July 14, 2011 at 6:45 PM - Regular Meeting July 14, 2011

Rationale:  It is 6:35 PM and I now call to order the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education Meeting.  This is the July 14, 2011 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.

Rationale: 

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:  The 2011-12 Budget Spending Plan approved by the board on May 12, 2011 included a reduction to the extra standard spending of $101,000. After several meetings of the extra standard committee, they are recommending the board approve a reduction of $93,704, or 93% of the targeted amount.

Rationale:  The need to increase the Warehouse Supervisor position to full time employment is needed by Nutrition Services for several reasons ... those being the additions of the Continuous School Year Calendar, the Summer Food Service Program, and the Preventive Maintenance Program at the Child Nutrition Center. The added costs to increase the employment from a 10 month position to a 12 month position will be covered by Nutrition Services Revenues.

Rationale:  The current resources for Middle School FCS programs consist of paper packets and a book titled “Today’s Teens” with a 1988 copyright. Middle School FCS teachers took the opportunity to investigate the use of IPads as a tool to access curriculum resources to support 21^st Century learning environment. This group aligned online resources to curriculum concepts incorporating project based learning, technical reading and writing, and career research opportunities. We are requesting the purchase of: 90 IPads  – IPad carts – software – Total cost: $70,000.00 from the T&L depreciation fund

Rationale:  During the 2000 - 2001 school year Grand Island Public Schools (GIPS) starting seeking reimbursement from the Federal government under the "Medicare In Public Schools" funding.  Due to the technical nature of the program GIPS, at that time, joned a consortium call "Mecca-Tech", which ran through December 2005.  In January of 2006 GIPS entered into an initial interlocal agreement with the Nebraska Association of School Boards (NASB) - Medicare Consortium.  After five years under the initial agreement the NASB - Medicare Consortium has decided to review and update their master membership agreement.  The attached document is the new NASB Medicaid Consortium Membership Agreement.  Board of Education approval of the NASB Medicaid Consortium Membership Agreement will be on the August 2011 agenda.

Rationale:  Last month the draft copy of the proposed 2011-2012 Board Goals was presented for review.  Board members are asked to approve and accept these goals at the July 2011 meeting.

Rationale:  CNSSP contracts with various service providers for professional services in areas where need is greater than zero but less than full time for all CNSSP districts. An occupational therapy service for the CNSSP Preschool program is one of these areas. In keeping with district practice, the Board approves all contracts. Administration is recommending the proposed contract for occupational therapy services to be provided July 16, 2011 to July 15, 2012 for the CNSSP Preschool Program as an action item at the regularly scheduled July board meeting.

Rationale:  Per current state statute every Nebraska school district must hold a hearing on student fees, including a review of the sources and uses of fees from the most recent school year.  Additionally, Districts must officially accept the report and adopt the planned fees for the upcoming school year.  Therefore, the Facilities and Finance committee recommends the Board approve the school year 2010-2011 report on student fees and adopt the school year 2011-2012 student fees policy and administrative procedures as presented.

Rationale:  Grand Island Public Schools entered into a year lease with Head Start Child and Family Development Program, Inc. ("Head Start") for office space at the Early Learning Center (ELC) during the 2009 - 2010 school year.  The current lease agreement allows for a year to year continuation of the agreement without a formal new document.  However, it's the desire of the Head Start Child and Family Development Program, Inc. ("Head Start") administration to have a new agreement each year the lease is in effect.  Therefore, both the FY10-11 and FY11-12 lease agreements appear under this agenda item.  GIPS legal council drew up the original lease document and the new agreement(s) changes are limited to the appropriate dates.

Rationale:  The current resources for Middle School FCS programs consist of paper packets and a book titled “Today’s Teens” with a 1988 copyright. Middle School FCS teachers took the opportunity to investigate the use of IPads as a tool to access curriculum resources to support 21^st Century learning environment. This group aligned online resources to curriculum concepts incorporating project based learning, technical reading and writing, and career research opportunities. We are requesting the purchase of: 90 IPads  – IPad carts – software – Total cost: $70,000.00 from the T&L depreciation fund

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

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 Education Foundation.

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