June 12, 2023 at 12:00 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:  Mr. Marc Mroczek - Congratulations to Madison Smith for her Class B State Championship and All-Class Gold medal for the Discus in Track and Field for the SECOND year in a row!

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: 

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: 

The District’s general policy is to provide for free instruction in accordance with the Nebraska State Constitution.  The District also provides activities, programs, and services that extend beyond the minimum level of constitutionally required free instruction.  Under the Public Elementary and Secondary Student Fee Authorization Act, the District is permitted to charge students fees for these activities or to require students to provide specialized equipment and attire for certain purposes.  This policy is subject to further interpretation or guidance by administrative or Board regulations.  Students are encouraged to contact their building administration, their teachers or their coaches and sponsors for further specifics.

This policy was approved in spring 2022 and is posted as a procedural item, so no motion needs to be made at this time.

Rationale:  Review the amount of money collected from students pursuant to, and the use of waivers provided in, the student fees policy of District #20 for the 2022-2023 school year.

As a procedural item, no motion is required.

Rationale:  An opportunity for the public to comment on the Student Fees Policy.

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

Lucas Shaner 11th Grade to Brady
Dale Shaner 12th Grade to Brady

Rationale:  These three spaces have HVAC units that are not working and need to be replaced.  Rutt's Mechanical has provided the bids and these services in the past.  The administration and the Transportation and Facilities committee are recommending the bid from Rutt's.

Rationale:  Rutt's Mechanical Services is our primary provider of HVAC repairs.  By entering into a one-year agreement, we are able to capture a 10% discount on parts and $20 per hour discount on labor.  This past year, this would have amounted to approximately $7,500 in savings.  Given the age of our systems, entering into this one-year agreement will help ensure we're doing everything we can to maintain a learning environment that does not lose heat or cool during critical learning times.

Rationale:  If there was community input, consider a first reading.  If there was not community input during the hearing then consider approval of this policy on first reading.

Rationale:  State statute 79-729 specifies Computer Science and Technology as a requirement for high school graduation.  This update will ensure we comply with this law.  Mrs. Vickie Keiser will be teaching this course starting in the fall.  Mr. Roger Koehler teaches Personal Finance which is the other required course for graduation that was added a few years ago.

Rationale:  According to state statute, the district's policy on bullying prevention must be reviewed annually.  There are no changes to this policy at this time.  This is a review only.  No action is required.

Rationale:  The proposed handbook aligns our updated policies with our student handbook.  We are still working on these but are providing an active link for review prior to the July board meeting.  Timing of approval is important to ensure we can get copies of the handbook to students in August.

Rationale:  This designation is done on an annual basis prior to September of each year.

Rationale:  Mrs. Jonas' contract and board policy require evaluation twice during the first year of employment and at least once annually thereafter.  The Gothenburg Board of Education has completed Mrs. Jonas' second 2022-2023 evaluation and performance goals.

Rationale:  We currently charge $3-Adults, $3-Students for lower-level games.  We will be increasing this to $5-Adults, $4-Students.

This will help with the increase in officials' pay - which officials are getting tougher and tougher to find for these games.  

Please note:  our prices for JV/Varsity games will remain the same $6-Adults, $5-Students.

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:  Monday, July 10th (noon or 5?)

Swede Activities: none