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.