July 10, 2017 at 5:00 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.

Invited presenters:

• Teammates,  Lynnette Stevens

Opportunity for Public Expression:

• This item serves as the time entitled for public forum during which patrons may address the Board on matters of general concern per Board Policy 8346, Opportunity for Public Expression.  (A copy of the policy is available.)

• Patrons will be allowed five (5) minutes to express their view.  Board of Education Members will refrain from expressing personal opinions during the Public Forum unless asked a direct question by a patron recognized by the Board President as having the floor.  The board imposed time limit may be extended by a majority vote of the Board.  The board may limit collective comments on a particular topic when necessary. The Board may not take action on matters discussed in the Public Forum unless the item appears on the prepared agenda.

• All concerns and complaints should go through the chain of command beginning with the teacher/sponsor and then to the building administrator/program supervisor and finally to the Superintendent.  If the initiating party is not satisfied with the response of the Superintendent, said party may address a written appeal to the Board of Education through the Secretary of the Board.

As a meeting of the Gothenburg Board of Education is a meeting held in public and not a public meeting, visitors should refrain from comments unless recognized by the chair.

1.    Approval of Minutes for June 12, 2017 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:

Jens Hansen - Preschool - From Brady

Rori Hansen - Preschool - From Brady

Maci Hansen - 1st Grade - From Brady

Option Out: 

1.  Policy 5416 - Student Fees

  The hearing on Student Fees was held in June.  

        Lunch prices were increased at the June board meeting.

        Annual Student Activity Tickets will increase from $35 to $40 to reflect the increase in student          

        admission price discussed in June. 

2.  Policy 6400 - Parent Involvement in Schools 

  Hearing held in June.  No changes proposed.

3.  Policy 5415 - Bullying Policy

  Brief review of bullying policy as required by statute.  No changes proposed.

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.  All of the following policy proposals were presented in June.

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 were 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 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.

Policy not moved forward from Committee:

Policy 4028: Employee Fundraising (optional)

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

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

(Mr. Wyatt has filed a conflict of interest form and will not participate in the discussion or vote.)

Vice President Hudson will lead the discussion on this item.

Substitute salaries will increase from $105 per day to $110 per day.  The rate for substitutes working in the same position for ten consecutive days will remain at $140 per day.  The proposed rates are competitive with schools within the Southwest Conference and within Dawson and Lincoln Counties.

(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

Board Retreat for Strategic Planning, Wednesday, August 2^nd, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. in the Discovery Center.

Next Regular Meeting scheduled for August 14^th, 2017 with time to be determined.