March 13, 2023 at 6:30 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

1. Call to Order

1.1. Roll Call

1.2. Recognition of Open Meeting Law

1.3. Pledge of Allegiance

2. Reports, Communications & Public Participation

2.1. Board accepts public comments

2.2. Student board member report

2.3. Presentation from the Industrial Arts Program

3. Approve the consent agenda, which includes the minutes and financials

3.1. Approval of Expenditures/Payroll for February 2023

4. Reports from Staff Members and Committees

4.1. Facilities Committee Report

4.2. Finance Committee Report

5. Administrator's written reports: Please review prior to the board meeting

6. Superintendent's comments

Parent-teachers conferences
The school district hosted a parent-teacher conference last week. The conference went well. 

Safety training
McCook Public School staff went through a safety training last Thursday morning. The focus of the safety training was on student to parent reunification following a crisis event, where students are transferred to a specific location to be reunified with their families.

Legislative Update
I visited with Senator Murman about the Parental Bill of Rights legislation. I addressed some concerns we have with the bill, and he was very receptive to my suggestions. I have heard reports from others in the state legislature that this bill may not progress this year, but it is still good to work on the bill in the event we see it reappear in future legislative sessions. 

There are a couple of school funding plans we are in support of. One is referred to as the Nebraska Plan, and the other is referred to as the Pillen Plan. While both plans would benefit McCook Public Schools tax payers, the Nebraska Plan would result in much lower property taxes. Unfortunately, of the two, the Pillen Plan is more likely to move forward. 

LB 753 has moved forward to select file. This piece of legislation has to do with tax credits and donations given to parochial schools. 

Other Bills of note:

• LB 178 (Erdman) Require display of the national motto in schools
• LB 679 (Day) Create the Holocaust and Genocide Education Training Grant Program and provide duties for the State Department of Education, State Board of Education, and Commissioner of Education
• LB 372 (Murman) Change provisions relating to part-time enrollment in public schools and extracurricular activities
• LB 635 (Albrecht) Provide requirements regarding access to digital and online resources provided for students by school districts, schools, and the Nebraska Library Commission
• LB 638 (Albrecht) Adopt the Nebraska K-12 Cybersecurity and Data Protection Act
• LB 340 (McKinney) Change provisions related to expelled students under the Student Discipline Act
• LB 690 (Linehan) Change provisions relating to powers and duties of the State Department of Education, State Board of Education, and Commissioner of Education

Constitution Related:

• LR 24CA (Albrecht) Constitutional amendment to eliminate the State Board of Education and provide for the Governor to appoint the Commissioner of Education
• LR 28CA (Linehan) Constitutional amendment to change the membership of the State Board of Education
• LR 29CA (Linehan) Constitutional amendment to provide term limits for the members of the State Board of Education

7. Business Manager Comments

8. Board member comments

9. New Business

9.1. Approve resignations

9.2. Approve the 2023-2024 school calendar

9.3. Approve contract for Sara Ripp-7th Grade Science Teacher

9.4. Approve KSO audit proposal

10. Positive Comments

11. Adjournment

12. Items for Review