001[laughter] We're alive. I didn't Look at me. [laughter] >> [clears throat] >> Take that. Come in late. You give it a chance. on the way to figure detail. Sorry. Please join me for the pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Like to thank everybody come today. I'd like to please sign in in the backpack there. >> Any person present who wishes to rest or raise any questions about public school district matters governing policies may do so under public participation. No discussion of personnel or individual students made at this time. The element of three minutes is placed on each speaker. Persons who want more time may arrange to be placed on future agendas.
002The public is also reminded that they may provide input on all motions being considered by the board at this meeting. Additionally, anyone wishing to make public comment virtually may submit the following forum virtual public comment form. All received messages that comply with the following criteria will be read at the meeting. No discussion of personnel or dear students is permitted was permitted. Include your full name and address and your message. a limit of 500 words based on each person. The same link may be used to provide input on action agenda items prior to board taking action. Public comments. We have two. First one is from Misty Harris. [clears throat] I respectfully request the board review their current process for reading public comments. When comments are read too quickly and without appropriate pacing or separation become difficult
003to difficult for the public and board members to follow, signing the responsibility to another individual clarity, transparency, and overall professionalism in the public comment process. Two, extremely disappointed that our school chose to post an advertisement for GOP1 weight loss program on the school's Facebook page. This is a for-profit business and does not fall under the scope of adult education. Adult education includes such things as sewing, ceramics, cooking, or fitness classes, not a $500 per month medical weight loss product. Posting this advertisement was inappropriate and they miss seems to the school's platform. If the school plans to promote for-profit businesses, then the criteria and policy for doing so should be clearly defined and applied consistently. Three, I am also disappointed by the community's narrow focus on AP and honors classes. While advancing academic opportunities are important,
004there has been little discussion about students who are struggling academically. Why does our high school not offer intervention classes for students who do not qualify for special education services? I'm imperative of a child of children on both ends of the academic spectrum and am concerned about those who are falling behind without adequate support. We have seniors graduating who can barely read and this is a systemic failure that must be addressed but the responsibility lies with the school and deserves immediate attention. Next is from Charity Bowler. Good evening. My name is Charity Bowler. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. I want to address the administrative rate listed as an action item on tonight's agenda. 2024, there was a long and very public process involving numerous meetings, financial presentations, and discussions about the district's budget challenges.
005The admin were given a substantial increase to their base. During the process, administrators agreed to freeze their wages for three years and give up additional contract days that had been routinely granted in prior years. Days that represented a significant ongoing cost to the district. The community was shown multiple slides explaining how these commitments would result in savings and help stabilize the district financially. Those representation those representations matter. They were part of how trust was built and built with staff and taxpayers and how the district arrived at where we are today. Tonight, the board is being asked to approve administrative raises. Yet no supporting documentation has been made available to the public explaining when this change was discussed what the ch what has changed since the 2024 process or what the financial impact will be under
006the Montana constitutional constitution article 2 section 8 and 9. The public has the right to participate in government decision making to examine documents prior to final action. Without access to the materials informing this proposal to the public sorry informing this proposal to the public has not the public has not been given a reasonable opportunity to understand or meaningfully participate in this decision. I respectfully request to the board clarify when and where the proposal was developed, whether it was discussed during a properly noticed public meeting and how it aligns with the prior commitment presented to the community. I strongly suggest the board table this action until the supporting materials are made publicly available and the public's right to know and right to participate are fully satisfied. Transparency, consistency, and follow through are essentials to public trust.
007Thank you for your time. Next, there are also three items of uh items for correspondence. Next, we're going to go into district reports, facility reports. Mark is sick. He's got whatever. Oh, is there any other public comments at this time? Okay. uh this facility report Mark is down with not CO not the flu it's whatever's going around so he is not here to give his normal maintenance report from what I understand though uh maintenance is lovely not having snow yet and there has been no major issues um during the windstorm a tree if it would have fallen the other way it would have taken out the middle school or part of the middle school and it fell the other direction so lost a small piece of sighting which has already been replaced. So that's all
008I know about it. Is there anything else? I think there was a tree that fell down by a head start as well that came up was none of the trees have been analyzed should be taken down. It was two that weren't even on the radar. So yeah, and there was no damage from that. It just rested against the building and then got rid of it. >> Student council representative is not here. Uh superintendent report. accept. All right. Our current enrollment is at 1536. This has a decreased us 12 students across the district. Primary is at 353 with attendance rate of 93.3. Intermediate is at 330, attendance rate 92.76. Middle school is at 366, attendance 90.13. And high school is at 487, attendance rate 90.23%. 23%. We currently have 117 students enrolled through the open enrollment
009process. Um I'm very happy to announce that the Lockwood is one of the five districts awarded transformational learning phase 2 grant for $322,500 that will be deposited into our flex fund in July and then we'll be able to use that to fund proficiency based learning, those kinds of things that we had before with the first round and then some additional training and things for teachers. So it'll be It would be a nice thing for our district to have as far as for those classes that come up that we don't have title or meeting grant money for. We'll be able to continue to fund those. Uh we have spent a lot of time meeting with our two our two core things that we're doing branching minds and um Jed Foundation and those are this month we're
010meeting with the Jed Foundation on the 19th. They're actually sending a group from their foundation here to meet with us on campus. Mr. Kinsey and Andrea have been doing the branching mind MTSS work and we have agreed that he will probably be extending that contract for two more years using Montana age literacy grant money because it helps to keep all the data together in one place and also does reports for like the reading grant and things that we need to do regularly and it pulls everything that was in separate places all together. So, we're going to go ahead and continue with that and then there will be work that goes with that as well. instruction leadership and literacy work will meet monthly to discuss our Montana reads literacy grant as part of the requirement. I
011know administrators or representative just building level leadership team is required to attend a monthly training. I have a monthly contact check in. I'm now working on the budget to get our eanth in and get it finalized for that. And that will bring supplies etc. Just like the reading grant has for the last eight years. I reviewed the AED grant which is replacing our AEDs for um in case we have a heart attack here. It was very complicated. So I went ahead with how we've been doing this and Gina just notifies me three to four year that are at the point where the batters need to be replaced. Um, we had our Montana Student Wellbeing Advisory Committee. It's a statewide committee and it brings in DPH. I was [snorts] asked to join that committee. We just
012discuss what we're doing in each of our locations to support student wellness, student mental health. So, it's um it's a great meeting and it's a great connection. So, in case something comes up, somebody says, "Hey, Log might be a good match for that," we get access to those things. Um we are working on strengthening continuously instructional systems support student mental health engage in responsible physical planning and maintaining strong collaboration at the district state community level. We had two resignations through Hannah Waldin the high school special education teacher. She verbally resigned on six and accepted and asking gardener in the daycare wrote a written um resignation on the eight is accepted. Done. Are the schools doing things? No, not this. Okay. Yeah. Uh, wait a go. Those haven't changed. Gold Golden Gap education hours. Everybody's on
013their way. There's only a couple left. Uh, we need to set a date and time for the superintendent's evaluation. I'm looking Februaryish. to get it 45 minutes before. >> Does that work with everybody for the February 10th? >> Well, I'm I have the community engagement committee scheduled at 5. >> Okay. What about the week of the 2nd through the 6th? >> You guys can be with that one. How about the 9th through the 13th? >> Yeah. >> Good. Good. >> Great. >> Yeah. Let me know. >> Okay. Let's do What if we did the 11th? >> I will not be here. >> 14th. Okay. Well, the night >> was like 4:30 on the 10. >> T would be good. >> 10 at 4:30. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Is the 9th out? >> Monday works. >>
014Monday. the night at I have a doctor's appointment at 3, but it shouldn't take more than an hour later. >> will kind of need the board to review the superintendent. A full board would be >> Can we do the 17th? >> 17th 5 o'clock. [laughter] >> Yes. Going once, going twice. >> Hold on. Hold on. >> It's probably um I'll I'll figure it out. You need to do later. >> Um not until after. >> Yeah, I I'll figure it out. We need >> How about January 27th? I'll be gone. >> 20th. >> January 27th. >> That's Hanksburg legs. Okay. Just want you all to know that I am here on every one of those days except the 11th. >> What was the last thing you said? >> The Well, it's Hank's birthday on the 20th.
015>> Can you earlier the day? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We could do it early on the time. >> How early? >> How How early is >> No earlier than three. >> There may be a solution out there. I see >> Kelly's usually awake from 2 to 4. We do early like 4:00 on the 20th or >> 4:00. >> Yeah. 4 a.m. >> Yeah. I mean, I can do >> 4:00 on the 20th. of January of January. >> January. Okay, good. >> In this room, I will send out a evaluation thing to everybody. >> Except me. >> Except you. Yes. >> Wow. Like a lot. >> All right. [snorts] Okay. Okay. So, Don's evaluation 400 p.m. January 20th. >> Okay. >> 26 >> 4:00 p.m. Locked in >> MST. There we go. All right. So, hold
016that. And it's locked in. Okay. Next, we have uh committees. We got safety committee. Corey. >> Uh nothing new. We're just uh still doing the drills and we're trying to see. We're still trying to get new uh wants. >> Okay. >> We will get another. >> That's right. >> I think that's our main thing. >> Excellent. Uh budget committee. We had a budget committee meeting >> December 16th. Thank you, Tom. Um what was discussed at that meeting was the uh re-evaluation of all the refineries taxes. Um how that pertains to us. Um I'd like to remind the community one more time that that is not on doing. The county treasurer who is also the superintendent of schools for the county. Right. >> Right. Um he decided to reevaluate their taxes and lowered them. So we
017are uh it's probably going to get put back on the community. Our tax bills are going to go up in the community is what it basically comes down to. Uh we will not have a shortfall in our district because we already had ours approved in August before this came out. But we I like to just put it out there again that this is not our doing. If your taxes go up, please contact the Yellowstone County Department of Revenue and the county uh superintendent schools at the same office. >> Judge, can I clarify one thing? >> Yes. >> We don't know exactly how much yet, >> but we should be made whole, but people can still protest their taxes, that kind of stuff. So, we don't know because of the change in the billing if that
018will affect people saying, "I'm not going to pay this. I'm going to protest it or not." So, we're hoping that we come close to getting what was taken back. But, um, Joshua was right. This is not something initiated by any. And also, uh, follow up on that is we have no idea where your tax bill is going to go up. Just keep an eye out for a letter county. [clears throat] Next thing that was discussed was uh the garbages. Believe it or not, we talked about the garbages. Um this year, year December, we had paid $2,436.86 in overages to our garbages. Last year at this time, it was $1,153.30. Um was it Don or Kelly that talked to Republic? Actually, >> Carly. Carly. Carly talked to Republic. they are swapping out all of our dumpsters
019or lockable dumpsters free of charge so that we don't have to go through this again. Um it is also it was not us that was overfilling our garbages. We seem to be community members that were using our garbages as trash receptacles for their household garbage moving whatever it may be. So, we're waiting on the January bill, which we will get in February, and we're expecting that to be over $1,000 because that is the Christmas rush of everybody's wrapping paper and boxes and everything else to go in there. So, it's probably >> So, that was also discussed. The other thing I did talk to Jake Bushnell, our athletic director. The reason for Lynch, oh my goodness, Jake Lynch. Sorry. Uh the reason for three, it was a special three uh assistant coaches for the baseball is
020to keep eyes on the kids. We need that many for the traveling and everything else that goes with it. Same with the uh football and uh track our request to hire. We have track coaches that are going to be in there this time. We just have so many kids going all over the place and keep eyes on. So that was Is that it budget? >> How many does wrestling get? >> Coaches. >> Assistant coaches. >> Uh I do believe when we get the request to hire we have them as well. One moment. I think we have a volunteer and rest coming up today. >> Yeah. four or five said [snorts] >> they just have that same kind of the same numbers as a baseball team. >> Is there a plan another plan budget? >> No,
021we need to do that. >> The 20th is out of three. >> No, only five. >> How's the 27th word? I'm gone. I leave the 27th. >> Okay, let's come to February. We need to get back. >> Let's do the 10th. Nope. Have a school board meeting that day. >> 17th. >> That one worked for me. >> Works for me. Good. All right. >> 5:00. Keep it five or six. >> Five. >> So, that was the 17. Yeah. >> So, the next budget committee meeting will be uh February 17 at 1700. uh career fair committee Corey um talked went a little bit talked about dates [snorts] and hopefully we'll have more probably in the next couple weeks. Um the other thing was talk about maybe doing some kind of resume type workshops and stuff going
022forward so kids can be ready for that. Um but yeah discussion take place right now negotiations Uh, let's see. Lacy, Shane, and I met on January 6th. And, uh, we'll go over that more in our action items. >> Okay. curriculum going on items. Um on January 7th, the u Miss P and Andrea held a community meeting uh where they presented information about uh the classes that we offer and graduation requirements. And uh the people were broken into two groups and uh submitted some questions for Gwen to uh write down. She's going to discuss this with the STL team, the school leadership team, SLT team and uh submit those questions to the community uh along with the the answers so that everybody knows what has been discussed, what has as a team they have come up
023with. Um I don't think that there's a a deadline to that, but it will be relatively it'll be timely. It'll be, you know, there's plenty of time to really go over this topic. So, I I would anticipate springtime maybe before Yeah. Um, we I typed up all of the comments and questions uh yesterday, those listed. We'll sort them. Um there's several that are very very very similar. Um so those will be u nested together and then take those forward. I anticipate it's going to be work for the SLC but clearly for handbook uh you know for this spring for next year. Yeah, there's ongoing discussions. Uh, conversations are still happening because in this particular topic of correspondence courses, nothing would be go into effect until next school year. So, I guess ongoing and I have
024no other meetings or anything set up. Uh kind of related to mist public comment though, Andrea and I have attempted to meet a couple of times to talk about uh other topics, how to you know help improve the school experience if anything can be done for um you know the majority of students, not necessarily the the high scorers. uh but we haven't been able to to meet yet because she's been you know having to um kind of tackle the correspondence course issue at so we haven't been able to have that discussion but we're working on >> good thank you engagement >> yeah we are just really ramping up for the winter game night we had a organizational meeting uh last week that went really well. It was well attended. We do have quite a few
025clubs that are interesting, clubs and organizations that are interested in uh participating, but right now our biggest focus is a moment. It's not going to be much of event if we don't have, you know, the clubs and um people donating chili and all that kind of stuff. So, uh right now that's our focus. Then we'll move into more advertising. Um we've divided up some of the the task between the boards. So, be working on that. So, uh I did create some flyers that I think this school each building should have received and hopefully those are kind of getting disseminated out to the public. Um looking for clubs and organizations. If anybody knows of anybody businesses can play a role, they could donate chili. Um they could donate to an organization that is participating. We would
026love to have that. church groups, clubs, um sports teams, all the all the different there's kind of a place for everybody. We'll just make it work. So, um help them reach out and then we're looking forward to >> Excellent. I'm working on the chili. >> Okay. Yeah. And I need to chili. You have to say that this was this was uh cooked in a clean kitchen things like that. >> Anything else? >> So yeah, let's see uh let's see what buildings can make the best chili. >> Uh next we're going to move to consent agenda. And before we uh do that or have it approved, I'd like to point out that we have one, two, three, four, five, six, seven volunteers, just volunteers coming into the or getting background checked and fingerprinted in the community
027or for the community to come into the school and help out. I think that's awesome. And it looks like our daycare is getting restaffed as well. So uh any disagreement of the consent agenda as presented? >> I'm not going to take that. >> Yes, she needs a public comment. She's gonna speak. >> I have Okay. Any uh consent agendas presented? Any addition to present agenda is adopted. It's the administration. Oh, go ahead. Okay. Uh, then we're going to move on to 7B and public comment, please. >> Is that me? >> Yep. >> Okay. from >> um >> Marissa and say you >> so uh this is going to be like first off I'm want to say that I don't it's not that I do not support our administrative the principles and assistant principles I think
028they do a great job and I support them and think that they do their job um but as a community member I um want to ask uh the reasons why uh Don your why Don is um recommending and because I [clears throat] did walk in late, my kids had sports I had to get into. Sorry. Um that you're recommending this 3% um wage increase. uh what type of uh what type of and I may be asking if the board maybe would look at tableabling this or asking and looking at it as a community member. I'm wondering what type of things are goals or actions are they app like what are they like what are they like assessed on to say yes because I mean out in the community people aren't getting raises right now. they
029aren't getting cost of living increases. And as a community member, I see teacher satisfaction down in the dumps. I see I don't see test scores rising a whole bunch. I couldn't bring up the GEMS report um before I got here. Uh but I don't see it continually like increasing. I see teachers leaving. Um, and if you take obviously I don't know their exact salaries, but on average for OPI principal salary in Montana on the low end was I mean the average for our size of district was $91,000. So even conservatively if you took that they each need $84,000 that's 25 the 3% would be $2,500 each. If you take two for each building, that's $5,000 that you could take and use that money to use for teacher employee engagement. Um, and while I think that
030these assistant principles and principles are doing things and they're working and they're doing things at the same time, so are the teachers. And while they their their thing is by unions, I'm just seeing as a parent the people on the front lines and we have no control over what we can do for the teachers, but this is little ways we can help. And when I asked Mrs. P specifically what she would do to help um improve teacher satisfaction, she really didn't have a lot of suggestions for me. Sorry. >> So, I would just ask maybe you could table it or ask for how that's dis how that's decided. >> Okay. Now, 7B talk about this. I know the negotiations committee talked about it. Well, first as far as evaluations, I evaluate each principle yearly and
031it's a four point system. There's several pages of things we go over based on curriculum instruction, supervision, those things. And without that evaluation there would be no monitoring that's done is required and personnel file those are not viewable those are not something that can be shared but it's a requirement of my job code and directors other people that are in in those positions that are not in teacher in classroom positions. So they are evaluating you >> I I wasn't questioning that. I believe that that's done. I'm not that's not >> I'm just wondering what metrics are used to evaluate >> their that like the community or someone could see that like I mean >> because our our money is paying so I just wanted to know if there was measurable value to those when you're
032doing the revaluations. It was a Wednesday review of other districts our size and we are not above a lot of them. We're in the middle. There are some that are below. But that was all done as part of the budget committee as we work through this. You know, Mr. Kinsey put together several different documents and looked at several different ways that people are compensated, insurance, all those things. So, there was a lot that went into that that was analyzed outside of just just making a motion to to increase that. We had meetings >> at least three >> three. >> So I did go back and try to review some of those because I was involved in all of it. Um and I didn't have a ton of time, but I did not find anything specific
033on what we our final like uh decision was. I do remember moving the matrix, getting rid of the days. Do we have anything that documented the three-year >> to be clear that was not any of my um concern about >> that was in Cherry Bowler's comment but I was trying to recall was that >> proposed at one time and didn't I really wanted to review the documents and I couldn't find them >> like to do it. So is this just because there isn't anything attached is this just based on that matrix or is this a different >> when they gave up their dates only >> that year. So that was that would be the >> we voted on that it would like August September of >> this is 267 >> this is 2627 so okay
034>> we had talked about with >> it so this pay raise is based on the majors that we adopted September >> and this is what we said the one year they did not get raises last year. >> All right. Right. So last year I remember I did remember that conversation proposal. So there was no agreement in there's no contract sign. There's nothing. So basically >> we've already asked them not to take a raise for one year. They would not have a proposal that was signed and agreed to as a group because they can't negotiate as a they each had to respond. each other contract respond individually on whether they accepted that or not. There's not a proposal giving right that's going to cover that. That's not how it worked, >> right? >> Yeah. >> And
035there were there were proposals but it was not locking that group into anything where a lot of they sent out scenarios. I think people are confusing that that wasn't what was signed. Their contracts are all signed. They agree with the vote for the next year. The other thing is the teachers negotiate their contract. they accepted that amount >> again >> that and if we took didn't give them 3% can't give your that >> well no again I'm not I'm seeing it as the principal and co assistant principles are the leaders of the ship um and >> you said there's $5,000 and each one gets 2500 right >> if you were to give them the 3% >> it's not like it just sits there >> so so no what I'm saying is is that I'm not
036saying that you would have to do that I'm saying is is I'm saying is there better ways we could be using that money instead of >> yeah keeping good principles and vice principles that >> well and I think I mean my concern is is that we're not keeping good >> I think I think the the my lack of documentation I mean it sounds like >> I'm not saying like any charities pulled from you know Jackie like we just don't have the document mentation, but the budget, it wasn't the budget committee, it was the negotiations committee. We met, we looked at documentation. Um, we looked at, you know, salaries, we looked at the budget, we looked at all of these different things. Unfortunately, there's nothing here to show that. I don't know, Dy, if you have
037any documents. I mean, I didn't bring any to show to the entire board tonight. Um, but >> everything I guess what I'm trying to say is as a nurse when I worked in order to get a to get a raise, you would have to attend 12 of the 30 meetings. And that would be then and your patients, you had to have a 75% of of this filled out. all your whiteboard um like audits you had to have that that you had 75% fill that you didn't do that you didn't get your raise like quality things that you were accountable that you could be held accountable for. I'm just wondering if we do that and I mean if we don't we don't >> just we meet with each building individually and talk about what they're working
038on how we can support that. If there's things that need to be worked on, we report that and then we make plans on how to improve that. Um, it's kind of hard to compare the medical field to what they need. >> Well, I'm not saying that. I'm just saying there's quality metrics in every field. >> Board that because you're having open discussion about this in a public meeting, we're not required to attach documents to a motion. We're also not required to produce what we analyzed with this or anything else. If somebody wants to request that, we can show them what we did, but we're not required to do that here and justify what you're doing. As long as you're discussing this like you are in a public meeting, >> I think the community is just
039asking for more transparency and they're just asking. >> They have to do continue education. They have to have so many hours. They have to go to a whole bunch of conferences and they don't just sit in the office and say, >> I'm not saying that. I don't think that about any of them. know that and we don't we don't the as the public they don't get to see review you know exit interviews they don't get to see any of that stuff it would be I'm just speaking from the public's point of view it would be nice to be able to see some more um I know we have to keep private information private but it's kind of true that other jobs are evaluated and documented >> the only thing we can release are prior contracts
040that have already been to and signed that's all we can 7%. So, I don't think that's what you're asking. >> I mean, all I'm I'm not It is not a personal attack against any of them as people. All I'm saying is is that as you work on a career ladder and you get up into those leadership positions when you have people working under you that as a community, it's a I would say a general consensus that there's concern about employee engagement, kids getting taught what they're needing to be taught, all of the things the community has reached out for and transparency. when you are the leader sometimes you have to step up and take leadership for that while I'm not saying that they should or shouldn't get that 3% it's not my personal opinion or
041my personal choice either it's the board's decision I we elect you guys to make those choices and to look into those decisions I was just bringing up a question as if they are because they are in leadership you do get paid more >> are you want to know this as >> I guess. Yeah, I was just wondering on without being specific to each >> if the board looks at >> that type of stuff and they're evaluated on is that is that what you is that what you're asking? >> Well, I mean and I don't know why that couldn't be available to the public. So, [clears throat] so I think and I don't know if it would help but again um the matrix would show what that 3% does to the base. Um it is very
042confusing. I've asked 10 times in the in the negotiations meeting. Um but you know to to the to your point and to Charity's point that on the comments um and others I I think it's just you know we did meet multiple times um and so really it >> to be clear mine has nothing to do with the contract or >> no I understand that and so I think just you know for for the purpose of the recommendation um we as a committee also walked out of the committee meeting agreeing that the 3% % was um acceptable. Um, being again being that we've done our due diligence, I feel like, you know, we've gone back, we've looked at the I don't say cost of living, but other districts, um, you know, they all of the things
043it I mean, if you want to know more personally, anybody, I you know, I I suggest you you learn because they have steps, they have this. Um, you know, I I think that again the recommendation is and I'll make a motion that the recommen we recommend the the negotiations committee recommends that the board approve a 3% raise >> I don't have a form just something to add in this conversation >> just my concern would be with the the shortage even though it's so all the community is going to hit the status Right. No matter what you say, they're my my concern is they're going to view they're going to directly take that and go, "Oh, we had to pay the principles." I know that's not the case, but I think you have a perception issue
044with the timing. >> Well, that's a completely different. I think the community because there's not I don't think there was some communication about the the shortage and I did see that, but I do think that there will be a perception that we're doing that to give the teacher the Remember the principles get a raise for next year. This is >> I understand that but it's it's all it's all what the community is going to understand and I understand that and we understand that sitting here but it's what the community is going to understand and perceive. >> Then we need to make it clear to the community that this money that we were shorted on had nothing to do with the school district. This wasn't made outside of here and everyone's done research on this too
045as well. This had nothing to do with school districts and we're not the only one. So can I but it needs to be made clear and then that separate issue and maybe we need to discuss how admin you know discuss working and how not you know how unability I think I do think there is I think >> I hope award understands that this is happening in Billings and Mororrow as well because we were the three districts that had these shortfalls given to us unannounced. Well, it's actually fairly common for big companies to get these tax breaks like this. And then what happens is in like >> ma'am, just one second. I have a procedural thing. I have a motion from AC to approve uh the 3% raise on the basis of nature as recommended by
046the negot. If you look in other places where like some of those like oil fields, Texas, North Dakota, a lot of these companies that are taxed large amounts of money like the refineries hasn't happened here in Montana before. They will dispute their tax revenues. Then what happens is is they get the they they then have to go and readjust it. it is. Then what happens is the school districts will often go to these refineries or companies and say, "You guys cost our school district this much money. It's impacting not only all of your employees and they get um I've seen several places where they've actually given donations to the school because then they get a tax write off. >> It's not just the school though. It's also the >> I understandbody else. >> But again,
047it's like being you have to like be I mean you if you ask the most they can say is no >> thank you uh any other public >> I have a comment uh in regard to open meeting laws because I think there's a misconception right now uh I [clears throat] wanted to point out that under so the negotiations committee is made up three of us three of seven minority if four of us were together that would be a quorum um that would indicate the need for open meeting procedures to be applied. Uh under Montana law, open meeting requirements apply when a forum of a schoolboard convenes to hear, discuss or act on matters with any board's jurisdiction. A negotiations committee composed of less than forum three of trustees does not meet this threshold and therefore
048does not constitute a meeting as defined by article 2 section 9 of the Montana Constitution and Montana code annotated section 23 203. A schoolboard negotiations committee exists for a limited and advisory purpose to gather information, explore options, and engage in a preliminary discussion related to compensation. In the context of administrator salary discussions, the committee does not have authority to set salaries and context of committed district funds. These powers rest exclusively with the full board acting in a properly noticed public meeting. Negotiations by their nature require candid discussion, flexibility, and the ability to test proposals without creating expectations or obligations. Treating preliminary negotiations negotiation sessions as open meetings would undermine the board's ability to negotiate effectively on behalf of the district and could place the district at protected strategic disadvantage particularly with compensation issues involve sensitive
049financial considerations. Last paragraph. Uh, one panel of law recognizes the importance of individual privacy and personnel related matters which are implicated in administrator salary discussions while final decisions must be made in public like right now. Uh, early stage negotiations involve [clears throat] confidential employment terms, market comparisons, which we did in depth and individualized compensation factors that are appropriately explored by a committee before before being presented to the full board. So, I just wanted to make it very clear that a minority of us making the committee does not violate any open meeting laws. >> And uh as a board member and not these discussions until now, I'm going to trust that the committee did their due diligence and compared and contrasted between our district and others and what our district does. And I'd al also like
050to point out that um we as a district have a primary principal who's also running a daycare. We have an intermediate school who is working on behavioral issues and they're going down. We have a middle school who now improved a house section that has dramatically dropped um behavior issues, tardiness, and things like that. We have a high school that is contrary to what other public people think and they say that everybody is leaving Lwood to go to schools or two or other areas. Our school has 17 >> 117 our district has 117 students that did not like where they were at and chose to come to us. So that is the rubric that I use that we are a destination high school not only for academics but also for athletics or other things. And we
051have kids and students that want to get in on the ground floor in our prek and ride the pipeline all the way through graduation. And [clears throat] parents >> uh use their own money, their own transportation to get their kids here and they love it. So I think our administrators are doing a great job and 3% raise. I'm going to take the recommendation that the negotiations committee did and we're not going to vote on it. So all those in favor any other discussions board please. >> I I mean I guess just again from the negotiations committee um like Josh said we did do our due diligence. Um, you know, we did go back to the 2425 school year. Um, we do want the teachers to look at their negotiations in the next coming years. Um,
052so at this point, you know, we felt the 3% for one year was was doable, agreeable. Um, budget-wise, we we believe we can swing it. All of the all of those things. And, you know, I mean, I I'm not rating it on a personal level. It's really just the numbers support it. Um, so >> and that was more maybe my question is was it looked at was it absolutely >> that was it wasn't >> that I feel that they're not doing their job or that they don't do a good job. It was strictly also underneath of them maybe struggles. >> Yep. And if there's I mean and you know the board can give all of their individual inputs but I mean there is supporting documentation that um could and and should have probably been provided
053to all of you so that you were um not coming in in an uncomfortable position feeling like we were coming in um you know with with not having that information because I mean we met three or four times and I I probably was the one that continued to you let's say let's look at 2% let's look at 1% let's look at nothing you know what does this do all of that so I just want to point that out and go ahead >> no I just would say I agree with Josh everything that Josh said I and support that but I I do have some concerns the community feels they don't have all the information and so I would encourage um the board the district to bring the negotiations to produce um how we fund those
054raises is how those are funded and what without getting specific to each administrator what we look at how they're how they are evaluated. I think um that would give the community a better understanding of how that works and that this is not part of this tax short. Um that's my only concern in terms of the community communication. Emblem. Are you writing me down? >> Just to clarify like if we were to table this issue for one board meeting until >> is it table? Okay. >> We already have a motion in public to other districts. We're again in the center. So, if we can keep some of these great administrators, let's keep them. But >> I agree. I just like Christy said, I wouldn't mind providing the proper I think we did our whatever, but we
055could go above and beyond. Provide good documentation and vote on it, still get it through and just create some trust with the public and still get >> I got no problem with that. I mean, that's that's all good. that, but also as an elected official, we need are the ones that have to take our decisions and the public has to trust that we do our due diligence. And I just want to I want to thank the principles and the vice principles for sticking with us for a year and knocking the waves, you know, staying with us even though that we told you last year no, and then this year we can finally do something for you. I just want to thank you guys for the hard work. >> Yes, sir. >> All right. So if
056you did because when does the raise go into effect? >> August 27th. >> So there's time if you did table for a month and then I I do think you need to control this narrative like don't wait for taxes to come up because it's a public they're going to go to worst case scenario. They will. So but if you take that month and control the narrative this is what's happening like don't hide from it and don't be defensive like hey it's not our doing. we didn't do it, but this is what's happening and here's but here's what we're doing as a school district and as a school and point out the positives. I think you can the public will perceive it differently than something happening and then they just get hit with this tax burden.
057They're going to they're going to go worst case scenario and go you guys blew it even though it's not facts don't matter in that scenario. Do you does that make any sense? >> No, it doesn't. >> Okay. And a further example is that is we actually had a meeting, was it last board meeting? And when we came out and said, "Hey, this is what's happening. Your taxes are going to go up." Nobody cared. They only cared about us. Not standard. >> That's true. I cared. I heard it. >> We didn't have one comment. >> Have nobody call and ask me what's going on. I provided everything we had to put news. Nobody gets called. Nobody's responded. So to be held hostage because people are now it's not okay because nobody is giving me what's going
058to happen at my home because my taxes are going to go up. Nobody from Billings is sending me a notice saying hey it's just going to go through. We tried to tell everybody in that meeting. There were like probably 20 parents. Nobody even reacted. >> I mean I guess I don't think it's your fault. >> Well no. And that's not what I'm saying is but you say now that we have talking because people are going to be thinking >> I'm not telling you to hold off on their raises at all. I was asking >> I have a motion from Lacy and a second from Corey on the approval of the 3% raise principles principal matrix as presented by the negotiations committee. All those in favor say I. >> I. All those oppose same sign. >>
059Hearing that the motion still passes. We have 1% of Jackie. Should get that. Thank you. Next, we're going to move on to board approval, first readings of policies. We have 12 17 read everyone else. >> No, you're not. >> All right. So, a lot of what we are having now presented as policy is related to law changes, etc. There are some new policies that have come on board with that, but most of this are edits with no option as change the language of fruit policies to reflect changes in the laws that went through this year. So, I'm not going to read through them. The first um three are related to um background checks. We were we went through this with trying to figure out how we're going to provide background checks or check them on
060our bus drivers on workplace learning. these policies all address that and they're they're now up to date with what the new laws have said. The second group, special education judgement, um the previous special education savings account legislation that went through has been now deemed unconstitutional and stopped. these things now edit current policy to deal with those changes by the the Supreme Court of Montana, whoever stopped that. Um, we also have a change in special education related to students are now eligible to remain up until the 22nd birthday if that is proven to be something that that is a need. We talked about this today in our meeting with superintendents across the area. So that is a new thing and that also is in this new um the new policy updates. Exceptional circumstances um special education
061judgment exceptional circumstances has a lot to do with many different parts of how special education decisions are made. It's just an edit the current policy. There was no change. Student records um edit to current policy no options. Brand new policies 3600 and one is a new policy. It's required. 36P1 is an edit to current policy. No option part-time enrollment. This was an update to current policy. No options. There was just some refining of policy 3150 based on some of the new laws. Registered sex offenders. Again, updates based on new legislation. No option to edit our policy. Employee bullying and TSB model policy 5014 covers bullying harassment that has now been updated. Again, no options. It was changed into by MTSBA and the legislature public records HB 100. This took effect in October has been amended
062now to meet Montana code annotated regarding fees that may be charged by public agencies for fulfilling a public records request. What it says is that we can that the limit has been set at $25 a month. So, and that's fine. Um, next section, student pronoun use. This has been added to community engagement, which I was confused with, but there's now a policy on whether people can use a student pronoun without parent. Again, it's um a new policy, not one we had. So, there's no no option. We just it just is a new policy coming in. Vacation sick leave. I gave the new chart to Dian said, "You probably know more about this than I do." On the approval, there was edit to current policy, but there were no options. The other two in that are
063new policies that'll just be added to our policy manual. Health enhancement curriculum has been going through a lot of changes in the last two years. I recommend on this particular policy that we go with option two. So please, it's listed in there if you want to take a look at that before the next meeting or I can write up what that looks like compared to option one. >> Which one was that? >> It is um policy 2335 almost to the end of that. It's 2335 and it's an edit to it, but they gave two options. I would I'm recommending option two in there option one, but we can have that discussion once you look at it and have that. Um, and we can do that on the second. The last is a AI policy and
064it's addressing AI integration and education. It was previously published, but if you missed it, I've included it with these updates as well. 2700 is a new policy and again, we'll adopt it, but there's nothing to go on prior to that. So overall new policy or most of the policies which edit the current policy except for this 12 health enhancement curriculum that has some options in there. So if we could take a look at that and if you have questions please reach out. I just thought option two fit better with how we operate. You guys can look at that and say hey what about this? I'd be happy to go into a conversation about that before the next meeting. But all of these can be passed on reading two because most of them have already come
065policy. Uh 3110 3110 that is the uh going school till 22. >> Yeah, >> that does not apply to transfers. Correct. They have to be in our district before they graduate and they have to graduate without a >> Yeah, that would have to be considered in district residence. I would imagine that because if somebody came from out of district and said, "I want my 22-year-old to enroll there." I think you would be able to say we don't have because we're still going to have to build program for this if it becomes a reality. But there's some other things we discussed today that we may be looking at that would help us deal with a majority of special education students based on graduation requirements and some testing modules that the state has adopted. and they have
066standards set that are not state level standards but that they would be appropriate for special education students. We have to look at all that. This is all brand new. So there may be more discussion on that >> and in order to first regular high school diploma. >> Yeah, there's regular versus just completion etc. So we really this is new new so we're going back to look at it. We don't want to be get in trouble for following this, but I think there's ways that we can actually for parents who say, you know, we're fine up these expectations, there's boxes to check on the IEP to say what the parents like. So that's discussed every year, including the unit, which we've already had that first one. So yeah, >> that's the only question I have. [clears
067throat] >> I move that the board approve the first reading of policies >> as presented. I have a motion from total second and a second. Discussion from the public. Discussion from the board. All those in favor of accepting the first reading of the policies as presented say I. >> All those opposed same sign. Hearing none motion passes we got a good day. Motion for a second from chain adjourn our reg. uh board. All those in favor say I. Thank you very much. My shirt. I have one question. >> You should have had to wait. In my opinion, you should have wait till you have a little FYI. We're going to do it for the 26th.