April 8, 2024 at 6:00 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).  - Attended NRCSA Conference, so registration was an expense, but there were no lodging, transportation, or meal expenses.

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

6. General Fund Review

7.  Payroll Ledger Review

8.  Insurance Billing Review

9.  ACH Payroll Review

10.  Community Eligibility Provision for Nutrition Program

11.  Compensation & Benefits for Shelbi Zinnel for FY 2024-25: 

• Increase insurance benefit to full-family insurance benefit  - This will mean that the district's responsibility for health insurance cost will increase from $8,916 per year to $19,858 or an increase of $10,941
• 3 extended contract days
• 4% pay rate increase.

12.  Classified Pay Increase for 2024-25 - Feedback and moving forward.

13.  Concession Stand Personnel Discussion - Lots of moving parts to discuss.

• Hire someone(s) to take over responsibility of the concession stand.
• Tanner to assume some guidance (scholarship, career exploration, etc.) duties during the period currently allowed for the concession stand.
• Free up Angie to use her LMHP Degree with our students.  Eventually, this may lead to a decrease in the amount of LMHP contracted time we have with ESU 10 for this service.  Currently, we pay $30,000 a year for 3 days.
• We will leverage our current staff (school psychologist, behavioral interventionist) to free up Angie even more, with the goal of making 2 hours of her day spent working as an LMHP.

14.  Investment Summary for General Fund, Special Building Fund, & Employee Benefit Fund

Employee Benefit Fund
-Transfer $97,719.96 from Flex CD **094 and open new 13 month CD with interest accrued to CD

Special Building Fund
            
-Transfer $500,000 from money market ***505 and open new 13 month CD with interest accrued to CD
-Transfer $500,000 from money market ***505 to Flex CD  **043
-Remaining balance in money market ***505 will be $70,837.20

General Fund
-Transfer $573,293.15 from Regular CD **311 to Flex CD **099
-Open new $1,000,000 13 month CD with remaining balance from Regular CD **311 with interest deposited to Flex CD **099

15.  Property Tax Authority for 2024-25 as of 2-21-24  (Attached): $5,893,564 or up to $6,411,832 (with 70% board approval) - By comparison, our total tax request for 2023-24 was $5,717,297

16.  Mental Health Grant - The superintendent applied for an additional $10,000 for mental health funds and the grant was awarded.  The plan is to use the funds to provide additional LMHP services to students and families during the evenings, weekends, and summer break.

17.  ESSERs Funds Desk Audit - According to NDE, everything is copacetic with the use of ESSER I, II, & III Funds.

18.  Classified Retention Bonus - Discuss the possibility of using ESSERs III "excess funds" to provide a one-time retention bonus for classified staff.

Rationale:  It's spring cleaning time at RPS.  The items attached to this agenda item and listed below need to be declared as surplus for immediate sale or disposal, as they are no longer being used. 

Business Department Text Books:

• "Managing Your Personal Finances 6e - Joan Ryan" (ISBN: 978-0-538-44937-3) - # of copies: 17
• "Southwestern Century 21: Accounting Multicolumn Journal - Gilbertson and Lehman" (ISBN: 978-1-111-98866-1) - # of copies: 12
• "Southwestern Century 21: Accounting Advanced - Gilbertson and Lehman" (ISBN: 978-1-111-98905-7) - # of copies: 12

 

Rationale:  Mr. Chilewski is resigning to take a job with Loup City Public Schools

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:  Mr. Chilewski has resigned to take a job at Loup City Public Schools.  Mr. Lewandowski is being hired to replace Mr. Chilewski.

Rationale:  Mr. Ellis would like to update his information technology curriculum to ensure that it keeps pace with the content standards and requirements proposed by NDE.  He will be in to make a recommendation that the board adopt a new information technology curriculum.

The sample lessons and information about the course can be found at:

https://www.icevonline.com/curriculum/business-marketing-finance-it-media/courses/principles-information-technology

https://testoutce.com/products/comptia-it-fundamentals-training-year

Bids for two curricula that he evaluated are attached to this agenda item.

 

Rationale:  The board agreed to enter into a contract for services with Oak Creek Engineering to develop bid specifications and to provide oversight for the construction project.  A request for proposals was published in the Kearney Hub soliciting bids for the job.

The bid tabulation for the project is as follows.  The itemized bid tabulation by contractor is attached:
A Plus Construction - $140,984
GD Concrete - $172,935
Tri City Concerete - $184,470
Shiloh Rager Construction - $188,553.60
Myers Construction - $240,922

The recommendation of the engineer and the superintendent is to award the bid to A Plus Construction in the amount of $140,984.

Rationale:  The five-year lease for the school's copiers and printers will be ending this summer.  A request for proposal was advertised in the Kearney Hub. 

The bid tabulation for the proposal received is as follows:
Eakes - $1,076.59 lease payment (estimated monthly cost including print volume and supplies - $1,870 per month)
 
Capital - $826.92 lease payment (estimated monthly cost including print volume and supplies - $1,471 per month)

Current total monthly lease cost is $2,185, so the savings will range from $315 (Eakes) to $687 (Capital).

The recommendation of the district technology coordinator and the superintendent of schools is to enter into a five-year lease with Capital Business Systems.
 

Rationale:  When discussing compensation for classified staff, the board agreed to a 4% wage increase for all classified staff and a $4.00 per hour "market adjustment" for para professionals for the 2024-25 contract term.  The board also agreed to allow all classified staff to use up to 3 days of accrued sick leave to be converted to paid sick leave on snowdays and other unscheduled school closings.

The language, which is highlighted in the working draft of the 2024-25 Staff Handbook and appears on page 60 reads as follows:
 

Paid Leave for Unscheduled School Closings

Classified employees may use up to 3 days of accumulated sick leave to receive their regular pay on unplanned school closing days, such as for weather and when a district team qualifies for a state tournament.  The ability to use sick days on school closing days only applies when the Employee otherwise would have been expected to work on the day of the closing but does not work because of the closing, and only in the amount of the Employee's scheduled work for that day.  Converted sick day payment on school closing days will not count toward the Employee's hours worked for purposes of overtime computation.

 

Rationale:  The Head Start will be closing in Ravenna.  The superintendent has been attending the early childhood coalition meetings.  The current direction of this group is to move away from trying to retain Head Start in our community and to instead support a pre-school as part of the former "Little Jays Daycare," which is going to be under new management in the late spring.

Head Start would like to gift the building to the school.  The superintendent would like to the board in a conversation regarding this gift.

Budget pricing for repairing the foundation from Thrasher Basement Systems was secured.  The email, which includes the scope of work and the proposals are attached to this agenda item for review and consideration by the board.

The budget pricing for the work by Thrasher is $40,685.53.

Rationale:  As part of our on-going policy review, board members should please review our 4000 Series Board Policies in advance of the April Board Meeting.  The superintendent will do the same and provide any suggested revisions to the Board Policy Committee & to the whole board at the April Board Meeting.  It's simply best practice to continually engage in a review of board policies.

These, and all other board policies, are available at: https://meeting.sparqdata.com/Public/Organization/64

4000 Series Policies in need of cleanup:

4008, 4030, 4045 - Adoption dates missing

4019 - Needs cleaned up at the bottom

4023 - "ceritific" needs to be changed to certified

4046 - There are two options and one of them is not selected.  It should be one option or the other.

Rationale:  As part of our on-going policy review, board members should please review our 5000 Series Board Policies in advance of the April Board Meeting.  The superintendent will do the same and provide any suggested revisions to the Board Policy Committee & to the whole board at the April Board Meeting.  It's simply best practice to continually engage in a review of board policies.

These, and all other board policies, are available at: https://meeting.sparqdata.com/Public/Organization/64

Rationale:  The external evaluation went very well.  A video of the "exit presentation" is available at: https://youtu.be/_nkTV8_baPg and a copy of the corresponding slide show for the "exit presentation" is attached.

Rationale:  The proposed, revised draft of the extra curricular random drug testing policy was discussed at the March Board Meeting.  It was noted that some of that activities listed and the names of the activities had changed.  The full list of school activities should now appear on the draft copy..  A copy of the updated, revised policy for the board's review and consideration and a copy of the current policy are attached to this agenda item.

Rationale:  The AD recommends that we have two junior high coaches for both the girls and boys wrestling program.  The cost per coach is $1875.

This would make one of our unpaid volunteers at the junior high level a paid coach, namely Mr. Brad Rasmussen.

This would add two coaches at the girl's junior high level at $1875 apiece.

So a total of 3 positions at $1875 or $5,625

Rationale:  The full-time sub position has been grant funded for the past two years through ESSERs III Funds.  Those funds will go away in September 2024.  The board will need to decide whether to continue the practice of hiring a full-time substitute.

The superintendent believes the continuation of hiring a full-time substitute can fit into the 2024-25 budget and that the utilization of the full-time substitute is high enough to continue to the practice of employing one.
 

Rationale:  Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences
We had 87% attendance during the Spring Parent/Teacher conferences in March. This was up 7% from last year’s attendance.

NSCAS Testing
We will be conducting our Spring assessments beginning next week.  Students in grades K-2 will take MAP (Measure of Academic Performance) and students in grades 3-6 will take NSCAS (Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System).  Each student will take a Reading/ELA and Mathematic assessment.  Fifth-grade students will also take a science assessment.

Solar Eclipse
We took a few minutes this afternoon to look at the eclipse.

911
A representative from the Buffalo County Sheriff's office came to talk to the 1st and 2nd graders about 911 today.

Ride to School on a Fire Truck
Last Fall, the RFD held a coloring contest in conjunction with Fire Safety Week.  The contest winners will ride to school on a fire truck on Friday, May 3.  The RFD will also be on hand for High Five Friday.

High Five Friday
For our High Five Friday in April, we had community members, business owners, RPD, and even the mayor greet our kids.

Rationale: 

Principal Report April Board Meeting

 

Academic

• Juniors will take the ACT test on April 9th at the Catholic Church. 

• Spring MAP/NSCAS testing will be April 16th, 17th, and 18th. 

• We are in the process of setting goals with students for our spring testing in April.

• 38 families came to parent teacher conferences grades 7-12. 

Student Behavior/Mental Health

• We had a 7-12 assembly on fentanyl in the theater. 

• There will be SOS training for 7th grade on April 10th and 8th grade on April 15th.

Activities

• State Speech - 3 teams competed and the OID team of Abby Lewandowski, Mateline Lyions, Owen Standage, and Lainey Hervert placed 6th.

• State FBLA 

  •  Erica Lockhorn, Madisyn Autobee, Jadyn Taylor, and Tali Peterson placed 1st and will be competing at nationals in Cleveland.

  • Chase Rager, Layton Standage, and Kaden Brodersen placed 3rd.

• State FFA Degree

  • Mason Wendt

  • Maison Schroll

  • Layton Standage

  • Brett Hervert

Rationale: 

• Hail Damage from Roof (ALICAP Came out to visit but has never been responsive in addressing the damage).  Mr. Schroeder has followed up with ALICAP to see when they will be out.
• HVAC in High School Gym - Contractors will be on site from March 4th-March 15th.  They think they can complete most of the project during that time.
• Track Re-Surface -Invitations to bid will be published in the Kearney Hub and bids will be due prior to the March Board Meeting (Friday, March 1st) - Budget price is $70,000
• Concrete on North Side of Building - $191,800 budget pricing
• Low Spot on Elementary Lawn - Waiting on budget pricing from Mr. Shiloh Rager
• Blacktop Playground Elementary - $3,290
• Blacktop Reseal on the other two areas - $5,607
• Removal of rose bushes/installation of rock (front of elementary)
• Removal of bike rack (front of elementary) and replace with more appropriately sized rack
• Clean up of junk north of Todd’s Shop (oil, tires, pallets, junk)
• Re-heat valves in the high school - Replace existing  - They are 54 years old and continue to stick and need to be replaced - 12 valves need to be replaced - Updated Budget Pricing Attached -$12,832
• Wood planks in football stadium - replace with aluminum - L & M - Budget Pricing Attached - $35,644 -*Note-there are 96 footboard (this does not include pricing for the kickboards).  If greentreated 2"x10"x20 lumber' were to be used an estimated material cost would be $4,800.  Labor was bid at $14,280.  So the price difference for metal compared to wood would be $16,564. 
• Sprinklers West of Elementary - As time allows - Not to exceed $1,000
• LED Lighting in Elementary - Not to exceed $5,000
• Overseed/Reseed the front lawn $1,000
• Ceiling Tile Bid from T-C Ceilings - $92,800 (Budget Price)
• Electrical & Equipment Rearranging in the Wood shop - The question was raised in our walk through with Mr. Lammers about whether or not the building plans would change the layout of the wood shop. I emailed all the board members with the response from the architect and the layout of the shop will NOT change, once the building project commences.

2.  Proposed Property Tax Relief Model -  This is moving through the legislature as well and there is a chance that it may become a reality.  See attached modeling documents for estimates.  $2,698,483 total aid or an increase of $2,099,233.  The property tax authority will also be adjusted downward, in an attempt to ensure that property tax relief is delivered at approximately the same value as the additional aid that is being provided.

3.  LB 575 - Sports & Spaces Bill - Is moving through the legislature and may pass.  (Email Attached)

4.  ESSERs Program Monitoring Review - See attached letter from NDE regarding the monitoring review that was conducted.  All three programs are in order as far as how the funding was used and accounted for.

5.  Bid Tabulation for Surplus Equipment

• Drill Press 
  • Kevin Lockhorn - $50
  • Corey Larsen - $405
• Jointer
  • Kevin Lockhorn - $50
  • Ross Dethlefts - $150
• Shaper
  • Kevin Lockhorn - $50
• Planer
  • Kevin Lockhorn - $25

Total Revenue = $630

 

Rationale:  Monthly NASB Board Report is attached for review by the board members.