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Board approves elections administration, new classes and several hires; audit accepted with amendment
Summary
Trustees approved asking Yellowstone County to conduct school elections, approved two new Laurel High classes, ratified several hires (conditional and summer positions), and accepted the FY2025 audit with a correction changing one recommended 'policy' response to 'procedure.' One trustee abstained on the audit vote.
At its meeting, the Laurel School District board approved a sequence of operational and personnel actions.
Elections administration: The board voted to request Yellowstone County conduct district elections for the 2026–27 school year. Staff explained the advantages of county-run mail-ballot elections — including reduced administrative burden and experience running elections — and noted counties may decline if scheduling conflicts arise. "It makes a lot of sense to do mail ballot elections," a staff member explained.
Course approvals: The board approved two new Laurel High School course offerings for 2026–27: a repeatable, project-based Advanced Art course intended to serve students while the teacher completes AP certification, and Math Foundations 1 and 2, a restructured sequence to replace the prior Consumer Math approach for students below grade level and reduce repeat enrollments.
Audit approval: Trustees discussed the FY2025 audit findings and recommended corrective actions. Trustee Donnie moved to approve the audit report with one adjustment — changing the proposed response from developing a "policy" to developing a "procedure" for the first finding — and the board approved the motion. One trustee registered an abstention on the audit vote.
Personnel: The board approved multiple personnel items including Kristen Knowles as JumpStart secretary, staffing for the extended school year program, conditional hires for Kaye Haney (first grade) and Dee Lupin (second grade) pending successful background checks, and the LHS head cross-country coach for 2026–27. Each motion carried by voice vote as presented.
The board handled the cluster of operational approvals efficiently, then moved on to a lengthy first read and tabled action on the 2026–27 handbooks to allow additional review by new trustees.
(For a list of individual motions and how the board voted, see the meeting minutes and official motions packet.)
