Havre school board hears update on air quality project

The Havre Public Schools Board of Trustees received an update about ongoing facility improvements and enrollment, and approved policy changes along with the purchase of new vehicles at their monthly meeting Tuesday evening.

During the meeting, Ameresco Senior Account Executive Matt Thompson gave a presentation to trustees about his company's ongoing improvements to the district's air quality and circulation, a project paid for with Elementary and Secondary School Relief funds provided to the district during the pandemic.

Thompson said this project was started two years ago in with an energy audit and an evaluation of the district's existing air circulation system, followed by the creation of a plan to repair, replace and upgrade as much of the schools' systems as possible.

He said most of the buildings are having direct digital control upgrades implemented, which are more reliable and precise.

Most of these upgrades are about half done at this point, but of the other things the schools need to improve their circulation systems are fully installed at Havre High School.

Thompson said Havre Middle School has had a new upgraded boiler plant installed and he's looking forward to seeing that running once their systems are ready to go online.

He said Lincoln-McKinley Primary School is having their doors and windows modified to better regulate temperatures and circulation in their school and Sunnyside Intermediate School has had it's roof modified to more effectively manage snow accumulation along with their control system upgrade.

Highland Park Early Primary School is a bit behind the other schools, he said, with a lot of work there in very early stages, including their own control upgrade and a new pipe connector between their boiler plant and the school.

He said the district's bus garage has also had an envelope seal done, which should help it regulate temperatures a little bit better.

Thompson said there are other longterm investments in their systems he would suggest investing in, and his company can provide guidance on what grants are potentially available to address these projects.

He said all of the equipment they've installed is required to be monitored for effectiveness for three years after its up and running so they will be keeping an eye on it.

During the meeting the board also discussed and approved a number of policy revisions and changes, most of the changes in language recommended by the state or the Montana School Boards Association.

Among the policies that were approve on second, and final reading, was one making it clear that if someone were interested in trying to create a charter school in the district they would need the approval of the board.

A number of other policy revisions were approved on first reading, including one that requires the school to offer part-time enrollment to students who ask for it.

Havre Public Schools Superintendent Brain Gum said state law now requires all school districts offer this to students in the district.

He said often home schooled students want to take electives in public school, and under the new laws they are permitted to go to school up to half-time, though schools are permitted to impose a requirement that part-time students take at least two class classes.

The board also approved the purchase of an Ultra Coachliner for the district's fleet along with a school van, totaling up to $500,000.

Gum said he's spoken to Facilities and Transportation Director Scott Filius and District Clerk Chris Wendland and he believes this is a necessary and feasible expense for the district, which he said can come out of their bus depreciation fund.

Filius said they would need to retire one of their oldest vehicles to make room for the new vehicle, and he doubts they will be able to sell the old one for much.

Filius and the board had a long discussion about the merits of this model of bus and how it can be used before approving the purchase.

Board Vice-Chair Christen Hileman said she was initially concerned about an expense this size, but after talking with Wendland it seem much more feasible than she anticipated.

She said the bus depreciation fund will be almost fully replenished within a year because of a recent levee that passed, which allays some of the concerns she had about potentially depleting the fund to the point that they couldn't pay for necessary repairs or expenses.

Filius said between this purchase and the electric buses the district got a year ago their fleet is doing very well and he doesn't anticipate there will be any major issues.

The board also approved a five-year intergovernmental memorandum of understanding that will allow the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services to facilitate federal reimbursement of school expenses covered under Medicaid or student health insurance plans.

Gum also gave a report on a number of issues at the meeting, including enrollment, which is at a five-year high, he said.

He said the numbers haven't looked this good since 2018, but keeping that enrollment number high throughout the year can always be a challenge, and they will be monitoring that number as the year goes on.

He also passed on information from the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line, which saw 190 children enrolled in their first week, which is about normal, and 111 on this year's first Support Friday.

He also said he's been meeting with local public health to set up a bi-annual vaccination clinics at the school.

He said these clinics, held in the Fall and Spring, would run on non-Support Fridays to avoid any disruption.

Parents would be required to accompany their children to the event, Gum said.

He also talked about two potential partnerships he's hoping to help develop and improve at the district.

He said he's hoping more of the districts schools can partner with Plant A Seed... Read, a non-profit that promotes early literacy development, and Havre Job Service.

Gum said he's had meetings with the Job Service and they are looking to create opportunities for middle and high school students, creating time in their advisory classes and Support Fridays for the Job Service to help them develop skills for future employment, promote work-based learning and talk about job applications, along with other opportunities.

During the meeting Gum also talked about a new monthly Pony Pride Award he is implementing in the district for school staff that go above and beyond for the school's students.

He said people being considered for this award could be teachers, administrators, lunch room staff, anyone who is "doing amazing things for the district."

For this first award, he said, Havre High School Assistant Principal Jeremiah Nitz is an obvious choice.

He said Nitz in incredibly passionate about helping students, and good at what he does on top of being easy to talk to, brining an incredibly positive attitude to the school.

"In 25 years of doing this, I can say that he is one of the best I've ever seen at connecting with the kids," he said.

He said Nitz is consistent and dependable which makes him a clear choice for this first award.

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See more about Nitz' award in a future edition of the Havre Daily News.