February 25, 2014 at 9:00 AM - SAA Weekly Meeting

Rationale:  1.  2014-15 School Calendar proposal.  I met with teachers this morning to review the proposed 2014-15 calendar.  I will let you know of any concerns at our meeting.  I will be meeting with the planning committee on Thursday evening to get their input before presenting it to the board in March.

2.  Health Savings Account Option (BC/BS):  Sue Warner from Blue Cross/Blue Shield met with Marlene and I to review the new requirements under the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care).  In our meeting, she explained that they have had to make some changes to their plans to make sure they comply with the minimum care provisions of the law.  If you would like her to present this information to your association, we can arrange a Friday afternoon to have her present this option to members of your association.

3.  Staff Requisitions:  We are getting ready to open the new staff requisition/inventory program.  This program will allow teachers to review their requests from the previous year, check current classroom inventory, and build their requests for the 2014-15 school year.  We will provide training for staff at each building prior to beginning this process.

4.  Strategic Plan:  The draft plan is complete and will go to the planning committee of the board for their recommendations prior to being released to district-wide staff.  Due to the fire at Cargill, we have not received their final vote on prioritizing their recommendations.  I will present a draft of the proposed plan to the meeting for your review.

5. Building and Grounds:  I sent you a form to begin managing improvements to your building.  At this time, you only need to identify rooms, hallways, offices, etc... on the list.  You must include every educational space on the form.  Once completed send me your report and I will import it into the filemaker program.  I would like to have these turned in by the Tuesday before spring break.  (March 11th) 

6.  After-School Grant:  The after-school grant has been submitted.  This is a five-year grant to support extended day/extended year programs for students at the elementary and middle school.  We should be notified in April if our grant has been funded.

7.  SIG Application:  The school improvement grant application for the middle school has been submitted.  We should hear by May if this grant has been approved.

8.  Technology Position:  We have advertised and interviewed for the technology position (Kerri Jo).  We made an offer, but the applicant has decided not to accept the position and remain in his current district.  We will reopen the position again to see if we can attract a candidate to begin in the summer or fall.  We are prepared to work through the spring with our current staff and your building lan managers.? 

9.  Certificate Renewal:  NDE has sent out the list of teachers needing to renew their certificates for the 2014-15 school year.  Please remind your colleagues to get this completed as soon as possible to minimize possible problems with their renewal.  They can renew online and pay with a credit card.

10.  Staff Supervision and Evaluation:  Thank you for your work in the first semester to track your classroom observations.  I want you to continue your observation schedules for the second semester.   Remember, January and February are tough months for kids and faculty.  Morale is challenging and it takes great effort for teachers to get kids to produce on a daily basis.  It is also hard work for staff to stay focused and positive, especially with the pressure they feel to perform on the NeSA tests.  In my meeting with teachers this morning, I know they feel the pressure and are aware of the need to stay positive.  We also visited about managing individual and group criticism, as well as individual and group praise.  Both are extremely important in preparing both students and staff to perform their best over the next few months and on our district assessments.  Take some time to consider how you are practicing the two administrative skills of "leadership" and "management" and your impact on your employee and student performance.

11.  Scholastic Magazines:   I forwarded information from Sally on the Scholastic Magazine renewals for 2014-15.  Please work with Sally on this.  

12.  2014 Priority Bills:

• Adams ... LB 438 ... Select File (Change the accountability system for schools and school districts under the Quality Education Accountability Act)
• Ashford ... LB 464 ... Select File (Change court jurisdiction over juveniles and indictment procedures with pending amendments relevant to truancy)
• Brasch ... LB 145 ... Held in Committee (Change valuation of agricultural land and horticultural land)
• Campbell ... LB 887 ... Held in Committee (Adopt the Wellness in Nebraska Act -- Medicaid expansion legislation)
• Conrad ... LB 485 ... Held in Committee (Prohibit discrimination based upon sexual orientation as prescribed)
• Harms ... LB 807 ... Held in Committee (Change provisions relating to provisional operator's permits, interactive wireless communication devices, and occupant protection systems and update references to certain federal provisions)
• Kolowski ... LB 276 ... Held in Committee (Change reimbursement provisions under the Early Intervention Act and require a Medicaid state plan amendment -- relating to MIPS)
• Lautenbaugh ... LB 972 ... Held in Committee (Adopt the Independent Public Schools Act -- charter school legislation)
• McCoy ... LB 670 ... Held in Committee (Change property tax valuations of agricultural land and horticultural land)
• Nordquist ... LB 943 ... Held in Committee (Change the minimum wage rate)
• Scheer ... LB 682 ... General File (Provide for formation of allied school systems as prescribed)
• Smith ... LB 1097 ... Held in Committee (Change individual income tax brackets and rates and corporate income tax rates)
• Sullivan ... LB 1103 ... General File (Provide for a strategic planning process for education)

B.  Committee Priority Bills 

• Education Committee ... LB 725 ... Select File (Change student growth adjustment correction and local effort rate yield under TEEOSA -- lower the LER to $1.03)
• Education Committee ... LB 967 ... Held in Committee (Change provisions relating to state aid to schools and funding for early childhood education programs)
• Retirement Committee ... LB 1042 ... Held in Committee (Provide for repayments by school employees rejoining a retirement system)
• Revenue Committee ... LB 987 ... Held in Committee (Adjust individual income tax brackets for inflation and exempt social security benefits from income taxation)

C.  Speaker Priority Bills -- not yet released