January 9, 2014 at 6:30 PM - January 9, 2014 - 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 January 9, 2014 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:  No report this month.

Rationale:  A motion is necessary to adjourn the 2013 Board of Education and appoint Robin Dexter, Secretary of the Board, as acting Chairman, to call the 2014 Board of Education to order and preside during the election of the 2014 President of the Board of Education.

Rationale:  Dr. Dexter will administer the Oath of Office  to the newly elected, re-elected, or appointed board members, who consist of:  Carlos Barcenas
 

I, ____________, do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the State of Nebraska, against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely and without mental reservation or for purpose of evasion; and that I will faithfully and impartially perform the duties as a member of the School Board of School District Number 2 of Grand Island, Nebraska, commencing January 9, 2014 according to law and to the best of my ability.  And I do swear that I do not advocate, nor am I a member of any political party or organization that advocates the overthrow of the government of the United States or of this state by force or violence; and that during such time as I am in this position I will not advocate nor become a member of any political party or organization that advocates the overthrow of the government of the United States or of this state by force or violence.  So help me God.

Rationale: 

In past years, the Board established Board Operating Principles and recently updated those principles into Policy #2111 .   Each Board member, at the time the new Board is convened, will sign the acknowledgment of the Board Operating Principles.  The signed document will be placed on file with the January 2014 Board minutes.  

Rationale:  Dr. Dexter will convene and call to order the 2014 Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education.

Rationale:  The Secretary of the Board will entertain a motion for nominations for President of the Board of Education, conduct a written ballot, and announce the results.  The newly elected President will then chair the remainder of the meeting.

Rationale:  The President of the Board of Education will entertain a motion for nominations for Vice President of the Board of Education, conduct a ballot, and announce the results of the election.

Rationale:  The President will inform Board members of the Standing Committees and Special Committees for 2014 and ask them to consider which committees they would prefer.

Rationale:  Dr. Dexter will update the Board on Continuous Calendar Schools and required actions for Title 1 schools.

Rationale:  Grand Island Public Schools originally entered into an agreement for the AFJROTC program for the 2005 - 2006 school year (see attached original contract).  The time has come to renew the agreement and update our working contractual relationship.  The contract is presented 'as is' from the "Department of Air Force".  Lt. Col. McQuown will present a slide show updating board members on the AFJROTC program with time for questions board members might have.  The renewal contract will be presented for approval during the regular February 2014 Board meeting.

Rationale: 

Grand Island Public School from time to time reviews its long standing business relationships with professional outside advisors and consultants.  To that end, regardless of any possible bond referendum, the time came for a review of financial Underwriters.  Per Nebraska statutes, specifically;

§79-515. Contracts for services, supplies, and collective-bargaining agreements; authorized.

The school board or board of education of any school district may enter into contracts under such terms and conditions as the board deems appropriate, for periods not to exceed four years, for the provision of utility services, refuse disposal, transportation services, maintenance services, financial services, insurance, security services, and instructional materials, supplies, and equipment and for collective-bargaining agreements with employee groups. This section does not permit multiyear contracts with individual school district employees.

 

Annotations:  A contract continuation clause does not create a contract of indefinite duration in violation of this section. Central City Ed. Assn. v. Merrick Cty. Sch. Dist., 280 Neb. 27, 783 N.W.2d 600 (2010).

Grand Island Public School Board of Education Facilities and Finance Committee (F&F Committee) interviewed four (4) firms as possible financial advisors; RBC Capital Markets, D.A. Davidson, Ameritas, and Edward Jones.  After listening to the presentations and reviewing information presented the F&F committee has narrowed the four (4) to two (2), D.A. Davidson and Ameritas.  After further review the F&F committee recommends the District continue it's professional relationship with D.A. Davidson. A 'letter of understanding' regarding the relationship between GIPS and D.A. Davidson will be presented for Board approval during the regularly scheduled February 2014 board meeting.

Rationale:  Grand Island Public School from time to time reviews its long standing business relationships with professional outside advisors and consultants. To that end, regardless of any possible bond referendum, the time came for a review of architect firms.  Currently, the District has a master agreement for architectural services with Cannon, Moss, Brygger, and Associates (CMBA).

Grand Island Public School Board of Education Facilities and Finance Committee (F&F Committee) sent Request For Qualifications (RFQ) to seven (7) architectural firms as follows; Bahr Vermeer Haecker, BCDM, Cannon Moss Brygger & Associates, DLR, HDR, Jackson-Jackson, Sinclair Hille.  Five (5) firms responded to the RFQ inquiry; 1.  CMBA, 2.  DLR, 3.  HDR, 4.  Jackson-Jackson, 5.  Sinclair Hille.  

Administration and others reviewed the responses received from architectural firms and made a recommendation to the BOE F&F Committee.  After reviewing the information presented the F&F committee asked for more information in the form of a matrix documenting the major decision points and considerations used by administration to make the recommendation.  Upon further review the F&F committee decided to conduct interviews of selected firms.  After final interviews the F&F Committee recommends __________________ as the Districts architectural firm.  A "master" agreement will be presented for Board approval during the regularlly scheduled February 2014 board meeting.

Rationale:  Grand Island Public School from time to time reviews its long standing business relationships with professional outside advisors and consultants. To that end, regardless of any possible bond referendum, the time came for a review of engineering firms.  Currently, the District has a master agreement for engineering services with Kucirek Engineering, Inc. (KEI).

Request For Qualifications (RFQ) were sent to seven (7) engineering firms as follows; Alvine Engineering, DLR, ETI, Farris Engineering, Kucirek Engineering, Inc. (KEI), Morrissey Engineering, Olsson Associates, Schemmer Associates.  Six (6) of the firms responded to the RFQ inquiry; 1.  DLR, 2.  ETI, 3.  Farris, 4.  Kucirek, 5.  Morrissey , 6.  Schemmer.

Administration and others reviewed the responses received from engineering firms and made a recommendation to the BOE F&F Committee.  After reviewing the information presented the F&F committee asked for more information in the form of a matrix documenting the major decision points and considerations used by administration to make the recommendation.  Upon further review the F&F committee decided to conduct interviews of selected firms.  After final interviews the F&F committee recommends __________________ as the District engineer.  A "master" contract will be presented for board approval at the regularly scheduled February 2014 board 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 gave an executive overview of the 2012 - 2013 audit report at the December Board meeting.  Board members are now being asked to accept and place the 2012 - 2013 audit report on file. Additionally, the audit report is posted on the District's web site along with the past three years.

Rationale: 

 

The sentiment from both the Visions & Values tour as well as more recent teacher council feedback have underscored the need for help desk software.  Our goals for implementing this software are threefold. First, we need to have accountability when our technicians are asked to assist end users.  Second, we need to have quantitative metrics by which we can evaluate issue handling and resolution, and third, we need to have qualitative metrics to help us work toward our goal of outstanding customer service. We investigated several and demonstrated two industry leaders of helpdesk software; Solarwinds Web Helpdesk and Absolute Manage Service. In the initial comparison the cost of Solarwinds was less expensive, however the integration to our current inventory and management system would require up to several months of a district resource making the overall cost nearly identical to Absolute Service.  The IT Department recommend we purchase the software which fully integrates with our existing inventory and management system Absolute Service. The initial cost will be $28,150.00 with an annual maintenance cost of approximately $8750.00/year.

Rationale:  The GIPS Traditional Calendar Committee and the GIPS Continuous Calendar Committee are recommending the BOE approve the 2014-2015 Traditional Calendar  and Continuous Calendar as presented.

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.