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June 12, 2023 Board Meeting Minutes

Pioneer Elementary School

1937 Dover Road

Billings, MT   59105     Telephone (406)-373-5357

www.pioneerschool.us

Mission Statement:  Our mission is to serve the community and the school by creating a safe environment that fosters Respect, Trust, Accountability, and Responsibility while promoting life-long learning for all.

 

Regular Meeting Minutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June 12, 2023

Presented for Approval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  August 14, 2023

 

DATE: August 10, 2023

 

TIME: 4:30 p.m. 

 

PLACE: Pioneer School, Main Building, Room 106

 

MEMBERS Joshua Cantrell, Chairperson

PRESENT: Colleen Unruh, Trustee  

Wynn Powell, Trustee

MEMBERS

ABSENT: None

 

CLERK: Marilyn Michael

 

ADMIN: Melissa Schnitzmeier

 

STAFF: Taylor Eissinger arrived at 4:30 pm via Zoom

 

VISITORS: None

GUESTS:  None

 

  1. OPENING

 

  1. 1.  CALL TO ORDER:

Trustee, Joshua Cantrell called the meeting of the trustees of Pioneer Elementary School District #41 to order in Room 106 of the main building and via Zoom, Monday, June 12, 2023 at 4:38 pm.  Trustee, Joshua Cantrell welcomed all those attending.  Trustee, Joshua Cantrell read the Montana Law about public meetings.  

 

  1. INDIVIDUALS, DELEGATIONS, CORRESPONDENCE

 

  1. Public Comment – None
  2. CORRESPONDENCE
    1. Weekly agenda May 15 through May 26
    2. Approval letters to non-resident families
  1. DISTRICT REPORTS (ADMIN)

Standards/Curriculum/Instruction/Assessment

Kyla Deutsch and Lindsey Martin attended the Building Bridges 1, a PD opportunity at Lockwood Schools through the ACE Consortium. This training encompassed planning standards-based instruction and assessment in the classroom. 

 

Kyla Deutsch, Lindsey Martin, and Jami Burns will attend (virtually) the Fundations curriculum training in June/July.

 

Jami Burns and I will be attending the Special Education Law training on August 10th. 

 

Alisa Rau will be completing the Emotional Poverty book study through ACE from July 10-August 6, 2023. It consists of 4 online webinars, and is worth 15 OPI renewal credits.

 

Taylor Eissinger and myself will be completing the Green Schools certification this summer. 

 

McKayla Montgomery will be taking a classroom management PD/Book Study through ACE in August. 

 

Climate

All positions are filled for the 23-24 school year. 

Grants/Reporting

The EOY enrollment and rollover process is complete in Infinite Campus. I am now working on completing the setup for the 23-24 school year.

The Title 1 Grant should be opening around the first week in July. After that, the Preliminary Budget for the 23-24 school year should be able to be finished and ready for the August 14th meeting. 

 

The Dennis and Phyllis Washington grant was returned to us. Amanda and I are working through the requirements to resubmit. 

The MT Coal Board rejected our first grant application and asked that we bring additional data points to the next meeting. Amanda and I will be working through this to resubmit and attend the next meeting. 

 

  1. CONSENT AGENDA

 

  1. MINUTE APPROVAL – Reg minutes of May 8, 2023 and Special Meeting minutes of May 8 and May 15, 2023
  2. May Warrants #22189 – #22209 Claims total $37,480.99; Warrants #9173 – #9175 Payroll including ACH & Direct Deposit total $118,789.25
  3. Expenditure Reports – May 2023
  4. Approval of bills for June 2023

 

Colleen Unruh made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Wynn seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous; the motion carried

  1. BOARD ACTION ITEMS

 

  1. Building Maintenance – 
    1. Montana Muscle movers bid for clearing lunchroom – Melissa informed the board that she approved hiring Montana Muscle movers to clear the lunchroom & return the items once the flooring has been completed. The amount is $730.
    2. Bids for Blacktop resealing – Melissa requested a bid from Billings Pavement Service for just filling the cracks in the blacktop. The amount of this bid is $4875. After discussion, Colleen made a motion to approve the bid from Billings Pavement Services for filling in the cracks in the blacktop in the amount of $4875. Wynn seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.
    3. Bids for Brick resealing – None at this time.
  2. Safety Enhancements – Melissa reported that Kevin has removed the teeter totters as recommended by the playground inspection. He will be removing the monkey bars this week. 
  3. Non-Resident Student Applications/Renewals – Marilyn presented the final renewal letters from parents asking that their children remain at Pioneer School for 23-24. Colleen made a motion to approve renewals of Luke, Elizabeth & Sara Johnson, Taylen Melber, Anchor and Fionnlagh Biggs, Josie Anderson, Adlee Rapp, Ben & Noah Krieger and Emmett & Abigail Thompson. Wynn seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.
  4. Stonerock Business Solutions – Melissa presented an invoice from Stonerock Business Solutions for grant writing services. Melissa explained that Amanda donated some time to us while helping with the grants. The invoice for May and June is $1050. Wynn made a motion to approve the invoice from Stonerock Business Solutions for $1050. Colleen seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous; the motion carried. Melissa went on to explain that if we are awarded the grant to build the school, Amanda will help oversee the spending to make sure it is being done properly. At this time, we will table discussion on future invoices and leave it on the agenda for future meetings. 
  5. Leave Request over 4 days (23-24) – Raelynn Melber submitted a request for leave in 23-24 from November 27th through December 13. This will be a total of 11 days. After discussion, Colleen made a motion to approve Raelynn’s leave request of 11 days. Wynn seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous; the motion carried. 
  6. 2023-2024 Bus Routes and Individual Contracts – Marilyn presented the updated bus routes for 23-24. There are no individual contracts at this time. Colleen made a motion to approve the 23-24 bus routes. Wynn seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.
  7. Approval of Students crossing roads on bus routes – Marilyn explained that the board is required to approve stops where students have to cross a road. Marilyn presented the list of students. Wynn made a motion to approve the list of students that must cross a road to board the bus. Colleen seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.
  8. FY23 funds to use – Melissa presented a list of items she would like to use remaining General Fund money on. If we do not spend this money, we lose it. The list included curriculum purchases and renewals, updated computers for teachers, the clerk and student devices. Also included were paying the remaining amount on the flooring in the lunchroom and professional development opportunities. After discussion, Wynn made a motion to approve the list of items that Melissa has recommended. Colleen seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous; the motion arried.
  9. Policy Updates – Melissa explained there is a large list of policy updates. She has attached the updates to the Drive file and would like the board to review these for discussion and approval at the August meeting
  10. Hiring of Certified Teachers – Melissa and a team of staff members interviewed Lindsey Martin for the open teaching position. She offered Lindsey the position and it was accepted. The board will need to formerly approve hiring Lindsey Martin. Colleen made a motion to approve hiring Lindsey Martin for 23 -24. Wynn seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous; the motion carried. Melissa then explained that McKayla Montgomery has submitted a request to rescind her resignation letter and remain teaching at Pioneer for 23-24. After discussion, Colleen made a motion to hire McKayla Montgomery for the 23-24 school year. Wynn seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.
  11. FY24 Preliminary Budget Information – Melissa showed the board the General Fund preliminary budget report for 23-24. This shows our budget without a vote at $558,778.24. As Title Grant and other budget items come available, she will prepare the list of where she would like these funds to be spent. The preliminary budget report also informs us that we will be able to receive $23,500 for the building reserve fund. 
  12. Stipend Positions – Melissa explained that only 1 person applied for each Stipend position. After discussion, Collen made a motion to approve the stipend positions as follows: Lead Teacher positions – Taylor Eissinger & Alisa Rau, Technology Coordinator – Taylor Eissinger, Testing Coordinator – Alisa Rau, GT/Outdoor Learning – Taylor Eissinger, AR – Kyla Deutsch and RTI Specialist/Coordinator – Raelynn Melber. The stipend salaries will remain the same as last year. Lead teachers – $3000 each, Technology – $1500, Testing – $1000, GT/Outdoor – $2500, RTI – $1500 and AR $500. Wynn seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous; the motion carried. 

 

VI .  ADJOURNMENT:  

A motion was made by Joshua Cantrell to adjourn the meeting. Wynn Powell seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous; motion carried.  The meeting ended at 5:25 pm.  The next scheduled regular meeting is Monday, August 14, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. in Room 106 of the main building and via Zoom. 

 

APPROVAL

 

Attest: __________________________     SIGNED: ____________________________

          Joshua Cantrell, Board Chairperson

DATE: _________________________