June 12, 2017 at 5:30 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

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.

The Board President will declare the Hearing open. 

1.  Review of Student Fees Policy

2.  Review of the amount of money collected from students pursuant to, and the use of waivers provided in, the student fees policies of District #20 for the 2016-17 year.

3.  Public comment, information, and input concerning Student Fees Policy.

The Board President will declare the Hearing closed. 

The Board President will declare the hearing open. 

1. Review of Parent Involvement Policy (Policy 6400).

2. Public comment, information, and input concerning Parent Involvement Policy.

The Board President will declare the hearing closed.

1.    Approval of Minutes for May 8^th Regular Board Meeting

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

g. Check Journal

4. Excuse Absent Board Members

5. Consider Option Enrollment Requests- 

Option in:

Option Out: 

Ella Baal, Kindergarten to Cozad

Mrs. Jacobson recommends that prices for 2017-18 remain the same as 2016-17 as we have met the appropriate threshold to meet federal requirements and the lunch fund did not require contributions from the general fund.

Notes:

• Federal lunch program requires that districts eventually raise the price of their meals to a number equivalent to a reimbursable meal.  
• A spreadsheet with lunch prices for the schools within the SWC is attached.  None of the SWC schools offer more than two entrée choices for lunch.

Proposed lunch prices for 2017-18. Proposed prices are equivalent to current prices.

Mr. Ryker has submitted a list of extra-duty assignments for 2017-18 school year.

Coaching changes 2017-18

Softball – Maggie Tiller for Roger Neujahr & Karlie Nielsen for Maggie Tiller

Assistant 8^th grade Volleyball – Jim Clark for Michelle Stienike

Cross Country – Steve Reeves and Tony Neels will be Co-Head coaches.  Claudine Kennicutt has resigned her position

Football – Bryan Bazata for KC Lathrop

JH Football – Seth Schaeffer for Bryan Bazata

Boys Basketball – Seth Schaeffer & Scott Carlin for Kent Koehn and Don Graham

Track – Tony Neels for KC Lathrop

Open Positions

Assistant Speech

Co-Head JH Track

The Superintendent currently has a three-year contract that expires on June 30, 2019.  At this time, the board should consider the revised contract language which would expire on June 30, 2020.

The Personnel Committee has met to discuss compensation for administrators and non-certificated staff and recommends an increase in total compensation of 5.97% for non-certificated staff and a 2.19% for administrative staff.  Non-certificated compensation is based on job category subgroups with compensation being compared to others performing similar work.  Administrator compensation is based on total compensation comparability with schools of similar size in a manner similar to other certificated staff compensation.  The Superintendent currently has a three-year contract that expires on June 30, 2019.  At this time, the board should consider amending the contract which would then expire on June 30, 2020.

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 so policies may or may not be available for the June meeting.  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 policies will be reviewed prior to the July meeting by the Policy Committee (Jobman, Fornoff)

Summary of Policy Updates from Perry Law Firm

 Policy 3130:  Purchasing Policies (optional)

• Increases amount for sealed bids from $40,000 to $90,000

Policy 3131: Procurement

• New Policy required by NDE

Policy 1200: Anti-Harrassment

• Adds specific reference to Nebraska Equal Opportunity in Education Act

Policy 4003: Employee Anti-discrimination

• Adds specific reference to Nebraska Equal Opportunity in Education Act

Policy 3570: Business Operations

• Adds suspension and disbarment language for contracts reimbursed with federal funds.

Policy 4028: Employee Fundraising (optional)

• New policy requiring staff to get permission before doing on-line fundraising.

Policy 5001 Form: Summary of School Immunization Rules and Regulations

• Updated summary.

Policy 5004: Part-Time Enrollment

• Updated to reflect NSAA policy on home-school or exempt school student participation.

Policy 5202 Attachment: FERPA Notifications of Rights (Federal Education Records Protection Act)

• Attachment with Notification of Rights

Policy 5413: Student Interviews

• Updated to reflect amended laws giving law enforcement more authority to take a student into temporary custody.

Policy 5418: Every Student Succeeds Act - Homeless

• Updates current homeless student policy to reflect NDE recommendation.

Policy 6800: Internet Safety Policy

• Updated to reflect LB 512 that refers to Student Online Protection Act (SOPPA).

Policy 8130: Annual Organization Meeting (optional)

• Includes language to break an impasse during board officer elections.

(Tabled in June and July due to time involved in the review of policy update from Mr. Perry)

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.

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

1. Junior-Senior High Student Handbook (Attachments include Handbook and proposed changes)

2. Elementary Handbook (Attachments include Handbook and proposed changes)

3. Faculty Handbook (Attachments include Handbook and proposed changes)

A. Certificated Employee Evaluation Instrument (Reg 4150 A)

        B.  Counselor Evaluation Instrument

        C.  School Pyschologist Evaluation Instrument

4. Coach’s Handbook (Attachments include Handbook and proposed changes)

5. Non-Certificated Employee Handbook (Attachments include Handbook and proposed changes)

A. Employment Agreement - Form A - Non-Certificated

B. Employee Evaluation Instrument - Non-Certificated

        C. Para-Educator Evaluation Instrument - Non-Certificated

6. Administrator’s Evaluation Instruments

  A. Principal Evaluation Instrument

  B. Activities Director Evaluation Instrument

  C. Superintendent Evaluation Instrument

7. Volunteer Handbook

Next Regular Meeting scheduled for July10^th, 2017with time to be determined.