August 20, 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:  Lauren Starke, Head Start's fiscal officer, will review In-Kind with the Board.

Rationale:  Review of Head Start's Director's Report for June and July, Policy Council Minutes for June and July, and Financial Reports for June and July.

Rationale:  Now that we are back in session, the summer construction projects have wrapped up. The sidewalk replacement project is nearly complete with a few finishing touches needed. 

The construction at the Harms Center is set to begin in early October. Part of that includes the changes to our space. The only cost that we will pay is the alternate bid that was discussed with the facilities committee to put in skylights in the hall. We will look to paint and put new tables in our portion of the building this coming year. 

Rationale:  Board Policy Article 1, Section 5D (Committee Operations) states that all Board members will be informed of meetings of committees and reports shall be brought to the Board in written form whenever possible. 

In addition to the Agenda item, Board Committee Reports, minutes of the Committee meetings may be found in Sparq Meetings under the date the Committee met.

Rationale:  On August 2, 2024, the Nebraska Board of Education voted to approve ESU 13's early childhood program for the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. This action follows a recommendation by the Office of Early Childhood and is based upon records indicating that ESU 13 operated an early childhood program in compliance with the requirements in Rule 11, Regulations for Early Childhood Education Programs, for the 2024-2025 school year.

Rationale:  ESU 13 received distance learning incentive funding for 44 courses taught through distance learning. The funding for this is through the state lottery proceeds and resulted in payment of $41,775.80. This amount is part of the funding that goes into providing VALTS and NEVA to our member districts.

Each district that receives the courses is also eligible for incentive funding. Throughout ESU 13, school districts accessed 207 Distance Education Units for a total incentive of $196,536.15 in funds for this year. 

Rationale:  In order to plan for AESA travel, we would like to have a commitment from board members by September 15th if you would like to attend. We will work on arranging flights once we have the final number. 

Rationale:  The Policy/Legislative Committee has reviewed Article 4, Section 9(D)6d and requests Board approval for deletion of the following: 

New Classified Employees - Employees who have been employed with ESU #13 less than 60 calendar days are not eligible for paid leaves. Upon reaching the 60 day employment anniversary, the employee becomes eligible for paid leaves for the remainder of the leave year.

Rationale: 

Rationale:  As part of the yearly required policy updates provided by Justin Knight of Perry Law Firm, an update to Article 2,Section 6A (Notice to Public) is being proposed as a result of LB287. The Policy/Legislative committee has reviewed the amendments and recommends adoption of the policy as presented and waive the second reading:

Rationale:  As part of the yearly required policy updates provided by Justin Knight of Perry Law Firm, an update to Article 2, Section 9F (Public Attendance and Participation, Speak) is being proposed as a result of LB43. The Policy/Legislative committee recommends adopting the policy as presented and waive the second reading: 

Members of the public will be permitted to speak at Board meetings. Members of the public may also speak when invited to make a presentation or when recognized by the President. 

For all meetings of the Board, individual speakers shall have up to 3 minutes to address the Board, and the Board shall hear up to 20 cumulative minutes of public comment. The Board may vote to modify these time limits when the board deems appropriate. The President may implement other reasonable requirements for public comment, consistent with the Open Meetings Act. 

Members of the public will not be required to have their name placed on the agenda prior to the meeting in order to speak about items on the agenda. 

Any member of the public desiring to address the Board shall be required to identify himself or herself, including an address and the name of any organization represented by such person, unless the address requirement is waived to protect the security of the individual. 

Members of the public will be permitted to speak at Board meetings at which a public forum is on the Agenda. Members of the public may also speak when invited to make a presentation or when recognized by the president. The Board is not required to allow members of the public to speak at each meeting. However, the Board will not forbid public participation at all meetings.
Members of the public will not be required to have their name placed on the agenda prior to the meeting in order to speak about items on the agenda.
Members of the public who desire to address the Board will be required to identify themselves, including an address and the name of any organization represented by such person, unless the address requirement is waived to protect the security of the individual.
A time limit of three (3) minutes per speaker will be allowed. Not more than a total of 20 minutes will be allowed per agenda item.
Speakers will be permitted to address the Board consistent with free speech rights. However, offensive language, defamatory remarks, and hostile conduct will not be tolerated.  Further, charges or complaints against an ESU #13 employee are not to be made for the first time at a public Board meeting without having followed the ESU #13 complaint procedure, except in the case of a personnel hearing before the Board. 

Rationale:  As part of the yearly required policy updates provided by Justin Knight of Perry Law Firm, an update to Article 3, Section 5(B) - General Guidelines is being proposed as a result of LB287. The Policy/Legislative committee has reviewed the amendment and recommends adoption of the policy as presented and waive the second reading:

Rationale:  As part of the yearly required policy updates provided by Justin Knight of Perry Law Firm, Article 3, Section 5 (Purchasing) is proposed as a new policy to meet the requirements of LB 1300. The Policy/Legislative committee recommends adopting the policy as presented and waive the second reading: 

Rationale:  The Policy/Legislative committee has reviewed Article 4, Sections 7-13 and recommends the following amendment:

Section 10A - Professional Employees Defined
Professional employees include "certificated employees," which for purposes of the Board policies, means any teacher, nurse, or other employee in a position or assignment which requires a certificate issued by the Commissioner of Education or Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

Section 11A - Classified Employees Defined
Classified employee, for purposes of the Board policies, means any employee or assignment which is not within the definition of "professional employee" as set forth in the Board policies.

"Non-certificated employee," for purposes of the Board policies, means any employee who is not a teacher, nurse, or otherwise in a position or assignment which requires a certificate issued by the Commissioner of Education or Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

Rationale:  The Policy/Legislative committee has reviewed Article 4, Sections 7-13 and proposes the following amendment to Section 10D3 (Resignations): 

All resignations from employment with ESU #13 shall be submitted in writing to the Administrator, Supervisor, and HR Manager.

Rationale:  The Policy/Legislative Committee has reviewed Article 4, Sections 7-14 and recommends the following amendment to Article 4, Section 12A (Substitute Teachers - Rate of Pay) be adopted as presented and waive the second reading: 

The daily rate of pay for substitute teachers is $110.00 $130.00 per day and $55.00 $65.00 for half days or any portion thereof. Beginning the sixth consecutive day in the same assignment, the rate of pay will be $120.00 $140.00 per day. Beginning the 16th consecutive day in the same assignment, the rate of pay will be 1/185th of the beginning base salary. In the event a substitute teacher, who is qualified for the position, teaches in the same assignment for more than 30 consecutive days, he/she may then be placed on the salary schedule for the balance of the semester. Fringe benefits are not part of substitute teacher compensation. 

Each substitute teacher must hold proper Nebraska certification. 

1-5 Consecutive Days	$110.00 $130.00 Per Diem ($55.00 $65.00 per ½ day or any portion thereof)
6-15 Consecutive Days	$120.00  $140.00 Per Diem
16-30 Consecutive Days	1/185th of the Teacher Base Salary
More than 30 Consecutive Days	Placed on the Salary Schedule for Remainder of Semester

 

Rationale:  Justin Knight of Perry Law Firm has recommended changes to Section 1 - Non-Discrimination. The Policy Committee has reviewed the changes and recommends waiving the second reading and adopting as presented. 
 

Rationale:  In addition to the allowable 2.5% base increase, the Board can increase budgeted restricted funds authority for the 2024-2025 budget by an additional 1% upon affirmative vote of at least 75% of the authorized Board.

Rationale:  For the WNCC-Harms building renovation project, ESU 13 requested pricing to have two additional tubular skylights added in Lobby E193. The alternate pricing for the bid is $25,408.00. 

Rationale:  An update of Section 11 - Classified Employee Wage Levels of the 2024-25 Employee Handbook is being proposed. 

Rationale:  On August 5th, Jenilee Woltman, Certified Teacher and Speech Pathologist submitted her resignation. 

Rationale:  The annual State Education Conference is being held November 20-22 in Omaha. Our November Board meeting is scheduled for the day before, November 19th. Board discussion to change the Board meeting date to Monday, November 18th.