March 9, 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.  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.  Barry Ballou wrote back the following:

From Barry Ballou at NLAF:
Hey Ken: the answer to your question about past rates. The rates follow the Fed rates. That means when the Fed rates go up or down .25 the Fund will follow slowly up and slowly down as the fed rate changes. In the last year our rate got up to 2.15 percent and since then as the fed rate went down twice we are at about 1.35% now.  We think the Fed rate will go down another .25 this year so we anticipate our rate will follow and be around 1.10 later this year.  The NLAF rate is a slow mover and reacts to Fed. rate changes in a slow deliberate way.  Call if you want to discuss!


From Chelsy at Town & Country Bank Regarding Options We Could Exercise Locally (February Board Meeting):

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. 
 

 

 

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, Mr. Heath Ahrens.

Mr. Ahrens does a great job promoting FFA throughout the school.  The time that he puts in before, during and after school to prepare his students for competitions needs to be commended.  He also takes the initiative to help out all teachers with their extra activities by setting up and cleaning up after it is over.  Mr. Ahrens is always happy to help out with anything you need.  We are very lucky at RHS to have Mr. Ahrens!

Other nominees included:

Scott Stecklein-Mr. Stecklein does an outstanding job at instilling a creative thinking mindset for his students and encouraging exploration and experimentation in the world of science. He helps put together a thoughtful and strong science fair for our junior high students as well as serves as a role model coach for the boys JH basketball team. Mr. Stecklein is always willing to go above and beyond to ensure his students are getting the education they deserve! He always greets everyone in the halls and has left such a great impression on our students that even myself and other teachers have been called "Mr. Stecklein" by students, therefore he is clearly leaving a great remark on those he teaches!

Paige Havranek-I would like to nominate Paige Havranek for Staff Member of the month. She is always thinking about the student's growth and development. She goes out of her way to create learning opportunities and find teachable moments for the students everyday. Mrs. Havranek has embraced planning for this year's prom with enthusiasm and is doing a great deal to keep the students working toward their goal of having an awesome prom. She is a great person to work with on any project and a fun, energizing person to be around.

Kelley Jarzynka-Kelley is an excellent teacher who consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty.  She spends countless hours at the school with the one-act program and the robotics program.  Her robotics students recently won the Nebraska State Vex Robotics Championship.  This achievement is a testament to the nurturing academic environment she provides in her classroom and the extra time, energy, and effort she puts in with her students.  Staff and students appreciate Kelley because she is straightforward, demands excellence, and is quick with positive praise.  Ravenna Public Schools is fortunate to have someone of Kelley's intelligence and ability on staff.

Caleb Christensen-A college freshman recently returned home to Ravenna on a break from school.  She shared the story of how Mr. Christensen, "..saved her bacon in college Chemistry..."  The student relayed that she felt very prepared to achieve academic excellence in this challenging course and was even asked to tutor another student.  Mr. Christensen is doing a wonderful job of preparing Ravenna Students to achieve academic excellence at the post-secondary level.
 

Rationale:  A final draft of the school calendar is attached for review and approval by the board of education.

Rationale:  Each year, the school provides an appreciation and recognition meal for the staff.  The superintendent would like to discuss options for this recognition and appreciation meal.

Board Members and staff will be included in the meal count and paid for by the district.  Ravenna Public School Board Policy #2007, allowed for such expenditures if approved by the school board.  The policy allows for the cost of each staff members or elected public official's meal in an amount not to exceed $50.

The same policy allows for "an item of value" to be presented to staff who are retiring from the school district in an amount to not exceed $100 per employee.

The superintendent is seeking authorization from the board for these expenditures.

Retirees Include:
Jean Luth
Dom Reicks
Dawn Reicks
Doris Russell
Pat Shrader

Rationale:  The administrative team has been discussing with the board of education the possibility of absorbing the position of Mrs. Pat Shrader, who is retiring at the end of the school year.  For the purpose of facilitating that discussion and decision making, the superintendent has attached two documents.  One document shows how the duties would be delegated to existing staff.  The second shows the potential cost savings for the school district.

The superintendent also followed up with the school district's auditor to discuss internal controls in respect to accounting that he would advise the district to observe during the proposed transition.  He advised the following measures be adhered to:

1.  Ensure that payroll and payroll checks are reviewed by the superintendent and the Board's Finance Committee each month.  He indicated that having the same person do payroll and general fund accounting presents some risk, if it is not regulated, as fictitious employees could be created and expensive benefits such as "cash in lieu" and insurance could be administered in a fraudulent manner.

2.  Lunch Deposits-He advised that lunch fund deposits continue to be "double counted" independently by two district employees, as there is cash taken in through this fund.

3.  Activity Deposits-He advised that activity fund deposits continue to be "double counted" independently by two district employees, as there is cash taken in through this fund.

4.  He advised that the mail continue to be opened and delivered by someone other than the bookkeeper, so that another district employee has an understanding of the bills and accounts receivable coming into the school district.

5.  He advised that the superintendent continue to retrieve the bank statements and county treasurers' correspondence and review them prior to providing them to the bookkeeper for accounting purposes.

He stated, "It is always better when there is separation between the duties of payroll and bookkeeping, but I also understand the potential cost savings and the rationale behind the decision."

Gary Hinrichs wated me to assure the board members that if they wanted any additional information or had any additional questions for him, they could certainly contact him at his office in Ord, Dana F. Cole Office, at 308-728-3014 or by email at <hinrichs@danacole.com>.
 

Rationale:  The following board members have been assigned to the following CIP Tenet Teams:

Positive Partnerships, Relationships, & Success-Ryan Osten

Transitions-Marilyn Bohn

Educational Opportunities & Access-Tara Schirmer

College, Career, & Civic Ready-Misti Fiddelke

Assessment-Marc Vacek

Educator Effectiveness-Dawn Standage

 

Rationale:  Winter MAP Report

Handouts will be provided at the meeting.

Rationale:  1.  ALICAP Safety Inspection Report-(Attached)

2.  Track Runway Resurfacing Update-ProTrack & Tennis has completed the resurfacing project.  The only things that remain are to have the runway areas painted and the seam along the west edge of the track and the sidewalk in front of the west retaining wall needs to be caulked.

3.  Track Retaining Wall Update-ALICAP has been contacted regarding their share of the costs for this project.  The school will be reimbursed by the insurance company, after paying the full amount of the repair.

4.  Board & Administrative Team Strategic Planning Session-Scott has provided the Saturday dates he would be available.  A google survey will be sent to board members and to administrative team members, to see if we can find two Saturdays for the training.  Scott indicated that he is happy to do focus group surveys.  Superintendent Schroeder discussed with Scott the possibility of using the CIP survey data from students, teachers, parents, and community members, rather than doing focus group interviews.  Superintendent Schroeder would like some feedback on whether the board feels using the CIP survey data is route they wish to take, or if he would like to coordinate with Scott to provide a time for focus group interviews this spring.

5.  Corona Virus-The school is in contact with NDE & Two Rivers Health Department.  We are monitoring the situation.  An update and informational newsletter will appear in the newspaper and be sent directly to parents.  It is attached for review and input by the board.  The superintendent will attend a meeting on Wednesday (3/11) to learn more about the topic and become better prepared to respond, should their be an outbreak at RPS.  The school's policy on communicable disease, "Communicable Disease-3048," is attached to this agenda item for review by the board.



Monthly Superintendent Goals Update:

Academic Achievement
Worked with NDE for CIP Surveys Delivery to all stakeholders
Profile Development for School Improvement at ESU 10

Vision
Scott Daniel zoom strategic planning session session

Community Relations
-Met with Amber Ross, REDC Director
-Attended RDEC Monthly Meeting, as a board member
-Continue to serve at Community Representative for Chamber of Commerce
-Attended President's Banquet & Presented "Educator of the Year Award"
-Worked Lion's Club Pancake Feed on March 1-I was "the gravy man"
-Transported robotics students and made brief presentation at Lion's Pancake Feed with robotics students, as teacher was ill