August 8, 2011 at 7:30 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

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

Rationale:   

It is the vision of the Norfolk Public Schools to actively engage all students in learning
through a relevant and comprehensive standards-based curriculum that integrates
 21^st century skills, tools, context, and assessments.  

• Goal #1:  All students will succeed at each grade level and graduate from high school well-prepared for a variety of post-secondary pursuits.

• Goal #2:  All students will feel connected with the school and the learning process.

• Goal #3:  District resources, programs, and departments will be aligned to attain high levels of student achievement and instructional excellence.

• Goal #4:  The community will be engaged to support high levels of student achievement.

  The mission of the Norfolk Public Schools is to prepare studentswith the skills and knowledge to meet the challenges of a complex, global society.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rationale:  July 11, 2011 - 4:30 Study Session
July 11, 2011 - 7:30 Regular Session
July 25, 2011 - 5:30 Special Meeting

Rationale:  Mr. Witte's office has approved the application as meeting all of the district requirements for the following student:

1. Sally R. Borella of Australia; host family is Tim and Lori Lillard

Rationale: 

Approval of teaching contracts for the 2011-2012 school year for:

1.  Terri Sampson, High School, Science
2.  Christen Payne, Westside, Kindergarten

Rationale:  This item will resume in the fall.

Rationale:  The Board approved the following District expenditures:

GENERAL FUND:  $282,644.45
COOPERATIVE FUND:  $4,825.67
LUNCH FUND:  $19,055.52
SPECIAL BUILDING FUND:  $26,364.07

We are also requesting Board approval to pay additional expenditures for August prior to closing the current fiscal year.  Included are transfers to other District funds as may be needed. 

Rationale: 

Assessment / Curriculum / Professional Development

Inservice for New Staff

 

·         Reading Mastery—August 10 for new K-4 teachers and paraprofessionals and selected returning teachers.

·         Saxon Math—August 16 for 7^th grade teachers and new 3^rd & 4^th grade teachers. 

 

NeSA-Reading & Mathematics Results

Results from NeSA-Reading & Mathematics will be released to the public on August 29.

 

Personnel

 

New Teachers

 

First-day activities will be held with 15 new teachers on August 11-12.  Topics to be discussed with new staff include:

1.       Staff Handbook

2.       Curriculum & Assessment Information

3.       Teacher Evaluation

4.       Valued Teacher Qualities and Red Flags

5.       District Multicultural Plan

6.       Student Services Information

7.       Technology Information

8.       Payroll Information

 

Substitute Teacher Workshops

 

Substitute teacher workshops will be held Thursday, August 11 and Thursday, August 18 starting at 1:00 p.m.  The workshops will take place at the Central Office and you are welcome to attend.

 

Rationale: 

 

Summer maintenance items are nearing completion and we should have most items finished in time for students to enter the buildings on the 18th. Some items have been deferred to the next budget year and will become priority items for completion next year.

 

The Spring ELDA (English Language Development Assessment) results have been received and distributed to the ELL/Migrant Education staff. At our first meeting in August staff will address these results and use them to set instruction and exit plans for the 2011-2012 school year.

Norfolk Public Schools has received notification of funding in the following NCLB funds for the 2011-2012 school term:

Title I Part A – Reading

Title 1 Part C – Migrant Education

Title II A – Teacher and Principal training

The district has received notice that we will receive funds for these programs, but exact dollars are not known at this time as we are awaiting notification from NDE.

In addition, we have received funding for Early Childhood Education, Title VII –Indian Education and the Johnson O’Malley Grant.

The schedule for school opening is attached for your information

Rationale:  The Finance Committee reviewed:

1.  Bills for August.

2.  Update of District's 403(b) Program with 403(b) Consultants LLC.  The individual participation fee will be reduced from $35 per year to $29 per year beginning September 1, 2011.

3.  Discussed the Nebraska Liquid Asset Fund meeting held on Wednesday, August 3rd.

4.  Discussed the proposed District budgets for the 2011-2012 school year in preparation for the Budget Workshop scheduled for August 25, 2011.

Rationale:  The Activities Committee does not meet in the summer.

Rationale:  Motion to authorize additional expenditures and transfers of up to $700,000.00 by August 31, 2011 to close out the 2010-2011 fiscal year.  In addition, the board approves the expenditures of grant funds to close out the fiscal year and meet reporting requirements.