February 26, 2018 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting
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1. Call To Order
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Procedural Item
Rationale:
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1.1. Pledge of Allegiance
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Procedural Item
Rationale:
Please stand and join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. AdvancED Standard 2.1 - The governing body establishes policies and supports practices that ensure effective administration of the system and its schools. Policy 2008, Board of Education Meetings. |
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1.1.1. Roll Call - Excuse Board Members not in attendance
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Action Item
Rationale:
AdvancED Standard 1.4 - The governing authority establishes and ensures adherence to policies that are designed to support system effectiveness. Policy 2008, Board of Education Meetings. |
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1.2. Public Comment Sign In Procedure
Agenda Item Type:
Procedural Item
Rationale:
A complete copy of the Open Meetings Act is posted on the back wall of the Board of Education meeting room. Public Comment Sign In Procedure - Anyone wishing to address the Board of Education must submit a written request form, found on the public’s table, prior to Public Comments. The Board reserves the right to move into closed session to protect the public interest or needless injury to the reputation of an individual for any action item listed on the agenda. The Board may, at its discretion, change the order of the agenda to accommodate unforeseen issues related to an agenda item.
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1.2.1. Public Comment
Agenda Item Type:
Procedural Item
Rationale:
The Ralston Board of Education appreciates the public's right to provide public comment. It is the practice of the Ralston Board to listen to the public comment, without discussion between the public and the Board. Should you have a question or ask for follow-up from the Board, the Board President will direct the Superintendent to address the requests and provide additional information to you as appropriate. We ask that you refrain from personal comments about individuals and the use of vulgar or inappropriate language in addressing the Board. At this time the Ralston Public Schools Board of Education will entertain public comment.
Attachments:
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1.3. Consent Agenda (Action)
Speaker(s):
Board President
Agenda Item Type:
Consent Agenda
Rationale:
Consent agenda items include minutes from the February 12, 2018 meeting, resignation letter from resignation letter from Heather Nebesniak, Principal, Wildewood Elementary, and resignation letter from Cheri Jonas, Science Teacher, RMS and Local Teaching Certificate Request for Christina Rydl.
AdvancED Standard 1.4 – The governing authority establishes and ensures adherence to policies that are designed to support system effectiveness. Board Policy 2008, Board of Education Meetings.
Attachments:
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2. Board Development and Communication
Agenda Item Type:
Procedural Item
Rationale:
Discussion:
Mrs. Johnson congratulated the MS Show Choir on the 2nd place finish! She also congratulated HS Wrestling and Diving for making it to State. Also great job to the Culinary Competition and Lego League. Thank you to the schools and teachers for all the help with Lego League and History Day! Makes me proud to be a part of Ralston! Mr. Overkamp said winter sports were great. Spring sports start today. Regarding the MS walkout - he was very appreciative of how it was handled. How the Administration and staff handled it and used it as a learning experience. Mrs. Rodgers said "Great job Lego League and great job Mrs. Redemske and Shelley Sheets for leading the team!" R-Pantry sent representatives to speak to a senior financial group that she is a part of. Corey Curtis and Taylor Skiles gave a great presentation. The group was so impressed with the student leaders and how mature they were. She was very glad that the MS walkout focused on safety of the kids. Mrs. Richards attended the first Cake and Comedy. They did an amazing job - these are all written by the students that perform. Thank you to the HS staff and Mr. Maskel for doing some legwork on cap and gown issues.
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2.1. Board Members’ Update
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Rationale:
Board of Education members will discuss items they have recently observed or attended or items they wish to share with the other members of the Board of Education and the public.
AdvancED Standard 1.4 The governing authority establishes and ensures adherence to policies that are desinged to support system effectiveness. Board Policy 2008, Board of Education Meetings. |
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2.2. Superintendent’s Report
Speaker(s):
Superintendent
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Rationale:
Discussion:
Dr. Adler said he appreciated the comments on the walkout. Our approach is to approach it as a teaching and learning opportunity, but also keep out students safety first. He was proud of our Administrators and staff. We all want safe schools.
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2.2.1. Leadership Academy Overview
Speaker(s):
Dr. Mark Adler
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Rationale:
Dr. Adler will provide an overview of the Ralston Public Schools Leadership Academy Level I and Level II and have several students provide feedback on the class and their experiences.
AdvancED Standards 3.2 - The system's professional learning structure and expectations promote collaboration and collegiality to improve learner performance and organizational effectiveness. Board Policy 4032 - Professional Growth.
Discussion:
Dr. Adler provided some background on the Leadership Academy and introduced participants of the class who attended the Board meeting. He mentioned how we join with Westside for the class, that it is coordinated with UNO for 3 hours of credit, Dr. Adler is an adjunct professor. We offer it to anyone that wants to take it for credit or otherwise. They are required to meet 45 hours - beginning around Thanksgiving and ending in the spring. Year 2 students choose a personalized learning program. They have to attend certain classes and then select 5 others that they choose. Some of our highlights are the Superintendent's Panel, where all the District Superintendents share their experiences, background, guiding principles, etc. and then the students have a chance to ask questions. Another highlight is our Muscatine, Iowa trip where Dr.Riebe serves as Superintendent. We go to several schools in their District, see what programs work and how we do things similarly/differently. Dr. Riebe hosts our group for dinner with all his Principals and Administrators in a more informal atmosphere. Several students gave their thoughts on the class. Jeff Linden, RHS, said he came to teach in Ralston to attend Leadership Academy. He appreciates that the Board and Foundation supports the Academy. The courses and group conversations teaches him things he needs to be a better leader. If you are not growing, you aren't learning as a teacher AND a leader. It is great to have our administration come teach and learn from them. Stacey Stoffel spoke next as year 3 participant. She enjoys sharing ideas with other District employees. Her favorite part of the class is the trip to Muscatine, and she has even brought back things she learned and uses them in her own classroom. Mindy Podraza spoke about the deeper understanding of "Why" we serve here. How we interact with students, how we teach, an understanding of one another. The "Why" comes from inside the classroom and the discussions we participate in, from what we have learned at Leadership Academy. The "Why" of you personally and how we act on that individually - we take that knowledge back to our classes. She also gave a shout out for History Day on Tuesday, where 20 students will participate at the Durham Museum.
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2.2.2. Government Relations Update
Speaker(s):
Dr. Mark Adler
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Rationale:
Dr. Adler and Mrs. Richards will update the Board regarding Legislative issues.
AdvancED Standard 1.8 - Leaders engage stakeholders to support the achievement of the system's purpose and direction. Board Policy 2022, Reporting to the Public.
Discussion:
Mr. Kohout thanked the Board, Dr. Adler and the Foundation for their thoughts, food and flowers during his recovery.
Tomorrow is Day 34 of the Legislative Session. Tomorrow is the last day for committee hearings. Our Legislative Committee meets on a weekly basis - either by phone or in person, to discuss updates on bills we are following.
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2.2.3. Counseling Services Update
Speaker(s):
Mrs. Melissa Stolley
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Rationale:
Mrs. Stolley will provide a Counseling Services Update to the Board. Items for discussion include: Arbor Family Partnership, Policy 6024 - Student Discipline and Policy 6031 - Emergency Exclusion.
AdvancED Standard 2.5 - Educators implement a curriculum that is based on high expectations and prepares learners for their next levels. Board Policy 6004, Curriculum Development and Assessment.
Discussion:
Trevor O'Reilly and Kat Turco gave a counseling services presentation for the Elementary level. Colleen Cuda and Katie Rupe gave the Secondary update. They commented that there was good cooperation among the Social Workers, Counselors and Psychologists in the District. They are a close group that work together to cover the time at the schools and meet the needs of our students. Other Districts have more people but provide the same coverage per school. Mrs. Stolley mentioned that since October Steve Snodgrass has been the only social worker in the District during Marilee Cloonan's absence. A shout out for the amazing job he has been doing and will continue to do for the immediate future.
Discussions regarding our partnership with Arbor Family, Policy 6024 - Student Discipline and Policy 6031 - Exclusion occurred. Mrs. Stolley also discussed what happens when someone calls or texts the hotline for help (the entire process from beginning to end, who is involved along the way, etc.)
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2.2.4. Blumfield School Improvement Plan Update
Speaker(s):
Mr. Peyton Lewis
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Rationale:
Mr. Lewis will provide an update on the Blumfield School Improvement Plan to the Board.
AdvancED Standard 2.5 - Educators implement a curriculum that is based on high expectations and prepares learners for their next levels. Board Policy 6004, Curriculum Development and Assessment.
Discussion:
Dr. Adler said we would go out of order and have the Blumfield Report first.
Mr. Lewis provided the Board with an updated school improvement plan. There has been a 13% decline in the numbers over a 2 year period, which is alarming. They have more targeted instruction for reading - LLI or Level Literacy Instruction. We have seen some success with this. Our paras get trained in the program, which is scripted, so they don't have to make their own decisions. Jodi Blessen introduced him to a program called Mappers, which is another scripted program that seems to be helping with math instruction. He, Cecelia Wilken and Margaret Knight are working together to focus on why their numbers are declining. They have done learning walks, gone deep in the data and still can't come up with a reason why. Mrs. Richards asked if we are doing enough in Domain 1 for planning and instruction?
Attachments:
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2.2.5. Enrollment Update
Speaker(s):
Dr. Mark Adler
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Rationale:
Dr. Adler will review the enrollment information with the Board.
AdvancED Standard 1.8 - Leaders engage stakeholders to support the achievement of the system's purpose and direction. Board Policy 2022, Reporting to the Public.
Discussion:
Enrollment numbers are about what we expect at this point. March 15th is the deadline for Option Enrollment.
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3. Standards Based School Improvement
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
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3.1. Wireless System Product (Action)
Speaker(s):
Mr. Jason Buckingham
Agenda Item Type:
Action Item
Rationale:
Mr. Buckingham will present the Wireless System Product to the Board for approval.
AdvancED Standard 3.8 - The system allocates human, material, and fiscal resources in alignment with the system's identified needs and priorities to improve student performance and organizational effectiveness. Board Policy 3004, Purchasing.
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3.2. Orval Smith Baseball Field Interlocal Agreement (Action)
Speaker(s):
Mr. Jason Buckingham
Agenda Item Type:
Action Item
Rationale:
Mr. Buckingham will present the Orval Smith Baseball Field Interlocal Agreement to the Board for approval.
AdvancED Standard 2.1 - Learners have equitable opportunities to develop skills and achieve the content and learning priorities established by the system. Board Policy 3048, Cooperative Programs and Services.
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3.3. 2018-2019 & 2019-2020 District Calendars (Action)
Speaker(s):
Dr. Tiffanie Welte/Mrs. Cecelia Wilken
Agenda Item Type:
Action Item
Rationale:
Dr. Welte and Mrs. Wilken will present the 2018-19 and 2019-20 Calendars to the Board for approval.
AdvancED Policy 1.4 - The governing authority establishes and ensures adherence to policies that are designed to support system effectiveness. Board Policy 6002, School Calendar.
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3.4. Policy 4055 - Voluntary Separation (Action)
Speaker(s):
Dr. Mark Adler/Mr. Jason Buckingham
Agenda Item Type:
Action Item
Rationale:
Policy 4055 - Voluntary Separation will be presented to the Board for approval.
AdvancED Policy 1.5 - The governing authority adheres to a code of ethics and functions within defined roles and responsibilities. Board Policy 2001, Role of the Board and Legal Status.
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4. Policy Review
Agenda Item Type:
Procedural Item
Rationale:
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5. Executive Session Disclosure
Agenda Item Type:
Procedural Item
Rationale:
The Board reserves the right to move into closed session to protect the public interest or needless injury to the reputation of an individual for any action item listed on the agenda. The Board may, at its discretion, change the order of the agenda to accommodate unforeseen issues related to an agenda item. |
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5.1. Executive Session (Action)
Speaker(s):
Dr. Mark Adler/Mrs. Linda Richards
Agenda Item Type:
Action Item
Rationale:
The Board will move into Executive Session to engage in discussion regarding the school district's security measures and safety plan. The closed session is necessary to protect the public interest. |
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6. Pre-Adjournment Information and Activities
Agenda Item Type:
Action Item
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6.1. Announcements
Agenda Item Type:
Procedural Item
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6.2. Board of Education Supplemental Meeting Information
Agenda Item Type:
Procedural Item
Rationale:
Supplemental Documents include the following:
Attachments:
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6.3. Future Board Calendar
Agenda Item Type:
Information Item
Rationale:
Board of Education Meeting - Monday, March 12, 2018 - 6:00 pm |
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6.4. Adjourn
Agenda Item Type:
Action Item
Rationale:
AdvancED Standard 1.4 - The governing authority adheres to a code of ethics and functions within defined roles and responsibilities. Board Policy 2008, Board of Education Meetings. |
