December 9, 2019 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:  Sixpence - Melissa Jantz
Power of Preschool - Melissa Jantz

Board Visits (including the NASB conference) -- various Board members

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

Rationale:  Woodland Park--Deaf Education Programming

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 December, 2019 by specific fund are listed below for your review.

General Fund = $627,634.80

Nutrition Services Fund =$245,415.74

Cooperative Fund = $6,794.28

Depreciation Fund = $29,797.78

Special Building Fund = $120,715.83

Student Fee Fund = $9,372.66

The total amount of claims for the month of November, 2019 in the Activities Fund are as follows:
Activity Fund =$90,505.40

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

Rationale:  The Teaching and Learning Team has been working with a committee of stakeholders to review our Target-Based Grading pilot.  Our next meeting is scheduled for tomorrow night at 5:30 P.M.

The Teaching and Learning Team has also been working on the development of new courses for the Junior High, which will be discussed further during the Curriculum Report.

This team is also very busy working with various departments across the district to finalize Learning Targets and develop proficiency scales.

Rationale: 

School dismisses for winter vacation on Friday, December 20.  This will mark the end of our first semester for the 2019-2020 school year.  Teachers return for second semester on Thursday, January 2nd and students return on Monday, January 6th.

Unified Bowling are district champs again this year.  Today, December 9 they competed at the state tournament.  

I encourage the Board of Education and the Norfolk community to access our website  http://www.norfolkpublicschools.org and check out the many school activities that may be of interest to you and we hope to see you at those you can attend.

Rationale: 

Upcoming Staff Development:

• Our next staff development day is Friday, January 3, 2020. All certified staff will be at the high school on this day. The day’s agenda will focus on learning more about our district strategic facility plans and increasing educator effectiveness in areas such as: assessment, blended learning, behavior management, utilizing MAPS data, Instructional Model components (closure), and effective P/T conferences.

• High quality staff development is essential to increasing teacher effectiveness and maximizing student learning and engagement.  

• Thursday, January 2, 2020 will be a teacher work day which will allow our staff to collaborate and finalize plans for second semester. 

ESU #8 Winter Workshop: 

• The Winter Workshop (a collaborative staff development day with a multitude of area schools) will be held at Norfolk Senior High School on Monday, January 20, 2020.

• The keynote presentation for the 2020 Winter Workshop will be Rachel’s Challenge. For more information on the Winter Workshop, please go to: esu8winterworkshop.weebly.com. 

• On Monday, January 20, 2020 NPS will also be hosting a Rachel’s Challenge student/parent event at the Johnny Carson Theatre beginning at 7:00 p.m. This event is free to the public and students (grades 5-12) and parents from the Norfolk area are encouraged to attend.  

• For more information about Rachel’s Challenge, please go to: https://rachelschallenge.org/

Personnel Update:

Current Openings:

• Activity Bus Drivers

• Aftershock Club Facilitators

• Assistant to the Associate Superintendent of Business Services

• Bel Air Elementary: Special Education Paraprofessional (High Needs)

• Junior High: Special Education Paraprofessional

• Norfolk Senior High School Registrar/Assistant Principal Secretary

• Little Panthers Preschool:  Special Education Paraprofessional/Driver

• Junior High:  Media/ELL Paraprofessional

• Washington Elementary: Classroom Paraprofessional

• Speech/Language Pathologist (Part/Full-Time)

• Substitute Custodians

• Substitute Deaf Ed. Interpreters

• Substitute Paraprofessionals

• Substitute Teachers

Current Coaching Openings:

• HS Assistant Boys Soccer

• IM Football

Rationale: 

Target-Based Grading:

The first meeting of the Ad-Hoc Committee related to Target-Based Grading was held on November 19th. Approximately 45 teachers, parents, students, and administrators participated.  Small group discussions were held on the topics of Homework, Conversion Scales, Implementation Timeline, Transcripts/GPA/Scholarships, and Reassessment. Each of these groups completed a SWOT analysis on their topic and made recommendations for the large group to consider. 

After each small group shared their SWOT analysis and recommendations, it was decided that a separate subcommittee would begin working on a conversion scale, while the large group moved forward with the other topics, starting with homework and the implementation timeline.

I was encouraged by the collaborative spirit of this group and look forward to bringing you their recommendations at a future Board meeting.  Our next meeting is scheduled for tomorrow evening.
 

Holiday Social:

The Board and Administration Holiday Social has been scheduled for December 19th from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. This is a social event. No board business will be discussed.

Rationale:  The committee met at 12:00 today.  The claims for the month of December and Activity claims for November were reviewed. Workers compensation  renewal information for 19-20 was shared as well as review of the 20-21 negotiated agreement.  The following facility items were discussed as well:

• Update on closing out the pre-school building with the general contractor
• Proposed timelines on the paving of parking at Sr. High, Jefferson and Washington
• HVAC timeline for Jefferson and Jr. High
• Details on the RFP for architectural services
• Discussion on proposed timeline for QCPUF bonds and projects associated with it

The next regular meeting will be on Monday January 13th at 12:00 noon. 

Rationale: 

The Policy Committee met on November 19th to review the new Director of Student Services and Safety Policy (2226) and the resulting changes to  Administration Policies 2222, 2223, 2224, and 2225 Responsibilities of the new Director of Student Services and Safety position were removed from other director policies and included in the new Director of Student Services and Safety policy (Policy 2226).  Some language was revised in these policies so they all share the same wording.

 We are also recommending that the current Director of Student Services position title (Policy 2225) be changed to Director of Student Programs.

Wording in Policy 2220 (Central Administrative Staff) was revised to include Director of Student Services and Safety and to change Director of Student Services to Director of Student Programs.

One change has been made since first reading to Policy 3540 to remove the phrase "from time to time."   No changes have been made since first reading to Board Policies 3230-3520 and 3550-3580 related to Business Operations. 

The Committee recommends the approval of the First Reading of Policies 2220, 2222-2226 and the approval of the Second Reading of Policies 3230-3580.

Rationale:  The Government Relations committee has not met but did attend the GNSA meeting at the NASB Annual Conference in Omaha on November 21st.  The discussion centered mainly around possible solutions to the property tax issue in front of the legislature.  Open Sky gave a presentation about their analysis of the property tax situation and possible proposed solutions. The Government Relations Committee will begin meeting in January and will respond to issues that arise during the session.  The next GNSA meeting is January 22nd in Lincoln.

Rationale: 

The Curriculum Committee met on November 25th to review several proposed new classes, hear a report on professional development work, receive an update on the January 3rd district professional development day, and discuss the TBG Committee meeting.

Two new junior-high level courses have been developed as business offerings.

Exploring Technology is a combination of two existing classes: Digital Technology and Digital Citizenship. This is an elective course for 7th graders.

Exploring Business is an elective course for 8th graders. Both classes help familiarize students with concepts related to high school business career academy.  Current staff would teach the courses.

The committee recommends board approval of these courses.

The NPS Instructional Coaches have been providing a variety of learning opportunities for teachers such as: MAP data interpretation, assessment work and proficiency scale development, phonics and phonemic awareness assessment and interventions, and higher order thinking questions. Both coaches are participating in Cognitive Coaching and using the model to help teachers.

Planning for the district professional development day on January 3rd is in process. The day will include two morning presentations and opportunities for three break-out sessions in the afternoon. There will be something for everyone.

Committee members who attended the first TBG Committee meeting summarized the discussion on several topics including homework and implementation timeline, which will be the focus of the next meeting.

Rationale: 

American Civics  Committee Meeting Minutes 

Date: _11-25-19_______ 

Time:___1:30 pm______ 

Location: ___NPS Central Office______ 

Members Present: 

Dr. Patti Gubbles-Chairperson, Tammy Day & Bruce Mitchell

Attendees: Beth Nelson, Director of Teaching and Learning, Morgan Centrone, Mickie Mueller 

Notes referencing meeting topics: 

• Start time 1:32 pm

• Committee members are all present. Tammy Day, Bruce Mitchell, Dr. Patti Gubbels, Beth Nelson

• The committee reviewed prior meeting minutes and Tammy Day motioned the approval of meeting minutes, Bruce Mitchell seconded the motion. 

• Beth Nelson reported that the State Department of Education approved Social Studies Standards in November. 

• There was discussion regarding economics and equity as  large themes added into the new standards. 

• Beth Nelson reported that 5th -12th grade Social Studies teachers reviewed the standards and completed the REAL process for prioritizing standards. Administrators will evaluate the ranking and begin the curriculum process with teachers second semester. 

• The Americanism Project/Presentation was reviewed and adopted as a requirement to be met in the Senior High Government class.  Bruce motioned the approval and Tammy seconded the motion. 

• Tammy made a motion to adjourn the meeting @ 1:45pm and Bruce seconded. 

Rationale:  Minutes of the 12-3-2019 Nurses meeting are attached.

Rationale:  Minutes of the 11-11-2019 school board meeting are attached.

Rationale:  None at this time.

Rationale:  None at this time.

Rationale:  Attached are the claims for the month of December, 2019.  These claims were reviewed earlier today by our Finance and Facility Committee.  Also attached are the conflict statements on specific claims that need to be read before voting.

Rationale:  This agreement includes the following changes for the 2020-2021 school year:
* A  base salary of $37,232, which is an increase of $260. It also includes a $550 increase to the Fringe Benefits package, which is necessary due to the increase in our BC/BS premiums. This is a proposed 3.32% total package cost increase.
* An increase in the number of years of experience that we will accept when new teachers enter the district.  Staff that are eligible for placement in the BA +9 column, shall be credited with 6 years of experience and placed on step 7.  Staff that are eligible for placement in the BA +18, BA+27 columns, shall be credited with 7 years of experience and placed on step 8.  Staff that are eligible for placement in the MA , MA + 9, MA + 18, MA +27, MA + 36, MA +45, MA+MA/EDS and PHD columns,  shall be credited with 8 years of experience and placed on step 9.
* The addition of two new columns to the pay schedule:  MA + MA/EDS (if the second masters is approved as a high need area) or Specialists Degree and Doctorate Degree.
* The addition of levels 4-6 on the Extra Duty pay schedule for extra duty in extra duty category #10 for all extra duties.
* The addition of the Middle School to the SCIP Team Extra Duty Compensation.
* The payment of $50 per unused sick day for retiring staff that have been in the district for 15 years or more (maximum accumulation = 75 days).

Rationale:  The proposed 2020-2011 calendar is very similar to our 2019-2020 calendar with one noted exception.  We will have 3 professional development/staff work days before school starts, which means the first day for students will fall on a Thursday.  This extra staff day at the beginning of the year takes the place of the staff day when teachers return from Christmas Break.

Rationale:  Please see the attached document for details.

Rationale:  We would like to seek proposals for architectural services related to the potential projects discussed in the previous item.  Initial concept drawings and cost estimates are needed in order for us to have an educated conversation with our community.

Rationale:  As Dr. Patti Gubbels discussed in her Policy Committee report, the committee recommends the approval of the second and final reading of these policies.

Rationale:  As Dr. Patti Gubbels discussed during her Policy Committee report, the committee recommends the approval of the First Reading of these policies.

Rationale:  As discussed in the Curriculum Committee Report, that committee recommends the addition of a new course at the Junior High for the 2020-2021 school year--Exploring Technology. This course has been written and designed to fit as a precursor to Senior High Career Academies. The curriculum committee reviewed the priority standards and learning targets for this course. No additional staffing is needed. 

Rationale:  As discussed in the Curriculum Committee Report, that committee recommends the addition of a new course at the Junior High for the 2020-2021 school year--Exploring Business. This course has been written and designed to fit as a precursor to Senior High Career Academies. The curriculum committee reviewed the priority standards and learning targets for this course. No additional staffing is needed. 

Rationale:  The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Monday, January 13, 2020. The Study Session will begin at 5:30 and will be followed by the Business Meeting at 6:30. 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.