November 11, 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

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

6.  The Buffalo & Sherman County Clerks were called by the superintendent to verify the levy request submitted through the school's budgeting process.

7.  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:  Staff members will be in to discuss the work the Wellness Committee has been and will be doing during the 2019-20 school year.

Rationale:  ABC Bluejay Staff Member of the Month-Ken Schroeder

Ken Schroeder-I would like to nominate Dr. Ken Schroeder for Bluejay Staff Member of the Month.  Ken does an outstanding job of leading our school.  He is easy to approach and work with on a variety of issues.  He is willing to talk with students when needed and always show kindness and patience.  He takes time to work through issues very thoroughly.  I appreciate Dr. Schroeder as our superintendent as staff morale has increased immensely over the years he has served our school and many positive changes have been made and I am very proud to have Dr. Schroeder as our superintendent.

Other nominees included:
Jean Luth-I would like to nominate Jean Luth for the ABC Bluejay of the Month. Jean is a very dedicated, hardworking paraprofessional. She is always willing to lend a helping hand in and out of the classroom. Jean develops great working relationships with teachers and other staff, as well as students. She is kind-hearted, empathetic, and truly cares about the students as well as co-workers. Jean will arrive early and stay late to help students that need some extra help, she attends all meetings regarding students she works with, and addresses concerns she may have about a student. Jean is an outstanding paraprofessional who always gives 110%.

Custodial & Maintenance Staff-I have a group nomination. I would like to nominate the Janitorial and Maintenance staff. They are probably the hardest working, yet most unnoticed part of our school. They do such a good job of keeping the grounds, classrooms, gyms, lunchroom, and building looking great. They're always in a good mood, easy to work with, happy to help, and you never hear them complain.

Heidi Kjar-I would like to nominate Heidi Kjar.  Since joining our staff Mrs. Kjar has shown tremendous dedication and work ethic.  She does her best to work with all students to challenge them and hold them accountable.  She has been a great addition to our staff.

Dan Bolling-Dan Bolling does such a great job with the football program.  His enthusiasm on the sidelines is visible and contagious.  He invests so much in his players and in their development, not only as football players but as young men.  He truly encourages his players to do things, "The Ravenna Way".  Dan is a credit to our school and to the football program.

Cross Country Coaches (Tiffany Jacobsen & Tanner Ellis)-Mrs. Jacobsen & Mr. Ellis did a phenomenal job with the cross country team this year.  The results of their efforts this season speak for themselves.  The qualified both the boys and the girls team for state level competition.  Furthermore, they continually hold their runners accountable and continually push them to achieve their personal best.  In education, we focus on continuous improvement and growth.  These two coaches understand and employ this concept in their program to the benefit of our students.

Hilary Bolling & Pat Shrader-Another successful financial audit has been conducted this fall.  This success is due in large part because of the work of Hilary and Pat.  They keep excellent financial and payroll records with a high degree of accuracy, which pacify and please the auditors.  Ravenna Public Schools is very fortunate to have such competent and caring people accounting for it.  Beyond that, Hilary and Pat are always quick to help staff members with their personnel and program needs and however they can.


 

Rationale: 

Agenda for Negotiations Between REA & Board of Education:

1.  Review the timeline for negotiations process

2.  Review and discuss ground rules for negotiations process

3.  Review proposed list of schools to be used for array comparability calculation.  Those proposed schools include:
Centura
Wood River
Shelton
St. Paul
Loup City
Amherst
Gibbon
Pleasanton
Ravenna
 

4.  Provide Board of Education & REA of current "2019-20 Negotiated Agreement" for review

5.  Discuss items that need to be researched by the Board of Education or by the REA for consideration at future negotiations meetings

Rationale:  The Nebraska Board of Education recently adopted the Nebraska State Social Studies Content Standards.  The Ravenna Board of Education has a year from adoption by the State Board of Education to either adopt and utilize the content standards or to develop a set of standards that are as or more rigorous than the state adopted standards.  They are attached to this agenda item for review.

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:  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.  Also attached is a sample of a district's plan aligned to the AQuESTT Tenants, as request by the board.  Kori will join the board meeting at 9:00 to answer questions from Board Members regarding the services NASB is proposing.

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

1.  Building Projects/Updates

• Football Field Retaining Wall & Drainage
• Parking Lot-Seams need to be re-tarred because of erosion due to excessive rainfall.  Waiting on bid.

2.  Window Update (Possible Executive Session)

Monthly Superintendent Goals Update (Goals Document Attached):

Academic Achievement

• Worked with Theresa Rita-Olson of ESU 10 to formulate CIP Data review.
• Participated with staff during the CIP in-service training, which was held for the purpose of determining the CIP academic goal for the next 5-year cycle of school improvement.
• Served as discussion leader for the LouPlatte Conference to discuss the future of the LPC Art Show and bring formal recommendation to the LPC Board of Control on how to enhance the experience for students and celebrate their successes in the fine arts.
• Worked with PE Teachers to help them develop a process and plan for implementing a Wellness Committee at the school for the purpose of increasing student academic achievement by increasing student wellness.

Vision

• Rescheduled strategic planning presentation by NASB to November Board Meeting.
• I was asked to serve on the ESU 10 CIP Process as a team member to develop a common and shared vision for ESU 10 supporting area membership school, including Ravenna.

Community Relations

• Worked with Dave to develop a presentation to all staff on how to better utilize Facebook to share successes and information with community members.
• Completed numerous tasks on behalf of the Ravenna Public Schools Foundation in preparation for "Blue & White Night," which is major point of interaction between the Foundation and the community members who support the school.
• Monthly newsletter.
• I have been asked to serve as a member of the ESU 10 Continuous Improvement Team, as a stakeholder to provide input.  I will be volunteering my time on weekends to do so throughout the school year.
• Volunteered to work in the kitchen making gravy and doing dishes for the Lion's Club Annual Pancake Feed on November 10th.