August 12, 2024 at 6:30 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Approve that all legal requirements have been met as to advance notice of this meeting to both individual Board Members and to the public.

• Fremont Middle School

The Board of Education Policy Committee met on August 5, 2024. Two policies were reviewed and discussed: Policy 40A.4 and Policy 53C.1B Title IX Procedures for Complaints of Sexual Harassment and proposed Policy 5013 Students - Preschool Enrollment.

Attached is a replacement Policy 1210 for Policy 40A.4 and Policy 53C.1B as provided by the Perry Law Firm.  The proposed Policy 1210 authorizes the superintendent to develop procedures for Title  IX Complaints of Sexual Harassment.  This policy/direction is the recommendation of the Perry Law Firm given that as of August 1, 2024 the new USDOE Office of Civil Rights (OCR) Title IX Regulations have been implemented except in States (such as Nebraska) where there is a legal injunction in place. Attached are the Perry Law firm complaint procedures (based on the 2020 Title IX regulations) which the District will operate under until the Title IX legal challenge is settled or the OCR provides further guidance.

During the 2024 Legislative session the Unicameral adopted LB71 which required school districts to develop a policy for consideration of students beyond the eligible age for Kindergarten remaining in the districts preschool program pursuant to a parent’s request. The Perry Law Firm is recommending approval of the attached new Policy 5013 Students - Preschool Enrollment.

It is the recommendation of the Policy Committee to waive the second reading and adopt Policy 1210 Title IX Procedures for Complaints of Sexual Harassment and Policy 5013 Students - Preschool Enrollment policies as presented.

The High School CAD/CAM lab in the CTE Center is in need of a replacement laser engraver.  Education pricing has been provided by AEON Laser USA for a 24"X36" water-cooled laser engraver.  The engraver is used in the delivery of the curriculum for this content area and also throughout the district for making laser engraved signs.

Attached is the price quote for the purchase, delivery, orientation and unlimited support of the laser engraver provided by AEON.

Source of Funds:  2024-25 State CTE Grant

It is the recommendation of the Administration to enter into a contract to purchase, delivery, orientation and unlimited support of a 24"x36" laser engraver for the High School CAD/CAM lab at a not to exceed price of  $12,628.34 from AEON Laser USA. The source of funds for this purchase is the 2024-25 State CTE Grant.

The Board, by approving this contract is approving the contract documents, and all associated documents related thereto according to the terms and conditions as on file with district records or such other or additional terms and provisions as negotiated and approved by the Associate Superintendent or a designee, and the Board is hereby delegating to and authorizing the Associate Superintendent  or a designee to sign, execute, and deliver the contract documents and all such related documents, make all contract payments, and to take or cause to be taken any and all other action and sign any other documents as may be necessary to complete the transaction, and to administer, operate, and/or implement the contract and all associated documents related thereto on a day-to-day basis during this project as contemplated thereby, for and on behalf of this school district, and hereby designates the Director of Operations, or another person as selected by the Associate Superintendent or a designee from time to time as its program administrator under this agreement.

The District in 2015 contracted with Maly Marketing for website development and service.  Over the past 9 years the FPS website has developed into a web presence with statutorily required information and multiple pages of information/links to service providers for various online functions throughout the District.  The Office of Civil Rights has recently issued revised standards for webpage/website accessibility.  In order to meet these requirements, based on discussions with the OCR, District Legal Counsel and Maly Marketing it has been determined that a new provider should be identified.

Steve Maly, president of Maly Marketing and Fremont alum, is in agreement with the District moving in this direction. An internal committee reviewed proposals from two firms and conducted follow-up web meetings with each. Apptegy is the recommended firm to migrate the District website to. Several Nebraska school districts currently use Apptegy for website services including Columbus and North Platte.  As the name infers, Apptegy provides a web-based presence coupled with a downloadable application for use with smartphones and tablets.  The timeline for implementation is August, 2024 through December, 2024 with a projected launch date of January 6, 2025.

Attached is the price quote for the development, implementation, support and hosting of the FPS website and mobile app received from Apptegy. 

Source of Funds:  General Fund

It is the recommendation of Administration to enter into a contract with Apptegy for the development, implementation, support and hosting of the FPS website and mobile app at a cost of $36,700 for the first year and $24,375 (plus 5% annual escalation) for each of the three subsequent years.  The source of funds for this purchase is the General Fund.

The Board, by approving these contracts is approving the contract documents, and all associated documents related thereto according to the terms and conditions as on file with district records or such other or additional terms and provisions as negotiated and approved by the Associate Superintendent or a designee, and the Board is hereby delegating to and authorizing the Associate Superintendent  or a designee to sign, execute, and deliver the contract documents and all such related documents, make all contract payments, and to take or cause to be taken any and all other action and sign any other documents as may be necessary to complete the transaction, and to administer, operate, and/or implement the contract and all associated documents related thereto on a day-to-day basis during this project as contemplated thereby, for and on behalf of this school district, and hereby designates the Director of Operations, or another person as selected by the Associate Superintendent or a designee from time to time as its program administrator under this agreement.

The 60 member Citizens Committee identified the need/interest for the development of a multi-sports facility on the Fremont High School site which will accommodate varsity football games.  The project was on hold pending availability of funds.

As we near the end of the Bond Issue projects, due in part to the bond market when the debt was issued and the interest rates for reinvestment of the funds the District has approximately $5 million available for additional projects.  The Facilities Committee of the Board of Education, working with BVH and Hausmann Construction have identified the scope of projects necessary to complete the stadium project.  With the track replacement and installation of Field Turf both completed, as part of the bond projects, the total identified costs for the stadium project are currently estimated to cost $6.2 million.

Several individuals and entities have been approached to gauge interest in supporting this project.  The Dillon family has graciously agreed to support the project with a generous gift of $900,000.  With $300,000 being donated by Sid Dillon Sr., Sid Dillon Jr. and Blake Dillon.  An additional $150,000 has been committed by a Goldman and Sachs grant ($100,000) which Travis Chemelka secured, Gerry and Rhonda Gdowski ($50,000), Mark Guilliat ($12,500) and John Bonow ($12,500).

At this time the Facilities Committee and administration is recommending approval to provide Hausmann Construction a notice to proceed with the project at a not to exceed price $6.2 million.  Fundraising will continue to fill the $125,000 gap and the administration will continue to work with BVH and Hausmann to identify the potential for value engineering opportunities.  Fundraising is also underway for the purchase/installation of a video display to be incorporated into the newly installed scoreboard. District funds (SBF or Depreciation Fund) will be used to fund any gap remaining after fundraising and value engineering.

It is the recommendation of the Facilities Committee and administration that the District adjust the guaranteed maximum price with Hausmann Construction to develop and construct the high school stadium project as presented at a not to exceed price of $6.2 million. The source of funds for this project is the special building fund - bond proceeds and privately donated funds. 

The Board, by adjusting the contract with Hausmann Construction is approving the contract documents, and all associated documents related thereto according to the terms and conditions as on file with district records or such other or additional terms and provisions as negotiated and approved by the Associate Superintendent or a designee, and the Board is hereby delegating to and authorizing the Associate Superintendent  or a designee to sign, execute, and deliver the contract documents and all such related documents, make all contract payments, and to take or cause to be taken any and all other action and sign any other documents as may be necessary to complete the transaction, and to administer, operate, and/or implement the contract and all associated documents related thereto on a day-to-day basis during this project as contemplated thereby, for and on behalf of this school district, and hereby designates the Director of Operations, or another person as selected by the Associate Superintendent or a designee from time to time as its program administrator under this agreement.