April 14, 2014 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 hallway outside the Media Center.

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

Rationale:  This agreement is for the birth to three early childhood program in partnership with Save the Children, Early Steps for School Success and Central Nebraska Community Services (CNCS) Early Childhood Programs. 

Rationale:  See attached agreement.

Rationale:  We have been working with the City of Schuyler on solutions to improve safety and traffic flow around the elementary building.  One of the recommended solutions is to modify the traffic flow around the building and increase the pickup zones around the buildings to allow for curb-side pickup.  The building and grounds and transportation committees have reviewed the information to be presented at the meeting.  See attached contract with JEO. 

Rationale:  We are recommending changing the house on Adam Street from an alternative education center back into a rental for school employees.  The house is in good shape with a new roof.  We would need to upgrade the carpet in the living room and put appliances in the kitchen. The money for the upgrades would be recovered in the monthly rent.

Rationale:  The Nebraska Department of Education requires schools to provide results on a National Assessment Instrument.  We have been the Terra Nova for that assessment.  As a part of our school improvement efforts, we have determined that switching to the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Assessment by the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) would be better for the district. Highlights of the MAP Assessment:

• It is a computer adaptive test which will provide us with more specific data on student performance.
• It is cost effective.  It will cost the same or less than current assessments but will allow for more testing.
• It can be used multiple times per year.
• It aligns with the NeSA Assessments better than the Terra Nova.
• It produces more timely and more useful data to help teachers better individualize instruction.

Rationale:  We need to set a date prior to the May 2014 board meeting for the board's negotiations committee to discuss 2014-15 support staff contracts and salaries.

Rationale:  We would like to propose hosting a meeting at the old North Ward School Building later in April.  The building and grounds strategic planning committee has been working to investigate the feasibility of using that abandoned building to expand our early childhood program in the future.  We have been through the building with the Nebraska Department of Education Early Childhood Consultants, the State Fire Marshall, and local contractors to gather information about the building, classroom size, safety, fire codes, etc...  We will discuss this in greater detail at the meeting on Monday evening.

Rationale:  We are recommending contracts to all returning teachers for the 2014-15 school year.  In addition, the following teachers and administrators have earned tenure status.  Tenure is granted at the successful completion of the third contract year and the offering of a 4th contract.  The list presented below began teaching in Schuyler in 2011 and are therefore eligible for tenure.
Employees:
Mary Breedlove: SCHS Family and Consumer Science Teacher
Gary Schaeffer:  SCHS Math Teacher
Mark Wemhoff:  SCHS Science Teacher
Nickolaus Wilcox: SCHS Science Teacher
Amanda Yosten:  SCHS Language Arts Teacher
Mark Brady:  SMS Social Studies Teacher
Rosita Krauel:  SES Teacher
Gerald Reinsch: Music/Rural/SMS Asst Principal
Greg Pavlik:  SCHS Principal

Rationale:  Below is the list of resignations effective at the end of the 2014-15 school year.

Attached are resignation letters from the following employees:

William Dawes:  SCHS Industrial Technology Teacher (Moving to Colorado)
Rachel Hasenkamp:  SCHS English Teacher (Foreign Teaching Program)
Patricia Philbreck:  SES Title I Teacher (Retire)
Ashley Hann:  5th grade teacher (Husband transferred to Cargill plant in Texas)
Nicole Sempek:  SCHS Math Teacher (Moving out of District)
Clete Vrbka:  SES Physical Education Teacher (Job at Wahoo)
Jennifer Schiemann:  SCHS Special Education (Job at Fremont)
Judie Scott:  Elementary Para-Educator (Retire)

We have other resignations, but are waiting for the official resignation letters.  Continuing contract law goes into affect on Tuesday, April 15th, so technically, they have until Monday to submit a resignation.

Rationale:  1.  Instrumental Music:  Mickaila Gansebom
2.  SMS Language Arts:  Drey Keairness
3.  SMS Physical Education:  Emily Kmiecik
4.  SES Physical Education:  Channa Hess
5.  SCHS Language Arts:  Jennifer Ramsey
6.  SES Teacher:  Ingrid Rodriguez
7.  SES Music:  Tessa Jacobsen
8.  SES Teacher:  Brandte Hayes
9.  SMS ELL Teacher:  Brisa Sanchez

Rationale:  Thank you to the board members who were able to attend the committee meetings in March.  I know it requires much from you at a busy time, but your work is essential in assisting our staff in moving forward with the goals of our strategic plan.  Attached is the strategic plan with due dates established at this time.  We will report on our progress on the items due in April at the meeting.  Thanks again for your work and guidance in this process.  See attached information.

Academic Program:  Rich Brabec, Virginia Semerad, Lumir Jedlicka

1. Promote critical thinking, creativity, and 21^st Century skills (honors, college credit classes, high ability, etc…)

   Strategy:  Develop a plan to provide increased opportunities for advanced and/or high ability learners at all grade levels.  (SCHS: April)      (SMS: May )       (SES: Sept.)

2. Provide a comprehensive career and technical education program in grades 7-12

Strategy:  Develop a comprehensive 7-12 education plan that increases career awareness, skills, and proficiency in the areas of career and technical education. (SCHS: April)    (SMS: June)  

Transportation Program:  Chuck Misek, Eric Cerny, Brian Vavricek

1. Develop a transportation system and vehicle replacement plan

Strategy:  Develop a vehicle replacement cycle and budget plan.  (April 2014)

Rationale:  Richland

-Field Trip to Schramm Park/Aksarben Aquarium south of Gretna on April 2

-Operating Council Meeting on April 17

-Spring Program on Monday, May 12 at 2:00 and 7:00


Fishers

-Field Trip to SAC Museum Ashland on April 11

-Operating Council Meeting on April 8th

-Spring Program on Tuesday, May 13 at 1:30 and 7:00


Gerry Reinsch

Rationale:  Statewide testing is going smoothly.  We are more than half-way done.  I have had very few reports of glitches during testing which is nothing at all unusual.

Freida Lange from the Nebraska AdvancED Office visited a couple weeks ago and presented us with a couple of awards.  Schuyler Community Schools has been awarded systems accreditation, which means that the entire district adheres to the high standards of quality that AdvancED requires.

Special recognition was given to Schuyler Central High School. The accreditation process began in 1895.  Schuyler High School was awarded its first accreditation on April 1, 1914.  So, the high school is celebrating 100 years of continuous accreditation. 

Rationale:  *NSAA March Board Meeting notes are attached

*April NSAA Representative Meeting proposals are attached.  I am an alternate to serve on this committee. 

*Schedules for next year are being completed. 

*We have again been asked to host a Walkathon for Heart Disease.  We will sponsor this during a home football game in the fall of 2014.  

Athletic Physicals are scheduled for May 7th and May 13th.  Thank you to Creighton-Alegent Health for providing the physicals.

Rationale: 

TO:  Schuyler Community Board

High School

Repaired roof top unit for administration wing; hot water heater in Ag shop; repaired dishwasher in kitchen; Dayana Martinez replaced Jennifer Rodriguez as a part time custodian

Middle School

Repaired roof top unit #4 and #7; lights in rooms 115 and 304, East and South hallways; repaired computer cart; replaced smoke detector in hallway, repaired vacuum cleaner

Elementary School

Repaired outside lights front entrance and emergency lights in West gym; repaired heater in room 110, 112 and 114; serviced air handler system in the 4^th grade pod; repaired dishwasher and hand sprayer in kitchen

Preschool

General maintenance; repaired door

Richland

General maintenance;

District 4R  

General maintenance; convert T 12’s to T 8’s lighting in a classroom

District 24

General maintenance

Ronnie R. Mundil

Rationale:  •  New Hires for next year

•  March Students of the Month

•  Heritage Essay Contest Winners

•  Start of the state assessment testing

•  Start of the middle school track season

Rationale:  Pinnacle outstanding leaders

On Friday April 4^th, five Schuyler Central High School students were honored with the 2014 Pinnacle Bank High School leaders Award.  Pinnacle Bank and Midland University honor our area’s outstanding student leaders.  This year, there were over 100 area students nominated by school faculty and administration.  After a review by a community selection panel 50 recipients were selected and honored during the award luncheon held on the 4^th.  Governor Dave Heineman was the guest speaker.

The Schuyler Central High School students recognized for their leadership were:

Janet Contreras, Matthew Eller, Deyalis Hernandez, Tonya Marxsen, Bailey Peterson

Mrs. Mentzer, Mr. Hlavac, and I attended the luncheon.

Congratulations to these students!  They represented SCHS and the community of Schuyler well.

Attached is part of the program.

Random Student Drug Testing-

For your information I have attached the proposal from Amy Blaser, Vice President of Physician Relations / Business Development for the Columbus Community Hospital.  Mr. Grammer, Ms. Egr, and I have discussed this and Ms. Egr has discussed this with coaches and activity sponsors as well.  Based upon our meeting with Ms. Blaser and the feedback that we have received, we would like to move forward with this proposal and begin working with Ms. Blaser on policy development for Schuyler Community Schools, grades 7 – 12.  Ms. Blaser said that it would be possible for her to attend the May board meeting to answer questions that school board might have.

AdvancED accreditation

Freida Lange, Nebraska Department of Education Director of AdvancED, was on had to present two plaques at a recent SCS administrator team meeting.  First, Ms. Lange presented a plaque and banner to SCHS school improvement co-chair Jan Kracl recognizing the 100^th anniversary of school accreditation through the North Central Association and AdvancED.  Ms. Lange then presented a plaque to Mr. Gibbons to recognize the school district’s AdvancED accreditation, which the district went through an external review for last year.

Spring Assessment season has officially begun.  SCHS juniors took the NeSA Reading assessment on April 2^nd and 3^rd.   Math will be assessed on the 15^th and 16^th and Science on April 23^rd.  All of these days are 10 am starts for students in grades 9, 10, and 12.

Spring is a very busy, hectic time of year for high school students and teachers.  Between athletics, state level competitions, student activities (student council  / tryouts for next years activities) it is hard to maintain continuity, but I think our faculty does their best to make student learning their focus.  But for your future planning…

April 26^th  - Prom / Dance / Post Prom

April 24^th and 25^th – Nebraska Educational Technology Association (NETA) conference

May 4^th – Fine Arts Awards Night

May 7^th – 8^th grade visitation (12 noon dismiss)

May 12^th – Activity Awards Night

May 13^th – Academic Awards Night

May 18^th – SCHS Graduation

Attended Region III principal’s meeting in Norfolk and Administrator Days planning committee meeting in Lincoln.

 

 

 

Rationale:  1.  2014-15 State Aid Certified:  2013-14 State Aid:    $5,150,786.92
                                                    2014-15 State Aid:    $5,819,615.16
                                                                   Increase:      $668,828.24

2.  SIG (School Improvement Grant)
Congratulations on being approved for a School Improvement Grant (SIG) for the 2014-2015 school year. Attached you will find a cover letter and a Grant Award Notification (GAN) for the amount of Year 1 of the three year grant.  Please note that the GAN begins 4/8/14 and ends 8/31/15.

Please contact me if you have questions and you begin the SIG process.

Regards,

Randy McIntyre
Nebraska Department of Education
Title I Consultant

3.  21st Century Grant (After School Grant)
The State Board of Education approved the slate of 21^st Century Community Learning Center grants at today’s meeting, pending final negotiations of the conditions of the award.  Congratulations!  In a few days a press release will go out from the Nebraska Department of Education announcing these grants.

We would like to schedule a meeting with you, the building principals and other members of the leadership team that will be administering your program, in order to finalize the funding conditions and provide a brief orientation.  Our management team is available for a meeting on Monday, May 12 at 10:00 a.m. in Schuyler.  Would you please check to see if this date and time would work for everyone? 

Again, congratulations on your grant award!

Jan Handa, Grants Manager

21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant Program

Nebraska Department of Education