November 12, 2018 at 7:30 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

Agenda for Negotiations Between REA & Board of Education:
 

1.  Special Circumstance Leave-This option is available if both the Board and the REA wish to have it remain in the "Negotiated Agreement" for another year.

2.  Negotiated Agreement Language Regarding "Grievance Procedure"-Proposed Board Policy #4013 (Attached)

3.  Number of Extra Duty Positions for Select Activities Reporting Being "Understaffed"

4.  Negotiated Agreement Language Regarding: Bereavement Leave, Bereavement Leave for Non-Family Members, & Emergency Leave. 

5.  Comparability Study

6.  Other items wishing to be discussed by the BOE or the REA

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 Financial Review 

6.  Annual Audit 

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 Mr. Wayne Bock, who was the October ABC Bluejay Staff Members of the Month!
 

Congratulation to Haley Gadeken, who is the November ABC Bluejay Staff Member of the Month!  Her nominator offered the following behavior specific praise: "...Haley Gadeken-Haley is a caring teacher who is interested in her students' lives.  She is often heard joking and laughing with them, and asks them about their interests.  On more than one occasion, Haley has noticed a student who seems to be having a bad day, and she takes the time to talk to that student to see if there is anything that she can do to help.  She will even go so far as to contact the student's parents to let them know what she has seen and offer her help.  It is for her interest in her students, her empathy, and her kindness that I nominate Haley Gadeken for November's ABC Bluejay Staff Member of the Month..."

 

Nominees this month also included:
  
Dan Bolling- Dan is a hard working teacher and coach that has demonstrated tremendous perseverance and patience in guiding our football program through the lows of of the past three seasons only to lead them to a 6-2 record this year.  It takes a special type of person to handle the mental anguish of losing and he has done that with dignity and class.  He along with his staff deserve a lot of credit and some love for providing our young men with a quality experience regardless of the challenges!  His commitment and loyalty to Ravenna and Ravenna Public Schools are second to none.

Barbara Ellis-Mrs. Ellis worked her musical magic and has brought field marching to RHS.  It was incredible to watch their Homecoming performance!  Mrs. Ellis and her band gives the beat to our school in so many activities and her hard work and time is definitely scoring a '1'!

Tiffany Jacobsen-Mrs. Jacobsen does a great job with her students and has been extremely helpful to a new colleague in the district.  She also does a great job as the Head Cross Country Coach for Ravenna Public Schools.  She has a positive, upbeat attitude, and she is kind caring and considerate to all those around her.

Rationale:  The bank will no longer be monitoring multiple signature accounts on behalf of the school, as per changes they have made in their banking practices and as per the advice of the school district's auditor, as mentioned at the October 2018 Board Meeting in the "Superintendent's Report".  As a result, the corporate resolution on file with the bank needs to be updated to properly name the school district employees who can transact on the school's accounts.  The attached resolution was prepared by Town & Country Bank and reviewed by the superintendent for accuracy. 

Rationale:  Pleasanton Public Schools has been receiving Ag Science classes taught by Mr. Ahrens for several years.  This interlocal agreement is for the purpose of formalizing this arrangement.

Rationale:  The board decided to replace the high jump pit and standards in advance of the 2019 track season.  Bids were solicited (attached) and the head track coach and AD were consulted in the bid process.

Coach Schirmer's recommendation is to purchase the pit with the college standards in the amount of $6,919 from Stadium Sports.

A spreadsheet with a bid tabulation and the bids that were solicited are attached to this agenda item.

Rationale:  Bids were solicited in conjunction with the NDEQ Grant that the school district was awarded for the purchase of a replacement bus.  The bids are attached for review by the Ravenna Board of Education.  The grant will pay up to $42,000 or 50% of the purchase price of the new bus.


Bid Tabulation:
Nebraska Central Equipment
$96,815 with AC
$87,315 without AC
$54,815 after grant and with AC
$45,315 after grant and without AC

Thomas/Freightliner
$104,768 with AC
$88,878 without AC
$62,768 after grant and with AC
$46,878 after grant and without AC

Rationale:  The board has chosen to proceed with Phase 3 of the Elementary HVAC Project during the summer of 2019 and to solicit bids for the replacement of a 20-ton condenser unit in the high school.  Due to the cost of the services, the board will need to accept bids for qualified mechanical engineers and select the low, responsible bidder.  A publisher's affidavit from the Kearney Hub, showing that bids were requested for mechanical engineering services in conjunction with the project is attached.

In working with NPPD, ETI, & Rasmussen, the superintendent learned that there will be a small amount of energy rebate incentive money available on the 20-ton unit.  That exact amount will be determined after the final bid specifications for the equipment are available from ETI.

The one bid for services, submitted by ETI, is also attached to this agenda item.

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.  Bluejay Artist of the Month-Congratulations, Taytem Nye (Art Attached)

2.  Track Repair Update-The company is supposed to be out later this week to make the needed repairs, providing the temperatures cooperate.

3.  Fire Alarm/Bell System/PA Update-Protext still has some items to finish up on their punch list such as patching holes in the north building and making sure the PA system is functional.  They have struggled with getting the PA system to work properly.

4.  Bowling Update- A copy of the proposal to be put before the NSAA is attached.  The bowling proposal passed in District 4.  District 4 was the first in the state to meet.  So, we will need to wait and watch and see if it passes in other districts when voted upon.

5.  Afterschool Programs & Maker's Space-I've been invited to meet with the RAV and the Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce on 5:15 PM on November 14th to discuss a permanent space for a "Maker's Space" in Ravenna.  I'm also pursuing a grant through the DOD (Department of Defense) to see if we can qualify for the purchase of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) equipment for such a space.  I'd like to get some feedback on the direction of the after school program we currently run in the Youth Center and whether they are open to expanding the program's grade levels and re-purposing the space.

• Pursuing Grant Opportunities (21st Century Learning Center-NDE)
• Having Conversations with RAV, Public Library, & Community Betterment Group, Chamber, & Economic Development
• Invited Jaci Walrath to come at 9:00 to December Board Meeting to Present on Programming & Opportunities
• Survey Parents & Staff (Sample Surveys Attached)

6.  Safety & Security Summit Key Points:

• A locked door is the single most effective barrier to an active shooter.  Door that lock from the inside would be a step in the right direction.
• Safety Assessment Team-We currently have a policy that designates one person.  We may want to re-examine this policy and this practice.
• Notify, Notify, Notify-Colorado has an anonymous tip line.  Nebraska is looking at the same.  We have anonymous reporting available to students.  We really need to emphasize this with everyone (parents, staff, students, community).
• Reunification After & Event-We currently have Crisis Go App.  That free trial will run out at the end of this year.  The app provides for re-unification functions and for anonymous reporting.  It may be worth purchasing.  The "I Love You Guys" also provides reunification documents that we could use for guidance on the topic.

7.  Lunch Survey Results (Attached)-The survey focused on continued issues around the menu, pertaining to variety and selection.  The company recently came in a ran an "advisory counsel" meeting with students and staff to help provide them with more input from students to help create greater diversity in the menu.  Several staff that attended as part of the advisory counsel indicated this was a positive meeting.  They plan to implement these changes in December and to continue to work to create greater diversity in the menu with student input.  Additionally, they've made changes in some menu items (hot dogs, ranch) that were not acceptable with the school input.  Overall, the number of student and parents complaints this year has drastically decreased. 4th-12th grade students were asked to participate in the survey.  There were 202 surveys returned out of a possible 290 students.

8.  AQuESTT & EBA Update (See Attached)-Accountability for a Quality Education System, Today & Tomorrow has had some revisions.  Superintendent Schroeder would like to share information about the  accountability system currently in place for Ravenna Public Schools and for all schools across the state, in advance of the December 21st release of AQuESTT school classifications.

9.  Window Update (Possible Executive Session)-Repair bid and correspondence are being prepared.

Rationale: