understanding that coaches would um you know put in in place performance standards and handle disciplinary issues if there's maturity problems, things like that. That that would be in the coach's hands. Um but it would not it would no longer be a board decision about whether or not eighth graders participate. So that would be my motion. >> What's every sport but football? cover about football. Thank

039you. Yes. >> Because MHSA does not allow eighth graders. >> The coaches will put in standards field participation. >> Yes. >> Did I understand you to say the motion does not include the spring sports? >> It does not include tennis. We could handle that. >> So this this motion would begin this that would take place beginning in the fall. That's what you're saying. >> Yes. Okay. >> Did I get all that right? >> I think so. I think that's second it. Okay. Okay. So, with that, we'll open it up for discussion or questions. >> I have a question. Can I ask a question? >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, you are 100% leaving and then up to the coaches. each coach gets to decide whether they want eighth graders or are you saying that

040eighth graders can participate and you decide whether you're you know cuz like volleyball I have last year I had 24 girls I think no it's what 26 >> 26 girls so then you throw eighth grader and I'm not for I'm just wondering what exactly my role then is as a coach is then do I then have tryyous and eighth graders get to participate and I cut girls then or what exactly does that entail? >> That part would be up to you. The way we determined it like basketball was is set on numbers. So it in this updated policy you could set a number being the coach and what you need. You can set the minimum number you need to participate for varsc. Okay. But what if there's an eighth grader that's I I would love

041to have on my team. Can I pick and choose? >> No. We said, well, if you put a try out in place and you say it's open to all the triyout is open to all eighth graders, >> then then you can then make that decision. But you can't otherwise pick and choose. You can't pick and choose. But if I had to get open triyouts and then then you could all anchors could come and then you could pick and choose from your open tryyouts. >> Yes, that's what we discussed I believe. >> Okay. >> Are your open tryyouts just eighth graders out or can you had a high schooler and bring an eighth grader? >> I think it needs to be for to allow the eighth graders play. Again, I'm I'm in the position of saying

042I think numbers plays a huge role in allowing eighth graders up. So, if you have 26 girls, I think that's plenty for to field enough squads probably >> 100%. But if you look at double A schools now are letting eighth graders play and they are just they are some eighth graders are playing and some are not. And if you're good enough then you're playing and I mean you're going to run into that where you have some eighth grade kids that are able to play at that level and some that are not. So you know you're going to take those girls or boys and have them play. I mean my son Hayden is a perfect example. when he was an eighth grader, he played on varsity basketball. >> I agree. I think that to make it

043fair, you have to have a try out situation. You have to leave it open to everybody. >> Nobody's forced. >> That's why this is so hard. That's >> I agree. That's that's why that's why I'm just asking question. Just seeing what your guys' thoughts are and what you know what's your thinking so that as a coach I don't go in and then totally Yeah. misunderstand it and then have something you know. But to get back to your question, yeah, I don't think we're in a position to be cutting anybody from the sport. I mean, find a place for them where they fit, but I don't think there's anybody not going to be cut from an athletic program to make this work. >> And one reason we talked about this was the numbers are going down

044and so I think you'll see less kids and it won't even be an issue. >> Agree. Agree. Agree. But like next year, I mean, I didn't have a lot of seniors this year and if I don't know if you know and stuff, but I've got the possibility of having a lot of girls again. Luckily, we have, you know, C squad games and things like that. But I just want to make sure that I'm on the same page of what you're thinking. >> That's a good point. >> And I don't feel like you can treat it different from year to year because then you run into a fairness issue. So, you can't decide one year I'm going to do eighth grade triyouts and the next year I don't even want to do triyouts. So yeah, it's

045like going forward this is >> the fairness issue was what caused us all so much. We're trying to keep it fair for everybody. >> So we would have tryyous every year for volleyball eighth graders >> if that's if that's what she decides to do. >> So but then when the coaching changes then what >> I think if the coach will have to have some kind of >> coaches written procedures in place once >> season >> once you tell me what to do. I think I'm going to have to meet with coaches and have written procedures in place in our handbooks. >> And this is another thing to coincide what when is the eighth grade volleyball season? >> Same time. >> And then we probably don't have numbers to feel a middle school. >> There's like

046Yeah. >> So that becomes that's another rock that we turned over and was like, what do we do for middle school? Because middle school is becoming obsolete as at this point. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, I >> the likelihood of us taking very many eighth graders in volleyball is low because Right. I mean, because you have such high numbers, you wouldn't have need. So, they would have to be pretty amazing to make the high school squad. So, you're not going to take large numbers from the middle school volleyball program. Yeah. In that case, >> and every year it's going to be different. Yeah. >> Are there any other comments or questions? >> Go ahead. >> She's waiting for the next one. >> Oh, the next one. Okay. >> Okay. If that's everything, we'll go ahead

047and vote. >> All those in favor? I >> opposed. >> Okay. Motion stamps. Do you want me to make the next motion? >> Go ahead. You're on. >> The committee's recommendation was to go forward and allow um the two eighth graders um that so the tennis Let me let me back up. the tennis coaches came and asked us to consider allowing a couple of eighth graders to play um and we said it had to be all eighth graders offered the opportunity to play high school tennis this year. Um we agreed to allow them to practice um and move forward so that they could get their practices in pending a decision here at the board meeting. So the um the committee's recommendation was to allow them to play. um we allowed wrestling the wrestling coaches came

048to us for um special consideration and we agreed to it for them and um so that was committee's recommendation. So that's my motion to allow the two players to play uh I think it's just two right but it would have been offered to all eighth graders to play up for for high school tennis. So it was offered for two. Offered for all of them. Only two were come yet or one to come up. >> Two. Two. >> But it was offered to all of them. >> Yes. >> Yeah. And I guess I should say I don't I mean maybe you want to speak to it, Miranda, but it was, you know, to make the to give them more kids to compete as a team. So they're more competitive as a team at the high school

049at the class B. >> It's much like wrestling. >> Sure. >> The spots. the the I I think it's I think the committee can speak to that this wasn't a decision we made lightly and this wasn't a decision that we we tried to take everything into consideration it was really was emotional kind of for people >> before we move forward on discussion can we get a second >> I'll just you can go ahead >> okay is there other discussion or questions or comments Okay. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Okay. Motion stands everything. Kyla. >> Yes. >> Unless Zoe wanted to say something. >> No. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> So the the next committee meeting report is the policy committee. Um this is the second reading >> and are you starting

050>> and um this policy is about sex ed and gender identity. um we decided to go with the handout as far as the gender identity um portion of the the class and not actually instruct in it, but give a hand out to students that want it. Um man, that's pretty much we're just on the second reading of it. >> And I wanted to clarify is this this is an optin. >> This is an optin. Uh the sex ed is that that in its entirety is an opt-in. >> Yes. >> So it's not opt out, it's opt in. >> Yeah, it's opt in. >> So to clarify, yeah, last school year we'd had we the parents would had to opt out. We had one parent last year that opted out. >> Uhhuh. >> Um and the

051what you directed us to do at this point is we'd send a letter very similar in nature, but this case the parents would have to tell us they want their students to opt in. >> Okay. And the question basically is that there's before the board is policy 2335 which came from the Montana school boards association regarding health enhancement curriculum and related issues and the board has its disposal three options. Option one is for districts intending to provide both human sexuality instruction and identity instruction. Option two is for the districts that intend to provide human sexuality instruction but not identity instruction. And option three for districts that intend to provide neither health human sexuality instruction or identity instruction. might recall in the email I sent to you that upon requesting opinion from the Montana School Boards

052Association attorneys, they told me that if you provide a handout, even though you're what you directed us at this point to do until it's passed by the board, is that we would not provide identity instruction, but we would provide a handout. And what the Montana School Boards Association attorney told me is that if you provide a handout, you're choosing option one. Even though you're not teaching it, you're simply making it available. In their definition, by their definition, you're you're you would have to choose option one. >> So, I wanted to jump in and make the motion with can I ask to make the I have a statement that I'd like to read before we get into public comment. So after we get a second, but my motion would be that we adopt the policy as

053recommended by the policy committee with option one with additional language written into the policy that says gender identity instruction will only be in for uh in the form of the handout that has been pre-approved by the board because that's not actually written into. >> Yeah. >> So I want that to be part of the motion >> or something like that. >> Thanks. >> Yeah. And just to I guess clarify more, the handout is just definitions >> just >> for an understanding of everything so people understand what gender identity is. It's just definitions. It's not going into any details or anything. So, I wanted to just I guess I first start out by cautioning people to not oppose the policy outright because I feel like this policy um puts some controls in place that we did

054not have before. And um if if you don't like the motion as it's brought forth, it's possible to offer an amendment to the motion without opposing the policy outright. So, I just wanted to throw that out there because if we oppose the policy outright and we have to go back to the drawing board, it's anyway I I just want to explain why I think the policy is a good thing. Um, I think that we heard from people after the recap in the river press that forbidden schools has suddenly decided to start teaching gender identity in the school and that's not how this happened. Um, as as he already explained, this was an MTSBA policy. they sent down a new recommended policy. This is something that happens automatically, right? We they they put out a model

055policy and we review it and decide what to adopt. So that's why we were having this discussion, not because we just out of the blue decided to suddenly start teaching this. Um but I I do think a policy is a good thing um because it it provides guidelines on what content can be taught. So the school board does not review curriculum. that's not part of our normal purview, right? And um so so it's left up to the teachers. And so I kind of wanted to mention um the an experience that we had last year. Um there was um sex ad offered in one of our science classes and the curriculum was written by a science teacher and the board was notified that it was happening and Jenny requested to see the curriculum and there were

056some concerns that she had that she brought to my attention and then we sat down with the administration and this teacher um to have a discussion about the curriculum and in this case you know the two of us are acting as parents. We don't have the power as two board members alone acting alone to to require changes to the curriculum. That's not how that works. So, we had a discussion and we had um there was gender identity as part of that instruction. Um and we asked for some language changes and we asked for a worksheet to be removed and um we asked for parents to be able to opt out of that section if they wished. And um we succeeded in compromising on a few of those things, but we didn't have this policy last

057year. So um I think policy is a good idea for that reason. So um because it's optional content, my stance as a parent personally on this is that there's nothing on the handout that kids are not seeing online tenfold. Right? It's a a glossery of terms and if I were concerned about what was on that, the kids are not even required to pick it up. Um, if if I was concerned about what was on that as a parent, I would take it home and have a discussion with my kids at home where that content should be those things should be discussed at home, not in school in my opinion. Um, and then as a school board member, I feel like we're representing all the Longhorns in our school and we want to have a safe

058place for all of our kids to come to school and feel like they're part of an accepted community and, you know, we follow separation of church and state laws and we leave our agendas at the door. So I just I feel like we don't need this political battle bringing drama to the halls of our school and um those conversations can happen at home. So that's my stance. >> Um also it contains uh to on the guidelines of for the the guideline of a safe environment for the students. there is resources for these students if you know they're reading through this and all of a sudden they come across something like oh well I have questions well there's a list of resources on here and in our policy meeting we met with the teacher and our

059school counselor who deal with these kids every day and they came in highly recommending that we include this and we crossed every bridge we could to get it to where it is now where we are just handing out a piece of paper or putting a piece of paper on a desk and if they take it, they take it. If they don't, they don't. And they opt in, which is a lot tougher than opting out >> because they have to bring a signed piece of paper to school. So, I think we did a good job of getting to where we're at right now. >> Okay. Um, so we in to keep order and time with our meeting, we're doing pretty good. It is only 8:00, but now is the time if there are comments, we can

060take those, but we may have to limit some of them depending on how long this goes. You can go ahead. I timed myself three times and I hope you don't cut me off. I tried to cut out as much as possible. First of all, I want to say thank you very much. I haven't attended a schoolboard meeting in the very recent past and I can see that you're all very dedicated, concerned. Can you introduce yourself? >> I apologize. My name is Gail Allen. Um, most you probably know me. Um, I've been married to my husband 40 years. We've lived in the community all of that time. I have four kids, 14 grandkids, and four great grandkids. and I have subbed in the school um since 2014 in the grade school and the elementary. I highly

061admire our teachers. I think they have a very dedicated group of uh educational community here and I appreciate your clarification of the points that you were making your your statements. Um I have conversed with uh five of you. three of you I did not hear back from and um so the information that I'm putting forth is based on those conversations what I read in the paper and then my own research I appreciate the stance that you're taking um I can see why you are there I'm going to offer my opinion it could be tempered a little bit perhaps you know as as I have heard your your input um I want to do a little bit of Batman but I also want to make it very clear. I'm not here as an enemy. I am

062not here attacking anybody, any person. I am not naming names. I'm not thinking names. I'm simply very concerned about something that is overtaking our society that I believe is not a healthy thing. And so that is what I am coming from. And my perspect my very particular focus is concerning transgenderism and that thought process. It is not attacking the other areas of sensuality that um our society practices. And I'm also aiming this at children. I am not talking about adults. Adults have the right to choose what they want to do. I am not trying to infringe upon that. And so if that's that is my motivation and that is my heart. Um, I will would like to if if a grand great grandparent is allowed to see the curriculum before it's handed out, I would

063appreciate that. Um, I I won't have time to look at it right now, but I would like to >> because you didn't have at the time that I called. Um, it was there was nothing ready and I asked to see it ahead of time and so that that may have changed a few of my comments. I'm going to go ahead and offer them. I'll try to be discerning as I read whether it's something I still want to say or not. Okay? So, I'm asking you guys for a little bit of grace. I'm shaking. I'm a little nervous here, but uh I I just I'm I'm not the enemy. Okay? And so, I just want to make sure that I know there's individuals that may think that, but I'm not. So, I now have to read

064the quote in the paper because um you just kind of recapped it. So, I'm not going to do that. Um and I am going to get rid of my gum. So, hold on just a minute. Okay. So, um I want to start with the fact that this construct of uh gender trans or excuse me of gender dysphoria was formed by a gentleman named John Money in 1957. He was born on a farm in New Zealand. He had uh studied psychology at Harvard. He had a thesis about hermophidism if I pronounced that right. It is a very rare condition one in 5,000. 02% and it is when newborn's genitals are ambiguous and at that period of time people had to make a decision about which sex they thought the child was and would would go with

065that. Um we currently have better ways to determine that. Um we have chromosomal testing ultrasound to determine presence of a uterus or unescended testicles and x-rays with contrast eyes. So that is no longer an ambiguous decision. Um he pioneered the idea of sex assignment which was again saying mostly applying this to those kids but then he he uh applied it to the other 99.98% of children that there could be sex assignment and he also followed the sexual deviant Alfred Kinsey who advocated every form of sex and perversion at any age without any restraint of any kind. He posited that sex could be assigned to the halfprodite and that child could be raised accordingly. sex organs and chromosomes were irrelevant. What you felt yourself to be took precedence over your anatomy and chromosomes. His uh opportunity

066came to prove his theory with a set of twin boys, Brian and Bruce, excuse me, Brian and Bruce Rhymer. These boys were born to a young couple with a middle school education. They were circumcised at eight months. Bruce's penis was burned beyond repair. And so um his parents quite a bit in despair heard on television by this professor Money that gender identity was more important than anatomy. So his parents took their son to him and oh yes he could help. So his experiment for money he told the parents he could raise they could raise Bruce as a female because genitals didn't matter. So Bruce was castrated. Surgically constructed form of female genitalia was placed upon him. His parents were told to raise him as a girl, let him play with dolls, let him play with

067dishes, let him wear dresses, and never tell him that he was a boy. So supposedly glowing and reports were sent to Money over the next six years. And in 1972, Money presented his experiment as a huge success to the American Association for Science in Washington, DC. He gained fame and fortune for the rest of his life for the rest of his life for that. However, in 1997, his fiction was exposed. His parents in 1980 had told the twins the truth. And for Bruce, whose name was given Brenda in school, it was a great relief because he had fought from the very beginning what they were trying to make him into as a girl. He tore off the dresses. He peed standing up. He hated uh he hated cooking. wanted to wrestle. He wanted to play

068with boys toys. So the lies were that they was a glowing a glowing report on him. When he found out that he was actually a male, not a female, he understood why he had been um he was teased in high school about the way he acted, the way he talked, the way he looked because he was more manly than he was female. And when he uh started to go into puberty, Dr. money wanted him to get a surgically constructed vagina and broke breasts because he was on estrogen. In 1997, David went public. David was his new name. He decided he was not he was not Brenda anymore. Obviously, he's David. He's married with three children. He worked at a janitor in a slaughter house. And then later on that year did an interview with BBC

069and Diamond and Sigmanson published a bombshell paper exposing the hoax revealing how David had never accepted the sex of Money's choosing in his growing up. The glowing reports of his childhood as a girl were false and that both twins had been sexually molested by money while under his care. However, the damage had done had been done in this experiment in the name of transgenderism, in the name of gender assignment, gender identity, and both boys died of suicide before they were 38. Um, so my truth or my statement as truth out of this is that gender is not a feeling. Most def definition of gender is a specific sex of a person. Mosvy's medical dictionary says that chromosomeal sex is the sex of an individual is determined in mammals by the presence or absence of the

070Y chromosome. Sex is established at conception. It is recognized at birth. No matter the external influences, the sex of an individual cannot be changed. No hormones, puberty blockers or surgeries can change this fact. The body has over 7 trillion cells. each has a nucleus and each nucleus is impacted with either an XX or an XY chromosome. There may be the occasional variant of XXY or X Y such as in the um I always have to go back and it was pronunciated high um high that young person that had the indistinguishable sex organs. However, you notice in each of those variants you still have the Y and the Y is what makes the male. um biological maleness and femaleness of any kind across species is not merely chromosomal but it is gamebased. If you're an egg

071producer, you are a female. If you are a sperm producer, you are a male. Since we don't have a combination in mammals, sex in mammals is binary. It is male or female. There is no spectrum. Genital anatomy in humans can exhibit significant variation. But persons a person's genitals do not ultimately define the sex of the human or any other species. The sex of the individual has everything to do with the type of sex cell for example sperm versus egg that their primary sex organs produce i.e. testes versus ovaries. Okay. From a spiritual perspective, Genesis 1:21 says that God created mankind in his own image. In the image of God, he created them. Male and female, he created them. Psalm 139:13-16 says, "You created my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb. I

072praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Dr. Lisa Litman, a Brown University physician, researcher and academic, coined a phrase called road or ROG, rapid onset gender dysphoria. And one of the things that she found is there was a huge number or huge uh increase in gender dysphoric youngsters coming out of the school systems. And what she um um posted postulated as a theory was that peer pressure in a given group was causing this increase in

073this gender dysphoria. Your kids can find numerous things on YouTube. They can find it on different platforms and there is some really dark stuff out there. And part of that challenge really increased when COVID took place and kids were isolated from school and isolated from friends and they went online. >> Yes ma'am. >> One more minute. >> Okay. >> Just so we can allow >> Okay. So this thing is flourishing through ontologies, universities, uh medical establishments etc. This is an this is a cash of the providers at every level. You start kids on puberty blockers and hormone therapy. It creates a lifetime of dependency. Then it's very hard to reverse. Um kids do not commit suicide if they're not allowed to transition. More often than not, it's the transitioner to commit suicide. And I am

074not saying as a school board you are saying you're advocating for surgical interventions, hormone therapy, any of that. I'm not stating that at all. I'm simply saying if you affirm sexual identity or gender identity, you are affirming a lie and it is a slippery slope that can lead to disastrous results. You do not have a mandate. As he said, you do not have to do this. And and last my last thought on this, a person can choose to be an adult. Uh can choose to be a lesbian. A person can choose to be a homosexual. A person can choose to be a deviant. A person can choose to be a heterosexual. You cannot choose to be a sex that you are not. If you are not a male, you cannot become one. If you are

075a female, if you are a male, you cannot become a female. You can't do it. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Good job. >> And I have my resources over here if you're there to find out where I got you from. >> Thank you. >> Are there other which whoever wants to be next? I'm hard to hear and even with my hearing aids, it's it's hard to uh understand exactly what you were discussing about the policy. >> Can you please state your name, please? >> My name is Rodney Jones. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um I understand it, you're still going to promote transgender gender program in education. You're passing out flyers. Is that's correct? You want to add this to this? The policy would state that that um there would only be

076a handout of terms that the board has agreed on and um >> but you're still promoting it verbal constru you're talking about the transition the transgender. Okay. So you're still promoting it. It's a class and it would only be a handout available for students to pick up if >> this would this be handed out of a student ask in the classroom. >> I don't think it's passed out to every student. It's it has to opt in. >> It's there in the classroom for students to pick up if they >> But you're still opening the door for this misinformation. Gail just told you about the fact. So may um as a part of the discussion. So in a couple of the the letters we received the the term was mental illness. Well if if a mental

077illness is what they want to call if people want to call it and a student picks this up and reads the definition and says you know what I'm having feelings like this. There's a list of resources. Wouldn't we want to help those students? So you're not you're not mentoring anything about >> we're not mentoring anything about gender ID or >> No, it's it's a it's a glossery of definitions. >> A definitions of what >> of what >> the questions that what are the questions that you have a definition or you think you have an answer for? >> It's a definition of transgender non-binary gender fluid two spirit gender expression. What are pronouns? What is a heterosexual? What is bisexual? What is asexual? What is demisexual? And then the full acronym for the LGBTQ community for

078people to understand what that is. And so there's nothing being odd. It's it's a I guess a lesson >> or promoted. >> Yeah. It's not being promoted. >> That's not being promoted, but you're still passing out information. >> Yes. Yeah. Why? >> That's why. >> Yeah, I know. But is this true information? Is this is this misinformation or is it true? >> Well, that's a matter of opinion. I think >> the opinion the opinion is is if we're talking about transgend gender, Gail just told you are bi biology either a man or a woman and and that should all be taught. If a student comes to you with something like this that says that their identity they identify as a girl, well, you need to contact their parents and let them know because if you

079let it invade the school, you're going to have less attendance before the people don't that don't. The kids need to know the truth before they need to know the misinformation. if they're struggling with the gender identity, they should go to their parents or go get professional help to help them with them to to come. I did a brief research on the development of the brain before I came here. Uh minors by the time they age, they reach age 15 to 16, they've developed learning skills. they they can learn but the emotional skills do not develop until between 20 and 29 years old. So if you're produc allowing this mis misinformation into the school system then they're not being told the truth. So if you tell somebody enough over and over again that this is true

080they become to believe it and it becomes an emotional handicap. So I'm I'm pleading with you and I'm not pleading from my heart. I'm playing praying for my spirit because evil comes from the perversity of the heart and I know that for a fact is is that you do not do this if you you let the parents deal with their children with this because it is still a choice but the choice should not be made until they become adults till they're past the minor age. I have a I just want to end in one last last quote. I I have to read this quote because it's it's it's very important. There's to me there's two morality codes. There's the world morality code and then then there's the spirit co code. The the ones that you

081know that if you're doing something it is wrong. World says if it feels good do it. So, I'm just asking you search your morality codes where where this where it comes to. And I have a a very good quote for you that I will end on. Um, I had to go to it. So, it's it's from, like I said, it's from my spirit. So, okay. Oh, they went blow. Okay, there we go. Okay, this is uh if anyone causes one of these little ones, those who believe in me, to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. This quote came from a from Jesus who walked 2,000 years ago. 2,000 years ago, he fulfilled 300 prophecies in

082his time. The odds of this are one to infinity or one to eternity. What I say? So when you go to bed tonight, when you or when you vote on this this policy, um, think about this. If you go ahead and say, "Hey, you know, you're it's okay to identify as a girl and you're actually a boy." Th this is this can make them fall later in life when they realize it. So I don't think it should be allowed in the school system. You don't even leave uh I don't know even if you have a collection of the 66 books what I call basic instructions before leaving earth here here in the in the library. I didn't check. But th this is what morality should be based on. Homosexuality is a law against nature, not

083a it's not a worldly law that it's tolerated. I mean, think about this tonight or before you make your votes upon this deal because it it could stand in the way of of of a child growing to adulthood firmly because I know if you promote something long enough to a person, they're going to start to believe that it's true and it's just disinformation. So, why even allow it here? That's my question to you and I thank you for this. >> Thank you for your >> Can I respond? >> Sure. >> Two things. First of all, the when you look at the bottom of this handout, the very first person people when people it says if you're experiencing mental health challenges or need someone to talk to regarding a personal or private matter, please contact one

084of the following trusted sources. The very first thing we list is parents. >> Okay, but but here's the problem with that argument. When this discussion began that Miss Joel and Clark talked about with about the last year we had a conversation with the teacher. This all began because students were coming to us asking us questions. They're not going to that's that's the problem. And so what this what this flyer does is provides definitions to the terms. Kids are already looking online. I'm not I'm not I'm off social media. Have been for a few years for for a couple personal reasons. And the fact is there's so much information out there that why wouldn't we want to give them information defined terms that they're already hearing. And so what we're having is kids using terms against

085other kids. They they don't understand. They use them as as uh name calling and that kind of thing. And it it it doesn't set them up for a world in which there's they're on social media with all kinds of information. >> Right. That is true. I brought a little article in. What is education? It basically says kids don't need school anymore. They can get all the information they want on the internet. Doesn't mean it's good for them. That's why parents should should limit the time. That I think that's just my opinion. And but still you have the opportunity to say you need to see somebody. I would rather use you to send them to a to a psychologist, a shrink or even a even a clergyman or somebody that understands the word of God that

086can help them deliver that from them. But not say it's okay or say, "Well, you need to go to here." They'll explain to you what in gender identity is. I can't even say it. But it's and those things you talked about, sir, are that's nothing new. Even in my day growing up, there was name calling and uh wrong terms. That's nothing new. So you're not we're not accepting anything new. But now we're we're we're trying to to promote it. You you say you're not promoting it, but it's a back door. You are. I respectfully disagree, but that's Yeah, I know. That's actually You're right, too. >> I It's a lot. >> We do need other people to let other people speak. >> Okay. No. Thank you. >> Um Carolyn O'Hara and I am here in

087support of the the board's um projected policy. Um I think we do have to educate people that are growing up. It's the 21st century and I applaud you for um this policy and trying to do that. >> Thank you. >> You Shannon Walden who happened to put this shirt on today before she even thought about what she was going to be doing tonight. So, um some of you have know me. I was a teacher of biological science here and um in Judith Gap. I have a career in research science and lab science and healthcare. So I'm a science geek and I've always been a science geek and some of you know that about me. So one of the things that I've always felt lucky about was that I got to study science and I got

088to study biology which changes all the time and is always evolving. And I feel like that was just a gift to me. My first teaching job in Judithcat, Montana with a population of 182, I learned that 10% of the animals in livestock were gay. And I didn't even know that that could be a possibility. So I I found it out because we were reading a study by a woman who was doing research out of Helen Montana. And I thought, my god, how more, you know, local could this be? And when we talked about it with my students who many of whom were ranchers, they understood the value of that kind of research. Now, bear in mind, this is way before AI is a commonplace thing, and they knew what it took to purchase an animal

089that ultimately ended up to not be effective at what they were spending their money on. So when I started understanding the nature of people who were born physically one way or almost physically one way and had a different um thought about themselves, this didn't make sense to me as a biologist because I understood the way the body worked and the way genes worked. So it took me a long time to understand this. And what I've been grateful for is that the science of genetic development, embryionic development, fetal development, hormone impacts, and genes that turn on and off based on whatever happens to be going on. And I started to understand that the way that the embryo develops, different systems are laid down. And one of the first systems that's laid down is the neural system.

090And this is critical, as you all know, because you got to know what you're sensing. So the neurosystem or the nervous system gets laid down first and then later on the biological systems that start creating the organs and the reproductive tracts starts getting laid down. So now I get it. I understand how your brain can develop in a certain way and that the rest of your body can develop in another way. So I my concern and my appreciation for you as a a dedicated group of individuals is I've been lucky to have taught here. I've been lucky to have been um associated with parents, families, and students who were dedicated to their learning and the seriousness of it. And I've been lucky to see the outcome of that. and I'm grateful that you are continuing

091that tradition as members of the community, as parents, as my former students. I know your position is not easy. I think that your approach is wonderful. Many of us have been in situations where students have confided in us in things that we would rather not know about for them. And it is horrific because you are forced to make decisions that break confidentiality with that student that may in fact be saving that student's life. So, I appreciate the work you're doing and that and the understanding that you have that not everyone has parents who care um and that those students are a member of our community as well. And I've always said that I was teaching in Shangerlaw because I taught in places where where children had multiple individuals caring about them and that it was

092very difficult to grow up in a town like Fort Benton or Judith Gap and not have someone who cared about you, who scooped you up, who parented you. So I appreciate the effort that you're putting into this. Thank you. My name is Gail D Roer and what I would like is to have your motion read again slowly and very loudly so that everybody can hear as of everybody talking. I'm not sure what your motion was. Can you do that for me? >> Do you want to read it back or do you want me to say it again? Do you want to say it again? Okay. I think you said it. >> Maybe stand up. And the background can't hear any of you guys, so you need microphones. The motion is to accept the MTSBA recommended

093policy option one, which allows us to do human sexuality instruction and identity instruction, but with the added language that states that the identity instruction would only be in the form of a handout, an pre-approved handout by the board that would be available for students to pick up as an option. Did I cover it all? >> Okay. >> Oh, and yeah, the policy also because you haven't all read the policy. The policy not only governs what we can teach and what we can't teach, it says it has rules on the timing that needs to happen for parents to be notified of this. and and we selected the option of having parents opt in, meaning they have to sign a permission form to allow their kids to even take the class in general. Okay, so hopefully that

094sums it up. Okay. >> Okay. >> Um, thank you for rereading that. >> Yes. >> Um, I have taught junior high and high school. You can have a child that maybe wants this form. He's not going to get up and take that brochure during that class because they don't want to be unidentified. And if you're not going to teach it and you're just doing a handout, why not leave the handout at the principal's office, the guidance counselor's office, the favorite teachers, and then it's not taught. And that's what the community is saying. We don't want this taught. >> If it's anywhere in the school, we have to we have to choose option one of this policy. >> Do you have to though? Because I think HB 471 I think just requires that we provide five

095days notice before it dis >> parents have to be given at least five days notice. And so that parent parent their her kid could come to a resource and request this form >> and then we would have to send a letter home 5 days in advance. >> She's talking about the def I think she's talking about talking about this form. >> You're talking about the opt in or the opt out or you >> the form that says this is a transsexual this is whatever >> these are your resources >> the handout. >> Yes. If we offer a handout anywhere, we have to choose option one of the >> according to the attorney what the attorney said to me in and I have that that email in writing that >> but you're not offering it instruction

096that class >> but you are because you're it's being taught it's in that classy >> no I'm saying not verbally >> it's verbally handout you're offering the form by their definition you're providing instruction you have to choose option >> to one kid who requests it after you send a letter home to the All of them are going to get the letter. >> No. So if this is at your office pad and a kid comes to you and says, "Hey, I don't know how it's just questions about this and you say, "Oh, I can't talk to you, but if you would like, I can send this letter home with you." You sign your parents sign it, then you could hand the form to them. >> That's that's not the way that I read the policy. Every

097every parent, in this case, it's a sophomore. is a biology class. Every kid in that class, every parent is going to get that letter. They have to return it to us in order to to participate in the instruction and have access to this. >> All the instruction, not just the form. >> Well, this this is strictly volunteered to grab it on your way out the door if you want. Why don't we just opt out of one and two and um go >> because we're giving our we're giving our student population who is all over the spectrum an opportunity in a safe environment to pick up a piece of paper and read it and think to themselves, "Yeah, I might be going through this. I should probably look at any of these trusted sources and and

098talk to them about it." >> That word might is precisely the problem. because you're swaying them with that information. Oh, I felt this way. Oh, maybe I'm tren or maybe I'm whatever. And you're providing you're providing food for the father. >> Option one, you still leave the door open. Um, I guess if that's what it has to be that you are in option one, but this handout, don't put it in that class of sex. Put it with someone that's confident that they could come and talk to. Um, I've had I taught sex in in home economics. I had more kids come to me. I mean, any questions? Everybody's just dear in the headlights. I had more kids come to me after school when nobody's around or I'm walking around town and they, "Oh, oh, can

099I talk to you about this, you know, and then you got the handout there to give them or or whatever, but don't put it in the class itself." >> Oh, I see what you're saying. I see. >> That's all I need to say. I got >> You read option one again. >> Option one. Option one is for districts intending to provide human sexuality instruction and identity instruction. Okay. >> Is it an identity structure uh promoting? >> Well, again, we have somebody else. >> I'm just saying that >> according to the school board's >> the school board attorney told me that if we have the handout if we have to choose option one. >> Y >> but we can add language to that. >> We can add language to that. Absolutely. >> And that we'll take

100that into consideration. Go ahead. Hi, my name is Felton. I know most of everyone. >> Sorry, I'll speak louder. Um, I've known most of you for over 20 years. And I know you guys are very educated, very knowledgeable. You love Fort Mitten and everyone in it. And I know you're doing this out of love for the students. You want everybody to feel loved and cared so they don't commit suicide. So what I'm taking from this is you opt in. So that's the parents rights. Am I wrong? Am I correct? Would everybody agree? But it's parents rights. So you're being very respectful to all the parents in this community or Fort Benton to say if you don't want little Julie or Jimmy to be in this and you don't have to. We respect that. But we're

101not going to keep parents that love their children and understand that you're a caring. You do not want a child's blood on your hands if they do something >> because nobody will listen to them. >> And at that point, church and state is separate. I'm a god-fearing woman. Always have been. But that is between the parents, your children, and God. So, I really thank you and appreciate all the effort and the time that you took. You got lawyers involved. You taught and I'm sure it wasn't easy and it's a very hard decision. So, I really thank you and I wish a board was around like this when I grew up. Thank you. >> Do we have any other comments? >> I just have one question, Ken. So with this with the um the handout or

102what >> can you >> the child Carla Hansen um the child is not able to come to the class or whatever without the parents permission without a sign permission. >> Yeah. All the parents will have access to the the whole presentation and slides which is just on basic sex ed. Right. >> Yeah. >> So it's >> it'll be available for the parents to review before they sign the permission slips. >> May I ask one more question? I know I have more than enough time to spot. May I offer one more or ask another one? >> I still am troubled. You're giving out with definitions. Some of those definitions you read to me um you know those are lingo etc. I still come back to the fact physically they're lies. Okay, physically they're lies. You cannot

103I I g I already conceded all the things you can be but a male cannot become a male a female and a female cannot become a male. And those transgender terms encompass that thought process that it can happen. >> Okay. Is there anyone else who would like to speak? We can take I think one more. It's already 8:40. >> I'll be quick. >> Go ahead. >> So, I'm Mike McDonald. Uh I taught school for 40 years uh all around Montana and in New Mexico and Vermont. and I was on a school board and I think that the proposal that you have made is an outstanding compromise. Uh I don't know that you could get this information out uh and give those parents with objections uh any more leverage than what you are giving them. Uh

104as a parent, grandparent, uh I agree that a parent should have the right to determine that his or her child doesn't get information that they find objectionable. But as a parent, I don't think another parent has the right to prohibit my child from getting information that I think they should have. And I think that that's something that is being brought up here. >> Okay. Now, my final statement and then I'll be done. Uh, so when I went to school, high school, I graduated in 1966. And when I think back on the talk that went around in locker rooms and in the hall and so forth, jokes and so forth, uh against my fellow students who were going through these sexual ident identity issues and in that society had no means of expressing themselves, coming out.

105Uh basically they were ostracized if they said anything. uh this uh is something that I'm really embarrassed about and whereas some people think that this is a step back in society uh I think this is a tremendous stride forward in society that we are uh open and allowing uh students who have identity questions to express their identity uh without the feelings that they're going to be persecuted uh the targets of locker room jokes and so forth. So again hope you pass this uh proposal as proposed and I think it's a very good compromise. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> So can I make >> y? So, just to be clear, the the Montana School Boards Association policy under option one includes that the annual notice given to parents will include electronic link. So, the parent

106is using they're not just randomly making a decision. They have the chance to look at the materials to agree upon their child participating or not. So to be clear that every every year that the school district would send out a notice to whatever group of parents or that particular year in this case the grade 10 students are in biology parents are going to have access to the link to look at the materials. Okay, number one. Number two, the other thing I would like to close with is that on the bottom of the if if we adopt policy one, you're also adopting then the handout and then once that if if that's a decision that the board makes um then those materials can be made would be also made available to the parents and to the

107community once it's agreed upon by the board. >> Okay. And the bottom of this form talks about what we want for all of our kids is to be nice humans and and everyone is entitled to their choice and we encourage respect and kindness toward all of Fort Benton. We talk about it. We handed out be the bridge awards the other day about being good people. And it's it's what we want. We I want my kids, my own children to be have been treated with courtesy and respect. I want the same thing for the amazing kids that we have in Fort Benton. This is an extraordinary place to live and work. And I couldn't be prouder of the of the students we have here. But they need to know that that we care about them. And

108you know, I don't I open my door every day and Mrs. Martin opens her door every day and our our amazing teachers open the door every day to kids to come from backgrounds of which I have no idea and and they uh we I have this book on my desk that talks about trauma and the things that they've had to endure. And um the fact is is that our job is to help them be safe and feel that they they have they can come here and and talk to us and find an ear and be we can be respectful to them and uh uh be be kind. And that's what this at the bottom of this form says to be encourage respect and kindness toward all and um yeah just want to close that. >>

109Okay. >> So um I guess now are we comfortable or there >> I have com I guess I would oppose this. Um I have a couple thoughts. Um so if a parent chooses I I believe it's still a lot of parents and child's uh discussions but on top so like if if the optin form goes out and we have parents that choose to not have their kids attend it because they don't want to go through the identity then they are not able to attend the human sexuality part. There's two parts to the letter, >> correct? But >> the parents or guardians have the right to withdraw the student from the district's human sexuality instruction and the requirement that the parent or guardian provide written permission to allow the child to attend identity instruction. >> We're

110not doing it at the same time. >> It's in the same letter, >> but they can choose one or the other or the other. So on the day that we teach if that they were to opt them out of the gender identity, >> but there Yeah, there's no instruction on it. There's no verbal there's no verbal communication regarding this. It's a piece of paper on a desk and they may grab a piece as they walk out. >> And you're wondering if they opt out if they if you can opt out of the gender identity and still have the sex ed. >> Yeah. Grab a piece of paper. >> Yes, you can do that. >> You don't you just don't grab the piece of paper. You just take the sex ed. The parent opts out because

111they don't >> then they don't then they don't take sexed and they don't have access to this piece of paper. So they don't hang out in the library yet. So they don't have a sex ed. >> Correct. Yeah. >> Okay. I see. >> And then I guess other question I had is like this handout like if if we miss something right here if we're not including somebody in here. I don't feel like this handout is we need to be nice to everybody not just because of a handout. Um so I don't that's what I struggling with. I don't know if we really need this handout just to be make us nice. >> No I don't think it makes you nice. It just allows them to know specifically what those terms mean. That's it. >> It's

112not if they pick it up, >> if they see the pro the problem I I get what you're saying. The problem that we run into, and we ran into this conversation before last year when we were doing sexed conversations, is there are going to be kids that come in and they come to the sexed part of the of the instruction and they don't fit in that square peg. there's something different about them and they need some they need the information so that they can learn more about it and find and and you can't we have you know we need to offer them that and there's lots of talk about I hear that there's lots of talk about go home to your parents and um talk to your parents about this I can't tell you as

113a therapist in this town how many parents I mean even if the child goes to the parent the parents aren't there's so many parents that aren't handling they aren't This isn't a conversation I had. I mean, I think this piece I think this just offers one more I think this just offers to the child that doesn't or the teenager, we're talking 10th graders, that that has questions or doesn't have I mean, it gives them resources and it it they they don't fit into the to what the typical situation is and they're there. We all know they're there. Right. >> But if the parent opted out, you can't give it to them. >> They won't have access to it because they won't be class. >> But if it's on a pile, are they just taking them

114as they leave or how's that? >> If they so choose, >> but you're still giving them access to it then. >> Yes. >> So then you're still giving access. >> So we're giving young adults the option to read a piece of paper with definitions on it. young adults to make their own decision. >> No, >> right. No. If the parents >> If the parents say no, that's not going to >> it's only sex education but no to the pamphlet. It would not be given. >> You can't. >> So there's not one >> then that child should know that two section. No, >> you can opt into the gender identity or >> opt into the sex. You can't the sex ed class but not opt out as a pamphlet. >> You can understand this is completely

115voluntary. >> Well, it's during the offer during that >> this is this piece of paper to pick up and read is completely voluntary by this young. >> Okay. So >> I guess I just >> bringing it back. >> So why couldn't we have this pencil paper at the counselor's office or >> still providing instruction? >> But it's oneonone. >> Yes. But it's still considered instru. >> So are you are you wanting to be able to offer are you wanting to be able to offer our children to our parents to opt into sexed and not have any access to that piece of paper? No. So, this would be a resource for them because I I agree this is a great resource. >> Uhuh. >> But I was just wondering if you could also have it just

116if you did option two >> and then because it's still in the school. >> It's still in the >> still in the school. Anywhere in the school. >> It's considered an >> anywhere in the school. That's what the lawyer says. >> So then we could add biblical perspective pamphlet as well. >> You've already opened the door for this one. We could add we could have another panel that has the biblical perspective, the healthy perspective. >> Currently, we're focusing on this on which way we're going. So, >> I understand this will have the questions asked of each one of you as well. But >> any ways you look at it >> option >> whether it's just in the and I kind of agree with you that being in the counselor's office where they have to be

117the option >> it's still option two I'm having a hard time why do we have to commit to an a >> so at one point MTSBA enhanced the policy >> okay >> and So, originally it really was the um providing both and then they came out with the other two options. >> We originally voted for option two which we >> well no it was option so it when it first came out it was option one. >> It was it was everything now MTSBA has added wording >> right and then we chose two policy didn't >> policy chose one is where it came out of the policy. So what is one? >> That's both. >> One is one >> offering both or the language is that it's only a handout. >> Ask a question. >> Yes.

118>> Please be quiet. So my question is I understand what what you're doing and everything about >> is it an option to uh parent to opt in >> and then everybody that opts into the class and I haven't read the definition I haven't seen it so I don't know what it is is that that just now I know the answer to that because there's a lot of parents that aren't involved in this and and a little background being fostered and starting that line of kids, you know, I understand that. But would that that would give a parent the opportunity to have the discussion or at least to have that. I tell you what, the long time I haven't been in high school in 50 years, but you have to have all you know parents or

119kids parents that pop off them into the class. These papers been going all across the whole system. I mean, we've seen Super. >> Yeah. So if you gave the uh if you can maybe it would satisfy most of us that just the parents got the the definition. >> Kids aren't going to approach parents if they're if they are having a problem like this. My feeling is many kids won't approach their parents about it. They're going to come to an administrator or a counselor before they come to a parent about it, I think. But also from a parents perspective, if I am given the curriculum and asked to opt into it, I have the opportunity to review this, which means I then have the opportunity to talk to my kids about it, about what my moral

120point of view is on it before they ever come to the instruction. That's what a good parent is going to do and not trust this the school to do all of that for them and do the moral instruction. So I think that um >> so if they opt in they have >> they have access to everything that they have. It's >> it's sent to them in a le. >> Yeah. So um >> before the instruction is given. >> But do they get it before we give >> they get it at the same time? >> Yes. >> And I I believe that they are seeing far worse online completely unfiltered. So today is >> this needs to happen. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, coming back. >> Yeah, we do have a second. So, we can vote

121on it unless we >> ready to vote. >> Okay. Are we ready to vote? >> Okay. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. I motion passed. Okay. So, we had a trans. >> So, you guys, it doesn't matter what we said. You half a dozen people up there or whatever determine everything for all of the students here in Fort B. >> Why show up? >> Remember when comes around? >> Yep. We're gonna move on. Thank you everyone. Okay. Transportation. >> Madam Chair, so uh we had a transportation committee meeting >> and it was recommended by the trans it's recommended by the transportation committee to buy a bus to replace a yellow. >> So this a yellow bus. >> Yeah. So, we're recommending that a recommendation that I usually uh Paul had quite a bit

122of play time. So, the cost of the bus is $176,000. That's a couple weeks month out maybe. Oh, no. along the uh by the time we submit saying that we will purchase that bus it will be um roughly 14 to 16. >> Okay. >> But it's a planned planned purchase part of the rotation. So uh you need a motion on that. >> Yes. >> I'd entertain a motion to buy a bus. Second. >> Okay. Any discussion? >> Yep. Okay. All those in favor? >> Opposed. >> Okay. Next on the agenda are cameras at the bus bar. >> Um Paul has been doing some thinking with the Cho County Sheriff's Department and they'd like to upgrade the camera system around the bus barn. So Paul has brought us a bid for cameras from Aigalon. So they

123integrate with our existing system. Uh the price for that is $19,000 and we can get that paid for through the bus depreciation fund. So in affect our general fund. So I'd entertain a motion for discussion. >> Second that. >> Okay. any discussion or questions? >> Um I guess just I guess since coming transportation uh doesn't matter is thinking cost savings running cables like we do in the school. >> Um >> is that did they >> that that includes the labor >> Russ? >> Yeah, I was going to so let me let me out on that. um service was offered, but um the gentleman that did is the same guy that did our our one over here. And um with the logistics and the short runs that they have or over there, it's easier for them

124to go ahead and do that. Um we it's >> not like screwing around up. >> Yeah. Yeah. We we did look at that, but because of the runs, they'll get a lift in there and they might even use our lift and they'll be able to get all most all that. We did look at that with Paul that if we could save something savings is very very minimal to run our own cables and so it would opt to go that way. >> Gotcha. Proceed. >> Okay. So, we have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? Okay. All those in favor? I >> opposed. >> Uh we're working on Paul is also insurance among other people would like us to look at having cameras in the buses both looking forward out of the bus and looking

125back in the bus to see what's going on back there. Both to protect us and the kids, you know, liability situations. So, but they're going to get a bid for us on that and we're going to talk about that. Nothing's been finalized on that one. >> Okay. >> Paul is in the never ending quest for bus drivers and he's going to keep working on that. So, he has one candidate and it looks like we need a couple more at some point. So, that's all we had. >> Okay. Do we need to schedule any committee meetings? >> Um, we we will need to schedule a policy meeting. um has to do with transportation as well. So we'll have Paul there. Is there a certain way to work? Are you involved? Just let me know. Okay. That

126works for >> Well, it'd be nice before September when we approve handbooks. So, >> okay. So, >> yeah. >> It's a change to the handbook. Yeah. So, >> you guys have some time. You can talk again to Dustin and see if there's any other policies. >> Yeah, >> even even if we schedule the night before the May board meeting. >> Yeah. >> And then if we can discuss if there's any other policies, the one for the transportation bus drivers >> to be determined. >> Um can we do it the the Monday before the next board meeting >> or >> the >> uh Yeah, if we can do the day of Oh, >> six. Yeah, if we do the day of >> six o'clock the day of six o'clock. Yeah. May 12th. >> I think so.

127Yes. >> Okay. Are there other committees that we need to schedule? Okay. Um I think we're done with committee meetings. um personnel. >> Yeah, I'm still typing. >> I know when you're done. >> Okay. Uh I regret to inform you. I'm I'm here tonight to give you the letters of resignation from Patrice McDonald. She's a parad middle school high school, Amila Clark, our high school science teacher, and Jordan Dennison, who um we hired this year as a high school custodian. Um they all have contributed in their own ways, in their own lengths of time in our school district. Patrice, among them, has been here a good long time. She's done an extraordinary job in our resource room. Mila, even in a short amount of time, she's done a really great job as our high school

128science teacher. And Jordan, you've heard Russ multiple times compliment his work as a custodian. So, it's with a little sadness that we gave you those letters of recogn resignation tonight. As for staff hiring, um, Mrs. Benjamin, do you want to say anything about the hiring of Ruth Benjamin and Katie Kelly for volunteers? is that we'll be keeping a close eye on both of them. Sorry. >> No, that would be great. We're really happy to have >> I walk slower so Beth can pick that one. >> Yeah. >> If you could put that in the camera. That would be great. >> Yeah. Look right into the camera. Um I would recommend to the board that we hire Katie Kelly and Ruth Benjamin as volunteers in the elementary school. >> Yes. Good. >> We love our reading

129moms and we're very thankful. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. should maybe abstain because there's a familial >> Okay. Any questions, comments? No. >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. >> The other uh request is to I recommend that you hire Danette Johnson. She's the mother of Lucy Johnson to transport those two students to the Leos Club. We're we're approving her as a volunteer, but recognize by approving her as a volunteer, what you're doing is agreeing to allow her to transfer the two girls to the state Lions Club convention this weekend. >> Second, I'll second. >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. The other cool thing I forgot to mention earlier in my report, what's so cool about these two girls going in addition to the other things I mentioned is they are both

130foregoing their senior trip to go to the state Lions Club convention. >> So, um I think that's pretty impressive. So, just FYI. Um I would like to recommend the hire of uh Rosemary Ko as a middle school high school resource PAR for next school year. That's >> exciting. Second, Okay. >> All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. >> And finally, I'd like to recommend Jenna Bots to work in the uh school district business office next year to replace our Roxy Allen. >> Second. >> Okay. All those in favor? I >> no long again a sidebar that Roxy has agreed to stay on kind of as long as we need her through the end of the school year into June and help with the transition. She'll be back as much as we as ladies in

131the business office need her and as much as Jenna needs her as she begins that transition to that role in the business office. >> And then Roxy said she would um come back to you as a volunteer to continue to work with Tinera. Oh, >> rescheduling and dual enrollment and all that stuff. >> Homeless. She does the homeless stuff. >> It's a kind of a big deal at the state. >> I I had one comment on the janitor at the elementary. >> It's been what, four years? I think that this that position is basically unemployable at this point. And I think we should look at ways to engage the existing staff, teachers to just get the school clean. It's been long enough. Let's just let's figure something out. >> Isn't that what they're doing? >>

132Yeah, but um I mean, yeah, that is what they're doing right now. >> Danny's probably going to come back, though. >> Who? Danny. >> Danny's coming back. >> A regular cleaner is coming back at >> Okay. I think that's the place to start. >> We have a budget for janitors. So >> yeah, well it comes out of general fund >> that we can discuss in one of our personnel committ ideas. >> That's good. >> Okay. Any changes they have to go through? >> I know they do. >> Yeah. So we have brought it up before in negotiations. >> Okay. So, moving on. Future agenda items. >> He's dead. >> You just surren. >> Yep. So, that's all I have to think. >> Yeah. Okay. Who wants to move to adjourn? So move. >> Second, please.

133All those in favor? I I