July 8, 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 Estimates
       A.  Activities Fund - $40,000
       B.  Lunch Fund - $25,000
       C.  Depreciation Fund - As Budget Authority Allows
       E.  Employee Benefit Fund - As Budget Authority Allows

11.  ESSERs III Funds Update 
       A. Dust Collection System in Shop (Waiting on Bid from HVAC Contractors)

12.  2024-25 Budget Preparations

1) Total Allowable Growth Limitation (Pink Postcard Bill) : $5,831,643 -BEFORE the adjustment for "Total Real Property Valuation Increase", which will be modest. (Last year it was $31,020).

2) Property Tax Authority Certification : $5,898,293 - BEFORE any additional levy authority is certified by the BOE.  This levy authority could be increased by $518,268 or a total of $6,416,561

I'm assuming that:

1. The board would like for me to prepare a budget that stays below the Total Allowable Growth Limitation of $5,831,634.
2. The board would like for me to prepare a budget to tax the maximum 14 cents allowed by statute into the Special Building Fund.
3. The board would like for me tax the maximum of 3 cents allowed by statute into the Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund, as these funds could be used to pay for the security vestibules (entrances) for the middle school and middle/high school.

 

Rationale:  As part of receiving the ESSERs III Funds, the school district is required to review the "Return to School Plan" and to consider any public input.  This is a standing agenda item, until the grant period ends in September of 2024.

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.

We have to full time paras who the principals would like to have share the duty for the 2024-25 school year.  Each para will cover the duty for one semester each.  During the semester they are not serving as the full-time substitute, they will be serving in the role of elementary media para.



 

Rationale:  The school received a safety grant from NDE in the amount of $30,000 to replace classroom and office door locks, so that they can be locked from the interior of the room.  Attached are the bids for replacing all the locks in the elementary, high school, and Youth Center.

A request for proposals was advertised in the Kearney Hub on June 27th.

The RFP Instructions for those wishing to submit a proposal contained a scoring criteria for their proposals, which is as follows:
 

1. Scoring Criteria for the Proposals:

The scoring of the proposals submitted will be based on the following criteria:

1. The level of inquiry, responsiveness, and timeliness demonstrated by the contractor when gathering information about the project from the owner and while conducting the site visit.  (1-5 points)
2. The level of completeness and quality of the final proposal.  (1-5 points)
3. The ability of the contractor to service the equipment in a timely manner, after is completed. (1-5 points)
4. The history of the contractor’s ability to complete similar or larger projects in a timely manner. (1-5 points)
5. The "all in price" of the proposal.  (1-5 points)

Based on the scoring criteria, the superintendent would recommend that the contract for the Ravenna Public Schools Lock Replacement Project would go to RND Lock & Key in the amount of $54,030.00.

Two locksmiths submitted proposals.

Proposals Tabulation
Lockmobile
A) Classrooms: $42,775.00
B) Hallway & Janitor Closets: $5,715.00
C) Exterior Locks: $4,365.00
Total : $52,855.00

RnD Lock & Key
A) Classrooms: $45,060.00
B) Hallway & Janitor Closets: $3,985.00
C) Exterior Locks: $4,985.00
Total : $54,030.00
 

Rationale:  It was discovered that the second day of parent teachers conferences was scheduled on the same day as the Friday of homecoming on September 20th, when students would not be in the building.  The calendar correction moves parent teachers conferences to Wednesday, October 2nd, and Friday, October 4th, to alleviate this conflict.

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 principals and The Policy Committee have revised the handbook based on suggestions from KSB School Law, the RPS Administration, and the Policy Committee.

A summary of the proposed changes appear below:

• Page 6 - Updated discrimination and harassment complaint contact information.
• Page 21 - States that any staff suspected of being under the influences of drugs or alcohol must submit a body fluid or breath sample.
• Page 22 & 23 - States staff must report any criminal violations to the superintendent.
• Page 23 - Defines what period of time the school will use for FMLA Leave purposes.  The school will use a "rolling" 12-month period.  This will help minimize absences.
• Page 24 - Updates staff meal prices.
• Page 56 - Specifies for whom and why classified staff can use bereavement leave.
• Page 61 - Specifies that classified staff can use up to 3 days of accumulated sick leave for unplanned school closings, such as when school is shut down for snowdays or state level competition.

Rationale:  The principals and The Policy Committee have revised the handbook based on suggestions from KSB School Law, the RPS Administration, and the Policy Committee.

The proposed changes are summarized below:

• Page 8 - Changes contact information regarding sexual harassment or discrimination.
• Page 10 - Makes mental illness a reason for excusing an absent student.
• Page 13 - Expands and defines the rights of pregnant and parenting students.
• 16 & 17 - Defines when students may and may not use cell phones and outlines consequences for misuse of phones.
• Page 19-25 - Defines complaint procedure and contact information for filing a complaint.
• Page 29 - Defines fair use and copyright expectations for students.
• Page 31 - Updates discrimination and harassment contact information.
• Page 35 - Updates 2024-25 meal prices.
• Page 51 - Updates event admission prices to $6.00-Adults, $5.00-Students, & $3.00-For junior high events.
• Page 64 - Defines that parents may not record meetings with teachers and staff, including IEP’s and 504 Plan Meetings.
• Page 65 - Defines who may and may not carry a firearm on school grounds.
• Page 79 - Defines who may and may not carry firearms on school grounds.
• Page 81 - Specifies that students cannot use "deepfakes" in a harmful or malicious manner and that if they do so it may be considered as coercion, threat, intimidation, or similar conduct.
• Page 83 - Specifies that student "deepfakes" that have pornographic content or are used for sexting are considered inappropriate.

Rationale:  The principals and The Policy Committee have revised the handbook based on suggestions from KSB School Law, the RPS Administration, and the Policy Committee.

The proposed changes are summarized below:

• Page 5 - Updates discrimination contact information.
• Page 6 - Updates activity admission prices to $6.00-Adults, $5.00-Students, & $3.00-For junior high events.
• Page 21 - Updates annual transfer date for NSAA eligibility.
• Page 35-43 - Updates activities random drug testing policy.  The frequency and number of tests administered will be increased and the consequences for each offense have been intensified for the purpose of offering more accountability and assistance to the students when they are caught.

Rationale:  During the 2024 legislative session, the Unicameral passed legislative bill 1329 which defers to each Board of Education to determine the reasonable length of time for certain staff trainings.

The administrative team is recommending that the board approve the attached resolution, which outlines the required training and the length of time for each of those trainings. 

Rationale:  The policy committee met on June 19th.  Attached to this agenda item are the policies that need to be adopted (new policies) or revised as recommended by KSB School Law, the Ravenna Public Schools Administration, and the Ravenna School Board Policy Committee. 

The attached memo from KSB School Law outlines the policies that are new, recommended and necessary changes.  The information below applies to policies that had "technical clean ups" that needed to be applied, such as missing dates, typos, etc..  Those technical cleanups are as follows:

Technical Cleanup Items for Policy Updates for Summer of 2024

• Policy 3012 - Heading of "Option A" was removed.
• Policy - 3028 - A typo "onto" to "on" was changed.
• Policy 3046 - The language "...therapy animals will not be allowed on the property without permission from the administration..." was added. 
• 4002 - Dates were missing. Dates were added at bottom.
• 4008 - Dates were missing.  Dates were added at bottom.
• 4019 - Dates at the bottom were cleaned up. 
• 4023 - Typo "certific" was changed to "certified."
• 4030- Dates were missing.  Dates were added at bottom.
• 4045- Dates were missing.  Dates were added at bottom.
• 5001 - Had notes that need to be removed.
• 5004 - Had notes that need to be removed.
• 5010 - Had a "redline" date that needed to be removed.
• 5011 - Had notes that need to be removed.
• 5031 - Redlines needed to be removed. 

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:  Annually, the board discusses any possible amendments to the superintendent's contract, including compensation for the upcoming contract term.

Attached to this agenda item is a copy of the superintendent's salary array, the superintendent's pay transparency notice that was posted to the school district's website to inform the public of the board's intention to discuss amending the superintendent's contract, and a copy of the superintendents current and proposed contract for the 2024-25 contract term.

Rationale:  Copies of the drafts of the budget are attached to this agenda item.  There is the "line item budget" for the General Fund and the APA Budget Document, which is submitted to NDE for approval and used to make the actual tax request.

I'm seeking some guidance regarding preparing the tax asking for this years budget.

Two Revenue Limitations:

1) Total Allowable Growth Limitation (Pink Postcard Bill) : $5,831,643 -BEFORE the adjustment for "Total Real Property Valuation Increase" which will be modest. (Last year it was $31,020).

2) Property Tax Authority Certification : $5,898,293 - BEFORE any additional levy authority is certified by the BOE.  This levy authority could be increased by $518,268 or a total of $6,416,561

I'm assuming that:

1. The board would like for me to prepare a budget that stays below the Total Allowable Growth Limitation of $5,831,634.
2. The board would like me to prepare a budget to tax the maximum 14 cents allowed by statute into the Special Building Fund.
3. The board would like me to tax the maximum of 3 cents allowed by statute into the Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund, as these funds could be used to pay for the security vestibules (entrances) for the middle school and middle/high school.

  
 

Rationale: 
 

Rationale: 

• Track Re-Surface - Completed and paid for.
• Concrete on North Side of Building - Completed, other than painting. 5% retainage is being held until stripping is completed.
• New Countertops in Elementary - Completed.
• Re-heat valves in the high school - Replace existing  - Completed.
• Bleacher Project - Bid was awarded to Bryan Dubas of Fullerton, NE.  Work is on track to be completed by August 1, 2024.  We've had some conversation about repainting the metal frames of the bleacher.  I have acquired two bids for doing so.  They are attached to this agenda item.  Also, I requested a price as a change order to install the same aluminum on the "band bleachers."  The bid for that is attached.  It would be an additional $8,878.  A separate option would be to simply replace these bleacher boards with green treat lumber.
• West Ditch by Football Field - Needs some attention due to all of the rain.  I've contacted two earth-moving companies to get some pricing on potential solutions.  Ronnie Lammers was out to take a look at it today (7/8/24).
• 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.  I'm still waiting on Rutt's Heating & Air and Jerry's Heating & Air to give me a number of redoing the piping.
• Door Locks for all interior doors that lock from the inside-All bids have been submitted as of 7/8/24.
• Head Start Modular - Schedules to be moved at the end of July.
• 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.  Waiting on dry weather, due to the area between the north elementary and elementary gym.  Greg has made several attempts that have been thwarted due to moisture.
• 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.  They have been non-responsive.
• Low Spot on Elementary Lawn - Waiting on budget pricing from Mr. Shiloh Rager.
• Removal of rose bushes/installation of rock (front of elementary) - In Progress
• 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) - In Progress
• 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.

2.  Special Legislative Session - Begins July 25th - Property Tax Relief








 

Rationale: