December 12, 2022 at 7:00 PM - Regular Board of Education Meeting

Rationale:  (Please complete the sign-in sheet prior to the meeting.  A time limit of five minutes per individual is allowed and not more than twenty minutes per specific topic unless a majority of the Board Members present vote to extend the time limit.  No action will be taken on subjects that are not on the agenda.  No complaints shall orally be initiated against individual district employees or instructional materials used in the district.)

Rationale:  November Activity Fund Highlights --

• #110 Athletics - Money coming in is from the gate and hosting other events here.  The adjustment is the money we pay the concession stand fund for the Appreciation Certificates handed out at games to workers.
• #114 Softball - They purchased new uniforms this year and a fence screen for the field this year. 
• #220 FFA - Their fruit sale money is getting deposited.  They had a fantastic year for sales.
• #336 & #379 Bowling and Unified Bowling Club - They have done concession stands which will help their club accounts once that transfer takes place at the end of the year.
• #395 Boys Basketball Club - They have purchased their players gear (shirts, tops, shoes) this past month.  The cost will be covered by players paying their portion after the fundraiser money is distributed.

Rationale:  November Activity Fund Highlights --

• #110 Athletics - Money coming in is from the gate and hosting other events here.  The adjustment is the money we pay the concession stand fund for the Appreciation Certificates handed out at games to workers.
• #114 Softball - They purchased new uniforms this year and a fence screen for the field this year. 
• #220 FFA - Their fruit sale money is getting deposited.  They had a fantastic year for sales.
• #336 & #379 Bowling and Unified Bowling Club - They have done concession stands which will help their club accounts once that transfer takes place at the end of the year.
• #395 Boys Basketball Club - They have purchased their players gear (shirts, tops, shoes) this past month.  The cost will be covered by players paying their portion after the fundraiser money is distributed.

Rationale:  Brenda will have a list of those Seniors who have completed requirements for graduation and would like to end their HS attendance upon completion of the 1st semester

Rationale:  You had discussion about this policy back in June,  but indicated at that time that this is something that you may want to discuss further.  If you have any desire of implementing, now is your last chance.

Rationale:  Tessie will review the history of option enrollment at Kindergarten.

Rationale:  I have attached both of the options that were presented in November.  After getting feedback from the staff, I can report that Option #2 was preferred.

Rationale:  The audit was handed out at the November Board Meeting.  I would like a formal motion to approve

Rationale:  We should schedule a meeting of our transportation committee to talk about a bus purchase.  We are still running #13 and Mike is planning to use it as a spare and not send it out for activities.  However, as we had indicated before, with the wait period that comes with ordering a new bus, we need to put a strategy together about how to proceed.  With the whole Board available for input, the December meeting would be a good time to give the committee some direction about our best next steps. 

Rationale:  Well, for the most part......I lied:). Not really, but the task is taking longer than I had anticipated, but to do it right, alot of collaboration, thought and visioning needs to go into each of these job descriptions.  I am attaching a few for your review just to let you know what my format looks like, and to get some feedback regarding my efforts to date.  Don't be afraid to tell me if this is going in the right or wrong direction.

Rationale:  I will ask you to consider purchasing the KSB complete policy update package.  I have attached information that Coady sent in regards to what this means.  I am recommending this after looking at the original policies that were put together during the Jim Havelka years.  We already have purchased the annual updates from KSB, but they come in a different format than the one we currently use.  This expenditure may seem a bit much, but in the realm of the issues public schools face, being confident that all of the policies are updated makes sense.  

Rationale:  We sent out the December/January Newsletter with a note about how to go to digital beginning in February/March.  Your thoughts?

Rationale: 

The following students have met the requirements for graduation.

 

Faith Renard 

Faith plans to take on-line courses through Metro Community College during the spring course.  She will also be working at the North Bend Public Library.

 

Alexandra Wocknick

Ali Jo has been accepted into Culinary School in Boulder, CO.  She has everything including housing set up for her May 22nd start date.  Ali Jo will continue to work at the cafe’ and on her neighbor’s farm to make money prior to her May departure.

 

Alicia Muhle

Alicia has been accepted at Northeast Community College where she will begin coursework in January.  She will also become employed at either Target or a CarWash to assist with the monetary needs of college students.

 

Michaela Weed

Michaela has participated in the career education program and is currently working at Scooters.  She plans on enlisting in the army reserve, but is also considering active duty.  She is accepted to UNO, UNL, UNK and Northeast Community College.  

Rationale: 

Nebraska Revised Statute 79-3301 to 79-3305, known and cited as the Computer Science and Technology Education Act, outlines the requirements for instruction in Computer Science and Technology. Additionally, 79-729 specifies the Computer Science and Technology requirement for high school graduation.

• The graduation requirement for the Computer Science and Technology Act is required for all public schools.

• Beginning with the school year 2024-2025, each public school district shall include computer science and technology education in the instructional programs of its elementary and middle schools, as appropriate.

• Students in the class of 2027 (current 8th graders in 2022-2023) in public schools must complete at least one course in computer science and technology (as defined by Nebraska State Statute 79-3004) as a graduate requirement.

• Each school district shall provide an annual computer science and technology education status report to its local board of education and the State Department of Education.

 

Nebraska Revised Statute 79-3001 to 79-3004, otherwise known as the Financial Literacy Act, outlines the requirements for instruction in financial literacy.

• The graduation requirement for the Financial Literacy Act is required for all public schools.

• The class of 2024 (current juniors in public schools must complete a course in personal finance or financial literacy (as defined by Nebraska State Statute 79-3002) or personal finance as a graduation requirement.

• Financial literacy instruction in grades K-8 applies only to public schools and must be included in the instructional programs of elementary and middle schools as appropriate.

• Each school district shall provide a financial literacy status report annually to its local board of education.

• The board shall also adopt measurable academic content standards for financial literacy as part of the social studies standards.

Rationale: 

December is a busy month with lots of activities and events. As a district, we are participating in the 12days of Christmas again this year.  Students and staff really enjoy the festive fun.  Days include looking for candy cane cutouts in the buildings, dressing up as your favorite Christmas Carol, donating canned goods to the food pantry, and flannel Friday. 

Rationale: 

First Day - Monday, December 19:

Period   1         8:10 -  8:55

              2         8:58 -  9:43

             3         9:46 - 10:32

            5         10:35 - 11:20

            4       11:23 - 11:47 11:50 - 12:14      12:17 - 12:47

              6        12:50 - 1:38

              7       1:41 - 2:25  

                      2:30-3:30     Period 7 Assessment

 

 

Second Day - Tuesday, December 20:

  8:10  -  9:20   Study Session #1

 9:23  -  9:53   Period 1 Class

 9:56  - 10:56 Period 1 Assessment                   

10:59 - 12:17   Study Session #2/Lunch        

 12:20 - 12:50   Period 2 Class

 12:53  - 1:53    Period 2 Assessment

 1:56  - 2:27      Period 3 Class

                   2:30  - 3:30    Period 3 Assessment

 

Third Day -  Wednesday,  December 21:

  8:10 - 8:33      Period 4 Class

  8:36 - 9:36      Period 4 Assessment

  9:39 - 10:03   Period 5 Class

10:06  - 11:06   Period 5 Assessment                     

  11:09  - 12:27     Study Session # 3/Lunch                                 

 12:30 -   1:30     Period 6 Assessment

 

Rationale:  For several years, Mrs. Gross Rhode has taught coding to 2nd-5th grade students during the month of December in her library classes.  She finds that after several weeks there are students who are completely fascinated with coding and eager to learn more.  This year she will be offering a 6 week "Tech After Hours" program for 4th and 5th grade students from 3:30-4:40 during January and February.  She is volunteering her time to provide the enrichment activity for interested students.  She will be sending more information home to 4th and 5th grade families about the sessions.  Parents will be able to sign their students up by emailing her directly and parents will be responsible for transportation after the sessions.

Rationale:  During the month of December the elementary students will participate in a PBIS behavior challenge, Merry & Bright Behavior, which focuses on following adult directions the 1st time.  Adults are focusing on teaching the skills for following directions with "look my way, say okay, do it right away." Students receive lights to hang on Christmas trees each time their teacher sees them following directions the 1st time.  Each class has a goal of earning 400 lights for their tree.  We have a school wide reward planned for Dec. 20th which includes gaga ball, movie, and minute to win it games.

Rationale: 

Ms. Morgan 

We read and study several books by authors of various cultural backgrounds.  

Examples include the following:

Night  (Holocaust memoir)

The Book Thief  (Holocaust literature)

Of Mice and Men (migrant culture)

 

We also have a new unit this year that is focused on understanding different perspectives. This unit includes contemporary young adult books written by diverse authors. Students will read books in small groups and create podcasts sharing what they've learned about the perspective of the author and the characters.

Books in the unit include the following:

All-American Boys by Jason Reynolds

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

How it Went Down by Kekla Magoon

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

The Radius of Us by Marie Marquardt

Internment by Samira Ahmen

American Street by Ibi Zoboi

 

There are also various historical selections in the textbook that are included:

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Seven Years Concealed by Harriet Jacobs

Keeping the Thing Going While Things are Stirring - Sojourner Truth

Ain't I A Woman - Sojourner Truth 

Up from Slavery - Book T. Washington

Roots  - excerpt

 

Also, when writing reaction papers and rhetorical analysis essays, we use a variety of articles that include multi-cultural issues. 

 

Mrs. Cody

In various literature selections, multicultural themes were explored (for example: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - set in Malawi, Africa and Two Roads, featuring Native American main characters and Indian Boarding Schools). Students also study the Harlem Renaissance and Lost Children of Sudan among other national and global multicultural themes.

 

Mr. Meyer

In Geography we spent a lot of time looking at other cultures. We look at the elements that make up culture, which includes but is not limited to the following; language, religion, art, government, economics, history, food, customs, holidays/festivals, clothes, music, education, and family structure. We study the Latin American, European, U.S. and Canadian, African, Southwest Asian, South Asian, and East Asian regions.

 

In Government we talk about the history of voting rights in the U.S., which includes the following; the 15th Amendment, the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, 1964, and 1968, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and gerrymandering. We also discuss other multicultural topics like the 1st Amendment’s freedom of religion protections, the 13th Amendment, Brown v. Board of Education, and Affirmative Action. We also look at the 19th Amendment, Title IX, and Americans with Disabilities Act. Which are designed to help women and the disabled.

 

In Criminal Justice we compare and contrast multiculturalism in the criminal justice system, compared to society as a whole. We look at ethnic and gender diversity in policing. We also talk about community outreach programs, designed to promote multiculturalism, provided by the police.

 

Mr. Lafleur

Eng. 10

• Read a variety of stories written by authors of various backgrounds and locations around the world

• Most notably in Unit 5, we read pieces written by Native Americans and looked at cultural changes both positive and negative

• Dug into some research regarding Nebraska history as well regarding an historical event

• Students continue to read AR or personal reading books and complete projects

Speech 7 or College Speech

• Talk about presenting to a diverse audience of cultural, religious, socioeconomic, etc. backgrounds

• Persuasive techniques based on culture or education

• Presenting our speeches to a global audience

• Multicultural communication (greetings etc.)

• Informative speeches can focus on cultures or people from international backgrounds

Mr. Dan Wright

World history teaches cultures from around the world: ie, China, India, Africa, South America, etc. We cover religions like, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

Rationale:  I think you all should be very please with the process that NRCSA led, and certainly pleased with the resulting choice of Patrick Ningen as the new NBC Superintendent.  We need to take official action to approve the contract for Patrick.