November 8, 2016 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Discussion:  President Olsen called the meeting to order at 6:05 pm.

Discussion:  Pres. Olsen led assembly in pledge of allegiance.

Discussion: 

President Olsen directed the assembly’s attention to the Open Meetings Act.

Discussion:  No comments.

Discussion:  2016 fall sports are over and AD Hauxwell wanted to congratulate and thank CCS coaches on a good fall season. Football finished as District Champions and Volleyball extended their season with wild card points earning District Runner-up honors. Hauxwell noted CCS has already had two Junior High (JH) wrestling meets in Sutherland and Hershey, with 8 JH wrestlers. Wrestlers are again practicing in the 4H building and it has been working out great with kids changing in the Longhorn gym locker rooms and then going over, with additional storage in the 4-H building provided by some relocated Wellington lockers. Winter Sports started conditioning this week and practice will start Mon. Nov. 14th. Preliminary numbers: HS BBall- 28 Girls, 29 Boys, HS Wrestlers- 15-17, and 41 for One Act with crew members included. CCS will host SPVA One Act Mon. Nov. 21st. Hauxwell attended the three day NSIAAA conference in Kearney noting it went well, however, it always presents future concerns. Current issues and topics he mentioned were Districts need to ensure they have solid return to learn protocol and social media policies in place. Other discussion items from the conference were this years’ change in volleyball district seeding regarding the scheduling and related travel as well as the Big 10's decision to schedule some Friday night games in the fall of 2017. Hauxwell noted these as well as some of the other topics will likely be discussed in more detail at the District 5 Meeting in McCook tomorrow Nov. 9th. He noted voting will also occur at this District meeting on upcoming proposals, including two he has submitted for track. Member Stromberger inquired re: social media policies mentioned and Hauxwell clarified that much of the conference discussion centered around increased district risks associated with potential hazing, as well as the increase in exposure noted during summer camps. Lastly he mentioned the NSAA is also considering review of the current home-schooling/athletic participation policy.

Discussion:  Principal Odens began by describing the "family time" that K-4 and 5-8 participate in every Friday. The students' families include a student from each grade level. During this time, families are encouraged to interact through group questions or group activities. Activity challenges for example have been build the strongest paper bridge competition using only school supplies or the tallest tower out of students' shoes. Teacher feedback from this time has been positive with some students reporting family time as the best part of school. Principal Scheel noted MIC time is currently the high school equivalent of families, replacing the old advisory that administration believed had grown stale. Students now either receive extra help in core subjects or they are part of a mentorship class practicing leadership and service. Current classes include "Paying it Forward," following through on commitments, leadership book studies, Mike Smith's The Harbor leadership curriculum or some volunteer groups with elementary mentor reading or visits to the manor. Again Principal Scheel has had several students report how much they have enjoyed this new experience--despite having lost some "free time." For all of instruction, the Principals noted a large number of teachers utilizing Twitter and the chasecopride hashtag to showcase learning and classroom engagement. In addition, a majority of staff have participated in Twitter chats. The Principals noted this Twitter collaboration has allowed teachers to share ideas and encouragement. Administration is also considering extending such chats to other schools to join. In addition, the Principals are seeing this increase in peer collaboration mirrored within classrooms as teachers work together to produce student blended learning activities ultimately providing additional student leadership opportunities. On one occasion, Michaela Cochran, 2nd grade student teacher, designed an activity to free up her grade-level partners for some common plan time. This type of service to colleagues is what the Principals intend to continually encourage. Lastly Principal Odens shared a cool library fact from Mrs. Burpo, Library Media teacher; during the month of October 2,895 books were checked out from the library. Principal Scheel also briefly summarized what the in house ed camp conducted this past Friday was. Basically, Scheel said we put some in house staff volunteers in the expert position of teaching on a particular topic. Each presenter did 2 sessions, with all sessions geared towards integrating some new technology ideas. The Principals are definitely looking towards doing this again. In regards to technology implementation, Member Stromberger requested that Mr. Gerhartz in the new District position of Director of Technology present as to progress and both Principals noted that he has been key in the follow thru success of an idea into fruition.

Discussion:  Student Board Member Caine Haarberg had no items to address.

Discussion:  Supt. Lefdal noted in his initial assessment of the District implementing the NDE enacted Safety and Security Standards that CCS has quite a few areas that can be improved. Upon submitting the self-assessment to NDE, Lefdal has already received a date for the states initial visit as early December. After this initial visit, CCS will then have an external audit sometime following. Lefdal said expect the external audit to a day with staff, students, parents, board members and about everyone else eligible to be asked questions. Lefdal has a couple of plans that he and the committee will use to put together the CCS plan details and he will continue to update the Board through the plan's progress. Lefdal also mentioned another large plan to implement is wellness. Again, he has received a benchmark plan from another superintendent and noted that CCS is on the right track! Related to lunch, he mentioned that Mrs. Brunkhorst, Cafeteria Mgr. continues to have health concerns so please continue to keep her in thoughts and prayers. Currently, five Board members and Supt. Lefdal will be attending State Board Conference. Lefdal mentioned he had a good meeting with local authorities regarding emergency plans and local group coordination. Lefdal provided a summary of the employee sick bank balance and activity. Lefdal noted CCS worked with the local Lions Club to provide the annual health screens, which included a Spot Vision Screener this year. The Lion's Club cannot guarantee this machine's annual availability but because of the benefits, purchasing such a machine might be a consideration. Lastly, Lefdal has begun the process of policy review with the assistance and advice of District legal counsel. This lengthy process will become a regular Board action item; initially to review, revise and or rescind policy, but then to continue to maintain. Lefdal noted the December meeting will include appetizers and desserts provided by the CCS Prostart class, under the instruction of Mrs. Chelsie Thayer. Supt Lefdal invited Board members to spend time in classrooms to see first-hand the exciting changes the teachers continue to enact. He mentioned the mac, alumni kiosk has been finalized and will be available in the lobby next month for access to photos and other alumni memorabilia. Lastly, he noted the front yard will be torn up next week due to the sewer line and the addition so please be mindful of the continuing construction. Secretary Gaschler spoke on behalf of the recent Americanism committee meeting noting based upon review and comparison of the current District textbook as compared to another from approx. 50 years ago, the current text is relevant, strong and fair but also appropriately updated for multicultural and current issues.

Discussion:  Member Stromberger expressed concern with a delegate that knowingly will not be returning to the Board in 2017. Brief discussion was held with other members, led by Member Smith noting they did not believe this to be a concern.

Discussion:  Member O'Neil noted the committee met and discussed including discussion with the CCS attorney, and it was the committee's recommendation that the best alternative for the Wellington property disposal is to move forward with an auction. The attorney's concern with other alternatives was the liability exposure that remains in a leasing arrangement and specifically the exposure in regards to asbestos. Members at large inquired of the committee and discussed further the sale timeline, potential division of the parcel, related auction fees, and other related terms of sale, including alternative plans for re-locating the existing bus barn and alt. ed. facilities prior to final sale.  Members Smith, Meeske and Stromberger expressed concern regarding approval of the action to sell without a more detail plan of transition in place including specific terms of sale. Facility committee members, Reeves, O'Neil, Wallin & Gaschler also expressed that they want to see the Board as a whole move forward with action, giving them direction, verses just discussing again the issue. Primary concerns centered around the transition of bus barn and the related costs, both of maintaining the existing facility and/or constructing a new. Discussion between the committee and the rest of the Board included any option to section off the bus barn. The Committee expressed concern in parceling the property and the financial impact it could have on the auction value received or the additional demolition cost to section off a particular building.  The Board, though not ready to commit to a concrete disposal timeline without a more concrete transition plan, was in agreement to approve an action to proceed towards finalizing the details for an auction in order to eventually dispose of the Wellington property.

Discussion:  Supt. Lefdal gave a brief summary noting the plan to update and review all CCS District policy, in conjunction with legal counsel review and recommendations upon what currently exists. In this first reading of policies 1000-1260, he specifically noted one change that will be made to Policy 1000-Methods of Communication to include District specific communication used including instant messaging via infinite campus and the electronic sign. Member Stromberger confirmed that the District current policy book was sent to counsel for review, and Supt. Lefdal agreed. Lefdal noted the recommended, standard policies per legal counsel will be numerical references verses the current alpha & numeric coding of the current policy. This does result in difficulty to directly correlate the new numerical reference to previous policy. Stromberger, as well as President Olsen, requested to see sort of a "marked changes" format from counsel as we go through this process. Member Smith, also noted the District will need to emphasize and be clear regarding replacement and/or rescission and the remainder of the Board echoed this sentiment so there is not a circumstance to where it is questionable as to which policy is in place.  

Discussion:  This scrubber will work on the addition floor. Will clean multiple surfaces and will be paid from depreciation because it is replacing equipment that is not functioning properly.

Discussion:  Supt. Lefdal briefly summarized the State of the schools report verses the annual report.

Discussion:  Supt. Lefdal briefly walked the Board through the attached reports, which compiled District data from MAPS & NESA reading and math assessments, and then correlated this data into a projected District proficiency percentage in readiness for State Accountability Assessment and ACT. Supt. Lefdal highlighted that in all data analysis there are both positive and negative interpretations to consider. He noted that yes as always there are areas for improvement but he also highlighted there are areas where the District has already made great strides in improvement through many of the instructional changes that have been made. In addition, Lefdal said administration can echo the often heard instructor frustration that students do not appreciate the importance of testing and therefore do not do their best on the assessments, with student member Haarberg agreeing with this statement. Principal Scheel added that the data and often testing concerns still seem to accurately reflect the barometer of our culture in education in general.

Discussion:  Discussed above.

Discussion:  Nothing to discuss at this time.

Discussion:  Facility & grounds committee was not pleased with updated cost proposal. Member Smith believed the Board should have a bus barn plan in place before we auction off existing bus barn. In fact, Smith's preference would be to have a replacement plan in place for all existing functions at Wellington, bus barn & alt. ed. Discussion again considered alternative ed., potential lease terms and cost, and time value of money and financing behind leasing and building/relocating. Board agreed to an up to 24 month lease term to be considered by the committee with the intent to then create a transition plan to move operations from that site within that period of time into a new location/facility. 

Discussion:  Evaluations were handed out and are due back to President Olsen the week following Thanksgiving and in addition an on-line staff survey will be circulated.

Discussion:  Board exited executive session at 9:09 pm with no action taken.

Discussion:  Meeting was adjourned at 9:10 pm.