January 8, 2024 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

1. Call to Order

1.1. Roll Call

1.2. Recognition of Open Meeting Law

1.3. Pledge of Allegiance

2. Organization of Board of Education

2.1. Election of Officers

2.2. By Board policy the Superintendent will chair the election of the President and then the newly elected president will preside over the other elections

2.3. Nominations for Office of President - Vote

2.4. Newly elected president chairs meeting

2.5. Nominations for Office of Vice President - Vote

2.6. Nominations for Office of Secretary - Vote

2.7. Reappointment of Treasurer

By job description, the Business Manager is the Treasurer and recording secretary of the minutes of all meetings for the Board of Education. We recommend that the Treasurer should be reappointed each year when the board recognizes and elects officers. The Board would move to appoint the Business Manager as the treasurer and recording secretary for the Board of Education

2.8. Committee appointments

3. Reports, Communications & Public Participation

3.1. Board accepts public comments

3.2. Studend board member report

4. Approve the consent agenda which includes the minutes and financials

4.1. Approval of Expenditures/Payroll for December 2023

5. Reports from Staff Members and Committees

5.1. Negotiations committee

6. Administrator's written reports: Please review prior to the board meeting

7. Superintendent's comments

Materials Adoption Update

• The district will hold a couple of meetings in the upcoming weeks, which will provide teachers with information about upcoming materials purchases. Or process requires teachers to review and provide input on potential purchases to ensure that the content of the materials is closely aligned to our locally developed curriculum and to ensure that they will be student-friendly. 
• January, 15 at 1:00 teachers will meet to discuss English language arts materials.
• January, 16 at 2:30 teachers will review science materials.

Jr High & Sr. High Building Project

• We will be busy during the month of January working with architects, contractors and support organizations.
• We also have meetings established with the YMCA to discuss progress on their project. 

Legislative Session

• The 2024 legislative session started on Wednesday, January 3rd. This is scheduled to be a 60 day session. 
• Due to Senator Briese's movement to the position of State Treasure, a new legislator will be placed on the education committee. This position will likely be filled by Senator Fred Meyer.
• For approximately the next week, bills will be introduced. Approximately 500-600 new measures will be introduced.
• The Governor will be proposing a legislative plan to reduce property tax. Some have speculated that this plan may include significant changes, such as state sales tax rate increases, taxes on advertising, and automatic levy rollbacks when valuations increase. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Although AI hasn't been around for a long time, it is rapidly influencing the world, including the field of education.
• The administrative team is eager to delve into AI, aiming to better comprehend its potential positive and negative impacts on education.
• This understanding will guide the creation of rules and regulations governing its use in schools.
• Additionally, we will seek information to provide teachers, empowering them to navigate AI in a positive manner.

Special Education Policy 

• Attached to the board packet is an update on our special education policy. This policy will be placed on the February agenda for approval.

8. Business Manager comments

9. Board member comments

10. New Business

10.1. Approve the negotiated agreement with the McCook Education Association for the 2024-2025 school year. 

10.2. Accept resignation from Kathy White, Structured Resource teacher at McCook Elementary

11. Positive Comments

12. Executive session for the purpose of discussing the Superintendent's evaluation

13.  Enter into executive session to discuss negotiations with the McCook Education Association. The reason for the executive session is to protect the public interest during the negotiation process.
NE State Statute: 84-1410
Any public body may hold a closed session by the affirmative vote of a majority of its voting members if a closed session is clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual and if such individual has not requested a public meeting. 
 

14. Adjournment

15. Items for Review