Arlee Joint School District #8
Minutes
Arlee Board of Trustees
Date and Time
Tuesday January 13, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Trustees Present
Brian Johnson BigSam, Lindsey O'Neill, Lisa Koetter, Phaedrus Swab (remote), Samantha Lytle
Trustees Absent
None
Guests Present
Anne Tanner, Dennis Johnson BigSam, Joe Rice, Lonnie Morin, Whitney Larson
I. Opening Items
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
Brian Johnson BigSam called a meeting of the board of trustees of Arlee Joint School District #8 to order on Tuesday Jan 13, 2026 at 6:30 PM.
D.
Approve Minutes
Lindsey O'Neill made a motion to approve the minutes from Arlee Board of Trustees on 12-10-25.
Lisa Koetter seconded the motion.
The board
VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
E.
Approve Minutes
Lindsey O'Neill made a motion to approve the minutes from Special Meeting on 12-18-25.
Lisa Koetter seconded the motion.
The board
VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
II. Consent Agenda
A.
St. Ignatius School District COOP Agreement for FY2026
Lindsey O'Neill made a motion to to approve Coop agreement with St. Ignatius.
Lisa Koetter seconded the motion.
The board
VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
III. Owner's Rep Report: Dan McGee
IV. New Business
A.
MHSA Proposals 2026
Lindsey O'Neill made a motion to to approve the recommendations for 2026.
Lisa Koetter seconded the motion.
Proposal 1: not support
Proposal 2: Support
Proposal 3: support
Proposal 4: Support
Proposal 5: Support
Proposal 6: Support
Proposal 7: Support - next sport season (board requested clarification)
The board
VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
B.
Approve dissolution of K-6 Building Committee - work has been completed
Lindsey O'Neill made a motion to approve the dissolution of the K-6 Building Committee.
Lisa Koetter seconded the motion.
The board
VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
C.
Superintendent's Evaluation and Contract Negotiations - contract term only (compensation negotiated at a later date)
Lindsey O'Neill made a motion to extend the Superintendent's contract one additional year.
Lisa Koetter seconded the motion.
As board chair Brian Johnson BigSam declared that the individual's right to privacy outweighs the public's right know and closed the meeting at 6:47 p.m. The Board will go into executive session for 50 minutes to discuss the Superintendent's evaluation. Chair BigSam brought the meeting back into open session at 7:35 p.m. After the Board returned to open session, the motion was made to extend the Superintendent's contract.
The board
VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
V. Payroll, Claims and District Financial Reports
A.
Reports
Lisa Koetter made a motion to approve claims, payroll and reports as attached to the agenda.
Lindsey O'Neill seconded the motion.
The board
VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
VI. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
Lisa Koetter made a motion to Adjourn the meeting.
Lindsey O'Neill seconded the motion.
The board
VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 7:41 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Koetter
Trustee O'Neill requested clarification on the $89,000 back for contingency. Superintendent Beckham reported that this amount has been refunded and is included in the amount $526,000 in Dan's report.
Trustee O'Neill asked about the graphic size being wrong. Architect Dennis Johnson BigSam responded stating their shop drawings were correct, so it was Epcon's error.