May 13, 2019 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

The mission of Gothenburg Public Schools is to prepare all students 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.

Rationale: 

The Board reserves the right to rearrange the order of items as needed.

Rationale: 

Opportunity for Public Expression:

• This item serves as the time entitled for public forum during which patrons may address the Board on matters of general concern per Board Policy 8346, Opportunity for Public Expression.  (A copy of the policy is available.)

• Patrons will be allowed five (5) minutes to express their view.  Board of Education Members will refrain from expressing personal opinions during the Public Forum unless asked a direct question by a patron recognized by the Board President as having the floor.  The board imposed time limit may be extended by a majority vote of the Board.  The board may limit collective comments on a particular topic when necessary. The Board may not take action on matters discussed in the Public Forum unless the item appears on the prepared agenda.

• All concerns and complaints should go through the chain of command beginning with the teacher/sponsor and then to the building administrator/program supervisor and finally to the Superintendent.  If the initiating party is not satisfied with the response of the Superintendent, said party may address a written appeal to the Board of Education through the Secretary of the Board.

As a meeting of the Gothenburg Board of Education is a meeting held in public and not a public meeting, visitors should refrain from comments unless recognized by the chair.

Rationale:  Members of the Gothenburg Early Childhood Learning Coalition will provide an update.

Rationale: 

1. Approval of Previous Minutes

2. Approval of the Treasurer's Report

3. 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

4. Excuse Absent Board Members

5. Consider Option Enrollment Requests
2019-20 School Year
Option In:
Gunner Lydic - K from Brady
McKenna Reiman - K from Cozad
Jaden Bush- 4th from Callaway
Lexi Brown - 2nd  from Eustis-Farnam
Hannah Brown - 6th from Eustis-Farnam
Tallee Jo Brown - 6th from Eustis-Farnam
Fletcher Grabenstein - 1st from Eustis-Farnam
Laine Lafleur - 11th from Callaway
Carly Jensen - 10th from Cozad

Option Out:
Brett Larson - 5th to Brady
Haylie Donner - 8th to Brady
Brennan Donner - 4th to Brady
Sawyer Donner - 1st to Brady
 

 

Rationale:  Mr. Nick Miller has submitted his resignation effective at the end of the 2018-19 school year.  He has been offered an administrative position in the North Platte Public Schools.

Rationale:  Mr. Brent Streeter has been offered a teaching position in the social sciences for the 2019-20 school year.  A graduate of UNK, Mr. Streeter is currently teaching and coaching in the Sumner-Eddyville-Miller School District where he has served for the past five years after teaching in Bertrand for 15 years.

Rationale: 

The Personnel Committee has met to discuss compensation for administrative and non-certificated staff.  The committee recommends an increase in total compensation of 3.11% for returning administrative staff and 3.52% for non-certificated staff. Administrative compensation is based upon comparability with schools of similar size and who are located within a similar geographic area.  Non-certificated compensation is based on job category subgroups with compensation being compared to others performing similar work.  Total compensation used in the comparison includes health insurance through the Educators Health Alliance that saw rates increasing approximately 4.9% from 2018-19 rates.

Rationale:  Mr. Kyle Fornoff has filed a conflict of interest form (NADC Form C-3) per Board Policy 8260 and will not participate in the discussion or consideration of this agenda item.  Mr. Fornoff will leave the board table and sit within the visitor's area during the discussion of this item.

Gothenburg Public Schools has issued a Request For Proposals (RFP) for physical therapy services for the 2019-20 school year.  The purpose of the RFP was to acquire services to support students in special education whose services are defined by their Individualized Education Plan (IEP).  The RFP was distributed to numerous firms and individuals.

While there was interest from therapists, the only proposal actually received was from TEAM Physical Therapy.  Upon review of the proposal, it was determined by district officials that all RFP requirements were met and that the contract from TEAM Physical Therapy should be considered for approval.

Rationale: 

Dr. Teahon and Mrs. Jacobson recommend a slight increase in lunch prices for 2019-20.  Future evaluation of the program structure may be necessary as we continue to subsidize the program with transfers.  Federal reimbursemen has decreased and decreased enrollment has resulted in low money generated from lunch sales.

The district will need to transfer at least $50,000 to the lunch fund at the end of this fiscal year.

Notes:

• Federal lunch program requires that districts eventually raise the price of their meals to a number equivalent to a reimbursable meal.  
• A spreadsheet with lunch prices for the schools within the SWC is attached.  None of the SWC schools offer more than two entrée choices for lunch.

Proposed lunch prices for 2019-20. Proposed prices are equivalent to current prices.

 

 

 

Rationale: 

The Superintendent is authorized and directed to dispose of books, furniture, equipment, real estate, and other property that is obsolete or no longer needed for school operations.  Any sale of school property is contingent on approval by the vote of at least two-thirds of the members of the Board of Education at a regular meeting.

Such disposal may be by private sale, auction, trade-in, or by taking bids and selling to the highest or most responsible bidder. 

The following items are no longer of use in the district and have been determined to have value:

1998 Dodge Grand Caravan
Mini-van, 

1991 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight Royale
4-door Sedan,  223,699 miles

Used Textbooks:
"A Book of Short Stories, Volume 2"
"Language Network" (orange volume)

 

Sealed bids accepted until 1:00 pm. on Thursday, May 23.

Approval of this item authorizes the Superintendent to facilitate disposal of said items.

Rationale: 

Committee Reports (Chair in bold)

1.  Personnel Committee (Mr. Sitorius, Mr. Brundage, Mr. Fornoff)
2. Transportation and Facilities (Mr. Hudson, Mrs. Jobman, Mr. Wyatt)
3. Finance (Mr. Fornoff, Mr. Wyatt, Mr. Sitorius)
4. Curriculum & Americanism (Mrs. Jobman, Mr. Brundage, Mr. Hudson)
5. Policy Review (Mr. Brundage, Mr. Fornoff, Mrs. Jobman)

 

Rationale: 

Rationale:  John Bell has submitted a design for a wrap for the new MCI Coach.  Mr. Bell donated his time in designing the wrap and is getting prices from a company with which he works.

Rationale: 

The Board of Education may hold a closed session by the affirmative vote of a majority of its voting members if a closed session is clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual and if such individual has not requested a public meeting.  Closed sessions may be held for, but shall not be limited to, such reasons as:  (a) strategy sessions with respect to collective bargaining, real estate purchases, or litigation; (b) discussion regarding deployment of security personnel or devices; (c) investigative proceedings regarding allegations or misconduct; or (d) evaluation of the job performance of a person when necessary to prevent needless injury to the reputation of a person.

The vote to hold a closed session shall be taken in open session.  The subject matter and the reason necessitating the closed session shall be identified in the motion to close.  If the motion to close passes, then the presiding officer immediately prior to the closed session shall restate on the record the limitation of the subject matter of the closed session. The Board shall restrict its consideration of matters during the closed portions to only those purposes set forth in the motion to close as the reason for the closed session. The meeting shall be reconvened in open session before any formal action may be taken.

Rationale:  June 10 at 12:00 noon.