November 11, 2021 at 5:30 PM - GIPS BOE Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

It is 5:____PM and I now call to order the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education Meeting.  This is the November 11, 2021 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 so that you may be recognized during the Requests to Address the Board part of our meeting.  If you have not already completed the form, please see the staff person outside the entrance to this room.  Public comment is welcome. We do ask that no signs be brought into the boardroom.

Mrs. Simmons, will you please call the roll?

Rationale:  Roll Call.

Rationale: 

The Mission  

Every Student, Every Day, a Success!  In educating students, we teach hearts as well as minds. 

Student Commitments  

Within the school district of Grand Island:

• Every student has access to high-quality, culturally responsive, and engaging learning environments.  
• Every student will develop literacy skills across disciplines.  
• Every student is socially and emotionally equipped to thrive in school and in life. 
• Every student will graduate as a college, career, and community-ready citizen.  

 

 

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? (pause)

Does anyone have a potential conflict of interest on agenda item 5.2? If so, please state the check number that you will be abstaining from voting on.

Rationale:  Standing Committees
 A monthly agenda accepted as presented to the board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the standing committees.  
 

• Finance and Facilities Committee
• Leading for Learning Committee
• Personnel Committee
• Policy Committee
• Public Relations and Partnership Development Committee
• Governance Committee

Rationale:  From time to time the City of Grand Island annexes land into the City of Grand Island. Per state statute, GIPS and Northwest Public Schools are required to negotiate concerning the annexed land. Over time the attached agreement format has been developed and agreed to by both GIPS and Northwest Public Schools for this purpose.  The annexation agreement has been prepared in accordance with the agreed format by the school district's attorney.

Rationale:  Mr. Covarrubias and Mr. Weaver will present the Barr Veterans Day Program details.  

Rationale:  FEV Tutoring and Howard Elementary's experience includes participation and data to show student progress and student thoughts on their experience.  

Rationale: 

• Each person addressing the board will be allowed 5 minutes. The Board of Education has the prerogative to limit speaking to 3 minutes when there are three or more patrons to allow speakers an opportunity to address the Board in a timely manner.
• We allocate up to 30 minutes for addressing the board at each regular board meeting.
• Please face the Board,  not the audience when you speak
• We want to hear what is being said so we ask the audience to refrain from making comments or sounds that make it hard to hear the speaker. 
• No signs are allowed in the boardroom.
• We will not engage in dialogue with patrons presenting to the Board, the purpose of the requests to address the board is to listen to patrons.
• The Board president and superintendent will identify staff to follow-up on information requested from patrons when necessary.
• At regular business meetings any school district-related matter can be presented to the Board, but only agenda items can be acted upon during a given meeting. At special meetings, comments will be limited to the subject of action items of the meeting's agenda. 
• Speakers will not be permitted to make defamatory comments, or use abusive or vulgar language. 
• Expressions of personal complaints about staff or students are discouraged at public meetings. Concerns about individuals should be brought to the attention of the appropriate administrative authority. Specific building or program concerns should be brought to the attention of the building principal or program supervisor.

Rationale:  Short recess to transition into the information portion of the current agenda.  Members of the public are welcome to stay for the remainder of the board meeting.  

Rationale:  Reconvene from short recess before transitioning into the information items of the current agenda. 

Rationale:  Presentation of the proposed 2022 2023 Calendar 

Rationale:  Presentation of the proposed Long Range Plan for Extracurricular Activities

Rationale:  Annually, all Nebraska school districts are required to have an independent audit and file an annual financial report (AFR). For the Fiscal Year ending August 31, 2021 both the audit report and (AFR) will be presented to the BOE for review.  

Both items were presented to the Facility & Finance Committee for review and were submitted to the proper local, state, and federal agencies in a timely manner. The AFR matches the audit report, so only the audit report will be presented as an action item next month for the BOE to accept and place on file.

If board members, staff, or members of the public have questions or concerns pertaining to the audit or the AFR, they are encouraged to contact CFO, Ken Schroeder, who will be happy to answer any questions they may have.

Rationale: 

Mr. Petsch will present the construction update. 

Rationale: 

Ms. Isabela Prado Gomez will report the student representative report to the board. 

Rationale: 

Dr. Grover will present the superintendent report. 

Rationale:  The Grand Island Education Association continues to represent the bargaining unit covered by the 2021-2022 Master Agreement and is recognized as the exclusive agent for negotiations for the 2022-2023 contract year. 

The Association requests that Grand Island Public Schools recognize the Association as the exclusive bargaining agent for the 2023-2024 contract year for the unit it presently represents.  

Rationale:  When the classified pay increase was approved by the board for the 2021-22 school year, there was no compensation increase made for substitute nutrition services staff.  Mrs. Spellman, Department Head of Nutrition Services, is requesting a compensation increase for these valued and needed employees.  Based on the amount of substitutions that occurred during the 2020-21 school year, the projected increased cost to the School Nutrition Fund for labor costs would be $6000.

This $6,000 figure varies from the original calculation presented at the October Board Meeting.  Originally, the step placement on the scale was only calculated at one step rather than increasing steps according to the number of years the substitutes have been working for us.  The new calculation recognizes the years of "service credit" by the substitutes to the school district on the salary schedule. The Facility & Finance Committee felt this was a good step to take, so that these substitutes can be retained by the district. They are invaluable to the department.

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 update from the Nebraska Association of School Boards.  

Rationale: 

The Board will convene into executive session for the purpose of discussing labor relations.

Rationale:  Upcoming Board of Education Meeting; Thursday, December 9, 2021 at 5:30 pm