December 14, 2020 at 7:30 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 Review-Monthly Lunch Fund Balance Worksheet Attached

6.  Payroll Ledger Review

7.  Insurance Billing Review

8.  ACH Payroll Review

9.  FEMA-Still waiting on FEMA (log-in information). 

10.  Property Tax Revenue Comparison as of December Board Meeting
for years 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21

2020-21
Total Property Tax Requested: $4,824,626 
Total Property Tax To Date: $1,361,921
Total Revenue To Date: $1,868,512

2019-20
Total Property Tax Requested: $5,036,840
Total Property Tax To Date: $1,557,035
Total Revenue To Date: $1,779,178

2018-19
Total Property Tax Requested: $5,050,505
Total Property Tax To Date: $1,652,897
Total Revenue To Date: $1,770,411

Observation: Buffalo County Property Taxes seems to be keeping on par with previous years.  Sherman County Property Taxes seem to be lagging behind pervious years, as noted by Sherman County Tax Collection amounts through the month of December compared to previous years:
2020-21: $84,408
2019-20: $291,221
2018-19: $324,446

11.  Office Staff Visit-Hilary, Shari, & Lacey will be in to update you on the transitions in the clerical staff, since it was reconfigured.
 

Rationale:  There are 4 tables in the elementary library that are simply taking up space and not in use, after the elementary library has been re-arranged.  They have been offered to staff to add to their classrooms.  We have had no takers.  Storage space is low and there is no use for the tables.  The media specialist is asking that they be declared as surplus for immediate sale or disposal.  A picture of the 4 tables is attached to this agenda item.

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 Mrs. Shari Spaulding, Ravenna Public Schools ABC Bluejay Staff Member of the Month!  Her nominator wrote the following behavior specific praise about her: 

It is my pleasure to nominate Shari Spaulding for her patience and ability to maintain the office amidst the chaos that is the day, everyday!  Shari is kind and compassionate with our students while being firm and fair in helping to hold the students and their parents accountable to RPS policies.  Shari also serves as a mental health counselor for the staff and as the czar of all questions.  She is just AWESOME!



Other Nominees Included:
Mr. Adam Mingus-Mr. Mingus is a vital part of our staff and many of his extra duties go unnoticed.  Mr. Mingus is a large part of our winter sports programs.  Not only does he support and develop the skills of our Junior High athletes, but he also supports the boy's varsity basketball team as well.  Beyond that, he is always willing to lend a hand and pitch in where needed.  I have never seen him turn a student away who has asked for help...he always finds time.  Additionally, Mr. Mingus teaches a broad range of math skills to a broad range of students.  In doing so, he sets the bar high and aims to get students at or over that point.  I appreciate the positive attitude he brings to the building and enjoy working alongside him

PE Teachers-I am nominating our P.E. teachers, Dan Bolling and Noah Maulsby.  It is awesome to see the energy and effort they bring to motivating our kids to exercise.  They have done a great job in thinking outside the box and searching for educational opportunities and ideas for our students while adhering to the COVID-19 guidelines.  Also love seeing how involved and invested they are in improving our students' skill and health.

Mrs. Shari Spaulding-It is my pleasure to nominate Shari Spaulding for her patience and ability to maintain the office amidst the chaos that is the day, everyday!  Shari is kind and compassionate with our students while being firm and fair in helping to hold the students and their parents accountable to RPS policies.  Shari also serves as a mental health counselor for the staff and as the czar of all questions.  She is just AWESOME!

Mr. Dan Bolling-I would like to nominate Mr. Dan Bolling for ABC Bluejay Staff Member of the Month. Mr. Bolling has made an excellent transition to P.E. teacher. My students are eager to share with me each day what they learned in P.E. They are excited to tell me about a new game or activity that they did in class. Mr. Bolling has also planned and taught many sports units including soccer, hockey and basketball. The students are learning skills that they will use throughout their lives. I also enjoy picking my kids up from P.E. Mr. Bolling has a positive attitude and has already built a positive relationship with my students. My students are also lucky to have a positive male role model to look up to. We are very lucky to have Mr. Bolling in this new role, he is excited to share his expertise with our students. He is introducing them to a healthy lifestyle and giving them tools to stay active as they grow.

Mr. Levi Nielsen-Mr. Nielsen is quickly earning the respect of his students and colleagues.  He's doing a great job of providing meaningful, hands-on instruction to the students in his industrial technology classroom by teaching them meaningful, life-long skills.  His students are turning out some really cool projects and learning a lot about the planning and execution associated with construction and mechanical repair.

 

Rationale:  Board Policy 2007 allows the school district to purchase service awards for board members.  A copy of that policy is attached.  A service award has been purchased for retiring board member, Dawn Standage in recognition of her service to the students and staff at RPS.

Rationale: 

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.  The language clarification proposal that the BOE and the REA informally agreed to is attached.  PLEASE NOTE, THE NUMBER OF HOURS FOR INITIAL PLACEMENT HAS BEEN CHANGES FROM 16 to 8 STEPS FOR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE.  THIS CHANGE IS HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW.

2.  The counter proposal offered by the BOE (including base pay adjustment, insurance coverage, and sick leave language) will be attached to this agenda item and presented to the REA, after it is formalized and approved by the BOE at 7:30 PM at the December 14th Board Meeting.

3.  Bowling Coach Extra Duty-This amount will need to be discussed between the BOE and the REA, based on the information provided to the BOE and REA.  The study is attached to this agenda item.

4.  Estimated budget authority increase for 2021-22 is $142,851.  Cost of $200 base salary increase for certificated staff is $108,808.  Cost of 3.25% increase for classified staff is $47,000.

 

Rationale:  The board president can assign or volunteer to mentor Mr. Voelker.  The superintendent will meet with Mr. Voelker and provide him with an orientation in advance of the January Board Meeting.

Rationale:  This is a monthly item placed on the agenda during the pandemic so that the Ravenna Board of Education and the Ravenna Public Schools Administrative Team can reflect on the plan and adjust it as needed to meet the needs of students and staff during the pandemic.

The CDC guidance regarding quarantine length has been changed.  A copy of the new guidance from the CDC is attached to this agenda item for review by the board of education.

Rationale:  Mrs. Zinnell with the help of Dave is taping the Winter Concert this week.  We should be ready to send out a digital link by next week.

The fifth-grade class is doing a coin challenge instead of the annual garage sale.  The challenge runs from December 7-18.  All proceeds will go to the Tracy Friedrichsen family. 

Attendance Report - We have seen a significant decline in the number of students gone due to illness this semester compared to the first semester of the 2019-2020 school year.

Office Referral Report - We have seen a decline in office referrals this semester compared to previous years.
 

Rationale:  1.  Student Artists of the Month (See Attached)-Angelica Chapa
2.  Pasture Management & Bids Process-Sample Lease Agreement & Time Line for Bids Monthly Superintendent Goals Update (Goals Document Attached):

Academic Achievement-

• Provided ELA and math teachers guidance from NDE and "Launch in Nebraska" on planning for essential learning in their content areas in the event of a clousre. 

Vision-

• Continue to monitor and revise the "Return to School" plan as needed during the pandemic.  At this time, my vision is "nearsighted".  Planning out a couple of weeks at a time has become the most prudent thing to do.

Community Relations

• REDC
• Chamber of Commerce
• Worked with the Chamber of Commerce to make an employment opportunity in conjunction with a new business available to high school students.