July 16, 2024 at 4:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting
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1. Milford Public Schools Board of Education Information
More Information:
Mission Statement - Milford Public Schools will prepare all students to be successful citizens: Our Mission is fulfilled when all students read with comprehension, speak and write clearly, compute accurately, reason logically, understand and appreciate the fine arts, apply suitable strategies and habits of mind to solve problems, utilize technology to communicate and to understand information and behave morally.
This agenda contains a list of subjects known at the time of its distribution. A copy of the agenda reflecting any changes will be available for public inspection during normal business hours in the District Office. Except for items of an emergency nature, the agenda shall not be altered later than twenty-four hours before the meeting. The Board reserves the right to alter the order of items, as it deems necessary. |
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1.1. Meeting was advertised
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2. Opening Procedures
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2.1. Call to Order, Roll Call
Discussion:
President Welsch called the meeting to order at 4:05pm.
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2.2. Excuse Absent Board Member(s)
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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2.3. Open Meeting Law - Information concerning the Open Meeting Law, Chapter 84, Article 14 of Nebraska State Statutes, is posted on the bulletin board in the back of the meeting room
More Information:
Information concerning the Open Meeting Law, Chapter 84, Article 14 of Nebraska State Statutes, is posted on the bulletin board in the back of the meeting room. |
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2.4. Additions to Agenda
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2.5. Welcome and Introduction of Visitors
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2.6. Community Input
More Information:
This is the public’s opportunity to speak to items on the agenda. This is also the public’s opportunity to speak to other non-agenda topics concerning the school district - since it is not an agenda item the board cannot discuss or take action on the matter at this time. To be recognized, all participants must complete the Request to Address the Milford Board of Education Form. The District has established separate complaint procedures for any complaints, including complaints and concerns against individual employees. As such, the Board requests that this complaint process be followed before discussion with the Board takes place. Thank you for your participation. |
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3. Consent Agenda
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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3.1. Review, Consider, and Take All Necessary Action on the Minutes of Previous Meeting
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3.2. Review, Consider, and Take All Necessary Action to Approve Payment of Claims
More Information:
General Fund for $149,632.03 |
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4. Reports
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4.1. Review/Discuss Administrative Reports
Discussion:
Director of Learning: Mr. Carlson discussed the professional learning plan for staff for the upcoming school year.
Superintendent: Dr. Kubicek discussed summer school, election information, school vehicle updates, and hazard mitigation planning through the Upper Big Blue NRD. |
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4.2. Review/Discuss Student Enrollment Report
More Information:
Powerschool is currently being rolled over for the new year. There is no student enrollment report for this month.
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4.3. Review/Discuss Annual Transportation Report for the 2023-2024 School Year
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4.4. Review/Discuss Annual Staff Absence Report for the 2023-24 School Year
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4.5. Review/Discuss Strategic Planning Options
More Information:
I included a proposal to conduct a Strategic Planning Process from Matt Dominy. Matt is the Director of Learning in Seward. Matt and Dr. Fields (Seward Supt.) conduct these for other schools. Both Matt and Dr. Fields worked in Millard during part of their career, where the Strategic Plan drives the work of the district. The model they use is called the Cambridge Model. If we would like to start a process over the winter and have it completed by May, Matt would like to get started in late August with the planning. The cost is $5000, and I wanted to give the board an opportunity to discuss this briefly. If there is interest in moving forward, we could have an action item for the August meeting.
Other groups also provide options for strategic planning. I have spoken with other superintendents about several options, and can share more details at the meeting. Having a strategic plan in place would create a clear direction and focus on our efforts towards a defined set of goals. This clarity would guide decision-making about initiatives and resources, and would help us allocate our resources of time, money, personnel to those goals. This process would also engage our community in the process of developing some long-range goals.
Discussion:
Dr. Kubicek discussed options to develop a district strategic plan. The board will discuss and consider approving options at a future board meeting.
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4.6. Review/Discuss Legislative Items
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4.7. Review/Discuss State Funding for Public Education
More Information:
Open discussion as needed. |
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5. Board Commentary
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6. Unfinished Business
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7. New Business
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7.1. Review, consider, and take all necessary action on activity gate prices for the 2024-2025 school year.
More Information:
There is a recommendation to increase the gate prices for next school year. I will include some comparisons from other districts.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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7.2. Review, consider, and take all necessary action to request qualifications from Energy Service Companies.
More Information:
An Energy Service Company can provide the district with a detailed report with recommendations and pricing for facilities updates. This report could provide information to help with financial planning and creating timelines for facility improvements.
Earlier this summer, members of the Building and Grounds committee met with Greg Barnes to discuss a plan to gather information on the buildings. HVAC, lighting, windows, etc. are areas they review. They are able to gather information for pricing for updates to consider, they recommend a timeline for purchases, and they only charge for services once we decide to update equipment. If the board would like to move forward with this process, we need to advertise for an Energy Services Company and select one at a future meeting.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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7.3. Review current policy 5054 Bullying
More Information:
This policy is required to be reviewed annually per statute 79-2,137. No changes are recommended.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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7.4. Hold public hearing to discuss, consider, and receive input on policies 5018 Parental Involvement, 5045 Student Fees, 5057 Title I Parental Involvement.
More Information:
This is a hearing:
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
President Welsch opened the hearing at 5:43pm. President Welsch asked for input on the policies presented. No recommendations for changes were made. President Welsch closed the hearing at 5:44pm.
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7.5. Review, consider, and take appropriate action to approve changes to the following policies: 2006 Complaint Procedure, 2008 Meetings, 2009 Public Participation at Board Meetings, 3003.1 Bidding for Construction, Remodel, Repair, or Related Projects Financed with Federal Funds, 3004.1 Fiscal Management for Purchasing and Procurement Using Federal Funds, 3011 Transportation, 3017 Press Releases, 3032 Fees for School District Records, 3033 Lending Textbooks to Children Enrolled in Private Schools, 3053 Nondiscrimination, 3057 Title IX, 3059 Audio and Video Recording, 3060 Firearms and Weapons, 4011 Employee Leave Under FMLA, 4053 Conflict of Interest, 5001 Compulsory Attendance and Excessive Absenteeism, 5004 Option Enrollment, 5056 Transportation, 5008 Pregnant or Parenting Students, 5035 Student Discipline, 5049 Firearms and Weapons - Students, 5052 School Wellness, 6025 Student Cell Phone and Other Electronic Devices, 6031 Emergency Exclusion, 6036 Reading Instruction and Intervention Services, 6039 Repeat of Grade at Parent-Guardian Request, 6040 Prekindergarten Program, 6041 Malcolm X Day Education, 6042 Projection Maps, 6043 Mapping Data
More Information:
There are several, but I will point out a few. All of the policy updates provided are redlined, so you can see the changes. Policy 2009 - Boards now have to offer public comment at every meeting. This will not change our practice, as we have always done this, but it is now required. Policy 3032 - For residents of Nebraska, we will have to now offer up to 8 hours "free of charge" to gather and share public records for a records request. This changed from 4 hours "free" to 8 hours during the last legislative session. Policy 3060 - School Boards can now choose to allow staff members to carry firearms in schools. This policy clarifies that we do not allow staff to carry firearms. Policy 6025 - This policy will change how cell phones are used in school. This policy (which will also be updated in the handbook) requires students to place their cell phone in their backpack, in their locker, or in their vehicle. Students can have access to their phone during passing periods, at lunch, and before/after school. Policy 6040 - In the past, if a student turned 5 prior to August 1st, they were ineligible to attend our preschool. The law has been changed to now allow 5-year olds to attend preschool. We plan to allow 5 year olds, so long as we have room for our 3 and 4 year old students. Policy 6043 - This policy allows us to apply for grant funds to build electronic maps of our buildings and grounds that can then be shared with first responders.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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7.6. Review, consider, and take all necessary action to approve the 2024-2025 student handbook.
More Information:
Below are the updates to the handbook:
1. Remove a reference to virtual learning during the 2020-21 school year. 2. Pregnant and parenting students section added. The district will notify students of options for accommodations. 3. Parent recordings during meetings are disallowed per policy. This update is included in the handbook. 4. Additional information about Nebraska Law definition of child abuse. 5. The complaint procedure is updated to match the new policy. 6. The weapons and firearms section is updated with recent changes to statute to allow firearms in schools. 7. AI-related social media issues are added to the discipline policy. 8. Meal prices are updated. 9. Cell phone policies are updated to match updated policy. 10. Reference to Title IX policy is updated.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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7.7. Review, consider, and take all necessary action to approve the 2024-2025 activity handbook.
More Information:
1. Updated the section on meetings to include language that disallows parent recordings of meetings.
2. Updated the reference to the Title IX policy.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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7.8. Review, consider, and take all necessary action to appoint District Representatives for Financial Institutions
More Information:
Farmers and Merchants Bank has provided necessary documents to update names on the District bank accounts.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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7.9. Review, consider, and take all necessary action to set a special meeting to finalize the 2023-2024 budget and hold preliminary budget discussions on Monday, August 26th, 2024 (time to be set by the Board).
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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8. Executive Session
More Information:
The Board of Education reserves the right to enter into Closed/Executive Session for 1) the protection of the public interest, or 2) the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual, and/or the individual has not requested a public meeting. When making a motion to enter into Closed/Executive Session, the member making the motion should be as specific as possible as to the reason(s) for executive session. |
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8.1. Executive Session (if requested)
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9. Adjourn
Discussion:
President Welsch adjourned the meeting at 6:05pm.
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