Malta School District Votes For A 4-Day School Week

The long-awaited for Malta School District meeting was held on Wednesday, March 13th. When it came to Action Items on the agenda, the Board voted on going to a four-day school week. A motion was made and seconded, with one “nay” from Board member Scott Meneely, the motion was passed with the rest of the Board voting “aye”.

The meeting had opened with the regular ritual of the pledge to the flag, and approval of minutes from the Feb. 12th meeting, and Feb. 27th Special Meeting, as well as approval of bills and substitute teacher list.

The Student Showcase was a video of the high school band members who accompanied Mr. McKenney, band instructor, to a Jazz Fest that was being held in Billings when the students were attending the State Basketball Tournament on Mar. 7-9. The jazz band members joined in the group, and as stated by Mr. Shawn Bleth, “…was great and amazing!” Board chairman Carter Clausen added, “…it was a great experience for all.”

Moving on to Standing Committee Reports, Board member Scott Meneely stated the Transportation Committee had met. He said the contract with Candee Soennichsen’s is up and they will be looking at what to do with that route and contract.

He said the newly ordered bus should be ready in two to three weeks. They are “looking at out-reaching to different vendors and shops, a list can be made for on-call list for after-hours call so everybody gets a fair shake all the way across the board.”

The committee is looking at ways to get new drivers, getting a CDL is getting expensive, about $1,000; they are considering coming up with a contract with individuals, stating the district will pay for the cost of training and licensing, they would ask for a commitment of so many hours in return for their investment, and if it is not met, then having some way to go after them for recouping the money spent toward it. “We can’t just be paying for CDL’s to have someone go to work for someone else. It doesn’t do us any good; it’s not fiscally responsible.”

Meneely said the board needs to look at a “fulltime transportation director, perhaps incorporating it with a maintenance position, someone who has the knowledge and abilities to do repairs as well as managing the drivers, and also do simple things – change light bulbs, popping things in and out, do cleanings…hopefully, save the district some money rather than take it to a mechanic.”

Mr. Bleth reported on the speaker, Laura Stack, stating they have had responses from the other schools in the county, that are planning to attend her lecture on marijuana. That was to be held Monday, March 18, however, it was postponed to Tuesday, September 17.

The school would be hosting a career fair on Tuesday, March 19; board members were provided a list of speakers and occupations that would be addressed. Speakers from across the state were coming.

“The Junior Class is trying things a little different this year with the Junior Prom set for March 23rd at the Old Gym. They are trying to alleviate, not only some of the problems, but things they want to fix about the Prom, make it a little different.”

“It will be a Las Vegas theme…but there won’t be any gambling.” They wanted to have some games, stating not everyone is into the dancing thing, and what they have soaked into the night for their attire, and what they put into decorations - they want to make it last a little longer. “It’ll be interesting. They have some good plans and ideas on how to go about it, so we will see.”

The Juniors ACT testing will be on Tueday, March 26.

He said they had National Honor Society Induction Tuesday, March 12, with 14 new member’s sworn in. “We are pretty proud of those students and pretty excited to have them be a part of our Chapter of the National Honor Society.”

Monday, the students who were interested took part in Trades Day, sponsored by Triangle Communications in Havre. Students went around to stations such as information technology and security, map engineering – locating, construction, telephone internet technician, electrician and linemen, welding, and diesel; they went to four of the eight to get an introduction, a “snapshot” of what those jobs entailed and what education is needed for each. In the afternoon they picked one of the areas to do a hands on project.

“So there were some kids doing some wiring, some were splicing fiber optic cables. Some kids went up in a bucket truck, they had a good time with it. It was a good thing for Triangle to offer; they plan on doing it again next year, so we are looking forward to it.”

Bleth concluded his report with, “Finally, you may have noticed…the big news. Malta Public Schools is now on Instagram, there you go! It’s not as easy as you imagine. There you are, we are on it. Try to stay with the times. Facebook is old.”

AD Norby reported, “I have been to meetings on scheduling; as far as football, cross country, volleyball…the wrestling is being confirmed yet…the dates are set. I bring back a true JV football schedule, which is seven games. It’s something I’m excited about. I did my best to stay away from Tuesday – Thursday scheduling. I brought back a Shelby game before we head over to Choteau for volleyball…” and said he looked at and worked on getting games in the same area scheduled on the same weekend, in an effort to make it more feasible for travel expenses. There won’t be six volleyball games in a row out of town this year. Parents/teachers in attendance seemed elated on that note.

Norby gave a run down on district, divisional and state basketball events and placings, noting the working together of all staff and administration to accomplish the tasks.

The Cheerleaders went to competition in Lewistown on Friday, March 15, and he will give a report on that at the next meeting.

Track practice has started, 22 boys and 21 girls came out for competing this year. He said this is a huge increase from past years so he’s excited. Golf has also started up, and the numbers are still adjusting. Drug testing for spring sports has been scheduled. Middle school track signup is next week. The first meet will be March 29 in Glasgow.

April 2-5 is the State FFA Meeting in Billings and the high school teams will be attending.

He also gave dates of golf and track meets coming up, which will be announced on the school Facebook page, as well.

Elementary Principal Zach Handley was pleased to share that the HVAC project at the elementary had started on Monday; the crew is working 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. and they plan to be here about a month.

Handley said the “Code of the Warrior” program, with Mark Went was well received; it started as an assembly with everyone where he spoke about attendance and cultures. He then visited each classroom, doing creative writing, and projects with some of them on culture and animals.

The Bully Prevention committee held a cereal drive. The AR assembly followed and there were many new students being recognized. The Masons came in and handed out Kindles to fourth and fifth grade students.

“The crazy month of February – I love to read month! Holey moley! It was crazy!" Handley thanked Mr. Howland for the work to put it together, as well as the AR assembly.

Students went to Big Flat Electric for an electrical safety program and the linemen were able talk to the students about electrical safety. They showed some pretty cool demonstrations to a hot dog and a grapefruit, and a tire as well.

The school completed the business outreach program, 16 different businesses came to serve breakfast to the kids on Wednesday mornings. It was good way to get the community into the school. He thanked Kendra Veit for taking on the project and getting things going since Ag in the School Day last fall. He announced that Demi Math had won the Montana Farm Bureau’s Agriculture in Color Statewide Drawing Contest. It is a back-to-back year that a Malta student has won this.

The Missoula Children’s Theatre will begin auditions for “Robin Hood” on the 18th of March, with presentations on Friday and Saturday.

Monday, March 25 is the Elementary School Science Fair.

At this time in the meeting, the determination of whether to go to a four-day week was on the agenda, with Supt. Bucks addressing the action item said “It’s time to make a decision.”

Clausen said, “We have had our discussion, we have had our forums, we have had our surveys. We are at determination point where we have to move on to prepare for 2024, one way or the other. He called for questions and comments.

Board member Jessica Oyler said, “I make a motion to approve the four-day school week.” The motion was seconded by Board member Katey Marquis. Calling for a vote, the “aye” votes were Oyler, Marquis, DeVries and Clausen. Meneely voted “nay.” The motion passed 4-1. Clausen added, “Okay, now the work begins, we move forward.”

The contracts for staffing came up; the open paraprofessional position was filled with the hiring of Debbie Solberg.

Jon Retan had been hired for the middle school track position and would now be taking on the high school track position so a motion was needed to approve the change in positions. A motion, by Oyler, and a second by Meneely, was voted on and passed.

The contracts for certified was next, individual #3 on the list had resigned; Meneely made a motion, DeVries seconded it, and the vote was unanimous to approve contracts. For list of non-certified, Oyler abstained from the vote on the teachers Oyler and Wiedderick, which was made into a motion by Meneely and seconded by DeVries, voted on and carried. DeVries made a motion to approve the contracts for Oyler and Wiederrich; Meneely seconded it, and this motion carried.

District Clerk Knudsen explained the Out-of-district Student Attendance Agreement and some of the changes within the legislative system. Meneely made a motion, seconded by DeVries to approve the agreement, motion carried.

Knudsen was then asked to explain Senate Bill 307. “We have to file this by March 31…essentially what the bill deals with is, they wanted it to be transparent to the taxpayers what permissive levies could potentially be in August, but we don’t set the budget until August. But we have to have this notice out to the public by March 31, every year. Essentially, if we had zeros in the six funds that are permissively levied: transportation, bus depreciation, tuition, adult ed, some parts of building reserve and the flex fund, by putting zeros in that fund, it preserves our right to be able actually set the budget accordingly in August.”

She continued, stating if it came to transportation…right now the levy is $700,000, and if it only needed to be $500,000, by putting in zero then $500,000 could be entered next year.. Or if $800,000 was needed that amount could be entered.

“It’s not very transparent, in my opinion at all, it confuses everybody. It confuses me. But we have to have this approved as a resolution by you as a board, then I post the notice in the paper by March 31. That gives us the ability to actually set the budget and the levies when the time comes in August. It’s a whole lot of talk.”

Clausen added, “It’s something we are required to do. This is how we proceed.”

DeVries made a motion to approve the resolution, seconded by Meneely, motion carried.

Knudsen went on to Item 6, a Resolution to Set Mill Levies for the General Fund. She said it was looking like the budget would increase, without a voted levy, by about $5,000, maybe $5,500. When she looked over the budget sheets, it allows the district to run a mill levy for $10,515 if it was decided to run a general fund levy.

“Our budget went way up last year, it is $4.6 million in the general fund. I know this is the highest budget I have dealt with in the fourteen years I have been with the school. But this year, the budget is only going up about $5,300, and that is based off our enrollment. Our enrollment is now up on the decrease; we had kind of a Covid high where we went over 500 students, and now we’re seeing that decrease in our student population.”

Knudsen continued the State looks at an average, based on certain years and with the declining enrollment it will make a difference. She said the board will have to decide if they want to run a levy for a possible $15,000. Is it worth it to run a mill levy for $10,515? She said the steps and lanes usually cost around $35,000 so we are already in the hole when we go to look at budget numbers and she said she’ll know more when she gets the budget is laid out in the next few weeks.

At East Malta Colony this last year, with the way they changed the Attendance Centers and who had to count these kids, Malta had to count all the East Malta Colony kids. She said she wasn’t sure how it was supposed to work, but she thinks they are supposed to get some of the same monies now, “I’m not sure how that is supposed to work, none of us really do. Between this and the tuition; we are all kinda scratching our head on what’s supposed to be happening. It could be that the increase we got is something we will have to turn around and pay out to the East Malta Colony, or one of the Harlem Colonies. So, I’m not quite sure how that is supposed to shake out on our budget.”

Knudsen stated that typically the election costs about $4,000 to run every year. Last year the most they could run was a general fund mill levy for was $3,300, which did not make any sense to run it, given the cost.

“And honestly, good luck to the tax payers…would we ask the taxpayers, can you please give us a levy for $3,300? Me, as a taxpayer, personally, would look at that and think that seems a little strange.”

The decision is one for the Board, there were options discussed, and the pros and cons of running a levy and of not.

Clausen said the decision “is clear as mud.” He stated his opinion on spending $4,000 for $10,515.

“It is important for the board to make the decision, in this, potentially challenging, finance year.”

Knudsen said, “It is a trustee election year as well. We have two slots open and only we have only had one person file.”

There is one slot open, if more people come forward and filed to be on the Board, the District could be running an election just for the trustees. Meneely said he has applications to run for the school board, and waving them, said he would be glad to give them to anyone.

Clausen stated the senior class is the smallest class ever and the second smallest ever in the freshman class.

DeVries made a motion, to not have the resolution, seconded by Marquis; motion carried.

Item 7 on the agenda was a Resolution Regarding Property Abandoned, Obsolete, Undesirable or Unsuitable for School Purposes of the District; Bucks and Bleth stated the school is running out of storage.

Bleth said, “It’s time for us to get rid of things, so we have more room to collect more things.”

Following discussion, a motion was made by Marquis, seconded by Meneely, to put the items up for sale; motion carried.

Bucks said there were no Covid Protocol updates. He provided an update on the HVAC projects at the Elementary School. Accreditation reports are due by March 29th.

He had the revised phone bid for new phones for the Elementary School, which came in at $13,044.

“There is a little wiggle room in funds; there is almost $37,000 to play with for the High School. The Elementary will get done here, shortly.”

Bucks said they had a bid of $6,600 for an oven replacement at the High School.

He put it out to the teachers to get the curriculum to him so he can get some Personal Development plans made.

The Family Fun Night is planned for April 15th.

The next meeting of the school board will be Wednesday, April 10th at 7 p.m.