August 12, 2019 at 7:00 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

6.  Lunch Fund Transfers

7.  Activity Fund Transfers



 

Rationale:  This interlocal agreement is needed to accept delivery of family and consumer science classes for the 2019-20 school year from Fullerton Public Schools, as we have done in past years.

Rationale:  Mrs. Myers has requested the attached list of books that were removed from the high school media center be declared as surplus for immediate sale or disposal.

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:  For the second year in a row, Ravenna Public Schools has been named to the ALICAP SAFETY HONOR ROLL.  This award is evidence of the work the staff and administration perform to ensure a safe learning environment for students and staff.  The letter of commendation and certificate is attached.

Rationale: 

Congratulations to the Ravenna Public Schools building, grounds, and tech departments for all of the hard work they do over the summer months to get ready for the upcoming school year: Dan Cyboron, Dave Huryta, William Fiddelke, MarKel Miigerl, Braydon Mueller, Marci Gross, Kristi Hagge, Jeff Daily, Julie McGuigan, Alivia Rager, Megan VanWinkle, Sadie Fiddelke, Joana Velez, & Todd VanWinkle

Rationale:  Due to income not keeping up with expenses in the Lunch Fund, we will need to transfer money from the General Fund to the Lunch Fund to meet payroll expenses.  

Rationale:  LB 399 passed during the last legislative session requires the board to appoint a Committee on American Civics and to perform certain tasks throughout the school year.  These appointments are required by statute.

WOULD THE BOARD MEMBERS ON THIS COMMITTEE LIKE TO COUPLE THEIR REQUIRED MEETING WITH REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD MEETINGS AND HAVE THEM BEFORE THE BOARD MEETINGS?

Rationale:  During the 2018-19 budget planning, the board discussed securing a pickup truck for the maintenance department to use.  The superintendent advertised for bids for the truck, reached out to local auto dealers in Grand Island, Hazard, & Kearney to solicit bids, and has tabulated the bids below.  The bids from auto dealers and the publisher's affidavit are attached to this agenda item.

Joe' Auto-$23,900

Rationale:  Budget Information & Discussion Points

• Date of the Budget Hearing & Property Tax Request Hearing-I sent you all a memo from KSB Law regarding the new Property Tax Request Hearing and Resolution Requirements.  We can have the Budget Hearing and the Property Tax Request Hearing on the same night, September 12th.  Or we can have the Budget Hearing on August 28th and the Property Tax Request Hearing on September 12th.  WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO?

 

• I contacted you all regarding services we might have to provide to two students through the IEP Process.  Those two students chose not to enroll.  I have left the costs of those services in the school's budget, in the event they come to the district later.  These are SPED costs, so the additional cost for services does NOT affect our budgetary authority.  IF YOU WANT ME TO TAKE OUT THE COST OF THESE SERVICES, I CAN.

 

• We received the NDEQ Bus Grant again this year.  I have budgeted $100,000 for a new bus in the Depreciation Fund.  IF YOU WANT ME TO TAKE THIS OUT OF THE DEPRECIATION FUND BUDGET, I CAN.

 

• Due to the increase in staff costs and insurance costs, our annual certified budget authority is slowing shrinking, compared to actual General Fund cost.  For this reason, we will want to maximize the amount we transfer from the General Fund to the Depreciation Fund each year.  Otherwise, we could have troubles maximizing our "transfer ability."  In the past we have budgeted a set amount.  This year and in future years, we'll take a look at what we have left to transfer and spend from the General Fund at the "First August Board Meeting" and make as sizable of a transfer as possible at the "Second August Board Meeting".

 

• Poole Bus Route-Buffalo County closed a bridge south of Poole.  We will have to run this route as two routes, as we did last spring during the flooding.  This will increase the cost of transportation by the cost of an additional driver, est. $18,000 a year.  Buffalo County has not indicated how long it will be closed.

 

• The cash reserve calculates into the total tax asking for the school district.  The budget draft I've prepared includes a $2,000,000 cash reserve, up from $1.5 million the previous year.  By statute and as calculated by the LC-2, the school district could declare a cash reserve of up to $3,441,951.  A good rule of thumb is to have 3 to 6 months of operating expenditures in cash reserve.  We average about $500,000 a month in bills.  So, 3 x $500,000 would be $1.5 million.  6 x $500,000 would be $3 million.  I CAN RAISE OR LOWER THIS CASH RESERVE TO SUIT THE COMFORT LEVEL OF THE BOARD AND CORRESPONDING TAX REQUEST.  I ALSO BELIEVE I CAN DO SO WITHOUT HAVING A SUBSTANTIAL AFFECT ON THE TOTAL TAX ASKING.

 

• Special Building Fund-Currently, there is a large balance in the Special Building Fund Account. How aggressive do you want to be with the tax draw in this account?  We had talked about a bus barn and classroom space to replace the FFA Building & Welding Shop.  Are you interested in pursuing this project?  The Special Building Fund could be used for such a purpose.  Would you be willing to get bids from architects for the purpose of generating a proposal?

 

• Total Tax Asking can easily remain the same or slightly lower.  Depending on how aggressive you want to get with the cash reserve and the building fund tax, it could be lowered.

 

Rationale:  1.  John Deere Tractor/Loader Bucket & Blade-Was sold to Jeff & Teresa Zinnel in the amount of $4510.

2.  Teacher evaluation instrument (NEE) was approved for use by NDE.  (Approval Letter is Attached)

3.  Building Projects/Updates

• Asphalt

4.  Window Update (Possible Executive Session)-August 26th

5.  Annual Enrollment Report (Attached for Review)

6.  Clarification on Budget Hearing, Property Tax Hearing, & New Property Tax Resolution Requirement-One meeting is all that is required.  Should we plan on having those hearings one night, namely September 9th, or do you want to have an additional hearing date to divide them up?

7.  2nd August Meeting Reminder-August 28th @ 12:00 (noon) in the Youth Center.  Creamery Pizza provided.  The purpose of the meeting will be to approve final bills and transfers for the end of the 2018-19 fiscal year and to address any other necessary items requiring board action.



 

Rationale:  Thanks to the building, grounds, tech, and business office staff who work all summer long to get the building ready for staff and students.  We appreciate all of your hard work over the summer months.  -Superintendent Schroeder

The elementary open house and high school orientation both went very well.  -Dawn Standage

Thanks to the TAK Club for providing "foo-foo" coffee and drinks for the staff during teacher in-service.  -The Administration

Thanks to the Ravenna Chamber of Commerce for providing rolls for the staff during pre-service.  -Hilary Bolling

Thanks to the Ravenna Booster Club for sponsoring their annual golf tournament.  A great time was had by all who participated in the event.  -Misti Fiddelke