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November 8, 2021 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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 8, 2021

Presented for Approval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  January 10, 2022

 

DATE: November 8, 2021

 

TIME: 4:30 p.m. 

 

PLACE: Pioneer School, Main Building, Room 106

 

MEMBERS Kari Jones, Chairperson

PRESENT: Colleen Unruh, Trustee  

MEMBERS

ABSENT: Luke Rome, Trustee

 

CLERK: Marilyn Michael

 

ADMIN: Melissa Schnitzmeier

 

STAFF: Raelynn Melber and Meghan Cavanaugh arrived at 4:30 pm  

 

VISITORS: None

GUESTS:  None

 

  1. OPENING

 

  1. CALL TO ORDER:

Trustee, Kari Jones 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, November 8, 2021 at 4:30 pm.  Trustee, Kari Jones welcomed all those attending.  Trustee, Kari Jones read the Montana Law about public meetings.  

 

  1. MINUTE APPROVAL:  Colleen Unruh made a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October 11, 2021.  Kari Jones seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.

 

  • HEARING OF THE PUBLIC:  None
  • ADMINISTRATOR REPORT:  

 

Current Enrollment K-8: 71

 

Students/Families/Community

Cole’s Pantry – The Panther PTA and students in our Gifted and Talented program will team together to bring healthy breakfast items to classrooms across campus utilizing the Cole’s Pantry grant funding. The GT students will inventory supplies and keep an expenditure log to ensure program success and sustainability.

Pioneer staff and students will once again host Stone Soup for our families on November 22nd, 2021. Students/families will be broken out by cohort. Families with multiple students across cohorts will need to choose one cohort to dine with. 

K-1st – 11:00

2nd -3rd – 11:45

4th – 8th – 12:30

Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Friday, November 19th. They will be offered both virtually (Zoom) and on campus to meet the different needs of each family. 

Adult Education

Google 101 – Taylor Eissinger leading a Google Class for our adult learners Tuesdays through the month of November. The class will focus on utilizing Google programs such as Classroom, Docs, Slides, Email, and Drive. 

COVID-19

I have attached the most recent Schools Weekly Report from the Yellowstone County Unified Health Command. Our community continues to see a surge. 

Grants/Funding/Reporting 

TEAMS – Accreditation Report – Submitted

Civil Rights Data Collection – Federal Report – Initial Registration – Submitted

Cyber Security – MSGIA – Required cyber security questionnaire to be completed to renew insurance. Jessie from Morrison & Maierle will be coming to help walk me through this questionnaire to ensure all questions are answered correctly. We will also use this time to look at our areas of need. 

Transformational Learning Grant – Meeting with OPI to discuss this grant opportunity. More information to come. 

Building Maintenance 

  • Annual Safety Checklist  – In Progress
  • Boiler – ETA on the parts was November 2nd. Those parts are now not expected until the end of this month, at best. Kevin and Montana Boiler are currently troubleshooting two ideas to gain access to heat while we wait for parts. 1) Potentially piecing the existing boiler back together 2) Assembling two small boilers (loaners). 

 

  1. OLD BUSINESS
  1. Building Maintenance – See boiler news in Administrator report 
  2. Safety Enhancements – Nothing new at this time
  3. COVID-19 Updates – Nothing new at this time
  4. Bond Discussions – Nothing new at this time
  5. MTSBA Policy Manual Review/Adoption – Melissa explained that Kris Goss with MTSBA stated that the board can either schedule a meeting with him to address any questions the board has on differences in policies or can adopt the manual and Melissa and Kris will work together to choose options on policies that have options to choose what is best for our school.  After discussion, Colleen made a motion to adopt the policy manual with Kris Goss and Melissa doing the final review. Kari seconded the motion, the vote was unanimous; the motion carried.
  6. Aide Position – Melissa explained that she has received no applications. She thought one of our substitutes was interested but that has fallen through. Another substitute may be interested on a part-time basis rather than a full time position. Melissa will continue to work on this and keep the board informed on filling this position. 

 

III.  NEW BUSINESS

  1. Shepherd Attendance Agreement 21-22 – Marilyn presented the Shepherd attendance agreement for 21-22. This shows the Pioneer residents that are attending Shepherd. After reviewing the list, Colleen made a motion to acknowledge the receipt of the Shepherd Attendance Agreement for 21-22.  Kari seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous; the motion carried. 
  2. Non-Resident Student Approval – Melissa has tentatively approved accepted of 2 new out of district students. After reviewing the applications, Colleen made a motion to accept Cayson Pryor to 2nd grade and Aubrey Kopman to 6th grade.  Kari seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous; the motion carried. 

 

  1. OCTOBER FINANCIAL REPORT 

The clerk presented claims warrants numbered 21838 through 21854 in the amount of $26,105.89, and the payroll warrants numbered 9110 through 9114 in the amount of $55,310.09.  The ACH and Direct deposits were included in the amount. The clerk presented the trial balance sheets for each fund and a monthly report stating each line item YTD and budget balance remaining for the each fund.  After review of the report, Colleen Unruh moved to approve the financial reports. Kari Jones seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.

 

  1. TRUSTEE CONCERNS

 MAIL

  1. Weekly Agendas for 10/18 – 11/12
  2. November newsletter
  3. Letter from MSGIA regarding recent work comp audit. We cleared this audit with no additional premium after Marilyn sent in the documents that had been requested for the audit.

 

OTHER CONCERNS

VI .  ADJOURNMENT:  

A motion was made by Colleen Unruh to adjourn the meeting. Kari Jones seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous; motion carried.  The meeting ended at 5:00 pm.  The next scheduled regular meeting is Monday, January 10, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. in Room 106 of the main building and via Zoom. 

 

APPROVAL

 

Attest: __________________________     SIGNED: ____________________________

          Kari Jones, Board Chairperson

DATE: _________________________