July 16, 2024 at 4:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

More Information:  Mission Statement - Milford Public Schools will prepare all students to be successful citizens: Our Mission is fulfilled when all students read with comprehension, speak and write clearly, compute accurately, reason logically, understand and appreciate the fine arts, apply suitable strategies and habits of mind to solve problems, utilize technology to communicate and to understand information and behave morally.

This agenda contains a list of subjects known at the time of its distribution.  A copy of the agenda reflecting any changes will be available for public inspection during normal business hours in the District Office.  Except for items of an emergency nature, the agenda shall not be altered later than twenty-four hours before the meeting.  The Board reserves the right to alter the order of items, as it deems necessary.

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Information concerning the Open Meeting Law, Chapter 84, Article 14 of Nebraska State Statutes, is posted on the bulletin board in the back of the meeting room.

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This is the public’s opportunity to speak to items on the agenda. This is also the public’s opportunity to speak to other non-agenda topics concerning the school district - since it is not an agenda item the board cannot discuss or take action on the matter at this time. To be recognized, all participants must complete the Request to Address the Milford Board of Education Form.  The District has established separate complaint procedures for any complaints, including complaints and concerns against individual employees.  As such, the Board requests that this complaint process be followed before discussion with the Board takes place.  Thank you for your participation.

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General Fund for $149,632.03
Payroll for $676,606.24
Total $826,238.27

Building Fund for $297,035.12


Below are a few of the items I'd like to point out.
$3,950 to DB Nebraska is for HVAC repairs.
$5,250 to Family Zone is for software to monitor student device screens.
$2,352 to Gopher Sports is for a Gaga Pit for elementary PE and recess.
$2,372 to Maxim is for contracted nursing services for a student.  This is the final payment for this contract, as we will be using school staff to provide direct services.
$5,488 to Nebraska Equipment is for repairs for the Kubota.
$1,863 to Scenario Learning is for our onine teacher evaluation software.
$4,419 to Striv is for striv support for the 24-25 school year, and for curriculum for the broadcasting program.
$600 to The Comprehensive Classroom is for Spanish instructional materials.
$2,611 to WHC NE LL DBA ZTRIP is for transportation services for a student attending the B.E.S.T. program in Lincoln.




 

More Information:  Powerschool is currently being rolled over for the new year.  There is no student enrollment report for this month.

More Information:  I included a proposal to conduct a Strategic Planning Process from Matt Dominy.  Matt is the Director of Learning in Seward.  Matt and Dr. Fields (Seward Supt.) conduct these for other schools.  Both Matt and Dr. Fields worked in Millard during part of their career, where the Strategic Plan drives the work of the district.  The model they use is called the Cambridge Model.  If we would like to start a process over the winter and have it completed by May, Matt would like to get started in late August with the planning.  The cost is $5000, and I wanted to give the board an opportunity to discuss this briefly. If there is interest in moving forward, we could have an action item for the August meeting.

Other groups also provide options for strategic planning. I have spoken with other superintendents about several options, and can share more details at the meeting.

Having a strategic plan in place would create a clear direction and focus on our efforts towards a defined set of goals.  This clarity would guide decision-making about initiatives and resources, and would help us allocate our resources of time, money, personnel to those goals.  This process would also engage our community in the process of developing some long-range goals.

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Open discussion as needed.

More Information:  There is a recommendation to increase the gate prices for next school year.  I will include some comparisons from other districts.

More Information:  An Energy Service Company can provide the district with a detailed report with recommendations and pricing for facilities updates.  This report could provide information to help with financial planning and creating timelines for facility improvements.

Earlier this summer, members of the Building and Grounds committee met with Greg Barnes to discuss a plan to gather information on the buildings.  HVAC, lighting, windows, etc. are areas they review.  They are able to gather information for pricing for updates to consider, they recommend a timeline for purchases, and they only charge for services once we decide to update equipment.  If the board would like to move forward with this process, we need to advertise for an Energy Services Company and select one at a future meeting.

More Information:  This policy is required to be reviewed annually per statute 79-2,137.  No changes are recommended.

More Information:  This is a hearing:

1. President Welsch will open the hearing
2. We will record the time in the minutes
3. President Welsch will ask for public/board member comments
4. President Welsch will close the hearing

Any proposed changes would be placed on the August agenda.

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There are several, but I will point out a few.  All of the policy updates provided are redlined, so you can see the changes.

 

Policy 2009 - Boards now have to offer public comment at every meeting.  This will not change our practice, as we have always done this, but it is now required.

 

Policy 3032 - For residents of Nebraska, we will have to now offer up to 8 hours "free of charge" to gather and share public records for a records request.  This changed from 4 hours "free" to 8 hours during the last legislative session.

 

Policy 3060 - School Boards can now choose to allow staff members to carry firearms in schools.  This policy clarifies that we do not allow staff to carry firearms.

 

Policy 6025 - This policy will change how cell phones are used in school.  This policy (which will also be updated in the handbook) requires students to place their cell phone in their backpack, in their locker, or in their vehicle.  Students can have access to their phone during passing periods, at lunch, and before/after school.

 

Policy 6040 - In the past, if a student turned 5 prior to August 1st, they were ineligible to attend our preschool.  The law has been changed to now allow 5-year olds to attend preschool. We plan to allow 5 year olds, so long as we have room for our 3 and 4 year old students.

Policy 6043 - This policy allows us to apply for grant funds to build electronic maps of our buildings and grounds that can then be shared with first responders.

More Information:  Below are the updates to the handbook:

1.  Remove a reference to virtual learning during the 2020-21 school year.
2.  Pregnant and parenting students section added.  The district will notify students of options for accommodations.
3.  Parent recordings during meetings are disallowed per policy.  This update is included in the handbook.
4.  Additional information about Nebraska Law definition of child abuse.
5.  The complaint procedure is updated to match the new policy.
6.  The weapons and firearms section is updated with recent changes to statute to allow firearms in schools.
7.  AI-related social media issues are added to the discipline policy.
8.  Meal prices are updated.
9.  Cell phone policies are updated to match updated policy.
10. Reference to Title IX policy is updated.
 

More Information:  1.  Updated the section on meetings to include language that disallows parent recordings of meetings.
2.  Updated the reference to the Title IX policy.

More Information:  Farmers and Merchants Bank has provided necessary documents to update names on the District bank accounts.

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The Board of Education reserves the right to enter into Closed/Executive Session for 1) the protection of the public interest, or 2) the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual, and/or the individual has not requested a public meeting. When making a motion to enter into Closed/Executive Session, the member making the motion should be as specific as possible as to the reason(s) for executive session.

The Board President will restate the reason for Closed/Executive Session after the motion has been acted on.