May 9, 2022 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Discussion: 

• Board President Desh called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
• Board President Desh led the board and the patrons in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Discussion: 

• Board President Desh identified the location of the Open Meetings Act Poster on the wall in the meeting room.

Discussion: 

• Ms. Gill Rose presented information on the Biliteracy program and the positive impact a well-rounded language program has on our students here at Palmyra High School. 
• Students successfully completing the requirements for the Biliteracy certificate are able to accumulate up to nine future credit hours for college. Just to clarify: This Biliteracy Certification is not a dual credit program. However, the certificate does allow additional avenues for students to earn college credit in the future.   
• Special thanks to Ms. Gill-Rose for coming and sharing information about her classroom and the work her students are doing. Having staff speak passionately about their subject areas of content and the community and career benefits the curriculum can provide is inspiring. 

Discussion: 

• No further discussion. 
• Welcome to all of our new staff members! We are glad to have you in the district!

Discussion: 

• Special thanks for the service and dedication to our students provided by staff leaving the district. These educators are greatly appreciated and we wish them well in the next chapter of their lives.

Discussion:  Public Comment was provided by:

• Craig Bolz of Palmyra
• Ashley Hammon of Palmyra.
• Jan Svoboda of Bennet

Discussion: 

• Highlights of the Superintendent's report included a legislative session review, discussion about the end of the year events, a look ahead to the 2022-2023 school calendar, upcoming community engagement meeting opportunities, sixth-grade reconfiguration update, upcoming revision of math standards, and upcoming policy updates.
• Superintendent Hart also presented summary information regarding existing activity programs in the district and factors involved in bringing new activities into the district. A recommendation to develop and implement a district-level activities committee will be discussed in a later agenda item. 

Discussion: 

• Ms. Walter and Mr. Johnson presented the administrative report. Highlights of the report included summer enrichment information and NSCAS testing. Additional information on the social studies curriculum preferences, MAPS assessment testing, upcoming events, and high school graduation was also shared. 
• The activities report contained information on updates at the Olson Complex, Academic All-State selections, the ECNC track meet, Show Choir, Band, and end of the year activities like Baccalaureate, and graduation. 

Discussion: 

• Information about recent vehicle purchases was shared. 

Discussion:  Board Member Desh and Superintendent Hart provided updated information about the strategic planning process from NASB. More information related to the updated Strategic Plan will be discussed at the May 31st Board retreat and shared at the June 13th regular board meeting. 

Identified Priority Areas of Focus:

1. Culture and Connectedness
2. Facilities
3. Student Learning Opportunities
4. Personnel Effectiveness and Staffing
5. Board Governance

Discussion: 

• Information and discussion centered around providing more avenues to distribute information to the community by advertising and posting specific meeting dates and agenda items. Additional information was shared regarding option enrollment, projections about future enrollment and staffing, and upcoming community engagement meetings. 
• The next community engagement meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 17th, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at Bennet Elementary.
• Discussion included bringing a possible bond resolution to the next regular board meeting on Monday, June 13th, 2022.

Bennet Elementary Possible Expansion Highlights: 

• Adding additional classrooms on the southwest side of the building

• Expanding the current kitchen and student commons/ multi-purpose area to the east side of the building

• Expanding the current office area to the east side of the building 

• Adding additional commons / multipurpose space near the southeast edge of the gym

• Enhancing the current gymnasium and repurposing the current stage area in the gym

• Upgrading outdoor playground spaces

• *Future possibilities include adding additional classrooms to the southeast part of the building. 

Palmyra High School Possible Expansion Highlights:

• Adding additional classrooms on the northeast side of the building

• Expanding the current "commons area" multi-purpose space near the main office, adding extra restrooms, and expanding the main office area to the east side of the building

• Expanding the current Career Technical Education (CTE) areas to the southeast side of the building

• Repurposing the current weight deck area in the auxiliary gym into a multipurpose indoor activity space (for example, this space could also accommodate the needs of our wrestling program, which now uses the elementary gym during the season)

• Repurposing the current shop area into an expanded weight room/community fitness area

Discussion: 

• Additional discussion centered around the various factors, logistics, and perspectives involved in developing and implementing additional student extracurricular activities into our district programs.  After public comment and information shared by Superintendent Hart about the subject, it was recommended that a District Activities Committee would be developed to discuss the issue of looking at the feasibility and sustainability (and possible recommended timelines) of adding additional activities in the future. 
• The intent of the Activities Committee is to gather and analyze relevant "activity-specific" information, survey and verify specific student interests, skill sets, experience levels, and overall student commitment to the activity. The committee will also be tasked to collaborate, analyze, and discuss information in a factual and objective manner. The committee will utilize problem-solving strategies to eventually provide a recommendation for consideration by the Board of Education.
• The committee is expected to form and meet together sometime during the summer months and at least quarterly during the 2022-2023 school year.
• This committee will be led by the high school principal and activities director. Additional committee members will be recommended on the basis of interest in the committee, experience, knowledge, flexibility, and commitment to serving students. Final committee assignments are expected to be completed early this summer with a schedule of meetings to follow. 
• No additional discussion.

Discussion: 

• Updated legal policy updates will be added to the June 13th regular board meeting agenda for discussion and approval. 

Discussion: 

• No action items were presented. 

Discussion: 

• No further discussion. 

Discussion: 

• No closed session. 

Discussion: 

• The meeting was adjourned at 8:56 p.m.