October 12, 2015 at 6:35 PM - GIPS BOE Regular Meeting

Rationale:  It is 6:35 PM and I now call to order the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education Meeting.  This is the October 12, 2015 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: 

SCOPE of SERVICES by CONTRACTOR; The Contractor is to perform the following specific activities or services: As part of the year 3 Pyramid Model activities NDE will provide financial support to accomplish the following by designated district staff: Continue data collection/reporting for ASQ-SE's, Benchmarks of Quality (Spring 2016 only), and TPOTS (Spring 2016 only). Support team members to attend the PTR-YC training at date(s)/Iocation(s) TBD by NDE. Support two team members (team leader/admin and internal coach; others as can) to attend National Training Institute on Effective Practices: Addressing Challenging Behaviors to be held April 19-22, 2016 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Provide release time/substitute pay to support new staff to attend 3 Pyramid module training, schedule district make and take Pyramid workday for teachers/staff or related Pyramid Activities. 

Rationale:  In order to make sure we have properly sized nutrition services space and equipment needs GIPS hires Roger Kruse Associates to design these areas with current and possible future enrollments in mind. This expense is part of the 'self-performed' budget from the september 2014 $69.9 million bond referendum.

Rationale:  GIPS has a corporate VISA card relationship with Five Points Bank. The credit cards are issued through First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO). FNBO is requesting that GIPS sign a Commercial Card Guaranty agreement. 

Rationale:  Mr. Kutlas will address the request by Heartland Lutheran High School to Join the Baseball Co-op with GISH, GICC, and GINW.

Rationale:  As part of Grand Island Public Schools comprehensive employee benefits program we offer employees flexible spending accounts within the IRS rules and regulations. over the entire time the program has been offered but more recently within the past four years the cash balance in this fund has increased. This increase is due to a combination of factors but most predominately due to employee forfeitures and interest accumulation. Per auditors recommendations we intend to move $25,000 from the account balance into the General Fund. Per current State Statute this is an accountable receipt and will decrease the GIPS state aid the following year. This item will be brought forward for board approval during the November meeting.

Rationale:  Recommendation will be made to add a .5 FTE Assistant Principal, Elementary position beginning January 2016.

Rationale:  Megan Eberle, 6th grade ELA teacher at Westridge Middle School will present on student blogging.

Rationale:  Annually, Board of Education members attend the State Conference for Nebraska Association of School Boards.  One member is designated as the voting delegate and attends the state wide delegate assembly, voting for the district on various issues.  The voting delegate representative will need to be designated at this evenings meeting.

Rationale:  October is the month we need to begin the registration process for the National School Boards Association annual conference.  This year the conference is in Boston, April 9 through 11, 2016.

Rationale:  Based on the opportunity for public input in the Public Hearing, the board will discuss, consider, and take action to adopt an amended Policy 8312 - Excessive Absences, if determined appropriate.

Rationale:  Recommendation will be made to add a .5 FTE Assistant Principal, Elementary position beginning January 2016.

Rationale:  As part of the District's comprehensive poverty plan we provide targeted transportation for students within district boundaries. Attached to this agenda item is the fiscal year 2015 - 2016 transportation route listing with the associated expense.  New for the 2015-2016 school year is the addition of two newcomers routes and one additional route for Westridge Middle School..

Rationale: 

CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA, a municipal corporation in Hall County, State of Nebraska, herein called the Grantee, a permanent and perpetual easement to construct, operate, maintain, extend, repair, replace, and remove public utilities, including but not limited to surface markers, and other appurtenances, upon, over, along, across, in, underneath and through a tract of land, commonly described as Barr Middle School.

Grand Island Public School System is remodeling and expanding Barr Middle School. As part of this project, several utility easements are necessary in order to serve this project. The enclosed easements will provide the Utilities Department with rights for operation, maintenance, and access for public utilities and all related appurtenances.

 

Rationale: 

CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA, a municipal corporation in Hall County, State of Nebraska, herein called the Grantee, a permanent and perpetual easement to construct, operate, maintain, extend, repair, replace, and remove public utilities, including but not limited to surface markers, and other appurtenances, upon, over, along, across, in, underneath and through a tract of land, commonly described as Starr Elementary School.

Grand Island Public School System is building a new and relocated Starr Elementary School. As part of this project, several utility easements are necessary in order to serve this project. The enclosed easements will provide the Utilities Department with rights for operation, maintenance, and access for public utilities and all related appurtenances.

 

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:  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: 

The following nominations have been submitted for the Region 12 Director seat on the NASB Board of Directors. Laura Schneider, Hastings Public Schools - Incumbent; and Lisa Wagner, Central City Public Schools.  A copy of their background information and application is attached for review.  Each member board in NASB REgion 12 is entitled to one vote.  The ballot must be completed and in no later than October 16, 2015.

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 quarterly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration by the NASB Board of Directors.

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

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration by The Greater Nebraska Schools Association.