August 16, 2023 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Public Information: 

• Follow-up on board retreat and work with NASB to revise board goals and superintendent goals.  I met with Kari Stephens, NASB, on Wednesday morning for an initial discussion on changes.   A draft is attached for board review to consider the changed format and changes to indicators. 
• Curriculum and American Civics - We typically hold the first of our two scheduled meetings to receive public input during October.  The policy committee will be meeting prior to the board meeting so we can either stay after the board meeting for a committee meeting or find another date/time.
• Staffing Update -  We will have a variety of long-term substitute positions to fill.  We are currently looking for a long-term paraeducator at Valparaiso. The rate of pay for a substitute is $15/hour. 
• Facility Update - The water heater at the Jr/Sr building has been repaired and fired up today.  The burner, blower fan, flu pipe were replaced and the unit cleaned out.   The new water heater for Valparaiso has been ordered but not received yet.  Another heat pump at Valparaiso had the fan motor quit which is a $1700 replacement cost. 
• Garage Sale - We receipted $741 from the garage sale.  Some of the items will be disposed of and we will use Facebook Marketplace to try to sell the kiln.
• Transfer of monies to depreciation and employee benefit fund needs to be done before year end.  Any transfers will be on the agenda for approval at the special board meeting on August 30th to allow for further development of the budget based on current valuations.  
• Elementary Enrollment

	Valparaiso	Ceresco
0	24	19
	M 14 /F 10	M 9 /F 10
1	30	23
	M 14 /F 16	M 9 /F 14
2	23	20
	M 12 /F 11	M 12 /F 8
3	29	22
	M 14 /F 15	M 9 /F 13
4	23	28
	M 11 /F 12	M 12 /F 16
5	22	26
	M 11 /F 11	M 18 /F 8
Total	151	143
	M 76 /F 7	M 74 /F 69

Public Information:  Progress on safety items:

• Protective film installation started at the Jr/Sr high school on Thursday of last week.  They will move to elementary buildings once completed here.
• The logo screen on doors and windows to prevent lines of sight from outside to inside has been installed at the Jr/Sr High School.
• Door access control at the Jr/Sr High school is in progress.  The cabling is complete and the connection to the actual doors is slated to be completed in a few weeks.
• Check-in and check-out procedures are part of our daily expectations for staff and students. 
• Student manifest lists are being used on bus routes and activity trips.
• Additional mental health support has been introduced across the district to include four (4) additional days of Licensed Mental Health Provider (LMPH) support. 
• Navigator support program through ESU#2 which provides liaison support for homeless children and any children or family who need assistance with meeting basic needs such as shelter, food, utilities, clothing, etc. 

Public Information:  August 18 - FB/VB Scrimmage
August 28 - School Pictures for K-12 and PK4 M/W group
August 30 - Patron Budget Workshop and Special Board Meeting
September 5 - PK3 and PK4 T/Thur groups
September 20, 2023 NASB Area Meeting in Fremont
October 4-5 - Labor Relations Workshop in Lincoln

Public Information: 

We had all six board members attend one of the two sub committee meetings that were held on Wednesday, August 9 and Thursday, August 10. We discussed facility options to include:

1. Reconfigure existing elementaries to put grade alike together to create balanced classes, instructional and service equity at grade levels, and enhance instructional planning and delivery. Potentially K-2 and 3-6 configuration. 
2. Reconfigure elementaries so that all 5-6 are at Valparaiso and leave primary grades at each respective building. 
3. Eliminate one elementary to reduce our footprint for efficiency reasons and for enhanced instructional planning and delivery that ensures equitable opportunities.  
4. Make necessary updates to elementary schools as necessary but focus on improvements to the 6-12 facilities.
5. Move additional grades out to the 6-12 facility so that it includes the intermediate grades of 4-6. 
6. Move the 6th grade back to Valparaiso to get additional space that is needed at this Jr/Sr campus.

There are considerable upgrades needed at the current elementaries and some of those items such as heat pumps, carpet, playgrounds, elevator, are costly.

At the Jr/Sr High campus there are some necessary enhancements needed but a primary need is additional learning space. 

Public Information:  This resolution indicates that we agree to participate in this interlocal agreement and that our insurance will be handled by ALICAP for the next three years at least.  The Finance Committee was given the comparative information and recommended the move to ALICAP.
1.  The renewal premiums with EMC for the 2023-2024 school year are $171,700 (up from $166,696) as compared to the quote from ALICAP of  $146,017.  Savings of $25,683.
2.  ALICAP property insurance deductible is lower at $500 (compared to $2,500 and $25,000 for wind/hail)
3.  Other lines have better coverage limits
4.  There is a possibility of getting annual dividend returns with ALICAP
 

Public Information: 

The additional 6% tax authority does not necessarily mean that the District will use the additional authority. It is important to note that we are approving this for future use if/when we lose state aid and for the continued ability to address facilities and large purchase needs. There are multiple reasons why voting to access it makes sense. 

• Uncertainty of the legislature and funding in the next 2 years.

• If we don’t ask for the additional authority, we could lose authority over time.

• Protects the Base Growth in the formula because it gets added to your base growth for future years.