May 14, 2018 at 5:30 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

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.

Rationale: 

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

Rationale: 

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.

Rationale:  Science Standards Presentation:
Mrs. Maggie Tiller and Mr. Scott Carlin will present information on the new Nebraska State Science Standards.

Nebraska Science Standards

Teacher Evaluation Presentation:
Mrs. Erin Beavers and Mrs. Heather Linden will join Mrs. Jonas in sharing the proposed teacher evaluation instrument.

Proposed Teacher Evaluation Instrument Presentation

Proposed Teacher Evaluation Instrument

 

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

  g. Check Journal

4. Excuse Absent Board Members

5. Consider Option Enrollment Requests

 

Rationale:  Mr. Josh Clark has been offered a teaching position in the business and information technology areas for the 2018-19 school year.  Mr. Clark is a 2012 graduate of Gothenburg High School and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.  He has been working in the technology field.

Mrs. Teresa Schneider has been offered a 0.5 FTE contract for the position of Director of Special Education for the 2018-19 school year.  Mrs. Schneider has served in the role of SPED Director in the Lexington Public Schools and previously in our district.  This role was reassigned to the Director of Teaching and Learning position when the administrative team was reduced by 1.0 FTE a few years ago.  It is no longer feasible to continue within this structure and continue our momentum with our PLCs and curriculum revision.

Rationale: 

The Superintendent is authorized and directed to dispose of books, furniture, equipment, real estate, and other property that is obsolete or no longer needed for school operations.  Any sale of school property is contingent on approval by the vote of at least two-thirds of the members of the Board of Education at a regular meeting.

Such disposal may be by private sale, auction, trade-in, or by taking bids and selling to the highest or most responsible bidder. 

The following items are no longer of use in the district and have been determined to have value:

2009 Chevrolet Impala LS 4 door Sedan
Power Steering, brakes, windows and driver's seat.
Rear defrost, 6 cylinder, 155,000 miles
All maintenance records since purchase

Sealed bids accepted until 1:00 pm. on Wednesday, May 23.

Approval of this item authorizes the Superintendent to facilitate disposal of said items.

Rationale:  Leadership within Gothenburg High School would like to add personal finance as a graduation requirement beginning with the Class of 2022 as this class will be entering high school next fall.  Exact structure is yet to be determined as it may be a stand-alone class and may be incorporated into other courses.

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 in installments with at least one sent upon completion of the legislative session.  Some policies may not be available until after 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 introduced at this meeting will be reviewed prior to the June meeting by the Policy Committee (Jobman, Fornoff)

Summary of Policy Updates from Perry Law Firm

Policy 5422 - Pregnant and Parenting Students

In 2017, the Nebraska Legislature passed a law that requires schools to adopt a written policy which provides for standards and guidelines to accommodate absences related to pregnancy and child care for pregnant and parenting students.

Rationale: 

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)

 

 

Rationale: 

Rationale: 

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.

Rationale:  June 11, 2018 – TBD