June 9, 2011

A Special Meeting of the Elementary and High School Board of Trustees was held on June 9, 2011 in the Choteau High School Library. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairman Mark Henderson.

Members Present: Mark Henderson, Mark Salmond, Brodie Gollehon, Jonathan Stoltz, Kirk Moore, and Ron Daley.

Members Absent: Jerry Stott.

Supt. St. John, High School Principal Achenbach, and Clerk Davis were present throughout the meeting.

VISITORS: District Patrons Bru and Fran Brubaker, Bruce, Sara, and Luke Coccoli, and Bonnie, Caprice, and Frankie Cooke.

HEARING TO CONSIDER STUDENT DISCIPLINARY ACTION Chairman Mark Henderson announced that the only item on the agenda involves individual privacy. Chairman Mark Henderson declared that the meeting would be closed to consider a student discipline matter, as the demand for individual privacy clearly outweighs the merits of public disclosure. The Board went into executive session to conduct a student discipline hearing with the administration, advocates of the student, and the student’s family at 7:35 p.m. After conducting the student discipline hearing where the administration presented the evidence of what occurred, outlined two options for disciplinary action and heard testimony from advocates in support of the student, Chairman Henderson opened the meeting again for regular business at 8:05 p.m.

The Board and administration further discussed the two options for disciplinary action as outlined below, with the administration stressing that they believe the best option for all parties, especially the student, would be Option One.

OPTION ONE

1) Out of school suspension for the student for the remainder of the 2010-11 school year.

2) Anger management classes to be taken by the student over the summer.

3) Aaron Skaggs of Altacare or another counselor approved by the administration must sign off at the beginning of the 2011-12 school year that the student is not a threat to any student or staff member.

4) Student must not have any physical conflict with anyone over the summer.

5) Student will start the 2011-12 school year with a 20 school day in school suspension period. A student on in school suspension that participates in extra-curricular activities is allowed to practice, but may not participate or be affiliated with the team for game competitions.

6) The student will continue to participate in the Altacare program as long as the counselor sees a need to do so.

7) The student will have to appear before the Board for a hearing regarding an administrative recommendation for suspension/expulsion if the student has any physical conflict or makes a verbal threat to any student or staff member.

OPTION TWO

1) Out of school suspension for the student for the first quarter of the 2011-12 school year which ends on November 4th.

2) The student will have to appear before the Board for a hearing regarding the administrative recommendation for a one year expulsion if the student has any physical conflict or makes verbal threats to any student or staff member.

A motion was made by Mark Salmond, seconded by Ron Daley and unanimously carried (1 absent) to accept the administrations’ recommendation and initiate Option One, as outlined above, as the course of disciplinary action for the student in this matter.

There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:07 p.m.

ATTEST: _______________________ CLERK _________________________ CHAIRMAN