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Regular Board Meeting Minutes from May 14, 2018

Pioneer Board Meeting Minutes Schoolhouse HeaderPioneer 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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 14, 2018

Presented for Approval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June 11, 2018

 

DATE:                        May 14, 2018

 

TIME:             6:00 p.m.

 

PLACE:          Pioneer School, Main Building, Room 106

 

MEMBERS    Bill Bullard, Chairperson

PRESENT:      Kari Jones, Trustee

Sarah O’Brien, Trustee

 

MEMBERS

ABSENT:       None

 

CLERK:          Marilyn Michael

 

ADMIN:         Melissa Schnitzmeier

 

STAFF:           Alisa Rau, Dylan McDermott, Taylor Eissinger, and Connie Russell arrived at 5:00. All left at 7:10. Jami Burns and Jerica Schatz arrived at 6:20, left at 7:10.

 

VISITORS:     Josh and Noel King arrived at 6:00, left at 6:15.  Heather Wilmot arrived at 6:00, left at 7:10. Krystle Henry arrived at 6:20 and left at 7:10.

 

GUESTS:        None

 

I. OPENING

 

  1. CALL TO ORDER:

Trustee, Bill Bullard called the meeting of the trustees of Pioneer Elementary School District #41 to order in Room 106 of the main building, Monday, May 14, 2018 at 5:00 pm.  Trustee, Bill Bullard welcomed all those attending.  Trustee, Bill Bullard read the Montana Law about public meetings.

 

  1. MINUTE APPROVAL: Kari Jones made a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of April 9, 2018.  Bill Bullard seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.

 

  1. HEARING OF THE PUBLIC: None

 

  1. ADMINISTRATOR REPORT:
  • District Happenings
    • Grades 3 – 6 wrapped up the Smarter Balance testing
    • Grades K – 6 Spring NWEA MAPS testing underway
    • Staff & one board member completed the Run, Hide, Fight training on 4/11.  Officer Kieghtly is contacting companies looking for fence donations.
    • Jump Rope for Heart was a success, we raised $1300
    • School carnival was a success
    • School garden has been prepped & planted. Soil donation from the Wilson family
    • Teachers hosted Muffins 4 Moms this morning
    • Levy for $1836.15 failed by 57 votes
  • 2018-19 Classroom Assignments
    • Taylor Eissinger – Kindergarten Room 103
    • Alisa Rau – 1st Grade – Room 104
    • Dylan McDermott – Math, PE, Health Room 105
    • Jami Burns – Science, Social Studies, Art & Music – Room 100
    • Connie Russell – 6 – 8 ELA, Spanish, Strategic Reading, Title/SPED, Room 102
    • New Hire – 2 – 5 ELA, Reading & Technology Room 106
  • Upcoming
    • 4/17 – Grades 4 – 6 to the Student day at Big Horn County Museum
    • 4/18 – AR Store
    • 4/18 – Grades 4 – 6 to SteepWorld with Pop sale earnings (in lieu of Skip Day)
    • 4/23 – PAWS Party@ Sunset Bowl
    • 4/25 – Donuts for Dads
    • 4/25 – Kindergarten Graduation and Last Day BBQ
  • Administrative Tasks
    • 18-19 Preliminary Budget
  • Reports & Grants
    • Innovative Literacy Grant & KaBoom Playground Grant Submitted
    • Discipline Report – Due June 30th
    • Title Audit – we passed!

 

 

II. OLD BUSINESS

  1.  Secretary/Clerk position – Marilyn reported that all is going well, but she will be very busy with the final payrolls and the end of the school year work.
  2. New Bus Update – Cindy has been in contact with Harlow’s and there are no updates on the delivery of the new bus.
  3. Safety Concerns – Sarah presented the safety committee’s report.  She spoke with Officer Kieghtly, Johnson controls, her brother in Texas who is a law enforcement officer and with Vern at the Tint Factory.  They all share the same recommendation of controlled access. She was told that instead of surrounding the buildings, we could put up a fence perpendicular to the current one and only surround the two building entry areas. They feel moving the office to the old building would also be a good idea.  Walky-talkies would also be good. Melissa spoke with Charter and they say they can probably move the phone lines for approximately $790.  Vern from the Tint Factory told Sarah that some of our windows already have safety glass, so he would not worry about installing the safety film at this time.  Kari stated that the School Board can approve or disapprove of staff carrying weapons. Krystle Henry offered to help with a design plan of possibly moving things around.  Bill stated he would like to explore other alternatives as he is not convinced moving the office is the best plan.  At this time, the committee feels the fence is the first need, the second need is access, possibly switching offices, doors and adding a buzz-in systems.  Sarah feels there needs to be more research done. Krystle will help with some plans.
  4. K – 8 Updates – Melissa said the class assignments in the Administrator report are the only updates at this time.
  5. Preliminary Budget Information/Budget Amendment Options – Melissa has spoken with Sherry Long, County Superintendent and Nica at OPI. At this time they would recommend we wait to do a budget amendment in the fall if our numbers are high enough.  Kari moved to use the Preliminary Budget numbers with no Budget Amendment until fall if available.  Bill seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.

 

 

 

III.  NEW BUSINESS

  1. Non-Resident Student Applications/Renewals – The meeting was closed at 6:05 and reopened at 6:15 to meet with new out of district applicants.  Sarah made a motion to accept Annabelle Wilmot to Pioneer as a kindergarten student.  Kari seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.  Sarah made a motion to accept Elizabeth King to Pioneer as an 8th grader.  Kari seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.  Sarah made a motion to approve the reenrollment of Ezra and Elijah Bouchard, Grace and Izak Henry, Jenna, Kara and Jace Johnson and Madyson Schnitzmeier.  Kari seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.
  2. Classified Staff recommendations – Melissa recommended rehiring all classified staff.  Sarah made a motion to renew Cynthia Reed’s contract for bus driver raising her pay from $36 for the morning route and $44 for the evening route to $45 for the am route and $45 for the pm route.  Bill seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.  Kari made a motion to renew Kevin Maddox’s contract raising his pay from $22.00 per hour to $22.50 per hour. Bill seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous; the motion carried. Sarah made a motion to renew Daniel Pardis’ contract remaining at $12.50 per hour.  Kari seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.
  3. Secretary/Clerk evaluations – The meeting was closed at 7:15 to meet with Marilyn Michael for her annual evaluation. The meeting reopened at 8:10.
  4. Updates to Staff Contracts – The board sent a memorandum of understanding for the teacher’s union to consider.  Jami reported that she was trying to contact her union rep, but was not able to speak with him about it in time for the board meeting.  Bill stated that he felt that at this time the contracts should be left as is in an effort to get them to the teachers.  Sarah made a motion to distribute the contracts as is with no updates.  Kari seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.  Sarah made a motion to change the area of staff contracts that states “reports to school board” with “reports to superintendent”.  Bill seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.
  5. Curriculum – Melissa explained that our curriculum will not be supported soon, so we will need to purchase new curriculum. She presented the board with 2 options. One is to purchase some of the curriculum needed at a cost of $4011.60, the other is to purchase all of what is needed at a cost of $12, 969.00.  The full curriculum is the preference if we can come up with funding. We could use REAP money, but will have to wait to see how much REAP we are awarded.
  6. School Nurse Contract – Marilyn presented the board with the 2018-19 school nurse contract from Riverstone Health. The cost for 7 hours of nursing services per month is $4593.  We received a refund for 2017-2018 as Karen was not able to come as often as she was scheduled as she had to go to Shepherd daily when their nurse quit.  The refund amount was $1221.  Kari made a motion to approve the school nurse contract with Riverstone Health in the amount of $4593.  Bill seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.
  7. Special Ed Preschool Agreement – Melissa reported that Scott Carter, Shepherd Superintendent has offered to allow Pioneer preschoolers into the Special Ed Preschool program at Huntley for the amount of $5000 per year, this amount will be prorated as needed on an individual basis.  At this time, we have 1 student from Pioneer School attending the preschool.  There may be another student sometime in the future so this has been placed in the permissive levy budget.  Kari made a motion to accept the Special Preschool agreement with Shepherd in the amount of $5000 per pupil.  Bill seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.
  8. Summer conferences/memberships for Marilyn and Melissa – Marilyn asked for permission to attend the summer MASBO conference at a cost of $350 and to have the MASBO membership for 18-19 paid at a cost of $150. These have always been paid by the school for the clerk.  Melissa would like to attend the Superintendents of Montana conference in July and to have the SAM membership paid as it usually is. The amount of the membership is $425 and the conference is $150.  Kari made a motion to pay the membership fees to MASBO & SAM and allow Marilyn to attend the summer MASBO conference and Melissa to attend the summer SAM conference.  Bill seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.
  9. Permissive & voted levy discussion – Melissa explained that in the future, we can promote our mill levies as long as we only present factual information.  Bill stated he would like to get the reasons we need a mill levy out to the public. We can use letters to the editor, letters to voters, etc.  Melissa then explained that her mentor told her that we could use a permissive levy to hold adult education classes at Pioneer School. This money could be used to pay anyone wanting to teach a class and could also be used to utilize to purchase technology that could be used for the adult education program and also to offset utilities and other expenses associated with this. Bill would like to have mill levy passage on the next agenda and possibly form a committee to come up with ways to get our mill levies passed.
  10. MTSBA Resolution package/survey – The board looked over the resolution package and chose not to respond to the survey as the issues do not seem to pertain to Pioneer School.
  11. Canvass the Vote – Marilyn presented the results of the mill levy election.  The levy failed with a vote of 121 for and 178 against.  Kari and Sarah were both elected by acclamation.  Kari made a motion to accept the results of the election.  Sarah seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.
  12. Board Reorganization/Appointment of Clerk – Bill administered the oath of office to Kari and Sarah.  Sarah nominated Bill as chair.  Kari seconded the nomination.  The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.  Kari moved to appoint Marilyn Michael as clerk for 2018-19.  Bill seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.  Bill administered the oath of office to Marilyn.  All required documents were signed and Marilyn will turn them in to Sherry Long for her signature.

 

IV. APRIL FINANCIAL REPORT

The clerk presented claims warrants numbered 21046 through 21062 in the amount of $4798.16 the payroll warrants numbered 8984 through 8988 in the amount of $38,671.94.  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, Kari Jones moved to approve the financial reports. Sarah O’Brien seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous; the motion carried.

 

 

V. TRUSTEE CONCERNS

MAIL

  1. Montana Cooperative Services brochure/invoice with price if we wanted to join
  2. May newsletter
  3. Letters to out of district families reminding them reapplication letters are due June 15th.
  4. Montana Department of Transportation newsletter
  5. Weekly agendas for April 16th – May 18th

OTHER CONCERNS

  1. Melissa would like to have Thursday, September 13 be a half day as United Way is coming to do a Day of Caring at our school. We will place this on the June agenda & send the calendar home in the last newsletter as a tentative calendar until it is approved in June.

 

 

VI .  ADJOURNMENT: 

A motion was made by Kari Jones to adjourn the meeting. Sarah O’Brien seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous; motion carried.  The meeting ended at 8:20 pm.  The next scheduled regular meeting is Thursday, Monday, June 7, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in Room 106 of the main building.

 

APPROVAL

 

Attest: __________________________     SIGNED: ____________________________

Bill Bullard, Board Chairperson

DATE: _________________________