June 8, 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 is attached in the link listed below.  A copy of the agenda is available on the Norfolk Public School website.
 

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 June, 2020 by specific fund is listed below:

General Fund = $479,849.48

Nutrition Services Fund =$194,168.70

Cooperative Fund = $1,099.30

Depreciation Fund = $5,100.87

Special Building Fund = $25,000.00

QCPUF = $184,009.27

Employee Benefit Fund = $324.22

Student Fee Fund = $29,319.22
 

The total amount of claims for the month of May, 2020 in the Activities Fund were:
Activity Fund =$36,019.86

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

Rationale:  Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment
 

• All major orders for materials are taken care of for the 2020 fall school year.
• TnL is working very intentionally to follow up with curriculum groups to support their priority targets as well as assisting them to develop new skills to face new learning environments.
• The subcommittee for instruction on returning to school is outlining plans and structure for moving into instruction in a variety of ways.
• Thank you for allowing teachers the time to put plans together for the beginning of the year. It created a situation for teachers to collaborate and move their mind set on instruction. Flexibility is hard for everyone!

Results of Surveys from Parents Home-Based Learning

Considerations on survey responses:

• Out of 4,000+ students, we received only 497 English language responses & 3 Spanish language responses 
• Likely responses came from homes that have adequate digital access to questionnaire
• Data can be used as a reflection on how any future home-based learning can be improved if necessary in the future
• Because multiple options were offered at individual questions, picking apart data for grade levels/buildings will be unreliable but yet offer suggestions for considerations if home-based learning is necessary in the future

• Highlighted items from parent survey:
  • Hard to motivate my child to work on school at home
  • Unsure how to help my child with school work
  • We struggle with having adequate wifi
  • There were a lot of comment responses, due to the way we asked the questions, it’s difficult to separate comments by school buildings. Administrators have access to all of the responses and can pick apart to gain some generalities to draw upon feedback from parents.

Rationale: 

• Our school nurses attended the State of Nebraska’s School Health Conference virtually June 8th.  The purpose is to stay current with the new health regulations and immunizations that affect students wishing to enter our public schools. 

• Our elementary principals and building teams will virtually participate in Positive Behavioral Intervention Support (PBIS) training on June 15th and 16th.

• Special Education directors across the state meet monthly to discuss needs and plans for the fall with students returning. Launch Nebraska has a few webinars in the weeks ahead that I will be participating in regarding special education and ELL students. 

Rationale: 

Thank You!

• I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank the Board of Education, Dr. Jami Jo Thompson, our staff, our students, and the Norfolk community for the privilege of serving this district for almost twenty years. Being a part of Norfolk Public Schools has been an honor and I greatly appreciate the friends and colleagues that have supported our family during our time here. My children were blessed with a first class education and a safe and supportive school experience, my family always felt welcomed in this community, and I will always be grateful for that. 

• Norfolk Public Schools is an outstanding district filled with amazing people who are focused on doing what is best for students and the community. I am ready for the challenges and opportunities of a new role and I know that my experiences in this district will serve me well moving forward. I wish all of you continued success and I look forward to hearing about the great things NPS will accomplish in the future. 

• Thank you again for everything and please know that I will always be a Panther!

Beginning of the 2020-2021 School Year Information: 
  (If we are able to open on a regular school schedule):

• Our "New to the District" teacher training is Tuesday, August 4th - Friday, August 7th.   

• All certified staff report on Monday, August 10th.

• The first day of school for students is Thursday, August 13th. 

  • *If we are unable to open school on a "regular" schedule, the school calendar and opening days information will be adjusted as needed. 

• FYI: Our team continues to plan for all contingencies regarding the opening of school and although we remain hopeful that we can resume normal operations as soon as possible, we will be ready for whatever we need to do. We miss our students and families!

Personnel Update:
  Current Classified Positions:

• Multi-Building Custodian (Full-time)

Certified Positions: (2020-21 school year): 

• Secondary Math Teacher 
• Secondary Special Education Teacher

  Classified Openings: (2020-21 school year):

• Bel Air Elementary - LIFE Para w/driving (Full time) 
• Bel Air Elementary - Classroom Para
• Lincoln Montessori - Classroom Para
• Little Panthers Preschool - Classroom Para
• Junior High Special Ed Para w/driving (Full time) 
• Junior High Technology Para (Part time)
• Special Education: District-wide Vision Program Paraprofessional (Full time)
• Special Education Resource Para - Senior High (Part-time)
• Washington Elementary - ELL Para
• Westside Elementary - LIFE Para w/driving (Full time)
• Westside Elementary - Classroom Para

  Coaching Opportunities (2020-21 school year):

• HS Head Boys Golf
• Assistant Theater (2nd Semester)

Rationale:  Graduation
Planning for the fall

Rationale:  The committee met at 12:00 noon today.  The claims for the month of June and Activity claims for May were reviewed.  The committee was updated about current facility projects under contract and also a bad metal roof at the maintenance building. There was also discussion on the upcoming 20-21 school year specifically with facilities and operations.  The committee then went over the following items:

• Budget development 20-21
• Update on CARES Act funding
• Wifi "Hotspots" for 20-21, update

The next regular meeting will be on Monday, July 13th at 12:00 noon. 

Rationale: 

The Policy Committee met at 12:15 on May 28, 2020 to discuss revisions to the Administrative Rule related to Homework (Policy 6240). These revisions were drafted based upon the recommendations of the Target-based Grading Committee and include the following statement:

Homework will be included as part of the formative portion of a student’s final grade calculation, as indicated below:

• K-2 Formative 0%  Summative 100%

• 3-4 Formative 10%  Summative 90%

• 5-12 Formative 15% Summative 85%

Departments and grade levels will be given discretion to determine what types of assignment and activities (homework, class activities, labs, quizzes) will be included within the category of formative work and how much weight will be assigned to each, as long as they comply with the percentages listed above.

The Policy Committee supported these changes, but recommended the addition of a Grading Policy, which we are now developing.

In addition, the Policy Committee noted that Policy 6210 (Curriculum-Development and Adoption) should be revised to eliminate its reference to the "Committee on Curriculum and Americanism" -  as that committee has been replaced with "Committee on Curriculum.

Our next meeting is tentatively scheduled for 1:00 on June 25, 2020.  This meeting  may be cancelled if we have not received our annual updates from the Perry Law Firm by that time.  These policy updates have been delayed this year due to the COVID-related recess of the State Legislature.

Rationale:  The mission of the multicultural education program is to prepare students to: (a) value and respect their own culture and race and cultures and races other than their own and (b) eliminate stereotypes and different treatment of others based on culture and race. The mission shall also include preparing students to eliminate stereotypes and discrimination or harassment of others based on ethnicity, religion, gender and socioeconomic status, age or disability.

Teachers provide reports to administration on: a) instructional materials used and programs or methods implemented with their students which are supportive of the multicultural education program philosophy and mission. Building Administrators, or their designee count and record the number of educational experiences related to the below listed cultures and give Director of Teaching and Learning the following counts for their buildings.

• African Americans -1068
• Hispanic Americans -797
• Native Americans -743
• Asian Americans -629
• European Americans - 1131

Rationale:  In compliance with Nebraska State School Law LB 399, the American Civics Bill, all building Americanism Compliance Reports have been submitted to the Director of Teaching and Learning Office.Teacher reports have been submitted to building administrators on American Civics and are filed within the building for review when needed.

Compliance reports confirm that the building’s social studies curriculum stresses the required patriotic themes. Above curriculum requirements, buildings have conducted appropriate patriotic exercises for the following observations: George Washington’s birthday, Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, Native American Heritage Day, Constitution Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Thanksgiving Day.

Rationale:  Minutes of May 11, 2020 and May 28, 2020 meetings are attached.

Rationale:  None at this time.

Rationale:  None at this time.

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

Rationale:  See the attached document.

Rationale:  Please see the attached document.

Rationale:  Please see the attached document.

Rationale:  Please see the attachment.

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

Rationale: 

After consultation with the Junior and Senior High foreign language staff and administrators, it was decided that we would like to offer an advanced foreign language opportunity for our 8th grade students next year.  Currently, Spanish language and culture and French language and culture are offered as elective courses at the Junior High. These are introductory or exploratory courses.

We would still offer these courses next year, but would also like to add the option of Spanish One at that eighth grade level.  This course would be taught using the same curriculum and material as our Senior High courses, so that Senior High credit could be obtained.

Our Foreign language department is very supportive and excited about this opportunity. However, we need to revise Board Policy 5208 in order to do this.  Policy 5208 only allows Senior High credit to be given to 8th graders in the area of mathematics.  NDE's Rule 10 allows this in any subject area, as long as the Board approves it.

The Policy Committee has reviewed this policy change and discussed the benefits of this additional course offering at the Junior High.  They are recommending that the policy revision is approved.

Rationale:  This policy has been revised to eliminate its reference to the "Committee on Curriculum and Americanism" - replacing that term with "Committee on  Curriculum."

Rationale:  The 2nd monthly meeting of the Board of Education has been tentatively scheduled for noon on Thursday, June 25, 2020 via Zoom.

The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Monday, July 13, 2020. The Business Meeting will begin at 5:30. 
The meeting will be held at the NPS Central Administration Offices and will be open to the public unless an Executive Session is needed in order to protect the interest of the district or the reputation of an individual.