February 10, 2020 at 8:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

1.  Review monthly bills using the EMeetings Software.

2.  Review all credit card transactions for the month

3.  Finance Committee Members Sign-off on review of monthly bills, credit card transactions, and district fund balances.

4.  Approve superintendent's expenses (credit card transactions, mileage, cell phone reimbursement).

5.  Lunch Fund Monthly Review

• Lunch Fund Worksheet
• Breakfast & Lunch Meals Goals
• Transition & Data Points

6.  Budget Authority & State Aid-See Attached

7.  NLAF Follow Up Conversation-Information regarding options with Town & Country Bank appear below.  I reached out to NLAF schools and shared that information with Finance Committee Members, following the February Board Meeting.  Some indicated the interest their were getting through NLAF wasn't greater than their local banks, although they did say the rate had been better than the local bank in the past.  I've contacted the NLAF Representative and requested the current rate.  At the time of writing this email, I have not heard back from him:

From Chelsy at Town & Country Bank Regarding Options We Could Exercise Locally:

Good morning Dr. Schroeder,
 
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review the general account.  I believe that by structuring that account into 3 separate accounts that will work together, that we can significantly increase the interest income for the school.  Below is my proposal:
 
1)     $2,000,000.00 placed into our 9 month Flex CD which is currently paying a rate of 1.00%.  The flex CD allows up to 3 withdrawals per 9 month term which gives you a little flexibility should access ever be needed to those funds. 
2)     $1,000,000.00 placed into our Money Market Savings account at a rate of .70% and tied directly to the checking account as backup protection in $25,000.00 increments.  This account has a 6 withdrawal limit per statement cycle, but I think between manual transfers and the automatic backup sweep that should not be a problem.
3)     The remaining balance of $0-$500,000.00 stays in the current account paying the current rate of .25%
 
Rough estimates (depending on the number of days in the statement cycle) show the Flex to make approx. $1645.00, the money market to make approx. $575.00, and the checking (I used $300,000.00 balance) to make approx. $60.00. 
 
I can put these 3 accounts onto the same monthly statement to make it easier to see the whole picture if this is the plan you decide.
 
We can always adjust these numbers as you see fit, I basically looked at the last 6 month’s activity and comprised the email from those numbers. 
 
Again, thank you for the opportunity and should you wish to proceed or talk further I’m always available. 
 
8.  Staff Compensation & Budget Authority-Annually, the board reviews the classified staff's compensation in advance of the upcoming school year.  Information regarding a wage increase for classified staff is attached to this agenda item for the board's consideration and action.  The superintendent's recommendation is for the board to approve a 3-4% WAGE increase for all classified staff or for the board to study the information and then apply an overall compensation  increases for each class of classified employees defined in the attached spreadsheet.

The total compensation increase for certificated staff (teachers) is calculated to be $164,409 or 4.97%.  The calculated cost for all classified staff salary increase of 3%-4.5% WAGE increase is $50,047 to $67,743.  Total estimated compensation increase for staff (teaching and classified), will be in the range of $214,456 to $232,152. 

Total Budget Authority for the 2020-21 budget cycle is $5,714,068 up from $5,574,700 from the 2019-20 budget cycle or a difference of $139,368.

9.  Total Compensation for Classified Staff in Respect To Reallocation of Duties-Tech Coordinator, Bookkeeper, High School Office Manager, Elementary Office Manager, School Nurse

 

 

Rationale: 

Members of the Public, 

This is the portion of the board meeting when we invite anyone in attendance to address the board of education. If you would like to speak to the board regarding any of the items on tonight's agenda or a public concern, now is your opportunity to do so.  Please review the orange sheet (found on the visitors' chairs) of paper that contains the guidelines for public participation.  If you wish to speak to the board at this time, please let me know.  "Would anyone like to address the board at this time?"

 

AFTER THE PERSON(S) INDICATE(S) THEY WISH TO SPEAK

1.  Please stand and state your name?

2.  What topic will you be speaking on?

3.  Are there others in the room who wish to speak to the same topic? (If so, ask that they be recognized so that 30 minutes of time for public comment can be apportioned as per the policy-5 minutes per person).

4.  Optional-"Please understand that public comment is your opportunity to speak to the board and present your concerns, thoughts, feelings, ideas, and observations.  Members of the board are happy to hear from members of the public, but the board will not engage in conversation or dialogue with you during public comment."

4.  "You'll have approximately 5 minutes to address the board, as we allow 5 minutes per person and a total of 30 minutes for public comment.  You may begin when you are ready?"

 

 

 

Rationale:  Congratulations to this month's ABC Bluejay Staff Member of the Month-Ms. Kinsley Henery: 

Other nominees included:
Holly Myers-I would like to nominate Holly Myers. Mrs. Myers does an exemplary job as not only our librarian but also as a data steward and facilitator of mandated testing such as MAPS. She is prudent in helping her colleagues understand the system and it's reports along with making sure all our students are tested to their fullest potential even if they miss a testing date, which requires diligent organization. She also consistently vets our library catalog to ensure a plethora of new and exciting books are available to students and encourages our students to continually improve their literacy rates through positive praise. Not only does she have the arduous task of dealing with testing, she supervises numerous study halls where our students can be found using their work time appropriately. Outstanding achievement often goes unnoticed...until now! Keep up the outstanding work, Mrs. Myers!

Bus Drivers-I would like to nominate our bus drivers as ABC Bluejay Staff Members of the Month. These drivers brave all weather and road conditions to safely get our students to and from home and extra-curricular activities. In addition to being drivers, they must be conflict mediators, crisis managers, and behavior management specialists all at the same time. Each of them has the safety and security of the children on the bus as their first priority every time they set foot on a bus. It is for these reasons that I think our bus drivers should be honored as the ABC Bluejay Staff Members of the Month.

Jean Luth-Iwould like to nominate Jean Luth as the ABC staff member of the month. Jean puts her heart and soul into her job as a paraprofessional. Her patience and willingness to help all students goes above and beyond the expectation. Jean is very dedicated, arriving early and staying late to help students. She is highly respected and develops great working relationships with teachers and other staff, as well as students. Jean is very sincere and empathetic to the needs of the students and strives to provide stability and support in the classroom. She is purpose driven wanting to see all students succeed, which at times requires extra time, patience, and encouragement. Jean is a tremendous asset to the special education department as well as the school.

Brad Kjar-I nominate Brad Kjar.  Mr. Kjar is a principal that listens and respects his teachers no matter what.  He does a lot of little things that people don't notice like driving the bus routes, staying late, and dealing with several difficult and stressful situations.  He will bend over backwards to help his students and staff and his positive energy throughout the day helps the daily grind more enjoyable.  Mr. Kjar does more than any other principal I have been around and I feel he is more than deserving to be recognized for his effort.  






 

Rationale:  The "Staff Handbook" includes fringe benefits for classified staff.  Traditionally, the classified staff's fringe benefits have mirrored those afforded the certificated staff.  The attached handbook is edited to: (1) insert the language regarding "full dock days"; (2) provide 3 personal days of leave & (3) remove "Emergency Leave" in the classified fringe benefit section on pages 57, 58, & 59 of the "Staff Handbook".

The board retains the right to NOT change any of these benefits to "mirror" the fringe benefits provided to certificated staff, as classified staff are not subject to the negotiations process.  The superintendent would recommend that the language for "full dock days" be included, as we do have classified staff that exhaust the leave they are afforded and it is in the district's best interest to have a defined amount of time classified are entitled to be gone without pay before it can have an adverse on their employment status with the school district.  The decision regarding the personal leave time provisions and the emergency leave provision rest entirely with the board to unilaterally decide, as stated earlier, the classified staff benefits do not have to mirror the certificated staff and are not subject to negotiation.

Rationale:  Annually, the board reviews the classified staff's compensation in advance of the upcoming school year.  Information regarding a wage increase for classified staff is attached to this agenda item for the board's consideration and action.  The superintendent's recommendation is for the board to approve a 3-4.5% WAGE increase for all classified staff or for the board to study the information and then apply an overall compensation  increases for each class of classified employees defined in the attached spreadsheet.

The total compensation increase for certificated staff (teachers) is calculated to be $164,409 or 4.97%.  The calculated cost for all classified staff salary increase of 3%-4.5% WAGE increase is $50,047 to $67,743.  Total estimated compensation increase for staff (teaching and classified), will be in the range of $214,456 to $232,152. 

Total Budget Authority for the 2020-21 budget cycle is $5,714,068 up from $5,574,700 from the 2019-20 budget cycle or a difference of $139,368.

Rationale:  The recommendation of the superintendent and Marty Kasl, the mechanical engineer on the project is to award the bid to Jerry's Sheet Metal.  The written recommendation letter from Marty Kasl of ETI is attached to this agenda item.

Bid Tabulation for 60-ton Condenser Unit:

Jerry's Sheet Metal: $68,800
Rutt's: $70,910
Rasmussen Mechanical: $92,964
 

Rationale:  The superintendent advertised for bids and contacted 5 athletic locker sales companies.  Three bids were received for the locker improvement project.  These lockers are for the high school boys locker room.  The girls locker room lockers were replaced 10 years ago and are in good shape, according to Mr. Cyboron.  The bid tabulation appears below. 

The superintendent requested references from each of the companies submitting a bid.  The superintendent then checked the references.  The recommendation of the superintendent and the head of maintenance is to award the bid to Storage and Design Group in the amount of $19,500.

Bid Tabulation
Lightning Lockers: $17,301
Storage & Design Group: $19,500
Patton Equipment: $20,811.50
 

Rationale:  The chimney that installed for use with the school's old boiler is deteriorating and creating a potential hazard.  Bids were solicited for its removal.  Those bids are attached to this agenda item.  Bids were NOT publicly advertised, as the superintendent did not believe they would exceed the $5,000 limit established by board policy.

The superintendent recommends that the bid for chimney removal be awarded to Tri-Cities Roofing.

Bid Tabulation:
Tri-Cities Roofing-$2,200
Karr Tuckpointing-$14,198

In addition to the chimney staff being removed, the boilers will have to have vent piping installed to allow the gases to escape.  Preliminary budget pricing for this work was acquired through Rasmussen's Mechanical Services.  A copy of the budget pricing for this project is attached.  Budget pricing is approximately $34,000.

Rationale:  The Buffalo County Sheriff's Office has a grant opportunity to provide an active shooter protocol app called "ASAP" to all Buffalo County Schools, to increase communication and safety during an active shooter event.  A short video demonstrating the product is available at the following url: https://www.volosaas.com/asap-education?utm_source=Law+Enforcement+%28Sheriff%27s%2FMunicipalities%29&utm_campaign=e42a1a98ce-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_08_13_08_46&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f5d25b3785-e42a1a98ce-62198975

 

Rationale: 

As per the superintendent's contract, the superintendent is required to remind the board at its annual November meeting that they have the right to non-renew his contract by informing the superintendent of their intent to non-renew the contract within 7 days after the regular December Board Meeting.  This renewal reminder is found in "Section 2" of the attached superintendent's contract.

Renewal of the superintendent's contract is an annual agenda item for the December Board Meeting, as per the language of the superintendent contract.

The superintendent is also required to be evaluated twice during the first year of employment and then annually thereafter.  The superintendent's evaluation is an annual agenda item for the December Board Meeting.

This agenda item serves as the written notice the superintendent is required to provide regarding his contract and performance evaluation, as per the superintendent's contract.

Rationale:  1) Each board member was asked to complete a brief survey regarding their membership on the AQuESTT Tenet Teams.  Please complete that survey, if you haven't done so already.  When the superintendent last checked, there were a couple surveys remaining to be completed.

2) CIP UPDATE

• Tenet Teams met for the second time on February 3 for Continuous Improvement Process (CIP)
• CIP Goal: "All students will improve in reading."
• School Mission Statement: "Family-Community-School-Preparing students today to succeed tomorrow"
• School Belief Statements:
  • We believe all students learn at different rates, in different ways, and are capable of success.
  • We believe in supporting the academic, behavioral, social, and emotional needs of all students in a safe and positive environment. 
  • We believe education is a shared responsibility between family, school, and community.

3.  Please see the attached document "State Board of Education Policy Priorities."  It talks about "Rule 10", approval, accreditation, and accountability policies changing, USING THE DOMAINS OF AQuESTT.

Rationale:  A draft of the school calendar is attached for review and consideration by the school.

Rationale: 

Rationale:  1.  Student Artist of the Month-Shyanne Beer (Art Attached)

2.  State Aid & Budget Authority-Draft is Attached

3.  NSAA Newsletter-Attached

4.  Legislative Summary Attached-Please let me know if you have any questions about the bills included in the summary.

5.  Bad News-Good News: 15A Broke down after the Loup City game.  We had it towed to Hansens, as it entered "limp mode".  The repair was estimated at $8500.  I made a warranty claim.  It was covered by warranty.  Bad news is we had to pay for the tow by Kramers and diagnostics by Hansens, estimated to be $650-$700.

6.  Window Project Update-Please see the attached proposal for BVH entitled "Ravenna PS Window Repair Assistance." BVH is the architectural firm that was originally contracted  to provide oversight on the window project.  The superintendent reached out to them and provided them with the opportunity to participate in the repair process, as the school district now has money in hand from the settlement to do so.








Monthly Superintendent Goals Update:

Academic Achievement


Vision


Community Relations