November 10, 2016 at 6:30 PM - GIPS BOE Regular Meeting

Rationale:  It is 6:30 PM and I now call to order the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education Meeting.  This is the November 10, 2016 meeting.  Notice of this meeting has been advertised in the Grand Island Independent, which is the District's designated method of giving notice of these meetings.

We want those in attendance to know that copies of the Open Meetings Act are available at the entrance to the Board Room.  If anyone in attendance is interested in addressing our Board, you are welcome to do so.  We simply request that you complete the appropriate form and turn it in to us now so that you may be recognized during the Public Forum part of our meeting.  These forms are also located by the entry doors of this room.

Mrs. Wagner, will you please call the roll?

Rationale:  Roll Call.

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The Mission  

Every Student, Every Day, a Success
Within the Grand Island Public Schools,
- every student will be taught to read, write, and communicate effectively; solve problems; acquire and apply knowledge; and demonstrate mastery through performance to the best of the student's abilities;  
- every student will be treated with fairness and dignity;
- every student will experience a sense of belonging, contribution, and success; and
- every student will develop responsibility and show respect for others as well as oneself.  
In educating students, we teach hearts as well as minds.

Rationale:  The first item on the agenda tonight is the Consent Agenda.  The Consent Agenda to be approved is as follows:

(items read.)

This is the Consent Agenda as published.  Would anyone like to remove any items or add any items to the Consent Agenda? 

Rationale: 

Each year, the NEBRASKAland Foundation selects 10 to 15 entries in the Education Department to be honored at Statehood Day in the Capitol Rotunda. The entries will be on display in the Rotunda that morning and also at the Statehood Day Dinner the following evening. The students whose entries were selected and their parents and teachers will be invited to the morning event where the students will receive special recognition. The event is usually on the Friday closest to March 1, 2017. Judi Harper, Education Director at the Nebraska State Fair, would like to honor our winning community service projects by presenting checks and two awards from the NebraskaLAND Foundation. Judi will be accompanied by a representative from the NE State Fair Committee.

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1st Place - GIPS Roots & Shoots (elementary- current high school) - Community Service Project: Submitted by Teagan Cheetsos & Carley Pool

Also selected by the NEBRASKAland Foundation for the 2017 Statehood Day Showcase.

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1st Place - Secret Kindness Agents - Elementary Community Service Project: Submitted by Kaden Kuusela & Anahi Mendoza-Perez –

Also selected by the NEBRASKAland Foundation for the 2017 Statehood Day Showcase.

Rationale:  2nd Place - Little Free Library - Elementary Community Service Project: Submitted by Mariah Cobler, Briannah Kutschkau, and Rayle

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3rd Place - Urban Park Rangers - Elementary Community Service Project:

Submitted by Elena Martinez & Hamilton Sazo Bolanos

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3rd Place - Adopt-a-Cat - Elementary Community Service Project: Submitted by Eli Anson & Levy Mejia Aguilera 

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Jennifer Worthington with thanks, and in recognition of 13 years of service on the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education.  Jennifer was appointed to the Board of Education to fill a vacancy after Mr. Yost resigned.  She took her oath of office December 1, 2003.  Jennifer served as Vice President of the Board in 2009 and then served as President of the board for 5 years from 2010 through 2014.  We wish her the best as she moves on to her next professional adventure.

 

 

Rationale:  Mrs. Hinkle will review the current openings and vacancies on the Board of Education.  At the present time, and following the election results this week, the Board will be in a position of needing to appoint a new member from Ward A and a new member from Ward B.    The Ward A opening is due to board member Worthington accepting an employment position within the district administration.  Hence her resignation from the board will be required.  The opening in Ward B was created when there was no filing for the seat through the election process. Both opening will be advertised and will follow the appointment process.

Rationale:  Mrs. Godfrey, Melissa Sears and a few HAL students from Wasmer Elementary will present on Young Authors

Rationale:  Julie Fessenden and staff from Skills Academy will present on Stronger Through Relationships

Rationale:  Mr. Rinaldi, Carrie Whitcome (counselor) and 5th grade students from Newell Elementary will present on the Youth Leadership Conference

Rationale:  Dr. Grover will give an update on her Entry Plan that was approved by the Board in July.

Rationale:  Dr. Dexter will present an update on the high school visioning process and the information gathered to date.

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The team from Croft and Joftus will review the work that has been done thus far along with the information gathered to date.  Future schedules and plans will be presented and discussed.

 

 

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The Grand Island Education Association ("GIEA") requests that the school board of Grand Island Public Schools take action to recognize GIEA as exclusive bargaining agent for all the District's non-supervisory, certificated employees for the 2018-2019 contract year.

Rationale:  During the 2016 Legislative session the Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund (QCPUF) was modified in several ways including but not limited to the following, indoor air quality projects was removed and life safety hazards was added to the "qualified" projects, the maximum levy was reduced from 5.2¢ to 3.0¢, and projects can only be for existing facilities. To that end administration began a review of projects that meet the current and revised definition of a 'qualified' project. The attached listing is being presented with the intent of seeking a Board of Education Resolution calling for the issuance of QCPUF bonded indebtedness in an amount not to exceed $4.5 million to be paid from the maximum levy during the December 2016 meeting.

Rationale: 

Per current state statute Nebraska school districts are required to have an independent audit conducted annually. Grand Island Public Schools contracts with the independent audit firm of Almquist, Maltzahn, Galloway, & Luth, P.C. to conduct the annual audit. Mr. Virgil Harden, Executive Director of Business will give an executive overview of the 2015 - 2016 audit report and answer questions Board members might have. An action item to accept and place the 2015 - 2016 audit report on file will appear on the December 2016 meeting agenda. Additionally, the audit report is posted on the District's web site along with past years reports .

Rationale:  Mr Petsch will update the Board on the need to amend the independent contractor contract with Steve Shannon. Contract amendment will be placed on the December 2016 Board meeting for approval.

Rationale:  Annually the District practice is to review and adopt a budget calendar for the subsequent fiscal year in order to properly communicate, plan, and administer the various duties associated with the budget cycle.  The Facilities and Finance Committee has reviewed the attached fiscal year 2017 - 2018 budget calendar for adoption and the full Board of Education reviewed the calendar at their October meeting.

Rationale:  Follett Resource Manager is a web-based inventory management platform that will help us know where all of our instructional resources are located.  The advanced inventory tracking capabilities in Resource Manager will help us to monitor our instructional resources and make resource purchases based on data.  The quote includes the software and onsite barcoding and system setup.

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the Facility and Finance Committee.  From this committee, there is also a possibility of a presentation and recommendation for action on any item which might have recently arisen requiring a short turn around time frame.

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the Teaching and Learning Committee.

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the Personnel Committee.

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the Policy Committee.

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration by the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation.

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the Legislative Committee.

Rationale:  A quarterly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration by the NASB Board of Directors.