September 9, 2019 at 8:03 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

• Lunch Fund Worksheet
• Breakfast & Lunch Meals Goals
• Transition & Data Points

6.  Beginning of the Year Fund Balance Reviews

7.  2019-20 Budget & Corresponding Tax Request



 

Rationale:  A copy of the letter of approval by the City of Ravenna is attached for acknowledgement of receipt by the board and for archival purposes.

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:  Congratulation to Mrs. Karalee Fiddelke, Ravenna Public School's ABC Bluejay Staff Member of the Month.

Nominees this month included:
Brett Mauler-I would like to nominate Brett Mauler. I really appreciate Mr. Mauler’s approach of having students write specific positive cards for a teacher and classmate. These encouraging words with this activity really started off the school year in the right direction for all of us at RHS!

Teresa Zinnel-At the start of the year, our school added many new students.  Teresa has worked tirelessly to get to know these individuals, gather information about them and create a plan to help them be successful.  Teresa has been open to feedback from the entire staff which has created a team collaboration in support of each student.  She understands that we are all on the same team, working together to create success for our students.  Her support in and out of the classroom is priceless.

Nancy Chizek-I would like to nominate Nancy Chizek for ABC Bluejay member of the month. Nancy is a kind and caring employee in our school. Nancy makes it her mission to build a relationship with every student that walks through the lunchroom. Nancy has done an amazing job learning each and every students name and talks with them personally everyday. She asks students about their day, weekend, and  family. Nancy is always ready to lend a helping hand. I believe Nancy  should be nominated for Bluejay staff member of the month because she exemplifies what it means to create a positive community in our school and to put students first.

Karalee Fiddelke-I would like to nominate Karalee Fiddelke for the ABC Bluejay Staff Member of the Month. As our school nurse, Karalee is a very important part of the success of our students. She keeps students on track with medications and treatments, helps students and staff with immediate problems, keeps track of training requirements for the Emergency Response Team and facilitates that training, ensures that safety equipment is in working order, communicates with parents when needed, is calm and comforting to everyone, and does it all with a smile on her face. We take it for granted that Karalee will take care of any health need that anyone in school has. It is for her dedication and compassion to both students and staff that I nominate Karalee Fiddelke.

Marcie Gross-I nominate Marcie Gross She always goes the extra mile in her maintenance duties and she is especially always there for the kids if a teacher needs help and she can help she is there She is just an all around good worker and person

Food Service Staff-I would also like to nominate the food service staff.  They have demonstrated a positive attitude, a cooperative spirit, and are working hard to provide our students and staff with the best possible food service experience.  Great work out of them!

New Paras-I would like to nominate all of our new paraprofessionals.  They are team players and have demonstrated the ability to work well with students and staff, be flexible with their schedules, and to work hard.  They are valued additions to our team.



 

Rationale:  Please see KSB Memo Attached

The revision of "Rule 91" requires school districts to have all pupil safety transportation drivers to have a "state patrol background check" completed.  The revision of this policy includes that requirement.

Rationale:  Please see KSB Memo Attached

Revisions to this policy have been made to update safety considerations drivers must take, a "functional capacity and ability" screening drivers must pass, and the need for drivers to have "satisfactory driving criteria" that are provided in the revised "Rule 91".  The "satisfactory driving criteria" in the revised policy is that suggested by the school district's attorney and looks reasonable to the superintendent.  However, the board can modify this criteria, if they wish to do so before approving it.

Rationale:  During the 2018-19 school year, the board, administrative team, and guidance counselor had discussion at a board meeting about modifying the senior recognition provided for academic achievement during the school's graduation ceremony.  Currently, students who earn a total cumulative grade point average of 90.0 or above are presented with a gold medallion to be worn during the graduation ceremony and this academic honor is denoted in the graduation ceremony program.

The attached, revised Board Policy #6007 "Senior Recognition" increases the academic requirements to receive an academic honor designation and corresponding medallion to be awarded and worn during the graduation ceremony.  The standards contained in the revised policy reflect the current academic standards in place for students to qualify for the school district's "Roll of Excellence" and "Roll of Honor" each quarter.  This is the proposed academic standard that was discussed and informally agreed to by the board, administrative team, and guidance department in their discussions surrounding the topic during the 2018-19 school year.

There was some conversation about a student who got an honor medal last year who had a "D" on their transcript.  This policy would require students to have all term grades above 70%, which would mean they could have a "D" floating around in their transcript.  Does the 70% standard need to be modified for this reason or not? 

Rationale:  The retaining wall on the west end of the track and field was recently damaged due to water run off.  An invitation to bidders has been placed in the Kearney Hub and the superintendent has reached out to contractors in the area with specialize in masonry and concrete work for the purpose of obtaining estimates.  The insurance company has communicated the amount they will offer to provide repairs.  The superintendent is pursuing authorization from the board to accept bids from contractors to perform the repairs between the September Board Meeting and the October Board Meeting, as bids are due from interested contractors on September 17th.

Rationale:  The board and the administrative team have had conversation at previous board meetings regarding whether or not to continue being an NCA accredited school or being accredited through the state.  With the next 5-year school improvement cycle starting, the district needs to decide whether to continue to be NCA accredited or state accredited.


 

Rationale:  The board expressed an interest in engaging stakeholders in strategic planning in concert with the 5-year cycle of the school improvement process.  Attached is a proposal from NASB to provide strategic planning services with the school district for the board's review and consideration.

Rationale: 

Secondary School Board Report

September 2019 

Great Start

It might sound like a broken record, but the school year is off to an outstanding start.  Overall, the student body has demonstrated the ability to meet the academic and behavior expectations set for them by our staff, the majority of the time.  We have had three office referrals and the least number of "Jay Time" students the past week that we have ever had.           

 ACT Results

ACT results from the Spring of 2019.  The Juniors had an average composite of 19.9, which is down slightly from the past two classes, though all three classes are within a point of each other with the total differential being .6.  The class of 2019 had a 20.5 and the class of 2018 with a 20.2 when they took the test as Juniors.  

Fall Sports

The Fall sports season is underway.  Best of luck to all our Fall participants and coaches.   

MAPS Testing  

We will be MAPS testing on Monday, September 16th, 2019 and Wednesday, September 18th, 2019.  Again this year it will provide us the opportunity to give parents MAPS scores at parent/teacher conferences.  Thus, it should allow for parents and teachers to look at those scores and evaluate student growth on those standardized tests.  

Food Service  

The decision to change from Opaa back to our own "homegrown" food service program appears to be a positive one.  I have received a lot of positive feedback from our food service staff and from students, including my own, about the entree choices.  Also the addition of second chance breakfast has taken off. We are averaging approximately 30 students per day taking advantage of the opportunity.  I know Dr. Schroeder will be sharing data with the board, but perceptually it is going well.  

World Language Standards

The state officially adopted new World Language standards on September 6th, 2019.  A huge thank you to Alison Yendra for taking the lead on this and being up to date with the adoption of new standards.  She had us ahead of the game every step of the way regarding this. 

NSCAS Scores 

NSCAS scores have been released to schools, but are currently embargoed.  I should be able to provide a detailed report next month regarding our seventh and eighth graders achievement on the NSCAS.  

Parent/Teacher Conferences

There will be a slight change of format during parent/teacher conferences this year due to hosting numerous home activities on Thursday, September 19th, 2019 conferences will be held on Tuesday, September 17th, 2019 in the evening and on the morning of Friday, September 20th, 2019.

Rationale:  Student Artist of the Month-Aiden Cronin (Art Attached)

1.  Building Projects/Updates

• Asphalt-Still waiting due to weather.  May be postponed until after winter or until next summer.
• Parking Lot-Seams need to be re-tarred because of erosion due to excessive rainfall.  Securing estimated.
• Condenser Replacement-This winter?

2.  DEU Incentives-(DEU Incentive Payment Notification Attached)

• +$32,117 DEU Incentive Payment
• +$32,225 Collected in DL Tuition Payment for sending DL classes from Pleasanton & Palmer
• -$14,000 Paid to RPS Teachers for Teaching DL Classes
• -$6,500 Paid to Fullerton for Receiving FSC Classes
• $43,842 Net

3.  State Education Conference Registration-If you would like to register for the conference, please let Supeintendent Schroeder know and he will take care of the registration for you.  Please see the attached email from NASB regarding the registration process.

4.  Committee on American Civic Meetings-Do you (Fiddelke, Osten, Schirmer) want to have your two meetings before a regularly scheduled board meeting or at another time?  We'll need to know so that we can advertise the meeting, design an agenda, and keep minutes of the meeting.

5.  Audit-Thursday, September 26

5.  Window Update (Possible Executive Session)

Monthly Superintendent Goals Update (Goals Document Attached):

Academic Achievement

• Review revised AQuESTT classification forTargeted Support and Improvement (TSI) and Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI). TSI and ATSI are supports based on student group performance across all AQuESTT indicators. The student groups are comprised of the seven racial and ethnic groups (Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Asian, White, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska Native, two or more races), students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged students, and English learners.The TSI designation process focuses on schools’ assets, while ensuring learners and their needs are at the forefront of all decisions. Schools identified to receive TSI will complete a needs assessment and design a plan for continuous improvement tailored to meet the needs of designated student groups. The NDE is working with partners, such as ESUs, to develop resources to assist schools in planning for improvement for specific student groups. This will be important information for the school district to be aware of and be poised to take action on school any of Ravenna Public Schools receive this designation.  It will also be important to give this potential designation consideration as we begin the next school improvement cycle and the strategic plan.
• Corresponded and planned with Marc Doss of the NEE Institute for the purpose of conducting a teacher training as part of the NEE Teaching Evaluation Model to Ravenna Teaching Staff that was recently adopted by the board of education and approve by NDE.  This training will take place on September 12th.

Vision

• Attended the NASB Area Membership Meeting in Kearney with all board members to gain a statewide vision of the primary iniatives and messages being promulgated through the Nebraska Association of School Boards.
• Corresponded with Marcia Herring of NASB to provide a proposal to the Ravenna Public School Board for strategic planning services.
• Corresponded with ESU 10 to provide for an administrative planning session for the next 5-year school improvement cycle.  The administrative team will meet with ESU Staff for visioning and planning purposes on October 4th.

Community Relations

• Agree to serve as an ad hoc member of Buffalo County Community Health Partners Advisory Board and offered them assistance in orchestrating a future presentation in the community by this group for the purpose of providing input from the community of Ravenna and being informed about BCCHP's county-wide plan for the upcoming years.
• Worked with Dana Dennison of Economic Development to potentially acquire free equipment for the middle school and high school science department.
• Attended a joint meeting of the REDC and City Council for the purpose of providing input on the interlocal agreement between these two entities and the school district.
• Attending fall school activities and being visible and approachable at events and in the community.
• Worked with Dave & the school's attendance secretaries to determine whether or not any students' parents have requested a "no district media" exception for their children, in advance of the October 21st in-service training on empowering staff to post to the district web page.  The training will seek to increase the amount of information teachers share regarding the classroom and their respective activites with the public.

 

Rationale:  Thanks to Hilary Bolling for searching out and capitalizing on a purchasing program to help cover the entire cost of the purchase of a new vending machine through a reimbursement/rebate program.  Hilary continuously works hard to keep the school in good fiscal shape.  This is just one of many examples of her thrift and conscientious use of public funds.  Great job, Hilary!  -Superintendent Schroeder

Congratulations to Tara Schirmer and Dawn Standage on receiving the Nebraska Association of School Boards "Level 5" award.  This award speaks to both Tara and Dawn's commitment to the Ravenna Board of Education and to the students of Ravenna Public Schools.  Congratulations Tara & Dawn!  -Superintendent Schroeder

Grandparents Day was a wonderful celebration of our grandparents by the elementary students.  Great job, Ravenna Elementary Students, Mrs. Mingus and Mrs. Ellis!  -Ryan Osten

Thanks to Dr. Schroeder for his work on the 2019-20 Budget and for his continued fiscal guidance.  -Ravenna Board of Education

Thanks to the food service staff for all of their hard work in bringing the school's nutrition program back in house and offering second chance breakfast this year.  They are doing a great job to make continuous improvements to the school's nutrition program.  -Brad Kjar, Secondary Principal

Thanks to the Ravenna Public Schools Bus Drivers for all of their hard work and dedication in insuring  that our students make it to an from school each day.  They carry our most "precious cargo," and we are fortunate to have such a competent and caring transportation staff.  -Brad Kjar, Secondary Principal