December 9, 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 December 09, 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
• Legislative Committee

Rationale:  Recognition of the Nebraska State Fair Art 1st Place Winners from Grand Island.  

First Place Winners from Grand Island:

• Hana Butters, Walnut, 3-D Art
• Ali Kirschbaum, Barr, Cipher Down
• Kolby McGowan, Barr, Cipher Down
• Ava Stein, GISH, Entertainment Speaking
• Walnut, Group Art 
• Ava Stein, GISH, Monologue
• Cameron Law, Engleman, Poetry
• Ava Stein, GISH, Poetry Recitation
• Hana Butters, Walnut, Short Story
• Hana Butters, Walnut, Slide Presentation
• Cameron Law, Engleman, Wall Art

Rationale:  Grand Island Public Schools gave each student the opportunity to submit a design to the Superintendent's Holiday Card Contest.  Four winners were selected, one from PK-5, one from 6-8, and two from 9-12.  

2021 Winners:
Brynnslee Dubbs
Angela Pablo Hernandez
Isabella Mora
Haley Janda

Rationale:  Pandemic Update

Rationale:  To present the revised Wildcat Way and share the impact on students.  

Rationale:  The CHI Student Wellness Center will present an update on its success in serving students.  They will also speak to current challenges and needs that they have for continued growth.  


Strategic Goals: Obj 3.2 Community partnerships that increase support for students and families. 

• Mental health services available at all buildings 
• Wraparound services/community partnerships for students in need of Tier 3 support. 

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:  Providing a quality team based extracurricular activity for students who may not be interested or able to participate in traditional extra curricular activities.

Rationale:  This legislative lobbyist's contract for services has been reviewed by the Facilities & Finance Committee and will be an action item on the January Board Agenda. 

Grand Island Public Schools has employed Angela Amack as a lobbyist for the school district since 2009 on matters of interest before the Nebraska Unicameral. Since the 2010 calendar year, the district has entered into three-year agreements with Mrs. Amack for her services.  The contract is structured to provide an annual fee increase of 3%.  The fee is an all-inclusive fee and no other external lobbying expenses are incurred by the district.

Rationale:  Present data on the success of OMB and the need to continue with another 3-year contract.  

Rationale:  Dr. Dexter will present a contract with Enable My Child to provide mental health teletherapy as an information and action item.

Rationale:  Every ten years, a federal census is conducted.  It is the obligation of each public school board to move the ward boundaries to balance the population represented by each school board ward.  

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's report. 

Rationale:  Proposed 2022 2023 Calendar 

Rationale:  Proposed Long Range Plan for Extracurricular Activities

Rationale:  Dr. Dexter will present a contract with Enable My Child to provide mental health teletherapy as an information and action item.

Rationale:  Every ten years, a federal census is conducted.  It is the obligation of each public school board to move the ward boundaries to balance the population represented by each school board ward.  

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) have been presented to the BOE for review at the November 2021 Board Meeting.  

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 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, they are encouraged to contact Grand Island Public Schools Chief Financial Officer, Ken Schroeder, who will be happy to answer any questions they may have.

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:  Regular Board of Education Meeting, Thursday, January 13, 2022 at 5:30 PM