July 12, 2021 at 6:30 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

STRIVE  -  COMMIT  -  SUCCEED  -  District Mission Statement

Schuyler Community Schools in partnership with parents, students, and the community is committed to educate students to become skilled, knowledgeable and responsible citizens in a global society - District Vision Statement

Notice of this meeting was given in advance according to State Law 84-1411, by giving notice of the meeting to the public.  Notice of this meeting was also given in advance to all members of the Board of Education

Rationale: 

This meeting has been preceded by advance notice and is hereby declared to be in open session.  A copy of the Open Meetings Act is posted in the front of the meeting room.

Nebraska Open Meetings Act:  http://nitc.nebraska.gov/documents/statutes/NebraskaOpenMeetingsAct_current.pdf

Rationale:  Discuss, Consider and Take Action on the consent agenda

Rationale:  This committee is responsible for recommending approval of building/grounds and transportation programs, vehicle replacement schedule, building and maintenance and upgrade schedule.

Rationale:  This service has worked well for our morning and afternoon routes.  Below is an updated outline of the arrangements and corresponding dates we used last year.
Lonnie’s Trailer Court Bus Service
1.  This is an unsupervised load/unload bus service.
2.  The morning bus route pickup: 18^th and Fort Street at 7:15 AM.
3.  The afternoon bus route drop off: 18^th and Fort Street at 4:15 PM.
4.  Regular bus route rules apply.
5.  Fee (per bus):  $450 per semester ($5 per day/ $1.66 per mile).
6.  First Semester bus payment due:  September 10, 2021.
7.  Second Semester bus payment due:  January 7, 2022.
8.  We will use the same buses that go to Richland Elementary.
 

Rationale:  BE IT RESOLVED by Colfax County School District 19-0123, also known as Schuyler Community Schools, a Class III School District under the laws and statutes of the State of Nebraska, at this meeting of its Board of Education ("School District"), that the School District should and hereby does approve an award to Midwest Glass Service, Inc., as the recommended lowest responsible bidder for the removal, replacement and installation of a new windows at the high school and middle school facilities;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the construction contract with the above contractor, in the form on file with official school district records and as present at this meeting or with such changes as are deemed necessary and in the best interest of the school district and approved by the Board President or Superintendent of Schools, should be and is hereby authorized and approved;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board President, Superintendent of Schools, or a designee for either, should be and is hereby authorized, approved, delegate authority to and is directed to sign, execute, and deliver the construction contract with the above contractor, and any documents or agreements called for in such construction contract, for and on behalf of the School District, to sign and approve any contract amendments, modifications, change orders, and construction change directives, and to retain any necessary professionals for assistance, to pay the construction contract fees, costs and expenses and all transaction costs, change order increases, and expenses related to the construction project and to the site work to be performed and completed, and to take or cause to be taken all other action necessary or appropriate to complete any requirements or obligations under the construction contract.
 

Rationale:  This committee is responsible for recommending the annual district calendar, strategic planning process, technology, and promoting positive public relations and communications program.

Rationale: 

Thank you for being an active member of the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association (NRCSA)!  Your continued membership will help assure NRCSA’s ongoing effort to continue rural community school advocacy.  Thanks to you, NRCSA had 213 member school districts and Educational Service Units in 2020-21 representing almost 85,000 students across 90 counties and 26 legislative districts throughout Nebraska.  We have grown each year for the last nine years, in spite of losing member districts to local reorganization, and we hope to see growth again for 2021-22.

 

Why Remain a Member of NRCSA?

 

 We are the only organization focused on rural community K-12 school districts and their role in Nebraska’s public education system. Depth of membership matters when talking to senators and other officials. Senators view NRCSA as representing all "rural, community districts".  The more members we have, the larger the true number of districts and students represented, the stronger our voice. The common theme for membership is being a rural community school.

 

NRCSA can act as a forum for advancing ideas and concerns, whether legislative, Department, or any entity having a role in public education. This has included representing members to groups such as rural education research groups, rural membership advocacy groups, rural interest groups, collaborative groups, Nebraska Department of Education, and NREA (national) committee participation.

 

NRCSA offers two annual statewide events (Legislative Forum and Spring Conference) which offer

members the chance to learn about issues affecting rural schools, the opportunity to develop professionally, network with personnel representing other districts and interact directly with policymakers and providers as well as NRCSA leaders.  Both events are focused on our rural community schools’ issues and interests.  The Spring Conference is also the event that highlights awards, speakers, scholarships, exhibitors, music groups, many learning and information opportunities, and of course NRCSA food.

 

NRCSA offers recognition to those who demonstrate outstanding leadership and character in rural schools through exceptional scholarship and awards programs.  In 2021, NRCSA awarded sixteen $2,000 scholarships, and eight Outstanding Educator Awards.

 

NRCSA provides, exclusively sent to Superintendents and Board of Education members of member schools, written updates from the Executive Director on current association activities and involvement within the legislative process. In the past the updates have gone only to the Superintendents and Board Presidents.  We have expanded our updates to include all Board of Ed members.   We are requesting the district Superintendent provide board member email contact information, or at least for the Board President, so the NRCSA communications can be sent to a larger audience directly.  We encourage our updates to be used as board meeting information, as well.

 

NRCSA currently offers leadership roles, ten elected and 59 appointed positions, for superintendents of

member districts to be further involved.  Elected opportunities include six NRCSA district (regional) representatives, three presidency cycle offices, and one secretary office as the ten-member Executive Committee.  There are ten appointed members of the Scholarship & Recognition Committee, twenty-two appointed members of the Legislative Committee (including seven ex-officio past NRCSA presidents), twelve appointed members of the Rural Teacher Committee, and fifteen members of the NRCSA Closing the Gap Project Team.

 

NRCSA offers the NRCSA-USbank OneCard program to all school districts and service units statewide as a NRCSA program. The OneCard is a Visa purchase-only card that allows designated personnel to make purchases for the district, thus eliminating the need to carry cash, or for staff to use their personal credit/debit card and go through a reimbursement process.  The Superintendent pre-loads the card and all transactions are clearly identified on the monthly statements.  It is easy, clean, secure, and can be used for any purchase of any size.  NRCSA receives a portion of the interchange income generated by use of the cards.  Seventy-two districts and the NRCSA office use the OneCard.  This income provides critical support for NRCSA scholarships and awards.

 

NRCSA provides elective services such as OneCard Purchase Card, Superintendent Search, Planning

Support, Global Teletherapy (speech, occupational therapy, and behavior/mental health therapy), and Project Fit America Grant (BC/BS NE), to date.  Information regarding these services is provided on the NRCSA website and via emails to member districts and will be included as Facebook information.

 

It is an exciting time for NRCSA and an exciting time to be a member! There are two ways to renew your membership. You may update and return the Superintendent and board member contact information included. Or you may submit an Online Membership Form. Simply go to www.nrcsa.net and click on ‘Membership’ then, select ‘Regular Member’. Click the ‘Complete Membership Form Online’ link and follow the directions. District dues for 2021-22 remain at $850.00, due September 15. Please note that we are asking for the mobile phone numbers of administrators and board presidents, so please share that information with us. Also we would like to know the day and time on which your regular board meeting occurs (ie. second Monday of the month: 7:00 PM).

 

NRCSA is one of forty-three state rural community school organizations belonging to the National Rural Education Association (NREA). As a state affiliate, NRCSA offers discounted individual and school memberships to the NREA. The NREA provides a strong and respected advocacy for rural public education on the national level. 

 

Again, this year, NRCSA is offering a discounted membership in the National Rural Education Association (NREA). NRCSA is one of forty-three state affiliates of the NREA and as such, can offer NRCSA member schools a twenty-five percent discount on NREA memberships. There are two membership options: An individual membership (cost $75.00 per year) and a school district membership (cost $300.00 per year). The individual membership allows a single person to maintain membership in the NREA, while a district membership allows up to seven (7) people (such as board members or other staff) to be listed as members under the school district’s membership. If you would like to join the NREA, as well as NRCSA, simply complete the enclosed registration form and return it to NRCSA along with a check for the cost of membership dues. A separate check must be submitted for NREA dues, made out to NREA. The checks and information collected will be forwarded to the NREA. Joining the NREA is an optional addition to NRCSA membership dues, but we encourage you to join the NREA.

 

Thank you in advance for your continued support of NRCSA and quality education for all students in rural Nebraska.  Your membership and voice toward growing your rural and outstate specific education association is vital to our relationships and our efforts on behalf of your schools, students, and communities.

Rationale:  This committee is responsible for budget, finance, and contract negotiations with administration, certificated staff, and support staff.

Rationale: 
Pekny and Associates have been doing Schuyler Community Schools' annual audit of financial statements, reviewing your schedule of assets, receipts, expenditures, and fund balances.  See attached contract for details included in the annual audit. 

 

Rationale:  Staff Resignations
1.  Maria Oviedo:  Food Service - SES
2.  Danielle Orosco:  Food Service - SES
3.  Jennifer Corbett:  Food Service - SCHS

Rationale: 
New Hire Recommendations
1.  Heather Muller:  Teacher - Fisher's
2.  Rodney Ruybalid:  Teacher ESL:  SMS
3.  Becky Hahn:  Para-Educator - Richland
4.  Megan Harris:  Para-Educator - Fisher's
5.  Rocio Garcia:  Para-Educator - SMS
 

Rationale:  In our meeting with the Commissioner on Thursday morning we discussed the Return-To-School Plan as all of us were in-person learning for the entire school year. 

Rationale: 
1.  Board Policies:  The Policy Committee continues to meet with Jim Luebbe on updating policies.  At our last meeting, Jim suggested we address the policies that affect handbooks so that the board can approve handbooks in August. 

2.  Amending the 2020-21 Budgets in the general fund and lunch fund programs.  These amendments are due to federal programs:  CARES, ESSER II and ESSER III America Rescue Program (ARP) and increased costs/funding in the food service program.  We are still working on spending/reimbursements but should be able to get close on our recommendations for these two budget amendments.

3.  2021-22 Budget Preparation:  I will need to set a date for the finance committee to meet to review the 2021-22 budget recommendations.  Following this meeting, we will conduct a budget workshop in conjunction with our August board meeting.

4.  Staffing Update:  The building principals are still working on finalizing hiring.  All certified staff are now hired in all buildings except the high school. They are short a foreign language teacher and an online teacher for APEX classes.  Dr. Lefdal is working with the new administrators on options for these two positions.