May 8, 2023 at 5:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

Mission Statement:

Gothenburg Public Schools is the cornerstone of a proud, passionate, and progressive community where students and staff thrive in a positive and innovative environment.  We ensure the growth of all individuals by inspiring them to own and maximize their potential.

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: 

Board Policy 2009 - Opportunity for Public Expression.  
(A copy of the policy is linked here.)

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO SPEAK: This is the portion of the meeting when members of the public may speak to the board about matters of public concern.  

• Getting Started:  When you have been recognized, please stand and state your name.   

• Time Limit:  The board will generally allow a total of 30 minutes for the presentation of all public comments.  Individuals may speak only one time, and must limit comments to around 5 minutes.  If there are more than 6 individuals who wish to address the board, the 30 minutes will be divided equally between the number of speakers.   These time limits may be changed by a majority vote of the board members in attendance to extend the time for a specific item or speaker. 

• Personnel or Student Topic:  If you are planning to speak about a personnel or a student matter involving an individual, please understand that the district has a complaint policy and/or procedures to resolve such complaints and concerns.  The Board requests that you follow the policy and procedures before addressing these matters with the Board.  Board members will generally not respond to any questions you ask or comments about individual staff members or students.  

• General Rules: This is a public meeting for the conduct of business.  Comments from the audience while others are speaking will not be tolerated.  Lewd, obscene, profane, slanderous, threatening and hostile conduct or statements and fighting words (words whose mere utterance entails a call to violence) will not be tolerated. 

• No Action by the Board:  The board will not act on any matter unless it is on the published agenda. 

Rationale:  Dan Bird
University of Nebraska at Kearney - Here to honor our NEXTGen Team.

Rationale: 

Nebraska School Districts are required to have annual hearings for each of the following areas:

Budget (September)

Tax Request (September)

Student Fees Policy (June)

Parental Involvement Policy (June)

 

Other Hearings may be scheduled as needed.

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
Option In:
Kaylee Smith - 3rd Grade from Cozad
Raelyn Smith - 5th Grade from Cozad

2023-24 School Year
Cole Aden - Kindergarten from Eustis-Farnam

 

Rationale:  Our vendor will not allow us to order module workbooks for only the units we need.  As such, at the end of each year there are some materials that are not needed.  Either they are standards that are not covered or we run out of time.  I am looking for a motion to allow me to find a place for them.

Rationale:  With the upcoming retirement of Joni Jacobsen, our long-time Food Service Director, we began the process to determine if we would keep our food service in-house or contract with a third-party vendor.  To ensure our options were open, we submitted a Request for Proposals (RFP) for third party vendors and advertised for a Food Service Director simultaneously.  A committee consisting of the elementary principal, superintendent, food service director, and a board member met to review the two proposals on May 4th.  Those present will provide a summary of the process as well as their recommendation.  

Rationale:  We currently have several coaching openings for the 2023-2024 school year.  Any interested persons should apply directly to Mr. Mroczek.  While we prefer to hire a teacher-coach, this is not always possible.  Policy allows us to hire anyone with proper certification.  The person that we hire will be the best possible fit for the position and program.  Experience and knowledge of the game plays a factor in the final decision. 

Evaluation of applicants is done in collaboration between Mr. Mroczek and Mr. Ryker who sit in on the interviews with final approval from the superintendent.  The ultimate decision is what is best for the students and the overall program. 

Current Openings:
 

Rationale: 

Committee Reports (Chair in bold)

1.  Personnel Committee (Mr. Fornoff, Mrs. Terrell, Mrs. Jobman)
2. Transportation and Facilities (Mr. Wyatt, Mr. Dalrymple, Mrs. Brass)
3. Finance (Mrs. Jobman, Mr. Wyatt, Mrs. Brass)
4. Committee on American Civics (Mrs. Terrell, Mr. Fornoff, Mr. Dalrymple)
5. Policy Review (Mrs. Terrell, Mr. Fornoff, Mrs. Brass)

 

Rationale: 

Rationale: 

According to § 84-1410, 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
(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:  TBD  (2nd Monday of the month)

Swede Activities: