April 8, 2019 at 5:00 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:  Mrs. Stortenbecker and members of the photography class will discuss the course and the photographs selected for the Discovery Center and for the Teaching and Learning Lab.

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.  Monthly Revenue and Expense

  f.   Check Journal

4. Excuse Absent Board Members

5. Consider Option Enrollment Requests
2019-20 Option In: Emma Evert - Kindergarten from Brady
2019-20 Option Out:  Dixie Schram - Kindergarten to Brady

 

Rationale: 

Elementary and junior high teachers have been reviewing science materials from Amplify to align with the new Nebraska Science Standards.  The Amplify materials were presented at the March board meeting and have been available for public viewing since they were presented.

Members of the Curriculum Committee reviewed the materials on Tuesday, February 26^th.  The procedures for adoption of new curriculum is defined in Policy #6210, Curriculum Development and Adoption.

Rationale:  Mrs. Heather Linden has submitted her resignation for the end of the 2018-19 school year.  Mrs. Linden has taught in Dudley Elementary for the past two years.  She has accepted a position in York Public Schools.

Mrs. Claudine Kennicutt has submitted her resignation for the end of the 2018-19 school year.  Mrs. Kennicutt has served in various roles in the district for the past 15 years.  She has accepted a coordinator position at ESU 10 in Kearney.

Rationale:  Mrs. Erica Wieseler has been offered the vocal music teaching position in the music department for the 2019-20 school year.  Mrs. Wieseler has been teaching in Cozad Schools for the past four years.

Ms. Stephanie Hansen has been offered a teaching position in the elementary school for the 2019-20 school year.  Ms. Hansen will graduate from UNK in May and has been student teaching in Omaha.

Rationale: 

We recently completed a required external audit of our lunch program and were directed to increase the price of adult lunches and breakfast as the prices must be above the minimum as calculated by the National School Lunch Program. 

The following data is used in calculating the minimum price.
    $3.31 reimbursement for free meals
      $.06 - certified meal reimbursement
      $.2325 - commodity food value

Therefore, Mrs. Jacobsen has recommended that the following prices for adult lunch prices for 2019-20:

adult lunch . $3.75
adult breakfast . $2.20
 

 

 

 

Rationale: 

The revised version of the approved calendar for 2019-20 is attached.  The February in-service day was moved back to an instructional day after further discussions with Executive Council and high school staff who were concerned about reduced instructional time with students.

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:  The last day of school for students was scheduled for Friday, May 17.  While the approved calendar only included one (1) snow day and we used two, the leadership team and Executive Council do not feel that bringing the students back for Monday would have any instructional value so that day will not be made up.  Therefore, the last student day will be on Friday as scheduled.  We are evaluating ways to utilize an extra teacher day on Tuesday.  

Preschool Program - Applications exceed available spots.  Refer to the Curriculum Committee.

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:  Monday, May 13 (TBD)