October 10, 2016 at 8:00 AM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

The mission of Gothenburg Schools is to prepare all students to become lifelong learners within a positive and innovative learning environment

A copy of the open meetings law is posted on the wall of the Board Room and is available to the public.

Rationale:  The Board reserves the right to rearrange the order of items as needed.

Rationale:  FFA Officers

Rationale: 

1. Approval of Previous Minutes

2. Approval of the Treasurer's Report

3. Approval of the Warrants / Bills

  a.  Petty Cash

  b.  Student Activity

  c.  Hot Lunch

  d.  Bank Statement

  e.  Summary of Accounts and Receipts

  f.  Monthly Expenditure Report

 

4. Excuse Absent Board Members

5. Consider Option Enrollment Requests

IN:

OUT:

Rationale:  1.   Personnel Committee :  See Negotiations Timeline

Rationale: 

Rationale: 

State Education Conference - November 16-18 in LaVista, NE

The Board of Education needs to discuss procedure for Superintendent's Evaluation.

Rationale: 

The Superintendent will look for consensus on whether to move forward with the policy process on the following items.

Retirement:  The district has adopted a Temporary Early Retirement Incentive program a couple of times in the past, the last being 2014.  The program is designed to be an incentive and is not available every year, as it would provide no incentive to retire early.  The district typically will have at least three years between incentive years.  The concept will be discussed in October and then presented for consideration in November for final approval in December if the board wants to proceed.

Resignation:  The concept of a stipend for early notification of resignation has also been discussed.  The required date for returning contracts is April 1st, which coincides with the April 15th RIF date.  While teachers cannot make an earlier decision in many cases, late resignations often result in a much smaller pool of candidates.  Timing is critical in areas in which there are teacher shortages.

An example would be to provide a stipend of:

• $500 if the resignation is received by the 2nd Monday of February, or
• $250 if received by the 2nd Monday of March.

The notification stipend would be available for all certificated staff unless they apply for the Temporary Early Retirement Incentive.  A policy would have to be created.

Random Drug Testing of Activities Participants:  An additional policy that is in the discussion stage would involve random drug testing of those involved in activities.  Numerous Nebraska schools have adopted policies regarding this issue.  The Nebraska Attorney General and regional health organizations have indicted that teen use of marijuana has doubled since its use has been legalized in Colorado.  A random-drug testing policy would give students another reason to say "no" when being pressured into its use.

Consideration of this type of policy is intended to be proactive instead of being reactive.  We are only in the INITIAL stages of this discussion meaning a policy could be drafted and implemented as soon as 2nd semester, not until the 17-18 school year, or it could be determined that it is not necessary at this time. We have begun looking at sample policies including policies from GINW and Central City. 

 

Rationale:  The item has been placed at the end of the agenda to allow for visitors to leave if they do not want to wait until its conclusion.  This item will require actual action to approve the Safe Schools Plan.  This is done on an annual basis.

Rationale: 

Administrators will discuss the Safe Schools Manual and will also summarize the Crisis Team Manual.  An executive session will be required due to the sensitive nature of school safety.

The Safe Schools Plan was modified in 2014 after Mr. Ryker, Mr. Widdifield, and a representative of the Gothenburg Police Department attended a Safe Schools Conference in Omaha.  Information from this conference was used to modify our plan.

Each year the Gothenburg Schools hosts an external team to review the manual.  In the past the external team has included Chief Randy Olson, Gothenburg Police, Captain Mark Ballmer, Gothenburg Fire Department, and Brian Woldt, Dawson County Emergency Management.

1. Index of Crisis and Safe Schools Manual         (Mr. Ryker and Mr. Widdifield)
2. Crisis Manual Summary                                (Dr. Teahon) 
3. Policy on Funeral in the Gym                         (Dr. Teahon)
4. Policy on Memorials                                      (Dr. Teahon)

The Board will go into executive session following the discussion of these items due to the security issues involved in the discussion of safe schools protocol.

Rationale:  November 14, 2016 – Time to be determined.