001Ice 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. >> Just a reminder to everyone, this meeting is recorded and will be posted. Um, we do need to make an agenda change. The high school track coach under the activity director's report needs to be moved under personnel. >> Okay. Approval of the minutes. I do have a I'd like to make a motion to amend the amendment under the clerk's work to that we discussed uh find it here real quick where we talked about the taxes or the 431 or something whatever that >> district that we for timeline for lawyers that that gets involved. No. Are there any other corrections or questions? >> Um, he made a motion for
002that. Do we need to second it? We don't usually make a motion for amendments, >> right? >> We need a second. You second it. >> Okay. Sorry. >> Okay. If that's everything, um, we'll go ahead and vote. So, the minutes or we'll vote on approving the minutes with the updated 491 language. Um, all those in favor? >> Opposed. Okay. Approval of claims. >> So move. >> A second. I did have a question. What's emergent three? >> Er is the app we have on our phones now in the event we have to have a lockdown, fire drill, um unexpected closure, whatever. So we can we can push a button from here and and alert all the staff. It also enables us to know where people are. So like in the midst of a fire, Joe, we
003we can because everyone all the staff will have the app on their phones as well. So we can locate where people are and make sure and they happy to indicate whether they're safe. It's a communication tool in a basement emergency great American financial. It must be paper with copers. >> I believe so. >> Page two, I guess. Yeah. Uh, no. So, Great American Financial that is our new we got new coffee machines at the elementary school. >> Okay. Are they involved with this sharers or >> they are but they we um ordered they called it this the secondary piece on the end of it that does the sorting and the stapling and all that. So, it came from a different company. Okay. >> That we finance them through through. >> Okay. Okay. >> Any other
004questions? All those in favor? Opposed? Okay. Communications to and from the board. Um, we got three. I have a letter of resignation from Roxy Allen. So, I will pass that around. And that is all I have. Okay. Um, up next is public comment of non-aggenda items. Um, we do have people here. I don't know if there's comments, but now is the time. >> No, just here to listen. >> Um, the board chair, >> the board chair, um, I don't have a lot to report on, but it is time for the superintendent evaluation, so I will be emailing that to everybody and getting that started here shortly. um hopefully by the end of the week. Now it is time for the elementary principal report. Awesome. >> Okay. Hello everybody. It seems it was as I was
005putting together the report. It's interesting how much has happened even with two weeks of break. Hopefully everyone had a good Christmas. Mr. Fold and Jen, there you go. Um, thank you for those of you who attended the Christmas program. Eric Lennington and Piggy Ganon always do such an amazing job with that. And um, every year I watch it, I'm always like, it can never get cuter than this. And then I just think they do such a great job. It seems like it gets cuter every year. Our kids did great. Um, and the teachers as well, they always do such a wonderful job at accommodating practices throughout their days. and um the week before the the month before Christmas can always be a little bit of an interesting time at the elementary school. So, a change
006in routine can be a little bit of a challenge, but they um do a great job. On December 16th and and 18th, we um held spirit rallies. And so, those are where our kiddos all mix up and they're in their different age level groups. And so, we did them with their classroom leaders. Um and that went really well. So, just to kind of try to give those kids a little bit of extra sense of comfort and community before we send them off on their two-eek break. And um the teachers say they like those, but maybe they're just like kidding me, but I'll take it. So, we have another one coming up this Friday. December 16th um also was another successful cooking with kids. We're really thankful for that program and we have another session tomorrow
007that's always well attended. We had a wonderful and I don't know if tuneful is the right word, but great fifth and sixth grade band concert. And it's always fun to see the progression from fifth and sixth to middle school. Looking forward to middle school band for my kids. So can't wait. I'm like just you'll get there, Mackenzie. Um and on December 18th, the art club um came into the elementary school and did ornament painting and ornament decorating with all of the preK through sixth grade kids. And so that's really fun. This was kind of big news this year, you guys. We had Santa visit the elementary school and he was one of the board members. Don't tell the kids that. You can't put that in the paper. But >> um good job. >> He also
008visited the middle school high school. So it's it was very big. >> Don't try to steal my thunder. >> Yeah. No, I was like steal my Okay, Mr. Wolf. You'll get your report soon. Okay. But they they was fun. The sixth graders were even like very like they enjoyed it. So it was awesome. Yeah. Thank you very much. We'll look forward to that every year. And we're hoping you have an Easter Bunny costume, >> right? Did you hear that? Okay. He's Yeah. Okay. He heard that. Um Okay. So this year we also did a candygram sale. And so this was a aid or an idea that was brought from one of our new pair of professionals, Teresa. And so, um, kiddos could buy a candy cane and send it to a teacher, a friend. Parents
009could buy it for their kids. And we had local businesses donate. So, big thanks to the River Market and to the pharmacy. Um, but we made $472 on candygram sales. And we donated that to our playground fund. So, little by little, we'll get there. Looking for a new playground in so we'll get there. Um, we had vision and hearing screenings today. So, a big thanks to Jen Longfellow. She did our hearing screening and then the Lions Club came in and did our vision screening. We also had CCPA outreach today. We had a yodeling cowboy from Conrad. I can't remember. WY. Yeah. And so that was really fun. The kids enjoyed it and he's performing right now. Um, do you guys have any questions on happenings? Okay. Awesome. I do always love the Christmas times around
010the elementary school and so and I'm just thankful for such a great staff that works together to make the crazy busy hectic time an enjoyable time. So they do a really amazing job. So we are back at it. Um I'll move on down to the MTSS report. Our mass testing window two begins this week. I think it began yesterday. So I already have some teachers planning next week to complete some of those assessments. We also will begin next week our next round of maps testing. And so that's really just for our personal use. And I think the second round will be great. This will help in addition to dibbles in terms of giving us an idea on where our kids are on different standards uh third through 8th grade. So yeah. Awesome. Do you have
011anything you want to add to that or you just Okay, great. Do you guys have any questions on that? Okay. I'll have some more reports and some stuff we can talk about next board meeting. So buckle up. I know you guys love data, right? Yeah. Okay. >> Okay. So, in the works, um our dibble week, we decided to move to next week because we have ski trips and kind of we're still letting our kids settle back into the routine of things. So, we'll come start working on that next week. That that'll be doubles and map a midterm and Thursday. We have another CCPA trip January 22nd. We have our third and fourth ski trip. January 18th, our fifth and sixth ski trip, January 30th, and nothing else right now off the top of my head
012except everything all the time. Right. Yeah. Do you guys have any any sicknesses going around? >> Yeah, really not too bad. We're not going to go over that. Yeah. So far, um, yeah, our attendance is at like 96% which is really great. So getting ready for we'll gear up because that'll change probably once like you know now that middle school girls basketball has started and once middle school wrestling starts then that'll really change. Little guys starting tonight too. So >> yeah. Yeah. And um we also have little dribblers going on and so a huge thank you to the volunteers for that that make that program happen. We have pretty good attendance. We also had a very well attended cheer camp and that was fun. Huge kudos to the cheerleaders. They did a great job leading
013that, picking the cheers, teaching the dances. So hopefully we'll have popular attendance next year as well for that. >> They did a good job. >> Yeah. Weren't they cute? They did such a good job. >> How did you structure that? Was that like a week long thing? >> Yeah, it was Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and then basically I just kind of had like a couple cheerleaders man that we have quite a few new cheerleaders. So, we kind of broke up the groups so then some of the new cheerleaders could work on their dances and then a couple of the cheerleaders could help teach the kids. So, it went really well. And I don't think we will do it until 5:00. I think we'll end at 4:30 next year. But >> yeah, >> learn every day. >>
014Yeah, I learn something every day. >> Yeah. Okay. Awesome. Thank you. Thank you. >> Hey, Jamie. Good evening everybody. >> Hello. >> Um I'll just run down a little update on winter sports first. So we have robotics who gets to go off to their first competition on Saturday. They will go to Helena. Um speech and drama. They're up and going. They took third place this last weekend as a team in Shelby and they will be traveling to compete in Three Forks this weekend. And then they're already into postseason. Uh divisionals will happen January 24th up at CJI, so close to home. And state will happen January 30th and 31st in Towns End. And so they're moving along and um lots of new faces in that, but they are growing and improving and seem to be
015enjoying themselves more every time. Um Pet Band and Cheer, we love them. Thank you. They look great. They sound great. our our gym wouldn't be the same without them. Uh like she said, they had a great cheer camp and all those little friends got to show off. We also utilized pet band and cheer at the chat game that I'll mention later and they did an incredible job. So, I appreciate all those kids working hard there. Middle school girls basketball has started. Uh we will play our first game here this Thursday over in the elementary gym. Um, it was supposed to be a jamboree that had to be rescheduled due to someone else and so we've broken it up and they will play Fairfield at 4:30 on Thursday. Boys basketball is 8 and0 on the season.
016We're 5-0 in conference. Girls are 5 and three and four and one in conference. They're both doing great things. Um, working hard and I'm very proud of all the effort they've put in. They have upcoming games this week in Cutbank on Friday and then we will be here at home versus Fairfield on Saturday and that will start at one o'clock. We've been I know we need we need weather but we've been lucky in this aspect that weather hasn't gotten in the way of travel. We are still facing um some officiating shortages that we've ran into already and that um I'm working on even right now for Saturday. We have it figured out. we will still have a game, but um we are very short on officials. So, if you know someone who's considering that, encourage
017them. And it is officials appreciation week as well. So, if you have the opportunity to see one, please thank one because it's not an easy job and I appreciate all that they do for us. Um, boys wrestling and girls wrestling are it's a full wrestling room and they have been traveling and going and working very hard, doing a great job. We had um lots of places in the last few meets. Um but last week in Cutbank, the girls were tournament champions at that tournament. This week they'll go to Fairfield on Thursday night and then they'll compete in the Shoto tournament on Friday and Saturday. So they're doing they're doing great things in there. We have so many active kids. It's pretty incredible um to see them all coming and going and and doing different different
018things and being part of it. I want to thank Russ and everybody for all their help in get and always getting the school ready for all our games, but especially that Tech game. If you had the opportunity to come, we hosted Montana Tech right before the Christmas break and it was a pretty special thing to be a part of. Uh those big guys sure made our gym look a little bit smaller. Um, but it was a lot of fun and they were um they were very appreciative and the coach was was very appreciative. The players were we fed both the teams. Well, I shouldn't say we like I had anything to do with it. I didn't. Um, they fed both the teams in the cafe after the game uh before they headed back to Canada
019and um they just were were great kids and and they're not kids anymore. Great great students and players. So, it was a fun thing to be a part of. Um, I have brought to my attention a few more questions recently about our middle school basketball season. And so, um, I wanted to share an update and provide some context regarding some of the questions that just came up even through today. Um, so this is regarding spring basketball opportunities and our current setup of what we're doing. So this year moving into the 1B, we moved into for our junior high is basically the 1B expanded. It's called the Northern Middle School Athletic Association. It involves the 1B plus Browning and Hav and De La. Um, and since moving to the 1B, our structure has changed. So whereas
020before we kind of had two basketball seasons, we had a junior high season, which was seventh and eighth grade, and then we had an elementary season, which was fifth and sixth grade, we now are middle school, which is 6th through 8th grade. Um, in some questions and some conversations that we've had in the past and that have been um, discussed, the C district, the 9C run by Northstar um, has indicated that they would allow Fort Benton to participate in their spring basketball league. This is a league that we previously participated in when Fort Benton was part of that district. At that time, it was considered elementary basketball and we used our teams of, excuse me, fifth and sixth grade students. Um, we now participate, like I said, in middle school basketball in the former CE
021has a ball and they are now planning in this season of what we used to know as elementary basketball to um expand a little bit and include fifth through seventh graders in their spring league. While that may still be referred to as elementary basketball by them, I'm not sure. The age range the age range, excuse me, no longer truly aligns with that model. We have um and currently are having full seasons that we are providing to our middle school students for their opportunities. And I want to commend all the parents for creating opportunities for the younger kids. Um they I've heard lots of things from the kids and the parents and and they've created some little traveling teams and um I love that you are fostering the enthusiasm and the support for them. So thank
022you. Within our current district, we've already completed or are currently completing our middle school basketball seasons, including sixth graders. We have paid out our middle school stipens of coaches. We did have elementary stipens, which are different than middle school stipens in the past. At this time, I have not or we have not hired any elementary basketball coaches because I had not prepared for this season. and I prepared for us being in the Northern Middle School Athletic Association. It's also important to note that this current upcoming season that I'm mentioning would overlap our wrestling season. Um, and so that's that's an issue that we would face with that. It's important to note that in back to my um coaches that we've already had our middle school seasons that it is unlikely that our middle school coaches
023that we've had will return next year. So, we will be looking for new middle school coaches and the fact that we haven't prepared for an elementary season in hiring. We don't have them on the books yet. This year has required us to join this new league. Whether we liked it or not, this is where we were put. It's felt a bit like stepping into a new world. I'll admit it. Uh there's been a lot of changes. Some of them good, some of them bad, some of them yet to be determined. Um my opinion remains that we continue our sports participation within what we were placed, the Northern Middle School Athletic Association of the 1B expanded league. I recognize that there are a lot of concerns because of the changes of how our middle school seasons
024went and I have them as well. and I will and I plan to and will gladly address them at our um we have a meeting once a year is what I've been told in April for for this athletic association. There's a possibility that next year could look like this year again. But there's also potential for change based on the league decisions that happen during that meeting. At this time I do not know where things will land for next year. I do know that I'm not the only participant involved, the only school involved that has concerns or that it hasn't worked for greatly. I do know that there's changes being discussed and being presented. I also know that in conversations with the representatives from the C district that they also have had many changes that they've
025had to deal with and they're not sure what their future looks like either as far as what they go into. Whether that results in once again whether that results in change next year or the continuation of the current year. I'm not sure. I won't bring you back a full report from my meetings in April once I've gone. But giving given all these uncertainties combined with our current staffing and overlapping seasons and the fact that we have provided our junior high or excuse me our middle school seasons already. In the past, I recommended that we remained and stay with the 1B and stay with the sixth through 8th grade program. Um, I just recently had some questions on this spring league and it was brought forth to me last night and today with the information from
026the sea and so with all that I feel like there's been a lot of questions out there and there's a lot of uncertainty and even though we've had discussion, it hasn't felt like there's any finality. So my recommendation, as you just heard and know, is to stay with the 1B and stay with what we've done with just our middle school seasons that we've had and are currently having. But I would like to put it to you to um a vote or a straw a straw vote or show of hands or however however we need to do it to show me what you would like to proceed with because I would gladly support whatever the board chooses to go forward with. I have a couple of questions for you. >> Um, >> see if I can
027have find some answers. >> Um, okay. So, it's my understanding that we were originally told no, they didn't want us in. And so, you came back to us with a new invitation. So, is this just for this year or is this an ongoing invitation? >> I'm not sure. And so, it's just for this season. And one of the things was because they they don't have a tournament. So they said that we would have that was one of the other reasons in the discussions in the past where we left the 9C's that the tournament play >> and this doesn't have a tournament this league. >> Um in the email today it looks like I'm not sure what happened on their end. They want to put the old nine seed league back together just for this spring
028league. So this discussion is not for anything except for this spring basketball which which we knew was fifth and sixth which is now for them fifth through 7th. >> Is it the same schedule that they ran last year other than the fact that they don't have a tournament? Is it roughly the same time frame? >> Um I asked when it would start and it was February 23rd. Make sure that's right. And then it would have all of the Saturdays through March and into April. Yes. >> So the fact that it overlaps with our wrestling season wasn't a problem before when we were in C wrestling, but now it is because it >> Well, it's it it's it was a problem. It's always been a problem. >> It's always been a problem. >> Um Okay. Well,
029that that's not true. I think when our kids played back when our oldest kids played Well, our our oldest couldn't play this. There wasn't that option. my middle kids, the schedules were a little bit different and it worked out. It It doesn't They're going to have to pick because all of the tournament the wrestling tournaments and the basketball games are on the same days. >> Okay. >> So, we did run into that >> and we had a couple try to do both and they quickly realized they'll never get games. So, they um the last couple years just went with one. >> So, what other costs do we have besides um paying for elementary coaches stipens? your travel your travel your repping when we host because um if we were there in the past we've hosted
030a couple weekends. >> Okay. >> Um >> so yeah, you're coaching, your travel, your refing. >> Is it the same schools that were in the 9C Shinook and Turner? What they what the invitation today said to was all of the old 9C middle school which was all of the 9C what we were used to plus Shinook plus St. Jude. >> Yeah. So what what it had been not their new 9C. >> Okay. I don't remember the old one. >> So Big Sandy >> Chester Box Elder Turner. >> Yeah. >> Us. >> I guess I do. When does the middle school season end? >> The middle school season ends on February 21st. >> So they don't overlap. >> No, it would end on Saturday and they would begin the season on Monday. >> Okay. So the
031those two middle school and elementary quote wouldn't overlap. >> Yeah. >> Okay. just for us overlaps. >> But that's it overlap last year. It did. Same way >> and it did. >> Well, I know. Sorry. >> Oh, go you go ahead. You go. >> I just So, we already have a coach that been set aside. >> We have them. We don't have them. Uh, they were >> they were what we' had in the past in the CBA >> and but they are different from middle school sitins, >> right? The rate. >> Yes. Yes. They're not making it easy on you. >> Yeah. >> Changing minds and like I feel >> and I think that's part of my concern is what's it going to look like? Are we changing to fix this and then we're going
032to have to change again next year. >> Yeah. if this were um a long-term invitation and they hadn't changed it to go up to grade and I don't know to who is going to opt in or opt out or or if if everyone else I you know I haven't been in able to be involved in their meetings or anything. >> Um so I don't actually know the answer to how many of them are are going to be part of this what it will look like. >> So it sounds like I mean this could be a moving target whether we stay in B or C. I mean, if C think they're changing and we go back to C, then it's going to be different, too. It sounds like there's a lot of unknowns. >> Well, their
033their middle school seasons were pretty set with their new districts. It's just this elementary one or what they call elementary. So, they're expanding it to the seventh grade. So, I don't I don't know. We're still calling it elementary, but >> um an iPad about this. >> Is it an agenda? Can you comment? >> I don't know the rules. >> I It was in my report. I don't know. I have some discussion under reporting. >> So fifth came about after the last time I attended a meeting and we discussed the middle school season and it was encouraged for us to seek opportunities outside. So, we reached out to um Northstar and they said, "Why aren't you guys playing in our spring league?" We said, "Well, we thought we were kicked out of that." In a roundabout
034way, that's where this invitation came from. They did involve seventh graders this year because their middle school season got shortened by a week. So they didn't feel like their seventh graders, even though they have that other season, were getting an equal opportunity. So they added the seventh grade to this league because of that. So their their sixth and seventh graders are are playing two seasons. They're just shorter than what happened before. >> The sea league though, the girls and the boys play the same time as they did. >> The elementary boys and girls. >> It's both boys and girls. Yeah. and they would love for us to be a part of it because that would be nine which gives them three schools in each jamboree on the weekends but this point you said not everyone
035has >> I don't know everyone's committed >> the invitation was just sent with the details to all of us today >> so how do we feel about our seventh graders and how and their middle school season did how long was How long did it end up being? It seemed by >> the boys played a couple extra games that we had called and picked up extra games though. We played like seven, eight weeks. >> Yeah, it's seven to eight weeks. >> Yep. And the girls will be the same. Oh, it could be up to nine if they make the tournament. >> Okay. >> Eight if they make the tournament. Yeah. >> Yep. >> There's a tournament just involved the top four. >> Correct. And then because we didn't make for this year. Yeah. >> Yeah. And
036then some other teams didn't. They reached out and we played. >> So we played our own Yep. >> games. Yeah. >> So the tournament league essentially was off the table until you found some games after the fact. So you didn't participate in the tournament. >> The tournament is only the top four go to the play. But that is the discussion that I know that is going to be had at the meeting as well >> before next year for a possible change >> whether or not all all the teams be >> Yeah. How it how it the whole structure of how that worked. Yes. >> Cuz the way they did this year was also new to them. >> It was this was a new year and so they discovered a lot of things that >> that
037they didn't love. And so, like I said, whether I I don't know this leak, you know, and I haven't been to one of those meetings yet to know how that will go, but I do know in discussions with a lot of them, a lot of them had concerns and and would like to change how it ran a little bit to make it a better fit for the schools. >> There go ahead. >> When does it start again? The Northstar, >> the elementary league would start >> the 23rd of February. Okay. >> Any idea that there are people interested in coaching? >> I don't know. I I mean >> that would be >> I think there from conversations I've researched in the community there is people. >> Yeah. I don't know. I just I you know
038we hadn't prepared for it. So I we don't have it out there and I hadn't put it out there in because way back you know we weren't part of this NC anymore. So, how many fifth and sixth grade parents do I have here tonight? >> Fourth. >> How many of you want to do this? um it feels like a last minute pivot that's kind of inconvenient to manage. But going forward into next year, if we were given the opportunity, if there's a lot of ifs in this scenario, right? >> And what's going to change? >> Yeah. If class B continues with what they're doing and we have the same dilemma about not having the fifth graders participate, then this seems like a good scenario to continue to participate in. But knowing ahead of time would
039be really nice. Um, so >> so how long would the season be for that seventh grader? >> This this one I'm >> talking about be 17 weeks. Well, yeah. How about the girls who are playing right now in middle school basketball? Would they pretty much roll directly in? >> Yeah, because if they play the tournament game, they'll play the 21st Saturday and they'll start practice the 23rd Monday. >> They'd roll right into it. >> And so, there's a lot >> they would be pretty burnt out or potentially burnt out, >> I guess. Or they join wrestling and their season would essentially get even longer. It's just me that we keep on having to make these last minute decisions, but it's but we have a lot of interest in people doing it or kids doing it.
040>> Um, and I don't know if we just, you know, it's a matter of us learning the league still, >> but I mean just because we're making last minute decisions, >> but maybe next year it's all going to change, but maybe we can be contacts within we don't have to make these I will luckily this year versus last year wasn't part of knowing what I was going into. You know, I'll have hopefully I guess probably May I have information for us on what it's going to look like future. >> I don't think they knew what it was going to I mean I think they >> No, I mean this was a learning like I said this was they they switched everything this year. The one the I called the 1B but it's the Northern Middle
041School. So, it's been a learning curve, I think, for them as well. >> I don't think we should decide anything tonight because we still have six weeks February 23rd. >> But I would have would have to hire to hire I don't have anybody hired and it takes time for the fingerprints. I mean, those are we've got to get if you were to do that, you'd have to send them off to get background checked. That takes a couple weeks now that they're rolling in. Well, and to be clear, if the board agrees to move forward, they want to offer to hire coaches and they want to participate in the spring league, doesn't mean the spring league's going to happen because the way the way >> I'm assuming it will, just whether it has all nine teams
042or not, >> they're going to have it. I just, like I said, I just don't know >> numbers. What's going to be >> Yeah, number it'll roll. >> But it's going to take a lot of I I mean, we didn't prepare for this at all. >> Well, but we still have another board meeting. Yeah. by way of boys that were organized to find pickup games did find several opportunities. I think we played two pretty competitive games and then we scrimmaged a lot. Our girls, >> correct? >> Okay. So our our girls did not get that same opportunity and those fifth grade girls now could use more opportunities. We know there's interest in the fifth graders, but we don't know what kind of interest there would be for the sixth and seventh, right? I have the
043numbers that you know are participating now, >> but I don't know if they would continue all of them. And I, you know, I didn't have the opportunity to ask them that. >> And I don't know how many of them would beffect affected their wrestling. I know there's a couple that would be. >> So, we aren't, we don't have a clue what those numbers would actually look like. >> No, I don't I don't have numbers for you. No, I'm sorry. This kind of fell um starting late last night. I know late last night. I I don't like to put more work on your shoulders, but I would be inclined to support doing this season pending having enough kids that are interested and being able to find coaches, but um just to keep the door open with
044the relationship with the 9C for a future fifth and sixth grade basketball season. I would agree, especially if we're potentially going back to 9C. >> And I don't know if we could be put in the nine or not. I mean, I don't know where they put us, honestly. >> We can if B doesn't have a fifth and sixth grade season and we're able to >> we still do this, but >> might be a benefit. And we have the segments in our CBA to pay, >> right? And they may have to change a little bit if they include those seventh graders in there. And that's my concern. That's my question. How do you apply? >> I mean, I wouldn't want to rob all the Yeah, >> I had thought about that. >> Yep. Because if they
045include those seventh graders in there, then it's not true elementary. We got to Yeah. >> Yeah. When it's still under the CDA. >> Yep. >> So, I guess I just need a vote from you guys or I'd like I'd like instruction from how the board wants to proceed. And then by the time like you put the advertising out like D and I discussed you put the advertising in house out of house >> get applicants get fingerprints you'll be right there at the time of start of the season and then for qualifying bus drivers too >> and we have we have faced difficulties with that time you'll have middle school wrestling potentially this when track start that overlap there >> a little bit but not a not a lot it starts they start March is I
046know that around track time and tennis you run into some severe bus driver problems >> probably March probably for March. >> Yeah. So it'll overlap a little bit with spring. >> Middle school wrestling. He said he >> wrestling. >> We talked about that and >> it might >> There's nothing on the calendar. >> No, it's kind of up to us. We might We have We were wavering between the 9th and the 16th. We have to look at the other meets. So, we had to wait for some clarification from people and their meet times or dates, excuse me, not times. >> February 9th, >> 9th or 16th, I don't remember. Colobby and I were waiting for discussion on a date. >> So, we need a I would I guess I would entertain a motion that we
047pursue the sixth, sixth, seventh, or quoteunquote elementary basketball pending or coaching hire and numbers participants. >> Are we going to say fifth and sixth only so we don't have to modify our CVA? >> What did that entail? >> Well, I don't think Yeah, I don't think you have to eventually I think you'd be okay modifying or running it because it is elementary, right? So I think you the CBA Yeah, you just have to do considered elementary anyway K budget elementary. So like you'd have to agree >> but the middle we'd have to write them away. >> Transportation and middle school coaching settings come out of a different spot for your ESSA. >> Sure. >> But everyone wants seventh graders to be able to participate. That's what I'm hearing. >> That right? >> I'd like to
048hear some more numbers. So, I don't think I don't think we have all the facts quite yet. I'm not opposed to it, but >> Keegan had you have 17 and fifth graders. >> 17 boys. >> Fourth, fifth, and sixth grade. >> Yes. >> How many boys? >> Sixth grader. Cali could be three. >> Seventh graders tennis. of the boys. There weren't >> two >> Jane didn't play, right? >> Oh, I don't think he's lying to anymore. Okay. >> I mean, he might. >> So, I think you'd have my son and Cter. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> I thought there'd be a hurdle bird or something. So, >> there's like, but that's just the boys. I don't know. >> The eighth grade boys and like fifth grade girls. There are girls you had like there was
049a lot of class but I don't >> but there are three seventh graders currently playing and six sixth graders >> whether not whether or not all those would continue I'm not sure like five fifth graders second >> so here's my question on this seeing as it's considered elementary basketball is this district one only I >> think that's interesting Well, that does kind of cross the line if you join the seventh graders in there. >> I would say because the elementary school basketball >> even with the seventh grader >> because it's the majority. You're calling it elementary school basketball, not middle school basketball. >> Let's ask what you're going to call I mean you got >> as a board >> I don't know basketball or elementary >> and he labeled it elementary in his he labeled
050it elementary in his email. Yeah. >> So if you keep it labeled elementary school basketball it makes things cleaner >> or be strictly district one vote >> then it's a district one vote. >> Well one of our district one members we have to wait for her to come back. So, the motion has to join the Northern Sea Elementary School Basketball >> Spring League. Spring >> Spring League. >> We have to run this past MHSA, right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> That's only Oh, they're only high school. >> Well, needed approval. I like what's up girl. >> Should we circle back to it? >> Um, I have the MHS proposals that I have. Okay. >> All right. So, in the past when we've talked, I've always had insider information. Um, the Northern Sea would meet and
051FHSA would come and give me information. We don't meet until the annual meeting as as the Northern B. So, I don't have anything other than what I sent to you and what's printed. So, uh, they're pretty straightforward this year, so that's okay. Um, I will be attending the annual meeting Sunday in Helena for MHSA. So proposal one is to amend membership bylaw contest requirements for non-member schools. So what they did was they just added a tiny bit of wording. It's so it previously said if a member school wishes to invite a nonacredited school or accept an invitation from that school to participate in a two school contest, this would not be a violation of this section. They added if we if we invited or accepted to participate in a two school contest or an individual
052sport event providing all member schools consent it is not a violation. So it just brings more they say it brings more consistency to our rules and our wording. So, if you would like me to agree to this, say yes or I not to. >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Um, number two is a proposal to amend DU's bylaw six player playoff profit. So, um, it's some wording. They're going to change classes A and B to classes A, B, C, six player. And then they're going to add the following paragraph to their section that says, "In class C6 player, after all approved expenses for the playoff and state championship games within that classification have been satisfied, the reserve pool monies will be equally divided among all state playoff qualifying teams. They don't have um the formula that
053we input our all of our numbers into and it pays the two teams. So if they have leftover money, they get to divide it between their teams. >> Yes, >> it doesn't really affect us, but we get to have a say, I guess. Um, proposal to amend bylaw for expedited hearings to the MHSA executive board. The following amendments to three different areas in the handbook. Um so this is the executive board that says video conferences necessary shall be conducted in the same manner and same restrictions held when necessary for immediate action for the interpretation of a rule for a violation or protest. When an expedited hearing is requested prior to the next scheduled meeting, the executive board will assess the appellant a non-refundable $300 fee. So this this is different than before they have $250
054fee and then before they would reimburse you if your decision is overturned and they're going to strike that so they won't reimburse you. Um the second part of that there is again changing this basically the same wording $250 to $300 and striking the reimbursement. And then the third is the same just in three different places. So just upping the the fee. Okay. Um proposal to add eligibility bylaw to allow for academic hardship. This proposal says it's the academic hardship rule. A high school student, this is all new. A high school student who because of circumstances beyond his or her control, such as broken home conditions, death of parents or guardians, abandonment, or other exceptional circumstances, does not pass the required number of credits the previous semester may be declared eligible by the executive director, providing
055a member school administrator petitions the executive director for a waiver of the academic eligibility rule. If the waiver of the academic eligibility rule is approved by the executive director under the foregoing circumstances, he or she shall be eligible provided he or she meets all other eligibility requirements. Appeals on petitions for the waiver of the academic rule under the hard academic hardship rule shall be acted upon by the MHSA executive board at any regular or special meeting including conference phone calls provided the school or individual requesting agrees to pay the cost of the call. the official MHSA waiver of the academic eligibility rule form must be used. So just saying if there's an extreme hardship that MHSA has the right to deem them academ not ac they wouldn't become they'd be eligible even though they might
056not have been academically eligible because of the circumstances. >> Seems reasonable. >> Yeah. Portal to amend transfer bylaw for homeschool or non-public schools. Any student, this is the new part. Any student, including eighth graders, who are permitted to participate in high school activities who transfer from one member school, homeschool or non-member school to another member of home school, another member home school or non-public school becomes ineligible for varsity competition. The period of ineligibility is equal to half the number of PI days in the current school year. The period begins on the student's first day of enrollment and attendance of the new school. Um, so this is basically kind of expanding it. Um, not expanding it but clarifying it. The rationale says public school students who transfer without a change of residence to other member schools
057are ineligible to participate for the number of days. This proposal would require public school students who transferred to a home school or a non-public school to be having to follow those same rules. So, it's kind of a loophole before. So, say I was here, I can't just go to school in Hollywood and play. I'd have to follow that transfer rule and you're, you know, you have to sit up, not sit out, but you don't get to play varsity for those 90 days. There was a loophole before where I could pull out, go to homeschool >> and I'd still be eligible. So this kind of makes that loophole disappear so that they have to follow the same rules that's in place. >> Yeah. Yeah. Agreed. >> And the final one is has to do with the
058awards law. Um so we have the awards rule which we talked about last year. They upped it. I have to kind of keep track of uh when kids get awards and it doesn't exceed a $500 value. They're adding in a section that says training apparel for practice and our workout. Excuse me. For the purpose I'll start with the entry so you have a clue what I'm talking about. For the purposes of this rule, non-monetary compensation for items of value does not include customary awards of a symbolic nature such as training apparel for practice and or workouts provided by the school. These items include but are not limited to practice shirts, practice shorts, spandex tights, socks. So they don't count towards the award rule. So these exclude like our spirit packs that we give that the
059football gets for their boys where they have their shorts and top set that they wear under their pads and everything. Um, so it gives you a little bit of not freedom, but a little less to worry about keeping track of in the sense of getting to that limit if someone were. >> No, >> I lied. There's a number seven. I'm sorry. There's one more. >> This one is Oh, yes. This one's the eject. The spectator's ejection. So, last week or last week, excuse me. It's been a long day. Last year they voted and changed it to a threeame or three event suspension if you were removed from the gym as a spectator. They have crossed out the threeame event and put two week. They felt that was easier to keep track of. So, for example,
060if you got Wild and Fairfield, the ref said remove him after this year, it'd be a two week time period that you couldn't come back to an event >> instead of three games. >> Instead of three Well, it wasn't this three, it was three um games of that level. So, say it was the varsity girls, then you'd have to count next week's varsity girls. We'd have two games next week, so you'd miss those two. And then the following week, you'd miss one. and then he could come back. So was sometimes you might miss two weeks, sometimes might miss a week and a half. >> Just a JV >> anything. It has to be it has to be a quiz. So you miss everything in between as well. >> Sure. >> Um and then it also
061adds if the ejection occurs with fewer than two weeks remaining in that team season, the suspension will carry over to the start of the next sports season and continue with that season's first scheduled activity. doesn't seem to matter how much you penalize him. >> So that that was the point of the last year of doing the three game. They they want, you know, nobody had real consistent rules. Every district might have had a different rule and and there was some abuse of of that. And so um they put that three week in, but it's kind of hard to keep track or excuse me, free event kind of hard to keep track of events. Sometimes two weeks was a little easier. >> I can see that. Good with that one. >> Okay, that is all I
062have. And then go back to the motion. >> So, Kyla, >> there was a motion made. You're fine. But we we will need to make a >> vote. Do you Did you have to reread the motion? Yeah. Release the motion. >> Um will make the motion to join the 9C elementary school um spring basketball league. I had one quick question before we vote for Paul. Can >> we do it? >> Okay. >> I know. Yeah. I've got two drivers now that are out for a while. So, um I've got one coming on, but we'll see. >> Okay. >> So, um until I see schedules in front of me and overlap them. Okay. be not saying no yet, but it'll be iffy. >> It'll be during your divisional basketball week, your state basketball week, and that's
063all I know so far because I know spring schedule sports so far. >> This meeting did last year. >> Yeah, >> we still meet every Monday and we have a standup meeting and Paul comes as well and we talk about upcoming events and we try to talk about it more than a week in advance. Sure. >> Sometimes it's real easy because of the numbers and where we're going and how you know the distance and and such. And sometimes it's it can be real. >> We do have speech and drama driving the car in order to be able to get everybody >> to their things right now. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. So, we have a motion. We have a seconded and it is a district one only vote. So, all those
064in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion pass. >> Anything else, J? >> No. Unless you guys have any questions. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Your turn, Russ. >> I'll give the uh an opportunity if they want to settle. You guys want to save for the rest? Say for the rest of it because you married to the >> whole. So over the holiday we had um Jordan and Larry kind of pitch in a little bit, but Jordan especially and then Corey down at the elementary really um came on and um he helps during the summer and it was really beneficial to have Cory on down at the elementary and cleaning for us. Um he got everything kind of done. He knows how to run the machines and stuff like that. So um they did a
065great job getting everything kind of updated. the heater update here at the high school. They were done as of today except for the outside grate that goes on the science room and it's on order with um Brennan and will be installed um as soon as it gets here. So that's the last thing that we have to do. They're online as of today. Um all the thermostats are working and the heaters are working in those two rooms are ready to go. Um the band room heaters have been cleaned. If you noticed on your sheet, probably had um uh warrant in there for that. The band room heaters are being cleaned and new bearings put in. Original bearings, they're probably I don't know 40, 50 years old. The science room um we cleaned and got the new
066bearings in there and they all threated the thermostat, which um before it was controlled by getting on a ladder and pushing the onoff button. She can control it from the floor now. And that heater can stay on 24/7. It never had that as long as I've been here. So, um, and she's happy about that because normally she couldn't get up there, um, to turn them on and off. Um, so we've got heaters going there. At the elementary, the boiler number two is now online. Um, they installed the new controls. Controls on number one were out. And I think that that probably had to do with some of the water coming down over it a couple years ago, >> but they finally failed. And so we took the ones off of two, put them on one,
067and the new um controls are been put on there. That was also in there from FICO. But that's all going um and in that note, the state instructor will be here at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday. >> You're invited. >> Each and everyone. >> 9:00 a.m. on Thursday. >> 9:00 a.m. Am I invited to you, Russ? No. >> Okay. >> And he'll be there. I know he will. I will. >> Yeah. Um and so along with that, I also have um our engineer Gary will be there that engineered the program so that he has any questions of volumes and why and this and that. So Gary will be down to make sure that everything is um copacetic with that. Um Hartford will be back on the 30th, but that's not a big deal. Um once we
068get Seth taken care of on the state finally, um Hartford just has to make a double check on that border that wasn't running and that's not a not a big issue. It'll take him about 10 minutes. um working on the events and helping Jamie and and if you guys ever watch and I said this before football and stuff if you ever watch somebody run an event, watch her because she puts track she's on and you you you don't know where she's going to be. She's all over the place and and the tech game was really good example. Um now she was spot on and I know that their coach is very excited to have her there and and how she got it all handled. Um we're looking for a cleaning person at the elementary again.
069Um, and I appreciate Roxy and the students venturing in and the teachers right now. Um, we're kind of running short of hand and Danny's just about ready to to leave on um, her maternity and so we're all pitching in and kind of doing different jobs and trying to get the thing through, but the students in Roxy are doing a good portion of it and um, I appreciate that. And then also the teachers um we've uh kind of upgraded them a little bit as far as what they're doing in their classrooms before the end of the day. So we're trying to get through this. Um Danny's definitely going to be back. She wants to work this summer and everything like that, but we're going to be short of cleaner down there for um nine weeks. Um
070outside work continues. Um the grease trap project was put on hold. They had a couple emergencies over the holidays that um on some heaters that took precedence and so we're trying to schedule that within the next week and a half and we know that we're off on next Friday and um so we might work that into a sack lunch up here on like one day. I know >> me. I don't care. a while, but it but we might we might run into a sack lunch up here where we can take and have that down there. So, I'm trying to work that out with the people. All right. Um the only other thing that I have is that we do have a pine tree down at the elementary that is in dire needs of some shaving
071up on top and um that was just the windstorm the other day. Um Brock is going to look at it tomorrow and give us a shot at what it's going to take if we can trim up those branches that are broke up there. They're they're collapsing inside of it. Um otherwise that one that's on the corner of the fifth grade room right now is going to be eliminated. And um I hate to see that because it's probably 100 years old, but it that's one of the ones that you can't do anything about is a single and it splits off but up on that. The the safety factor right now is pretty bad. The the aids don't want to be out on the on the playground when that tree is looking like that. So they're they're
072avoiding it. um and they were the ones that brought it to my attention and so um Brock was busy and we'll get at it tomorrow and we'll look at it see what we can do. That's it. Nothing else going on. >> That's everything. I think show your table. Sorry. >> So, I don't have too much. Um, just working on finishing up the end of the financial year, W2s and 1099. And then we got our um loan closing documents back from um the Montana Board of Investments. Um, the elementary school district will make the advance for I lost it for 475 475,000 and the high school will make the advance for 179,000 um on those two loans. So, um the high school is about half of our total loan um amount and the elementary school is
073um got about $25,000 left on the total loan amount on those. Um and then last meeting we had talked about that our health insurance is moving from must which we currently have to something called bridged health alliance um that the state legislature has put in place. It's very similar to must um it should help with a little bit of cost control. Um and I spoke a little bit about it but I need a motion for us to join the bridge health alliance. Um, we reached out to our health insurance agent, Miss Carrie Argoite, and it was her suggestion that we go ahead and join them um to help mitigate some of the rising costs of our staff's health insurance. >> So moved. >> All right. >> Yeah. Honestly, when we met with Carrie, she she
074made it sound we don't she felt like we didn't really have another choice, >> you know, and if if you read anything in the paper, you see anything in the news, the um state legislature three years ago, they threw $400,000, $400 million, excuse me, it's a big one zero in there uh to get it kind of started and um uh they've been working on it for a while. And what they needed in terms of numbers of of uh uh participants is the double are the double A schools. And the most recently just was it last week or two weeks ago, it sounds like Great Falls is going to jump on board and they were the last of them. So they've all they've all kind of changed their tune. They were all doing things independently the
075bigger schools because they have the you know they have the staff to to do that. But now it sounds like the DA schools are on board and D said you know we really got to be foolish not to. So it's in our best interest. It's in our It's in the best interest of the staff moving forward. >> It's not Blue Cross anymore, though. >> It won't be. No. >> Um it'll be some other Montana based um insurance company. Um it looks like they will process claims and um cover claims very similar to Blue Cross Shield. I obviously was very interested on how they would cover claims. Um, so, uh, Carrie and I really kind of delved into it and used me as an example, um, obviously to make sure that, you know, we were still
076providing the best benefit to our employees. >> So, the premiums for the employees and the school would be about the same or a little bit better. Hopefully, >> they should be about the same. What happened was like last year with must, we actually received one of the lowest increases in the state. Ours was 25%. The insurance went up. Um, some people experience 50 to 100% increase with must. So, you know, a bridge is hopefully trying to mitigate that. So, they'll do your adjustments every I think every three years is what'll happen. So, you'll be more steady instead of these big pipes hopefully. >> So, when does that take effect? >> Um, July hopefully. I don't know if they've they're kind of wishy-washy in getting their like people to because with how it came out at
077the legislature, they have to have so many schools join and how you did the math and the numbers. If they don't get those double A schools to join, it won't go >> and so that it won't get funded. I don't know. It's kind of a strange thing. Even Carrie was having trouble trying to follow it and get it organized. And at first they, you know, were like, "Well, we save cost and not have insurance agents." All of us clerks screamed, "I don't have time to be everybody's insurance agent on top of everything else I do." And so we all kind of fought back and said, "No, we want our agents. We're not insurance experts." And so they gave us our agents back. So I think that helped them a lot in their ability to get
078schools to sign up. >> The other thing that happened is originally they were expecting a five-year commitment >> and then they the board they they were getting a lot of push back about the idea about a five that schools would have to jump on board for five years and they adjusted that. you can opt out after three. Yep. At some penalty, but I can't remember exactly what that's about. But you can you can you have to sign up for five, but after three you can opt out. >> Um so I think that that seemed to be important especially to the bigger schools. >> That's what I understood. >> So we had a motion. Do we have a second? >> I don't we any other questions, discussion? All those in favor? I >> I >> opposed.
079>> Okay. And then I need a motion to adopt the new federal mileage increase to 72 um cents. >> So moved. >> Seconded. >> All those in favor? those. And then the last two things I have is um the board um member candidate applications are open. Um we have two spots in district one um Baron and Will spot and then um the Carter district squad is up for election as well as Benlet. So those applic Canada applications are open and will close February 9th. So, if anyone's interested, um, stop by the office and get a form. And I think the last thing is there was the increase to, um, the Montana minimum wage to 1085. I just noticed I don't know, we have we don't have to have an action on it. Um, we pay
080everybody well above that, so it didn't really affect us much. That is all. Cool. Hey, Matt. Okay, good evening. Greetings to you from the Fort Benton Middle School High School. Uh most recent uh the update on the um superintendent search is that we've had two completed applications. You might recall when I uh spoke last month, we had uh five people reach out right away, which I thought was really positive. And uh since we last discussed that, we've had two uh completed applications. So my recommendation to Jenny today was that we uh put together the personnel committee in the coming week to have the personnel committee review those two applications and make decisions about uh whether you want to interview both of them uh interview neither of them uh help have MTSB help us what what
081you want to do. So the committee would review those two applicants and make decisions. My advice is that we try to do that in the next few days. the applicate when we first this the position was first advertised we put February 3rd as the due date and we're you know fast approaching that so I think we're well within you know we I haven't had any knocks at the door for a couple weeks now and so I think we should move on make decisions on these two candidates >> questions about that >> you don't think any of the other three >> all I I reached out to all three of them I I reached out to all five of them um when I got back after the winter break I was keeping an eye the pro
082one of the programs we use is held front line and so it was one of the on advertised for staffing hires and um I had gotten a completed application so I reached out to the four I guess to confirm and I got the final confirmation today that the fifth person chose not to apply. So, okay. Um, as Roxy mentioned, we did vision and hearing screening here today at the middle school and high school as well. Grade nine students mostly and then new students. Um, if you, you know, middle school and high school kids are an interesting lot. And high school kids act all cool, calm, and collected and things are going just fine until it starts to get to the end of a semester. And now we're having to change. We're thinking about seniors of
083course think about scholarships, but we're changing the second semester classes. we have to change some the kids are doing dual enrollment classes or online classes and so it's it's pretty chaotic these days leading up to the end of semester and so I I would just put a feather in the cap of Tara Martin she does a tremendous amount of work there's a line at her door pretty much every day and and uh Mrs. Bry the new secretary is doing an incredible job helping manage some of that and inputting and that kind of thing. So it's there's a lot of parts moving when the when the kids and it's cera left this afternoon. She had an doctor's appointment so it was really calm. So she'll be back tomorrow morning and I assure you the chaos will
084resume. But um the other thing that happens this time of the uh semester that she and I do a lot of is uh Mrs. Fry prints for me every Tuesday eligibility list. So I look at lists of kids who have poor grades and so there's a lot steady trafficking in my office and she supports me and we work together to talk to kids about what we can do to support them to get their grades up and and we're talking about eligibility of course for middle school and high school kids and um kids who are desperate to finish strong so they can get credits necessary to get the credits toward their high school graduation. So, um, we spend a lot of time, uh, with those kids these days and, uh, we'll continue the rest of this
085week trying to get them to the finish line. So, it's been kind of busy these last little bit. So, we end uh, the, uh, second quarter and first semester on Friday and we begin a new on Monday with the third quarter and second semester. Uh, we have an upcoming P day. If you notice on the calendar, we have Friday, next Friday the 23rd of se of September of January. We don't have school. We'll have a half day P. Roxy and I are working through some we had at had a meeting the other day and doing some this year planning and next year planning already a bit and uh looking at some some ways we're going to use that time on that day. It's not 100% finalized. Probably some curriculum meetings, some grade level, you know,
086again trying to work on ways to support our kiddos. Um three things we have upcoming. I sent out one email on this today to the parents of the eighth graders. So, we were selected and and um Roxy is the testing coordinator is aware we we we um we were selected to participate. It's called the National Assessment of Educational Progress or NATE. Who doesn't love a good acronym? Right, Roxy? >> NAPE they it's it's an assessment for grades students in grades 4, 8, and 12. And they randomly select students in those grade levels to participate. So, in my case, I sent a letter out today um supposed to be sent out two weeks in advance there. It's actually the test itself can be done on the 26th and we'll have a there's they'll take our eighth
087grade group and they'll pick from it and so at this point I don't know who will be tested but I send a letter out to all the parents of the eighth grade students let them know that that's coming. So that happened today and it's a NAPE's been around for a long time and there's a they gave they sent me a letter that's I just took their letter and put it into my newsletter. Um but um >> they'll also come and test fourth grade as well >> and they come Yeah. And they come and do it. It's help me out with the the equipment. >> So, for fourth grade, they'll bring their own devices, but then we have devices here in the computer lab that Carly and I will kind of work together to like make
088sure security based. So, so all my whole entire fourth grade class will take it except for one student and then um there's like a random selection of did I say eight or 10? I can't remember. Kids from eighth grade. >> I'm sorry. There's like either eight or 10 kids there. >> I think eight. I think that was eight. >> Okay. >> And basically in short, the NAPE is is a common measure of achievement across the country. And so it's not it's not measuring how our students are doing. It's not really measuring how students in Montana are doing or in Shoto County. It's really across country nationwide. It's every other year. >> Yes. It's something you get volunte. >> Yeah. They didn't call and say, "Would you like to participate? So, the other two things the
089other two things I'm about to say about were things they asked us if we'd like to participate. So, um Roxy's uh we we have begun to Roxy and I attend a monthly meeting at the Sh County Sheriff's Department. It's a child assistance team and um at that time we talk confidentially about uh families in Shoto County in our schools that need support, challenges they have, concerns we have and that kind of thing. Well, from one of those conversations came a conversation about a program. You know, back when when we were all a little bit younger, they used to have DARE in our schools. Well, they they've DARE's got maybe on on the shelf a bit. They've started a new program. It's basic. It's called Too Good for Drugs, TGFD, Maximizing Life. And so, they began
090it this year in the elementary school in grades three and six. and they asked us if we wanted to to do it this year in grades 3, six, and seven because our current seventh graders would not have had the opportunity to have that curriculum taught to them in uh grade six. So, um Darby Rearden is the the sheriff's deput who's been trained to do the to provide the training to our students and uh I have a parent letter going out to the grade seven parents because we're going to begin at the end of the month on the 28th of January. It's uh it'll be a 10-week program maximum if depending on how fast they go through the program. Um and I in the newsletter it has a um um outline of the curriculum so parents
091can have a look and they can opt out as the letter says and basically in short the program is intended to help prepare students with the skills they need to live a safe, healthy and drug-free lifestyle and to work toward consistently making healthy choices. We had a meeting with Darby and he went through some of the programming. Um do you want to say anything Roxy about what's going on with your sixth graders and third graders right now? >> I think your program was pretty well received by the third grade and sixth grade. Darby does an excellent job of ensuring that he knows the curriculum and does a he has great rapport with the kids and I think it's just a great one overall tier one intervention in terms of behavioral like decision making goal setting.
092It dives in a little bit deeper than like when I was in school and it was just like make good choices, stay off drugs. So it's like why you would do that and and so I think it's new and improved and really good. >> Yeah. So I will um when I send um out my uh board report to you tomorrow, I will include the link so you can see what the what the parents are seeing with the the outline the curriculum uh outline of the of the program. So um you know what it is that the kids are going to be taught and again they have the option of opting out um uh in grade seven. Okay. The final thing um to make you aware of is that in early February we've been asked to
093participate in the Montana prevention needs assessment. Um and in I should have looked at that. I think in um it's 2026 2024 it's done every two years. Uh Caitlyn Axman um is is the uh local representative that came and talked to us about this 22 years ago that no one from um our school only 36 students for some reason in Sho County took the assessment. It's a it's this is a statewide assessment. Uh the results are used to help plan substance and abuse prevention strategies and programs in community local communities. And so we don't get the results until the fall unfortunately, but we were asked to participate and um we're going to uh have our grades seven through 10th grade students take the survey just check talking about risky behavior and what we can do
094to support them and and um and try to help create better prevention programs. So that that is my next newsletter to parents that'll go out uh in the next couple weeks and that's going to be the first couple days of February. So, a lot of those things going on right now. So, um yeah, I think that's uh my report again tomorrow will have calendar dates upcoming and things like that. The middle school ski trip is coming up in February. There's snow still up on the hill and um yeah, any questions? >> Thanks for your job. >> Thanks, guys. Okay, committees. I know we had a policy committee meeting. Yeah, we had uh 18 19 new policies come down. Um we talked about last week in committee. Um we tabled one because we wanted to talk
095to teachers and staff that are going to be teaching the course. Um it's about sex headed and gender identification. So, we wanted to talk to the teachers and staff that have been teaching that and see what they recommend and think and and all that and then we'll come back with that. And then we had 18 other policies that um we all feel that should be adopted or um and then we did a the gym use second look at the gym rep agreement to we recommended that that be adopted as well for the second reading. >> Yeah. So the only changes in that were ones we had discussed in December that were hit enter like formatting changes. It was not changes to the content. So that's why it would qualify as a second reading tonight. >>
096So thank you. >> Second. >> Okay. All those in favor? >> Opposed? Anything else, Dusty? Uh, we just need to set up a meeting so when we get to that spot for the teacher. Yeah. >> Um, if there any other >> personnel committee we need to schedule. >> We do. I didn't know if there were any other committee meetings that I missed. We were good. Okay. >> Um, so we do need to schedule a personnel committee meeting to go over the applications to the superintendent. Um, so that's Will is the chairman, Kyla, myself, and Joelen. What does next week look for like for everybody? Um, for me, earlier in the week's probably a little better, but good. >> I just I can't do it Tuesday afternoon. >> What time works best for you? Monday or
097Tuesday? Whatever. >> Monday, right? >> Okay. How late do we want to go? >> I don't have a preference. Should we do like 5:30? >> Sure. >> So 5:30 Monday. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> And you said we need another policy committee meeting, but we probably need to look back on that. was um the policy committee. The one is about the vacation and the sick leave and Connie and I looked over the CVA for the classified and those policies line up exactly with what we have already in our CBA. >> Okay. So there's no adopted. So those just have to be a first reading. And then the one with the and then Yeah. gender identity. >> Yeah. So give me I just need a little more time to get my people together. It's
098just the end of the semester. So I >> get into next week, I'll let the dust settle a little bit. Then I can meet with those folks and >> um >> we can schedule something after that >> if that's okay. >> Yeah. >> At this point, there's no there's no plan in place for that. We were that curriculum was going to begin to be taught and so we we have there's no urgency to make a decision right away. We need to make a good decision. Just >> we'll get our cross our tees and dot our eyes and then we'll come back and talk about it. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So, um, now resignations, which we handed around the letter for Roxy. >> Yeah. >> Is there anything else? >> That's it. Yeah. Okay. >>
099Just need to begin to look for a replacement for Roxy before she's completely gone. Huge. >> It was uh sad to to get the letter, but we she had talked to me in the fall. I think she made it pretty well known with uh situations with her family, whatever, that she was going to be resigning. So, I wasn't necessarily surprised. Sad, but we weren't necessarily surprised. but she's willing to help us into the fall with the transition and and spend some hours. She's she's got an incredible amount of institutional knowledge about programs that we we the district would be wise to continue to tap into for for years to come probably honestly. So, >> okay, hiring. So we have um four volunteers requested uh have four all the background checks have come back on these
100four Cali correct. >> Yep. >> Okay. So I would ask permission or your blessing or a motion to hire the the four volunteers as listed in your minutes. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All those recused myself. >> Oh yes. >> All those in favor? opposed. >> Okay. >> Then um we had a Larry I would ask the board I recommend that the board um uh make a motion to hire Larry Garlic as a new activity driver. >> Move. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Opposed. I was in a meeting today and somebody said something about Larry. have them be talking about learning the garby. Wow, he wants to drive now. He does he's done a lot for the school district up there. Anyway, um also then finally, I would ask the board
101uh or make a recommendation the board uh make a motion to hire uh Jamie Ball as a high school track coach. >> We had only one applicant um and uh I had an interview with Jamie and I'd like to make that recommendation to the board. >> So moved. >> Second. Okay. All those in favor? >> I have a question. >> Go ahead. >> I guess you know you have time. >> It won't be different really honestly than what I've done in the past. I've been an assistant for the last five years >> and I just did the planning and I did I mean the time to the practice and the time till the things will change from what you know Pat and I had that discussion of what it looked like last year and I've
102kind of filled the role already with Mr. shot of doing planning and doing the workouts and doing doing the computer part of it already. So, I feel like I do um the spring is probably honestly the easiest because there's not events to constantly set up for and staff and take down here. Tennis and golf kind of run themselves and go back. So I I do I I if I hadn't been involved I might have been a little more unsure to answer that but I'm pretty confident in my answer because I've already spent all the time. It's not going to take me in a sense time away more than it already was previously. >> So will we assistant coach then to >> um we've already hired one but yes if I if you hire me to
103move into that position we would have to open up for one assistant. Yes. One more assistant. If >> I can address Will's question. So, we we just talked again about this today, but when we hired Jamie to come to the high school to teach PE, we recognized that it's it's being the athletic director is really almost a full-time job. It's it's a full halftime job for sure. That makes sense. But she's teaching full-time, too. >> And so, on the schedule, unfortunately, there's only there's only place because of the student population we have, we have one prep period. So, the plan was that um I I tried as best I could to avoid that for this year. And Jamie and I talked and she realized that going into this current school year, we'd only have she
104only have one prep period. My hope is and I talked to her about this today. This is the time of year we start thinking about what the schedule for next year will look like. And so, we start literally make we create a folder and start writing down which things we want to have happen. Well, one of those things on that list is that we give Jamie at least another prep period. Well, in order to give her another prep period with the student population, we have we're going to have to find somebody else to teach a class of PE if we need all those PE classes. So, we are that is the hope that we're going to be able to give her additional time. And as we have continue to have declining enrollment, those program we're
105not going to the need for the amount of time she has to spend as athletic director isn't going to go away. We still have those programs. We still have those games to host and those things going on. So hopefully um there can be some things done to provide her more prep time to be able to prep for teaching plus also to be the athletic director. So >> also but also tied to that that's one of the reasons that we've made the move to up here. It works. >> Yes. Yeah. >> You know if I was in elementary might be a different story. >> Yeah. I just I know I realize there's a lot of stuff that you got as in AD role. >> It's pretty hopefully maybe not quite as hard as this next year.
106>> No, it's pretty routine. I think that, you know, AD role, it was just learning changes in class B this year, but we'll just roll with it. It's pretty common, I mean, to see ads as coaches, you're they kind of tie, but I for me, I'd say spring is probably the easiest, you know, because the other seasons you're constantly running something, whereas spring, you get the buses and my sons on their way for the most part. >> Yeah. We don't host a high school track meet, for example. We may or may not host a middle school track. And with the middle school track meet, we always hosted it as a track team anyway. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, >> so you was there one other applicant or just you're the only one? >> There was no
107other applicant. Coach Shaw recommended uh Jamie and um she was the only applicant. >> I was just thinking if we needed another assistant coach if there's somebody else. >> Yeah. So, if if we hire her then we'll have to open up for another assistant call. Yes. Do you have anyone in mind to read versus anyone interested? >> I don't know. I We'll see who applies. >> Okay. Any other questions? >> All those in favor of firing JD for head track coach. >> I oppose. Um future agenda items. All I have is a second reading for those MTSBA policies. >> If I if I get some clarification on this policy, I'll give you a shout out. >> Need a motion to >> adjourn. We need a transportation meeting. Sorry. >> Okay. Transportation. I don't know who's
108on that. >> Darren, will me and Brent? >> Okay. How soon you need it? >> We can do it just before the next board meeting. So, >> February 10th, 6:30. Paul, which time you need? >> Um, why don't we do six? six o'clock transportation meeting on the 10th of February. >> Okay. So, we've had a motion in a second to adjurnn. All those in favor? >> I oppose. >> Okay.