June 14, 2021 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

This meeting has been preceded by advance notice and is hereby declared to be in open session.  A current copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act is posted on the West wall of the meeting room.

Notice of this meeting was given in advance by publication in the Tri-City Tribune and posted on the Cozad Community Schools website and at the District Office.  Notice of this meeting was also given in advance to all members of the Board of Education. The order of agenda items may be changed when deemed necessary.

The board may choose to enter closed (executive) session to discuss any matter for which closed (executive) session is lawful and appropriate.

Rationale: 

The Board of Education invites you to offer comments during the public comments portion of the agenda. This is the portion of the meeting when members of the public may speak to the board about matters of public concern.

When you have been recognized, please stand and state your name and come forward to the front of the board table.

The board will generally allow a total of 20 minutes for the presentation of all public comments. Individuals may speak only one time, and must limit comments to around 5 minutes.  If there are more than 4 individuals who wish to address the board, the 20 minutes will be divided equally between the number of speakers.  These time limits may be changed by a majority vote of the board members in attendance to extend the time for a specific item or speaker.

For additional instructions on public participation, brochures are provided for you to view.  A copy of  Policy 2009 Public Participation at Board Meetings is available upon request.

 

 

Rationale:  Discuss the sub- committee meeting from Thursday June 10th. 

Rationale: 

• Minutes from the May 17th, 2021 Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale:  Congratulations to Laura and Jesse Johnson on the birth of her twins, Hendrix and Brixtyn.

Congratulation to Jordan and Ethan Haarberg on the birth of their son, Jaxen.

Condolences to Kathy Scott on the passing of her mother, Renate.

Rationale:  Kathy Hosick, effective May 18,2021
Lori Fletcher, effective May 20, 2021

Rationale:  Kristen Nieto- Local Sub 
Shawney Wellmann- Local Sub

Rationale:  $15 per test
Additional $60 per confirmation test to those who test positive

Rationale:  Attached is a list of notices or policy reviews that are required annually for Nebraska school boards. This information has been provided by KSB

Rationale:  Adopting KSB Policy

Rationale:  Revising to add Policy 6144: Administrative Procedures: Controversial Issues to Policy 6013: Teaching Controversial Issues

Rationale:  New, Adopting KSB Policy

Rationale:  To be deleted, contained in policy 4046- Internet Searches Regarding Potential Employees

Rationale:  To be deleted, policy contained in Policy 4007- Personal Records

Rationale:  Policy to be deleted, no longer needed

Rationale:  To be deleted, contained in Policy 5035- Student Discipline

Rationale:  Policy to be deleted, already contained in Policy 6005-Academic Credits and Graduation

Rationale:  Policy to be deleted, contained in Policy 6013- Teaching Controversial Issues

Rationale:  LB 65 amends Section 49-14,103.01, a provision in the Nebraska Political Accountability and Disclosure Act, relating to local elected officials (including school board members) who have an interest in a contract with their own governing body. LB 65 eliminates the phrase "direct pecuniary fee or commission" and replaces it with "payment, fee or commission." This change is required.

Rationale:  In addition, LB 528 requires the published budget hearing notice to include the following statement: For more information on statewide receipts and expenditures, and to compare cost per pupil and performance to other school districts, go to: [Insert Internet address for the web site established pursuant to Laws 2021, LB528, section 5]. The district must "prominently display" this statement on the school district web site with an active link to the Internet address for the web site established by the Nebraska Budget Act to allow the public access to the information. LB 644 creates the Property Tax Request Act for the alleged purpose of "increased transparency for impacted political subdivisions to raise their property tax levies." If a school district seeks to increase its property tax request by more than the allowable growth percentage, the district must: 3 ? Give notice of the public hearing by sending a postcard to all affected property taxpayers, posting notice of the hearing on the home page of the relevant county’s website, and publishing notice in a legal newspaper of general circulation within the county; ? Hold a (joint) public hearing that includes a presentation that includes certain statutorily required information; and ? Pass a resolution. The hearing must be held during an evening after 6 p.m., on or after September 17th and before September 28th and before the district files its adopted budget statement. Any member of the public must be allowed a reasonable amount of time to speak. This change is not required but is highly recommended.

Rationale:  State law requires the State Board of Education, once every five years, to adjust the dollar amount threshold that requires schools to solicit bids for construction, remodeling, repair, or site improvements. In December, the threshold amount was raised from $100,000 to $109,000. Similarly, state law requires the State of Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects, once every five years, to adjust the dollar amount threshold for projects that require schools to retain the services of an architect or engineer. The board adjusted this amount from $100,000 to $118,000. That’s right - now you get to remember two different numbers! These changes are required.

Rationale:  State law requires the State Board of Education, once every five years, to adjust the dollar amount threshold that requires schools to solicit bids for construction, remodeling, repair, or site improvements. In December, the threshold amount was raised from $100,000 to $109,000. Similarly, state law requires the State of Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects, once every five years, to adjust the dollar amount threshold for projects that require schools to retain the services of an architect or engineer. The board adjusted this amount from $100,000 to $118,000. That’s right - now you get to remember two different numbers! These changes are required.

During a recent round of federal fiscal review, NDE determined that it wants even more information in your federal purchasing/procurement policies and procedures, especially as it relates to internal controls and grant compliance. We have added a Financial Management section to both policies as well as incorporated some provisions in 3004.1 into 3003.1 to address these concerns. These changes are required.

Rationale:  During a recent round of federal fiscal review, NDE determined that it wants even more information in your federal purchasing/procurement policies and procedures, especially as it relates to internal controls and grant compliance. We have added a Financial Management section to both policies as well as incorporated some provisions in 3004.1 into 3003.1 to address these concerns. These changes are required.

Rationale:  LB 414 amends the Political Subdivisions Construction Alternatives Act to allow schools to use the design-build or construction management at risk contracts for a project that includes water, wastewater, utility, or sewer construction. Using these methods for these purposes was previously prohibited. However, before the school may use either of these construction methods for any of these construction purposes, the board must pass a resolution that includes a statement that the school district has made a determination that the design-build contract or construction management at risk contract delivery system is in the public interest based, at a minimum, on one of the following criteria: (a) savings in cost or time or (b) requirement of specialized or complex construction methods suitable for the design-build contract or construction management at risk contract delivery system. These changes are required.

Rationale:  LB 414 amends the Political Subdivisions Construction Alternatives Act to allow schools to use the design-build or construction management at risk contracts for a project that includes water, wastewater, utility, or sewer construction. Using these methods for these purposes was previously prohibited. However, before the school may use either of these construction methods for any of these construction purposes, the board must pass a resolution that includes a statement that the school district has made a determination that the design-build contract or construction management at risk contract delivery system is in the public interest based, at a minimum, on one of the following criteria: (a) savings in cost or time or (b) requirement of specialized or complex construction methods suitable for the design-build contract or construction management at risk contract delivery system. These changes are required.

Rationale:  Remote learning opportunities necessitated by the pandemic led us to revisit our policies regarding audio and video recordings. This policy was revised to broaden the limiting language regarding the use of audio and video recordings. The revised language continues to prohibit inappropriate uses of recordings while permitting appropriate uses consistent with administrative discretion. This change is required.

Rationale:  LB 528 mostly made grammar and style changes to the Nebraska Reading Improvement Act. However, one substantive change to note is that you now have the first 45 calendar days that school is in session to administer the first approved reading assessment to kindergartners. The deadline for administering the assessment to first, second, and third grades remains the first 30 calendar days that school is in session. This change is required.

Rationale: 

• Monday, July 19, 2021- Regular Board of Education Meeting, 7pm
• Monday, August 16, 2021- Regular Board of Education Meeting, 7pm
• Monday, August 23, 2021- Special Board of Education Meeting, 12pm

Rationale: 

* Closed Session:  If, during the course of the meeting, discussion of any item on the agenda should be held in a closed meeting, the board will conduct a closed meeting in accordance with the Nebraska Open Meetings Law.

**Sequence of Agenda:  The sequence of agenda topics is subject to change at the discretion of the board.  Please arrive at the beginning of the meeting.

***Action Item:  The board reserves the right to take action on any item on the board agenda.