Notes from Dec 15 2014 SD2 Board Meeting

Audit Committee Report: Todd Preston - Recommend approval of the CAFR report. District when from High Risk to Low Risk. Revenues exceeded Expenses for the 4th year in a row. RFP is due next audit cycle, but they recommend to extend Ike a year to get through transition to new software. Motion: 1.) Approve the 2013-2014 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and authorize it to be submitted for the GFOAand ASBO review and award programs. Also authorizing management to make minor changes as needed to complete submission. Passed.

Superintendent Report: K-12 Expansion. MSBA decided to take neutral position. SD2 is against it. SD2 is trying to get a quality schools grant (energy projects). Ranked 25th out of 50 and it must be approved by the MT Legislature. Stroebe requests that SD2 should have a financial statement of impacts made like was done in Helena and Missoula in event K-12 Expansion happens. Impacts were presented already last May to justify SD2 opposition.

Career Technical Education - SD2 met with a bi-partisan group of legislators to get more state funding for this activity. Positive reaction from legislators and looks like they work to get this passed. Don Jones is working on LC1672. Funding stuck at $1 million since the 1990s.

Food Service Presentation: Betty Hunt (moving) and Sid Taylor (taking over). Smarter Lunch Rooms - SD2 is a pilot program to get students to make healthier choices. There was a small grant to purchase equipment. The conducted a waste study before the start of the program and they will check waste again to evaluate the program. Initially high schools...looking at middle and elementary schools next year. Free and Reduced Numbers - Students are now automatically approved if parents are in SNAP. Eliminates parents having to sign the form sent home. This has caused a jump in numbers of students receiving Free and Reduced Lunch. Breakfast in the classroom? Concerned about spills. A few schools have breakfast for all students. There are equipment costs and Sodexo are looking for grants.

Broadwater and McKinley update: Warm weather last week helped progress. One year of progress. Weather have not impacted them yet.

Heights Middle School update: Looking for cost savings without reducing quality of construction. Current market conditions is causing higher costs. They are looking for value engineering ideas. Looking at alternative flooring and ceiling tiles. Less landscaping. Different conduit in walls, etc. Found 1.3 million in savings and they are getting much closer. All are these are estimates. Nothing have been bid yet. Can they reduce square footage? They are trying to reduce impact on education and they will do everything to not reduce square footage.

Redistricting update: Public forum Dec 16. Team is reviewing drafts at every meeting. Cropper is printing off options for review. Three options will be presented to the public each for the Heights and elsewhere. They are staying true to the guidelines that the board provided. Grandfathering - eventually there has to be a cut-off for siblings. Board operations will be developing a policy soon.

5 year financial forecast: Hudetz is asking if the board has any questions beyond what was presented at the Planning and Development Committee meeting. There are lots of assumptions built in the projections and the forecast can get off. They are creating room in the budget for the fixed costs of the middle schools. SD2 was up about 100 students K-8 last year and up 100 students this year. SD2 administration reviews budget about 4 times a year to ensure SD2 is making targets. Why are they talking drop-out rates. Has no impact on K-8 funding. Stroebe wants busing financials in 5 year plan. SD2 administration is confident that we can operate a second middle school. Hafer wants SD2 to let public know when they are planning to put mill levies to the voters. Toohill asks how sensitive numbers are to enrollment.

Start Process for West-End Middle School design and construction: Current middle schools and elementary schools on west-end are over-crowded, so additional middle school is needed. 60 percent of west-enders voted for the bond. SD2 wants to hire A&E to start work. Earlier A&E starts, the better chance they can find cost savings. A&E is already doing some of the leg-work on their dime so they can keep deadlines. Motion has made to start a number of processes. One nay, Six yays.

General Fund Levies: Committee recommends to not do levies next May. Superintendent says there is too much going on to properly run a campaign. Bond cost per taxpayer is lower than expected and that will be promoted if they put a mill levy on the ballot in 2016. Motion to not run mill levies: elementary passes 7-0 and high school passes 9-0.

Middle school naming update: Committee of 6 parents and one is a staff member. They established a process and it will involve students. They have 42 grade submissions. Tomorrow, the will narrow down to 3-5 per category. Board will get to decide on final recommendations in January.

AA Caucus: Day of lobbying Feb 23rd. Caucus will start meeting twice a week because of legislative session.

Legislative Committee duties and responsibilities: Will meet along with AA Caucus. Committee will have power to act in what the best interests of SD2. Motion on Committee. Concern about stated priorities. Motion amended to take out "stated priorities". That amendment has been dumped to get board to make board provide input when possible. Motion passes 9-0

Legislative Lobbyists: Paid employees must register as lobbyists. Superintendent appointed to represent SD2 and anyone he designates. Leo, Patricia, and Scott Anderson potential designates. Motion passes 9-0.

Career and Technical Education lobbying effort: Most MT districts do not have money to hire teachers for this effort. SD2 is working with Don Jones on bill. May be folded in HB2 in terms of just increased funding. $89,000 to $890,000. SD2 will use this to expand programs (medical).

Committee Policies: Fixing SD2 polices to formalize new committee structure. 1st reading tonight. Passed.

National Convention attendees: Not up for election. Priority to committee chairs and haven't attended last year. Motion made. Passes 9-0

Budget Committee: Board Operations Committee will develop guidelines and membership. Present to Jan Board Meeting. Motion made. Passes 9-0.

2015 Trustee Election. 4 trustees are up for election. Dist 4 (Joe), 5 (Rob), 6 (Allen), and High School A (Teresa).

Notes for Dec 9 2014 SD2 Planning and Development Committee Meeting

McKinley and Broadwater update: Weather has been excellent and projects are on schedule.

Redistricting update: Reviewed Cropper drafts again. Dividing maps into Heights and elsewhere. Prepping for Dec 16 public meeting. Grandfathering? Policy will be developed for the board operations committee to consider. Bus route information? Time estimates are still being determined.

Heights Middle School update: Update on cost estimates and based on 95% of completed construction documents. A&E -$1,000,000. Dick Anderson -$2.6 mil. Hulteng -$1.9 mil. Looking for cost savings of 2.6 million. Will not impact learning spaces. Found 1.3 in potential savings of 1.3 mil...ceiling tiles, reduced landscaping, cheaper flooring. Bidding will be in in January and they are hoping for competitive bids. Playground space for Bitterroot still in project.

West End Middle School Timeline: Delaying design from last Sept to January 2015. Working with city to make site walk-able and bike-able. Construction starts in Feb 2016. Decision needs to be made in Dec Board meeting on this new timeline.

Special Ed Program proposal:  Heights:  Alkali Creek - Primary Delta, Bitterroot - Primary and Intermediate Life Skills, Eagle Cliffs - Primary and Intermediate Independent Living, Bench - SPED Preschool. Changing capacities have been provided to Cropper. Worried that Bitterroot will not have enough space.

Five Year Financial Projection: For FY15-FY19. Leadership team meets 4 times a year to look at the budget. Departments constantly scrubbing budgets for savings. Moving 6th grade to middle school will save money. Revenue Assumptions: 2.08% FY15 and 2% years after. Expense assumptions: 3% increase a year for elementary. No textbook adoptions. Elementary Mill Levy Spring 2016 and Spring 2018 proposed. High school mill levies Spring 2017 and 2019. Salaries and benefits are 87% of the budget.

2015 Mill Levy: Too much going on in the School district to properly promote the levy. Voter Fatigue. Superintendent recommends not putting this on the ballot. Committee will recommend to board to NOT put a mill levy on the ballot next year.

New West End Middle School business: Asking board for permission to move forward on 2nd middle school.

Notes from Dec 2 2014 SD2 Redistricting Committee Meeting

Goals for the night: Review new data and handouts. Discuss 5 scenarios. Chose top 4 for community information session.

Enrollment forecast update: Previous forecast 366 too high. Grades K,1,2,3 had biggest losses. Some students even went to Laurel. Due to migration to private schools and outlying school districts. Once families migrate to outlying districts, they will stay there and SD2 will not see them until middle or high school. Rate can change once middle schools come online and elementary schools are less crowded.

Students east of west end schools are generating complaints from community for being moved out of walkable schools.

Presentation of options:

• Option 1 has area from Lake Hills Golf Course to Lake Elmo going to Sandstone. Other 4 options have them going to Eagle Cliffs. 
• Option 1 has McKinley feeding into Riverside middle school...concerns of too much free and reduced lunch demographics.
• Lots of discussion about area just east of Arrowhead and west of 32nd street. If Ironwood and Copper Ridge kids go to Arrowhead, then these students have to cross 32nd street to Boulder.

Dec 2 2014 SD2 Board Operations Committee Meeting Notes

Superintendent recommends that school district not put a mill levy on the ballot May 2015. Too busy to properly promote it.

Committee Policies: Discussion on what to do if a committee member doesn't attend 2-3 consecutive meetings. They took all language related to this out of policy. Requirement of committee chairs to be on the board for one year before being appointed.

Sending trustees to national convention:  do not want to send someone up for election or are planning to leave board. Want to limit to 3 members. Priority to those that didn't go the previous year. Give priority to committee chairs.

Nov 17 2014 SD2 Board Meeting Notes

Superintendent Report:

• Career Center funding - SD2 wants to work with the legislature to get more funding for tech education.
• Strategic Planning - Community input will be in January at the 4 middle schools

Bond:

• Dick Anderson came up with numbers $2 million higher than A&E for East Heights Middle School. Local contractors raising prices because of supply and demand. Water line $250,000 and Heights Water District would not come down. 

Revised Enrollment Forecast:

• Cropper reviewed their assumptions that didn't work out. 300 students moved to outlying districts than expected and 200 students moved to private schools than expected.
• These forecasts are used for the 5 year financial forecasts.
• Elementary capacity looks good given the latest student enrollment forecast.
• Elder Grove got 34 BPS students. Billings Christian got ~52 students from BPS.
• Blue Creek might send 6th graders (35) to BPS middle schools.

Safety:

• Schools do 5 evacuation drills a year...1 offsite. 1 shelter in place drill. One lock down and one intruder.
• Worried about communication...thinking of purchasing radios, because cells may not work.
• $220,000 spent on Elementary and Middle Schools for security systems.

Redistricting:

• Cropper provided a 2nd round of drafts.
• Dec 16th is a community forum. 
• Transportation time - Matt is working with Sondra Baker to account for this. It will be available for the Dec 2nd meeting.
• They have to account special needs kids moving back to their regions. Will open up 8 classrooms in the Career Center.

Deferred Maintenance:

• 14 million dollars of projects done in 47 days. 90% local contractors. $14 million expected again this summer as long as they get good pricing. They expect to do more than promised.

Performance Monitoring:

• Accreditation - Still issues at K-2. Much improved from 2 years ago, but still work to do.

Stake Holders:

• Each elementary school in the Heights has a representative in school naming committee.

Board Operations:

• Motion made to approve superintendent goals for this school year. Approved 9-0

Nov 11 2014 Notes from Stakeholder relations Committee Meeting

SHAC report:

• Meeting 2nd Wed of the month
• Had a meeting with vendors to discuss the new standards. Vendors had no problems.
• Team will be setting goals for this year...mainly related to policy.

School Naming Committee Update:

• Only two applications...extended to Friday
• Tuesday Nov 18th 6 pm Room 213 Lincoln Center

Nov 11 2014 notes for SD2 planning development committee.

Middle School Construction Report:

• 90 percent complete with grading of site.
• Getting a head start on building footings.
• Storm drain complete.
• Documents are almost complete.
• A&E, Dick Anderson Construction, and Halting are resolving cost estimates.
• Within $1 million spread in estimates and they are trying to resolve.
• 1-2 million above budget right now.
• Concession stand for ballparks might be on the chopping block. Storage could be appended to dugouts.
• They want to make sure that K-2 playground equipment is re-installed.
• Site costs are driving overage costs.

Revised Enrollment Forecast:

• Bubble has been replaced with sustained growth. 
• Numbers will be input in revised 5 year financial plan (Dec).
• 2012 forecast was 2.3 percent higher than actual.
• The wave of kids are there, but not in our public schools.
• Rate of private schools 1/3. Rate of moving to surrounding districts 2/3.
• Revised forecast still show increases at all levels, but magnitude not as high.
• Elementary schools running at 103% capacity now...going to 93%.
• Migration rates may go back once redistricting is implemented.

Safety:

• Cameras and lockdowns. Keypads at high schools. Access via cards. 

Deferred Maintenance:

• Bids going out. On track to get all promised projects done.

Broadwater and McKinley:

• On schedule and on budget. Normal delays with winter weather. 

Redistricting:

• Lots more community input in last meeting.
• Concerns of amount of time students are on buses.

Notes for Nov 4 2014 SD2 board operations Committee meeting

Superintendent Goals:

• Board will approve a goals document at the board meeting. Some discussion on Math Proficiency Rates.

Notes for Nov 4 2014 SD2 Performance Monitoring Committee Meeting

Budget:

• 91 student increase for K-8. Anticipated ~343 increase. Still have Dec and Feb counts. SB75 money was put into contingency.
• Mils increased 3.67 to 7.03 for special education - SB191 brings in ~$600,000 into the tuition fund.  Assessed already on Property tax bills.

Enrollment:

• 250 students short of projections in K-8
• 50 students above of projections in 9-12

Class size and accreditation standards:

• 24.3 times teaching station determines capacity of building.

Oct 20 2014 SD2 Board Meeting - Notes

Communication from Public:

Scott McColluh - Congrats to board for their award...school board of the year in Montana.

Superintendent Report:

• Board was named Montana School Board of the year - School Administrators of Montana. Facilities Master Planning, Energy savings program, Bond passing, increasing reserves to 6 percent. Project Lead the Way. Career Center. Graduation Matters/Highset. and dual credit. Leadership team also deserves credit. 
• United Way Campaign - Superintendent challenging entire district to donate.
• Technology Department update - Recognized Kyle, the leader of the department. Department will reorganize based on report. Committing to training, accountability, service, etc.

Education Foundation Report:

• Foundation started in 1988 by members of the public. Non-profit organization and independent of school district.
• Gave $91,000 in classroom grants. 
• $145,000 grants given from estate gift.
• $13,600 in scholarships given.
• $12,000 for internships for students.
• Foundation runs a summer reading program.
• 10,000 people for saturday live. $101,000 raised by school groups and PTAs.
• Special Projects - technology - 7 classrooms with 1 to 1 technology and interactive technology. Project Lead the Way support. Technology Training Center. Partners in Education Program with businesses adopt a school. 
• $695,000 given to the district in all the various ways.

Advanced Placement English:

• Equivalent to college credit and content approved by a college board. Students will not be able to request alternatives.

Bond Update:

• Asked parties to write a monthly report for the board.

Service Animals Policy - third reading and final reading: Approved

Strategic Planning: Going well. It has been 15 years since the district worked on one. Still working on public input schedule.

Elementary and Middle School redistricting: Team looked at 3 draft maps and provided feedback of items to review/change for the next drafts.

Performance and Monitoring Committee: Matrix/Calendar of reports to the board has been created. Question related to how we monitor educational performance. School district trying to get into Advanced Education. Greta wants data for parents to see how their school is doing. School district is trying to create a dashboard. NWEA data will continue to bridge the gap from the transition from MontCAS to Smarter Balance. Motion made on the calendar and it passes.

Stakeholder Relations Committee: Smart Snacks are to be implemented by July 1. Parent Advisory Committee is not meeting. School Calendar reported to committee. Name/mascot/colors committee needed for new heights middle school. Committee and application process passed.

AA Caucus Report: AAs need to be stronger on the Montana School Board Association. SD2 will have to meet with our legislators on our own. MSBA voted to support Governors preschool initiative. Superintendent will meet with 6 AA schools quarterly. 

Trustee Vacancy:

Sheryl - Funding priorities is whatever brings the student to the classroom. Very agreeable to change, because the world is changing. Wants two way communications between the union and the school district. Thinks the school district strives to deliver a high quality education. 

Joseph - Funding priorities...students, teachers, classrooms. Only change when it needs to be done. Thinks current board works well with the unions. In terms of school performance, thinks SD2 is doing very well.

Joseph appointed by 5-3 vote. Hafer and zone 1 trustee voted against. I didn't pick up on the third.

Oct 14 Stakeholders relations committee meeting - Notes.

SHAC update: 20 members on the committee but attendance has been sparse. July 2015 - Smart Snack implementation. This is standards for vendors for anything sold for the school day. Compliance with some law.

Parent Advisory Committee:  No activity. Might need a new leader.

School Naming committee: Dusty needs name, colors, and mascot of school. Looking for a committee of 7-10 people from the Heights. Targeting 4th graders. Each class in art would create a votable presentation. Board would get 2 options to approve from. Dusty needs this as soon as possible. They will recommend to the board to approve a committee process and application.

Calendar Committee: Looking at 16-17 to 18-19 calendars. A community survey has been done recently. Shorter breaks or full week spring break.

MTSBA Report:  Need votes Friday Morning. We needed to develop a AA caucus. AA's educates 50% of the students. AA are under represented in MTSBA. SD2 pays $14,000 to MTSBA. Looking at other options than MTSBA.

Oct 14 SD2 planning meeting - Notes

McKinley update: Striping for parking completed. Basement slab is 50 percent completed. Corner bulbs are in. There have been noise complaints during school day. Budget is getting tighter...concrete removal.

Broadwater update: Concrete footing and walls have been poured. Cutting in new utilities with school out Thu and Fri. At 7% contingency, but still have basement work in main building.

Heights Middle School: Working with Dick Anderson construction to get cost estimates nailed down. Trying to get as much outside work done in the fall. Trying to get building site ready for concrete footings next spring. Crude oil line caused delays. Code compliance meetings with city...home ec room may need commercial hoods and fire suppression equipment. Will add to cost if city doesn't relent. Bench project likely pay for additional parking and bus parking along Bench.

Policy 8425 2nd reading: Approved.

Capacity Factoring for Special Education: Cropper needs some information in order to determine where to put the general student body. Heights special ed students are on a bus for an hour for the trip too and from the career center. Parents, principals, and staff need to get together to provide input. These programs are moving buildings too much.

Redistricting options: Noted that if the school district explains the why,then parents will be more accepting of the final plan. Nov 4 the next meeting.

Strategic Planning: School district is in the process of setting up community meetings.

MCEL update: No support in funding 6th graders as middle schoolers. Governor's preschool program major item for discussion.

Oct 7 School Reboundarying Committee Meeting Notes

1) Matt Cropper is presenting current capacity usage of elementary and middle schools. Many schools are above 100%

2) They are adding capacity to Broadwater and McKinley elementaries to 400 students each. Moving 6th grade to middle schools. Two new middle schools are being built. This is to address the capacity shortage problem.

3) Cropper wants team to address criteria as a whole when looking at options. Team will not be able to make everyone happy.

4) Link http://www.croppermap.com/billingsredistricting

5) Cropper wants team to study the geography and tables provided.

6) Cropper provided three new redistricted maps for elementary and middle schools. These maps were created to generate discussion so the team can provide ideas for additional options to put on the table.

Oct 7 Board Operations Committee Meeting Notes

Agenda Setting: One item will be on opting out of books. They decided to conduct trustee interviews and make a selection at this meeting.

Communication between Board and school district staff: How does the board get information out of the school district staff? How does the board members deal with parent complaints. Committee is working on how to simplify, clear up, and shorten current policies. Will be covered in future board meetings.

Oct 7 SD2 Performance and Monitoring Committee Meeting Notes

Purpose of these meetings: Provide recommendations to the full board. What information does the school district have to report the board.

First topic of the agenda: setting up a calendar for reports.

• Student Achievement: Dual Credit numbers, ACT test. Enrollment in AP classes. Graduation rates. NWEA scores. Smarter Balance scores. 
• Project Lead the Way...metrics to determine impact? School district right now is more focused on doing it right instead of seeing if it improved science education. MontCAS 4th grade science scores. 
• Title I reporting? 

Finance: Actual vs Budget. Looking at semi-annual reports. Looking at Feb. Budget amendments potentially in May. Reports on reserves and on 5 year budget plan (currently planned for November). Deferred maintenance report (November).

Accreditation:  Official Count (November). Count was Oct 6th. 

Curriculum: Adoption cycle report. Training and staff development involved. School district hasn't followed the adoption cycle. Looking at a financial commitment. 

Demographics and enrollment: Cropper will update projections in November. Will lump in with Accreditation.

How about free and reduced lunch and attendance? Will be added to the list.

Kevin will write first draft and run by the two other trustees. Then sent to LST for review. Final approval by the board (oct?)

Notes SD2 Planning and Development Committee Meeting Sept 8 2014

Walking Path on Ponderosa Elementary Property

• This path will cross through Kings Green Park and the south side of the Ponderosa Elementary School playground.
• School district would be responsible for snow removal. School will need a 4-wheeler with blade. ~$8,000
• Parks department needs some easements for project.
• Jeff Weldon working on legal aspects.

Strategic Planning Information

• Forums with staff has been scheduled and have started.
• Student Achievement, Teaching Materials, Accountability, Facilities, Safety, Financial Management, Technology, Qualified Staff, Community Collaborations, Communications, Other Issues...Looking for critical issues in these areas.
• Looking at 4 area PTA Forums.

Redistricting Information

• Meetings start Sept 9 and 10.
• Public information was provided in a newsletter and on website.
• Superintendent wrote up a "Charge from the Board" for the redistricting team. Draft was reviewed and amended by the board members present.
• Public meeting Sept 9 from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Lincoln Center

Heights Middle School Update

• Grounds work is on schedule and the plan on it being completed in November
• Design work on the building continues. Dick Anderson Construction is on board and doing cost estimate work.
• Committee discussed how to put progress on the web. Web cam with live feed might be too expensive.

Broadwater Elementary Update

• Currently pouring foundation walls. They will start putting up steel by the end of the month.
• No issues with students being near construction.
• Project is within budget.

McKinley Elementary Update

• Just received bids for package 5. Numbers are within budget. Currently verifying bids.
• There were noise problems with crews working during the day, so they have shifted hours to 1 pm - 11 pm. 11 pm is a bit late...so far neighbors have not complained.
• Bulb outs on the streets are being worked on. Hoping they will be complete by the end of the month.
• Everyone received a tour of McKinley work. Basement is completely gutted. They are putting in steel beams so they can remove posts in the basement. There is termite damage in the wood beams in the basement. They are removing the coal infrastructure. Plumbing work on basement bathrooms was in progress.

Aug 18, 2014 Special and Regular Board Meetings

Tuition Levy:

• Senate Bill 191 allows school districts to levy property taxes to help pay for special education.
• School district has to figure out the individual cost for each student to determine what can be levied.
• High school covered by federal funds.
• School District has identified 75 students at elementary that could be funded.
• School District recommends to fund 19 students ~$492,000
• This would be a tuition fund for only special education.
• Stroebie: Legislature gave us the mechanism to do this last year.Will free up general funds.
• 601 9-12 806 K-6 337 7-8 students in special ed.
• Moen: we have been asking for money, the legislature gave us the mechanism to get money, we would lose credibility if this levy is not passed. 
• Layton: is this enough? Worried that local taxpayers are stuck with the bill instead of the state.
• This levy will replace a cut in federal funding. 

Budget:

• Motion made to approve elementary budget which includes 1,845,000 (the maximum) from Senate Bill 191. Motion passes unanimously. 
• Motion made to approve high school budget. Stroebie:  Concerns that capital improvements taking away from high school budget. Wanted Senate Bill 191 funds for high school. Has tuition issues. Motion passes 8-1 with Stoebie voting no to protest.

Update to Scoreboard Project:

• Wahl: replacing scoreboards and getting advertising. In the process of figuring out how much businesses will pay for advertising.

Broadwater and McKinley Update:

• Anderson: Open houses were a success. Radio Station broadcasted from the sites last week.
• Bio swells at Schools? Didn't have the money to put them in. Place to put stormwater. 

East Billings Middle School Update:

• Site prep is underway. Bids came in on target for this bid pack.
• Design is on schedule. 
• Baseball fields is package 2. The rest is package 3.
• 1.2 million dollars over budget because of site development. Second Middle School will be 1.2 cheaper. 
• Package 2: They wanted this done by winter. Numbers came in too high. Looks like they are pulling this package and rebidding in January. Fields will not be ready first half next season. 

Approval of General Contractor for Middle School:

• Dick Anderson Construction was recommended by team. Hafer: All five contractors were good. Decision was difficult. Contractors very local. 
• Motion made and passes unanimously. 

Board Committees:

• Toohill appointed to chair performance and monitoring committee. Hafer nominated for Stakeholders.
• Aragon wonders where the diversity committee? 
• Hafer not sure yet because she doesn't know what she is supposed to do.
• Hafer accepts appointment

Board Retreat:

• Fri, Sept 26 1-5, Sat, Sept 27 9-12
• Here or at Rocky.

SHAC Report - Aragon:

• Talked with Riverstone Health
• Establish a culture of health presentation to principals
• Implementing smart snacks regulations

AA Caucus/MTSBA report:

• No report

Tuition Rates:

• Motion made to table but no second.
• Motion made to approve. Motion passes 8-1.

Aug 11 2014 P&D Committee Meeting/Special Board Meeting

Public Hearing on Environmental Review for Senior High School

• No comments sent to Leo via email or mail.
• Department of Commerce requires the school district to get public comment.
• Not many environmental issues with Senior...Asbestos abatement is major one.
• Propose is for getting a grant for mechanical upgrade project.

Summary of Strategic Planning Meeting

• Minutes was passed out to all board members.
• Last planning process was around 15 years ago.
• Board will set the goals.
• Under values...students will have to commit to doing their part.
• This will involve about 90 focus groups.
• Calendar for focus groups will be on the website.
• What is expected of board members? Terry wants board members to attend 4-6 focus groups to get a feel of what the public thinks. Board is the end process...approving mission statement, goals, etc. Terry will create a document describing roles of board members.
• What does updates look like? Terry: will be looked at yearly. Another full-scale plan should be done in 5-6 years. The accountability process will be done yearly. 
• How will this plan survive board and administrative turnover? Terry is committed to report out progress on the plan at least yearly.

Redistricting Guiding Principles:

• Should social economic diversity be maximized rather than investigated? Cropper: All criteria is looked at equally. Have no problem with changing investigate to maximized. Diversity can be measured (free and reduced lunch). 
• Motion to change: maximize social economic diversity of schools with any redistricting change, whenever possible. 

Broadwater and McKinley Schools update:

• Tours Tuesday Aug 12 430 pm broadwater and 600 pm mckinley
• Broadwater - hole is dug. Major bid pack coming in Tuesday.
• McKinely - Last bid package will be bid next week. Focus on getting historic school ready by August 20. Basement demolished. New windows are being installed. Brickwork will finish this week. 
• 20 people coming in to move stuff back in from containers this weekend.

East Billings Middle School:

• Site grading work came in at 2 million and will put project over budget, but west end school will compensate by being under budget.
• Budget presented to replace ball fields. Looking at putting in a concession stand and storage space for equipment. 
• The will need to put a motion on the next board meeting to approve the addition of a concession stand.

Now onto the special board meeting....Quality Schools Grant:

• Motion to approve environment review...Passed.

Will James Softball Field Improvement:

• Parking lot...want to delay until next summer because of all the things involved.
• Motion: Award Will James Middle School Softball Fields Improvements 2013 Bond Project -Schedule 1 only- for the amount of $365,183.64 to CMG Construction, Inc. ...Passed

Redistricting Guiding Principles:

• Change from P&D meeting above. Motion made and it passed.

8/7/14 - Strategic Planning Orientation Meeting Notes

Purpose and Expectations of strategic planning effort:

• Put together a framework that will guide decisions for 3-5 years.
• What goals should the school district have?
• This will be a 9 month process.
• Progress on goals will be measured and tracked. Progress will be made public on the website. Examples: standardized testing, graduation rates, drop-out rates, numbers in dual credit classes, performance in AP courses, attendance rates.

Overview of Process (Ned Hammond):

• Asks questions...should we stop doing some activities?
• Develops goals and action plans.
• This will drive budgets.
• Plan should be responsive to community needs.
• Stages of process: Input, Vision (development of vision, mission, and goals), Action Plans, Evaluation Process.

Input Stage:

• Focus groups: leadership team, parental advisory team...intact groups in the community.
• Community Forums - organized around topics
• Community Survey
• Environmental Scan - Have board listen to internal and external partners and learn what is important to them.
• Timeline: October 2014-March 2015

Vision Stage:

• Mission Statement, Beliefs/Values, Goals
• Board job

Action Plans:

• Timeline: May 2015- August 2015
• Activities, Individuals Responsible, Completion dates, Measurement of success

Accomplishments:

• Timeline: Each year June-August

Questions:

• Who is targeted for surveys? Random community. One School District wanted as many people to take the survey as possible. Depends on the purpose of the survey.

SD2 Governance Special Meeting - July 28 2014

Committees:

• Board members, who have been on the board for a while, are presenting a history of committees the last 5-10 years. These committees became open to all members because of trust issues...which increased workload on board members. 
• They are looking at a committee to vet the budget before it gets to the monthly board meeting.
• Now there is no committee structure. Every thing is done in ad hoc.
• It was noted that the board as a group needs goals and a vision that unifies the group. Then committees can be trusted to do work on behalf of the board.
• They are considering committees...Shareholders...Planning and Development...Performance Monitoring.
• Motion made to make these committees and it passes.

Notes from SD2 Board Meeting 7/21/2014

Superintendent Report:

• There is an opportunity to raise more money for Project Lead The Way
• Plans are in place in getting all elementary schools and middle schools in the project in 4 years.
• If the graduation rate continues to go up, the school district is looking to make the career center a full high school. SD2 is putting together a planning team needed one trustee representative. 
• Naming of facilities...policy 9250...board will need to appoint a committee. 
• Aug 7th Strategic Planning...Ned talking to leadership team. This is a training session.
• Big Sky Games - SD2 had reps there.

Middle School Update:

• Offsite Development package - Bid comes in this week. Work starts on Aug 1 - through Nov.

Deferred Maintenance:

• 77 out 78 given to local contractors.
• McKinley and Broadwater only has one out of town contractor (brick restoration...none in town)

Cottonwood Land Site:

• 2007 SD2 purchased 10 acres of land. School district has 3 years to put a school on it per agreement. Better to put elementary school on existing middle school site (in addition) on 56th and Grand. 
• Board Approved meeting with parties involved. Superintendent wants a public hearing.

Redistricting Committee:

• Approved rescinding board reps to committee.
• Approved converting board reps to committee liaisons.
• Approved Committee members in board packet.
• 3 members are school employees...requested they act as community members.
• Approved Roles and Responsibilities of committee in board packet.
• Criteria/Guidelines in the board packet tabled to discussed at next Planning and Development Committee meeting.

Budget:

• Charter Disputing taxes caused a lower taxable value for them. Might cause an tax increase to other taxpayers.
• Budget is balanced and does not use one-time money. 
• Goal is to not spend 1% of the budget and put in reserves.
• Expanding capacity (teachers) to get ready for new middle schools.
• Added some money to capital improvements for high schools.
• Increased pay for substitutes. +$15 for Certified teachers and +$10 for non-certified.
• Prelim Budget approved.

Superintendent Contract:

• 2% raise and cell phone.
• Approved by the board.

Notes from SD2 7/7/14 Planning and Development Committee Meeting

On Bond Projects

• Stairwells in McKinley - Looking at converting one stairwell into breakout space. There were historic concerns, but utility of the space is more important for upper level classrooms. $70 a square foot to repurpose space and will cost $20,000 total. Community will not know that there used to be a stairwell there. Project budget may not allow this. Project needs bids to come below expectations to pay for this. Teachers want breakout space. Decision was made to delay to next board meeting.
• Annex in McKinley is gone. Boiler and Gym is gone. Working on restrooms on 1st floor and 2nd floor.
• Broadwater - Late permit created delays. Did some duct work and in process of re-roofing. Carpeting discussion has ensued. Restoring hard surfaces are not in the budget for classrooms. Suggestion to go with hard surfaces with a rugs. 
• Heights Middle School - Off site bid package is out - development of Barrett Road and utilities. Includes regrading of one site property. CTEP funding was received for path from school to bike path. Goal is to get baseball fields ready for Spring 2015. Grass seeding needs to get done soon enough.

Redistricting

• Approval of team members - Criteria for selection: Members spread out across the district. Rush hour considerations. 26 people were selected. Keller and Lundgren are chair and vice chair. Board approves sending this to full board.
• Roles and Responsibilities - School Board and Superintendent encouraged to stay hands-off. Showing the community that the board trusts the community. Cropper wants to let the committee to do the work. Board members expected to serve as a resource. District will provide information via website...everything. Looking to rescind board motion that put board members as part as the committee. Board approved the roles and responsibilities. Hoping to bring two scenarios to board to approve one.
• Guiding principles and criteria - Cropper wants to look at all criteria as a whole. Criteria is below. Question of feeders to middle schools. What if a county wants to send 6th graders to SD2 middle schools? Target of 92% capacity for middle schools. Lots of unknowns, so may have to develop scenarios. Bouck contacted all feeder school districts. He wants to keep them informed. Blue Creek will vote to go to K-5 once schools are opened. Might be others. Onus on school district to provide good assumptions in this area. Cropper will give a number of students impacted by each plan (change schools). Motion carries.

 Minimize impact on students: Move as few students as possible during the process. 

 

 Balance building utilization 

 

 Contiguous boundaries: Remove ‘satellite’ zones that exist in the district and create zones that are contiguous around the schools (1 zone per school) if possible. 

 

 Make all efforts to not split identifiable community components: Do not split apartments and/or subdivisions if at all possible 

 

 Maximize transportation efficiency and walk-ability whenever possible 

 

 Maximize safety of students by defining boundaries along major geographic features such as roads, rivers, and railroads. Try to minimize students crossing over major roads if possible. 

 

 Examine the impact on socio-economics of schools with any redistricting change 

 

 Try to have 100% feeder pattern continuity if possible: Try to feed entire elementary zones into a single middle school i.e. Minimize the number of times elementary school zones are split when continuing to middle school. 

 

 Be pro-active for future potential growth if at all possible 

Cottonwood Land Site

• 10 acre land site in the west end. Agreement in 2007 between some individuals, city, and SD2.
• November 2017 deadline to build elementary school or SD2 has to sell land back to city for $200,000. 
• Attorney that wrote the agreement thinks that SD2 cannot build an elementary school by Nov 2017. Agreement amendment unlikely to extend time.
• Not saying that west-end will not need an elementary school.
• Prefer elementary and middle school on the same site for cost savings.
• Demographics will be reviewed in 2016...in regrads to elementary school needs. SD2 does not know if an additional elementary in the west-end is needed. 
• Superintendent will be looking for direction at the next full school board meeting. 
• Middle school site a better location for an elementary school. 
• There is a high school piece on 48th and Central if a new high school is needed. 39 acres.

Planning Committee Schedule

• Redistricting committee meeting on the first Tuesday of the month. 
• Proposal to move Planning on the second Monday of the month starting August 2014. Passes.

Board Governance Meeting

• Look at August. Halter will recommend dates. Only 90 minute meeting. July 28 530 pm.

Technology Infrastructure RFP

• switches...wifi...etc. Motion passes
• bond funding source.

Chromebooks RFP

• Technology levy funding source. Motion passes.

News from June 2014 Board Meeting

Public Comment...

• Lynn McKinney - School employee. Concerned about the elimination of Library Clerk positions in West, Senior, and Skyview. 3.0 FTEs of positions. Says that this will decimate Library programs. Libraries will not be fully staffed. These positions provide student services. She wants budget passed this summer to bring back these positions.

Broadwater and McKinley update...

• No updates.

Middle School...

• Second Middle school design cost will be included in first bond issuance.
• Demographics checkup coming.
• Retractable seating in commons area: Dusty said it is not worth doing and cannot do it with quality and stay under budget.

Superintendent Report...

• Working on High School security. Auto Door Locks. Student cards. Security Cameras at 5 entrances with buzz in. Senior first, Lincoln Center second, West, Skyview, and then Career Center. Finish shortly after the school year starts. Lots of pots to pay for Lincoln Center system. Cards are one fits all...building access, library, etc.. Still thinking about after school activities, like basketball games. Trustees bring up concern about interacting and developing relationships with students. Help students before they become shooters.
• 45 people submitted applications for redistricting committee. Sent to Cropper for review and selection. Team will be announced in July. Applicants names will be put in a newsletter.
• Tours of Broadwater and McKinley during Summer. 95% of work will be done by local contractors. 
• Community 7 did onsite interviews at these locations and new middle school site.
• MTSBA Delegate Assembly. 4/5 of our resolutions were passed. 6 grade funding as middle school. Debt subsidizes. Evaluate equality of funding. 
• We are going to have great news in 7 days, but he cannot tell us.

School based health center and Orchard...

• Scott McColough public comment:  BEA supports this. Schools should make sure students are healthy.
• Superintendent: 67% free and reduced lunch. Some parents cannot drive. Supports development of proposal. Board will have a chance vote to approve proposal in a future meeting. Aragon: Do we have space to do this? There is space in Library. Some space where custodians work. Some small learning group rooms. 
• MOA Draft passed 5-0.

Budget Update...

• Budget will be approved Monday August 18th.
• 1 percent savings goal for this school year will be met this school year.
• Books close end of July
• Reserves will all be above 5%. This will help on the rate on the next bond issuance.
• Aragon: Wants FTE information to ensure that 1% savings is not cutting staff too much. Revenues are going up and enrollment is going up, but FTEs are not as much as 2008 for school teachers and staff. Vacancy savings too much. Hudetz resistant in providing this information.
• Stroebe: 1% savings...did they cut staff. Savings with replacing retirees with younger staff? Is on budget documents. Activity Bus fee increase? No legislation to fund this at the state level. Paid by general funds. Will add 5 middle school teachers this summer.
• Toolhill:  Want details of 1% savings. Vacancy savings only replacing retirees. Board Contingencies will pay for facilities and textbooks. 
• Aragon: Wants to know teacher FTE changes over the last 10 years. Calculation of student/teacher ratios important for budget decisions. Stroebe: How we balance the budget is important. CFO will try to put in budget documents.
• Superintendent: Lost 400 students at high school level. Staff paid for using one time money was a problem. 

Board Appointments to redistricting team...

• Toolhill and Ludwig proposed as Trustee representatives. Toolhill encourages others to attend meetings and participate. Layton is Alternate. Hafer added as representative. Motion passed 7-0.

Trustee Vacancy...

• Two applicatons:  Rob Rogers and Sara Neff.
• 60 days to fill vacancy for zone 5.
• Need a special meet to fill seat. July 15 deadline.
• June 30th 530 pm is the special meeting. Decision will be made. passed 7-0.

AA Caucus...

• Resolution #9 still going...Lockwood High School. Everyone wants MTSBA unified for legislative session.
• Toolhill: constant battle between districts...if one gets more, then another will get less.
• Stroebe: Wants to hold on cololition. 
• MQEC dues: Paying for a voice at the legislature. For 10 year review. Passed 7-0.

An Opinion on Teacher Tenure

On Tuesday, a court in California ruled that teacher tenure was unconstitutional. There were previous rulings in California related to the funding of schools. School districts in poor communities had to be funded at the same levels as rich districts. Since poor school districts were more likely to have poor performing tenured teachers that could not be fired, this resulted in a poorer quality education for students in lower income areas, just like the result of unequal funding.

This morning the Billings Gazette asked "Will California's tenure ruling mean anything in Montana?" There are no lawsuits in Montana related to this, nor will Governor Bullock allow changes to tenure to occur over the next two years.

Some quotes from the article: President of the BEA...

While some might criticize the system for creating an environment where it’s impossible to remove bad teachers, McCulloch said that the claim is simply not true. In Montana, he said, teachers have to go through a three-year probationary period before they are “awarded” tenure, during which time they are evaluated twice a year. The evaluations are based on things like a teacher’s understanding of students, of the curriculum and their pedagogy. If a teacher is ineffective, there is a process for removing him or her, he said.

On the Gazette facebook page...Christian Bourn described the removal process...

Here's the process for canning a tenured teacher:

1. A contract is renewed in the spring with the understanding that the teacher will be placed on a professional plan of improvement for the next year. 

2. The teacher is then observed over the next year and continually given evaluations. They're given the opportunity to contest poor evaluations with a union representative present. They're given the opportunity to schedule meetings with the administration and the union when they feel they need to.

3. After their final evaluation of the year, they're told whether or not they'll be recommended for rehire. Now, they have the further ability to contest this. But, at this point, an administrator has enough information to can them so the teacher will opt for retirement or resignation.

4. Here is something else to bear in mind; most unions don't cover legal fees. The reps are their to make sure you're getting proper legal advice and to stand with you if you're being railroaded. Generally speaking, the union reps in Montana will not go to bat for you if you're a f- up teacher. I'm a part of the teachers union and I've been involved in several mediation sessions. Every time, the union has told the teacher on the hot seat to follow the administrator's instructions. We have not told them to "fight the man" or go to court. 

Also Eric Olsen was quoted to provide the other side...

When it comes to the budget, if they can get two inexperienced teachers for the price of one experienced teacher, Olsen said they should do it. “That’s just part of the system. You see that in the corporate world,” he said, adding that he didn’t think it’d bother kids too much. “Kids are real flexible. They’re probably the most flexible creatures on earth.”

This comment was not helpful for the reform side. After parents, the most important factor in a successful education is a quality teacher. Mr. Olsen's plan works against that. In general, most of our community are willing to pay excellent teachers a good salary to keep them in the system. But the current steps and lanes/tenure system pays all teachers the same regardless of each teachers performance. Reforms should be made towards a merit system, rather than how cheap we can be in paying teachers.

The first question that came my mind was how many SD2 teachers been let go strictly because of bad performance in the classroom over the past five years? That question was posted on the board email page by myself. I am not sure if the administration will answer the question, but it is a question that should be asked and answered. I would like to know how serious the school district is when they determine that a teacher is not doing their job. If the administration hasn't done anything about bad teachers, then the trustees have to turn that around. 

Now let's step into the shoes of parents. I am a parent with children in the public schools, so I know what this is like. When our children our assigned teachers (we generally do not request individual teachers), I do not know if I am getting a high performing teacher or a teacher that needs to be let go. That information is hidden from parents. And if a parent realizes that their child is not learning as much as they should, how would that parent know if it is an issue with a child's effort or if it is an issue with a bad teacher. How would a parent know when teacher evaluations are hidden from the parent? What if the issue is the curriculum or a school policy negatively affecting education? It is not fun being a parent sending children to this system. 

In a lot of ways, public schools are monopolies where some parents have no choice to send their children to public schools. The trustees has to hold the administration accountable for the service they provide. Administrators have to hold employees accountable for the job they were hired to do. I can live with some due process, but maybe parents should know that they are getting a teacher that is on a plan of improvement. Maybe parents should be notified that they had a child in a classroom where a teacher wasn't doing their job and be offered free tutoring to make up lost education. 

All I know that the discussion of this topic rarely involves what parents think. I do not care about the battles between the tea party and unions. How about putting students first for a change?

Virgil

Notice of School Board Meeting

The agenda was posted on Thursday. The meeting starts at 530 pm, Monday, June 16th. The meeting is at the Lincoln Center board room. Here are some of the items that will be discussed...

• Updates on the Broadwater/McKinley remodel
• Updates on the design of new East Billings Middle School
• Determine process how to select someone to fell the vacant trustee position
• Preliminary budget presentation for next school year. Must be approved in July or August.
• MOU on school based health center at Orchard Elementary
• Update on appointments to school redistricting team. Two trustees will be appointed to team.
• Update on MTSBA activities

Remodeling of two Billings Schools have started

As reported by the Billings Gazette major remodeling of McKinley and Broadwater schools has started. This is great news for students that live in this area of Billings. Classroom conditions were not pleasant for quite some time.

Virgil

Positve Impact of Involved Fathers

Yesterday, this article caught me attention. I am a father and I try to be involved in my children's lives as much as possible. Here is the premise of the article...

Children with involved fathers are more likely to graduate from college—particularly among middle- and upper-income families but also among those from lower-income backgrounds, a recent study found.

According to this new research by Brad Wilcox at the University of Virginia, the family structure that best promotes this involvement is a married, intact family. This is the case for youth from lower-educated homes as well as those from more highly educated homes.

I know from personal experience that this is true. My wife and I tag-team alot when it comes to our children. Sometimes my approach reaches our children, whereas sometimes my wife's approach reaches the children.

There are some single parents out there that I know that make this work on their own. Such parents should get heaps of praise because they must sacrifice and work much harder than I do to keep their children on the right track. Unfortunately, this is the exception rather the rule.

In our community there are many unwed mothers, a high divorce rate, substance abuse issues. Their children attend the public schools and these are the children more likely to struggle in school. These are the children that SD2 struggles to serve. I do not think I have an answer to this, but it is something our community needs to address. It is impacting the educational quality of our public schools.

Virgil

School Rezoning Team Members Needed

School District 2 in Billings is looking for 20-25 people to join a team that will adjust elementary and middle school boundaries. The application is here. The deadline is COB June 13th.

Team Meetings will start in September and I would expect 1-2 meetings a month during the school year. Each meeting will be about 2 hours.

My view is that parents need to step up and apply for this team. Students are being bused all over the place on the west end. This team will set the priorities on what will be the basis of redrawing boundaries. I would hope this team also discuss transition plans and discuss a plan to adjust boundaries in the future on a more frequent basis.

Virgil

Latest on SD2 Contruction projects

SD2 bid out window replacements for Broadwater and McKinley elementary schools. The bids received didn't meet the specs for window quality. As a result, SD2 expects not all windows to be replaced this summer as they hoped. The delay is because they will have to rebid this project.

Design work for the East Billings Middle school continues. They are currently putting together an "offsite" package to be bid on this month. This package includes road work, utility work, and work on grounds. The offsite work will start in late July and continue until Thanksgiving Day. Construction of the building will start when the ground thaws in 2015 and the school will open late in the summer of 2016.

Virgil

SD2 - Riverstone Health - Billings Clinic Pact in the works

School District 2 is actively working on a MOU between them and Riverstone Health and Billings Clinic to create a Heath Center at Orchard Elementary School. The SD2 Trustee Planning and Development Committee approved an action for this MOU to be voted on during the June Board Meeting. 

Orchard Elementary serves the largest number of children of low income families in the school district. If a student receives free or reduced lunch, there is a 90% chance they are receiving Medicaid health services. For a variety of reasons, parents are not taking their children in for medical services and the problems get to a point where the more expensive ER is used. If a health center is put in the school, health professionals will be able to address issues before they get expensive. 

I missed the mental health presentation from Billings Clinic, but it appears that some parents are taking their kids to the ER for mental health issues instead of making an appointment with a specialist. 

The presenters sited single mothers that do not have transportation to take their children to an appointment and single mothers that cannot leave their job to take their children to an appointment as a reason to put a Heath Center in Orchard.

Parents will have to either opt into the program or opt out of the program, so parents, who do not want the school health center to provide medical care outside of emergencies, can have some peace. 

Here is some commentary. As a parent, I take the health of my children seriously. In fact, I view that as a responsiblity of myself, because I brought those children into the world. One thing that should be in this MOU is that parents should be required to be in attendance for every appointment. This program should never take any responsiblity from the parent. The government should not be raising children. There are parents that view the school as free childcare. There are parents that like the fact they do not have to make lunch and breakfast for their children paid by the taxpayer dime. Let's not add health services to this list. The government should not take care of children's healthcare and allowing the parent shift this responsiblity off too. A parent not raising their children is bad all around. This Health Center should not encourage this behavior. The MOU should address this specifically.

Virgil

Lockwood vs SD2 - Part 4

Gazette article here.

Hudetz told the board that losing Lockwood students from SD2 high schools would impact the academic environment at the schools — Lockwood kids are good students, he said. It also would effect the bottom line of the district.

SD2 would lose roughly 500 students and $2.1 million in funding.

Trustee Teresa Stroebe, who represents the Lockwood area on the board, spoke at length about letting the facts guide the MTSBA’s discussion in Helena and not sending Bouck and Hudetz there with any direction.

I have to disagree with Mr. Hudetz. Since the state funding formula punishes larger school districts via the decrement, academics do suffer. SD2 students are put in classrooms with larger student numbers. It is easier for a student falling behind to fall through the cracks. Larger high schools have higher dropout rates. Larger high schools have more intra-student issues that fester longer.

SD2 does want Lockwood students because they make the school district look better academically. Test scores at Senior would fall if these students left.

The bottom line of SD2 is not affected. If 500 students left, then the school district wouldn't need about 18 teachers. This would save the school district about $1.4 million. There are other savings that offset the $2.1 million in lost funding. The students that are left will be better funded and get more attention from district staff.

Reading articles about this in Missoula and Helena, I get the impression that parents want more say in their local school. This is why those who have children in K-8 districts, want them to expand to K-12 districts. I am a parent in a SD2 elementary district. I try to bring up concerns, but school district leadership only lectures me back. This is a monopoly that doesn't listen to customers.

Virgil

Lockwood vs SD2 - Part 3

This is part 3 of a discussion on the Montana School Board Association Resolution #9, which would direct the MTSBA to lobby the legislature to allow K-8 school districts to expand to K-12 school districts.

On May 19, there was a School Board Meeting and the board was directived to give Superintendent Bouck and CFO Hudetz some direction on this resolution. There is a meeting between affected school districts on May 28 and Delegates of the MTSBA will vote on this issue on June 8th I think.

The board discussion was video taped by Community 7 TV and can be found at this link. On the right, there is a "MTSB Request on K-12 Expansion" link that points the video play the discussion on this topic.

If the community of Lockwood does not think that SD2 can deliver education and services up to the community's expectations, then should Lockwood have an option to build their own high school (size of Laurel) and expand their school district from K-8 to K-12? The Lockwood school board did vote to support the resolution, so clearly they want the option.

The East Helena school district was the one that wrote the resolution. It was mentioned at the board meeting that East Helena parents are concerned about drugs in the Helena school district, so they want to get out to limit the impact of drugs on their children. This is an example of one of the negatives with large high school districts. The larger the student body, the higher likelihood for non-educational problems to creep into the schools. There are gang activity in Skyview high school in Billings, etc.The dropout rate associated with large high schools is also a negative. SD2's dropout rate is nearly 25%.

In the end, the 3 K-8 districts in Montana will support this resolution and the K-12 districts potentially affected will fight against the resolution. The SD2 vote to oppose the resolution was 8-1, with the Lockwood trustee, Teresa Stroebe, being the only one to vote against.

My view is that the state funding formula punishes large school districts be underfunding them. I would be looking for any way to make SD2 smaller, so they get more funding per student. The last 3 SD2 superintendents have complained bitterly about the decriment in the funding formula. One way to beat the system is to break SD2 into pieces. SD2 is not very responsive to parts of the Billings Community. Westend students are bused all over the place. Lockwood's educational concerns and the potential move from Senior to Skyview are not being listened to. Maybe it is time to break up the monopoly?

SD2 administrators also expressed concerns about their ability to provide cerntain electives and to keep the career center open. With Rocky and MSU-B in city limits, I think something can be worked out to minimize the impact of losing 550 students. The bottomline is that the rural school districts will not allow the school formula to be changed. They benefit greatly from the higher per student funding. Let's break up SD2 and give the surrounding K-6 and K-8 districts a piece of the pie. This would automatically bring more per student funding to the Billings area. Parents in the Billings area will finally have a choice in public schools.

Virgil Middendorf

Lockwood vs SD2 - Part Two

The finance staff of SD2 (led by Leo Hudetz) quickly analyzed the impact of MTSBA resolution #9 to the finances of SD2. Their analysis is here.

The estimate is that state funding to SD2 would be reduced by $2.2 million. This is about $4,000 per student lost. I think the average Billings high school student now brings in more than $4,000 each from the state, but I'll have to verify that. My first thought is that the loss of around 500 students to a new Lockwood high school will increase the per student funding for the remaining students in SD2. The state formula has a decrement that punishes large school districts. So making SD2 smaller would increase per student funding from the state. We wouldn't be punished as much.

The only downside is that the cost of buildings will stay same, so the per student cost of this will go up. Does the school district need the numbers to keep the Career Center going?

My impression of the possiblity of Lockwood going to K-12 would bring more overall state funding to both of the districts combined. Wouldn't that be a good thing? I think SD2 number crunchers should analyze this on a per student basis

Lockwood vs. SD2 - Part 1

School District 2 Trustees and Administration are concerned about MTSBA Resolution #9. This proposed resolution will be considered at the next meeting of the Montana School Board Association. If passed, then the association will try to get the legislature new year to make a change in the law.

Right now, K-8 school districts (like Lookwood) are not allowed (by law) to expand to K-12. So the law forces Lockwood students into SD2 High Schools. As described in the resolution...

WHEREAS, expansion from a K-8 to a K-12 district is expressly denied in these growing communities by the criteria set forth in MCA 20-6-326. This law prevents the citizens in communities that currently do not have high schools from exploring the possibility of adding a hometown high school that would fall under the local control of their community and school board

Reasoning for wanting a high school...

WHEREAS, the majority of Montanans including: parents, local school board trustees, elected local officials, and state legislators have established that hometown schools are a fundamental part of the Montana educational system;

Another words, Lockwood may prefer to have a local high school that their community will have more say as to what happens within that school. Right now the only have one vote out of nine on the SD2 school board and it is frequently hard to get high school issues priority.

There is also the issue that Lockwood K-8 is educating their students better than Billings K-8. Reading is about 2 percent better and Math is about 5 percent better based on the MontCas test given the Spring of 2013. When Lockwood students get in the SD2 high schools, most of their students waste their time repeating material they have already learned.

Certainly, the smaller the school district, the more easily school trustees are held accountable for their decisions. The Lockwood community really cannot hold SD2 trustees accountable. I'm sure the resolution makes sense to the Lockwood community. It gives them an option if SD2 does not meet their expectations. It can hold SD2 accountable for their high school decisions. If SD2 poorly educates Lockwood high school students, then Lockwood can excercise their option to build and run their own high school.

Part II will describe why SD2 is against this resolution.

Example of Students Not Getting Priority

Interesting story here from Oregon, where students and parents are concerned that students are not getting enough instruction time. This is a quote from a student...

“I feel I am unprepared compared to students in other states,” Page Hall, a student at Sunset High School, recently told the Beaverton school board. “I want to go off to college fully prepared.”

Bravo for the student for wanting to get her parent's moneys worth. I would hire her on the spot wanting to put in extra effort in her education. However, I think she is the exception to the rule. More from the story...

Oregon requires high schools to offer students 130 hours per class and at least 990 hours of instructional time per year, which is the equivalent of a 165-day school year for students in class six hours per day. The national norm, by comparison, is 1,080 hours or 180 days.

Yet Beaverton is taking a wait-and-see approach on the 130-hour rule. Wait and see if a parent formally files a Beaverton-specific complaint with the state. Wait and see if the state allows school districts more wiggle room on what counts as instructional time or its equivalent. 

I would be concerned if this was happening in my school distirct. This is impacting graduation rates in Beaverton in a bad way. Surely learning across the board is hurt. More...

Beaverton school leaders have spent much of the year focused on the fate of their $680 million bond measure. They've also been preoccupied by contract negotiations with the teachers union. Actual class time for actual students has felt like a lower priority, which is disconcerting. It shouldn't take a teenager to point that out.

This is exactly the same type of thing that leaders of SD2 are doing. They are speding enormous amounts of time on making decisions on the recently passed bond, plus getting ready to lobby the legislature. Students have become a lower priority in Billings.

Welcome

I found it hard to find detailed information about the public schools in the Billings, MT area. The soundbite journalism on our schools is not enough for me. So I am starting this blog to present the real story of the politics affecting our public schools.

Virgil