October 9, 2023 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 (mileage & reimbursement).

5.  Lunch Fund Review-Monthly Lunch Fund Balance Worksheet Attached

6.  Payroll Ledger Review

7.  Insurance Billing Review

8.  ACH Payroll Review

9.  Superintendent's Purchasing Threshold

• $10,000 Purchasing Threshhold as per policy
• How do you want me to act?

10.  Annual Audit 

• Lucky to have Hilary 
• No issues or concerns identified

11. Cold Cart Purchase

• $2,695

12. Keyless Entry for ALL exterior doors

• $7,696

Rationale:  This bus hasn't moved in several years, has high miles, and isn't really even a reliable spare.  Mr. VanWinkle is asking that the bus be declared as surplus for immediate sale or disposal.

Rationale:  As per Rule 10, the libraries are requires to purchase new books annually.  Attached, is a list of books that Mr. Benjamin is requesting be declared as surplus for immediate sale or disposal.

Rationale:  The district's math curriculum was replaced.  The old textbooks need to be declared as surplus for disposal or sale.

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:  The marching band placed 1st at the UNK Band Day marching contest.  Way to go, Bluejays!  ;-)

Madi created this awesome textile project.  Much time and attention to detail was taken in this creation.  Great job, Madi!  Photos are attached of the project.

Rationale:  Each year, the REA asked to be recognized for the negotiations process a year in advance of the negotiations process.  The board needs to vote on whether or not to regonize the REA as the exclusive bargaining agents for the certified staff covered by the negotiated agreement.

Rationale:  The option enrollment laws have changed.  As a result we are being encouraged by the school district attorney to adopt an option enrollment capacity resolution that is in the spirit of the new law.  This option enrollment resolution and the corresponding capacities have been reviewed by the administrative team and by the board at the September 2023 Board Meeting.  Since that time, no board member, administrator, or member of the public has approached the superintendent about the proposed resolution.  The recommendation would be to adopt the resolution as presented.

Rationale:  Each year, the school district enters into an interlocal agreement with the Ravenna Economic Development Corporation (REDC) for the purpose of promoting economic development in Ravenna.  Several years ago, this agreement was reviewed by the school district's legal counsel and minor adjustments were made, which the REDC made.  The superintendent has reviewed the agreement and recommends renewing the interlocal agreement with the REDC.

A copy of the agreement is attached to this agenda item for review and consideration by the Ravenna Board of Education.

Rationale:  The board of education heard from Wholeness Healing at the September 11th Board Meeting.  The administration is recommending that the board consider doing a test run with a student assistance program in place and then re-evaluating whether or not to continue providing the service in August of 2024.

There are two contract options.  One is for a 6-month term (December - May) in the amount of $1,650.  The other is for a 9-month term (December - August) in the amount of $2,250.  Either contract option can be paid for using ESSER III Funds.

Rationale:  Mrs. Mingus is requesting a supplementary elementary curriculum adoption to support her work in the reading program at the elementary level.  She will be in to share information about it.

As per board policy, the principal and the board school review the curriculum prior to any approval of purchase and adoption of the curriculum.

URL Link for the board member to review the curriculum: 

This is a great information sheet link:
https://resources.lalilo.com/resources/What+does+a+student+Lalilo+session+look+like+_.pdf

Scope and sequence of the program. 
https://resources.lalilo.com/scope-and-sequences.pdf


And a video about student engagement:
https://www.loom.com/share/881bdecce68e4f8cae666ee07dc1ce31
 

Rationale: 

Agenda for Negotiations Between REA & Board of Education:

1.  Review the timeline for the negotiation process.

October 1st:  If the local association has not been certified by the CIR, the board must respond to the association’s request for recognition.

November 1st:  Negotiations must begin.  You must conduct at least 4 negotiation sessions by February 8, unless you settle prior to the need for 4 sessions.

February 8th:  If the board and teachers have not reached agreement, the parties must submit to a resolution officer for fact finding and/or mediation.

March 25th * The fact finding/resolution process must be concluded.

September 15th The Commission must render its decisions. 

* Negotiations, mediation, and fact finding must end on or before March 25th of the year before the contract year in question or within 25 days after the certification of state aid for the contract year in question, whichever occurs later.

2.  Review and discuss ground rules for the negotiation process.

3.  Review the 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 "2023-24 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.

• Placement on salary schedule for newly hired teachers & the possibility of retroactively applying this pay for staff hired within the last two years.
• Adding MTSS Team Membership to the extra duty schedule for SY2023-24.
• Compensation for unused personal leave days on an annual basis.  Compensation could include pay for the day or converting the day into sick leave or any other option mutually agreed upon by negotiators.

6.  Discuss meeting times: Next November 11th Board Meeting at what time?

 

Rationale:  The board has agreed to formally advertise for bids for rental of the school's pasture.  A copy of the invitation for bids/bid instructions and a copy of the sample lease are attached to this agenda item.

Special thanks to Marc Vacek, Cody Chilewski, and Todd Van Winkle for assisting in developing the bid specifications.  Highlight of the bid specifications include:
1) Reserving use of the pasture for education purposes, upon informing the tenant of the desire to do so.
2) Multi-year lease that is renewable - Get a good tenant, keep a good tenant
3) Built in rent escalator of 3% per year or 93 acres times the average rental cost per acre as determined by UNL, whichever is less
4) Lease dates: May 15 - November 15
5) No bulls
6) Right to remove problem animals
7) Tenant and owner responsibilities are clearly articulated
8) Base bid of $3,000 (minimum rent)
9) Bids are due Friday, November 3
10) Board will be awarded at the November 13th board meeting

 

Rationale:  The board has agreed to the purchase of a new min-bus.  The bidding specification for the mini-bus are attached.

Also, for the board's consideration.  I have found a used 2015 mini-bus with 70,000 for $49,999.  I have attached pictures of the used mini-bus attached to this agenda item.

Rationale:  The board of education has engaged the Wilkins Architectural Group regarding a building study.  They have developed a tentative plan that needs to be reviewed to discuss next steps.

Key Questions:
1)  Do we have "the plan" in hand or do we need to revise any aspects of the plan with the Wilkins Group?

• High School Teacher's Lounge
• Storage for Office - AKA Records Room (North Buildings???)

2) Financing - Do we want to pursue a bond issue, lease purchase or do the project in phases?


3) If we plan to do it in phases, what order would the plans be phased in?

• Priority of High School Girls Locker Room Area
• Northeast Addition & Hallway to Youth Center

Rationale:  Parent-Teacher Conferences
Wednesday, Sept 20 (4:00-8:00 pm) and Friday, Sept 23 (8:00-11:00 am)
ATTENDANCE: 92%

Thank you to the Jr. Jays PTO, the Ravenna Public Schools Foundation, and the Tim Lewandowski Memorial Fund. 
These organizations helped fund custom-made tables for the outdoor classroom located north of the elementary school.  L&M Technologies constructed and delivered the tables. 
https://bit.ly/46oBbUE

Elementary Book Fair
September 18-22
We raised over $1200.  These funds are used to purchase books for the elementary library.

Fire Safety Presentation - October 9
The Ravenna VFD presented to the preK-6 on fire safety.

Rationale: 

• Parent-Teacher Conferences:

  • HS had a 70% attendance rate (slightly higher compared to past attendance for fall conferences) 

• Fall Sports Postseason Activities start this month: 

  • Conference XC - Oct. 5th

    • Girls Conference Champions (Erica Lockhorn, Mattie Lyions, Josey Moore & Jasanna Verbeck)

  • Conference VB - Oct. 9th

  • District XC - Oct. 12 @ Hastings

  • 1st Round State FB - Oct. 19th

  • Sub-District VB - Oct 19th

• Red Ribbon Week Speaker: Opioid Presentation Oct. 17th (7th-12th Grades)

• Resilience Education for Bullying Prevention Assembly K-12: Oct. 27th

Rationale: 

• Mini-Bus Used Equipment

Rationale:  Monthly NASB Video Update for Board Members: https://vimeo.com/869555551?share=copy