February 8, 2021 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 Review-Monthly Lunch Fund Balance Worksheet Attached

6.  Payroll Ledger Review

7.  Insurance Billing Review

8.  ACH Payroll Review

9.  ALICAP Rebate (Attached)-$1240

10.  FEMA Application
 

Rationale:  Due to slowness in processing nutrition claims by the NDE Nutrition Services/USDA, we need to transfer $48,770.40 to cover expenses (labor costs and vendor payments) in the lunch fund.  Our December & January claims are $58,785.47.  So, we will be able to transfer the money back to the General Fund, after we receive the claims payments, and actually be $10,015.07 to the good in the lunch fund.

This is simply a "cash flow" issue in the lunch fund at this time, caused by the tardiness in reimbursement claims being processed.  We have been in contact with NDE and the school district's auditor to ensure the movement of cash between the two funds will have a null effect on the budget and to ensure we have the coding for these transactions correct.

It's a big transfer amount, but it's not a big deal.  It MAY be an ongoing issue in the coming months if payments for claims continue to lag, but we should be able to have the funds cleaned up by the end of the budget cycle in August.

Rationale:  The banking resolution had to be modified as Marc Vacek is now the Secretary of the Board, instead of Dawn Standage.  All other privileges on the account remain the same.  A copy of the new banking resolution 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:  Meeting Pulse Rules

1.  The owner of the goal simply indicates if their goal is "On Track" or "Off Track."

2.  The owner of goal can provide ONE sentence explaining the status of the goal, if they wish.

3.  If a goal is "Off Track" it will be placed on the board agenda as a discussion items for the next month.

4.  The expectation is that if a goal is "Off Track" the owner will work to get it "On Track" by the following month.

Rationale:  The Music Booster have approached the school about providing funds for the purchase of a new timpani set.  They are offering a $6,000 donation towards the purchase of the timpani set.  The bid tabulation is as follows:

Yanda's-$13,530
Woodwind & Brass-$17,419.99
Steve Weiss-$14,819.95

Bids are attached to this agenda item.

Rationale: 

The Ravenna Board of Education is suppose to appoint members to the Board of Directors for the Ravenna Public School's Foundation at its February Board Meeting.  Each year, we review this information together, so that the board is in a good position in February to make any needed appointments.

The superintendent would like to review the information with the Board of Education to ensure its accuracy and to plan for any new appointments that need to be made at the February 8, 2021 Board Meeting

Current Members of the Ravenna School Board Foundation Include:

Misti Fiddelke-Board Member (2011/2013/2015/2017/2019)-The bylaws state that no more than 4 consecutive terms can be served by a director.  She is currently in her 4th consecutive term.  So, she'll need to be replaced by a Ravenna School Board Member in February of 2021.  Misti will continue to be a member, as she is the president of the board of education.

Tara Schirmer-Board Member (2009/2015/2017/2019)-The bylaws state that no more than 4 consecutive terms can be served by a director.  Tara is currently in her 3rd consecutive term. Tara is eligible to serve on the board through 2023.  So, she'll need to be replaced by a Ravenna School Board Member in February of 2023 or in February of 2021, if she chooses not to continue to volunteer to be on the Foundation Board after her completion of her current term in February of 2021.  Marilyn Bohn will replace Tara Schirmer.

Marc Vacek-Board Member (2018/2020)-Needs to be either reappointed or replaced in February of 2022.

 Jill Hurt-Community Member (2019)-Jill is working through her first three-year term.  Jill would either need to be reappointed or replaced in February of 2022.

Nikki Bock-Community Member (2018)-Nikki would either need to be reappointed or replaced in February of 2021.  Cindi Coulter will replace Nikki Bock.

Dan Schmidt-Community Member (2018)-Dan would either need to be reappointed or replaced in February of 2021.  Dan agreed to serve another term on the board.

Heidi Kjar-Teacher (2018)-Heidi would either need to be reappointed or replaced in February of 2021.  Heidi said she would step down, if another teacher was interested.  Kinsley Musil and Tanner Ellis both volunteered to be considered for appointment to the board.

Sonya Rasmussen-Teacher (2018)-Sonya would either need to be reappointed or replaced in February of 2021.  Sonya said she would step down, if another teacher was interested.  Kinsley Musil and Tanner Ellis both volunteered to be considered for appointment to the board

Tiffany Drabek-Teacher (2019)-Tiffany would either need to be reappointed or replaced in February of 2022.

Superintendent  (Lifetime Ex-Officio Non-Voting Member)

The"By-Laws of Ravenna Public School Foundation" (see attached) call for the Ravenna Board of Education to appoint the board members.  The purpose of this agenda item is to review the current board appointments, to track the length of the board members' appointments on an annual basis, and to establish a plan to revisit these appointments for review by the board on an annual basis. 

Board Members may serve no more than four consecutive terms:

Board members=2 year term x 4 terms max=8 years

Other appointed members=3 year term x 4 terms max=12 years

 

 

 

 

Rationale:  The new relief package released by the federal government did NOT call for the extension of FFCRA leave.  Some districts are offering this leave to their staff during the second semester.  The option is being presented to the board for consideration. 

The superintendent contacted the school district's attorney to see what options where available for the school board.  The school district's attorney said that extension of leave to the teaching staff could basically take any form they choose or be none at all.  However, unless the board chooses to simply make a motion to extend the FFCRA leave, any other form of FFCRA leave will require the re-opening of negotiations with teachers or at least a letter to the membership of the REA explaining the board's intentions and a reply from the REA leadership that the REA takes no issue with how the board is choosing to proceed.  Classified staff benefits can simply be adjusted at the discretion of the board, through a simple board motion.

Options for FFCRA Leave:
1.  Do not extend the leave.  Require employees to use their sick leave.
2.  Extend the original level of leave provided for employees and for employees to care for themselves and for their immediate family members who are infected with the virus.  This would simply be an extension of the FFCRA Leave originally provided by the law.  A termination date, such as March 31st, could be applied.  The termination date of leave eligibility could also be offered through the end of the second semester.
3.  Extend the sick leave only to employees, but not for employees' to care for their immediate family, by providing up to 10 days of paid leave.
4.  Make leave eligible to staff who have a doctor's note verifying staff are unable to perform the essential functions of their position, due to the virus, and offer them the leave.
5.  Any other option or configuration the board feels comfortable with.

Rationale:  Teachers were provided with a total compensation increase of 3.25% or $108,808.  The board needs to consider what compensation increase they would like to provide for the classified staff for the upcoming school year.  The current total cost by department and projections based on potential increases is attached to this agenda item.

The district's budget authority last year was $5,714,068.  The district's budget authority for next year will be $5,856,920.  This allows for an increase of $142,852 in spending.  $108,808 has already been allocated to increased compensation for teaching staff, leaving $34,044 to allocate to classified and administrative compensation increases.  Please keep in mind there are other cost increases in the budget from year to year for goods and services, but approximately 85% of the budget is allocated to staff compensation.
 

Rationale:  We have been saving and planning for a $150,000, 9-12 computer refresh.  The money is currently sitting in the Depreciation Fund.  With the allocation of $184,037 becoming available in April through the second round of the Care Act Fund, the superintendent would recommend using the money to pay for the computer refresh, as he believes this will be an allowable purchase through the grant.  We might also consider using the remaining money to pay for a dishwasher through the grant, IF they will allow it.  If they will not allow it to be purchased through the grant, this would be a good year to dip into the Depreciation Fund and replace it, or schedule it for early in the budget cycle next year. 

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.
 

Rationale:  As part of our on-going policy review, board members should please review our 1000 & 2000 Series Board Policies in advance of the February Board Meeting.  The superintendent will do the same and provide any suggested revisions to the Board Policy Committee & to the whole board at the January Board Meeting.  It's simply best practice to continually engage in a review of board policies.

Rationale: 

Rationale:  1.  Student Artist of the Month (See Attached)-Kaia Johnson

2.  Pasture Management & Bids Process-Sample Lease Agreement & Time Line for Bids