June 8, 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-There are two "Book to Bank Reconciliation" statements in this month Lunch Fund Review.  This is due to the fact that the claims for the months of April and May are still pending.  One shows what the actual balance is right now and the other shows what the projected balance will be after those claims have been received.  Claims have been slow in arriving, due to the virus and some misunderstanding at NDE.  We transferred $7600 in order to make payroll this month, due to the April claim check not showing up.  If the April & May claim checks do not show up in a timely manner, we may be required to make a transfer of $3400 PRIOR TO THE JULY MEETING to pay vendors.  Therefore, there are two transfers on the board's consent agenda.  One is for the transfer of $7600 we were forced to execute to make payroll.  The second is for transfers "as needed" (est. $3400) to pay vendors prior to the July Board Meeting.  Once both April & May claims arrive, we should be $15,600 to the good in the account.

6.  Lunch Fund Year End Review

• Review of Program Transition Document
• Student Survey Data
• Financial Data & Meal Service Targets-Numbers are skewed due to the closure, but the financial data is available.

7.  Lunch Prices for 2020-21 School Year

8.  Payroll Ledger Review-NEW

9.  Insurance Billing Review-NEW

10.  ACH Payroll Review-NEW

11.  Other Information-Hilary and I are providing information in the form of the payroll ledger and the insurance billing, as it was suggested by the auditor.  Are there any other pieces of information you would like to see on a monthly basis as part of the Finance Committee Meetings, as we have now officially made the transition with the office staff reconfiguration?

12.  FEMA & ESSRS Money-The superintendent is gathering information on FEMA claims for reimbursements due to the coronavirus and information on how to submit the application for the ESSRS (CARES Act Fund).  The ESSRS Application is not yet available and information from FEMA regarding reimbursements is slow.  He will continue to keep the finance committee aware of these two funding sources and how he plans to re-coop money from FEMA and how he plans to spend the money for the ESSRS grant.  There is a simple strategy in doing this to maximize the benefit of both funding sources.
 

Rationale:  NDE is requiring local school districts who could not meet the required instructional hours for students, due to the COVID virus, to submit an affidavit regarding their closure.  The board secretary will need to sign the affidavit.  This board item is to make the whole board aware of the affidavit and the requirement.

Rationale:  This transfer was necessarily made between the May and June Board Meeting for the purpose of making payroll expenses, due to the claims check not arriving in a timely manner.  There has been some backlog in processing the checks, as they are larger for smaller districts than they have traditionally been.  This transfer has already been executed.

Rationale:  Due to the backlog in nutrition claims being paid to school districts during the outbreak of the virus, we may have to execute a transfer in the amount of $3400 to pay vendors between the June and July board meeting.  This is entirely contingent upon when the April & May claims checks arrive into the school's account in a timely manner.  This agenda item is designed to authorize the bookkeeper and superintendent to make transfers, as needed, from the general fund to the lunch fund prior to the July Board Meeting

Rationale:  A list of books to be declared surplus for sale or disposal from the school library's inventory is attached to this agenda item.

Rationale:  The bus barn is being thoroughly cleaned out this summer.  The transportation coordinator is asking that the items in the attached file, including old storage cabinets, a grill, and vehicle braking components be declared surplus for immediate sale or disposal.

Rationale:  The attorneys are recommending removing this policy from our series, as revised Policy #2002 will encapsulate the duties in this policy.

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:  The school annually reviews it's lunch and breakfast meal prices to determine if they need to be adjust for the upcoming school year.

Current Meal Prices:
K-6 Breakfast: $2.00
7-12 Breakfast: $2.15
Adult Breakfast: $2.70

"Seconds" Price for Breakfast Entree: $1.00

K-6 Lunch: $2.85
7-12 Lunch: $3.15
Adult Lunch: $4.10

"Seconds" Price for Entree: $1.25

Proposed Meal Prices:
K-6 Breakfast: $2.00
7-12 Breakfast: $2.15
Adult Breakfast: $2.75

"Seconds" Price for Breakfast Entree: $1.00

K-6 Lunch: $2.95
7-12 Lunch: $3.15
Adult Lunch: $4.25

"Seconds" Price for Entree: $1.50

The superintendent has conferred with the NDE Nutrition Services and reviewed the completed PLE Calculation Tool with NDE Staff.  Based on the calculations in the PLE to meet the "Average Weighted Price Requirement" for School Year 2020-21, the superintendent would recommend (1) increasing the elementary lunch price by 10 cents; (2) increase the adult meal price by 15 cents; & (3) increasing the adult breakfast price by 5 cents.  The superintendent would also recommend increasing the "seconds" entree cost for lunch by 25 cents.

There are other pricing options the board can explore with the Finance Committee to meet the "Average Weighted Price Requirement," if the board wishes to entertain some other pricing configuration.

Rationale:  The secondary social studies teachers are due in the textbook rotation schedule to purchase curricular materials that align to the recently adopted state social studies standards.  The textbooks they are offering for review appear below.  The bid for the social studies textbooks is attached to this agenda item.


https://www.mheducation.com/prek-12/explore/networks.html  (McGraw-Hill)  

-Middle School: Discovering Our Past: A History of the United States, Early Years (George Washington cover) U.S History 

-High School: United States History and Geography (Thomas Jefferson Cover) U.S History 

-High School: World History and Geography (Clock/compass Cover) World History 

-High School: Geography: The Human and Physical World (African American Lady Cover) Geography

-Middle School: Building Citizenship: Civics and Economics (Statue of Liberty Cover) Civics

-High School: Understanding Psychology, Sociology and You (Only two books) Psychology/Sociology 

-High School: United States Government: Our Democracy (Bald Eagle Cover) American Government

Rationale:  1.  I continue to engage in Zoom Meetings with the Governor, Commissioner of Education, ESU Staff/Administrators, and LPC Administration.  There continues to be uncertainty and solid answers.  There is confidence in school starting in the fall, as normal, but guidance regarding specific safety protocols and procedures continue to be discussed.  NDE is giving guidance but continuing to promote "local control" in making decisions.  Additional guidance is to be released in the coming weeks.  There are still many, many questions to think through before we are ready to say with confidence that we are ready to welcome students and staff back into the building.

2.  Lights in the Theater-We continue to explore ways to get the theater lighting replaced in a cost efficient manner.

3.  Bus-At this point, they are still saying the new bus will show up in July, as scheduled.

4.  Contractors-Lockers, HVAC, Chimney/Roof, Windows, have not expressed any delay in coming this summer to do the work.  But none of them have shown up yet, either. ;-)

5.  CARE Act Fund Allocation-$48,299

• Actual application should be available by the end of June.
• Recommending that the funds be used as soon as possible.  
• ESU/FEMA correspondence is now indicating that FEMA will be expecting school districts to use CARES Act Funds first, then apply for FEMA.  More information to follow from FEMA in the near future.
• Possible Uses of the Funds
  • Computers currently being purchased by Dave
  • Meals Program Employees (Kitchen, Transportation, Drivers)
  • Paras who were continued to be employed and paid
  • Cleaning Chemicals-Dan's & Todd's Foggers (Electrostatic & Regular)
  • PPE's for Students & Staff
  • Hand santizer-FREE-From UNL
  • Hand sanitizer dispensers
  • Gloves
  • No-Touch Thermometers
  • Technology Infastructure

6.  Strategic Planning with Scott Daniel-With the restrictions regarding gatherings beginning to loosen, do you want me to reach back out to Scott and the board members to determine a date for our strategic planning session with him, or do you want me to continue to wait?

7.  BIG Changes in Title IX-The superintendent participated in a 3-hour Title IX Training with KSB School law.  Due to the changes in the Title IX process, there will be much work for the administrative team and the board to do with revision of policies, handbooks, and staff training.  The board should plan to see significant changes to the district's Title IX policies and processes.

8.  Bowling-Bowling is now officially going to be an NSAA sanctioned activity.  The NSAA Board is going to decide at their June Board Meeting, which is scheduled for June 29th, on whether competition will being for 2020-21 school year or 2021-22 school year.

9.  ALICAP COVID-19 White Paper-Attached for board review.

10.  Matt Belka has asked me to remind you about the one question survey NASB sent out last week.  If you haven't completed this very brief survey, Matt encourages you to do so.

11.  NCSA Superintendent Mentor-I've been assigned again to act as a "superintendent mentor" for the new Shelton Superintendent, Mrs. Shanna Gannon.


Monthly Superintendent Goals Update:

Academic Achievement

• Worked with social studies teachers to secure social studies curriculum materials.
• Conducted annual review of NDE State Standards review and adoption schedule.
• Conducted annual review of textbook and curricular materials rotation to ensure it is in sync with the NDE State Standards review and adoption schedule.

Vision-

• Engaging in many, many zoom sessions with NDE, ESU, and attorneys regarding re-opening of school.
• Reviewing "Launch in Nebraska" materials to see how they are applicable to Ravenna Public Schools Learning Environment and plan for the re-opening of school in the fall.

Community Relations-

• Attending REDC (Ravenna Economic Development Committee) as a board member
• Continue to serve as "Community Representative" for the Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce