April 20, 2020 at 4:00 PM - Regular Board of Directors Meeting
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1. Call the Meeting to Order
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
LEADERSHIP • SERVICE • SUPPORT
Notice of this meeting was given in advance according to State Law 84-1411, by giving notice of the meeting to the public on ESU 7 website www.esu7.org and posted at location of meeting. Notice of this meeting was also given in advance to all members of the Board of Education of Educational Service Unit 7. Availability of the agenda and purpose of the hearing was communicated in the advance notice of the meeting and in the notice to the members of this hearing. All proceedings of the Board of Education of Educational Service Unit 7 were taken while the convened hearing was open to the attendance of the public.
Discussion:
Administrator Polk gave a tutorial of the Zoom meeting platform and explained that the Board does not need to log into SPARQ since a paper packet was sent to each of them in the mail. Administrator Polk also explained that all participants on the Zoom meeting will be muted but they have the ability to unmute themselves for roll call and voting. Don Ellison, President of the Board, is attending the meeting via Zoom but will abstain from voting at this time.
Roll call was taken at 4:03pm. Vice President Doug Kluth conducted the meeting. Staff present at ESU 7 Oak Room: Larianne Polk, Administrator Linda Shefcyk, Business Manager Mindy Reed, Secretary to the Board of Directors Other Staff present remotely: Marci Ostmeyer, Professional Development Director Darus Mettler, Special Education Director Dan Ellsworth, Network Operations Director |
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1.1. Notification of Open Meetings Law
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
This meeting has been preceded by reasonable advance notice and is hereby declared to be in open session. A copy of the Open Meetings Act is posted in the meeting room.
Attachments:
()
Discussion:
Vice President Doug Kluth reviewed the Open Meetings Act.
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1.2. Roll Call
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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1.3. Absent Board Members
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
Recommendation: Discuss, consider and take action to approve the Board member absences.
Recommended Motion(s):
Approval of Board Member absences as presented Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Discussion:
Dan Hoesly is absent due to technical issues. Marni Danhauer joined the meeting at 4:09pm.
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1.4. Pledge of Allegiance
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Attachments:
()
Discussion:
All members present participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.
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2. Approval of Agenda
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
The sequence of agenda topics is subject to change at the discretion of the Board.
Recommended Motion(s):
Agenda as presented Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Agenda was approved as presented.
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3. Welcome Visitors
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Goals:
Discussion:
No visitors present.
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4. Consent Agenda
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
Unless removed from the consent agenda, items identified within the consent agenda will be acted on at one time. If any Board member wishes to discuss an item, it must be removed from the consent agenda at which time the remaining items will be acted upon. Consent Agenda Includes:
Recommendation: Discuss, consider and take any action necessary to approve the consent agenda as presented.
Recommended Motion(s):
Consent agenda as presented Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Goals:
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Consent agenda approved as presented.
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4.1. Minutes
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
This is a consent item.
Attachments:
()
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4.2. Treasurer's Report
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
This is a consent item.
Attachments:
()
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4.3. Presentation of Bills # 70719 through # 70850 totaling $ 705,297.55
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
The summary of bills for the current month total:$ 705,297.55- Bills #70719 through # 70850 Inservice bills total: $ 0
Attachments:
()
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4.4. 2020-2021 Contract for Student Services Principal Leanne Blanchard
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
2020-2021 Contract for Leanne Blanchard, Student Services Principal.
This is a consent item.
Attachments:
()
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4.5. 2020-2021 Contract for Early Learning Connection Grant Coordinator Angel Mayberry
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
2020-2021 Contract for Angel Mayberry, Early Learning Connection Grant Coordinator.
This is a consent item.
Attachments:
()
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4.6. 2020-2021 Contract for Speech Language Pathologist Tricia Spieker
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
2020-2021 Contract for Tricia Spieker, Speech Language Pathologist. FTE change to .60 FTE from .55 FTE.
This is a consent item.
Attachments:
()
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4.7. Resignations
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
Resignation: April Becker, School Psychologist and Doreen Heitz, Speech Pathologist.
This is a consent item.
Attachments:
()
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4.8. Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council Update/ 2020-2021 Master Services Agreement
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
The Administrator will report on statewide activities during this item and share with the Board the 2020-2021 Master Services Agreement for their consideration.
Recommendation: Discuss, consider and take any action necessary to approve the 2020-2021 Master Services Agreement as presented. This is a consent item.
Recommended Motion(s):
2020-2021 Master Services Agreement as presented Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
()
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5. Recommend removing Board policies not set forth in the newly adopted Board policy book
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
Move to repeal and rescind all existing Board policies not set forth in the newly adopted Board policy book.
Recommended Motion(s):
Move to repeal and rescind all existing Board policies not set forth in the newly adopted Board policy book as presented Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
()
Goals:
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Administrator Polk explained there are several policies from the old policy book that she is recommending not go into the new policy book. 3.01 Term of Non-Certified Contracts - Our contracts have a term listed in the contract. 3.03.01 Long Term Disability Insurance and 3.03.02 COBRA - Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act - both are benefits to staff, more procedure and not policy. 3.07 Payment of Salary - this policy states staff is paid on the 20th of the month, which is procedure. There may be circumstances when an employee's first check is not on the 20th of the month, depending on start date, that information is shared during new hire. 3.20 Psychologist Salary Placement - this is listed in the preamble of the Negotiated Agreement.
Policy is set by the Board and it can only be changed or revised with Board approval. Procedure is administrative procedure, authorized by Administrator Polk. |
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6. ESU 7 COVID-19 Pay Resolution
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
After consultation with legal council it is recommended that the following resolution be adopted and approved for up to four weeks.
Recommendation: Discuss, consider and take all necessary action to approve the ESU 7 COVID-19 Pay Resolution.
Recommended Motion(s):
Approval of ESU 7 COVID-19 Pay Resolution Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
()
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Administrator Polk explained that this Pay Resolution will need to be revisited every four weeks at the Board meeting until the end of the COVID-19 crisis. Staff are working from home, participating in Professional Development modules and other work that is capable of completion in a remote location. Administrator Polk recommends allowing the Pay Resolution again. Due to the remote meeting and the inability for the Board to physically sign, Administrator Polk is requesting to sign the resolution on behalf of the Board and have them initial next time we meet in person. No one opposed.
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7. Emergency Declaration
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
On March 13, 2020 Governor Ricketts declared Nebraska a State of Emergency. Following that declaration, Platte County and the City of Columbus declared an emergency on March 17, 2020. This resolution provides authority to the Administrator to make emergency spending decisions as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
Recommended Motion(s):
Emergency Declaration as presented Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
()
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Administrator Polk discussed the Emergency Declaration for Columbus as well as Platte County. As a result, each school district is asked to approve the COVID-19 Resolution in order to have access to FEMA/NEMA funds in the event there needs to be a decision on spending related to COVID-19 without needing to hold an emergency meeting.
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8. Conflict of Interest Discussion
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
Vice President Doug Kluth has been offered and accepted the interim Superintendent position at Shelby-Rising City. This being an ESU 7 member school has potential for conflicts of interest at ESU 7 Board Meetings. This discussion will provide guidance to the Board as to disclosure of these conflicts.
Attachments:
()
Discussion:
Vice President Doug Kluth stated that this item will be tabled indefinitely. He submitted his resignation effective June 30, 2020.
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9. Administrator's Report General
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
Goals - Attached for your Review
ESUCC Update - Verbal
Attachments:
()
Goals:
Discussion:
ESU 7, public schools, and non-public schools have participated in Superintendent meetings once a week. The Commissioner Calls are on Mondays and the Superintendent meetings are on Tuesdays. Current topics discussed are checking-in material at the end of the school year, prom, graduation, honors night, and sport banquets are being discussed, the right of passage events for students, and the June reporting to the Department of Education.
The Governor is asking the school districts to talk to the Health Department if they have ideas on how to conduct the events. Moving into June and July the expectation would be for the school district to discuss the roll out of the new year. School districts are being asked to develop some contingency plans to include starting on time, start on time with online learning, start on time with students having an alternate schedule, or another plan is to start the school year late. Plans have not been determined yet and the school districts need time to make the decision. Platte County is doing well in terms of identified COVID-19 cases. There have been 7 confirmed cases in Platte County. Hall County is leading the state in confirmed cases with 531 confirmed cases. Douglas County has 291 confirmed cases. The peak is expected on May 1, 2020. The better we follow the rules, the farther out the peak will get pushed. Pushing the peak prevents our health care agencies from becoming overwhelmed with sick individuals. There is a revised statute to the Open Meetings Act that allows the ESU's and school districts to meet via video conference until the end of May. ESU's have always had the capability to meet via video conference however, the original statute states that we would have to notify the public of each place a person is meeting on the video conference. The revised statute allows us to meet this way without the notice of each individual location. The May 2020 Board Meeting will most likely be via video conference as well. Marci Ostmeyer has been recognized as a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Her term begins May 1, 2020 and goes through October 31, 2023. Congratulations! There was a Board Retreat originally planned for the summer but Administrator Polk would recommend we wait until we can meet in person, possibly in the fall. Legislative Update - There are 17 days left in the Legislative Session. Only the highest priority bills will be discussed when the Legislation reconvenes, top among them is the State Budget. Other bills may have consideration but it is unknown at this time which bills that will include. |
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9.1. Services Update
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
Administrator Polk will provide the Board with information for services deployed during the COVID-19 Crisis.
Attachments:
()
Goals:
Discussion:
Administrator Polk is working on a contingency plan for the start of our new year. If we have schools who want to start later in the year, we may need to make adjustments. As the schools are creating their contingency plans, so will Administrator Polk.
Administrator Polk reviewed the updated COVID-19 Guide. The document shares information about how we will access risk, level three programs, how to address home visits, how to address staff appointed out to school districts, trainings, if offices are open or closed, flex staffing/remote working, screening individuals coming into the building, how we clean, instructions to self-quarantine and how to communicate that. The document describes what we are doing right now. We are closed and have one Administrator on staff, other staff can come into the building but have to be approved. There is an approval process. After the Governor decides to relax the directed health measures, we will respond accordingly. This is a fluid document and gives an outline on decisions that will be made. |
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9.2. Facilities Update
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
The Administrator will provide a facilities update during this item.
Goals:
Discussion:
Director Dan Ellsworth gave a report on the doors and the locks. The company has been working on the project for two weeks and they are almost done. Director Dan Ellsworth will program all of the smart badges for ESU 7. The company will be back the week of April 27 and they are expected to be done before May.
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9.3. Personnel
Rationale:
Reading of the 2020 Board Recognition Retiree Resolutions for Darus Mettler, Special Education Director and Laura Mettler, Speech Language Pathologist.
Attachments:
()
Goals:
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Administrator Polk read the Retirement Resolutions for Darus and Laura Mettler. Both of the resolutions were approved. Due to the remote meeting and the inability for the Board to physically sign, Administrator Polk will sign the Resolutions on behalf of the Board.
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10. Adjournment
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Discussion:
Meeting adjourned at 5:06 pm.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Mindy Reed, Recording Secretary to the ESU 7 Board. |
