April 12, 2021 at 5:30 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale:  April 7, 2021

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 posted in the board room for your review. A copy of the agenda is available at the desk of the recording secretary.
 

Rationale:  Please stand and join us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

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 April, 2021 by specific fund are listed below:

General Fund = $468,355.21

Nutrition Services Fund =$280,948.45

Cooperative Fund = $7,017.56

Special Building Fund = $193,137.57

QCPUF = $271,456.07

Student Fee Fund = $1,251.56

The total amount of claims for the month of March, 2021 in the Activities Fund is listed below:
Activity Fund =$98,633.65

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

Rationale:  Remote Learning:
There is no new information to report on remote learning. The Teaching and Learning Team has continued to work diligently to see through details for the remainder of the school year as well as included remote learners in spring testing where appropriate.

Curriculum and Assessment:
This time of the year is considered testing season. We are in the middle of the statewide NSCAS testing window for grades 3-8^th grade. NDE has informed us that there will be reports on the spring 2021 test but results will not be reported alongside other non-pandemic school years due to possible testing irregularities with attendance and in session education. The NSCAS testing window remains open until April 30^th.  The Senior High completed the state required ACT test on April 6^th and will hold the makeup session on April 20^th.  Senior High has also completed the PreACT spring test session for 9^th and 10^th graders.
We have managed to conduct a couple of successful curriculum program pilots this year. We are just finishing 8^th grade and 4^th grade Social Studies.  Those particular grades were of highest need and gained our focus. We managed a K-2 Science pilot last fall. There is an aggressive plan for addressing other grade levels for Social Studies and other content areas where curricular programs are expiring.

Rationale: 

ELL-  Our students have completed the ELPA summative assessment. We anticipate that results should be returned before the end of the year.

Nurses- On March 31, the Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department provided the first round of the COVID vaccination to Norfolk Public staff that chose to receive it. The second round will be provided on April 21, 2021.

Special Education- I will attend the NASES spring conference in Kearney, April 29 and 30. The focus of the conference will be Leading for Inclusion. District special education staff will meet virtually on April 28 during PLC.

MTSS leadership team met with state facilitators Jane Byers and Casey Jo Hurner.  We reviewed the district decision-making rules and talked about our next steps.  

PBIS follow up training will happen virtually for our building teams and administrators in June.

Rationale: 

Reminder that Kindergarten Round up will be held on April 28th at our neighborhood elementary schools. This is an important event for soon to be new Panthers. There will be activities for students and information provided to parents about Norfolk Public Schools at the event. 

Also some other important upcoming events at NPS would be that our Junior and Senior students will be getting an opportunity to have Prom on May 1st with Coronation at 7:30pm and a dance to follow. Thanks to all our senior parents and community partners who have made it possible for these students to also have a Post Prom that evening as well. The other big event we want to make sure gets on your calendars is we will be hosting our graduation ceremony on May 16th at 2pm in the Senior High Gymnasium. 

On the safety side of things, members of our District Safety team were able to attend a 2 day virtual NDE sponsored Emergency Operations Planning conference where we were able to update our EOP. This was quality training that allowed us to develop plans with local fire, police and emergency management services, to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations within our schools or community. Our team will be finalizing that plan over the summer and bringing the completed EOP to the Board for review.

Rationale: 

HR Update:

Hiring season is getting closer to being complete, but we still have several positions that we need to fill.  Our administrators and their interview teams have been busy interviewing and hiring throughout the last few months.  They have selected high quality candidates who will be a great fit for our district.  

All NPS certified staff will participate in a Professional Development day on April 23.  This day will be focused on resetting and transitioning into the 2021-2022 school year.  PLCs will again become a collaborative time for our teachers to focus on curriculum.  In addition, staff will have team building activities built into their day.

Job Postings Update:

Administrative Position

• Assistant Principal - Middle School (Elementary Administrative Degree)

Certified Positions (‘21-’22):

• Psychologist
• Contracted Occupational Therapist  (Part-Time)
• Reading Teacher (0.5 FTE), Bel Air Elementary
• Vocal Music Teacher (0.4 FTE)-Junior High
• Special Education Teacher, Junior High
• Spanish Teacher, Senior High
• Art Teacher (0.5 FTE), Senior High

Classified Openings: 

• Communications Director
• Special Education Para - Jefferson Elementary
• Aftershock - Club Facilitators (Part-time)
• Building Custodian (Full-Time) - Woodland Park
• Night Custodians - Senior High
• Seasonal Yard Care Worker
• General Maintenance Worker-Full-Time
• School Bus Activity Drivers 
• Evening Custodians (Part-Time)
• Electrician (Part-Time) - Maintenance
• Substitutes - Deaf Education/Sign Language Interpreter 
• Substitute:  Paraprofessional, Health Tech, Secretary & Nurse
• Substitute Custodians

Coaching Opportunities (‘21-’22):

• SH Head Girls Track & Field
• SH Weight Room Coordinator
• SH Assistant Boys Basketball (2)
• SH Assistant Track & Field
• SH Technical Theater - Assistant Theater
• SH Assistant Swimming - Diving Coach
• JH Head 7th Grade Football
• JH Assistant 7th Grade Football
• JH Head Intramural Football
• JH Assistant 8th Grade Girls Track

Rationale:  See attached report

Rationale:  The committee met at 12:00 today.  The claims for the month of April and Activity claims for March were reviewed.  The committee discussed contract awards for Grant and Lincoln as well as the Copy and Print contract award. Updates were provided on current facility projects in the district.  Also discussed was an NRD grant for playground equipment the district has applied for and new maintenance/custodial leadership at Grant, Woodland Park, and Sr. High due to retirements.  The next meeting will be Monday May 10th at 12:00 noon.

Rationale: 

The Government Relations Committee met on 3-17-2021, 3-24-2021, and 3-31-2021 to discuss bills that have significance for NPS.  The following actions were taken as a result:

• Dr. Thompson visited with Senator Flood regarding each of these bills, discussing pros/cons and possible amendments.

• Sandy Wolfe sent a letter to all Senators regarding the burden that LB 644 would place on local school districts, including the requirement for NPS to hold a joint hearing with City, County, and other local entities and to send postcards to all patrons of the district to notify them of our tax asking each year...which is already published on our website and in the Norfolk Daily News.

• Tammy Day sent an email to all Senators opposing LB 133, which would eliminate all income, property, sales and inheritance tax and replace it with a 10.64% consumption tax.  There is great uncertainty regarding whether this would raise sufficient funds to run state government.  In addition, this bill eliminates TEEOSA and reduces local control, by requiring all school district budgets to be submitted through the ESU.

• Bill Robinson wrote a letter in support of LB 132, which would create a Finance Review Committee to study all aspects of school finance.

• Dr. Thompson wrote a letter to all Senators opposing LB 408, which would place a 3% cap on property tax growth.  As the bill is currently written, it would actually decrease funding for equalized school districts, because actual property tax valuations would be used when calculating state aid--even though the amount of property taxes collected would be reduced.  The effects of this bill on NPS would be a $1.6 million decrease in state aid.

The Government Relation Committee will continue to meet weekly throughout the session to monitor bills and contact Senators when needed.  Committee members also attend GNSA meetings and Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs meetings.

Rationale: 

The Norfolk Public Schools Foundation Board of Directors met on March 15, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. at the NPS Administration Building.  Nine board members were present in person and five board members participated via zoom.    Board President Bobbi Theisen called the meeting to order at 4:32 p.m.

The board reviewed the meeting minutes from February, the financial reports and the IRS 990 tax report prepared for 2020.  Executive Director Sarah Dittmer shared with the board that she had provided the annual report to the NPS Board of Education on 3/8/2021 as required in the foundation’s by-laws.  Strategic Action team members for the Classroom Funding strategic goal gave an update to the board on work they have done in the first quarter of 2021.  Their efforts included looking for donors to support the creation of an endowment to fund NPSF Grants in the future.  This long-term goal intends to raise enough to fund an endowment that will support a baseline amount of foundation grants annually each year and will enable fundraising efforts for  unrestricted funds to support operational expenses, additional grant awards, or projects of greatest need.  The scholarship committee chair informed the board that scholarship selection preparations are underway and that all volunteer positions for the selection teams have been filled.  NPSF is very grateful for these volunteers that share their time and talent with NPSF.

After 11 years of service to the Foundation, Executive Director Sarah Dittmer has given her resignation effective 5/21/2021.  Board members expressed their gratitude to Sarah for her hard work and commitment to the success of the foundation and wished her well in her new job.  The board discussed the hiring process to replace the Executive Director, with an intent to fill the position prior to the end of the school year.

Rationale:  Minutes of the April 7, 2021 Nurses Meeting are attached.

Rationale:  Minutes of the March 8, 2021 and March 25, 2021 school board meetings are attached.

Rationale: 

Bobby Bernt

• 2021-2022, Certified Elementary Media Specialist, Westside Elementary
• Master of Science, Instructional Technology, University of Nebraska, Kearney, NE, 
• 8/2020-present, Title Reading Teacher, Kearney Public Schools, Kearney, NE

Bridgett Knobbe

• 2021-2022, K-4 ELL Teacher, Jefferson Elementary
• Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, SD, will be conferred 5/2021
• 1/2021-present, Student Teacher, 1st Grade, Westside Elementary, Norfolk, NE

Cory Lenton

• 2021-2022, Social Studies Teacher, Senior High
• Bachelor of Arts, Social Studies, Midland University (2012), Fremont, NE
• 2/2018-present, 7-12 Social Studies Teacher, Osmond Community Schools, Osmond, NE

Tatiana Moore

• 2021-2022, Social Studies Teacher, Senior High
• Bachelor of Arts, Social Studies, University of Nebraska, Kearney, NE, to be conferred 5/2021
• 1/2021-present, Full-Time Substitute Teacher, Norfolk Public Schools

Olivia Santiago

• 2021-2022, Special Education Teacher, Senior High
• Bachelor of Arts, Special Education, Wayne State College, Wayne, NE
• 8/2018-present-Elementary Special Education Teacher, Randolph Public Schools, Randolph,NE

Benjamin Sullivan

• 2021-2022, Social Studies Teacher, Senior High
• Bachelor of Arts, American/World History, Morningside College, Sioux City, IA
• 8/2020-present, Substitute Teacher, Crete Public Schools, Crete, NE

Rationale:  McKenna Bender--2nd Grade Teacher at Jefferson Elementary
Kelsey Gubbels--4th Grade Teacher at Westside Elementary

Because these resignations were received after the annual deadline and there are no extenuating circumstances, I am recommending that they are both approved--pending an acceptable replacement, per Board policy.  

Due to the nature of these positions and the number of applicants that we have received for similar positions, we do not anticipate any trouble filling these positions.

Rationale:  Attached are the claims for the month of April, 2021.  These claims were reviewed earlier today by our Finance and Facility Committee.  There are no conflict statements for this month.

Rationale:  When we set our 2021-2022 option enrollment capacities earlier this year, I mentioned that we may want to revisit these at a later date.  Currently, Grades 1-4 and 6 are open to option students.   However, I am now recommending that we also open kindergarten to option enrollment students.  

Currently, we have 262 students enrolled for kindergarten, and our capacity limitation is 310.  More importantly, we only have 26 kindergarten students enrolled at Woodland Park and 28 enrolled at Grant and Westside.  Typically these class sizes are 45-50.

Rationale:  The following General Contractors submitted bids for the Grant elementary addition and renovation project. This project will be funded from our QCPUF, Depreciation, and Special Building Funds  

J.H. Hespe Co. - $1,270,600.00
Perry Reid Construction - $1,279,000.00
RaDec Construction - $1,393,000.00
Dicon Construction - $1,522,000.00

The official Bid Tab is also attached for review, this also includes general contractors who came to the pre-bid meeting and requested bid documents but did not submit an official bid.

 

Rationale:  The following General Contractors submitted bids for the Lincoln elementary addition and renovation project. This project will be funded from our QCPUF, Depreciation, and Special Building Funds.

Otte Construction Company - $1,798,300
J.H. Hespe Company - $1,995,100.00
Lacy Construction Company - $2,175,000.00

The official Bid Tab is also attached for review, this also includes general contractors who came to the pre-bid meeting and requested bid documents but did not submit an official bid. Alternates were also provided for completing additional parking on the north end of the existing staff parking lot.  The district will not pursue accepting of the alternate at this time.


 

Rationale:  The district received the qualifying proposals listed below with monthly lease and copy cost based upon the copy numbers and machines provided in the RFP.  This contract is a 5 year fixed price contract

Capital - $6,867.32 
Eakes - $8,988.96
Marco - $9,383.51



 

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

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

Rationale:  The 2nd monthly meeting of the Board of Education has been tentatively scheduled for noon on Thursday, April 23, 2021.

The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Monday, May 10, 2021. The business meeting will begin at 5:30 PM. All components of these meetings 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.