April 13, 2020 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:  This is a legal meeting of the board of education, as advertised by the means specified in board policy. A complete copy of the Open Meetings Act and a copy of the agenda are available via the following  links: https://meeting.sparqdata.com/Meeting/In/185028/?AgendaItem=3990957
 https://zoom.us/j/804554341 
 

Rationale: 

At this time I would like to open the hearing to discuss, consider, and receive input on the student fee policy.  Attached for your review are the following:

1. Student fee receipts and expenditures in 2018-2019 (Attachment A)

2. Proposed fees for 2020-2021 (Attachment B)

3. Student Fee Policy #5416 (Attachment C)

At this time, if any member of the public wishes to comment or give opinions on the student fee policy and proposed fees for 2020-2021, we ask that you unmute your microphone and state your name.

Comments

The district collected $244,807 in board approved student fees in the areas of instruction and activities during the 2018-2019 school year. These fee dollars can only be expended for the items for which they are collected.  The district had $201,181 in board approved disbursements for 2018-2019 which left the fund with a cash balance of $367,739 as of August 31, 2019.  The cash balance is primarily composed of those fees which are not necessarily expended on an annual basis such as the technology and summer school. The district reviews all items on the proposed fee list annually and only lists those fees which we believe are necessary to help offset the total cost to the district.

Rationale: 

Total amount of claims to be approved in the consent agenda for the month of April, 2020 by specific fund is listed below:

General Fund = $461,143.17

Nutrition Services Fund =$549,642.54

Cooperative Fund = $4,055.95

Depreciation Fund = $17,716.80

Special Building Fund = $15,907.24

Student Fee Fund = $2,978.17

The total amount of claims for the month of March, 2020 in the Activities Fund were:
Activity Fund =$90,774.48

All of these claims were reviewed earlier today by the Finance and Facility Committee.

The Business office and payroll have worked hard with all of our staff during the current emergency with the many questions that have come up as well as developing some new ways of managing all the different types of compensation and leave scenarios.

Rationale:  Curriculum Instruction & Assessment

• With the onset of Covid restrictions, teachers have been transitioning classroom learning to remote learning. This has not been an easy task. As reported on the website, we’ve arranged for biweekly paper packet learning units. PK-4 students and any student without wifi 5^th-12^th grade have been given paper packet learning opportunities. Students 5^th -12^th grades with wifi resources in their homes, have school issued Chromebooks and learning opportunities through Google classroom.   Paper packets are dispersed every two weeks with a drive up system. Where families are unable to pick up packets within a couple of days, administrators have made certain that packets are mailed home.
• Additional items are being followed for 9-12th grade. Our last day in session was Friday, March 13th.  
  • Any assessments given on or before March 13 will count toward a student’s grade for the semester. All students may reassess over any material they were assigned pre-March 13th to improve their second semester grade. Students who missed tests will not be required to make them up, but may choose to do so to improve their grade. 
  • Any students who were failing a class as of March 13 will be given opportunities to reassess to earn a passing second semester grade.  Failing students and their parents have been contacted directly regarding failing grades. 
  • Students will have until 12:00 noon on May 21st to complete their reassessments.
  • Any long-term projects that were assigned prior to March 13 with future due dates may be turned in to improve grades.  Students who have not completed will not be penalized in their grade.
• Statewide required spring testing has been cancelled.
• The Teaching and Learning Team is trying to stay a step ahead of principals and teachers to provide guidance on moving instruction forward next fall. Strategic work is in progress. Uncertainties exist regarding the beginning of the next school year. Plan A, B, and C are all in development. Our hope is that Plan, A starting with a regular school year, becomes a reality. However, we would be remiss if we ignored Plan B & C.
• The large Target-Based Grading Committee has not had an opportunity to have a final meeting. As a reminder, the intent for that committee is to give guidance to the BOE on details moving forward with the target-based grading strategic action goal. We are planning to hold an electronic meeting that allows for large and small groups to hear reports from subcommittees. The feedback will be shared with the BOE. We are hoping to schedule this for the last week of April or first week of May.   

Technology

• Due to the change in educational demands lately, it has been a challenge to gather all the information needed for our annual technology order. The BOE did give permission earlier this winter to collect bids. That will be happening soon. I’m concerned about the timeline for the turn around on orders and shipping. We will proceed as quickly as possible. Our district is lucky to have dedicated and efficient technology personnel.

Rationale: 

Typically this time of year I am sharing the upcoming dates of Kindergarten Round-up, registrations for each school, and graduation, to name a few..  This year is different. So, I want to share the amazing work our staff has done for our students and how much they miss them. In days, our staff switched their approach to instruction for our students. They did this keeping students at the front of their decisions all while mourning the time they will lose with our students. They want to be in the classroom with our students, but they can’t.  So they created ways to stay connected and continue to help their students grow. I wanted to take this time to say thank you to our teachers, staff and administrators for all they have done and continue to do for our students in this very unique and challenging situation.

As for the upcoming events, we are considering options but for now; we will be postponing events currently scheduled through May 8th. 

I will be attending the NASES conference through video conferencing April 23- 24, 2020. 

Rationale: 

Staff Kudos: 

• Special thanks to all of our staff and administrators who continue to "step up" to assist our students, our families, and the entire community during this most unprecedented (and challenging) time. The problem solving and ingenuity for making things work and maintaining connections in an alternate environment has been inspiring. It is a privilege to work in a district that continues to effectively "evolve and adapt" to ever changing conditions.  Keep up the good work!!!

Hiring Season: 

• Even though students and staff remain at home, the hiring season continues! Our administrators (and their interview teams) have done an excellent job of adjusting to the "social distancing" guidelines and they have become quite proficient at (digitally) selecting high quality candidates who will be a "great fit" for our district. Who knew that Zoom would become an essential HR tool?  

• Although we have filled many of our positions, we still have several spots open. I am confident our "New to the District" staff will do great things when school opens in the fall. 

  Personnel Update:
  Current Classified Positions:

• Senior High - Night Custodian
• Summer Mowing (Part-Time)
• Bel Air School Secretary (Full time)
• Little Panthers Preschool - School Secretary

  Certified Positions:(2020-21 school year): 

 

• Middle & Junior High - ELL Teacher
• Senior High - Physical Education Teacher
• Senior High - Social Studies Teachers
• Senior High - English Teachers 
• Senior High - Math Teacher
• Senior High - Science Teacher
• Speech/Language Pathologist (Part/Full-Time)
• Speech/Language Pathologist Assistant
• Special Education Teachers (2)

  Classified Openings: (2020-21 school year):

 

• Bel Air Elementary - LIFE Para w/driving (Full time) 
• Junior High Special Ed Para w/driving (Full time) 
• Westside Elementary - LIFE Para w/driving (Full time)
• Westside Elementary - Classroom Para
• Woodland Park - Health Tech
• Little Panthers Preschool - Health Tech

  Coaching Opportunities (2020-21 school year):

• HS Head Boys Basketball
• HS Head Boys Golf
• HS Assistant Football
• HS Assistant Boys Basketball (2)
• HS Assistant Girls Soccer
• 8th Grade Football
• 8th Grade Assistant Boys Basketball

Rationale:  Special Events/Activities 2020

Rationale:  The committee met at 12:00 noon today.  The claims for the month of April and Activity claims for March were reviewed.  The committee was updated about current and potential facility projects specifically those currently under contract.  The committee then went over the following items:

• COVID-19 response scenarios
• Closing of the QCPUF bonds and refinancing
• Discussed the recommendation to suspend proposals on student picture and ID card services and also copy and printer services
• Reviewed recommendation on contract extension for Lunch Time Solutions for 2020-2021

The next regular meeting will be on Monday, May 11th at 12:00 noon. 

Rationale: 

The Policy Committee met via Zoom on Thursday, March 26, 2020.  

The committee reviewed Board Policies 4200-4260 Personnel-Non-Certificated Employees. Minor, non-substantive changes were made to Policy 4240 related to Complaint Procedures. 

The committee also reviewed Board Policy 1320-Memorials. We are recommending that a statement be added to this policy allowing memorial plaques to include the class or school affiliation of the memorialized person.

The committee did not recommend any additional changes to Board Policies 4100-4190 Personnel-Certificated Employees, which are being considered on Second/Final Reading this evening.

The Policy Committee also reviewed the Graduation and Grading Resolution proposed by Perry Law Firm.  This resolution outlines the graduation and grading procedures that will be used for the remainder of 2019-2020 school year, and it suspends all existing policies that are not in alignment with these procedures for that same period of time.

The next Policy Committee is scheduled for 1:00 on Thursday, April 23, 2020. It will be held via Zoom.

Rationale: 

The Government Relations Committee has not met since our last Board meeting, as the legislative session is on recess due to COVID-19.  However, we continue to monitor this and are prepared to take action when the session reconvenes.  

Rationale:  The Activities Committee is scheduled to meet at noon on Monday, April 27th. However, this meeting may be cancelled. 

Rationale:  Minutes of the April 7, 2020 Nurse's Meeting

Rationale:  Minutes of the March 9, 2020, March 18, 2020 and March 26, 2020 meetings are attached.

Rationale: 

Braxton Dreher
Letishia Lindhorst
Liz Baber
Morgan Hilker
Leah Larson
Bethany Prettyman
John Erwin

Rationale:  Tony Siske--PE Teacher and Head Boys Basketball Coach, pending approval of a suitable replacement

Rationale:  Attached are the claims for the month of April, 2020.  These claims were reviewed earlier today by our Finance and Facility Committee.

Rationale:  Attached is Appendix "1" which are the proposed fees for 2020-2021 under Policy 5416.  These proposed fees have been reviewed by all K-12 administrators and the Finance and Facilities Committee prior to the public hearing held earlier this evening. 

Rationale:  Due to the current pandemic we are in I believe it is in the best interest of the district to continue our current contract for an additional 12 months and then go out for proposals in the spring of 2021.  I have been in contact with our current provider as well as potential parties who were interested in submitting an RFP and they were all in agreement.

Rationale:  Due to the current pandemic we are in I believe it is in the best interest of the district to continue our current contract for an additional 12 months and then go out for proposals in the spring of 2021.  I have been in contact with our current provider as well as potential parties who were interested in submitting an RFP and they were all in agreement.

Rationale:  I am recommending to the Board of Education to renew the contract with LunchTime Solutions as the districts food management company for 2020-2021 school year.  LunchTime Solutions has continued to handle the district food management needs at a high level.  The annual review process with staff, students and parents reflect a high level of satisfaction with their service.

Rationale:  I am asking you to grant me permission to pursue any federal, state, or grant funding that may become available due to COVID-19.  We anticipate that these funding sources will be made available on a "first come-first served basis" and want to be prepared to act on them as quickly as possible. 

We are diligently tracking all COVID-related expenses to a separate code, so that we can  seek reimbursement or grant funding if/when it becomes available.

Rationale:  The attached resolution outlines the graduation and grading procedures that will be used for the remainder of 2019-2020 school year, and it suspends all existing policies that are not in alignment with these procedures for that same period of time.

According to the NDE, it is their intent for students to progress to the next level and for Seniors to graduate, unless previous performance issues existed that cannot be remediated in the remaining weeks of school. Therefore, all new learning materials provided to students are considered enrichment opportunities. They can improve a student's grade; but cannot harm it.  

All students that were failing or who were at risk of failing prior to our closure on March 12,2020 have been identified for additional assistance and remediation, and all students can complete assignments and redo assessments given prior to March 13, 2020  in order to improve their grade. In addition, seniors who need additional credits in order to graduate will be given the opportunity to complete courses via OdysseyWare throughout the summer.
 

Rationale:  Based upon recent changes to our economy caused by COVID-19 -- and the financial uncertainty that this has caused for many of our constituents -- it is my recommendation that we postpone our community conversation regarding a potential bond issue.  I do not make this recommendation lightly.  Our district does have some significant space issues caused by our increasing enrollment; and some of our facilities would benefit from safety upgrades.  However, it would be fiscally irresponsible to continue on this path until after our economy stabilize.   When that happens, we can re-evaluate our financial situation and our facility needs, in order to determine the best course of action.

Rationale: 

For 2 years teachers and administrators have gone through an extensive process to evaluate, review, research and pilot science programs for Kindergarten-8th grade. We are still evaluating the K-2 grade options. The current pilot will be continued next year.  We consciously have taken standard alignment, practicality for students and practicality for teachers. 

One qualifying bid was submitted to me on Wednesday, March 25th.

I recommend the purchase of the 3rd-8th grade Pearson Elevate Science Program at a cost of $239,425.09 (shipping included in price) 

Rationale:  These policies were reviewed by the Policy Committee and their recommendation was presented by Dr. Patti Gubbels via her report earlier this evening.  I would be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Rationale:  The Memorial Policy was revised, as discussed by Dr. Patti Gubbels earlier this evening.   I would be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Rationale:  No changes have been made to these policies since their First Reading.

Rationale:  The 2nd monthly meeting of the Board of Education has been scheduled for noon on Thursday, April 23, 2020 and will be held via Zoom.

The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Monday, May 11, 2020. The Business Meeting will begin at 5:30 PM via Zoom.