February 12, 2024 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: 

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: 

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:  
McKinley McCoy - 11th Grade from Cozad

24-25 School Year
Option In:
Cole Lauer - K from Cozad
Chelsea Aden - K from Eustis-Farnam

 

Rationale: 

• Miss Hailey Wilson has attended Concordia University and will graduate in May 2024.  She is currently fulfilling her Student Teaching experience in a kindergarten classroom at Centennial Elementary in Utica, NE.  Miss Wilson graduated from Cozad Public Schools, played softball at Concordia University, and is planning for an upcoming wedding.  Miss Wilson will be joining the 2nd grade team with Mrs. Bartels and Mrs. Foster.

• Mrs. Blayre Miller will be joining us in either the area of Special Education or kindergarten, depending on Kindergarten enrollment numbers.  She is currently Student Teaching in the kindergarten classroom with Mrs. Neels and enjoying every minute of the "littles".  She is a resident of Gothenburg and has been very visible around Dudley Elementary as a substitute teacher and assisting with Camp Dudley.
   
• Mr. Ryan Johnson has attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney and will graduate in May 2024.  He is currently fulfilling his Student Teaching experience in Lexington.  Mr. Johnson graduated from Ravenna Public Schools, and has participated in the Teacher Scholars Academy, Kappa Kappa Psi, and various music ensembles.  Mr. Johnson will be joining our team as the 5th - 12th grade Instrumental Music instructor.
   
• Mrs. Kristin Hastings, who has been serving as our Secondary Media Center Specialist has been working toward her Special Education Endorsement through the University of Nebraska at Kearney and will be eligible to teach Special Education this fall.  With her passion for students who benefit from specialized instruction, she will be a fantastic fit for our special education team!  She will join our team as the 7th - 9th grade Special Education Teacher.
   
• Miss Selena Bloos has attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney and will graduate in May 2024.  She is currently fulfilling her Student Teaching experience at Lexington Middle School.  Miss Bloos graduated from Franklin Public Schools where she participated in One Act and Speech.  Fun Fact: Miss Bloos is an accomplished Martial Arts enthusiast!  Miss Bloos will be joining our English Language Arts team.
   
• Mrs. Shauna Baker, currently part of our English Language Arts team, has been selected as our next 9-12 School Counselor.  Mrs. Baker brings an array of experiences that range from college advising and business training to classroom connections and expanded knowledge in the world of school counseling.  She has great relationships with students and teachers alike and will be a great addition to our Leadership Team!

Rationale:  We join the following cooperatives as student needs are identified.  Program costs are prorated between districts who utilize the program.

Audiology. Several audiological services are available, these include comprehensive hearing evaluations for individuals from birth to 21 years of age; analysis, testing, and troubleshooting of hearing aid and cochlear implant devices used by students; consultation on FM system/auditory trainer device purchases for use at school as well as fitting and adjusting school amplification devices and assessment of classroom acoustics; and on-site school consultations regarding the impact of hearing loss, noise exposure, hearing loss prevention, and how to properly use and troubleshoot equipment.
 
Deaf Education. Three deaf educators provided direct services, consultative services, and assessment services to school districts in ESU 10 and ESU 11 to assist them in providing services to students, birth-21 who are deaf or hard of hearing.
 
Vision Services. A vision specialist provided direct services, consultative services, and assessment services to ESU 10 school districts’ students, ages birth-21 who are blind or partially sighted.  
 
Vocational Transition. A vocational transition specialist provided on-site assistance to 21 school districts for students with disabilities age 16 and older to help them realize independent living and employment appropriate to each student’s skills and abilities.
 
SpEd Supplemental Supervision School Age. There was a change in 2018-19 for districts who were not part of the supervision cooperative.  The service unit has an obligation to evaluate and supervise the special education staff that they employ and the programs in which they work so all districts that contract for staff are required to contribute to the supervision cooperative.  Costs are adjusted for districts with their own special education supervisors to account for staff supervision only and do not include charges for other supervision services. These costs appear on the schedule A as SpEd Supplemental Supervision services.

Rationale:  A Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund (QCPUF) may be established for the removal of environmental hazards, the reduction or elimination of accessibility barriers in school district buildings, the repayment of a qualified zone academy bond issued for a qualified capital purpose, modifications for life safety code violations, life safety hazards, and mold abatement and prevention projects for existing facilities only. 

The QCPUF Fund is a taxing fund and not part of the $1.05 cap. Effective April 19, 2016, the tax levy for this fund is restricted to 3¢. 

Tax levies for the removal of environmental hazards, the reduction or elimination of accessibility barriers in school district buildings, the repayment of a qualified zone academy bond issued for a qualified capital purpose, modifications for life safety code violations, mold abatement and prevention projects cannot exceed ten years for each project. 

The 2023-2024 adopted budget called for the creation of the QCPUF and outlined anticipated expenditures for this fund.  The adoption of this resolution would AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE AND SALE BY THE DISTRICT OF ITS LIMITED TAX OBLIGATION SCHOOL BONDS, SERIES 2024 IN THE AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT TO EXCEED TWO MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($2,200,000) FOR THE PURPOSE OF PAYING THE COSTS OF THE PROJECT DESCRIBED HEREIN.

Rationale:  Our contract with Joseph R. Hewgley & Associates, Inc. outlines a 9.5% architectural services fee based on the projected cost of our Area B project that will take place this summer.  Funds will be paid from the Special Building Fund.

Rationale:  This year's calendar has received feedback from our Superintendent's Advisory Council, Leadership Team, administrative team, and all teachers. 

Because Christmas lands on a Wednesday, we will have two full weeks for Christmas break.  Students will return for a full week.  We realize this is not ideal for teachers and can be a difficult transition for students but we are not going to entertain a break for students longer than that.  To ensure we get our days in, Spring Break will be shorter.

SWC Wrestling is on February 6th.  We cannot have school in the JH/HS on that day but will keep elementary students here on that day.  The reverse will be true on April 17th for Dutch Zorn when we will not have elementary in session.  We believe this solution provides the most consistency for parents and students.

We have also included FIVE extra days in the school calendar for things like snow days, cold days, and state activities that require dismissal.  The proposed calendar includes 174.5 student days and 15.5 staff days - which totals 190 days (5 more than contracted).

As a first reading, there is no action needed.  There is no "perfect solution" to a calendar but I would encourage those who have feedback to please reach out to me directly.  

Rationale:  Mrs. Josie Floyd & Mr. Seth Ryker have prepared their annual Multicultural Education Report.

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:  Monday, March 11th

Swede Activities:
None

REMINDER: April Board Meeting will be held on the THIRD Monday - April 15th.