May 13, 2013 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 students with the skills and knowledge to meet the challenges of a complex, global society.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rationale:  Present on Student Fees:
1. Review of money collected in 2012-13.
2. Use of waivers provided for in policy.

This time during the meeting will be opened as a hearing to discuss, consider, and receive input on the student fee policy and the parental involvement policy.  

At this time, if any member of the public wishes to comment or give opinions on a policy, we ask that you identify yourself.  Comments will be taken on each item separately:

1.  Student Fee Policy
2.  Parental Involvement Policy

Rationale:  Norfolk Private Schools Malawi

Rationale:  Approval of contracts for 2013-2014 school year for:

1. Joanna Coolidge, Vocational Programs Teacher, High School
2. Kayleigh Emerson, Grade 2 Teacher, Washington Elementary
3. Heather Gates, Art Instructor, High School
4. Kristin Gotschall, Grade 1 Teacher, Jefferson Elementary
5. Shelby Gutshall, Grade 3 Teacher, Washington Elementary
6. Gregory T. Johnston, Language Arts Instructor, Junior High
7. Jamie London, Special Education Teacher, Washington Elementary
8. Kendra Marshall, Guidance Counselor, High School
9. Patrick Mencke, Kindergarten Teacher, Bel Air Elementary
10. Callan Morin, Grade 4 Teacher, Bel Air Elementary
11. Brian Porn, Social Science Instructor, High School
12. Sean Weterberg, Science Instructor, High School
13. Samantha Bayer, School Psychologist, District
14. Amber Johnson, Science Instructor, Junior High School
15. Stephanie Rodenborg, Science Instructor, High School
16. Jeremy Weidner, Physical Education, High School

Rationale: 

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

1. Cassie Manhart, Science Instructor, High School
2. Brent Jarosz, Business Instructor, High School
3. Jan Hinze, English Instructor,  High School  (retire)
4. Jennifer Judt, Science Teacher, High School
5. Kent Lawson, Social Studies Teacher, High School

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

1. Elisa Rodriques Abella, Spain, Host Family is Cheri Wichman
2. Mareike Luppa, Germany, Host Family is Steve & Heidi McNally

Rationale:  Mary Kuchta, Math Teacher & Math Counts Sponsor at the Junior High, is honored with the Award of Excellence for the Month of May.

Rationale:  "Getting a Head Start: A Lincoln/Montessori Philanthropy Project"

Rationale:  1.  Future Board Meetings at Council Chambers
2.  Assistant Principal for Middle School Process

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

General Fund=$421,038.02
Cooperative Fund=$121,049.27 
Lunch Fund=$89,596.25
Special Building Fund=$30,105.84
QCPUF Fund=$88,031.91
Bond Fund=$433,267.62 
Employee Benefit Fund=$607.54
Student Fee Fund=$2,112.00

The Finance and Facility Committee reviewed all claims for this consent agenda. Claims unique to this month were discussed for clarification. As reported in the claims there is beginning to be activity with our QCPUF Fund.  The BOE last year approved additional bonds in this fund for specific capital improvement projects within the district.  We are currently on schedule with this fund and to have those funds expended on those approved projects over the next two years.  State Aide for schools numbers have not been finalized yet for the 2013-2014 year.  The latest draft on the formula looks positive for our district and I hope to report an official number at the June board meeting.  I want to point out that the education committee which Senator Scheer is a part of did spend a lot of time on TEEOSA during this session.  There was a lot of discussion on equalization and the purpose of state aide, I am hopeful that this will continue in future sessions with an emphasis on equalization.  3rd quarter financial reports will be due in June as well as finalizing purchase orders for 2012-2013 fiscal year.

Rationale: 
Personnel Update

So far this year, the district has seen 17 retirements and 18 resignations.  To date, we have filled 25 of those positions.  Overall we have been very pleased both with the depth and quality of the applicant pool that we are encountering during this year's hiring season.  As an example, we had over 120 applicants for elementary vacancies and over 80 applicants for our social science position.  Other positions have a more limited candidate pool such as speech pathologist, school psychologist, and science.  That being said, we have been very pleased with the quality of the candidates that our principals have been able to hire. 

Over the past two to three years, schools across the state have done limited hiring due to budget concerns.  Likewise, employees who may have retired a year or two ago have held on until they had a higher level of confidence in the market and the economy.  Though we are seeing a higher than usual number of retirements, we are benefiting from the limited hiring that has happened over the past few years which has resulted in the larger candidate pool.

It is never easy to replace experienced staff.  However, based upon what we are seeing, I predict great things from the staff that we are putting into place.

Rationale:  VIII. REPORT D: STUDENT SERVICES 
May 13, 2013

ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT OF STUDENT SERVICES

Norfolk Public Elementary Schools received certificates for their recycling effort with the “Greenfiber Recycling Program.” The efforts of students and families from these schools: Grant, Jefferson, Lincoln, Washington, Westside and Woodland Park resulted in the following outcomes, according to information released by Meghann Buresh, Recycling Coordinator:
- 55.27 tons of paper was recycled
- 937 trees were saved, and
- 833 recycling dollars were earned by the schools

This past month, Grant, Jefferson, Washington, Westside and Woodland Park Elementary Schools completed their Title I “Peer Review” with the State of Nebraska Title I Office. Each of these schools had to submit their “Comprehensive Instructional Plan” for teaching to outside educational review teams. This instructional plan needs to describe how the school uses resources--district, state and federal (NCLB)--in meeting and improving student academic needs in their respective buildings. The review teams evaluate each “instructional plan” according to a designed rubric. I am happy to report that each school has been notified that they may continue as a Schoolwide or Targeted (Woodland Park) Title I program for the next three-year cycle.

2013 summer school activities are nearing the final stages of development. K- 4 elementary buildings will be offering summer reading programs to selected K- 4 students from June 3-June 28. These programs are funded almost entirely by Title I - Part A Reading funds. Norfolk Senior High will be offering classes May 28–July 13 in: American History, Government, Speech and Practical Communications. Credit Recovery classes will be offered in English 9 & 10, Mathematics, Biology and Physical Science. American Literature will be offered as an on-line class.

Our Johnson-O’Malley (JOM) Native American awards banquet was held Thursday, May 9th. This banquet honors our JOM Native American student graduates. Other students are honored for their participation in extra-curricular activities, honor roll and attendance.

Our spring Migrant Parent meeting will be held on Thursday, May 16th at 6:00 p.m. at Washington Elementary School. Parents of our Migrant students have been invited to attend this meeting. Migrant teaching staff will be addressing topics on understanding assessment results and activities parents can do to help keep their children reading over the summer months.

Important Dates to remember:
- May 19th - Graduation
- May 22nd - last day of school - 11:30 a.m. dismissal
- May 23rd - last day for teaching staff

Rationale:  The Facility and Finance Committee met today at 12:00 noon in the central office board room.  The committee had an opportunity to review all claims for April and all the balances in our different funds.  I updated the committee on the informational meetings I have held with our certified and classified staff concerning the new laws associated with the PPACA and its impact on our compensation packages for 2013-2014.  The response from those meetings was positive and our staff appreciated the opportunity to receive information and ask questions.  The committee also started the process of reviewing the vendors who bid for managing the districts 403 (B) plans.  The committee will review the bid information over the next few weeks and will bring a recommendation for awarding a contract to the June 10th BOE meeting.  The committee will also be reviewing bids on milk, bread, pest and sanitation at its June 10th meeting and will make recommendations.  The committee also reviewed some rate information and plan changes with the district Vision Plan that is offered to our employee's. I made a recommendation to move forward with accepting the revised rates and plan over the next two years and the committee agreed with that recommendation.  Our next scheduled meeting will be on June 10th at 12:00 noon in the central office board room.

Rationale:  1. Summer Camp Update
2. Summer Weightlifting
3. NSAA One Act
4. District Music
5. Physicals for 2013-2014
6. Coop Softball

Rationale: 

Rationale: 

A public hearing was held to discuss, consider, and receive input on a proposed Student Fees Policy.  The public was given the opportunity to present information and opinions on the proposed Student Fees Policy.

Rationale:  A public hearing was held to discuss, consider, and receive input on the Parental Involvement Policy.  The public was given the opportunity to present information and opinions on the Parental Involvement Policy.

Rationale:  The second meeting of the month will be held on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 12:00 noon in the Central Office board room. 

The next regular meeting of the board of education is scheduled for Monday, June 10, 2013. The meetings will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the Norfolk City Council Chambers.