May 8, 2017 at 5:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

The mission of Gothenburg Public 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.

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

Rationale: 

Mr. Coe, Senior Art Studio Video

 

Rationale: 

1.    Approval of Minutes for April 10th Regular Board Meeting

2.    Approval of Minutes of the May 1st Special Board Meeting

3.    Approval of the Treasurer's Report

4. 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

g. Check Journal

5. Excuse Absent Board Members

6. Consider Option Enrollment Requests- 

Option in:

Maguire Bartlett 10th grade from Cozad

Ella Bartlett 9th Grade from Cozad

Asher Bartlett 5th Grade from Cozad

Option Out: 

 

Rationale:  This item is placed on the agenda through May so that the board may receive resignations through the start of the meeting.  Note that release from contract after April 15th is discretionary with the Board.

Rationale: 

This item is placed on the agenda through May so that the board may approve contracts through the start of the meeting.

 

Note that contracts for Julie Rickertsen, Scott Carlin, and Heather Linden were approved at a special meeting held on May 1.

Rationale: 

The leadership is proposing that the first draft of the school calendar that was presented in January is modified to include a weekly PLC time for the staff as the result of discussions with the administrative team, the Executive Council and a group of educators who traveled to Hastings to visit their buildings and to see their Professional Learning Communities in action.  The PLC process utilized in the Hastings Public Schools has allowed them to improve effectiveness and increase student learning as evidenced by the assessment scores and recognition as Blue Ribbon Schools.

Information received from the AdvancEd Accreditation visit which occurred in March support this request. The accreditation process is designed to provide an international protocol for institutions committed to systemic, systematic and sustainable improvement, to build capacity of the system and its schools to increase and sustain student learning and to stimulate and improve effectiveness and efficiency throughout the system.

The external review was a diagnostic process to stimulate and guide continuous improvement with a focus on the impact of teaching and learning, the capacity of leadership and effective use of resources.

Professional judgment by the External Review Team results in:

Two powerful practices were determined.  It was recommended that the District continue to use the practices as the pillars of a high-performing system.

• The Gothenburg Public Schools effectively engages parents and community members as active partners to leverage relationships and improve communications resulting in unity among stakeholders.
• The Gothenburg Public Schools governance and leadership teams collaborate to foster autonomy at all levels of the organization.

Two improvement priorities were identified and the district is required to respond to these items within the next two fiscal years.  

• Design and implement a strategic plan that supports challenging, equitable educational programs resulting in the improvement of learning. 

• Develop and implement a systematic process to collect, analyze and use data from various assessments to focus on the improvement of curriculum and instruction to increase student learning and achievement.

Finally, two additional opportunities for improvement were identified.  While no action is required, the external team recommended that the identified items were continued and refined in alignment with the improvement priorities.

• Create and implement a grading and reporting system based on clearly defined criteria that represent the attainment of content knowledge and skills.

• Expand the systemic incorporation of the Marzano model to strengthen instructional strategies that enhance teacher effectiveness.

It is the position of the leadership teams that the lofty goals that have been placed before us will only be effective with a consistent and systemic plan involving on a weekly basis.

Rationale: 

Dawson County School District #20, Gothenburg Public Schools, participates in a policy update and revision process with the Perry Law Firm through Educational Service Unit #10.  Mr. Perry typically sends proposed revisions upon completion of the legislative session, however, we have received an early installment of new policies due to summer implementation requirements.  

According to the bylaws of the board, while policies may typically be introduced in one meeting and approved at a second meeting, policies may be approved in a single meeting if necessary.  This may become applicable if policies are proposed which impact handbooks and are not received until after the June meeting.

Internal Board Policies

Policy 8310 - Formulation of Policies

Policy 8320 - Adoption, amendment, or suspension of polices

Bylaws of the Board

  Policy 9200 - Formulation, Adoption, Amendment of Policies 

 

Introduce new policies and revisions to existing Board Policy.

The following policies were initially introduced during the March Board Meeting.  The administration and policy committee has met to customize the policies which are not presented for approval.

Summary of Policy Updates from Perry Law Firm

1.  Policy 3240 - Safety Policy (by August 31, 2017)

The revised policy reflects NDE's new Safety and Security Standards.

 

2.  Policy 3571 - Meal Charge Policy (by July 1, 2017)

The proposed policy meets the minimum requirements as set forth by the USDA.  We may add to the policy as we see fit.

 

3.  Policy 5417 - School Wellness Policy  (by June 30, 2017)

The existing policy is a little over one page in length, while the revised policy is twelve pages in length.  Both are attached and the policy committee will be convened to develop a compromise policy.

Rationale:  We have purchased ten new lunch room tables to replace old tables.

Rationale:  It was suggested at the board work session that we systematically review our board policy Mr. Wyatt is the only member who was serving during the complete revision of policy.  We will review a section of policy each month.  Policies will not be attached as they are available on the school website.

Rationale: 

Personnel Committee - Mr. Wyatt, Mr. Sitorius, Mr. Brundage

Transportation and Facilities Committee - Mr. Hudson, Mr. Fornoff, Mrs. Jobman

Finance Committee - Mr. Sitorius, Mr. Hudson, Mrs. Jobman

Curriculum & Americanism Committee - Mr. Brundage, Mr. Wyatt, Mr. Fornoff

Policy Committee - Mr. Fornoff, Mrs. Jobman

* Special Committee (Policy 5306) - Mr. Brundage, Mr. Hudson, Mr. Sitorius

Rationale: 

a.  Drug Testing Protocol

Rationale: 

Next Regular Meeting scheduled for June 12, 2017with time to be determined.

A special meeting to consider a late resignation and approve a contract could be necessary in the next couple of weeks.  Resignations after April 15th require the securing of a suitable replacement.  Contracts and resignations must be approved by the board to be official.