May 21, 2024 at 7:00 PM - Regular Meeting

Rationale:  Time limit for each person is three (3) minutes; no response or action taken by the Board.

Rationale:  Dr. Katie Carrizales and Nici Johnson will update the Board members about the progress of Strategic Priority #5.

Rationale:  Completed:

• April 30-May 3 - Qualtrics X4: The Experience Management Summit 
• May 7-9 - ESUCC/PDO

Upcoming:

• June 11-13 - Educators Academy for Legislative Advocacy 
• June 17-18 - ESUCC Retreat 

Rationale:  This past semester, we partnered with the Nebraska State College System to provide information about their NebraskaSMART program. This is a free tutoring service that is staffed by preservice teachers and accessible to any school within ESU 13. We had students from 11 public and 4 non-public schools utilize this. The area of greatest access was math. This will continue into the fall and there are plans for additional marketing to ensure that all families are aware of it. 

Rationale:  The NCNE is a sub organization of the Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council, and currently supports ESUs 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 10, 13, 15, 16 and 17 and all their member school districts.

Rationale:  The bus barn is complete and will house vehicles out of the elements this summer. The siding and roof repairs have been completed. The sidewalk replacement project will begin in June. 

Rationale:  The 2024/25 ESU Core Services & Technology Infrastructure Certification figures were released. ESU 13 will be receiving $938,710.29 for the 24/25 fiscal year. This is an increase of $19,644.49.

Rationale:  An amendment to Article 4, Section 4 - Fitness for Duty is being presented as first reading: 
Employees are required to disclose orally or in writing any medical restrictions that limit their ability to perform the essential functions of the assigned position to their supervisor or the Administrator and are to request a meeting with the ADA/504 Coordinator (ESU #13 Human Resources Manager) to discuss the provision of reasonable accommodations. 

Rationale:  Proposed amendments to Article 4, Section 5 - Standards of Conduct are being presented as first readings: 

A3 - Drug-Free Work Place
As a condition of employment, employees will abide by the ESU #13 drug-free workplace policies and notify the Administrator or designee of any criminal drug statute conviction for a violation occurring in the workplace no later than the next business day after such conviction.

D. Civility
Uncivil behaviors are any behaviors that are physically or verbally threatening, either overtly or implicitly, as well as behaviors that are coercive, intimidating, violent, or harassing.  Such interactions are prohibited in all forms of communication, including telephone conversations, voice mail messages, face-to-face conversations, written communications, social media, and email messages.

E. Professional Boundaries Between Employees and Students
The following non-exclusive list of actions will be regarded as a violation of the professional boundaries that employees are expected to maintain with a student:

• discussing another student’s or employee’s personal matters; when it is not appropriate outside of the instructional setting; 

M. Telework Policy

Rationale:  Proposed amendments to Article 4, Section 6 - Safety are being proposed as first reading:

B. Safety Committee
It is the intention of the Safety Committee at ESU #13 to assist employees and administration in providing a safe working atmosphere in the job tasks and service provided to clientele. The committee does not possess any authority in making decisions with regard to budget, employee discipline, repairing or replacing facility equipment or structures, nor does the committee take responsibility for employee in employee failure to comply with policy and procedures.

Functions of the ESU #13 Safety Committee include:

• Inspect the facility regularly to ensure any facility owned or utilized by ESU 13 the facility is in compliance with safety practices. This includes hazardous chemicals, wastes, cleaning procedures, equipment, appliances, electrical equipment, and facility hazards. The purpose of the inspection is to detect any hazards or recommend any corrective action. Inspection of the facility and grounds must occur every three months while school is in session.
• Conduct regular meetings. Meetings Meeting must be held four times a year while school is in session.
• Establish, revise, and evaluate the ESU #13 Emergency Operations Plan Emergency Prevention and Response Plan on a yearly basis.

Rationale:  The one-year Master Services Agreement (MSA) between ESUCC and ESU 13 for 2024-2025 is being presented for Board approval. The Administrator recommends participation in all the projects. The ones with price increases are listed below:

• Fees for Participation in Specific Professional Development Activities - Annual Program fee increased from $2,400.00 to $2,550. Participation fees increased from $20.00 per person per day to $25.00 per person per day.
• Student Services - Special Education Project Fees - SPED SRS Project table of fees has an increase of 5%.
• Legislative and Governmental Relations Project - annual program fee increased from $3,000 to $3,306.
• New to the MSA is SPARQ Negotiations - $1,000.00 (provided the amount invoiced is $15,000, otherwise split the amount between the 15 active ESUs utilizing this service). 

Rationale:  Every year, we ask our member school districts to evaluate our existing programs and services and offer suggestions for revision and/or expansion to comply with §79-1204: "ESUs shall act primarily as service agencies in providing core services and services identified and requested by member school districts." Feedback from external surveys and annual needs visits to school districts help determine our Menu of Services for the upcoming school year. These have been reviewed by the Member School District Superintendents who recommend the services to the ESU 13 Board for funding.

Rationale:  The proposed 2024–2025 calendars for the LifeLink, Meridian, and Panhandle Beginnings programs are ready for approval.

Rationale:  A motion is requested by the Administrator to take official action regarding 2024-2025 compensation for leadership and classified staff with a total compensation package increase of 4.5%.

Rationale:  As per the Performance Standards, we need Board approval of the revised Head Start Policy and Procedures. Revision of Written Plans FC02 (Parent Orientation Packets) and FC17 (Volunteers) were approved by the Head Start Policy Council at their meeting on April 30, 2024. 

Rationale:  At the April meeting, the Board approved to merge the June and July Board meetings into one date, which will be June 25th. The Business Office has vendors that will need to be paid between May 22nd and June 24th so that ESU 13 will not be assessed late fees. The vendors are Best Plumbing, Capital Business, DAS State Accounting, Finney's, Legacy Coop, Koke's NAPA, Quadient, Pitney Bowes, Sauder's Automotive, and Frenchman Valley Coop. The payment of these vendor invoices will be ratified at the June 25th Board meeting. 

Rationale:  The ESU 13 Board of Education will not meet in July. This Board action gives authority to the Administrator to pay July claims. Desira will email Board members a detailed list of claims for July. This action will be ratified at our August Board meeting.