July 13, 2015 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

The mission of Gothenburg Public Schools, in partnership with the entire community, is to prepare all students within a positive, innovative, learning environment to become lifelong learners in the 21st century. 

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: 

1.  Called to order.

2.  Recognition of Visitors

3.  Testimony, questions and discussion related to the proposed Amended 2014-15 Gothenburg Public School budget.  

*** Notice was published in Gothenburg Times, July 8, 2015  (See attachment)

*** Amended 2014-15 Budget Document (See attachment)

Information:

District #20, Gothenburg Public Schools, issued a "Call Resolution" adopted by the Board at a Board Meeting held on January 12, 2015.  A total of $6,600,000 in Series 2015 Bonds were issued for the purpose of refunding the District's outstanding General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2010, dated March 15, 2010, which were called for redemption on March 15, 2015.

The adopted budget needs to be amended to include the cost of refunding the Series 2010 bonds and the purchase of series 2015 bonds.

No additional tax funds are required.

4.  Adjournment with no action taken.

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

• Kaitlynn Barrett - 10th grade option out to Eustis-Farnam
• Taran Barrett - 8th grade option out to Eustis-Farnam

• 1. Junior-Senior High Student Handbook (Attachments include Handbook and proposed changes)
• 2. Elementary Handbook (Attachments include Handbook and proposed changes)
• 3. Faculty Handbook (Attachments include Handbook and proposed changes)
• A. Certificated Employee Evaluation Instrument (Reg 4150 A)
• 4. Coach’s Handbook (Attachments include Handbook and proposed changes)
• 5. Non-Certificated Employee Handbook (Attachments include Handbook and proposed changes)
• A. Employment Agreement - Form A - Non-Certificated
• B. Employee Evaluation Instrument - Non-Certificated
• 6. Administrator’s Evaluation Instruments
•   A. Principal Evaluation Instrument
•   B. Activities Director Evaluation Instrument
•   C. Superintendent Evaluation Instrument
• 7. Volunteer Handbook

Rationale: 

District #20, Gothenburg Public Schools, issued a "Call Resolution" adopted by the Board at a Board Meeting held on January 12, 2015.  A total of $6,600,000 in Series 2015 Bonds were issued for the purpose of refunding the District's outstanding General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2010, dated March 15, 2010, which were called for redemption on March 15, 2015. 

Adoption of Board Resolution 7-13-15-01 amends the budget for District #20 for the 2014-15 fiscal year. The purpose of the amended budget, as discussed during the hearing, is to include the cost of refunding the Series 2010 bonds and the purchase of series 2015 bonds.  No additional tax funds are required.

 

 

 

 

Rationale: 

Substitute salaries will remain at $100 per day with an increase to $140 per day for substitutes working in the same position for ten consecutive days.

The rates are competitive with schools within the Southwest Conference and within Dawson and Lincoln Counties.

Rationale:  The State Board of Education voted to classify the Gothenburg Public School system as Accredited for the period of July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016.  This action follows a recommendation of the State Accreditation Committee and is based upon records indicating that District #20 operated in compliance with the accreditation requirements in Rule 10.  This action confers upon the Gothenburg School system the legal right to fulfill provisions of the compulsory education law, to promote students, and to draw upon and expend tax funds.

Rationale: 

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 so policies may not be available for the June meeting.  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

Rationale: 

1.  Policy 5416 - Student Fees

  Hearing held in June.  Only change in fees were for lunch prices.

2.  Policy 6400 - Parent Involvement in Schools 

  Hearing held in June.  No changes proposed.

3.  Policy 5415 - Bullying Policy

  Brief review of bullying policy as required by statute.  No changes proposed.

4.  Policy 5409 - Communicable Diseases

• The year "2014" is included on page 5 of the policy.  It is recommended that the language be changed to read "of the current year".

Rationale: 

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 so policies may not be available for the June meeting.  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.

Summary of Policy Updates from Perry Law Firm

 Revised Policies

a.  Policy 6212 - Assessments, Academic Content Standards

b.  Policy 3540 - Procedures - Bidding Construction Projects

c.  Policy 7050 - Facilities - Bids and Contracts

d.  Policy 3560 - Records Management and Disposition

e.  Policy 9340 - Minutes

f.   Policy 6600 - Special Education

g.  Policy 1200 - Anti-discrimination

h.  Policy 4002 - Equal Opportunity Employment

i.  Policy 4003 - Anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, and anti-retaliation (employees)

  4003a - Notice of Nondiscrimination

4003b - Complaint Form

j.  Policy 5401 - Anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, and anti-retaliation (students)

5401z - Complaint Form

k.  Forms for Policy 5001, Student Admissions

l.   Forms for Policy 5418, Homeless

m.  Policy 6115, Fire Drills

New Policies

n.  Policy 6286 - Return to Learn from Cancer

Rationale: 

Rationale: 

Excerpts from Board Policy 9370 Closed Sessions

• 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.    
• 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.

(The presiding officer will declare the session closed after discussion is completed.)

Rationale: