June 10, 2024 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

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.  End of Year Transfers - Activity Fund - Yes, Lunch Fund - No, Depreciation - Yes; Employee Benefit - Yes.

11.  ESSERs III "excess funds" - $10,000 (We had discussed using it for a retention bonus, but it could also be used for the dust collection needed in the shop.)

12.  FLSA Contract Adjustment for Head Cook - Worked with legal counsel and will be sharing the adjusted work agreement with the head cook this week.

13.  Maintenance Position Work Agreement for Future Years

 

Rationale:  1.  Mr. Schirmer is requesting that the following items be declared as surplus for immediate sale or disposal:

7th Grade book   (30 Copies)
Big Ideas Math Course 2 A Bridge to Success
Copyright @ 2014    ISBN 13:  978-1-68033-122-6

8th Grade book      (31 Copies)
Big Ideas Math Course 3 A Bridge to Success
Copyright @ 2017, 2014    ISBN 13:  978-1-68033-644-3

Algebra book      (36 Copies)
Big Ideas Math Algebra 1 A Bridge to Success
Copyright @ 2015    ISBN 13:  978-1-68033-114-1


2.  Mr. Huryta is requesting that some equipment be declared as surplus for immediate sale to a recycling vendor.  Photos and an equipment list for the items he is recommending be declared as surplus is attached.

3.  There are plants left over from the FFA Greenhouse Project.  Mr. Chilewski is requesting that they be declared as surplus for immediate sale or disposal.  They will be offered to the school staff and then to the public.

 

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 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.  However, the full-time substitute has strong utilization.  So, the superintendent would recommend continuing the practice of having a full-time substitute on staff.

As of 5/13/24 the principals are still interviewing candidates for this position.  So, the item will need to be tabled until June Board Meeting.

 

Rationale:  The board met with Mark Lewis and Tobin Buchanan regarding community engagement during the May 2024 board meeting.  The cost of utilizing Tobin ($5,000) as a municipal advisor and Mark ($6,000) as a construction manager and as an agent is about $11,000.

The board needs to decide how they wish to proceed with community engagement related to the proposed building project and whether not to enlist the help of these two professionals.

Rationale:  The student assistance plan by Wholeness Healing is currently ESSERs III funded.  The utilization rates for the first 2 quarters of the program, which began in December of 2023, are attached for review by the board.

The board will need to consider whether we wish to continue to fund the program for school year 2024-25 or not.  It will be funded through the General Fund, as ESSER III funds will no longer be available.

1 student utilized the service between December 1st and the end of the school year.

Rationale:  As part of our on-going policy review, board members should please review our 6000 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



6000 Series Notes

6004 - The curriculum development cycle needs to be updated.  The district was waiting for NDE to update their standards rotation calendar to update the policy, as we try to mirror our curriculum adoption with the standards revision and adoption schedule.

6005-There are highlights in the graduation credits section that need to be removed.

6025 - Student cell phone usage.  This policy needs to be revisited, in conjunction with our annual policy update.

6036 - Look at the date at the bottom of the policy.  It is a little goofy looking.

 

Rationale:  The Ravenna Board of Education updates its board policies on an ongoing basis.  The cover memo from KSB School Law is attached to this agenda item.

The administration and Policy Committee would like whole board input/discussion before they begin their conversation regarding the policies on cell phone use, preschool programming, and firearms on school grounds.

Rationale:  The superintendent is to be evaluated twice during his or her first year of employment.  The language regarding evaluation from the superintendent's employment agreement reads as follows:

Section 15.  Evaluation.  The Board shall evaluate the Superintendent twice during his first year of employment and at least once each year thereafter. The first evaluation during the first year of employment and the yearly evaluations after the first year of employment shall occur no later than the regular December meeting.  The Superintendent shall: remind the Board members in writing of this provision no later than its regular November meeting; make his evaluation an agenda item for the regular December board meeting during each year of this contract; and provide them with the written evaluation instrument that is on file with the Nebraska Department of Education.

Rationale: 
 

Rationale: 

• Dust Collection System - The dust collection system in the wood shop needs replaced, as it has failed.  CTE and ESSERs III Grant Funds are available to pay for this project.  The budget pricing is $10,000.
• Door Locks for all interior doors that lock from the inside.  The superintendent is working with Mr. Cyboron, The LockMobile & another locksmith, Rich Nuefeld, out of GI to put bidding specifications together for the project.  The district was awarded a $30,000 grant for this project.  It will be broken up into phases and presented to the board for consideration at the July Board Meeting.
• Head Start Modular - Being moved at the end of July.
• 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.
• Track Re-Surface - The track has been resurfaced and should be repainted within the coming weeks.
• Concrete on North Side of Building - A+ Construction began tearing out the cement on the north side on 6/3/24.  Oak Creek Engineering has been doing a good job of being on site to supervise the job.
• Low Spot on Elementary Lawn - Waiting on budget pricing from Mr. Shiloh Rager.
• Blacktop Playground Elementary - $3,290 - This has been partially completed.  Probably need to look at a permanent solution (new concrete pad) in the next year or two.
• Blacktop Reseal on the other two areas - $5,607 - The area between the elementary gym and the elementary wing has been done.  They are waiting to the the area east of the elementary gym until the north parking lot concrete is done.
• 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 - replaced with aluminum - Bid was awarded to Bryan Dubas of Fullerton, NE.  Work to be completed by August 1, 2024. 
• 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 - Was not necessary as the sod "rebounded."  There are still weeds in the sod that need to be sprayed.
• Ceiling Tile Bid from T-C Ceilings - $92,800 (Budget Price) - Not doing anything with this item this summer.

 

Rationale: