March 11, 2019 at 7:00 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:  Mr. Tom Belanger and students from the Advanced Performance.
 

Rationale: 

Elementary and junior high teachers have been reviewing new science materials to align with the new Nebraska Science Standards.   The Amplify materials are available for public viewing up to the next advertised board meeting.

Teachers and administrators presented materials by Amplify to the Curriculum Committee on Tuesday, February 26th.

The procedures for adoption of new curriculum is defined in Policy #6210, Curriculum Development and Adoption.

Rationale: 

1. Approval of Previous Minutes
      February 11^th Regular Meeting
      February 28^th Special 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:  2019-20 School Year
Talia Morland - 8th Grade - from North Platte

 

Rationale:  Mr. Tom Belanger has submitted his resignation effective at the end of the 2018-19 school year.  Mr. Belanger has served in the music department for ten years and plans to return to Minnesota to be closer to family.

Miss Amy Fleer has submitted her resignation effective at the end of the 2018-19 school year.  Miss Fleer has served in the SPED department for two years and plans to return to Pierce to be closer to family.
 

Rationale:  Ms. Tonya Welch has been offered a teaching position in Gothenburg Public Schools for the 2018-19 school years.  The exact assignment is yet to be determined.

Rationale:  A special committee including Mr. Sitorius and Mr. Hudson have been working with Dr. Teahon and Mr. Holmes to locate an over-the-road coach to replace one of the existing coach buses.  Multiple options were considered including an activities bus (Blue Bird), an executive coach bus and the used over-the-road coaches.  The current buses were purchased in 2005 (1994) and 2008 (1996) and are either near or over one million miles.

The purchase price for the 56-passenger, 2012 MTI bus with approximately 235,000 miles is $288,500.  Coach Masters has agreed to split the cost of new tires.  Graphics will be added in the summer at a cost somewhere between $4,000 and $8,000.  Maintenance records from Cummins were reviewed and the vehicle was placed on a lift and inspected by mechanic James Stevens. 

 

Rationale: 

The proposed calendar for 2019-20 is attached.  The calendar has been reviewed by the Leadership Team, the Executive Council and discussed at the previous two meetings.

Rationale: 

Committee Reports (Chair in bold)

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

 

Rationale: 

Rationale:  A  list of summer projects has been presented to the Facilities Committee.  The Committee prioritized projects from the list and presented the attached proposal for board consideration at the February meeting.

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:  April 8th, TBD

5 - 8 Band Concert is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on that evening.