001I to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. and the approval of minutes. Are there any questions or comments on the minutes? >> Okay, seeing as there are none, um we'll go ahead and vote. All those in favor? Oppose. Okay. app for a place. >> Second. >> What was Schoolhouse I >> That is the company that we use in um for like the Chromebooks. that is part of our like go guardian. So it restricts kids what they can see or not see on their Chromebooks and then it offers our um security stuff on all of our laptops and Wi-Fi and all that. >> Okay. [Music] >> Are we are we leasing that traverse? >> So we
002do. Okay. >> And then Wol reimburses us for that amount every month. >> Oh, okay. >> Sounds good to me. Are there any additional questions? All those in favor? >> I >> public comment on run agenda items. >> Yes. >> What? Yes, >> we do, but they're later. >> Okay, >> I think we're good on that one. Um, communications to and from the board. This would be later resignation. >> Yep. >> Okay. Yep. So, I don't have anything on that um board chair report. Um, so the first thing on there is the MEL is going to be October 16th through 17th. if anyone's interested in going, let myself or Pat know. Um I know that Joel and went last year and I think it was beneficial. Yeah, I've been several times over the years and
003I I mean I usually learn something every time. So and reach out to Connie or I and we will make your hotel reservations. >> It's an all of the shirt so I was going to ask about Okay. So, on to introduction of our new teachers. >> I'm very happy to introduce you to uh our two new high school teachers here at the high school. Uh Mila Clark and Angela Bondale and uh I'll let them introduce themselves, but that they are here and doing an excellent job. They've been a nice hit with the kids and uh so I thought maybe as a nice that we could have them walk around the table and introduce themselves to you so they know who you are too. I pro maybe like the same thing. Yeah. Tell us what you
004teach and where you last were. Maybe just a little bit of that and then I'll let you do the introductions around the table. >> I'm Angela Fonale and I last taught in King County Washington Seattle area and I came to Fort Benton for just the community and my husband left Lumberyard in town. I'm really excited to be teaching math here. So, I'm doing the lower level high school math, pre-alggebra, algebra, geometry >> and business math. >> Very cool. >> Very happy to have you. >> I am Mila Clover. This is my first official year teaching. >> Um, so I'm super excited about that. I was previously teaching at Boseman High School. After I graduated, I did a long-term sub position there. Um, and I'm teaching high school science here. So, anatomy and physiology, forensics, chemistry,
005biology, and then I'm starting a sign language program. So, >> very cool. >> I I want to go on record as noting that um she graduated from the Montana State University and I hired her. So, >> I think be appropriate to give them an applause. >> And then, if you don't mind, I'll just have you walk around the table and you girls could stay. just maybe start to meet. >> It's really fun. >> Yeah. just trying to make >> y'all I hang out in my office a lot too. >> Nice to meet you everybody. So, you're welcome. >> You're welcome to stay. You're welcome. your haircut. >> Thank you ladies. >> Thanks for coming. Thank you so much. So, we'll go ahead and move on to the seventh grade science preparator. >> All right. >>
006When we spoke to you guys in May, part of the deal was we had to come back and tell you how it went. The kids didn't want to come. They already got what they wanted. So, I I said I would do it. >> So, last May 27th, uh we took the bus, drove to Camera, Wyoming, and this is the pit that we were at. Uh this layer right here is the ancient fossil uh lake. All of this above it is overburden that they have to pay a company to remove during the off season. It is just immense. >> This lake covers uh the southwest part of Wyoming, southeast Idaho, and norththeast of Utah. It's a huge ancient lake. In 52 million years ago, some catastrophic event caused a massive die off of animals and they
007all went into the mud and then they've been laying there ever since. So they take excavators and they bring this rock down and they put it in rows. So this was our section. This row would be the next day section or maybe the next week depending on the quality of once we get done. So they teach you, they give you a hammer and a chisel. You hold the the rock between your feet and just ever solightly tap with the chisel and you rotate it and tap with the chisel and you rotate. You don't just brute force in ignorance. Um, so this is Keegan, Jedha, Vaughn, and Anna working on their pieces. Let me and then the next one. So you can see Blake and he's already got a really good crack going right here. So
008he has already rotated it and started working on that crack. If you get too aggressive, it'll break off in chunks and then it's hard to get a clean specimen. And then Keegan was working on this big block here. Uh several of them worked on a great big chunk. And we had sledgehammers and all that and found nothing in that because we thought, "Oh my god, we're going to get whatever." Uh, >> how many of those chunks have fossils in them? >> It just depends. It's all random. I mean, you could take a little rock like this, like this rock here, that's still really thick. >> There could be seven more fish in there, >> but you just don't take the chance of splitting it because you've already got such a >> fossil. This one right
009here, you could split some more and maybe have another fossil in there, but you're just not going to risk ruining the one you have. Okay. >> But so it's all hit and hit. Um Blake found some good fossils. Okay. So we were so excited when we found our first two. Okay. And you get this little tiny fish in this huge rock. Well, when you're done with your time, you have to go over to these chopsaws and cut them to size. We were there 2 hours just cutting. So, we were done digging at noon and didn't leave the pit till 2 because we just had so many fossils that we had found and and so we were just so excited of the first two and then after about the 50th fossil. >> So, uh these two
010that I'm going to pass around are the most common you're going to find. These are school fish called Nidia. >> What is the raw? Okay. >> Chail. >> Just chill. >> Yeah. another one. >> No. >> So, when you find a good specimen and you split split it just perfectly, you actually get two. You get the positive and you get the negative. And sometimes the negative actually turns out to be better than the positive. It all depends. So, the positive is the actual fish and the negative is the imprint that the fish left in the rock. So, if you do it right, you can actually get two fossils out of one. So this is uh James found a really big diplocus which is another um common. They're in three different categories. There's common which are
011the nia that I passed around the diplocus that he found. And then you have the uncommon which is the one that Ken found. Now that actually was the negative of this fish here. And if you feel this one, I'm not passing this one around. If you break mine, I'll survive. If you break a student's Yeah. So, this was um um Austin Cole, and they split it. And the negative was actually better than the positive. So, it all depends on how it's split. Now, this one's in the very rare, the rare category. And because of that, they took it and they cleaned it up for us for free. You see how it's all been um they take a hand Dremel kind of a tool and clean it up for us. They told this fish, if they
012found the right person online, is worth about $1,000. >> Um those fossils on their website are worth $24. >> And a lot of times if you find something really cool, they'll buy it from you and then resell it. Um but they didn't buy any of ours. Um, on their website they have some fossils for $24,000. >> Yeah. So, and we get to keep anything under $100,000 worth of value. So, it was pretty cool for Ken. And then, um, you know, Austin has the the same castle. And then here's our group. When we got done, it was so dusty. We made a mess of the bus. And thanks for Mr. Hucky for helping us out. Uh quick little story about me. Um I wasn't able to stand and do with my back and so I had
013to crawl >> on my hands and knees and I had shorts on and Mrs. Aragon noticed a trail of blood >> behind me and my knees were so beat up and I was leaving blood on the rocks behind and she said, "Don't you have pants?" I said, "Yeah, they're in the bust." "Well, go get them." I said, "No, that'll take 20 minutes." And so I left my mark. So, but it was fun. Um, we got done at two with all the fossils. We wrapped them up in newspaper and towels and had milk crates to bring them back and went home, went to back to the hotel, showered, and then my favorite part was the fossil museum. It's all the fossils that they have found in this lake over the years, and it is just incredible.
014um alligators, paddlefish, three-toed sloths, turtles, horselike creatures that have all fallen in this mud 52 million years ago >> and they're still digging. And a lot of the fossils at the museum are replicas because the originals are in the Smithsonian. >> But it was I thought it was awesome. >> I'm a science nerd. Um, this year I kind of put a carrot in the article of the newspaper. At the end of the article, I said, 'Well, we'll see the behavior. And so I talked to the kids this year. I showed them the video from Safari Lake um fossils and I said, "If you guys behave, we're going to go this year." And we are already on track to do three concessions where last year, remember, we were late in the game, so we only raised
015a little bit of money. So, we'll see. Don't know a schedule yet, but we'll be back to ask for permission. >> All right. Thank you. >> Good evening. I just have a quick general report since everything started since we met last. So, I just have a few numbers for you and how they've done. Um, high school football, we have 27 total, 26 players and a manager. They are two and0 at this point and they will play here Friday night if you would like to watch versus Rocky Boy at 7. High school volleyball also has 27. They have 25 and two managers. Uh, we sent them to Malta for their preseason tournament where they took second. They're 2 and0 in conference play and their next game is Thursday at Techbank. Um, next Tuesday you can watch
016them at home here. Um, high school cross country has eight runners. We are two meets in. Three of them have already qualified for state cross country. Three of the girls, Michael, Emry, and Eta. And they will run again Friday and Hav at MSU Northern. Um, middle school football has 20 participants. They're also 2 and0 and can you can watch them Friday uh afternoon at 4 here. Middle school volleyball, we have 14 playing. They had their first games last weekend in Shoto and they will head Saturday to Conrad. It's a little bit different in that they play Saturday um Jamberees versus in front of our high school team which we were used to in the past because everyone we play has a C squad in high school. So every game we're playing has three in a
017row already. So a little bit different than we're used to. Middle school cross country has three runners. Uh they've run the same meets as high school. So, they're two in and will run again Friday. Middle school tennis has 21 participants. They are four meets in. They have a very short season. It ends at the end of this month. Um they will play again Friday in Great Falls. We had the robotics kickoff on interest meeting and four uh individuals are interested in participating. >> Is that high school? >> That is high school. Yeah. Um high school band gets to travel to Montana State again for band day. Well, they will participate on the 20th of September. So, that's pretty exciting. And I was able to arrange the schedule other than a junior high volleyball here. I
018was ar able to arrange a schedule so that there is no competing activities that day so that all band members have the ability to travel with them. Um, I want to thank again Russ for all his prep work and support because the field looks wonderful now that I've traveled a few places and got to see some other fields. Um, I know it looks good, but it looks especially good when you get to compare it to some others. So, thanks Russ. Um, and all of my volunteers, if you ever see them on the way in the door or out on the sidelines, please thank them because I so appreciate, you know, being able to pull off the games with all the help we have. Um, thanks again to maybe all of you even and Russ and
019Pat because there's they always get to hear. You always get to hear. And so, um, I want to explain the camera really quickly because it didn't work last football game. So, I know I get a lot of a lot of angry phone calls when the cameras don't work and I know that they um get them as well. And so, the process is this is not manually run. These cameras that that are out there, they're, you know, I schedule them online. They're taken care, they're maintained, they're run by the NFHS. And so, I did notice, maybe not as early as I should have, but I checked the varsity game in during introductions and noticed that we had a problem. And the process is you have to um report it online and wait for an email to
020correspondence. And so um it took the whole game and and I'm sorry for that. Um but just so you know that we're doing the best we can and I appreciate everybody who feels the the messages of because I get it. I get it. >> Mention that they went through this and checked it all out. >> It was we did have it serviced. It was some issue that came up. It was just perfect >> and it's it's good. Again, JV was great. So, I just want to say thank you cuz I know that you probably feel some phone calls as well and I appreciate your help and and recognizing that sometimes >> it was working right. It just was split where >> it was it had split. So, you you could see half we had two
021long horns on the field instead of one in the camera. It was a split and then it didn't track. >> Yeah. >> So, it's fixed now though. So, thank you. Um, we're continuing with MHSA rolling everything into their new program. It's been a bit of a trial, but we're getting there. Um, we have not had to deal with this and I don't for I'm not mentioning it because I foresee us having to deal with this. I just want to put it out there because I did have a discussion with a couple of people who didn't know. I wanted to explain the new MHS rules or remind you because we talked about it last year when when they voted them in that if someone were to have to be removed, if a referee asked me to
022remove a fan or or or Pat, the way that it works would be so um pretend that someone came to me during varsity football that um they would be removed for the next three varsity football games and everything in between. And that's not just here, that's everywhere. And so I'm, you know, I would, my responsibility would be to call and and not that they might get caught because not everybody knows you somewhere else, but my responsibility is to call the other schools and let them know and to be aware and and have that um or if it were varsity volleyball, you would miss the next three varsity and and all the JB, all the C squad, the football games, anything that comes in between is what they um would be penalized with missing. So, I
023don't hopefully foresee that. I just wanted to remind you because I did have a few questions out there that that is an MHSA policy. Um, and that is all I have for you unless you have any questions. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you. even um I will commend Jamie. She is on top of everything. She don't have to worry about being on top of stuff. She's she's got everything under control and the flags and everything is out and um and inside everything is set up to perfection. So um she's doing a great job. So, congratulations. Um, thank the Clinton crew. Larry finished up his um, tenure here on the 29th and then he came back on Tuesday and went through the stands with Jordan and he's got that down. If you do see Jordan,
024he's a bearded fellow that um, is walking up and down the halls cleaning. Um, and Danny Downs Elementary is doing again a great job and they both like what they're doing. Um Jordan said, "Well, I hope that you like what I'm doing. Um I hope it's good enough and and the teachers are um getting used to him being in the room and and coming around at uh starting his procession at 2:30." And um I think that he's doing a good job or um just a short training that he had with Larry. So if you do see that um Jordan or Danny, be sure to thank him because, you know, they're kind of here on their own and and taking care of our school. So, it's early the next day. On the thank you note, the
025city crew um you know, they bring in the bleachers and they take the bleachers out at the end of the year and um Scott calls ahead of time and and um they brought them back in. Um they get them all set up. That's just what they do as far as their part. But also, if you notice out front um the painting, they took that over this year and Colin said that they were going to do the all the corners and the bus zones and um they came back today and did the handicap zones with the blue. They got a new sprayer and they're just excited and they're just going all over town. So, if you see everything around town, that's the city crew. I and I I do appreciate that because that we've been doing
026that by hand for years and years and years and they just um and so um our uh help on that was to get them some paints so that they could finish up but uh they're doing they're doing the whole thing. So that's what they want to do and and if you look around town it all matches all the paints the same and um that it's a big job but they're taking it on and and um so if you see those guys be sure to thank them. Dustage crew came out last week before the game and this is kind of a pre-arranged thing that we've had the last three years that they just and and it's not just our school. They go to the schools that they have contracts with and they put in some extra
027time. It's not build out or anything like that. I mentioned that last year. They just come out with a crew and clean your school up. They come out and if you look around the fences, you know, we had weeds and this and that and we had been spraying and and and taking care of them. But they came out and all of a sudden the mount showed up and there was there was seven of them and they had weed eaters and they had three mowers and they mowed and they did everything down at the elementary and around that area and then came up here and they mowed the ditch and did the weed eating. And um he called yesterday and said, "Well, how'd we do?" And I said, "Well, you kind of skipped a spot. I
028don't know what happened." And so, um, Blaze, he came out and, uh, did this little bit of the the corner over here. So, thanks Bessie for their crew. And like I said, it it's they were here about 5 hours and you you couldn't get enough people to do that just because of the complexity of how they do it. I mean, and they were all there was mower going over here and up in the ditches. They got those mowers and they didn't get them stuck against the fence. But anyhow, um it it was great and that's they called again um to see how they did and everything was fine and but that's just part of because and they did build and they did sims and the people that they have contracts with. They just go out
029and they clean those areas up. That's that's part of their their service to just make sure that everything looks good underneath their name. So, uh congratulations to them and thank you. Um Craig Ferris was contacted. Um he does a spraying right now. the city doesn't have their sprayer going and um so Craig was contacted uh first afternoon of uh practice and he came over that evening and sprayed around the field at 5:00 with mosquito spray and he's been back uh another time since then and just went around the field to get our field um kind of boy that first day it was picking people up and carrying them away. Um I think hockey was the first one. Um but it that's a big service and I and I called Scott um because he had traditionally
030done it with the city and he said that Craig was doing it now. So um thank you to Craig Ferris and the county weed spray. They came over and did that the mosquito spraying. Um the high school we started on the two heaters um yesterday. They went down in the crawl spaces and they got everything lined up to start the plumbing for the heaters. um they're still online for October 5th or before. They were calling yesterday to see if they could get that process speeded up so that we can get them in. But in the meantime, they'll have all the fittings here um Thursday or Friday, be acting the crawl space later than Monday and they'll get everything plumbed in down below. So when we get the heaters, the installation goes um really fast. Um
031they don't have to go back down in there. Everything is up above and they can just plum them in from up above and turn them on. Brock Miller was here with B&B Tree and Bannon uh Brock's nephew did a lot of the trimming. They took down the big tree that was in the in the TI parking lot which was dead all the way down. It was a good thing to take out of there. The neighbors were all every time I've seen them they thanked because that was they were just dreaming that that was going to fall in their house or something. So, um, we are on the elementary project right now. Um, they're working on the north end to finish it up. That means everything from the primary wing around to the library. Um, all
032the, uh, restrooms are going, everything is up and going, but now they're down in the boiler room and they're doing all of the stuff that they kind of push off to the side. Um they're putting in uh some recirculating pumps on the water heaters and stuff like that now that they had delayed because they are not in the mainstream of the traffic of the of the kids. So they're working on that. They hope to get done with that phase up to that library um the end of September. Then they will be back um with another crew the first couple weeks of October to um insulate all the pipes that they've done down in the crawl space and in the classrooms all the exposed water pipes and there's some I think Jamie knows some in the
033bathrooms on the restrooms over the in the locker rooms all those exposed pipes that we've never had insulated those will all get insulated and all that other stuff down in the gym and so everything will get insulated to a couple weeks of that. But in the meantime, and I'm going to jump into this just real quick like because um Brock has it on his report also as a committee because we met last night, but I'm going to go through it because I have a little bit more information and then you can visit later about it. The proposal that Brooker is making to uh poor vent schools is that they finish up the north end again like it would take till um the end of September, insulate the pipes and they're proposing that we get the
034contract extended um which visited with Gary today very possible to do that and get it all laid out the way we want it. Um, and they would complete the south end, which is the library, down to the auditorium, bathrooms, and anything in between starting June of 26. And the reason that this comes into play is they've already determined that they're going to make too much noise. And and and when we talked about this, they delayed that working in that area because they were trying to get the primary done. um they didn't think that it was going to be that disruptive, but the only way to access those crawl spaces is in directly in the classroom. It's in uh Minnie's room um in Jessica's room and then across the hall, the two over there. Um and
035the main entrance to getting all that stuff out of there is not in Mindy's, it's in Jessica's. they would probably be in there a month and the noise of cutting those pipes and taking them all out of that crawl space, it's going to be labor intensive and it's going to be it's going to be very disruptive. Um, so they came up with the proposal and and I fully agree with it. Um, and I mentioned this to the committee last night that for once they have come forward and not, you know, they're not trying to delay the contract. They just think it's going to be very disruptive to our education system. And so in doing so, we would get the contract extended to start again in June of 26 and go until continuation of um they're
036thinking it'll probably be a month and a half to two months and of probably the end of July and they would have everything completed on this project. Um, so with that said, there's materials that have been purchased by us that are sitting down in the shop. We control that, um, they would help move them over here to the the, uh, shed and they would be in our possession until June and they come back and move them back down there. So, anything that we've paid for is not in their possession, it's in our possession. So, the only thing that we're really out is is the labor until they get to it. Um, I just think it works for everybody. If you're talking about a delay of 8 months, um, or whatever, but the disruption to the
037classes is the main thing right now. And I think that if we get one portion down and done, that's good enough for this year. The other thing is that comes into play is that the restrooms down on that far end are going to be out of service for a month and a half. and um CCPA over here. Um it it it's going to be very disruptive to everybody in the community. So that's where we're at with that. >> I'll probably make the recommendation in the committee. >> Yes. >> To do that. >> Yes. >> Yep. Okay. So that would come up in in just a little bit later. Um and he has another proposal we'll work on tonight. Outside work continues. The sprinkles will be blown out. Um the end of September, just coming up
038here in a couple weeks, they're going to start the blowout system. Um and except for the field, we always leave that on. That's the last thing. The stack project, they're hoping to be here the first of the week. They're working with the crane service right now to get the crane in there. Um the preliminary work has been done and taken care of. Um they were in there a week and a half ago and tore out the basement stuff and um scrapped all the iron out of there and they're all ready to put in all the new um we did have to remove the gas line and and replace that into a different area because it was in the way, but that project should go forward um hopefully starting this next week to the board. Um
039we have homecoming coming up which is September 22nd to the 27th. Um the board has traditionally always served the hot dogs to the kids. This year it's a little bit different. It is separated with formal tournament by itself. Bonfire is the next night. Um going back to a tradition with the coronation and a snake dance. So, the hot dogs would be um coinciding with the cornal tournament. So, I would um and I will take care of that as I do um have it all ready for you, but I would like some volunteers at some point to be there from 6:00 to 8:00. I hope to serve from 6:00 to 7:15 and then we clean up and when we're out of there. So, that's on Tuesday of homecoming week and um so we we could um
040figure that out who wants to be there to help out. Usually the there's some parents and stuff like that. Bring your kids, whatever. And we have plenty. Um the bonfire is the next night. Um 7 to 7:30 the coronation and then the bonfire um afterwards. Um that's about it. Not much else going on. Um we had and I and I I didn't hear anything and I and I'm going to say this. We'll put it in the paper. Um, I was hoping that we'd hear something from Shakespeare in the Park, a thank you note or something to the board. I think that our school put forth a lot of effort. Uh, and and Roxy knows this, what I'm talking about. We put we we as a school put a lot of effort into that on a
041on a very short moment's notice. We weren't ready for it at that end of the school. we were still a lot of stuff out and we had all hands on deck for a couple hours trying to get that thing facilitated and I was hoping that there would be a thank you note from them um thanking the school for what they did. So, if you see those people, that's kind of a cross to me. That's not that's not normally how you should do business. And um they were there was a couple people from our community that um should know that. I'm putting that out there because I they left and and I I willing let them do that. They had to back the trailer up on the lawn and it must have weighed as much as
042this crane's going to weigh because it left some pretty good divots. Um and and I'm con, you know, getting the dirt in there and stuff like that. But we put out a lot of effort to get Shakespeare in there that night and and that's what we do. But I would keeping that there was a thank you note up there and you know that we've talked about it. Um our our team all put together and got the bathrooms cleaned up and we got that end and they were painting and they cleaned everything up and we got everything going and they moved in and and there's there was like you know 20 of those people moving around and um anyhow that's my crop for tonight. So, um, with that said, um, we'll have the report and thanks
043everybody. See you later. Thanks. >> What day was the hot dog? >> Huh? What day? >> Yeah, whatever that is. >> The 23rd. >> Thank you. I should have been >> Hey, Roxy. >> How many minutes was it? >> Man, it was like many minutes. You get the one that says big thank you to the catw. >> Yeah, I can't even give my report anymore. Russ, we're out of time. >> It's okay. We're live. >> Yeah, right. >> We're run on a project. Okay. Um we are off to a great success at the elementary school for our Seattle for success school year. Um it seems like it's been quite busy and there's always something. It's constant perpetual motion as Mr. Hoo would say. Um we had a wonderful back to school carnival and every station
044was kind of somewhat western themed. So that was super fun. Um I do want to thank uh Aie and Wade Ory Fruit Wade Kelly and Matt Gutter. They came in and showed the kids how to rope and so hopefully we'll be starting a rodeo team in a few years. Um but that was fun. And then Emily Anderson came in. She's really been very instrumental in parent team in getting that off the ground. And they did a little trail mix station. And then we paired that with face painting. So that was an awesome that was an awesome station, too. That's always a very fun time and busy and hectic. And we didn't lose anybody. So we feel really good about that. The kids traveled um around in their Spear Valley teams. So that's something we had
045started last year. So they're in mixed kindergarten through sixth grade. And so we moved the sixth graders out and then just filtered the the kindergarteners back in so that those teachers kind of keep that same mix of kids to hopefully build some community. So that's something we will continue to do um and plan different events throughout this year. We had our first fire drill and it went great. We didn't use the app, but we will next time, right? >> Oh, that's right. >> You were supposed to remind us. >> Yes, but you forgot. >> Okay. down through here. >> Um, and then I we had an awesome this was kind of a fun uh Deanna had a great idea, my first grade teacher. They used to cook breakfast for the kids on the playground and
046um Russ brought his grill over and flipped some pancakes. Miss Cast Cia, she was like very supportive of it. And so we had our first buckaroo breakfast um on the 5th of September and that was great. And I'm ready to do it again. Aren't you? Okay, we're still on Shakespeare in the Park over here. >> Okay. Um, and we've also had a lot of One thing that's been great about our parent team this year is they they've put together um lists of things that we would need for our playground. And so we've had lots of families donate different items to the playground. So we have new balls, new new footballs, basketballs. We had a great playground cleanup day. So we painted lines, cleaned up. Russ made sure we had all of the paint. Although like
047I can't paint a straight line to save my life. But >> that is that's a fact. >> That is a fact. Yes. Yes. And so but the lines are there nonetheless. And so that's been really awesome to start the year off. That always feels good. Especially want to thank um uh Eric Wellman brought in a whole bunch of different sporting equipment. So he's doing his job as a coach to try to facilitate the future of Longorn athletics. >> Who won the second bowl? Let me and I want to thank you and your family for moving that sand. >> Yeah, >> we had three of sand down here and your son run the Bobcat and you guys took the trailer and took your time and we would have not, you know, have even attempted that without
048you guys and then Brian came home and got the rest of it and put it by the swing. So, your family did a great portion of that and it's appreciated. >> Thank you. >> Yes. Awesome. Thank you. Um, we also have had quite a few new students that are coming. In fact, we get two tomorrow. Um, and so that's been really exciting. It just makes me even more grateful for my staff and the program that we have at Fort Benton Elementary because this probably doesn't need to go in the paper, but as we are completing our beginning of the year assessment, um I think it's something we can be super proud of of the academics and the support that we offer our kiddos because most of the times these children that are transferring in are
049at least one to two grade levels below where the where the other kids are in their class. And so that just is like a testament to the hard work of our teachers. Sometimes they're already in my office trying to figure out what to do, what we're doing for interventions, and I love it. Sometimes I'm a little overwhelmed, but I love it because it means that we're going to work to meet their needs and and it shows. So, that's always exciting um to kind of like not exciting. I mean, we have a lot of work ahead of us, but it um is encouraging for sure. Do you guys have any questions on the highlights? Okay, awesome. Um buckle up for the MTFS and Dibbles report. We are busy testing. Are you just waiting to say the
050acronym? Okay, you were smiling. Um, so we are busy. I've been attending some different webinars on MAST. That's our state standardized testing. That stands for >> measure of academic standards through your >> Yes. Must ladies and gentlemen. Um, and so that window, like I said, will open in October. We're working on scheduling all those right now and making sure that teachers are kind of aware of like what standards are taught um at which window that happens third through 8th grade. And then we have our MAP. I do see there's an extra S on there. So I will fix that next time. Mold. It is MAP testing. So that's measure of academic progress. And that's something that we can utilize um three times of three times a year and that'll help measure growth on grade level
051standards. So that's new this year. Um and the teachers have been great. It's the data that we're receiving is quite comprehensive. And I think one thing that it'll be awesome to have is that we're still choosing um to dibble uh right now we've dibbled K through four. Dibbles really focuses on phonics and beginning reading skills to make sure that kids are putting that together fluently because if kids aren't reading by third grade then really statistically it shows that it's quite difficult to catch up. But I think math will help give us a little bit more of a whole picture of how a kiddo is learning, taking into consideration their ability to comprehend, ask questions, um, you know, extend that to extend the information that they're learning to real world situations and give us a little
052bit more of an idea of how they're doing mathwise. So, that'll be cool. We have a a webinar to kind of review those grade level results on um, our first P day. So, I'm excited for that. And yes, completing all that it's always great. I think that like I know our theme this year is saddle up for success, but I really feel like this year teamwork makes the dream work because it always seems like every day there's something unforeseen that happens. And I just feel like I'm super grateful for our elementary team and um for the support of Mr. Hul and Mr. Axman's Blackstone Grill and for you doing whatever we need. Yes, we love it. So, thank you. Um, we have picture day tomorrow. So, that will be it's always a very cute time
053at the elementary school. Uh, we're working on heritage day. So, that's such a cool opportunity for our kiddos. They get to travel down to the fort and go through like four different stations. Um, learning all about there's a present presenter there that will talk about tanning and they get to learn about some different Native American games and things like that. And our September assembly is the 30th of September. The Longhorns Got Talent Acts are filling up quickly. So if you need something to do that day, 2:30, the board can put together something that's ever been done, but I'm sure the kids will love it. Mr. A, your girls would love it. >> Okay. Um, if you guys have any questions, sir. >> Thanks, Rox. >> Cool. Go to [Music] >> I can talk faster. >>
054Okay, the clerk's reports. >> Okay, so I don't really have a ton to report on my general um report. You'll notice that the pages that usually have the percentages are missing. Um the budget hasn't totally been approved by the county superintendent yet. So when that's all back and mills are finalized, I'll put that on there for you guys next month. um update on the inner cap loans. Um so currently now um and it was on the budget papers um from the last month and I can transfer them out or you can look at them again. Um our intercath loan sits at $250,000 we have available for our high school and $500,000 available for elementary school. So that um ups our total uh budgeted amounts that we're able to spend in our building reserve funds. Um
055the loans haven't been extended yet. Um we try to hold off on that as long as humanly possible. So we're not paying interest on that. So you'll notice that when they do or we do have to dip into them. I'll let you know because you'll see it on that um percentage report on the back there. So that is all I have on that. And then we do have two bids on the offset property on the kils that >> Denny has there. >> And we have had no bids on the pickup. >> Okay. >> So I just need to >> Yep. So you have one bid 450. >> Yep. >> And then on the count. >> Yep. It is coming down. >> Oh, >> and the other one is for 52. So, um, did we skip
056the name? >> Nope. No. Have to make a motion to approve the bid for Okay. So, we'll need a motion to approve the bid for $52 for the kil. So, moved. >> Seconded. Okay. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Okay, that's done. That is all I have. >> Okay, Mr. Hold. >> Perfect. Have a good evening. Nice to see you. Uh Russ mentioned, but again, just a reminder, homecoming 2025 26 is the week of September 22nd through the 27th. Anything you can participate in, we'd love to have you around for our activities. Uh lots of excitement in the air leading up to homecoming this year. It has like Roxy said too, it's been a great start to the school year. Uh I was asked some questions for the uh newspaper, the student newspaper and
057um one of the things I said is that there's just a real positive energy in the air and and it's just the kind of thing we hope lasts all year, right? So it's been a really great start to the year and we're very um happy with um the beginning this year. I forgot the numbers. of all when I send out my report to you uh the electronic version we had our academic excellence awards assembly on September 3rd and the academic excellence awards are given to students who earn the honor role for the full year the previous year. So we have sophomores, juniors and seniors who have received those awards and I thought the I thought I had the numbers written down but I I will include those in my report tomorrow. So that was kind
058of a nice, you know, again, as I've mentioned in the past, one of the things our students have talked about was making sure we have more assemblies that acknowledge things outside of athletics and activities. And so it's nice to recognize students for their academic excellence. And you might recall that we're going to be using the the new um branded um honoral system this coming year in addition to the Be the Bridge Award. So at the end of the first quarter, we'll be recognizing students in that in that way. We're excited to host the crew of the USS Montana, the Navy submarine. They're going to be in town and they've asked us to the middle school high school to be a part of that on Thursday the 11th. You're welcome to come join us. Uh we
059are um they're going to be landing here about 9:45 and as luck would have it, we happen to have a school song that matches nicely with the Navy. Uh, and so we're going to play the anchors away, our school song as the this crew comes in and we're going to celebrate them and and we're going to ask the uh the staff sergeant to say some words about USS Montana and uh what it does and where it goes and those kinds of things. Um it's it's kind of a big deal. They're only stopping in four towns, Bethany. Is that right? Four towns in Montana and they chose Fort Benton as one of those. So it's >> and the others are like big cities. >> Yeah. So it's very very special. And uh so and then we're
060going to we're going to I have uh picked the se some senior student leaders the leaders of some of our organizations student council NHS FFA um like this and Leos club to present the they're presenting jackets to the crew members and then we'll get uh anchors away one more time as they head out. So that's on Thursday. Um um I don't have we have other another piece of business to deal with, but um I also wanted to make sure and point out we changed I I believe I mentioned this last month. We did change the back to school picnic to uh when after school started and that's going to be on Thursday, September 18th, which is next Thursday. Uh embedded in my notes that you'll get tomorrow electronically is a sign up. We'd love to
061have you and your family join us. Um it's safe to say people are really busy so the signup has been a bit sparse to be fair but so if we don't have much of a sign up by Friday we may have to postpone or cancel. So uh that'll be attached inside there. Uh the dates at the back um that from Roxy of which Roxy mentioned and uh for the record we missed last year sending our students to the worlds of work in Great Falls. We're catching We're doing that this it falls during our homecoming week again, but we're taking our sophomore class down there for that and that's on September 23rd. Okay. Uh any questions for me before we get to our next piece of business for the high school, middle school, high school? So,
062um we have before us a request, an early graduation request. And so madam chairman I would ask that we close the meeting for the right of privacy of the students in place. >> Okay. We will be um holding a close session to discuss the earlyation request. Hey, Alex.