Superintendent’s Narrative

June 10, 2010

Policy Item:

1. 2421 Promotion/Retention:

The following is the first reading of the recommended revision to policy 2421 Promotion/Retention:

It is the philosophy of the District that:

A) Students do not progress at the same rate. Some need more time to grow physically and emotionally than others.

B) Many factors influence school performance, among them maturity (physical and

emotional), intelligence, diligence, and a desire to succeed.

C) In general, children shall be in the grade level to which they are best adjusted academically, socially, and emotionally.

Promotion will occur when a child is achieving at or above grade level.

Retention will be considered when a child is achieving significantly below ability and grade level and/or has failed two or more subjects.

Whenever retention is being considered, a study team including the student's parents/guardians, the student, appropriate teachers, counselors, support staff, and administrators, will convene. The meeting should take place immediately following the third (3rd) quarter marking period. Goals will be set for the fourth (4th) quarter marking period. During the fourth quarter another meeting will be held to review the set goals and student's progress. The decision for promotion or retention will be made by the study team. The final decision concerning retention rests with the Board of Trustees for Choteau School District No. 1.

The Board recognizes that students of the same age are at many intellectual and developmental levels and that these differences are a normal part of human development. Because of these differences, the administrators and teaching staff are directed to make every effort to develop curricula and programs that will meet the individual and unique needs of all students and allow them to remain with their age cohorts.

It is the philosophy of the District that students thrive best when placed in or promoted to grade levels with other students of compatible age, physical, social, and emotional status. It is the District’s philosophy to promote students who demonstrate effort within those compatibilities. It is equally the District’s philosophy and practice to retain students who do not make a reasonable effort to meet grade-level expectations, as long as those expectations are commensurate with the individual student’s ability and rate of learning. Student placement, promotion, or retention will be determined after a careful evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of alternatives. All factors must be considered when an alteration to a student’s normal progression through school is contemplated. Quantitative measures, such as age, physical size, ability, and level of academic achievement, shall be supplemented by a qualitative assessment of student motivation, self-image, and social adjustment. Students will not be promoted for purely social reasons.

If a parent insists that their child be retained or promoted, a notice will be placed in the student’s file that the retention or promotion was a parent’s decision and not recommended by the school.

Should administration, staff, and or parents be unable to come to a consensus the matter may be appealed to the Board for a final judgment.

Policy History:

Adopted on: 11/30/1998

Revised on: 06/26/2001

Action Items:

• 2010-2011 District Goals:

The Board needs to consider approval of district goals for the 2010-2011 school year. These goals should be limited to no more than three and considered a priority. The adopted district goals provide an excellent means for evaluating the effectiveness of our schools as well as your administrative team. It is recommended the Board adopt the following district goals for the 2010-2011 school year.

• To enhance student math skills.
• To enhance student reading skills.
• To enhance of student science skills.

Assessments for Math Goal:

• Complete curricular scope & sequence for math instruction K-6.
• Tie all math content to core common standards.
• Filter all math through NCTM Standards.
• Increase math individualization.
• Expand RTI math to K-3.
• Expand weekly math pullout opportunities for 4-6 students.
• Continue to identify & Progress Monitoring math students in 4-6.
• Provide math instruction at concrete, connecting abstract levels for all K-6 students.
• Steamline all math learning expectations for all grades K-6
• Increase the use of “# worlds” for targeted students in 1-3.
• Inservice staff on “number sense.”
• Increase the use of PLATO for targeted students.
• Identify or create appropriate Progress Monitoring tools for math K-6 tied to “# sense.”
• Increase shared planning time targeting math.
• Develop parent website.
• 80% of applicable students will show an increase of six points or more on the CRT assessment.
• Employ intervention teams to help JH & HS students that are achieving below grade level.
• Implement curriculum to best meet the needs of our students.
• Evaluate CRT data with staff to ensure State requirements are met and identify strengths and weakness.
• Offer before school and after school study halls.

Assessments for Reading Goal:

• Employ RTI to identify and develop action plans for struggling students.
• Provide appropriate reading instruction for all K-6 students at their level in a small group format.
• Employ Harcourt lesson maps and templates.
• Add 6th grade lesson maps and templates to daily routine for targeted students.
• Closely monitor fidelity of programming (core & intervention).
• Target comprehension at 1-3 level.
• Develop parent website.
• 80% of applicable students will show an increase of six points or more on the CRT assessment.
• Employ intervention teams to help JH & HS students that are achieving below grade level.
• Implement curriculum to best meet the needs of our students.
• Evaluate CRT data with staff to ensure State requirements are met and identify strengths and weakness.
• Offer before school and after school study halls.

Assessments for Science Goal:

• Map science curriculum benchmarks for the academic year K-8.
• Integrate science standards content into reading and math.
• Expand the use of the Inquiry process.
• Offer weekly science-based projects for targeted students K-6.
• Increase time on science to 1 hour/week for all grades.
• 80% of applicable students will show an increase of six points or more on the CRT assessment.
• Employ intervention teams to help JH & HS students that are achieving below grade level.
• Implement curriculum to best meet the needs of our students.
• Evaluate CRT data with staff to ensure State requirements are met and identify strengths and weakness.
• Offer before school and after school study halls.
• Evaluation of Spring Extra-Curricular Assignments:

(Closed Session if Necessary)(Section 2-3-203, MCA)

This item is an opportunity to discuss the evaluation process and highlights involving the spring coaches. Each coach was notified in writing of this meeting date, time, and place and that their evaluations will be discussed at this meeting.

Elementary Athletics

• Head Wrestling: --- Steve French
• Assistant Wrestling: --- Andy Passmore
• Head Volleyball: --- Ann Funk
• Assistant Volleyball: --- Carla May
• Track: --- Carla May
• Track: --- Ann Funk

High School Athletics

• Head Track: --- Blair Patton
• Assistant Track: --- John May
• Assistant Track: --- Randy Gramm
• Head Golf: --- John Shepherd
• Assistant Golf: --- Nate Achenbach
• Girls Tennis: --- Bob Scott
• Weight Lifting --- Blair Patton

• Personnel:

The Board needs to consider approval of the following additional extra-curricular assignments for the 2010-2011 school year:

a. Elementary Athletics

• Head Wrestling: --- Steve French
• Assistant Wrestling: --- Andy Passmore
• Head Volleyball: --- Ann Funk
• Assistant Volleyball: --- Carla May
• Track: --- Carly May
• Track: --- Ann Funk
• Assistant Football Coach --- Open

b. High School Athletics

• Head Track: --- Blair Patton
• Assistant Track: --- John May
• Head Golf: --- John Shepherd
• Assistant Golf: --- Nate Achenbach
• Girls Tennis: --- Bob Scott

c. Assistant High School Football Coach: It is recommended the Board approve Mr. Randy Gramm as an

Assistant High School Football Coach.

• IAT Recorder: It is recommended the Board approve Mrs. Mary Smith as the IAT Recorder.

• PM Custodian: It is recommended the Board approve Mr. Robert Robles as a district PM Custodian at salary of $8.250/hour and $8.40 at the end of a 6-month probation period beginning on August 30th, 2010.

• Summer School Staff: It is recommended the Board approve Mrs. April Ripley at $17.00 per hour and Ms. Julie Dalrymple at $11.00 per hour as elementary summer school staff. Last year’s format will be used once again for summer school.

• Additional Summer Custodial Staff: It is recommended the Board approve Mr. Jaxom Wearley at $7.25 per hour as additional student summer custodial help since the summer custodial staff will be one short once Bob Archer retires on June 25th.

• 2010-2011 Bus Routes:

It is recommended the Board approve the 2010-2011 bus routes without change from the 2009-2010 routes.

• 3 Year Auditors Contract:

The current 3 year audit contract expired this school year so it is recommended the Board enter into another 3 year contract with the auditors Paul Strom & Associates. The annual cost of the audit for the next three years will be $5,000 which is an increase of $900 per year from the past contract. This increase is necessary to cover the costs of additional reporting requirements for GASB 34 and 45. Paul Strom & Associates have been the auditors for the District for decades, do a good job, and these increased rates are still very reasonable.

• Transportation Request:

On behalf of Conrad Public Schools District Superintendent Lynn Utterback has a written request for the

Boards permission to cross school/county lines into the Choteau school district to pick up Rick and Haley Denzer

on 38 Denzer Road. Conrad Schools would travel up (south) on Healy Springs Road to where it T's into West

Valley Road. At the point we would turn West on West Valley Road for 1 mile. For this mile the West Valley

Road and coincides the Pondera/ Teton Line and our respective school district boundaries. We would

turn south on 2nd Ln Northwest (this is where we enter your district) for 1 and 3/4 miles and turn back

east on Denzer's driveway(Denser Road) for 1/4 mile. We would exit back to our district on the same

route. It is recommended the Board approve the request.

• Individual Transportation Contracts & Attendance Agreements:

INDIVIDUAL TRANSPORTATION CONTRACTS:

ELEMENTARY – Rob Burdick (9 Miles to Bus), Ross Depner (4 Miles to Bus), Mary Salmond (6.9 Miles to Bus), Dan Stott (3.5 Miles to Bus), Dawn Johnson (5 Miles to Bus), Jamie Rammell (6 Miles to Bus), Melissa Severinson (8 Miles to School), and Krystal Hayes (8 Miles to School).

HIGH SCHOOL – Ernie Barker (25 Miles to School), Margaret Hanson (5.5 Miles to Bus), Velvet Dellwo (19 Miles to Bus), Dan Stott (3.5 Miles to Bus), Kevin Lytle (14 Miles to School), Melissa Severinson (8 Miles to School), and Krystal Hayes (8 Miles to School).

ATTENDANCE AGREEMENTS (All Tuition Waived):

ELEMENTARY – Diane Field (receiving district – 1 student), Ann Park (receiving district – 1 student), John Rappold (receiving district – 1student), Carla Fuhringer (receiving district – 1student), Cori McKay (sending district – 2 students), Pandora Deshner (sending district – 2 students), Katie Rasmussen (sending district – 2 students), Tanya Richem (sending district – 2 students), Sarah Moon (receiving district – 1 student), Melissa Severinsen (sending district – 2 students), and Krystal Hayes (sending district – 1 student).

HIGH SCHOOL – Ann Park (receiving district – 1 student), Carla Fuhringer (receiving district – 1 student), Jerry Schlesser (receiving district – 2 students), Kevin Lytle (receiving district – 1 student), Ernie Barker (sending district – 1 student), Melissa Severinsen (sending district – 1 student), and Krystal Hayes (sending district – 2 students).

• Acknowledge Receipt of and Approve Deposit of Checks:

1) Bouma Truck Sales check #35910 in the amount of $1,000.00 for scoreboard sponsorship, to be deposited in the High School Miscellaneous Federal Fund.

2) Sun River Electric check #044149 in the amount of $1,300.00 for scoreboard sponsorship, to be deposited in the High School Miscellaneous Federal Fund.

3) Stage Stop Inn check #14323 in the amount of $583.00 for scoreboard sponsorship, to be deposited in the High School Miscellaneous Federal Fund.

4) Teton Electric check #5791 in the amount of $583.00 for scoreboard sponsorship, to be deposited in the High School Miscellaneous Federal Fund.

5) Vandolah Chiropractic Clinic check #8963 in the amount of $583.00 for scoreboard sponsorship, to be deposited in the High School Miscellaneous Federal Fund.

6) Three Rivers Communications check #159266 in the amount of $6,500.00 for scoreboard sponsorship, to be deposited in the High School Miscellaneous Federal Fund.

7) Teton Banks – Choteau check #019399 in the amount of $1,100.00 for scoreboard sponsorship, to be deposited in the High School Miscellaneous Federal Fund.

8) Big Sky Special Needs Cooperative check #7809 in the amount of $930.00 for reimbursement of collaboration substitute costs, with $210.00 used to restore the Elementary General Fund and $720.00 used to restore the High School General Fund.

9) Schwan’s Food Service check #250027 in the amount of $5.31 for rebates, to be deposited in the Elementary Lunch Fund.

10) Dupuyer School District 2 check #7891 in the amount of 920.00 for library/counseling services, to be deposited in the Elementary Miscellaneous Fund.

11) Choteau Schools Student Activity Fund check #3099 in the amount of $60.00 for reimbursement of substitute costs for the Senior Trip, to be used to restore the High School General Fund.

12) Mark & Jeanette McCormick check #16027 for $332.50 and #16029 for $120.00 for a total amount of $452.50 for reimbursement of substitute costs per Article 13.10, to be used to restore the High School General Fund.

13) Elizabeth Jorden cash in the amount of $30.00 for reimbursement of substitute costs per Article 13.10, to be used to restore the Elementary General Fund.

14) Western States Insurance check #006355 in the amount of $560.22 for the activity bus windshield insurance claim, to be deposited in the High School Building Fund.

15) Laura Bouma check #9697 for $150.00 and #9698 for $75.00 for a total of $225.00 to reimburse for repairs to school french horn, to be used to restore the High School General Fund.

17) Cash in the amount of $227.95 from the cash box for fines, copies, replacement books, etc., to be deposited in the High School General Fund.

16) The Cellular One rebate check was for $1,449.02 and deposited into the student activity funds for the elementary, junior high, and high school student councils.

• MUST Contribution Adjustment:

A correspondence from Robert J. Robinson, MUST CEO, indicates the districts contractual obligation to pay a contribution adjustment enacted by the MUST Board on February 22, 2010. The total, according to the correspondence, is based upon $480 per the 56 covered employees, retires, and COBRA participants or $26,880. Since the district has elected not to renew with MUST the contribution adjustment is to be paid in a lump sum due on June 30, 2010.

Also, because the district elected to leave MUST prior to the end of its current participation term, an additional reimbursement (penalty) is due if our claims and administrative fees exceed premium contributions paid through the date of departure. There does not appear to be any reimbursement or penalty at this time.

It is recommended the Board approve the transfer of $30,000 of year end funds to establish a Litigation Reserve Fund 27, which will give the administration the latitude to explore and determine the district’s best mode of action regarding contractual liability with MUST.

• Driver Education Instructor:

Application for the driver education program needs to be made each year before August 1st so the Board needs to approve the employment of the driver education instructor for the 2010-11 school year, including the 2011 summer program. It is recommended that the Board approve Mr. Bill Durocher as the driver education instructor for 2010-2011 at $17.00 per hour plus 15% prep time as per the current non-certified salary schedule.

Items for Information:

• Property & Liability Insurance:

Mr. Pat Greany of Northern Insurance Services asked again this year, as he has for the past three years, to provide the district with a quote from the Montana School Group Insurance Authority regarding the districts property and liability insurance. The districts’ current property and liability insurance carrier is with Dave Pillatzke and Western States. The MSGIA premium proposal for the 2010-2011 school year is $23,273. The renewal rate for the 2010-2011 school from Western States is $21,114. I have explained to Mr. Greany that I was not interested in changing if the MSGIA rate wasn’t significantly lower particularly since MSGIA is a self-insured program. The current issues we are dealing with concerning health insurance and MUST should explain my reluctance. Albeit Joint Powers Trust is also a self-insured program the savings and their history made it palatable. Western States is also offering the 2010-2011 rate if the district enters into a three commitment with Western States. I have invited both Mr. Pat Greany and Mr. Dave Pillatzke to our meeting to discuss the pros and cons of whether or not to enter into a three-year commitment. If Pat and or Dave are in attendance I would suggest that we move this information item to the top of the agenda. The premium in 2007-2008 for less coverage was $26,381, in 2008-2009 for less coverage our premium was $27,951, and in 2009-2010 for less coverage our premium was $25,996.

An e-mail from Dave Pillatzke (green paper) is enclosed which outlines information regarding these two insurance programs as determined by an independent insurance consultant for the Missoula Schools.

• Annual Yearly Progress:

The preliminary information sent out by OPI indicates that all Choteau Schools made or passed the Average Yearly Progress (AYP) measurement as directed by the Federal government for 2010.

• MQEC:

Enclosed is a copy of an e-newsletter (yellow paper) from the Montana Quality Education Coalition. At some point in the future we will need to decide if we wish to belong and support (see annual fees) MQEC.

• Negotiations Committee Report:

• Clerk/Business Manager’s Report: