December 2025 Board Meeting

001That was >> okay. very long. You're fine. comments like that. It was something two links. One says comments. Are we ready? To the United States of America any questions about public school district manners or governing policies. is made use under public participation. No discussion personnel or individual students may at this time a limit of three minutes to place on each speaker. Persons who want more time may make arrangements to be placed on future agenda items. The public is also reminded that they may provide input on all motions being considered by the board at this meeting. Anyone wishing to make public comment virtually may submit through the virtual public comment form. All received messages that comply with the following criteria will be read at the meeting. No discussion of personnel and individual students is permitted. Include

002your full name, address, and your message. A limit of 500 words placed on each person. The same link may be used to provide input on action agenda items prior to the board taking action. First public comment, Chelsea from Chelsea Seymour. Board members and community. I'm submitting the public comment as I'm unable to attend due to extra extracurricular activities scheduled during the meeting time. I'm commenting to express a deep concern regarding the last board discussion on limiting correspondence courses and college opportunities to our students. I am formally requesting a special meeting where we can come together as community members, educators, and board members to openly discuss the issue and long-term implications. Let's start with facts. Lockwood High School is currently ranked among the lowest performing high school in Montana position between 79 and 93rd. 93rd according

003to the US News. This place is Lockwood High School in the bottom tier. Statewide schools are ranked on the performance on a state required test, graduation, and how well they prepare students to college for for college. Lockwood's ATC scores are already lower than the state average, and removing key instructional opportunities like course launch courses will only further widen the gap. Limiting student access to these resources is a step backward, not forward. Additionally, we cannot ignore the urgent issues of teacher retention. Lockwood High School has gone for more than half a semester without a dedicated high school English teacher, leaving students with only pass fail grades on their transcripts. This is not acceptable. It directly affects the quality of education when offering and exas exacerbates the already existing achievement gap. With this reality in mind, I

004ask, why would we choose to limit students who already faced numerous barriers to success? in the last board meeting, comments were made suggesting that we should care we should not cater to the less than 1% of students that are teachers can handle all courses without the need for correspondence. I strongly disagree with this perspective. First, let's revisit the Block with School District mission statement. Lockwood School expects all students to succeed. We will achieve the goal by being forced to >> be focused, adaptable, innovative, engaging, and driven to help every student achieve success. Notice that this mission does not say some students or the majority. It says all students. Every student, no matter how few, has dreams, needs, and potential to succeed. If we truly believe in our mission, then the less than 1% still matters.

005These students deserve the same comm commitment to succeed that is promised to all. They are not less worthy or less worthy of our investment in their education. So tonight, I urge the board to uphold the mission Lockwood School has put forward. Every student counts. Decisions should reflect that belief. We must open the door to opportunity and not close them or our students cannot afford to be further limited and our community cannot afford to be ignored. Families have already left our district and we risk losing even more if we do not address the concerns head on. Lockwood has always prided itself on being adaptable, innovative, and focused on growth. In our five years as a high school, we should be aiming for progress, not regression. Let's prove that by ensuring every student, no matter how few,

006has a chance to reach their full potential. This is how we honor our mission, rise above the rankings, and truly serve our community. Sincerely, Dela Seymour. Next is Belleria Long. >> Yeah. >> To the members of the school board, I want to express my concerns following last month's board meeting and the discussion regarding limiting college credit opportunities and res restricting credits for correspondence courses, particularly for foreign language classes offered through MDTA. These programs exist to broaden access and help districts like ours offer a competitive curriculum, reducing them would narrow students opportunities at a time when they should be expanding. As a German native with children in the district, I am particularly disappointed that German is no longer being offered. Language learning provides academic, cultural, and career benefits. And removing German or limiting other language options

007sends an unfortunate message about the value of global education. students need more opportunity to prepare for an interconnected world, not fewer. What makes this even more concerning is the comparison with nearby districts. Despite Lockwood having a beautiful, modern building that reflects our community's investment in education, our students appear to have fewer academic options than those available just a few miles away. It is troubling to think that 6 to 10 mile distance can result in such significant differences educational opportunities. Families should not feel compelled to transfer districts simply to ensure their children have access to essential coursework, especially something as foundational as world languages. I understand that budgeting, staffing, and scheduling challenges affect courses, course availability, that in-person language classes are the ideal. However, MDTA exists to help districts overcome these very barriers. Restricting its use

008undermines the tool designed to promote equity and access. Rather than limiting online or correspondence options, we should be leveraging them to provide the diverse academic experience students need for future success. I respectfully urge the board to reconsider limitations on college credits and correspondence learning options and to explore ways to expand rather than restrict academic pathways for our students. Access to broad curriculum is not a luxury but a necessity particularly in preparing your young people as our young people as increasingly interconnected world. Thank you for your time, your service and your dedication to our community. Sincerely, Valer Long. Next is Lisa Robinson. Lock of school board and community. This letter is concerned the policy to limit schools to limit the high school students to only two corresponding credits for all four years of high school. I've

009experienced I have experience with correspondence credits helping students as they go on to college. My oldest daughter graduated last fall and is attending MSU in both in Boseman. Lockwood school provided her with the opportunity to take online and in-person dual enrollment classes and she graduated with 27 college credits. Because of these 27 credits, she will be she will be able to complete her bachelor's degree in three years having her one having her one year worth of tuition enrollment board which is currently $29,000. Many of these credits are allowed also allowed her to take specific to her degree in her semester because they continue toward core credits. It is because the law's amazing teachers and who facilitated dual aroma courses and the correspondence courses that she completed through MDTA and other programs that she was able

010to graduate with these credits. Lockwood High School has provided my oldest oldest daughter with many opportunities and I have two younger children who will have will not have it if we limit the correspondence courses and they can take. Our schools should be working to increase the opportunities of our students, not limit them. And they are what they are allowed to do. The district should be going out of their way to create academic advantages for the students of Lockwood. I'm concerned for Lockwood High School's reputation going into the future. I'm concerned for the education of our students will receive here. I'm concerned that students who excel academically and want the best academic opportunities will transfer to schools that provide these opportunities. We we as a community have worked so hard to bring a high school into

011Lockwood and have high expectations. We all want to be the best for our students and they deserve nothing less. Limiting correspondence courses is taking away the opportunity that will directly impact our students future. Thank you, Lisa Robinson. Next is Lance Folson. When Lockwood pushed for a high school, my family and I were excited and pushed our neighbors friends our neighbors friends to support the new school, the elementary program had done so much to develop children and we did not want to want them to go to Billings for high school. When the school opened, we were optimistic that quality programs would open to fit the diverse needs of Lockwood youth. The vision was clouded. The the vision has clouded and optimism has faded. Two years ago, I ran into a random person that was a substitute

012teaching in Lockwood with the intention of getting education. Her experience was terrible. She quit subbing and gave up on education. What hit home was that she was talking about my son's grade and that confirmed many of my concerns. My daughters attended those same classes with the same teacher and could have couldn't have been happier with their education. The culture was no longer the same. I pulled both of my boys out of Lockwood and a tough decision that I do not regret. Lockwood teachers are well compensated. A few years ago, I was it was hard to get into Lockwood with with great applications for every position. Over the past few years, teachers seem to be leaving at alarming rates, and the positions are not getting filled. Last year, the entire English department was composed of five

013new teachers. Only two stayed for second year. Why are teachers leaving? According to MHSA, Lockwood High School's fall count was 552 last year. It is now 488. the same home East group of 554 to 604. It has the same basic statistic as Lockwood in terms of proximity to large schools, classifications, and years and years as a high school. Why did the increase in Lockwood decrease? The high school is the the high school is the an area in the coal mine. The community seems to be growing. Why is the high school shrinking? I think they're leaving because of school culture does not reflect student success. As students leave, opportunities continue to shrink. Students feel less school spirit and more leave. Top players are transferring to other schools to be on better teams. Top students are transferring

014to other schools for academic opportunities. The decision to limit correspondence courses leaves me with no choice but to transfer my daughter in 10th grade. She has already exceeded the limit of correspondence courses. many of her friends are planning to transfer as well. I don't take don't take my statements as truth. Mr. Skidmore said we we are only the 1%. I do think that a 12% drop in the high school enrollment and 60% of the English department leaving warrants answers. Exit interviews are a common practice and should be done with students, parents, and the staff are leaving the district. The second suggestion, have a third party do a staff study and parent survey, figure out the problem, fix a system, the students will come back. You uh >> Mohawk, I'm worried about last month's seven to2

015vote for only two credits earn correspondence classes. My child wants a language not offered and she should be able to earn at least four credits for this alone as Spanish has four levels plus the two plus the two. Can it get can it get changed to six credits? Clint Buckloo Bakla >> Buckaloo I have recently become aware that the high school is missing English teachers and parents are not notified about it unless till se several months after the fact this is not transparent and is a very bad way to approach the problem and on top of that the teachers that we that were being considered were non-native speaking nonnative English speaking speakers. This is no way. There is no way a person can teach English at a high school level if their native tongue is

016not English. The community is paying the high school to teach kids and English is a core skill they need to succeed. What is what is the core problem and how will this be addressed as quickly as possible? Nick Tallmark, I know there have been a lot of talk in the community about Lock with potentially losing classes, losing losing classes that qualify for dual credits. This is very concerning for me and I want to hear directly from the board regarding this versus being an un unfounded rumor. Also, I was curious I was curious about how other schools schedule theirs honor classes. This is our first year with students in high school. Although >> can't get it to >> I can't go over. >> I can and although he qualified for multiple classes, he had to choose

017between them because they are only offered once and they are in the same period. Is this something that can be looked at moving forward so the students can take the appropriate level classes? I appreciate all you do and thank you in advance for your time. >> Thank you all for the public comments. >> Is there any other public comments? >> Um, I have >> Do you have a full comment form? >> There's some back there. If there's some back isn't sure. >> Yeah. a lot of the world. Is there any other public comments forms? You do a timer for three minutes. >> Is it Luke? >> Luke say Mohat. >> Uh Luke Mohat would like to speak on shortage of teachers. >> Hang on. I just cost you four seconds. >> Okay. >> Go ahead.

018>> Okay. You can start whenever you want. >> Some of the comments in the first reading we have touched on it as well. Lack of English teachers, freshman class I think has lot of substitutes teacher pass and I think that's going to students teachers looking for their comment or on there. Not sure why we're having problems hiring teachers, keeping teachers. It's going to other subjects such as sister's love. might not be having done to address the teacher shortage that helped retain teachers as people. >> So last year in the state of Montana, seven people graduated from MSU Boseman with teaching degrees. Four from the University of Montana and 12 from the UN from MSU Billings. People are not going into education anymore. The teacher shortage is across the whole state. It's not just Lockwood. We

019have teachers that sign contracts here, decide then they're going to move to another district and just leave without any warning because there's no repercussions for doing that anymore. You can leave Lockwood and go to Billings and get a job the next day because there's openings there. So, if you look at the job openings on their website, they have math openings, science openings, English, the same in Huntley, Shepard, there are shortages everywhere. Special education is unfillable now. We have nobody applying for special education in England. and we had math and English jobs open for six months and had no applications at all from within the state. We had some people apply from out of state and then pulled out because they didn't want to have to move and go through getting their license move to Montana.

020So, it's a struggle across the state to find people to fill unless you're in a small district and people have been there long enough they don't want to leave. Education in Montana right now is very fluid. to go to where the money is or where you want to live and you can leave a job in December and tell your district I'm not coming back and have a job before Christmas break is over. So, it's a battle everybody's fighting. >> And what can you do to be more competitive? >> It's not about competition. It's lack of people applying. There's nobody coming into the state and our state's not producing teachers. When I went to Eastern Montana College in the 1800s, there were like 450 people graduating with teaching degrees. It took longer for that than any

021other school there. Now, now this year, they have 39 people graduating with teaching degrees. People are just not going into education, not like they used to, and I don't know how it's a national problem. I don't know how we work to to change that, but everybody's struggling with it. So, we have been as creative as we can to try to make sure that kids at least have somebody there that's a certified person or in some cases not certified but covering the class with a certified person doing a lesson plan. So, there's not an easy solution to it. I can't sit here and tell you we're going to do this or we're going to offer more money. It's not making a difference. Do >> you have anything else, sir? No. I don't know how to say

022your first name. >> Dagy. >> Yeah, >> Dany Olsen would like to talk about correspondence course. >> Good evening. For those of you who may not know, my name is Dagy Olsen and I'm a sophomore here at Logan School. I took many advanced and online classes consisting of Chinese and honors algebra 2 last year. I plan on taking more online classes that our school doesn't provide so I can have the skills I need for future career paths. I'm here today because many students at our school feel like the their opportunities are shrinking rather than growing. We've watched students at other schools gain access to better programs, better courses, and better resources. And we've also watched some of our own classmates, students we know personally, transfer away because they weren't getting what they needed here. This

023transferring, they've been able to take advantage of resources that simply aren't available to them. Programs align with their interests, advanced courses that challenge them, and opportunities that help them prepare for their futures. They're thriving. And if that trend continues, even more top students will trans will start transferring out simply because better opportunities exist somewhere else. This issue becomes even more urgent when we look at the chances being made, changes being made to course. Many students have already signed up for both of their two courses class credits that will appear on the transcript. But for those who haven't, these new restrictions create a very real disadvantages. Certain colleges require multiple years of foreign language. Many art many art performance and design programs require very specific visual or performing art class. If our transcript can't show that

024we've taken the courses those programs expect, we're automatically put at a disadvantage when applying to top university. And if we want to earn credits at all, we'll be we'll be forced to we'll be forced into classes that we have no interest in. Classes that don't challenge us, don't prepare us, and don't align with our goals or the direction we want our future to go. This won't just affect a few students. It affects anyone who haven't already used their two correspondence credits. And it will impact the direction of many students futures. So I have to ask, why are we spending so much time and energy trying to take away correspondence options when our school is facing much bigger problems? Instead of limiting opportunities for the students who are working hard and striving for more shouldn't we

025be focusing on supporting the students who are struggling. Helping them succeed doesn't require taking opportunities with everyone else. Other major other major issues are going unresolved. For example, an English class hasn't had a consistent teacher for the entire semester and one of our math teachers is leaving next semester and there's still no replacement lineup. These are the problems that deserve our attention. These are the issues that affect every student every day. We are not asking for special treatment. We're asking for the chance to grow, to challenge ourselves, and prepare for our futures. Thank you for listening, and I truly hope we can work together to create a school environment where opportunity isn't something we lose, but something we build. >> Thank you. >> We're in Miller. Did I get that right? I will just wait.

026Thank you. >> Wait till Okay. >> This is your only chance for public. >> Okay. >> They are who I'm fighting for. >> Okay. Uh Patrick Saunders, the use of AI by our teachers and administrators. Um, so I know lately, um, in the past school years, last year and this year especially, uh, teachers and administration have really been cracking down on AI use. And this is not me advocating for AI be used by our students. Uh I'm more bringing up the fact that in recent times me and multiple other students have reported use of AI by our teachers and administrators for writing emails and creating assignments that one that for one isn't really teaching our students. that is finding an easy way out because they have more they have more classwork to grade or they

027have out of school things that they they just don't have time to create assignments or come up with a lesson plan for the week. And I am just talking and I'm just bringing this up because um I think it's very unfair for um there's an admin to be um saying that we're not allowed to use this because when you graduate high school, when you get out of college, you're not going to be able to use this stuff in the real world. But right now, they're showing us that you can. And um I would just like that to be talked about more because not really fair to the rest of us. >> Is that all? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Sure. >> If you haven't done a public comment as we go through our agenda items,

028we will only be discussing agenda items. This is now the time for public comment or anything that you want to talk about. Okay. Um, I'd like to point out that there was a rumor going around that we're getting rid of that we were getting rid of honors classes. That is unfounded and untrue. That is completely different different issue than the correspondence courses. Honors classes are not going anywhere. Secondly, um, board leadership has already been figuring out the logistics. We are going to have an open meeting with the public about correspondence courses. We're looking for the end of January, possibly middle of February is when we're going to open it up. Community will come in. It'll be a work session essentially. So, >> which is what we said at the last meeting too when we were

029discussing this that the public does need to come in so everyone has a better grasp on it and understands it better. So, this has been a plan to include the community the entire time. So, I just want to mention that that's not a new notion. So, I think it should be clarification as well that we're our intent is not to get rid of correspondence courses or any of those things. >> I think that's some of the rumors that's going around as well. >> Right. That's not what >> Yeah. And we have no desire to do that. We want to move forward and hear the community's concerns but and figure out how we can address what's going on. But all the rumors out there, um, you know, it's not helping the situation. So, I just want

030to make sure that we're clarifying that we're not intending to get rid of any of that. We want to make sure because that has been some comments that I've heard as well. And so, I think it's important that we say that in this public forum. >> So, I guess my concern is is that we should have that meeting sooner than later because >> I also I'm confused >> and I think that was discussed last month that you know there was confusion as to what this meant and the impacts related to it. So, It's the rumors that made it confusing. >> No, it was I mean the rumors came out after the meeting. So >> that's what's made it confusing. >> But it was confusing before. So anyways, and I think I have to you know

031I have to say that probably much to the annoyance of a lot of people in this room. I've been very very vocal support making sure that our advanced learners are being their needs are being met. Um but I too this correspondence you know dual credit thing it is a confusing complex thing >> and you know I was able to attend a meeting with Jackie before the last board meeting that she set up that I invited myself to with Miss it it it helped me understand that better and so I do think that the meeting needs to also just you know include a a really explanation of what these classes are what is dual enrollment what is you college credit, how are they different, how are they saying, how do the credits work? Because I think

032it's confusing. >> And I do think that's where some of the misinformation is going through the community because I think it's hard to understand. >> So, I agree with with with Lacy that we need to make sure we're explaining how it works before we talk about how we fix it. And I talked about this with Andrea and Gwen a handful of times since the last meeting and they've acknowledged, you know, where the confusion is and are already working on how to make things clearer for everyone to understand and, you know, where are wires getting crossed? How can we fix that? So, you know, a lot of work has already been done in advance of what we hope to do in January or early February. >> Thank you. Um, >> Chelsea Seymour, what was voted on

033last meeting on dual >> vote on the last meeting then on the dual credits that was >> to keep it the way it was already in the course catalog because it had not been published where people could find it. It didn't change anything. It just cleared that out and brought it back out because it had been lost in moving things into Infinite Campus. >> We didn't restrict anything. and we just brought it out of the >> Mrs. pool realized when we moved everything into Infinite Campus that part of it, it's been in all of our handbooks. It just didn't transfer over and she wanted to bring that up that it was still our policy. It has not changed. It was just brought back up again so people realize that was still in place. It changed

034>> limitations on there. >> What's that? >> There was limit on the correspondence >> correspondence courses. Yes. >> But not the dual credit, >> right? >> No, I don't believe so. Dual credit was not limited. No, >> we didn't reduce anything. Nothing was taken away. >> Credit was also >> nothing has changed about the Google credit that we actually offer here. >> Yeah, it really was just a matter of like administrative overlook of it. We thought that it was published in Infinite Campus for people to look at. It wasn't. And so then we voted to put it back in the handbook so that it's available to like actually read. So there was no change to any policy. It was just a matter of getting it, you know, back on paper because it wasn't on Infinite

035Campus like originally thought. >> So it wasn't on paper or online like >> No, it was in previous handbooks as well, >> but not for this year. >> But it hasn't changed. Nothing changed. She if Gwen hadn't caught that, nobody would even know when that was out there. That's she wanted to bring it up so she could um review it. >> It was in the last three handbooks and so it wasn't in this one because the assumption was that it made it in an infinite campus and it didn't. So now it's back on paper like the previous three years at least. >> I'm going to move on to correspondence. >> Oh, do we have one more? Can I pass? Sorry, I said I wouldn't, but I am. So, I guess like for me, the rumor

036came because both my my kids came home upset. We're all in honors classes. So, I'm a fresh like they said they were next semester they didn't have teachers and would have to take no longer would get to take honors math, you know. Then I got an older child who was extremely upset because she's like, "All of my honores are going away and there will be no honoring teachers next year." So, I guess it's like it's coming from the for me it's coming from the student. It's being told that next semester they won't have teachers and they won't have the classes and they don't know what they're going to take. >> Have you asked your students who's saying that to them? the teachers >> the teachers are telling them that honors is getting cancelled >> and

037like they're not Yeah, because they they she like next semester she like next year like that's all they have is you know honors classes currently. So next year all she would be able to take are the next level honors classes and her fear is that none of she's being told that none of those by her teachers are going to be offered and that there you know she might not even have a math teacher next semester. That's part of the rumor problem that we want to get rid of. That's not >> from >> That's what I mean. That's what I'm saying is we want now for you to hear that the people telling them that are wrong. >> So like the honors geometry will have honors >> honors geometry is going to be honors >> honors

038next semester no matter what. >> There's nothing nothing is going away. And I was going to tell Mr. Mohhat tonight we do we will be hiring an English teacher that is from the area who will start right after the break and we hired someone to help in the math department that will start tomorrow. >> So these things that you're hearing coming from teachers are not are not true and they're not founded and that's really sad that your child is coming home with the teachers comments. >> That's what I mean. It's really sad that you're hearing that from teachers and it's not this is why we wanted I'm glad that there are this many people from the public here >> and I'm hoping everybody will come to the public meeting and have this discussion with our

039high school administration and understand all these nuances that have been mashed together for people trying to make a point that's not true. >> I would encourage anybody whose students are coming home upset because of something a teacher is saying >> to contact Mrs. Pool or the administration. >> Right. did and they they are, but I guess I'm just a little nervous, too. They feel like they have a little bit they're they there's there's so much information that seems more impactful to them that is affecting them daily than the two people like who are saying it's not going to happen. And I want to put faith in them, but they, you know, they're also high schoolers and they're impressionable. So when there's a much larger crowd telling them, hey, this is not like you might not

040have anywhere to go next semester or even next year because you've maxed out the high school and she doesn't want to have to go somewhere else. She, you know, she it it's scary when when you feel that way. And I'm not in the high school and I try to stay as involved but uninvolved. So, I'm sorry, but and I appreciate all of you, but that's where I guess we're coming from is when your student feels, you know, that way that I guess that I don't know what else to say, but that's where it's coming from the kids, not that um I thought may correct me if I'm misunderstanding that correspondence that you shared with us that went out to this community. I thought you you did acknowledge that you realized that some of it was

041coming from in the school and that you were and is that true and that you were making sure that all the staff understood what was going on. Is is that correct? >> Absolutely. >> So I think the school did recognize where it was coming from and she was she addressed it. Is that correct? >> But if we addressed it with the student like the I sent if I may I sent an email out to all the students every student got it whether they read their email yet. I have seen students emails that have not been opened. Um, so every student got it in every grade, whether it was a kid that was in an honors class or a kid that wasn't in the honors class, the entire body got it. The entire uh set of

042parents that are touched with these students, all of our staff got it. All of our school board member and I personally apologize that that rumor was started within our walls and um we will not uh communicate that in the future. We are not taking away any access to our students. I care very deeply about this for my own kids and for my kids that I see in the hallway smiling at me. Um, this is this is not going to be how we communicate and many apologies to you. That's all I can do to you is apologize on behalf of the teacher that did start this scared people and I'm very sorry about that. >> No other public comments. I'm going to move on to correspondence. Do you mind if I say a couple things? Sure.

043Uh because I have a feeling this room is going to empty as soon as we move on to other things. I would like to share some some other numbers. You're all welcome to stay. We'd love that. >> Unfortunately, the band concert at the exact same time. >> If you guys can stay for five minutes after um we get done with these comments, I really want you to hear what came from our county treasurer so you understand what's going on with the taxes as well because it's very important. Um, so when it comes to getting data about the Lockwood school, uh, the best place to go is Montana OPI and go to the gems portion of it, GMS. It provides comparative data to actual demographics that Lockwood would compare to. And it's, you know, it's data

044that can't be changed or or skewed in any way. Um, so I am just I've got numbers coming out of my ears here. So, be patient with me. Um, I didn't have time to tackle all of the numbers addressed in the public comments, but I can respond to a few. One of them, uh, regarding the ACT scores, saying that Lockwood is so behind in the ACT scores were not the state average is 19 and ours is 18.8. So, it is very close. Um and then the US >> US News and World Report >> and World Report 40% of their statistic is drawn from international balore and AP courses which neither of those we offer. So off the top of our grade from US News, it it took 40% off for things that we wouldn't even

045we shouldn't be graded on or compared to by you know against other. So when it compares us to the other two high schools that have those programs, it puts us at the bottom because we don't >> in other parts of the the country. And so, you know, we've got to be very careful where we're pulling these numbers from and and who we are comparing ourselves to. You know, school district 2, it's it's apples and oranges. We need to compare apples to apples when we're talking about Lockwood uh and other class A schools. Um, Beaverhead, Billings, Central, Corvalis, Kuster County, Dawson High School, East Telina, Fergus, Harden, Laurel, Libby, Pulson, you know, and we're comparative. We're ahead of them in in a few categories, many categories. Uh, a few of them would be English, math, science,

046uh, enrollment. Here's an example of something that would be skewed. um billing central rates higher than us in some areas, but a portion of that is because they have a 0.0% special education rate. They don't enroll any special education students. We do at 10.5%. So that, you know, that changes our numbers, that changes data, that changes results. So, you know, we need to be careful what numbers we're pulling and and putting out there for for the public. Um, you know, if if we have founded information, then it needs to be shared just just like it was. But it's it's before bad information is spread, information has to be accurate and there's places to go. Montana OPI Gems is the first place I would encourage people to go. >> And this thing of families leaving Lockwood

047to go someplace else to find it better. We have 169 students who came here from other districts because they wanted to be here K12. So if you're looking at that the number coming in number going out we're the same as most districts because of the open enrollment. If you want to go someplace else because you're looking for something else you can do it now. You can go anywhere you want to but we have 169 students on our campus that chose to come to Lockwood from other area districts. So >> another >> those those comments are just it's it's very skewed when you want to just make one point but we have to look at the data from all the way around >> um addressing uh a what appeared to be maybe a decrease in enrollment

048or kids leaving. Uh an interesting comparison would be the incoming 9th grade class had 112 students which was significantly smaller than the previous year's 163 students. So, you know, that's a big chunk of kids that that aren't represented because they don't exist. But when we we look at numbers, you don't always think about the class size and uh the graduation size. You know, there there can be a pretty sizable swing based on class size. And I'm not saying that, you know, students aren't leaving and students aren't coming for a variety of reasons. I there is that's true. But um you know in this instance that's that's a 50k a 50 student swing. And so you know that's I think worth considering worth knowing. And um this isn't to say that you know there there aren't

049issues but um the numbers and the accurate data are very important when we're having these conversations. That's all. >> Thank you. I want to move on to correspondence. Our next one is from the uh Yellowstone County Treasurer's Office. >> So last Thursday, our district was notified not because the county superintendent, who's also the county treasurer, chose to tell us himself, but because he mentioned a change in our tax base in Lockwood that the Lockwood School District is now facing a $477,000 shortage because at we were required to have our budget in place by August 15th. It's legal. The board the board passed or approved our trustees financial statement which is the money it's sent to us from the state saying this is how much you're going to get in your taxes from Lockwood citizens from

050your businesses etc. Somewhere between August 15th and November 20th deals were made to reduce taxes communitywide businesses I'm not sure where all the reductions were made of $277,000. So, a clerk who happened to be at the courthouse, random clerk, was making a deposit and this county superintendent said, "Boy, Lockwood, Laurel and Billings are going to struggle because they have a significant shortage in their budget based on changes in the taxes from the Department of Treasury." Deianne, a clerk called and called and called, could not get an answer, and finally went down to the courthouse and found that this was true. The Department of Revenue had changed that part of our tax base. We found out Thursday of last week that there was also a deal made with PAR Montana to reduce their taxes another $200,000.

051So now our tax deficit went or our budget deficit went to $477,000. So we are making a contingency plan on in the case that they say we're not going to do anything about it. Now tonight the county commissioners are meeting to make a decision on one there's three things that can happen. The department of revenue resertify the district's taxable values pursuant to the department of revenues authority. The district recalculates the district mills levies which we don't do. Diana's had this conversation five times now with this. The district does not set your mill levies. That comes to us from the county. So I don't know where that's coming from and there's we've been told that we're not to do that by OPI or by our people at OPI. The third is the Yellowstone County Treasur's Office

052will rebuild property taxes to reflect the corrected levies regarding corrected or adjusted tax statements. We just want the public to know that this was not something the school district did or a mistake we made. This was politics. Nobody was notified of this. And until Deian demanded that somebody get something to us, we were not even told. So, I just want you guys to know that if they choose to reissue tax bills, it's not because the district made a mistake. It's because somebody somewhere decided to give businesses breaks and now it's coming back again in the second half of the taxes. I will pay that as well because Billings was also affected and it was the three refineries, the refinery in Laurel, Billings and Lockwood. And some of those are millions, some are 900,000. Ours was

053477,000 is what was what was taken from our budget. So I don't have answers yet. We have already met and talked about what we can do to offset this, but we won't know until they vote tonight. So tomorrow they have to have something in place by the end of December. So we will put something out once we know what that decision is at the county. I just wanted you guys to know that this was not something the district initiated. This was out of our hands and nobody said anything. This was done on November 20th. We found out last Thursday. So, I just wanted you guys to hear it from us so that you don't get surprised by things coming out now because I still don't think there's been a public statement made by our county

054superintendent who is also our county treasurer. So, >> business appeal there is >> no that was something something was reduced somewhere. We don't understand this because we are not privy to who made the department of revenue made the deal with we believe it was the county commissioners but we're not sure and so we have not been given a clear >> we can't appeal what county commissioner does. We can only appeal if they if we submit a budget and they decline it and then we can go back and say no, we actually need this money. But we already submitted our budget in >> we were legally required to do that in August. So we assumed that that money was actually going to be there. They made deals to reduce that after that that was done. So

055we can make a choice to say we're not going to do anything and not have it be the community's impact. But it would be we have to figure out then where we are going to find $466,800. And we will work on that if that's what we're stuck with. We just wanted you to know if the county chooses to go ahead and rebuild, but that's not our decision. >> Where would the county commissioners be voting at tonight? >> Well, there's a meeting tonight. I don't know who all is there. There's a meeting tonight to vote on one of those three options that that that were mentioned. And that was it says here tonight or >> it's tonight. It was going They had to have a vote tonight on which of the whether the county Yellowstone County

056Treasures Office will be moved forward to rebuild, which means the missing taxes then will be assumed by the citizens of Lockwood >> homeowners. And they have a chart and everything for what that'll look like, but we can't put that out there yet because we don't know what's going on. So, Evelyn, I can't even answer your questions because this letter came from the superintendent, the county superintendent. Just a commercial tax code valued at Illisstone County medium value of 464 and this is commercial will have a new tax of $11722. >> We got this letter December 4th. >> Um, a house value >> there's no meeting. I mean, they had there's been no public notice of the meetings. What >> they are making a decision. Um, they've asked the county attorney's office to ru any potential legal

057issues for school districts levying additional mills. We don't levy the mills. I I don't know where he's we've argued with him on this. That's what I mean. I really don't know what they're doing. He just said there was going to be a meeting. They would vote to make a decision. They had to have something in place by the end of the month. And I thought tonight they were maybe deciding if they're going to have a meeting to even move forward with any of this. But we don't know anything more than this letter that we just got on the 4th. >> And I have to thank Deianne because she demanded that he put something in writing so people didn't think the school district had done something wrong. So at least we got that. >> There's no

058audio online. Did we have Darling? I just wanted everybody to hear that. I I'm not able to answer questions on this. I don't want to say something that's going to be misconstrued. We will let you guys know and let the public know as soon as we get solid answers from the county. >> There's nothing else. We're gonna move on to the facilities report. >> Snowed once. >> Beard's coming in nicely. I see. >> Last month I think we about 75ers this time. >> How are the boilers looking everywhere? >> Boilers are looking good. Got some really good morning. All good. >> So, we should be good. >> It's working now. >> All right. >> Any questions for Mark? >> Thank you, sir. >> We're starting off with the high school today. >> Yes, >> they

059have concerts. >> Well, I hope you noticed first the beautiful display over there. This was from part one, which I is really impressive. Um, this is Mrs. M. Del's class. Um, they were doing caricatures. Uh this was a new project for her. She had in the past done uh portraits and that was uh quite difficult to get ears, nose, eyes, uh mouths, things like that look realistic. So she took a different stance at it and I think it's just wildly successful. Um then the exciting part is is that we can display this out in our school so our kids can see. I think that that does several things. One, the pride in our school. it it really demonstrates and advertises what kids can do in classes. Then it also was just really once they added

060the numbers and kids could uh make guesses on who these people are. Um that's fun for them. The other part is is it involved our staff. She just said if you're willing to, you know, kids to draw you go ahead and send a portrait. So many of us did and and I think the kids were a little too kind to it. Except for Mr. D. >> I thought Mr. D. Wow. Wow. >> Now then, it's just super exciting to see. I think that quality is just really um there. I cannot commend >> uh the teacher finding another way to get at um something that was difficult in art one to maybe have a a better starting point on the portrait. So, this was super fun. Uh we have custodians on there, teachers, staff members. I

061mean, it's just it's just exciting. >> And Paul is my favorite one. I know. And I apparently the whole backside is uh is Paul. >> Yeah. >> So that's exciting. And you know what a what a thing for our custodian to see him up there so many different times. I just think that's exciting. So I think it was a really um nice community builder, a nice way to advertise for our class and we wanted to bring this in for you guys to see. Uh this month Mr. Ruff was our uh recipient of our first uh Lion Pride Award. He then nominated Mr. Bushnell. I hope you'll check out Instagram. We filmed um that in one of his classes. So, that was really exciting. Another thing that was exciting that I'm just biased 100% about is

062we had Santa here uh for our staff and and uh I don't know if we would name names um but he might be up at the board right now. Um he dressed up as Santa and helped us deliver coffee. Uh that was a lot of fun. And then middle school just borrows that idea from us. So you're welcome. >> If Cole would share, please. He has a couple things to share with the board. Any questions for me on what I share? >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah, sure. So, I had a couple things to report to you. Uh, so last Monday, uh, we did, I guess in October, we submitted our application for our chart school. Um, so we did have an interview with Montana Board of Education. Um, last Chrisman and Mr. B and

063myself. Um, we feel really good about it. Um, there were seven seven other charters and in this pool it sounds like they're going to pick two of us. So, um, we'll know their determination here in January, but we do feel very good about it. Um and then a little side note, um just with continuing building on our partnership with City College, um our advent team went out to City College a couple weeks ago and um talk about a lot of different things, but we also tour the facility and just see the number of programs that they offer, not only our existing kids that we have with us right now, but also getting them ready for some postsecondary options with one and two year and four year certificates, vocational uh programs, and things like that. So,

064uh, all very positive things. >> Does does our students are they allowed to go to City College like the um Oh, like if they want to take other courses or like the campus, I guess, you know what I'm asking? Sorry, I'm not using words tonight. >> Yeah. No. Well, we don't have career center obviously, but uh part of the conversation was with our dual enrollment. So a lot of the stuff that we already exist seeing that we have here on our campus, those are partnered with uh City College and then just some of the more programs uh other programs will be available to all of our students um on different tracks for those one and and twoear certificates but um a lot of the stuff we're already offering currently here in >> partnership with so

065not necessarily leaving campus to necessarily go there. >> Okay. >> Any other questions? Will you need more teachers for that charter school? >> So that's also part of the plan. So with the funding um that hopefully will get from the state, fingers crossed. That's part of a a phase in process over five years. Uh with that initial money we were in our plan was supposed to propose when we did propose in there what that would look like. So, um, going into year one, um, that would be hiring like full-time, uh, couple full-time teachers or at least one, I think, um, some parent professionals that would continue to expand with more teachers. Um, one of the big, uh, pieces in there. Um, would be offering a high set program. Um, that's something we do see that

066we're losing students um, going in. Um, Billings is actually the only, um, I guess the only district that offers it in the area. Um, so we're hoping we do lose the students to go to the highest program. So that's one of the designs in our alternative ed that program here >> and that funding will also offset some of our staff we have now that'll be involved. It'll help offset that. Leave that money back in the district budget. It'll bring in extra funding for us. So it's a growth over five years. So the max it would be is three teachers. >> Anything else? >> Middle school. It was a great month in the middle school. Um, I'll just start off by talking about our our November house games. Our our line mentors did a great job

067of setting that up and and uh houses of Indie came out on top in the month of November. We served them Rook Beer Clos last week which was uh you can imagine well received but incredibly messy. So lot different excellent than Rubier clothes. Uh the as far as our house which had the best uh attendance who we have attendance competitions between the houses uh house of church mo had 92.4% attendance uh every one of our houses was above 90% and has been every single month so far this school year which is uh definitely an improvement in the middle school. Uh we've had a lot of lots where we've been 89ish%. So it's great to see our attendance uh improving across the school. Uh our school counselor, Mr. Banker and Mrs. Hall took a number of

068students to do community service projects which we feel is just an important part of the learning uh of all of our students. They uh they're going to Toys for Tots tomorrow. Uh they've gone to nursing homes. They they've done cleanups up hores. They've gone to the mission. They go all over. So, they do a great job of helping our kids uh learn to serve others. Um, our counselors uh um also collected and distributed 34 Thanksgiving meals to Lockwood families. So, uh just a huge shout out to our community for all the people who donated and uh know our council did a great job of organizing that and delivering that to those families. um our um um some of our gifted and talented students. We did a Thanksgiving movie uh for our students that they um

069they raised to uh donate to a local um um nonprofit dog pay buddies. And so they all the money raised was directly to that profit. Um our our land line mentors um our the house leader jackets came in. So our line mate mentor leaders, health leaders got those. Um you know we also um you know awarded um our student leaders of the month. Uh we were really focused on the students who really involved in their in learning which is one of part of our pride acronym the I involved in learning um and so had some great examples of that. We recognized them for um our school fundraiser got finished up and we raised over $8,000 through the the purchase of the butter braid. saying we do the refunds and purchases the butter braids and everything.

070So that's how we fund the things like the beer blows and all the different things we do for students and staff. Um the Grinch did make an appearance the middle school like Grinch was much more appropriate uh for the middle school than S. Uh but we appreciate the Grinch making an appearance and helping us deliver hot chocolate and cookies to our staff. We're very appreciative of that. So, um, as far as just other things going on, our kind of our mid- winter or fall season just is getting finished up with, uh, girls basketball and wrestling getting over. We have boys basketball starting up, uh, beginning in January. So, any questions from head to >> uh, next is intermediate. >> Good evening, Joshwood school board. Uh so just some positive happening in our school. Uh last

071board meeting I shared with you that our students were participating in a November reading challenge. Excuse me. And they have read three books. Well, one book they'd go to the library, they'd fill out a leaf, put it on their grade level tree. If they read three, they were able to come to family fun night and get a free book. um ties literacy with heavily participation. Um we had 117 students in our intermediate and so you know we'll by three plus the students that maybe just read one or two. So lots of um instilling love and breathing in our students. So thank you to our school leadership team who took on that challenge and Teresa uh Merchant who also handed out a lot of leads and hung them up in the hallway. So, sheld a lot

072of books. >> Sheld a lot of books, which is great by way to my next little bullet point here. Um, so the intermediate library checked out one over 1,800 books just this last month. Um, which comparatively, Mrs. March, I would say is higher than that. So, we would like to at least maintain um or you know, get our goal a little bit higher. So those are some really positive things that are happening in our school. Um we are also continuing to do our positive behavior referrals. This month we were really focusing on responsibility. 29 students were recognized by their teacher and and so again we'll get those pictures posted here within the next day because we had a couple that were absent. So, uh, just want to talk to you about some teacher training that

073we had just this week. Uh, one of our teachers, u, Mrs. Le Gilbury offered, um, some insight. So, we intermediate, third, fourth, and fifth students participate in an online platform called Reflex or Fracks. You might have heard that um, from your students if they are the intermediate. And so with math standards, third and fourth graders are expected to be fluent in addition, subtraction, and as you go up, multiplication, and division. And reflex is a way where students are really doing repetitious practice in a gaming format. Uh the research though is very heavy on if students use it three times a week for at least 15 minutes. Um, so we're planning that structured time in students days that they will reach fluency at a faster rate. Um, and so Mrs. McGillbury offered training to our three

074through five because we were seeing a little bit of inconsistency, which means, you know, all that means is we just need to dial in a little bit, retrain some teachers, tell them where to find reports. And there was a lot of insight in that. And so I just wanted to be sure to share that with you. um that that is, you know, something that we're always doing is refining practice and making sure that what we do have purchased, we're using it to the utmost potential that it possibly could have on student success. Um, another positive, um, so part of our Cubs club level two is an ice cream treat with the principal and you know that also kind of gets spendy and so um, I have reached out to a local business, Wilcox Ice Cream

075and they are willing to partner with the Cubs Club and so also just um, thankful for local businesses who who have done that in the past and um, just an exciting partnership that you know maybe we can build on for years to come. Lastly, our SLT um had talked about at the very beginning of the year something called Lions of the Year. And if you wa if you ever take a stroll in the intermediate primary, you will notice big murals on our painting murals on the walls. Um some dating back to as far as I can see maybe the 1970s. And so when we talked about culture and what we want our students to feel in our buildings, um, Lions of the Year, this idea came up. And so our specialists, uh, during our PI

076day in January, they're going to have a a meeting that they're going to brainstorm criteria of what students would need to meet in order to be um, a possible lion of the year. and those lines of the year um you know they'll bring that feedback back to SLT refine if needed. Um but then at the end of the year we're going to have our lines of the year paint and leave their mark on a brick and so we're going to find a spot for a new mural because many of those are from when that was the middle school and so we want to leave those there of course but then start um a new tradition and so that's what I have for you but do you have any questions? Okay. Okay. >> Thank you. primary.

077>> Hello. >> I'm standing in for Mrs. Fox tonight, but as you know, I'm the assistant principal for both primary and intermediate, so I get to share all of those fun things and also um I guess have the privilege of working daily with our very very beginning learners. You know, we talked a lot about high school stuff tonight and I think it's, you know, those foundations are set so early on and I'm going to focus kind of on the fun of the holiday season. December is obviously, you know, lots of Christmas and holiday activities going on in our building. So, um, with that Christmas concerts, uh, second grade will have their winter concert on December 17th and first grade is going to be December 18th. Um, the primary building, we actually are doing our winter

078benchmarking right now. Um, this is a a past practice. This is something we're trying this year. Um, so when we come back for Christmas break, we have all of our new data and we're ready to hit the ground running with our new groups and um, differentiation and all the kids seeing their growth before we go to the holidays. Um, so it'll be interesting to kind of see if that's successful or kind of feedback from that. Um, kindergarten is going to continue their gingerbread house making tradition that's coming up next week. Um, parents of the kindergarten class get to come in, help construct the gingerbread houses themselves, and then there's another day where they come in and have a full day of decorating and activities that go around that. Um, first grade is working on Christmas

079around the world. Um, that goes now all the way till Christmas break. They explore or visit 10 different countries. Um, they tie this with their ELA standards. So, they're using um opinion writing, information, text, speaking and listening skills. They incorporate all of that into this activity and like it carries on for a few weeks. Um attendance, we're still focusing on most improved from month to month in the primary and that seems to we've seen a a lot of upward trending in that and then students are rewarded with certificates that they get to take home. And lastly, uh, the primary and the intermediate hosted a family feast for Thanksgiving time. And Chartwell's, you know, more than happy to partner with this idea and provide, you know, exorbitant amount of food. We um, I don't know the

080specific numbers. Chartwells is the one who >> 576. >> What was it? >> 576. >> Okay. So my approximation was 600 from our RSVP, but 600 extra people came through our cafeteria and it was a lot of fun and we could not have done that without a lot of lot of extra hands and help you know from Deian, Mr. Chrisman, Mr. Kinsey all the way to our paras and high school students came down to help. It was but it was a lot of fun and it was a really special way. >> Next year there will be no inflatable turkey costumes. I can just say that. Okay. >> Yeah, I think we lots of notes, but for the first >> Yeah. >> try added, I think it went off. >> It was wonderful. >> Yes. >>

081And we had we have been approached and asked like are can we please do this again? And the answer is yes. Obviously, we might refine some times just because we were so backed up. But that is also really good feedback for us. Um, so yes, the the tradition will continue with some passion. >> I just want to say thank you for that. I actually participated in the first grade one. The food was good. That blueberry cobbler thing. >> He's mentioned it like four times. >> Had my diabetes taken. It was lovely. The home meal was great. And you guys being flexible was awesome. And I really hope the I think the only issue was there was people running between different buildings trying to you got to get to the other person's >> I can't wait

082till next year. >> Uh you brought back the gingerbread houses. That is a fond memory for my kindergartner and we we love being able to come in and help build them and so they kind of went away for a while. So I'm glad they're back. >> Yeah, they're back. >> Anything else? Student council. Um all that we've really done recently is we went to our student council like like state conference. Um so we were in great balls for three days and talking about some stuff had some workshops cool experience and recently we inquired a ted for our like students and stuff >> and they'll put that >> acquired. Yeah. >> Legally. Yeah. Um but yeah they'll put that over by area and Oh yeah, we're helping to volunteer for the class pizza. >> Thanks. >>

083How did your blood drive go? >> Uh, it went well actually. Yeah, volunteer for them. >> The board's uh silent auction prize went for $360. So, that will go to the student council when you get divided. >> Thank you. >> And also, our co-advisor for student council was or was voted the student council adviser of the year by the state of Montana. So, some good things are happening there. So, congratulations to Carrie Smith. Uh, anything else questions for student council? >> Yeah, Gra did too. She won like one of the students. >> All right. Next, we're going to go to Mr. Mr. Chrisman's superintendent report. >> So just talking about enrollment, we are at 1549 districtwide, which is a decrease of one student. Our attendance rate for the district is oh, let me see. Primary

084is at 94.59, intermediate is at 93.3, middle school at 90.79, and high school at 90.23. We still are exceeding the state average on attendance by far. Um, I'm not going to read this all back again, but we had a lot of meetings this month on our partnership with the Jed Foundation, which is our suicide prevention organization and working on mental health programming. Our surveys are all done. They will be sending a report to Mr. Kenzie and I, and then we're meeting with their team in person here on campus in January to start building um, mental health programming into the school as a as a written thing. So, we have everything in place because we've been kind of peacemealing this. They're going to come in and say, "Here's the results of your interview or your surveys."

085And that was 6th through 12th grade students were surveyed. So, we will get that going and then be able to report back on that. Um, several different I'm on several different committees around the state on mental health. So, there's different things going on all over. The sad thing is is there's not grants right now. We just closed out our last grant which was a two-year grant which helped send our middle school teams to Atlanta to be trained on the house thing they're doing the Ron Clark Academy for the middle school. So that paid for them to go and be trained on this in person at schools where this is going on so they can actually see it rather than just try to do it by video. So that is a good thing. Uh we had

086donations from the anesthesiologist organization or group in Billings. They sent us a check for $1,500 for students in need. We had a donation from Lockwood PTA for $200 to the backpack meal program. I got a call tonight right before the meeting and there's a family that will be dropping a check off also for the backpack meal program and just for our food pantries. So the support at this time of year is always overwhelming for Lockwood from community businesses and from individuals. It it is pretty amazing every year. It's not like they just have one good year. Our optimists do an amazing job of helping hundreds of kids have or families have a better Christmas. And I think that's that's been part of what the draw is to Lockwood for me for all these years is

087that this has never changed. It's always been to some degree somebody in the community is helping whether it's a church or now the optimist. Uh let's see. Mr. Kinsey and Miss Berluchcci went and met with New Day to see if we could have anotherou with them. That'll be approved tonight. So we have alternate placement for kids that need a higher level of care. We had let that lapse because we didn't have any students placed there, but we just want to have those things back on the table in case there is a need. So, they went and met and that will happen tonight. Um, let me see anything else. I did want to point out data wise, high school students completed 570 advanced dual credit or certificate programs during the 24-2 school year. That was an

088increase of 51 over the year before. So our students enrolling in those classes and it may be a student taking two or more has gone up by 50 over the year before. So there is not a decrease in the access to those or the number of students accessing them. And that's a report that I have to do every year. We get funding based on how many of our kids are doing that and our funding has gone up every year. Uh, I think that is about it on the big things. I'm just happy to be here and happy to continue working with the district and the board and the community on trying to get us where we need to be. >> Thank you, Don. Any questions for Don Header? Go ahead. U I forgot to mention

089that I think it impacts the whole had um a very generous uh donation today uh given to the high school by road road dogs. They're an area motorcycle um at the moment they call them group. Um they hit since March 2 now they over $100,000. They've always included the area high schools uh the bailings area high schools and they included us today. They gave us 500 um and some odd dollars in gift cards to help house students in need. Um and so they're in um in 10 and $25 increments and just wanted to publicly thank them for that for including us for the first time in uh in their fundraising efforts. So just publicly thank you to the rooftop. >> Thank you. >> Uh next school boards haven't changed. Uh Golden Gabble education hours everybody

090is over halfway. A lot of us are completed. Like to commend everybody for knocking that out early this year. uh safety committee. Corey >> um just went over trainings and alerts and uh crisis plan something happens. So just trying to make sure things grow and so we're just keep on keeping on. >> Yeah, I got to uh almost experience one of your tornado drills when uh to deliver copy. Okay. Uh, budget committee, our next meeting is set for the 16th. 2:30 at 2:30. Everybody's still good with that. Hopefully, we'll have some sort of resolution from the county. Um, if not, I know both Don Kelly and admin teams have been working on contingencies. So, no more than careerfare. Corey, >> not even close yet. >> Not even close. I'll probably meet with financial aid. >>

091Great. >> Okay. Uh negotiations. >> Um as far as the parent negotiations, uh collective bargaining training was held last night, we think, and we're waiting to hear from them. And we need to set up a meeting regarding admin raises. We'd like to do that in December. Just waiting to hear from you on when would work. um in December. >> Yeah. >> Was there dates proposed? >> No, but it was an email asking when you would be >> Well, I mean, what are the options and we can tell you what's >> what works best for you? >> Uh afternoons probably. >> I think Shane's good after right. How >> about 2 o'clock on the 15th next Monday? >> Yeah, that's fine. Wait 2:00 on the 15th. You forgot the 20 and 20 25. >> Just like

092I haven't erased anything. Anything else for negotiations? >> Uh, no. >> Then curriculum, >> not much else than what I already went over. Um, you know, like I said, I was been working talking with Andrea and Gwen about uh the upcoming I don't know if we're calling it a town hall or exactly what it's going to be called yet, but uh in January, February. And uh that's it. That's been been the primary focus. So, >> okay. Well, hopefully we'll be updating the next board meeting if not before I guess uh the some proposed dates or you know. >> Yeah. >> And so hopefully by the next board meeting we've got or we will have things in place by the next board meeting. >> We will we'll have dates and everything figured out for that by

093the next board meeting. >> Uh community engagement. Hey, I mentioned last time we officially have planned a winter game night for March 6th at 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with Josh's permission. The entire board has been volunttoled to help out. So, I'll be sending um an email some, you know, free planning, but >> it's not exactly how it happened. >> I asked him if I could volunteer. Um, so I will be sending an email with some stuff I need from you guys before, but the big planning meeting is going to be um our community engagement committee meeting in January. I should have pulled that video up. I think it's uh 7 at 6 p.m. in the comments. Uh, I really would love any clubs, organizations, um, businesses, local businesses. What we're going to do is every

094organization can host a game of some sort. We have cornhole, uh, m musical chairs. You could even do something like karaoke or whatever. Just something kind of fun. Along with that, you're welcome to do some sort of fundraiser, silent auction, big sale, just a bucket of asking for donations, whatever you like with your organization. So, we're hoping it's a way for each club and organization to kind of get their name out there and get some fundraising. And then with that, we're hoping to do some sort of chili bake off, cook off or whatever. And uh the prize money from that will go to the Winnie or any any funds we do earn. We're not going to charge admission. It's kind of the general idea at this point because we want it to be open uh

095to the community, but we will have some creative ways to make some money and then the proceeds will go to the winner of the chili cook off. So, please join us for the planning meeting in January and also the full event and then uh yeah, we're working on some other things, but that's priority right now. >> You said that was on March 6th. >> March 6th. >> Oh, sorry. January 7th is the meeting. >> Yeah, January 7th. >> January 7th or January 6th. We need not typing anything. >> Oh, yeah. I did not look that date up before. It's the first Tuesday. Okay. Yeah, I think that's the sixth. I just had it right on my calendar. >> I'm sorry. For the community games for January >> and March 6th is still right. >> Yes.

096>> Okay. From 5:30 to >> 5:30 to 7:30. Anything else for community? >> Look forward to it. Thank you. All right. Down to business. Any objection to consent agenda as presented? Is there any objection to the consent agenda as presented? Any objection consent agenda as presented? Hearing none, the consent the consent agenda is adopted. Next, we're going to move on to uh Don, can you do the uh advanced opportunity grant for 26? So the advanced opportunity grant pays for those credits that the high school does pay or cover for parents when you're taking classes. We pay for two of that money provides that. It also 40% of this fund goes to promote CTE programming which brought our CNA course online this year and helps support our EMT courses as well as things for Mr. Malia,

097for Mr. Crow, for all those CTE courses. That's funding that we can use to promote that. but also now will allow us to support CTE programming in the middle school which is their FCCLA program which is cooking but also we had kids coming over and doing courses with Mr. more meer in the boke ed vocational agriculture classes as well. So it supports those. Um we have had a lot of success with this and it brings in enough money for us to get through the year and pay for the stuff that most budgets wouldn't cover. Our Perkins grant which is our CTE grant only covers non-consumable things. This covers the consumable things that the programming needs and also helps pay for credits for the ones that are required and other things that classes need, the advanced

098and honors classes that if there's a specific thing they need for their class in order for it to take place, this money helps to pay for that. So, >> do I have any motions to approve the application? >> I'll move to approve an advanced opportunity application. I have a motion from Shane and a second from Corey, discussion from the public, discussion from the board. >> The only question I had was you I mean in here it kind of talks about the process but you just mentioned money. Do we know what that budget? >> It averages about 109,000 a year. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So it hasn't gone up a lot but it hasn't gone down. So >> Okay. >> Yeah. Thanks. >> Any other discussion from the board? All those in favor of approving the

099Montana advanced opportunity application this year 206 say I. >> I. All those opposed same sign. Hearing none. Motion passes. Next we have an election. Uh Corey and Christy are up for election this year. We have to vote on holding an election. We have it filled out as a mail-in ballot. That is our application. and then I print and sign and Dan print and signs. >> And we also need you to come up and sign the contract to let the county run the election. >> Okay. Just send me an email today. >> I move that the board approve the trustee resolution calling for an election. >> Second. >> I have a motion from Stacy and a second Cory to approve the election. Discussion from the public. Discussion from the board. All those in favor of the

100trustee resolution calling for election say I. I. All those opposed same sign. Hearing non motion passes. >> I recommend that the board approves a fundraising account for the Spanish club. We authorize the >> formed the club last month and now in order for them to fundra have to have their their fundraising account. >> And that the board approve the fundraising account for the Spanish club. I got a motion from Stacy and a second from Corey on authorizing the fundraising account for the Spanish club. All those sorry got myself there. Discussion from the public. Discussion from the board. All those in favor of the Spanish club having a fundraising account say I. >> I. All those opposed, same sign. Hearing none. Motion passes. >> There's no action on that next motion. So we can active action

101item >> theou for new day. >> No. Oh theou. Okay. The next one with the LEA. There would be no action on that one. So theou. Yes. Let me pull that up. This is what they had provided and it's in line with what we had with them before. >> And we don't currently have any students at New Day. Correct. >> No. The benefit of New Day is if we have a student that does need a higher level of care, they only charge for the days they're there and they provide their own transportation which is really nice. So, um, this is just locking in if we do have a student there, what the daily rate would be similar to what we have with our other provider. >> Okay. >> I recommend the board approve and then

102meeting. >> Got a motion from Lacy and a second from Jackie on approval of the MLOU for New Day. Discussion from the public. Discussion from the board. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> All those opposed, same sign. Hearing none, motion passes. >> Uh, so we don't have an action item for F. >> Okay. >> I I had a quick request to hire question if we can jump back to that. It's it doesn't impact the vote or anything. >> Okay. Request hire was on the consent agenda, correct? >> Yeah. >> And I'm not sure that anybody in the room may might actually have the answer, but um it it's in question for Jake. um three assistant baseball coaches. So I was just wondering um why like the what would three assistant baseball coaches

103do? That's just my question. >> That's an excellent question. I will follow up with that. >> Is there one team or do we have a >> No, we have one. >> So there's no JB. >> There's JB and varsity. Okay. >> Yeah, but there's JB swinging up to varsity mostly they said. Yeah, I have to ask Jake on that. >> So, I'm not imp implying anything. I It's just I am just wondering why. Sorry. >> Excellent question. >> So, that's all. >> Uh, next we're going to go to the I recommend the school approves changes to the Lockwood activity handbook high school and middle school for updated protocols related to athletes injuries. This was brought up because we had seems like a slightly higher than normal amount of injuries this year from our contact and

104non-cont sports. So right now it and we didn't have this policy before. Now it has we have to have a certified athletic trainer there. What happens if the kid doesn't get off the ground? What happens if they break a leg? with the caveat that that athletic trainer is not contracted to be at middle school games. Yes, she only works in the high school. That's what her contract is. So, we had to change the protocols of what happens if there's an injury at a middle school. >> So, there's not that confusion of thinking that the trainer is here for everything. She's not. She's contracted for the high school. So, there were some changes and I had put that in there and then I had to correct that because that's not the case. So, there are now

105protocols in place of any game what happens coaches on down. So, Mr. um >> Jake went over this and he's the one that caught that. He went through and edited this so that it now meets the contract we have with our trainer because that's contracted from outside. So, we had to make sure that was right. But this will go into our handbook now. So, parents will understand if there is an injury, there is a policy and a protocol for what happens with that. So, >> but the athletic trainers not going to be at the middle school games. But so if it says the a is the final authority so do they if there's an injury do they go to the g how does that work >> they may try to reach out to her if

106she's on campus which she is a lot of the time but she's not going to be we want people to understand she's not required to be at middle school games she was doing it as a favor and there was confusion around that because she wasn't present when an injury happened. >> Yeah. Okay. So, we reinforced what should happen at a middle school game if there's an injury, what the coaches should be doing, not waiting for the trainer to be there, but to take action. So, it's just clarifying some things so there was less um less confusion on that. Okay. I think that there's still some safety and liability holes in this um about coverage expectations. Who's the backup authority? Uh when events can proceed without medical coverage, who's the medical lead if the trainer is

107not available? And then for middle school, since they often lack a trainer, there's no parallel procedure um or guidance on the coach assessment limits. Like if should the coach be making any decisions beyond first aid? Probably not because they're not trained beyond first aid. um is I I think that we need to describe um transport procedures for the students with or without parents presence present. Um and what if parents >> we already have a policy for that there's an injury the parents are contacted and asked if they want the ambulance to transport if they want to come and transport the student. We do that with any injury on campus. If it's an emergency, then the ambulance is called and then the parents are notified that the child's being transported. So, we don't wait if there's

108an emergency like a sincere or serious concussion or a broken bone. We don't wait to if they need to be transported, >> but who is making that decision if the trainer isn't available? And I don't think that the coach can make that >> part. It is falls on the coach. >> It is the coach's job. That's what was not present in before. or it was kind of gray on everybody waiting for the trainer to come in and make a decision. The coaches have to evaluate. They're trained on how to look at and what to do with an injury. That's part of their training and they sign off on concussion and head injury, all that stuff. So, they would assess that and say, "We need to call an ambulance. We're not going to play with this."

109And that's what we do if a child falls in the high school and hurts themselves. We don't guess at that. We just call let the parent know. They can either come in and meet it or the ambulance comes and takes them based on the severity of the of the injury. >> What's the procedure if a parent says I don't want them in an ambulance, >> then they need to be here and pick them up. But if we figure that it's serious enough, we're going to have them transport at the hospital. >> Yeah. >> And they can meet them there and they can choose to take them, not have them treated. But in serious cases, >> is there a waiver or like a form for parents to to sign? >> No. You can't get out of

110>> No. Because there's there there are parents that >> that would be our liability. Then a parent said, "We don't want to." Yeah. No. No. >> We've only had one parent say they didn't want their child transported and they said it was the worst decision they ever made to put their child in their car and try to drive them there because the injury was so severe that the child started screaming about halfway to the hospital and they said they would never do that again. So, but we can look over this. It's just >> once it once it's in the athletic handbook, we can tweak it as needed. >> Yeah. >> We just wanted people to know we were addressing that there wasn't a real written chain of how things should go. >> Yeah. >> I

111I think there can be improvements to it. Is there a motion to accept the updated protocol related to athletic injuries for the high school handbook by high school and middle school activities handbook? I move the improvement to change with public high school middle schools. >> I got a motion from Corey and a second from Shane. Discussion from the public. Discussion from the board. All those in favor of approval of the Lockwood activities handbook high school and middle school to update proposals related to athletic injuries say I. I. All those opposed same sign. Hearing none. Motion passes. Second. >> Shane move to adjurnn. Cli the public. All those in favor say I. I all those oppos same sign hearing none. Motion passes. Thank you all for coming. >> Do you want me to email you? >>

112Anything you have that could kind of >> That's all we have is what he sent us. >> Who sent it to you? >> Hank Peters at the county because indeed >> I'm totally puzzled because >> Yeah. And I don't think that commissioners have almost zero influence on anything >> really. I think that they worked with a group. You know what I mean? There was a group that looked at >> anyway they're the ones that came up in this conversation. So I don't know. We don't know because this >> the only thing the county does is they can expect to a business county knows how that's stuff and we don't do it's not even >> the only thing I can imagine is >> the county commissioners did that would be up to do the department of

113revenue made all these fine decisions but we feel like somebody here was in the knowledge of >> Yeah, I'm afraid of my feet. >> I think I think he didn't know what he was getting in when they got scared. >> Well, he just talked to the county a few days ago. kind of impact.