November 14, 2011 at 6:30 PM - Regular Meeting November 14, 2011

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 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 purpose of this item is to introduce the possibility of having the school district participate in a district wide communication audit.  A communication audit would analyze Grand Island Public Schools efforts and practices ultimately providing valuable feedback on our effectiveness in communicating with both our internal public’s students and staff and our external public’s parents and community members at large.  The process would be conducted by an outside consulting firm and would take anywhere from sixty to one hundred and twenty days depending on the firm and start date.

Rationale:  GIPS implements the Well Managed Schools Model district wide for all students. GIPS is required to provide education services for students on IEPís who are suspended from school. In order to decrease suspensions, we would like to partner with Boys Town to provide tutorial services and support for the Boys Town Well Managed Schools Model. This would be at a cost to the district of $60.00 /day compared to reimbursement for tutorial services at the district hourly substitute rate.

Rationale: 

The GIPS Preschool Learning Facilitator position will provide services to support the implementation of instructional resources for all children to include pre numeracy, literacy, fine motor, and social/emotional skills. The Learning Facilitator will work with teachers to identify, implement, and monitor interventions for children who are struggling. They will support professional development for teachers and other staff members in the areas of instruction and classroom management, assist with the leadership of preschool curriculum and assessment and prepare staff and children for state assessments (GOLD).  The funding for this position would be paid by the federal Early Childhood grant.  The ECH Education State Grant will be amended to move funds from facilities to instruction. This amendment will be submitted upon board approval of the Learning Facilitator.

Rationale:  The Nebraska legislature passed LB1006 revising the age requirements for entering kindergarten for the 2012-13 school year. Kindergarten students must be 5 years of age on or before July 31 of the calendar year they are to attend kindergarten. Parents/guardians may request early entrance for a child turning 5 between Aug 1 and Oct 15. GIPS is recommending approval of procedures established by ESU 10 to guide the early entry assessment and decision process. These procedures will support Policy 8210-ENTRANCE AGE.

Rationale:  District past 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 as well as the Board of Education has reviewed the attached fiscal year 2012 - 2013 budget calendar for adoption.   The full Board of Education is being asked to adopt the calendar at this months meeting.

Rationale:  The Nebraska Statute which requires the ward boundaries to be redrawn states in part:
(2) The governing board of each such political subdivision shall be responsible for drawing its own district boundaries and shall, as nearly as possible, follow the precinct lines created by the election commissioner or county clerk after each federal decennial census…
§ 32-553(2) R.R.S. 2008 -  Pursuant to the requirements of the Nebraska Statute listed above, Grand Island Public Schools is working in concert with the City of Grand Island to comply with regulations. The consensus from Board members at the October meeting was to go forward with Option number 2.

Rationale:  After installing fire hydrant(s) at both Stolley Park Elementary and Starr Elementary schools as part of the fiscal year 2010-2011 project list we now need to authorize the necessary "Utilities Easement".  The effect of these easements is to transfer ownership to the City of Grand Island and allow for property access rights to the now public domain fire hydrant(s).

Rationale:  Due to the timeline set forth by the state of Nebraska, this policy must be approved by the Board of Education at the Nov 14 meeting.  Information was presented earlier in the meeting as an information item - Consent Agenda.

Rationale:  Due to the timeliness of this issue, the Board received the information on amending the grant to accommodate the hiring of a Preschool Learning Facilitator earlier in this meeting.  In order to have staff hired and ready to go for the second semester, it would be necessary to take action on this matter here during the November business meeting.  To recap, the GIPS Preschool Learning Facilitator position will provide services to support the implementation of instructional resources for all children to include pre numeracy, literacy, fine motor, and social/emotional skills. The Learning Facilitator will work with teachers to identify, implement, and monitor interventions for children who are struggling. They will support professional development for teachers and other staff members in the areas of instruction and classroom management, assist with the leadership of preschool curriculum and assessment and prepare staff and children for state assessments (GOLD).  The funding for this position would be paid by the federal Early Childhood grant.  The ECH Education State Grant will be amended to move funds from facilities to instruction. This amendment will be submitted upon board approval of the Learning Facilitator.

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 Education Foundation.

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

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