Rationale:  Welcome to the Technology Interlocal Cooperation Agreement and Bond Measure Resolution Hearing. The purpose of this hearing is to hear comments on proposals by the district to enter into an interlocal cooperative agreement with other school districts and the plan to adopt a bond measure authorizing the interlocal cooperative to issue bonds regarding the financing of information technology up to a principal amount of $100,000.

No action will be taken during the hearing. Any action will be taken during the regular board 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:  Approval of contract for 2013-2014 school year for:

1. Beth Nelson, Director of Teaching and Learning
2. Monica Johnson, Guidance Counselor, Jefferson Elementary and AFS
3. Tommaso Pagano, Grade 3, Woodland Park Elementary
4. Taryn Retzlaff, English/Theatre/Drama, Norfolk High School
5. Andrew Coan, English, Norfolk High School

Rationale: 

Recommend approval of the resignations, effective at the end of the 2012-2013 contract year, for:

1. Jesse Lichtenberg, District School Psychologist
2. Brooke Wenzl, 6th Grade Instructor, Middle School School
3. Diane Wells, Kindergarten Teacher, Bel Air Elementary School  (retire)
4. Sara Montag, Science Instructor, Junior High School
5. Amanda Fenske, 4th Grade Teacher, Bel Air Elementary School
6. Jennifer Bayer, Career/Computer Applications Instructor, Junior High  (retire)
7. Rhonda Collins, Guidance Counselor, High School  (retire)
8. Jerry Cover, Social Science Instructor, High School  (retire)
9. Betty Dudley, Resource Teacher, Washington Elementary School  (retire)
10. Debra Fonder, Art Instructor, High School  (retire)
11. Vauri Henre, English Instructor, High School  (retire)
12. Linda Scranton, English Instructor, Junior High School  (retire)
13. Jane Uzzell, ELL Instructor, Middle School  (retire)
14. Julie Hall, Physical Education Instructor, High School  (retire)
15. Terri Sampson, Science Instructor, High School
16. Aubrey Miller, Math Iinstructor, Junior High
17. T. Elaine Jorgensen, First Grade Teacher, Washington Elementary  (retire)
18. Jennifer Drahota, Principal, Westside and Lincoln/Montesorri Elementary Schools  (retire)
19. Amy Baumgart, Second Grade Teacher, Jefferson Elementary

Rationale:  This item will continue next month.

Rationale:  Bel Air Elementary

Rationale:  Staff Appreciation Day

Rationale:  The total amount of bills approved in the consent agenda for the month of March, 2013 by specific fund are as follows:

General Fund=$388,709.52  Cooperative Fund=$2,547.35  Student Fee Fund=$214.70              Lunch Fund=$81,917.69  Special Building Fund=$126.84  Depreciation Fund=$190.00  Bond=$281,344.37
The Finance and Facility Committee reviewed all claims for this consent agenda. Claims unique to this month were discussed for clarification.  Our district continues to have adequate financial stability as we finish the seventh month of our fiscal year.  Over the past month I have been analyzing all of our funds and started to make some estimates on how we will finish our fiscal year.  This not only prepares our district for developing the 2013-2014 budget but also gives us some starting points on capital expenditures over the next several fiscal years.  State Aide continues to be debated in Lincoln and those discussions have been healthly and productive.  I am personally optimistic about what those numbers may look like for Norfolk for next year but as of now I don't have anything solid to share.  Over the next few months I will be brining forth bids on several items with recommendations on those bids.

Rationale:  3rd, 4th, & 5th Grade Language Arts Materials Purchase

Later in the meeting, we will be seeking your approval for the purchase of the Wonders language arts materials for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade from McGraw Hill Education in the amount of $115,961.71.  The selection process for the Wonders program involved curriculum staff, administrators, and teachers from all grade levels represented.  Two final programs were thoroughly studied with the consensus of all three groups that Wonders was the choice that best positions teachers and students for the future.  

Some of the features of the Wonders program include:

• alignment to the Common Core Standards,
• alignment to the Nebraska State Standards with high Depth of Knowledge questioning emphasized, and
• all student and teacher materials are available in both print and digital formats and can be accessed with multiple technological devices.

Rationale: 

Important Activities this month:

- April 15th - Pre-Contest Concert for NPS 7:00 p.m. 
- April 19th District Music Contest and Boys and Girls Norfolk Invitational Track
- April 20th- Norfolk Baseball Invitational beginning at 10:00
- April 22nd- NPS Tennis Invitational - 8:30 a.m.

Monday, April 22

- Elementary principals and I will be meeting to discuss Boundary Exceptions and enrollments for the 2013-2014 school year.

Wednesday, April 24

- Johnson O’Malley and Title I Indian Education will be sponsoring Mr. Jerome Kills Small as a speaker to our Native American students in grades 5-6 and 7-8. He will be speaking about Alcoholism, Drugs and Suicide, Motivation and Career-seeking in the Native American culture. Teachers and administrators are welcome to attend.

Wednesday, May 1

- Kindergarten Round-up will be held in the morning and the afternoon at each of the elementary schools.

- Loyalty Day Parade - 4:00 downtown

Thursday, May 9

- Johnson O’Malley Awards Banquet - This event recognizes Native American students registered under the Johnson O’Malley guidelines for their academic success, attendance, participation in school activities and grade level completion.

- Our central maintenance staff continues to check, repair and replace items concerned with:

    - HVAC controls 
    - Boiler and chiller needs across the district
    - Roofing 
    - Custodian replacements in several building locations
    - Grounds preparation for spring’s arrival--fertilizer, etc.

Rationale:  The Finance and Facility Committee met at 12:00 noon today at the Central Office Board Room. The committee reviewed all the claims for this months consent agenda and discussed any claims unique to this past month.

Mr. Witte reviewed facility contracts with the City of Norfolk and recent documents received from Heartland Roofing with the committee.  He also gave the committee some updates on recent HVAC activity at the Jr. High building.  The committee reveiwed the bid format for our district's 403(B) plan as well as what the next steps are concerning the 2013-2014 cooperative tech bond.  The committee's next meeting will be on Monday, May 13th at 12:00 noon in the Central Office Board Room.
  

Rationale:  The Activities Committee met on March 25 at noon.

• Mr. Dolliver reviewed his revenues and expenditures for winter activities. 
• Mr. Dolliver also shared updates on current coaching and sponsorship openings the district has, as well as positions that have recently been filled for the 2013-2014 school year.  
• There was a brief update on the Spring Activities season that has started and some upcoming spring events.  
• The next Activities Meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 22.

Rationale:  A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DISTRICT TO CONTINUE ITS PARTICIPATION IN AN interlocal cooperative WITH one or more Nebraska public school districts and/or educational service units; AUTHORIZING SUCH COOPERATIVE to issue bonds on behalf of the District in a principal amount not to exceed $100,000 to finance the cost of any item of hardware or software used by the District in providing for the delivery of information, including the purchasing of upgrades or related improvements to information technology for the operation of libraries operated by the District; DELEGATING THE AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNTS, MATURITY DATES, INTEREST RATES, REDEMPTION PROVISIONS AND OTHER TERMS OF SUCH BONDS; IMPOSING A TAX TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON SUCH BONDS; DESIGNATING THE BONDS AS QUALIFIED TAX-EXEMPT OBLIGATIONS; AUTHORIZING CERTAIN ACTIONS AND DOCUMENTS; PUBLISHING NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE SUCH BONDs; AND PRESCRIBING OTHER MATTERS RELATING THERETO.

Rationale:  The second meeting of the month will be held on Monday, April 29, 2013 at 12:00 noon in the Central Office board room. 

The next regular meeting of the board of education is scheduled for Monday, May 13, 2013. The study session will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the Central Office board room and the regular business meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Norfolk City Council Chambers.