June 13, 2016 at 5:30 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale:  The Norfolk Public School District's board of education meeting is called to order.  

Rationale:  If any board member is absent, there will need to be a  motion to excuse the absence.

Rationale:  Career Academies Update/Fundraising Campaign

Rationale:  Please stand and join us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Rationale:  none

Rationale:  This is the time during the board meeting when the public may request to address the board regarding an agenda item. If you wish to comment, we ask that you identify yourself and indicate the agenda item to which you will be speaking.

Rationale: 

Total amount of claims to be approved in the consent agenda for the month of June, 2016 by specific fund are as follows:
General Fund = $1,168,424.28

Nutrition Services Fund = $46,520.28

Cooperative Fund = $9,473.33

Special Building Fund = $70.79

QCPUF = $5,843.70

Student Fee Fund= $17,112.86

The total amount of claims for the month of May, 2016 in the Activities fund are as follows:
Activity Fund = $96,976.78

We are continuing to be within budget for the 2015-2016 fiscal year.  I anticipate being able to finish the last three months of this fiscal year as planned.  We did have some large expenditures within the general fund this month primarily related to building and HVAC projects.  We also had our Chromebook expenditure which was approved last month.

Rationale: 

Curriculum & Assessment

• Big changes are occurring in statewide assessments for next year.  2016-2107 has been tagged as a transition year to adjust from former NCLB requirements to new ESSA requirements. The biggest and boldest change the state board has taken action towards is voting not to administer the 11th grade NESA but rather a college readiness exam. An RFP has been written but exact dates were not communicated on the publishing and selection of a CCR exam. After attending the assessment advisory council, the consensus of the room was “we can do it, just give us time and direction.”
• The State Board of Education also voted not to include the longstanding NeSA Writing test that 4th, 8th and 11th graders traditionally participated in. However, the writing assessment requirement will still occur within the English Language Arts test where students respond to reading passages. This year included a pilot of this item type testing in grades 5th-8th. We have already put wheels in motion this year to teach and practice that type of writing. Now that we have a clearer picture of what that target should be, we feel more confident to prepare students. According to the state assessment director, we should see the same type of writing required at 3^rd and 4^th grades in the future.
• Summer work has been accomplished in several areas; Senior High ELA, K-2 Wonders Training, Senior High Spanish, and Kindergarten through Senior High Art, as well as a grading and a report card group.

Technology

• We’ve received our Chromebooks and we are elbow thick in getting them engraved and distributed. The department is elbow deep in getting labs updated and devices, either wiped clean or reprogrammed for the new year.

Rationale: 

• We are about half way through summer school at all levels.  K-8 will end on June 24th and 9-12 will end on July 7th.
• If students want to get involved in activities, there are summer camps still available. You can find the list of camps on the high school website under Athletics and Activities.
• TeleHealth will continue next year at the Jr. High and Tier 3 intervention consultant as a pilot program. 
• Our School nurses attended the State of Nebraska’s School Health Conference in Kearney on June 6th and 7th.  The purpose is to stay current with the new health regulations and immunizations that affect students wishing to enter our public schools.  This is always a worthwhile conference.

Rationale: 

School Improvement/Professional Development:

• On Tuesday, June 28th and Wednesday, June 29th we will be sending a group of teachers and administrators (40 total) to Columbus for the first two days of a four day collaborative PLC Leadership Academy with Columbus Public Schools.
• We are excited to develop our own leaders to help expand the effectiveness of our PLC process. Stay tuned next month for an update on the conference highlights.

Current Certified Staff Openings: As of June 9, 2016

• Open Certified Positions:
• Speech Language Pathologist:2 openings– District – still recruiting candidates

• Coaching Vacancies:

• Junior High School:
• Assistant Boys Football – 8^th Grade
• Intramural Football - 3 openings
• Intramural Boys Basketball - 1
• Intramural Girls Basketball - 1
• Assistant Coach: Track
• Assistant Coach: Girls Basketball – 8^th Grade

• Senior High School:
• Assistant Boys Basketball  
• Assistant Girls Basketball
• Assistant Softball
• Assistant Speech and Debate - 2 openings

Public Relations

• Norfolk 150: Celebration Week: June 29th-July 4th
• Student Artwork: Reception on June 20th @ 6:30 pm at the Public Library/other activities involving NPS staff

TeamMates News:

• Tom Osborne is scheduled to come to Norfolk on Monday, July 18th.  Here is his schedule:

• 11:00 – 11:45  Recruiting Presentation at Daycos
• 12:00 – 1:00  FCA Meeting at Norfolk Country Club
• 1:30 – 2:30  Book signing at the Abbey Christian Store
• 2:45 – 3:30  Recruiting Presentation at Nucor Detailing Center

• 70 mentors and mentees are planning to attend the Great American Comedy Festival Magic Show at the Johnny Carson Theater on Wednesday, June 15th.
• Teammates went over the $25,000 mark for donations received during annual fundraiser.  An ad appeared in the Norfolk Daily News on May 25th thanking all of our donors.  
• Love Signs will again be donating a donor recognition banner to be displayed outside the Norfolk High gym.    

After SHOCK News:

• Middle School Attendees for this school year:  200 students
• Junior High Attendees for this school year: 181 students
• Summer Attendees: 147 students
• 144 clubs were offered this school year
• Community Partners: Nucor Detailing, Norfolk Art Center, Madison County Extension, Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Northeast Community College, Norfolk Archery Club, Premiere, King's Lanes

Rationale: 

I am very excited about my new Admin Team. I had my first meeting with the entire team last week, during Day One of Summer Admin Retreats.  Three more retreats will be held this summer. These are full-day professional development and leadership training opportunities for my administrative staff.  Topics will include: Leadership and Communication Skills, Utilization of MAP Data, Strategic Planning, Technology, Special Education Law, Gallup's Hope, Wellbeing and Engagement Workshop, and Student Engagement Strategies.

In addition, every administrator who is new to the district or new to their position has been assigned a mentor and will be provided a variety of of additional training opportunities.

I also held an Admin Retreat for our Central Office Leadership Team where additional leadership, team building, and communication strategies were discussed.

 

 

Rationale: 

Rationale:  The Policy and Government Relations Committee has not met.  Our next meeting will be held in the fall. 

Rationale:  The Activities Committee has not met since my last report.  Our next meeting will be scheduled in the fall.

Rationale: 

Joshua Clark: 2016-17 Junior High English

• Coming in from Norfolk Catholic
• 8 years teaching experience
• Teaching Degree from UNK

Brighid Turek: 2016-17  4th Grade Teacher at Jefferson Elementary  

• Coming in from Omaha Public Schools
• 7 years teaching experience
• Masters of Science in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Kansas

Melora Hirschman: 2016-17 Elementary Music Teacher at Bel Air and Jefferson Elementary:

• Coming in from Stanton Community Schools
• 20 years teaching experience
• Masters of Science from Wayne State College

Liesel Powicki: 2016-17  Title I Reading at Washington and Grant

• Coming from Wayne State College as a Lecturer
• 7 years teaching experience
• Masters of Education from Upper Iowa University

Brandy Held:  2016-17 Teacher at Alternatives for Success

• Graduate of Wayne State College (May 2016)
• Student taught at Madison Public Senior High School
• Bachelor of Science from Wayne State Collge

Rationale:  None at this time.

Rationale: 

State law requires that we review our Attendance Policy 5008 annually.  It outlines the types of absences that can be excused, the age for mandatory attendance (6-18), the procedures for early withdrawal, and our requirements for reporting excessive absenteeism to the county attorney.

As part of this review, the Government and Policy Committee recommended changes to the numbering in this policy. No substantive changes were made.

Rationale: 

I am recommending to the Board of Education to accept the proposal from Model Electric in the amount of $229,470 for the following:

• Aisle Lighting upgrade (Replace existing step light fixtures and aisle fixture bulbs plus add new inverter to provide backup power to aisle lighting circuits) $18,730
• Exit/Emeregency lighting upgrade (Replace 11 exisitng exit/emergancy lighitng fixtures) $3,673
• Surge Protection (Install surge protection on panels serving dimming equipment and sound system) $17,337
• Dimming System Replacement (Replace exisitng colortran dimming system with new digital ETC Dimming System) $189,730

This is one of the last items to be completed in the Carson Theatre facility upgrade plan.  The proposal from Model meets all the specifications written by Davis Design.  Funds for the project will come from Depreciation and Carson Theatre rental income.

 

Rationale: 

Early Friday morning, one of the main water heaters in the mechanical room at Norfolk Senior High School had a large tank leak which created flooding in the mechanical area of the building.  The water caused a large power surge in one of our main electrical panels. This has resulted in a loss of electricity at the Senior High.

The Norfolk Public Schools’ maintenance department is working with local contractors, as well as state and local officials, to develop both temporary and back-up plans regarding electricity at the Senior High School. These plans will likely involve some fairly large expenditures that need to be made quickly.  Therefore, we are seeking your permission to expend up to $250,000 to address our emergency electrical needs at the Senior High School. 

Rationale:  Our second meeting of the month is scheduled for noon on Thursday, June 23, 2016 at the NPS Central Office Board Room. I am anticipating that we will need a short meeting to approve contracts, resignations, and expenditures. Does this date and time work for everyone or do we need to reschedule?