January 13, 2020 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: 

Dr. Rhodes will preside over the realignment of the Board of Education.

 

 

Rationale:  Policy #9120 states that at the January meeting of the Board of Education, a President, Vice-President, and Secretary shall be elected from the membership to a one-year term of office.  Officers in 2019 were Nate Wyatt, President, Jon Hudson, Vice President, and Jeremy Sitorius, Secretary.  Dr. Rhodes will accept nominations for offices and conduct the elections.  Kay Streeter has served as Secretary to the Board and will continue to do so if approved.   Randy Waskowiak has served as Board Treasurer and has agreed to continue to so if approved.

Rationale:  Nominations for the office of president will be accepted.  No second is required for nominations.  Paper ballots will be used if more than one board member is nominated.

Rationale:  Nominations for the office of vice president will be accepted.  No second is required for nominations.  Paper ballots will be used if more than one board member is nominated.

Rationale:  Nominations for the office of secretary will be accepted.  No second is required for nominations.  Paper ballots will be used if more than one board member is nominated.

Rationale: 

Kay Streeter, Dawson County School District #20 Business Manager, has served as Secretary to the Board and has agreed to continue in this role approved by the Board of Education.  Mrs. Streeter should be authorized to sign checks for the following funds:

Student Activity

Hot Lunch

Petty Cash

Student Fees

Employee Benefit

Depreciation

Rationale:  Mr. Randy Waskoviak, First State Bank, has served as Board Treasurer and has agreed to continue in the role if approved by the Board of Education.

Rationale:  The adoption of an order of business to guide the preparation of future agenda and conduct of meetings as defined in Policy 9300, Bylaws of the Board - Meetings.  The Table of Contents for Article 8, Internal Board Policy and Article 9, Bylaws of the Board are linked for reference purposes only.

Rationale: 

Board policy #8151, adopted in 2019, requires standing committees in the following areas:

            1.            Negotiations (Personnel)

            2.            Committee on American Civics

            3.            Transportation and Facilities

            4.            Finance

            5.            Policy

It shall further be the policy of Gothenburg Public Schools that the Superintendent shall appoint the members of the above committees.  The Superintendent will work with the reorganized board and submit standing committees at the February meeting.

A list of the proposed 2019 standing committees and an updated organizational structure are attached. 

Rationale:  Board Policy 8130, Annual Organizational Meeting, also directs the board to approve current Board policies and regulations at the organizational meeting.

Rationale:  The final task required by Annual Organizational Meeting Policy 8130 is the dissemination of conflict of interest policies and forms.  Copies will be distributed during the meeting and linked to the agenda.  Electronic versions of the forms were also sent to board members last week.

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:  Gothenburg Public School faculty members will present on the "Circle of Friends" program.

Rationale: 

The ELA committee has researched several curriculums this fall and will recommend a curriculum to the Board.  The curriculum is available for public viewing up to the next advertised board meeting.

Teachers and administrators presented the process of selecting and proposing the adoption of an ELA curriculum to the Committee on American Civics on Monday, January 13th prior to the January board meeting.

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

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

 

Rationale:  Upon reviewing the school calendar a conflict was found with the scheduled winter Parent-Teacher conferences.  Winter conferences are scheduled for Thursday, February 6th from 5:00-8:00 p.m. and Friday, February 7th from 7:00-9:00 a.m.  Thursday is scheduled as a 2:30 dismissal and Friday the 7th is No School for students and half a teacher day.  On Thursday there are home 7th and 8th basketball games scheduled.  

We are proposing moving the evening winter conferences from Thursday, February 6th to Tuesday, February 4th from 5:00-8:00 p.m.  Tuesday would also be a 2:30 dismissal and Thursday would be a regular school day.

Rationale:  Gothenburg board policy 2120 states that the Superintendent of Schools shall be evaluated twice during the first year of employment and at least once annually thereafter.  The Gothenburg Board of Education has completed Dr. Rhodes' 1st semester evaluation and performance goals.

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. Committee on American Civics (Mrs. Jobman, Mr. Brundage, Mr. Hudson)
5. Policy Review (Mr. Brundage, Mr. Fornoff, Mrs. Jobman)

 

Rationale: 

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:  Personnel Committee- Tuesday, January 28th-7:00 a.m.

Finance Committee- Tuesday, February 4th-7:00 a.m.

February Regular Board Meeting- Monday, February 10th-Noon or 7:00 p.m.