May 8, 2017 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: 

Facilities:

* Traffic/parking -- JJT

* Summer projects -- Bill

 

Building Visits - Board members

Rationale:  According to State Statute, schools must conduct an annual public hearing regarding their Parental Involvement Policy. Norfolk Public Schools has a district-wide Parental Involvement Policy (6400) and a Title I Parental Involvement Policy (6410). 

The district-wide Parental Involvement Policy outlines several ways that parents can be involved in their child's education, such as reviewing their child's educational record, filing a complaint about instructional materials, and having advance notice of standardized testing and school sponsored surveys.

The Title I parental involvement takes this a step further.  Title I defines the term parental involvement as the participation of parents in regular, two-way, meaningful communication regarding students' academic learning and other school activities.  Some specific examples of this include, providing parents with regular opportunities to learn about their child's academic progress, providing them with the opportunity to review this policy, and eliciting their help in developing the district's Title I plan.  

At this time, we will open the meeting to the public in order to give them the opportunity to present information and opinions on these policies.

If there are no questions or concerns, we will reaffirm these policies later tonight.

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

Rationale:  Junior High LIFE Students

Rationale:  Pat Wolfe & Matthew Arens -- Technology Department

Rationale: 

This is the time during the meeting when the public may request to address the Board. If you wish to comment, we ask that you identify yourself and the topic that you wish to address. Each individual's comments will be limited to five minutes.

 Please note that  the Board cannot discuss or act upon matters that are not listed on the agenda. Therefore, Board  members will not respond to your comments or questions.  If you wish to request that an item be placed on a future Board agenda, you may contact the Superintendent or her assistant during normal business hours.

Also note that concerns related to school personnel need to be addressed to the Superintendent using the approved district protocol.

Rationale: 

Total amount of claims to be approved in the consent agenda for the month of May, 2017 by specific fund are as follows:
General Fund = $283,254.48

Nutrition Services Fund = $205,514.38

Cooperative Fund = $6,257.90

Depreciation Fund= $3,625

Special Building Fund = $193,949.96

QCPUF Fund = $67,328.75

Employee Benefit Fund = $1,544

Bond Fund = $105,355

Student Fee Fund= $1,191.12

The total amount of claims for the month of April, 2017 in the Activities fund are as follows:
Activity Fund =$123,840.82

All of these claims were reviewed earlier today by the Finance and Facility Committee.  The overall expenditures of the district are staying within budget after three quarters.  I anticipate the 4th quarter of this fiscal year will be strong for us as well, which will allow the district to carry its strong fiscal health into 2017-2018.

 

Rationale: 

Curriculum:

• Math EnVisions Program materials are ordered and training has been set. The pilot group of teachers have agreed to work with me this summer to help us bridge the beginning implementation. After May training, we’ll monitor teacher’s confidence and then try to create resources and guidance to assist them. 
• Teaching and Learning Department is cleaning up final details regarding ELA program, particularly the writing piece so that we can give strong focus to Math next year.
• I have viewed and will view more content presentations at PLC to see progress made throughout the year. IT gives me a good indication of which areas may need some assistance next year.
• I’m in the midst of planning next year’s PLC schedule and staff training.

Technology

• The Technology Department has worked very hard to get teacher laptops out so this summer can be a focus on getting new equipment ready for the next school year and cleaning up old equipment.

Assessment

• Compliments go out to the Senior High, especially Jason Settles for his planning and organization that went into the first Nebraska required ACT for juniors. There was a steep learning curve with this process and the SH handled it very strategically. They coordinated efforts with NECC to use the LLLC. This opened the door for students to be able to eat on campus and get campus tours at the completion of testing. What could have been very disruptive to the school day was actually flipped into a great educational experience for our students.
• The NeSA window closed on Friday. We had our typical operational glitches, but nothing that couldn’t be solved. However, the high mobility of students during this window became a challenge bigger than most years. 

Rationale: 

• April 26th, the Special Education Leadership Team met with ESU 8 to discuss our progress on the Targeted Improvement Plan developed to address vocabulary with our students.  This summer we will be meeting to discuss the results of spring MAP testing to provide feedback on our goal.

• May 3rd, we held our District Special Education Department PLC.  The staff completed a survey to help us determine areas we would like to strengthen through Professional Development.

• Our results from ELPA 21 have been shared.  The ELL teachers are looking through the results and determining focus areas of instruction needed for continual growth.

• Our Johnson O’Malley (JOM) Native American Awards Banquet will be held on Thursday, May 25th at Ponca Tribe of Nebraska beginning at 5:00 p.m.

• Some important dates to remember:

May 21st - Graduation

May 24th - Last day of school for students

May 25th- Teacher Work Day and staff check-out

 

Rationale: 

School Safety:

• Over the summer, we will be updating our district safety protocols to more closely align with all of the new NDE safety standards. Included in these updates will be refining our Standard Response Protocols and  Crisis Management plans. To assist in these updates, each building principal will be responsible for conducting their own safety and security self-assessment in accordance with NDE standards.

Staff Development and Continuous Learning:

• Our staff does an excellent job of providing (and participating in) opportunities for professional development in a variety of areas. Capitalizing on these learning opportunities has a direct impact on student engagement and student achievement and we would like to congratulate all of our teachers and classified staff on the time and resources they have invested to grow professionally.
• This summer, a group of teachers and administrators will be attending a grading and assessment conference in Omaha on June 6th and 7th. This training will be an initial introduction to the staff development work we will share with all of our staff this next school year.

Personnel Information:

• Hiring season continues at a rapid pace. Listed below are the current openings for various staff positions.

Current Classified Openings:

• Activity Drivers
• General Maintenance
• Substitute Custodians
• Senior High School Night Supervisor Custodian
• Junior High School Media/SPED Paraprofessional

Current Certified Staff Openings:

• Alternatives for Success- Senior High
• Behavior Skills Program Teacher- Senior High
• Speech/Language Pathologist

Current Coaching Openings:

• HS Assistant Softball
• HS Assistant Football
• HS Assistant Volleyball (2)
• HS Assistant Baseball
• HS Assistant Girls Track
• 9th Head Boys Basketball
• 8th Assistant Boys Basketball
• 8th Assistant Football
• 7th Assistant Football
• JH Assistant Wrestling
• JH Intramural Volleyball (2)
• JH Intramural Football (3)

 

Rationale: 

Home School Eligibility:

The NSAA membership voted 124-73 on the referendum vote to ratify home-school eligibility requirements.

The new rule will continue to require home-school or exempt school students to be continuously enrolled in 20 credit hours of school work (four classes) each semester; however, the student would need to be enrolled in only ten credit hours (2 classes) in the member school. Further, in subsequent semesters when the school looks back at the student’s preceding semester, the student would still be required to show evidence of having successfully completed twenty credit hours of school work, at least ten of those credit hours being earned in the member high school.

Previously, all 20 credit hours of school work needed to be completed at the member school where the student participated in NSAA activities.

This home-school provision will be effective with the start of the 2017-18 school year this fall.

 

Norfolk Public Schools Foundation - Big Give

The NPS Foundation will be participating in the Big Give again this year.  All donations that day will go towards our Career Academies.  We are not hosting a Special Event, but are encouraging friends of foundation to donate via the Big Give website, which is norfolkareabiggive.org. We are currently about $62,000 short of our $1.4 million goal and are hoping the Big Give will bring us even closer.  A donation of just $1000 will put donors on our Donor Board -- and that $1000 can be pledged over a 5 year period.

Rationale: 

Rationale: 

The Policy Committee reviewed the following policies electronically:

6400: Parental Involvement

6410 Title I Parental Involvement

5008: Attendance

5415: Anti-Bullying

3240: Business Operations (Safety)

3571: Meal Charges

5417: Wellness Committee

The policy committee recommends that policies 6400 and 6410 be reaffirmed, but that policy 5008 be amended slightly in order to reduce confusion.

Policies 5415, 3240 and 3571 are being amended significantly based upon changes to federal regulations.  The proposed language is based upon Perry Law Firm's recommendation.  Our district Wellness Committee is still in the process of reviewing policy 5417 and our District Safety Committee is in the process of reviewing policy 3240, so additional changes to these policies may be made between First and Second Readings.

Rationale: 

The Activities Committee met at noon on April 24, 2017. Mr. Ries provided an update regarding recent and upcoming activities events and current staff openings. 

The Committee had an extensive conversation regarding Unified Bowling. This activity was approved as a pilot program for 2016-2017, and was very successful.  The costs for this program are minimal (approximately $1500/year) and the rewards are great! The Committee is recommending that we commit to continuing Unified Bowling as a part of our regular on-going Activities Program and are asking the Board to vote on that later this evening.

Mr. Ries provided the committee with an update on NSAA rulings (including the home-school eligibility change that I discussed earlier) and our conference affiliation (which will change to the HAC in 2018-2019).

Facilities needs were also discussed including concerns with the track and tennis courts, which we are hoping to address next summer (2018).

Rationale: 

The Government Relations Committee has been very busy monitoring the current legislative session. Patti, Sandy, Tammy, and I have all sent emails and letters to Senators regarding bills of concern. 

At the present time, our biggest concerns are budget adoption and any related bill adoptions or amendments that may go along with that, and LB 651, Senator Linehan's reading bill which would require the retention of any third grader that is not at grade level in reading by the end of the third grade.  

LB 651 would require schools to utilize research-based intervention strategies, yet it completely ignores the research on retention which indicates it is not an effective strategy.  Retention actually has negative impacts on students' academic achievement in language arts, reading, mathematics, work-study skills, social studies, and grade point average.  It also has negative effects on students' social and emotional adjustment, behavior, self concept, and attitude towards school. 

 

Rationale:  Minutes from the May 2, 2017 Nurses' and Student Health Fund meetings are attached.

Rationale:  Minutes from the April 10, 2017 are attached.

Rationale: 

Meagan Gains- Norfolk Junior High School, Math Teacher

Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in Mathematics and Natural Science from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Currently is a substitute teacher for Kearney Public Schools.

Andrew McClemens - Norfolk Senior High School, ELL Teacher

Master of Arts Degree in Education in English as a Second Language PK-12 from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Currently is an ELL paraprofessional at Kearney Public Schools.

Karissa Rudloff- Bel Air Elementary, 3^rd Grade Teacher    

Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in Mathematics from Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Nebraska

Currently student teaching at Grant Elementary for the Norfolk Public Schools.

Heather Whitney – Norfolk Junior High School, 8^th Grade English Teacher

Bachelor of Science Degree in Language Arts in Secondary Education from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska.

Currently is an English teacher for Newman Central Catholic High School, in Sterling, Illinois.

Robyn Dattilo – Norfolk Public Schools District, School Psychologist

Will complete her internship with Norfolk Public Schools to receive her Master’s in Education in School Psychology from the University of South Dakota.

Currently is a full time student.

Derek Siedschlag – Norfolk Middle School, Physical Education Teacher

Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education K-8 and Coaching 7-12 from Wayne State College in Nebraska.

Currently is a substitute teacher for Norfolk Public Schools.

Rationale: 

Heather Olmer--4th grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary

Silas Fluellen--Special Education teacher at Senior High

Brandy Held--Alternatives for Success Teacher--pending a suitable replacement

Rationale:  Attached are the claims for the month of May, 2017

Rationale:  According to State Statute, schools must conduct an annual public hearing regarding their Parental Involvement Policy. Norfolk Public Schools has a district-wide Parental Involvement Policy (6400) and a Title I Parental Involvement Policy (6410). 

The district-wide Parental Involvement Policy outlines several ways that parents can be involved in their child's education, such as reviewing their child's educational record, filing a complaint about instructional materials, and having advance notice of standardized testing and school sponsored surveys.

The Title I Parental Involvement takes this a step further.  Title I defines the term parental involvement as the participation of parents in regular, two-way, meaningful communication regarding students' academic learning and other school activities.  Some specific examples of this include, providing parents with regular opportunities to learn about their child's academic progress, providing them with the opportunity to review this policy, and eliciting their help in developing the district's Title I plan.  

No one commented during our Public Hearing earlier this evening and the Policy Committee did not recommend any changes. Therefore, I am recommending that these polices be reaffirmed as written.

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.

The Policy Committee is recommending a slight change to the language in this policy to make it easier to understand.

Rationale: 

State law requires that we review our Anti-Bullying Policy (5415) annually. It indicates that we will implement practices that reinforce and encourage positive behaviors, as well as practices to identify and prevent inappropriate behaviors such as bullying.

The Policy Committee is not recommending any revisions at this time. Therefore, I am recommending that the policy be reaffirmed as written.

Rationale:  No changes have been made to these policies since their first reading last month.

Rationale:  Policies 5415, 3240 and 3571 are being amended significantly based upon changes to federal regulations.  The proposed language is based upon Perry Law Firm's recommendation.  Our district Wellness Committee is still in the process of reviewing policy 5417 and our District Safety Committee is still in the process of reviewing policy 3240, so additional changes to these policies may be made between First and Second Readings.

Rationale:  2017-18 Students Handbooks for the elementary, junior high and senior high are attached for review. The Middle School handbook was approved last month, due to printing deadlines.

Rationale: 

Elisa Jensen is requesting that you waive the April 1st application deadline for Early Kindergarten Entrance Assessment.  April 1st is set by Board Policy 5001 (Admission Requirements). This date was chosen as the deadline, because it allows us to conduct the necessary assessments in time for the student to attend Kindergarten Roundup if he/she meets requirements. Obviously, it will not be possible for Elisa's daughter to attend Kindergarten Roundup at this time, but we could complete the assessment in time for her to start Kindergarten in August, if the results of the assessment determine that she is eligible.

Rationale:  The Activities Committee had an extensive conversation regarding Unified Bowling. This activity was approved as a pilot program for 2016-2017 and was very successful.  The costs for this program are minimal (approximately $1500/year) and the rewards are great! The Committee is recommending that we commit to continuing Unified Bowling as a part of our regular on-going Activities Program.

Rationale:  As discussed during our Study Session, I am recommending that we add a driveway at the Middle School from our current parking lot South to Georgia Avenue.  We have been working with the City for many months and all parties agree that this would help with our current traffic and safety issues before and after school at the Middle School. Our hope is to complete this project over the summer so that we can provide relief for that site beginning with the start of the 2017-2018 school year.  Special Building funds will be used to fund the project. I think that this is a very appropriate and necessary expenditure and want to thank the City for working with us to improve safety around our schools. They have agreed to study the timing of the crosswalk at 1st and Benjamin to see if it needs to be extended. They have also agreed to add a motion sensored light at 6th and Pasewalk to assist with safety at the Junior High, and to add a crosswalk from Door 16 of the Senior High to the parking lot on the West side of the street.  This will require some additional paving on our part. That expense will be funded via our Depreciation Budget.

Rationale:  An agreement has been reached with Theresa Farnik regarding her resignation. That agreement has been attached for you to review. I request that the Board accept her resignation and approve the attached resignation agreement.

Rationale: 

The second meeting of the month is scheduled for noon on Thursday, May 25th at the NPS Central Administration Office. This meeting will be cancelled if no action is necessary.

The next regular meeting of the Board is scheduled for Monday, June 12th at the NPS Central Administration Office. The Study Session will begin at 5:30 and will be followed by the regular business meeting at 6:30.  All components of the meeting will be open to the public unless an Executive Session is required to protect the interest of the district or to prevent needless hard to the reputation of an individual.