April 10, 2017 at 5:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

The mission of Gothenburg Public Schools is to prepare all students to become lifelong learners within a positive and innovative learning environment. 

A copy of the open meetings law is posted on the wall of the Board Room and is available to the public.

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

1.    Approval of Minutes for March 13th Regular Board Meeting

2.    Approval of Minutes of the March 22nd Special Board Meeting

3.    Approval of the Treasurer's Report

4. Approval of the Warrants / Bills

  a.  Petty Cash

  b.  Student Activity

  c.  Hot Lunch

  d.  Bank Statement

  e.  Summary of Accounts and Receipts

  f.  Monthly Expenditure Report

g. Check Journal

5. Excuse Absent Board Members

6. Consider Option Enrollment Requests- 

Option in: Marjorie Koopman, Kindergarten from Eustis 2017-18

Jewel Daum, Kindergarten from Cozad 2017-18

Cassidy Reiman, Kindergarten from Cozad 2017-18

Option Out: 

Mr. Seth Schaeffer has been offered the position of secondary health and physical education teacher for the 2017-18 school year.  Mr. Schaeffer is originally from McCook, received his undergraduate degree from U.N.K. and is currently teaching in Midwest, Wyoming.  Mr. Schaeffer will also serve as an assistant boys basketball coach and junior high football coach.

Miss Karlie Nielsen has been offered an elementary teaching position for the 2017-18 school year.  Miss Nielsen has endorsements in Elementary Education and Special Education and is currently student teaching in Kearney.  She comes highly recommended in both teaching areas and will serve as an assistant softball coach. 

A Resolution of the Dawson County School District #20, Gothenburg Public Schools Supporting the Principles of Nebraskans United for Property Tax Reform and Education and Urging the Nebraska Legislature and the Governor to Reduce Nebraska’s Reliance on Property Taxes for Funding K-12 Education

 Nebraskans United for Property Tax Reform & Education

PRINCIPLE #1:  Adequate and sustainable funding of high quality K-12 education is imperative for the future of Nebraska.

PRINCIPLE #2:  Tax reform which reduces the over-reliance on local property taxes is necessary to ensure our tax system is fair to all Nebraska taxpayers.

Coalition Members: Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska Fair, Nebraska Council of School Administrators, Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Nebraska State Education Association, Reform for Nebraska’s Future, Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association, Nebraska Farmers Union, Women Involved in Farm Economics, Nebraska Soybean Association, Gage County Property Tax Group, Nebraska Pork Producers, Nebraska Wheat Growers, Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska, Schools Taking Action for Nebraska Children’s Education and Greater Nebraska Schools Association.

Random Drug Testing of Activities Participants:  Numerous Nebraska schools have adopted policies regarding this issue.  The Nebraska Attorney General and regional health organizations have indicted that teen use of marijuana has doubled since its use has been legalized in Colorado.  A random-drug testing policy would give students another reason to say "no" when being pressured into its use. Consideration of this type of policy is intended to be proactive instead of being reactive. 

The initial policy was written by Mr. Greg Perry of the Perry Law Firm and has been revised by the administration to meet our district's needs and to align with the student handbook.  A special committee was appointed by President Wyatt and convened to work through the details of the policy after consultation with the administration and Mr. Greg Perry.  The revised policy has subsequently been reviewed by the Policy Committee and is now presented to the Board of Education for final reading.

Dawson County School District #20, Gothenburg Public Schools, participates in a policy update and revision process with the Perry Law Firm through Educational Service Unit #10.  Mr. Perry typically sends proposed revisions upon completion of the legislative session, however, we have received an early installment of new policies due to summer implementation requirements.  

According to the bylaws of the board, while policies may typically be introduced in one meeting and approved at a second meeting, policies may be approved in a single meeting if necessary.  This may become applicable if policies are proposed which impact handbooks and are not received until after the June meeting.

Internal Board Policies

Policy 8310 - Formulation of Policies

Policy 8320 - Adoption, amendment, or suspension of polices

Bylaws of the Board

  Policy 9200 - Formulation, Adoption, Amendment of Policies 

Introduce new policies and revisions to existing Board Policy.

The following policies were initially introduced during the March Board Meeting.  The administration has met to customize the policies that will now be presented to the Policy Committee in the upcoming weeks.

Summary of Policy Updates from Perry Law Firm

1.  Policy 3240 - Safety Policy (by August 31, 2017)

The revised policy reflects NDE's new Safety and Security Standards.

2.  Policy 3571 - Meal Charge Policy (by July 1, 2017)

The proposed policy meets the minimum requirements as set forth by the USDA.  We may add to the policy as we see fit.

3.  Policy 5417 - School Wellness Policy  (by June 30, 2017)

The existing policy is a little over one page in length, while the revised policy is twelve pages in length.  Both are attached and the policy committee will be convened to develop a compromise policy.

Facilities Committee - Mr. Hudson, Mr. Fornoff, Mrs. Jobman

Curriculum Committee - Mr. Brundage, Mr. Wyatt, Mr. Fornoff

Special Committee - Mr. Brundage, Mr. Hudson, Mr. Sitorius

The leadership is proposing that the first draft of the school calendar that was presented in January is modified to include a weekly PLC time for the staff as the result of discussions with the administrative team, the Executive Council and a group of educators who traveled to Hastings to visit their buildings and to see their Professional Learning Communities in action.  The PLC process utilized in the Hastings Public Schools has allowed them to improve effectiveness and increase student learning as evidenced by the assessment scores and recognition as Blue Ribbon Schools.

Information received from the AdvancEd Accreditation visit which occurred in March support this request. The accreditation process is designed to provide an international protocol for institutions committed to systemic, systematic and sustainable improvement, to build capacity of the system and its schools to increase and sustain student learning and to stimulate and improve effectiveness and efficiency throughout the system.

The external review was a diagnostic process to stimulate and guide continuous improvement with a focus on the impact of teaching and learning, the capacity of leadership and effective use of resources.

Professional judgment by the External Review Team results in:

Two powerful practices were determined.  It was recommended that the District continue to use the practices as the pillars of a high-performing system.

• The Gothenburg Public Schools effectively engages parents and community members as active partners to leverage relationships and improve communications resulting in unity among stakeholders.
• The Gothenburg Public Schools governance and leadership teams collaborate to foster autonomy at all levels of the organization.

Two improvement priorities were identified and the district is required to respond to these items within the next two fiscal years.  

• Design and implement a strategic plan that supports challenging, equitable educational programs resulting in the improvement of learning. 

• Develop and implement a systematic process to collect, analyze and use data from various assessments to focus on the improvement of curriculum and instruction to increase student learning and achievement.

Finally, two additional opportunities for improvement were identified.  While no action is required, the external team recommended that the identified items were continued and refined in alignment with the improvement priorities.

• Create and implement a grading and reporting system based on clearly defined criteria that represent the attainment of content knowledge and skills.

• Expand the systemic incorporation of the Marzano model to strengthen instructional strategies that enhance teacher effectiveness.

Next Regular Meeting scheduled for May 8, 2017 at 5:00 p.m.

A special meeting to consider a late resignation and approve a contract may be necessary in the next couple of weeks.  Resignations after April 15th require the securing of a suitable replacement.  Contracts and resignations must be approved by the board to be official.