August 9, 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 annual review of board policies, handbooks, and crisis/safety plans.  This committee is also responsible for the support and development of support programs(nursing, food service) in the district.

Rationale:  Due to the work on school policies this past summer, the recommended handbook changes are being presented for approval in August rather than June.  Included below are the recommended handbooks and changes as recommended by Jim Luebbe, NASB Director of Policy Services.  The recommended changes are included below along with the new handbook for the Dual Language School.

Recommended 2021-22 Handbook Changes
Preschool
No Changes

Fishers and Richland
Page 6:  Students in Kindergarten through eighth grade will be counted tardy when the 8:10 bell rings. (Addition). If you bring your child to school after 8:30 please make sure to pack a sack lunch as lunches have already been ordered.

Kindergarten Dual Language Handbook
1. on page 8 I took out this statement as we don’t have middle school in this building.  All Middle School students will pay a $10.00 student fee.  This will allow them to participate in sports and have their activity card.  The activity card allows students free entry into most Schuyler School activities and the field house after school hours.

2. page 44:  Remove Step 2 as there is no head teacher 
Step 1: Schedule a conference with the student’s teacher about the issue.
Step 2: Address the concern to the Head Teacher if the matter is not resolved at Step 1.
Step 3: Address the concern to the Building Principal if the matter is not resolved at Step 2. 
Step 4: Address the concern to the Superintendent if the matter is not resolved at Step 3. 
Step 5: Address the concern to the Board of Education if the matter is not resolved at Step 4.

*See attached Dual Language Handbook

SES
No Changes

SMS
Pg. 9 Update parent notification to "Thrillshare"
Pg. 12. Update middle school Curriculum to reflect the changes to math curriculum. "Extended math" is no longer separate from regular math courses.
Pg. 16. Update student community service hours program to reflect the practice of awarding community service hours for the successful completion of a middle school sport.
Pg. 21. Addition of tardy make-up language to reflect the practice of having students make up tardy time after school.
Pg. 22 Clarify that tardy IC documentation will take places as a BTE documentation and not an "Referral"
Pg. 24. Add language to articulate the use of Google Classroom to keep up-to-date with schoolwork during a suspension.
Pg. 29. Re-write language in the SMS dress code to reflect current practice.
No holes revealing bare skin above mid thigh-
No visible body piercings that can be determined to create a safety concern or constitute a disruption or distraction to the learning environment.
Pg. 38. Addition of language to extend the SMS acceptable use policy to student use of school issued iPads to use outside of school.
Pg. 41. Addition of language to note that SMS will make a photocopy of outside agency officer identification if a student is questioned at school.
Pg. 46. Update extra-curricular portion of handbook to reflect the practice of awarding community service hours for the successful completion of a middle school sport.

SCHS

Page 11 OPEN LUNCH (available to Seniors only):

Remove this section:  If we get to a point that is safe and our students are asking for this, we can reconsider this option.

Page 23 SCHS Saturday School

Remove language under section A, "within the same attendance-reporting months."  This will allow us to utilize summer school for recovery of days.

Page 27 Cell Phone Policy

Remove language in second paragraph "Students will be permitted to use cell phones, electronic devices before school hours, at lunch time, and after school hours, provided that the student has not committed any abusive use of a cell phone or electronic device."

Update to stay consistent with utilization of technology in the classroom.

Page 32 Standards of Student Conduct Pertaining to Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco

Change #6 to "any tobacco, nicotine, vapor, or e-cigarette products."

Page 43

Remove list of Immunizations and create links for district websites where information can be found.

Page 54 

Replace current Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Policy information with updated practices and policy.

Staff Handbooks:  Jim Luebbe sent Sally some additional changes to align our board policies with staff handbooks.  See attachment on the Certified Staff and Support Staff Handbook updates.


 

Rationale: 

FAQs for girls wrestling now that it is sanctioned

Q. Can a school have one coach that coaches both the boys and the girls?

1. Yes.  similar to cross-country where a school will have the same coach for the boys and the girls even though they are separate teams

Q. Can the girls and the boys practice together?

1. They can practice at the same time. However, they are now separate teams and cannot practice against each other.  

Q.  If a school does not register for girls wrestling, can girls wrestle on the boys team?

1. Yes, the NSAA bylaws allow girls to participate on the boys team if a school does not register for girls wrestling.  However, girls on a boys team cannot compete in a girls tournament or a girls division of a tournament.  Because they are on the boys team, they must compete against other boys teams.

Q. Can schools coop in girls wrestling?

1. Yes, schools can enter into a cooperative agreement to compete as a single team.  A cooperative agreement can have no more than 4 schools.  

Q. If a school is in a current co-op for boys wrestling, will girls wrestling fall under that same cooperative agreement?

1. No.  Each cooperative agreement specifically lists the sports that are included.  Therefore, any girls coop would require new paperwork.

Q. Will entering into a coop for girls wrestling affect the classification of the boys team?

1. No, Now that girls wrestling is a sanctioned sport, any coop for wrestling will be based on the respective program (girls or boys).  Girls wrestling will be one class.  Therefore, coops in girls wrestling will not affect classification.

Q. What is the deadline for registering or entering into a coop for girls wrestling?

1. The deadline for all winter sports registration and coop paperwork is September 1.  

Q.  Is the registration process and cost for girls wrestling the same as boys?

1. Yes, registration for girls wrestling will include a $150 Trackwrestling fee.  With that each will receive the following:

   1. $30 membership to the National Wrestling Coaches Association which allows us to utilize their weight management program - OPC (required by the NSAA)

   2. $50 access to the Trackwrestling stats program

   3. Free access for all high schools in Nebraska to run competitions at any HS level with the Trackwrestling software.  Average cost is $115-$125/tournament.

Q.  Can a girl from our school participate in the girls district & state tournaments if we do not have a separate girls program (if they practice & compete with the boys during the season)?

1. No. 

Q. Is there a minimum number of competitions that a team needs in order to compete in the girls postseason?

1. The bylaws state that in order to be eligible for district and state competitions,  a team must participate in a minimum of five varsity contests.

In all athletic activities, teams wishing to enter a sub-district, district, or state contest shall have participated in a minimum of five interschool varsity contests prior to the sub-district, district, or state contest.

For more information go to:  https://nsaahome.org/wrestling/

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

Rationale: 
On May 10, 2021, the David City Public School Board of Education approved a petition to transfer land to the Schuyler Community School District in receipt of an equitable transfer of property from Schuyler Community Schools.  This transfer requested consideration of real estate owned by Mark and Samantha Ladwig transfer to Schuyler Community Schools from David City Public Schools in exchange for an equitable valued property owned by Chad and Chatel Denker transfer to David City Public Schools from Schuyler Community Schools.  See attached Petition. 

This petition, if approved by the school board, will need to be approved by the State Committee for the Reorganization of School Districts.  If approved, the transfer would take place in January 2022. 

2021 Values on Properties from Butler County Assessor
Ladwig:  $446,265.                        Denker:  $358,515

 

Rationale:  Resignations
1.  Francis Pakorny:  SES Para Educator
2.  Charmyn Kment-Chromy:  Richland Para Educator

Rationale: 
New Hires
1.  Daniel Prososki:  SMS Teacher - Social Studies/Science
2.  Melina Mateo:  SES Para- Educator
3.  Jeanette Burnett:  Food Service
4.  Carmen Jasso DePuente:  Food Service
5.  Brianna Clapper:  SES Para-Educator
6.  Cynthia Liges:  Head Start Para-Educator
7.  Jared Barrera:  Dual Language Para-Educator

Rationale:  The ARP ESSER III funds application requires school districts to develop a plan to safely reopen schools and sustain safe operations.  Allowable uses of the ESSER III funds are listed below.  This application requires recipients to provide an opportunity for public input on the plan and to review these plans every six months. To facilitate the input requirement, the district leadership team created a ThoughtExchange to promote input on the use of ESSER III funds over the next three fiscal years.  This exchange will open on August 10th and close on August 20th.

Public Schools may use their ARP ESSER funding on the following allowable activities under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act:

1. Administration - 10% administrative cap, includes indirect cost rate charged against direct costs. Reference.
2. Any activity authorized by the ESEA of 1965, IDEA, AEFLA, and Perkins. Note: McKinney-Vento was not included as an allowable use under ESSER III ARP Act.
3. Coordination of preparedness and response efforts.
4. Providing principals and other school leaders with resources necessary to address the needs of their individual schools. Note: Not included in ESSER III/ARP Act.
5. Activities to address the unique needs of low-income students, children with disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities.
6. Developing and implementing procedures and systems to improve the preparedness and response efforts of LEAs.
7. Training and professional development for LEA staff on sanitation and minimizing the spread of infectious diseases.
8. Purchasing supplies to sanitize and clean the facilities of a LEA, including buildings operated by such agencies.
9. Planning, coordinating, and implementing activities during long-term closures.
10. Purchasing educational technology (including hardware, software, and connectivity) for students who are served by the LEA that aids in regular and substantive educational interaction between students and their classroom instructors, including low-income students and children with disabilities, which may include assistive technology or adaptive equipment.
11. Providing mental health services and supports.
12. Planning and implementing activities related to summer learning and supplemental after-school programs.
13. New ESSER III Development of strategies and implementation of public health protocols that align with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on reopening and operating school facilities to maintain the health and safety of students, educators, and other staff. CDC Guidance can be found at: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools
14. Other activities that are necessary to maintain the operation and continuity of services in LEAs and continuing to employ existing staff of the LEA. Any entity that receives funds under the Education Stabilization Fund shall, to the greatest extent practicable, continue to pay its employees and contractors during the period of any disruptions or closures related to COVID-19.

Rationale: 

The ARP ESSER III funds application also requires public input on the district's plan to safely reopen schools.  This application also requires ESSER III grant applicants to provide an opportunity for public input.  This plan must also be reviewed and provide an opportunity for public input every six months.  Attached below are the current updated COVID Protocols for 2021-22.  Following public input, the leadership team will update the current return to learn plan and protocols and present it to the board of education in September for your approval.  The ThoughtExchange opens on August 10th and will close on August 20th.  ESSER III application is due on September 15th.

Rationale: 
1.  Board Policies:  The board policy committee continues to work with Jim Luebbe on reviewing and updating board policies for the 2021-22 school year.  They have sections 100 -600 completed.

2.  All Staff Meeting:  The All-Staff Meeting is scheduled for 9:00 on Tuesday, August 10th.  See attached schedule for the opening of the 2021-22 school year.

3.  ThoughtExchange;  Two ThoughtExchanges will be open on Tuesday, August 10th and remain open for public input until Friday, August 20th.  The two exchanges will be shared with staff, high school students, and community patrons for input on 1.  Return-to-Learn  Plan and 2.  ESSER III priorities.  Parents will be assisted in participating during the Open House on Tuesday, August 10th. 

4.  2020-21 Budget Amendment:  We are finalizing the budget amendment for the 2020-21 school year.  This amendment in the general fund and lunch funds were as a result of additional federal funding and expanded resources for both programs.  This hearing will be on August 23rd at 6:30 PM.

5.  Don Seehusen Acknowledgement:  See attached information.

Rationale: 
1.  Foundation Meeting:  See Foundation Webpage for more information.

2.  Foundation Golf Tourney:  The Foundation hosted the 2021 Golf Tournament on Saturday, August 7th. 

3.  Commerce Off-The-Clock:  The Foundation will host a "Commerce Off-The-Clock" formerly known as Afterhours at the Schuyler Golf Club on Thursday, August 12 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM.

4.  2021 Area Membership Meeting:  See attached information.