May 9, 2022 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale:  Information concerning the Open Meeting Law, Chapter 84, Article 14 of Nebraska State Statutes, is posted in the meeting room at a location accessible to members of the public and attached to the online agenda. 

Mrs. Kari Loseke, Board President, will call the Board of Education Regular meeting to order.

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The Board Secretary will conduct roll call attendance. 

Rationale:  Dr. Gilson will lead the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance.

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• April 11, 2022 Board of Education Work Session and Regular Board Meeting Minutes

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• General Fund
• Building Fund and Savings & Depreciation

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• Activity Fund
• General Fund

Rationale:  Becca Stambaugh, Taher's Food Service Director, along with Taher's current leadership staff will share a presentation of all they have done for the past three (3) school years.  They will be serving the Board of Education dinner from their Taher's Limited Time Only recipes they have offered this school year. 

Rationale:  Huber Builders would like to donate $1,350.00 to the Blair FBLA Chapter for the National Leadership Conference in Chicago, Illinois.  Huber Builders would like to award $150.00 to each of the nine qualifiers to offset the cost of attending the conference.

Rationale:  Cubby's has pledged to donate $1.00 to Blair Community Schools for every large pizza Cubby's sells.  BCS has received a check from Cubby's in the amount of $1,192.

Thank you to Cubby's for their continued support and commitment to Blair Community Schools.  

Rationale:  The Washington County Cattlemen's Association has donated $5,000 to the Blair Schools FFA Chapter to help with the State FFA Convention expenses. 

Rationale:  The Blair Wrestling Club Board of Directors would like to purchase new middle school wresting warmups.  The warmups will cost approximately $1,800 - $2,000.  

Rationale:  The Blair Community Schools Foundation is donating $1,686.60 on behalf of the Lozier Foundation for the final invoice related to the industrial technology improvements at Blair High School.  

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A letter has been received from Mrs. Vicki Schrick, FBLA Advisor, regarding FBLA national qualifiers.  Mrs. Schrick, along with the assistant Adviser Mrs. Tatum Hartvigse, is requesting permission to accompany the nine national qualifiers to the FBLA National Conference that will be held in Chicago, Illinois from June 28 through July 3, 2022.

Blair would travel with the Nebraska delegation, and Mrs. Schrick is requesting financial assistance for the adviser fees for the trip.  The fees requested total $2,184.00.  The administration recommends approving this request, and per Board policy 607.05-Student Field Trips, Excursions, and National Conventions, students are responsible for their own expenses with the district funding the sponsor's transportation, lodging, meals, registration fees and other expenses associated with the event. 

Rationale:  This is the portion of the meeting when members of the public may address the board about matters of public concern.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO SPEAK:

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The Policy/Americanism Committee met on Monday, April 18, 2022.  Meeting minutes are attached.

Policy 202.03-Board Self-Evaluation
Policy 203.09-Standing Committee on American Civics
Policy 606.01-Instruction Materials Selection
Policy 606.02-Instruction Materials Inspection

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The Buildings, Grounds, and Transportation Committee and Student Enrollment Growth Ad Hoc Committee met on Friday, April 29, 2022.  Meeting minutes are attached.

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The Finance Committee met on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.  Meeting minutes are attached.

Rationale:  The Nebraska Schools Activities Association has added Girls Wrestling as a sanctioned sport. Now, girls can only compete against other girls if their school offers a bonafide girls' wrestling team.  Due to this addition, Blair High School would like to offer Girls Wrestling as a sanctioned sport. Due to Girls Wrestling being an emerging sport in the state of Nebraska, we would like to be able to offer one level of Girls Wrestling until numbers are able to support both a Varsity and Junior Varsity program. At this time, in the State of Nebraska there is only one designated class of competition for Girls Wrestling. Every EMC school will offer Girls Wrestling in the 2022-23 school year.

Cost:

• Addition of an Assistant Wrestling Coach.
• Uniforms for participants.
• Travel/ Entry fee for tournaments.

The administration is recommending approval of this request.

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Blair High School would like to add Unified Track for our 2022-23 season. 

Blair High School has a strong culture of inclusion for students who have intellectual disabilities.  The school lacks providing the opportunities for students to participate in athletics.  In the past, we had Unified Bowling, but the challenge was traveling to Omaha to practice.  Unified Track could take place on our campus and provide opportunities for more students to participate.

Cost:

• Addition of an Assistant Track Coach.
• Travel to various meets.

The administration is recommending approval of this request. 

Rationale: 

• Possible approval an Arbor Park Classroom teacher.

Rationale:  A resignation letter has been received from Jennifer Towle, teacher at Otte Blair Middle School, and Tyler Weatherholt, teacher at Blair High School, upon the conclusion of the 2021-22 school year. 

Rationale:  Strategic Plan Update & District Goals Update

Rationale:  Monthly Board Reports

• Activities
• Blair High School
• Otte Middle School
• Arbor Park Intermediate
• K-2 Primary Schools

Rationale:  The Board of Education is authorized by state statute to hold closed sessions.  Closed sessions may be held when clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual.  Reasons that meet this standard include but are not limited to:  (a) strategy sessions with respect to collective bargaining, real estate matters, pending litigation, or litigation which is imminent as evidenced by communication of a claim or threat of litigation to or by the public body; (b) discussion regarding deployment of security personnel or devices; (c) investigative proceedings regarding allegations of criminal misconduct; (d) evaluation of the job performance of a person when necessary to prevent needless injury to the reputation of a person and if such person has not requested a public meeting; and (e) legal advice.

Rationale:  Possible action from Closed Session: To approve the Superintendent Evaluation completed on May 9, 2022, and for a copy of the approved evaluation to be placed in the superintendent's personnel file.