August 14, 2023 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 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. According to state law, if you wish to comment you must identify yourself, including your address, the name of the organization you represent and the topic that you wish to address. "Public Comment" cards are located at the Media table, in the back of the room.  Please pick up a card and provide the required information, if you plan to speak.  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. Individuals who make false, defamatory,  or slanderous statements during public comments may be held legally liable. Slanderous comments are not protected just because they are made at Board meetings.

We ask all members of the audience to listen respectfully and avoid making distracting noises or comments.  Cheering, booing, and other outward expressions of approval or disapproval are to be avoided.

Rationale: 

The total amount of claims to be approved on the consent agenda for the month of August, 2023 by specific fund are listed below:

General Fund =$723,110.45

Nutrition Services Fund =$322,955.10

Cooperative Fund =$31,370.72

Depreciation Fund =$21,232.25

Special Building Fund =$568,126.31

QCPUF= $553,267.00

Student Fee Fund = $5,991.00

The total amount of claims for the month of July, 2023 in the Activities Fund is listed below:
Activity Fund =$73,460.14

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

Rationale:  Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

• Final shipments of instructional materials and supplies have arrived and have been delivered to the appropriate classrooms.
• All of the district PLC and assessment schedules have been shared and posted with teachers.
• The Teaching and Learning Team spent a full morning with new to the district teachers helping them find access to curriculum, schedules, and online instructional platforms. In-depth instructional model training is forth coming in September.
• I attended administrator days at the end of July where I attended sessions that outlined changes and updates to instruction, assessment, and grant requirements.
• The beginning of the year is full of check-ins and to do check-offs, but it is exciting and fun!

Rationale:  Last week, I met with our district ELL and Special Education teachers as well as our school nurses to kick off our new school year.  Each department reviewed procedures, policies and discussed goals.  Educational Service Unit 8 provided training to our new special education teachers and our paraprofessionals. I will be attending the NASES fall conference on September 14th and 15th.
 
Native American school supplies are available for pick up for our families.  Please contact our Native American Home/School Liaison for more information.
 

Rationale:  In July, many of our District Maintenance staff, building leaders, and I met with Norfolk City Fire Marshal, Sean Lindgren. He presented how fire and safety code applies to our school buildings and how we can work together to ensure a safe learning environment for our students and staff. I also attended Administrator Days in Kearney where I spent a lot of time learning about how new legislation this past year will affect my area of Student Services in the coming year. I shared that information at our August 1st Building Leadership Team meeting. Finally, all new teachers received training on district safety procedures this last week and with the start of school today, we will begin practicing many of those safety procedures with our students. We are looking forward to a safe, productive school year ahead of us.
 

Rationale:  The past two weeks have been busy and exciting!  Our "New to the District" teacher training was Wednesday, August 2nd - Monday, August 7th.  NPS has gained some passionate and knowledgeable new teachers and they are excited to get started.  In addition, we have 14 student teachers with NPS for the first semester of the school year.  Training has been held for our new classified staff, instructional paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, and substitute paraprofessionals.  Positive energy could be felt at the different trainings and workshops. 
 

Rationale:  Various topics, including, but now limited to:
* Accurate Information Sources
* Budget Process and Timeline
* Be Outstanding!

Rationale:  The Finance and Facilities Committee met at Noon today (8-14-2023). The claims for the month of August and activity claims for July were reviewed. Items discussed included:

• Construction Updates (Bel Air, Junior High and Walnut Street)
• The State Auditor's Report
• Temporary Business Office Responsibility Assignments

The next committee meeting will be Monday, September 11th, at Noon. 

Rationale:  All necessary actions are listed separately on the agenda. 

Rationale:  The minutes of the July 10, 2023 School Board meeting are attached. 

Rationale:  None at this time. 

Rationale:  Resignation of Bill Robinson, Associate Superintendent of Business Services, effective August 15, 2023.

Rationale:  Attached are the claims for the month of August, 2023. These claims were reviewed earlier today by our Finance and Facility Committee. There are no conflict statements for this month that will need to be read before voting.

Rationale:  I have taken the necessary steps to become bonded and am prepared to serve as both treasurer and secretary until a Business Manager is hired. 

Rationale:  NDE Nutrition Services just sent out updated pricing requirements for 23-24 meals. The adult meal pricing has been changed from the initial information they had in April.  Therefore, the adult lunch and breakfast prices will need to be amended from what was approved at the May 8th meeting.  The new prices are listed below:

Adult Lunch $4.60
Adult Breakfast $2.75

All other meal prices approved at the May 8th Board meeting are accurate.
 

Rationale:  Parking for Board meetings, professional development meetings, and other large activities has become increasingly difficult due to the loss of the parking lot to the Northwest of this building.  We have negotiated a very fair price for this empty lot, which could provide us with 16-20 additional parking stalls.

Rationale:  We have around 100 hotspots that were used during the Covid 20/21 school year. They are no longer used, they are outdated technology, and are taking up storage space. I am requesting permission to recycle/dispose of those.

Rationale: 

These policies have been revised based upon recent changes to state law. The revisions were drafted by our school attorney. No changes have been made since their first reading last month.

Rationale: 

This is a new policy written to ensure that we meet the requirements set forth in LB 298.  This new law requires us to collect information regarding the number of students who are tested for a reading disability and/or dyslexia.  It also requires us to monitor and report how many of those students show growth in the area of reading.  No changes have been made to this policy since the first reading last month.

Rationale: 

This is a new policy written to ensure that we meet the requirements set forth in Nebraska State Statutes 79-3201 through 3207.  It requires us to have a "seizure action plan" in place if we have a student with a known seizure disorder. It also requires us to have at least one employee (in every building that has a seizure action plan) who has training in the administration of seizure rescue medication.  No changes have been made to this policy since the first reading last month.

Rationale: 

This is a new policy written to ensure that we meet the requirements set forth in Nebraska Revised Statute 79-11,159 and LB 705.

It requires us to designate one or more behavioral awareness and health points of contact in each school building.  This person must be trained in community service providers and other resources available to students and parents in the area of  behavioral awareness and health.  It also requires all District employees who interact with students to receive at least one hour of behavioral and mental health training with a focus on suicide awareness and prevention annually.

Norfolk Public Schools has identified our school counselors as our behavioral points of contact for every building except Little Panthers Preschool. We do not have a counselor at LPP. The Early Childhood Coordinator is designated as the behavioral point of contact for LPP.

No changes have been made to this policy since the first reading last month.

Rationale: 

This is a new policy specifying that our Board has given permission for the storage, administration and implementation of Naloxone (Narcan) in the event of a suspected opioid overdose or other emergency situations that requires prompt attention.

We do have Narcan available and our school nurses are trained in its storage and implementation. We, of course, hope that Narcan is never needed, but are prepared if it becomes necessary to save someone's life.

No changes ha ve been made to this policy since its first reading last month.

 

Rationale:  This policy has been revised to indicate that we will follow eligibility criteria set by Policy 5004, NSAA and state law (per our attorney's suggestion).
It has also been revised to indicate that participation in sports will be based upon a students' biological sex at birth (per the Policy Committee's request).

No changes have been made since this policy's first reading last month.

Rationale:  The 2nd monthly meeting of the Board of Education has been moved to Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at 9:00 AM at the NPS Central Administration Offices for a Budget Workshop. 

The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Monday, September 11, 2023. There will not be a Study Session. A Budget and Tax hearing will begin at 5:30 PM with the regular business meeting to follow.  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.