November 13, 2014 at 6:30 PM - November 13, 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 November 13, 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: 

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 has reviewed the attached fiscal year 2015 - 2016 budget calendar for adoption and would like the full Board of Education to review prior to adopting at the regularly scheduled December 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 will give an executive overview of the 2013 - 2014 audit report and answer questions Board members might have. An action item to accept and place the 2013 - 2014 audit report on file will appear on the December 2014 meeting agenda. Additionally, the audit report is posted on the District's web site along with past years reports .

Rationale:  Currently Grand Island Public Schools belongs to several national purchasing cooperative or programs.  Board policy and business office practice require competitive pricing on many items purchased by the district. In an effort to provide yet another opportunity for the district to obtain 'best pricing' the administration is recommending the adoption of the BuyBoard Purchasing Resolution.  This purchasing cooperative is sponsored by the National School Boards Association and has low pricing from many vendor(s) the district currently conducts business with.

Rationale:  Given the current situation with Grand Island's only local hospital being out-of-network with our health insurance carrier Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (EHA) since September 1, 2014, the administration is seeking appropriate alternative(s) response(s). After reviewing our options three appear valid, albeit, not necessarily mutually exclusive. First, do nothing; second, break away from our current provider and seek a new provider for GIPS only; third, seek the opportunity to pool with others for health insurance.  Currently, Nebraska statute prohibits schools and ESU's from pooling for this purpose. The administration wishes to move forward with options two and three. Before doing so administration needs to update the board on activities to date to investigate these options and the Board needs to provide feedback and input to the administration so a decision can be reached or next steps outlined. 

Rationale:  As a matter of practice Grand Island Public Schools maintains master agreements for both Architectural & Engineering professional services. Cannon, Moss, Brygger Architect's as the single source architectural firm and both ETI and Kucirek engineering for engineering services. As specific projects are funded and implemented, specific contracts are issued to document our working and contractual relationship on each specific project after the construction contract is awarded.

Rationale:  Mr. McDowell, Director of 21st Century Learning, will review several useful technology tools which Board members have access to, including Google Mail and Google Calendars.

Rationale:  In order to carry out our promise to the community to complete the seven (7) bond issue projects within five (5) years or less, additional construction management services is necessary.  To that end, administration is seeking an independent contractor agreement for construction management services from an as yet unnamed provider. Legal council prepared the proposed contract with input from administration and and all are in agreement with the terms and conditions set forth by the contract. Final selection of a provider an minor details are yet to be negotiated.

Rationale:  Dr. Winter will open discussion on board member preferences for visiting schools in the district.

Rationale:  Substitute teacher pay was last increased in August 2013. This proposed increase would be effective January 5, 2015 and will keep our substitute teacher pay schedule competitive with area school districts with whom we compete for substitute teachers. 

Rationale:  Due to the current revenue and expenditure levels within the District during the current fiscal year several steps have been taken to position the District to withstand continued changes in both revenue and expenditures.  One of those steps is to bring forward a "Targeted Voluntary Early Retirement Incentive Plan" or TVERIP.  This is a DRAFT plan and is in the process of being updated and modified by District legal council (Cline, Williams) from the last time we utilized this action in 2010 - 2011 school year.  The plan and the detail of such were reviewed by the F&F committee and will be presented to the entire BOE for approval during the November 2014 regularly scheduled meeting.  Key aspects of the plan include, but are not limited to, the following;
1.  An employee would need twenty-nine (29) years of continuous service to the District to qualify.
2.  Employee agrees to resign and give up right to a continuing contract for a maximum per employee price of $37,500 (same as 2011).
3.  A maximum of Twenty (20) employees can participate.
4.  The anticipated maximum cost of the plan is $750,000 already set-a-side in the Employee Benefit Fund.
5.  The maximum anticipated General Fund reduction for the 2015 - 2016 school year is approximately $850,000.
6.  Administration my ask for for the plan to operate in both FY14-15 and FY15-16.

Rationale:  Due to installing a bus lane in front of West Lawn Elementary School on College Street GIPS needs to enter into a new updated utilities easement with the City of Grand Island.  The movement of the easement is a natural outcome of the new bus lane construction.

Rationale: 

In order to carry out our promise to the community to complete the seven (7) bond issue projects within five (5) years or less, additional construction management services is necessary.  To that end, administration is seeking an independent contractor agreement for construction management services from an as yet unnamed provider. Legal council prepared the proposed contract with input from administration and and all are in agreement with the terms and conditions set forth by the contract. Final selection of a provider an minor details are yet to be negotiated.

Rationale: 

WHEREAS, the Municipalities Continuing Disclosure Cooperation Initiative (the “Initiative”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) has been introduced for municipal issuers and underwriters, and the underwriter of the District has reported one or more of the District’s bond issues to the Commission pursuant to the Initiative; and WHEREAS, the District has evaluated the benefits and risks of participation in the Initiative and has determined that participation in the Initiative is appropriate for the District to reduce future risk and uncertainty;

 

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the District hereby authorizes the District to participate in the Initiative under the terms of the Initiative, and further authorizes the President of the Board of Education of the District to approve, finalize, execute and deliver for and on behalf of the District any and all documents, certificates and questionnaires necessary or appropriate for the District to participate in the Initiative including, without limitation, an agreement with the commission under the terms set forth in the Initiative.

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:  No meeting or report this month.

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.