October 9, 2017 at 7:30 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

The mission of Gothenburg Public Schools is to prepare all students 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.

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

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.

MUSICAL:  The Board of Education is invited to peek in on the dress rehearsal for the Musical at the conclusion of the meeting.

1. Approval of Previous Minutes

    a.  Budget Hearing on September 11, 2017

    b.  Tax Request Hearing on September 11, 2017

    c.  Regular Board Meeting on September 11, 2017

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

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.

Dr. Teahon and Mrs. Jonas will present the annual report for special education.

Committee Reports (Chair in bold)

1.  Personnel Committee (Mr. Sitorius, Mr. Brundage, Mr. Hudson)
2. Transportation and Facilities (Mr. Fornoff, Mrs. Jobman, Mr. Wyatt)
3. Finance (Mr. Hudson, Mrs. Jobman, Mr. Sitorius)
4. Curriculum & Americanism (Mr. Brundage, Mr. Wyatt, Mr. Fornoff)
5. Policy Review (Mr. Fornoff, Mrs. Jobman)

State Education Conference - November 15-17 in LaVista, NE

We will be staying at the Element in the Mid-Town Crossing area.

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

The Board of Education may hold a closed session by the affirmative vote of a majority of its voting members if a closed session is clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual and if such individual has not requested a public meeting.  Closed sessions may be held for, but shall not be limited to, such reasons as:  (a) strategy sessions with respect to collective bargaining, real estate purchases, or litigation; (b) discussion regarding deployment of security personnel or devices; (c) investigative proceedings regarding allegations or misconduct; or (d) evaluation of the job performance of a person when necessary to prevent needless injury to the reputation of a person.

The vote to hold a closed session shall be taken in open session.  The subject matter and the reason necessitating the closed session shall be identified in the motion to close.  If the motion to close passes, then the presiding officer immediately prior to the closed session shall restate on the record the limitation of the subject matter of the closed session. The Board shall restrict its consideration of matters during the closed portions to only those purposes set forth in the motion to close as the reason for the closed session. The meeting shall be reconvened in open session before any formal action may be taken.

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.

November 13, 2017 – TBD