June 12, 2023 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

Rationale: 

1. The Board of Education reserves the right to enter into Closed/Executive Session for 1) the protection of public interest or 2) the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual, and the individual has not requested a public meeting. When making a motion to enter into Closed/Executive Session, the member making such a request should be as specific as possible keeping the previously listed stipulation in consideration. 
2. If the Board is in agreement, a motion maybe to enter into Closed/Executive Session to 1) discuss a personnel matter, or 2) for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of the individual, or 3) to discuss litigation and for the protection of the public interest.
3. Action concerning matters discussed in Closed/Executive Session will be acted upon in open session

Rationale: 

Welcome to the Dundy County Stratton Public Schools Board of Education Meeting.  The Board welcomes citizens to attend board meetings to become acquainted with the programs and operations of the district.  Members of the public are also encouraged to share their ideas and opinions with the Board during the agenda item labeled “Public Items”.  Comments or questions from the audience at any other time during the meeting except for the agenda item “Public Items” will out of necessity be declared out of order.

The Nebraska Open Meetings Act prevents the board from speaking to a matter that is not on the agenda.  Please understand that the board may be unable to address your issue during the meeting.  It is not permissible for the board to comment on items not listed for the protection of the public’s right to know and participate in the discussion of items that do come before the board and stated appropriately in the meeting agenda.  

During this agenda item “Public Items” we ask that you abide by the following rules:

Public Comment Protocol and Procedures

1. Anyone wishing to speak to the board on specific agenda items or on other topics relevant to board business must complete a Public Comment Request Card and submit it to the Board President prior to the opening of the meeting.   The public will only be recognized and their comments heard at Item “Public Items” on the board agenda.  The total time allotted for the public comment will not exceed thirty minutes and each member of the public will be allotted not more than five minutes to address the Board.  If a group wishes to speak, please designate one spokesperson for the group.
   
   
2. Please state your name and the topic you are addressing before you begin.  
   
   
3. Speakers are asked to direct their questions and comments to the chair.  A member of the Board of Education or the Superintendent may direct clarifying questions to the chair, but the board will not under any circumstance enter into a debate with any the member of the public.
   
   
4. Speakers may offer objective criticism of district operations and programs, but the Board would encourage members of the public to address complaints concerning individual district personnel through the proper chain of command.  The chair may direct the member of the public to the appropriate means to address concerns brought before the Board; however, the board will not respond with action but will take comments under advisement and direct the comments to the appropriate staff member to address outside of the board meeting.
   
   
5. Please remember that is a public meeting for the conduct of business of the Dundy County Stratton Public School District. Offensive language, personal attacks and hostile conduct will not be tolerated. You should further be advised that there is no legal protection for any comments that are made. 
   
   
6. As stated in NEB. REV. STAT. § 79-570 Class I, II, III, IV, or VI school district; president; meetings; maintenance of order.  

   If any district meeting of a Class I, II, III, IV, or VI school district any person conducts himself or herself in a disorderly manner and persists in such conduct after notice by the president or person presiding, the president or person presiding may order such person to withdraw from the meeting and, if the person refuses, may order any person or persons to take such person into custody until the meeting is adjourned.

7. As stated in NEB. REV. STAT. § 79-571 Class I, II, III, IV, or VI school district; meetings; disorderly conduct; penalty. 

Any person who refuses to withdraw from such meeting on being so ordered as provided in section 79-570 or who willfully disturbs such meeting shall be guilty of a Class V misdemeanor. 

Rationale:  Proposed Dates:  
Wednesday, June 21
Thursday, June 22
Thursday, June 29

Rationale:  To verify that notice of the meeting was given by publication in the Benkelman Post, a legal newspaper for Dundy County Stratton and by written notice to each member of the board, the designated method of giving notice

Rationale:  These are very minor changes and may have inserted a word or specific number as required by State Law.  
3001:  States superintendent is responsible for creating budget.
3003.1 - Bidding for Construction, Remodeling, Repair or Related Projects financed with Federal Funds

This policy sets out the requirements that you must follow when you use federal funds for construction. Please note that this policy will apply to any construction financed with federal funds, regardless of how much the anticipated project will cost. If the construction project has an anticipated cost of more than $100,000, then you will have to comply with both policy 3003 and 3003.1.
3004.1 - Fiscal Management for Purchasing and Procurement Using Federal Funds

This policy sets out all of the elements that are required by the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR). These regulations apply to all federal grants that are made by the US Department of Education to local school districts directly and to all funds that pass from the federal government through state departments of education to local schools. That means you will need to follow this policy for purchases for your food program, special education, Title I and any other federal program. The first section recites that this policy will only apply to purchases made with federal dollars. This keeps your staff from having to jump through the hoops in this policy if they are spending state or local funds. All of your staff who work in areas where federal funds are spent (cooks, special ed and Title I paraeducators, etc.) should be trained on this policy.
3033 - Lending Textbooks to Children Enrolled in Private Schools

This policy complies with Rule 4 of the Nebraska Department of Education. It addresses lending textbooks to children enrolled in private schools and the process for individuals to fill out an application for the textbooks. The procedures and timelines laid out in the policy are required by NDE. Refer to the 3000 series memo for more information.
3036 - Purchasing (Credit) Card Program

Many school districts in Nebraska use credit cards to purchase goods and services for school purposes. However, many schools are unaware that, though state law authorizes the use of such credit cards, it also imposes certain obligations upon the district. In addition, the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts has chastised some schools in their audits because school personnel failed to maintain adequate supporting documentation for credit card expenses in violation of state law and school district policy. This policy includes everything required by state law and incorporates recommendations made by the State Auditor in previous school district audits. It also tracks changes to federal purchasing and procurement and allows continuity of your purchasing system. After you adopt the policy, we strongly encourage you to provide a copy of it to all employees and require them to acknowledge that they have received and read it.
4003 - Drug Testing of Drivers

This policy satisfies the federal law requirement that school districts have a policy that requires drivers to be free from drug and alcohol abuse and that prohibits the possession of unlawful drugs on school property. It sets forth the protocol for requiring and administering testing of drivers. You should review it carefully, and update it as necessary to ensure it is consistent with the terms and procedures of your district’s drug and alcohol testing program.

4045 - Milk Expression

This policy states the new federal requirement that the district provide reasonable break time for an employee who wishes to express breast milk for her nursing child in a place, other than a bathroom, which is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public for one year after the child’s birth.
4059 - Behavioral and Mental Health Training

Nebraska statute requires the Nebraska Department of Education to provide annual suicide prevention training to schools. The statute provides, "Beginning in school year 2015-16, all public school nurses, teachers, counselors, school psychologists, administrators, school social workers, and any other appropriate personnel shall receive at least one hour of suicide awareness and prevention training each year." It is up to the board to determine who constitutes "other appropriate personnel." The Department of Education’s school safety center recommends that "[a]ny school staff member having contact with students" participate in this training, including "para-professionals, administrative/secretarial staff, bus drivers, custodians, kitchen staff, etc." The attached policy lists all of the staff members who are required to complete the suicide awareness training. The highlighted positions are staff members who your board may deem to be "appropriate personnel" to receive the staff. If there are positions which you determine to not be an appropriate staff member to participate in suicide awareness training, please delete it from the version of the policy that your board adopts.
 

Rationale:  Presentation of the financial status of the district, balances in various funds, recent/impending activity therein, anticipated expenses and planning for future considerations.

Rationale: 

DCS Board Goals

1. Student Learning Opportunities:  Implement expanded learning opportunities for students to enhance college/career/ readiness skills.

2. Culture and Cohesion:  Foster a caring, inclusive culture where all staff and students feel value, support, and connectedness.

3. Personnel Effectiveness:  Continue to provide organized PLC’s to grow a positive and collaborative learning culture for staff and students.

4. Communication and Partnerships:  Continue to increase communication to maintain perceptions of DCS by engaging students, families, employees and the community.

5. District Resources:  Creation of a comprehensive facilities plan to address both short-term and long-term goals including but not limited to new construction, renovation, maintenance of facilities and acquiring property to meet the future needs of the district.  

6. Board Governance:  Establish and maintain effective communication with stakeholders to promote the district’s image, and build and sustain partnerships that best serve education.  

Rationale:  1996 Ford Taurus:  178,539 miles
2002 Ford Taurus: 111963 miles
22 Tables, 52 Steel Chairs, Ball Cart, 2 mop buckets, Hobart dishwasher, Hobart mixer, 2 steam kettles, Floor stand mixer, High jump pits, 15 plastic floor desk mats, Air Compressor, 2 milk coolers, 2 gas ovens, Oven with microwave, Gym equipment, Push mower, 2 riding mowers, 2 weedeaters, 5 wooden doors.