June 9, 2025 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:  Nebraska State Statute 79-533 requires that school boards review their parental involvement policies and hold a public hearing regarding these policies annually. 

The Norfolk Public Schools' Board Policy 6400 contains all requirements of this statute, including:

(1) How the school district will provide access to parents concerning textbooks, tests, and other curriculum materials used in the school district;

(2) How the school district will handle requests by parents to attend and monitor courses, assemblies, counseling sessions, and other instructional activities;

(3) Under what circumstances parents may ask that their children be excused from testing, classroom instruction, and other school experiences the parents may find objectionable;

(4) How the school district will provide access to records of students;

(5) What the school district's testing policy will be; and

(6) How the school district participates in surveys of students and the right of parents to remove their children from such surveys.

Changes may be necessary to this policy as a result of legislation.  If that is the case, it is possible that an additional Parent Involvement Hearing may be necessary.

At this point, I will open this hearing for public input regarding our Parent Involvement Policy. There will be a separate Public Comment section later in the meeting for audience members who wish to comment on other topics.

<<PAUSE FOR PUBLIC INPUT>>

That concludes our public hearing. However, I would like to note that additional parental rights specific to Title I of the Every Student Succeeds Act are outlined in Board Policy 6410. 

Rationale:  Strategic Planning Presentations
* Safety
* Staff Recruitment and Retention

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.

Additional procedural guidelines are available at the media table.

Rationale: 

The total amount of claims to be approved on the consent agenda by specific fund are listed below:

General Fund = $292,281.77

Nutrition Fund = $760.99

Cooperative Fund = $525.22

Subsidiary Fund = $32,171.72

Depreciation Fund = $228,295.83

Special Building Fund = $5,089.02

Senior High Activity Fund = $36,131.88

Junior High Activity Fund = $912.33

Student Fee Fund = $1,148.00

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

Rationale:  As we begin the summer months my office is working on a few tasks.  First, we spend time reviewing state assessment information to ensure everything is accurate.  I completed the first round of this data review during the last week of May.  I will continue this process throughout the summer in accordance with the NDE’s deadlines.  Second, we are working with the maintenance department to get all new curriculum resources to the buildings for next school year.  Our executive assistant, Stephanie Chandler does a great job with this task.  Third, some groups of teachers have requested time this summer to work on curriculum and assessments.  Our instructional coaches schedule this time and work these groups throughout the summer. 

Rationale: 

Summer school is being held June 2 through June 20, 2025. The following schools host the special education classes: Bel Air Elementary for K-4 LIFE students and Lincoln Montessori K-4.

Education is an honorable profession of passion. Passion for student success, passion for content, passion for learning, and the passion to make a difference. I am thankful for my time in education. I have always loved my career and the opportunities it provided for me to grow as a person. Norfolk Public Schools has been good to me and my family.  Both our kids graduated and went on to be successful in college and now in their professional careers. Jake and I were allowed opportunities to grow professionally as employees of the district. Norfolk Public will always hold a special place in our hearts. Thank you for the opportunities and memories, Norfolk Public Schools.

Rationale: 

• Summer school has started at all levels across the district.  End date for everyone will be June 20.  

• The state legislature has concluded, which means revisions to student handbooks are being made.  You will see them on the agenda for next month.  

• Our PK-4 Admin Team along with some selected staff members will meet with the Nebraska MTSS/PBIS Team on June 12 to review Tier 2 interventions and learn more about implementing Tier 3 interventions for students.  Our MS, JH, and HS Admin Team along with selected staff members will meet with the same Nebraska MTSS/PBIS Team on June 16 to cover identical topics.  This is all part of the State Personnel Development Grant or SPDG funds. 

Rationale:  Currently we are looking to hire a variety of classified staff for the 2025-2026 school year, including paraprofessionals in the classroom, special education, ELL, the Achievement Center and media.  In addition, we are seeking applications for a secretary, campus security, a Spanish interpreter and custodians.  There are positions available at all levels, PK-12.  Candidates can apply for these positions on our website.  NPS is hosting a Job Fair at Central Office on June 19 from 4:00 - 6:00 PM.  Interested candidates can come talk to building principals about their open positions and apply on site or online.  Those positions are currently posted on our website.  I encourage you to spread the word about the NPS openings!

Rationale:  Staff Exit Report
 

Rationale:  The Facilities & Finance Committee met earlier today. Board members in attendance included:

The committee reviewed claims, financial reports, and ongoing construction projects. They also discussed matters related to the transition of the new Superintendent. Additional topics included the 25/26 budget and proceeds from the District garage sale.

Rationale: 

The Policy Committee met Thursday, June 5, 2025.. Board Committee Members present included Tom Stanton, Dr. Patti Gubbels, and Cindy Booth. NPS Staff Present included: Erik Wilson, Dr. Jami Jo Thomposn, Chuck Hughes, and Callan Collins.

1. The Committee reviewed the 6 policies that must be reviewed annually according to state statutes.  No changes were recommended to Policies 5008 related to Attendance, 5415 related to Anti- bullying, 5417 related to School wellness,or  6370 related to Multicultural education.  Changes were recommended to Policy 5101 related to student discipline and 6400 related to parental involvement. Those policies will be discussed in the next section.

2. We received a large section of policy updates from our attorneys based upon the recent legislative session and other federal law changes:

• 1200--Anti-harassment policy - Revised

  • Added "military" as a protected class

• 3131--Procurement Plan - Revised

  • Minor language changes due to changes in federal regulations governing grants and federal audit requirements

• 3410--Safe Driving Record Policy - Revised

  • Clarified that Rule 91 requires physical exam for drivers of small vehicles when driving routes but not when driving for activities

  • The length of satisfactory driving record was also adjusted to 7 years per our attorney’s recommendation.

• 4003 --Employee Antidiscrimination - Revised

  • Added "military" as a protected class

• 4009 --Drug Use - Revised

  • Changes in the reporting process were made due to changes in federal driving requirements.

• 5001--Admission Requirements - Revised

  • New state law requires schools to ensure that military children get preliminary admission-even if they are on an IEP.

• 5004--Part Time Enrollment - Revised

  • New state law allows non-public students to participate in public school extracurricular activities if they take 5 credit hours during the semester they participate in the activity.

• 5201--Promotion & Retention - Revised

  • The only change is the legal reference or source notation.

• 5202z--Notification of Rights Under FERPA - Revised

  • Multiple changes were made to this notice due to new guidance from the U.S. Department of Education.

• 5301--Assn Activities - Revised

  • Updated to include language in from the new state statute regarding participation in sports.

• 5401--Equal Opportunity - Revised

  • Adds "military" as a protected class

  • 5414--Identification of Gifted - Revised

    • Updated to reflect model policy from attorneys; specific details regarding identification are now contained in Administrative Rule.

  • 6400--Parent Involvement - Revised

    • Revised to include two years’ worth of legislative changes, including new survey notification requirements.

• 5101--Student Discipline Policy - Revised

• Updated to include Dress Code requirements in new state statue.

• Also updated to include sections that were previously contained in Administrative Rule.  They include:

• Grounds for Short-Term Suspension, Long-Term Suspension, Expulsion, or Mandatory Reassignment

• Additional Student Conduct Expectations and Grounds for Discipline

• Academic Integrity

• Law Violations

 

3. Our attorney also recommended that we rescind some policies. Those policies include:

• 1211 - Title IX - Procedure for Complaints of Sexual Harassment

• This will  become an Administrative Rule, per our attorneys recommendations.

• 6410 - Combined District and School Title I Parent and Family Engagement Policy - 

• NDE has recommended that schools utilize a template that is more specific, rather than have a generic policy.

 

4. NEW policies recommended by our attorney include:

• 5507-related to Student Transportation for Foster Care Students

  • There has been an issue with this during NDE audits, making a policy a good idea.

• 6931 related to Behavioral Intervention and Classroom Management 

  • This is a lengthy policy  required by new state statute and modeled after the "model policy" provided by NDE.  

• 6113 - Electronic Communication Devices and Cell Phones - NEW

  • The committee reviewed recommendations from principals, survey data, sample policies from other districts, a summary of The Anxious Generation, and guidance from Perry Law Firm in order to develop this new state required policy.

  • Given the limited timeframe, the Committee wanted to stay close to the current practices (outlined in our student handbooks) for this year, allowing us to study the topic further and consider the possibility of more comprehensive updates next year. 

  • Current updates include a pilot change at the Junior High, as the staff and administration expressed interest in implementing large changes this year. The committee plans to gather ongoing feedback from Principal Viergutz throughout the year. Much smaller changes will be implemented at the Senior High, allowing more time for research, as well as stakeholder input and discussion. 

 

5. Additional Policy Changes

• 5423 - Student Searches and Handheld Devices - NEW

• The Junior and Senior High Administration have been using handheld wands to conduct searches of students in limited situations with verbal permission from parents.  This policy will memorialize when and how this can be done moving forward.

• Policy 5103--Tribal Regalia  was Rescinded, because the same language is now in the dress code section of policy 5101.

 

6. Due to our need to finalize these policies in time to get them into staff and student handbooks. Their second reading will be held at our second meeting of the month, on June 23, 2025. 

 

7. At this point, we are not planning to meet again until Fall.

Rationale: 

The Government Relations Committee met on May 13, 2025 to prepare for a zoom meeting with Congressman Flood to discuss President Trump’s Budget Proposal.  Board Committee Members Brenda Carhart, Dr. Patti Gubbels, and Tom Stanton were present.  NPS Staff members Erik Wilson, Dr. Jami Jo Thompson, and Tiffany Settles were also present. 

Dr. Thompson shared a draft handout with the group that outlined concerns regarding potential Head Start, English Language Program, Migrant Education Program and Preschool Development Program Grant Funding Cuts.  Local, state and federal statistics were included regarding the importance of Head Start and the impact that it has on our community. Head Start serves 5120 children in Nebraska, including 106 children in Norfolk and 60 children at Little Panthers Preschool. If Head Start funding is cut, NPS would lose $240,000 per year and we would be forced to cut some of our early childhood services.

The Committee met with Congressman Flood via Zoom on May 23, 2025. Board Committee Members Dr. Patti Gubbels and Tom Stanton were present.  NPS Staff members Dr. Jami Jo Thompson, and Melissa Jantz were also present.  Committee members shared their concerns, research, and statistics with the Congressman and the Congressman indicated that he supported Head Start. 

On May 29, 2025 Senator Deb Fischer attended the Chamber Action Council. Dr. Jami Jo Thompson shared the same concerns and research with her. Senator Fischer also indicated that she supported Head Start. 

The Government Relations Committee also communicated frequently over the course of the last month via email regarding state legislation. Bills and amendments were watched closely and Dr. Thompson communicated with Senator Dover frequently regarding concerns. 

At this point, the Committee does not plan to meet again until the legislative session starts again in January.

Rationale:  At the Norfolk Public Schools Foundation meeting on May 19th, the board received updates on scholarship awards, totaling more than $81,000 for students and $3,000 for teachers. They also celebrated their largest Big Give fundraiser by raising over $4,000 to date to support an inclusive playground at Bel Air Elementary. The board discussed plans for the upcoming Staff Campaign and Traditions fundraising event. Committee updates included efforts to revise the Gift Acceptance Policy and the approval to establish a temporary committee to help develop policies for the NPS Hall of Fame.

Rationale:  Minutes from the meeting on May 22nd, 2025 are attached for review. 

Rationale: 

Goodrich, Theresa

• 2025-2026 Special Education Co-Teacher, Norfolk Senior High School

• Bachelor’s Degree to be completed 5/2026, Special Education, Chadron State College, Chadron, NE

• 8/2011-present,Special Education Paraprofessional, Norfolk Public Schools, Norfolk, NE

 

Rationale:  Attached are the claims. These claims were reviewed earlier by our Finance and Facilities Committee. 

There is one conflict statement this month that will need to be read before voting. 

Rationale:  We have been struggling to find SPED route bus drivers for the last few years. I have presented a pay incentive to encourage Para's to commit to being part of a bus route team. The incentive would tie $3 per hour to a route that would be split between either a 2 person team or 3 person team. This idea was shared with current staff and did receive positive response. So I am requesting to add the red word parts to our 25-26 classified hourly pay schedule. It also includes an incentive for those who are willing to get their CDL and drive a CDL bus. This information has been discussed with the Finance and Facilities Committee.

Rationale:  We have had a retirement within our maintenance team and have an open maintenance transportation coordinator position. As we said with all open positions, we would evaluate them and see if there were areas of consolidation to help our budget deficit. My team and I feel we can combine our SPED transportation coordinator and our maintenance transportation coordinator position, into one position and have a district transportation coordinator. Combining these positions would save the district approximately $55,000 a year. I am requesting approval from the Board to add this position to our Classified Salary Pay Structure for 25-26. This information has been discussed with the Finance and Facilites Committee.

Rationale:  It is the time of the year where we need to set our meal prices for 2025-26 school year. The Federal Government Supply Chain Allowance was discontinued at the end of 23/24 school year. This is a loss of over $100,000 in our Nutrition Fund. I have run the projects for next year with LSI and if our meal counts remain consistent to what they have been in the past. We need to raise meal prices $0.30 in order to break even next year and make up for the Supply Chain Allowance loss. Reduced meal prices will remain the same or be set at the state approved price if that changes.  Meal prices comparison to this year is.
PK-6 lunch
2024/25 full price $3.25 and reduced price $0.40 
2025/26 full price $3.55 and reduced price $0.40
 
7-12 lunch
2024/25 full price $3.35 reduced price $0.40
2025/26 full price $3.65 reduced price $0.40

PK-12 breakfast
2024/25 full price  $1.75  reduced price $0.30
2025/26 full price $2.05 reduced price $0.30

 

Rationale:  Nebraska state statutes require school boards to review these policies annually. The Policy Committee reviewed each of these policies and recommends that they are reaffirmed without any changes.

Rationale:  The senior high and junior high principals have handheld metal detectors that have been used with students who were placed on safety plans. These handheld wands can also be used to detect hidden vapes.  Although principals have always obtained parental permission prior to utilizing handheld wands, it would be advantageous for us to have an official policy outlining when and how they can be utilized. Therefore, we contacted our attorneys and asked them to draft this policy for your consideration.   

Rationale:  Audits conducted by the Nebraska Department of Education include requests for information about the district's foster care transportation. The Every Student Succeeds Act only requires a school district to have "procedures" (which do not require Board approval). However, given the confusion that this issue has been causing for school districts, our attorney has recommended that we adopt a formal policy on this topic. 

In most cases, transportation for foster care students is provided by the foster care parents or a school's regular bus routes. However, in some instances we need to work with DHHS and the foster family to develop a different plan.  If the student can not be transported by the district without our incurring additional expenses, then HSS covers those additional costs.

Rationale:  The Policy Committee considered the following sources of information prior to drafting this Electronic Communication Devices Policy, which is required by LB 140:
* survey data from students, parents and teachers
* policies and feedback from other schools
* information from The Anxious Generation
* the draft policy provided by The Perry Law Firm
* recommendations from district principals
* other independent research

As stated earlier by Mr. Stanton, the Policy Committee wanted to get more stakeholder feedback and conduct more research before making large-scale changes--such as a full cell phone ban at the senior high.  
Therefore, they are recommending the following:
 

Elementary:

Usage allowed at the end of the day once students have exited the building.  Otherwise, devices are kept in their book bags and turned off throughout the entire school day. 

 

Middle School:

Usage allowed at the end of the day once students have exited the building. Otherwise, devices are kept in their lockers and turned off throughout the entire school day. 

 

Junior High:

Usage allowed before 8:00 A.M. and after 3:25 P.M. Otherwise, devices are kept in their lockers and turned off throughout the entire school day. 

 

Senior High:

Usage allowed before and after school, during passing periods, and during lunch. Devices will be silenced and stored in a school-issued holder during the entire class period.  

Consequences for not following cell phone rules are still being finalized. These will be placed in the Code of Conduct, which is contained in the Student Handbooks. The Board will approve those in July.

 

Rationale:  Two years ago, the Legislature passed LB 1329 which required each school to adopt a policy on "behavioral intervention, behavioral management, classroom management, and removal of a student from a classroom."  The Legislature directed the State Board of Education to develop a model policy reflecting those requirements and each school to adopt a policy consistent with or comparable to the model policy by August 1, 2025. This policy is now a state accreditation requirement.

Thanks to our hard work implementing MTSS and PBIS we are able to say that we meet the requirements of this policy and statute, minus some additional parent meetings and reporting/documentation that we will need to start this year. 

Rationale: 

• 1200 - Anti-harassment policy

• 3131 - Procurement Plan

• 3410 - Safe Driving Record Policy

• 4003 - Employee Anti discrimination

• 4003a - Notice of Nondiscrimination

• 4003b - Complaint form - Discrimination, harassment or retaliation

• 4009 - Drug Use

• 5001 - Admission Requirements

• 5004 - Part Time Enrollment

• 5101 - Student Discipline Policy

• 5201 - Promotion & Retention

• 5202z - Notification of Rights Under FERPA

• 5301 - Assn Activities

• 5401 - Equal Opportunity

• 5401z - Complaint form - Discrimination, harassment or retaliation

• 5414 - Identification of Gifted

• 6400 - Parent Involvement

 

Rationale:  Our attorney has recommended that we rescind Board Policy 1211 - Title IX Procedure for Complaints of Sexual Harassment and replace it with procedures (Admin Rule) that can be changed more quickly, as Title IX regulations have been undergoing frequent changes. 

Our attorney has also recommended that we rescind Board Policy 6410 - Combined District and School Title I Parent and Family Engagement Policy because the US Department of Education informed NDE that Title I involvement policies need to be more specifically tailored to each school, instead of incorporated as a general policy.  In return, NDE has recommended that schools rescind their Title I Involvement Policy and instead complete the Title I involvement template available on their website, which is much more detailed.

We can also rescind Board Policy 5103--Tribal Regalia, because we now have a Dress Code contained within board Policy 5101. All of the language that was in Board Policy 5103 regarding tribal regalia has been incorporated into that policy. 

Rationale: 

The 2nd monthly meeting of the Board of Education is scheduled for Monday, June 23rd, 2025 at Noon. 

The following regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Monday, July 14th, 2025 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.