January 10, 2018 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

President Gould called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM and the Pledge of Allegiance was said.

All Members were present.

President Gould reminded the audience that the Open Meeting Laws are displayed in the back of the room for their review.

Motion by Black, second by Urbom to elect Harriet Gould as President of the Board of Education.  RCV 6-0.

Motion by Blanchard, second by Breitkreutz to retain current officers of Scott Black as Vice President, Lori Springer as Secretary, and Susan Urbom as Treasurer for 2018.  RCV 6-0.

Motion by Black, second by Urbom to approve the consent agenda as presented, regular meeting minutes of December 13, 2017, Financial Statement and monthly bills as presented.  RCV 6-0.

Our final Elementary Bond payment was made on December 15, 2017! 

Thank you to the Girls with Ideas and their leader Dr. Gould for their work in raising $1023.02 for the Ceresco Library.

• Ceresco: Miranda Hornung (Student Assistant) Ceresco: Elizabeth Sklenar, Alyssa Grundin, Bella Thornburg, Juliann Tvrdy) Crystal Haecker (Librarian)
• Val: Peyton Taylor (assistant), Carlee Wolfe, Jacey Hofpar, Sava Hitz

On December 18, 25 members of the Raymond Central Future Business Leaders of America Chapter went to the People’s City Mission in Lincoln to provide them with volunteer assistance. Part of the members assisted with sorting and organizing donated items. The majority went to the Clinic and conducted an inventory of supplies and equipment in the exam and supply rooms. The Volunteer Coordinator gave members a tour of the Mission and explained the services they provide at the Mission and the Clinic. Members spent four hours at the Mission and felt they provided a valuable service.

Nebraska School Board Recognition Week starts January 22. In appreciation for your commitment serving the patrons and students of Raymond Central, we thank you for your support in making this a great school district. Thank you for serving as a leader in our school community and the time spent ensuing we provide the highest quality of education for our students. 

Raymond Central Preschool Teacher, Ms. Jacki Cech will become Mrs. Jacki Barry this Saturday.

Carolyn Enevoldsen, Speech Teacher, invited all Patrons to attend the 31st Speech Meet at Raymond Central this Saturday to see our students hosting and in action.  There are 510 entries with finals at 3:30 PM.

Submitted by Kolin Haecker, High School Principal/Curriculum Director

     Our School Improvement Team will meet on January 9 at Ceresco Elementary. We continue to work on SMART goals and planning for future professional development. Thanks to Dr. Gary Nunnally leading our Professional Development on January 3. We continue having good conversations about teaching and differentiating our instruction.

     Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for grades 6-12 on Thursday, February 8 from 4:00-8:00 PM. Sixth grade teachers will continue to schedule their P-T Conferences with the first night being February 7.

     There will be a meeting for sophomores, juniors and their parents on Wednesday, February 7. We will be having Cane’s Chicken and the event will include presentations from SCC Dual Credit, SCC Career Academy and UNL Advanced Scholars college representatives.

     Juniors will go over the ASVAB test results on January 24.

     Senior mock interviews will be conducted on February 1 at the high school. This is a requirement for the senior file needed for graduation.

Submitted by Greg Wilmes, Activities Director/Assistant High School Principal

     Earning NCPA academic all-state for One Act was Matthew Jackson and Ella Kehr. Jackson Fowler was recgonized as all-state football honorable mention in both Omaha World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star for class C-1.

     JH boys basketball team finished their season with a sweep of Palmyra on December 14. JH girls basketball team starts practice on Monday, January 8. Preliminary numbers indicate only about 12 or 13 girls. Their first contest is January 22 at North Bend Central. JH wrestling will start later this month with their first competition on February 13.

     Girls basketball has had wins against Wilber-Clatonia, a loss to Syracuse, a win against DC West, and losses to Malcolm and North Bend Central before break. In the Lincoln Lutheran Holiday tournament, they finished runner-up with a win against Fairbury and a loss to Lincoln Lutheran. Their next contests are at Arlington on January 5 and at Centennial on January 6.

     Boys basketball has wins against Wilber-Clatonia and Malcolm, with losses to Syracuse, DC West, and both Holdrege and Fairbury in the holiday tournament. They too will play Arlington and Centennial on the road this upcoming weekend.

     Wrestling ended received runner-up at the RC dual invite. Easton Albrecht was runner-up at the Platteview invite. The team also won both duals with Tekamah Herman and on December 21. John Karpov was 2nd at the Aurora Invite on January 2. Their next tournament is at Wilber on January 5.

     Wayne Honor Band Participants: Ellen Dexter (6 year participant), Matthew Jackson, Megan Lange, Maiya Miller, Brigit Shultz and Brandon Unverferth (6 year participant).

     Speech has continued their start to a busy year with meets at Millard North on January 6 and their home invite on January 13.

     Some important dates coming up:  Wrestling Senior Night - January 18 vs Waverly, Conference Wrestling - January 20 @ RC, Wrestling Invite - January 27 @ RC, and Girls/Boys Basketball Senior Night - February 9 vs Fort Calhoun.

Submitted by Shelly Dostal, Elementary Principal at Valparaiso and Curriculum Director

     Professional Development - On January 3, Dr. Joel started the morning creating connections for teachers with our RC mission. Dr. Gary Nunnally led professional development time focusing on the study of differentiation as we move from creating a common definition to the study of effective practices related to differentiated instruction. Jim Marsh trained teachers with the Bright Arrow application and also introduced the ClassLink application. Our next professional learning time is January 17.

     School Improvement/AdvancED - The committee refined the RC definition of differentiation using the definitions the teacher groups had created previously. This definition was presented to teachers on January 3. The definition for differentiation at RC is: Differentiation is designed instruction to meet the needs of all students through: content, process, product, and learning environment.

     Assessment - Winter DIBELS was completed in December. End of quarter assessments were completed prior to break. Second Quarter Report Cards will be sent home on January 12. Plans are underway for NWEA MAP testing February 19-March 2. I have also been attending trainings via webinars for the new statewide assessment system (NSCAS) to take place this spring. Mr. Haecker and Mrs. Osten are coordinating the ACT assessment and are attending those trainings.

     Curriculum - Technology Committee met on January 3 after the professional development time. Items discussed included the number of available technology devices, Chromebooks versus iPads, how to best meet needs of students and training for teachers.

     January is National Mentoring Month. The mentoring program founded by Dr. Tom and Nancy Osborne, TeamMates, matches students with caring adults. Mentors and mentees meet about once a week during school hours. TeamMates would like to thank all of our mentors: Kristie Bohac, Alice Pecka, Dave Burklund, Esther Ryan, Jennifer Frasier-Davidson, Ron Bottorff, Barb Ohnoutka, Tammie Holley, Kendra Detweiler, Shirley Eichmeier, Brad Breitkreutz. Our newest members Deb Brooks, Darrell Walla, Mike Unverferth, and Karri Donahue will soon be matched with students. Mrs. Kristine White continues to recruit mentors and match students. We are always looking for new mentors and have a waiting list for mentees. Please contact Mrs. White at the school for more information about how to become a mentor or go to www.teammates.org.

     Helping the Homeless Service Project - The fifth graders coordinated a sock, hat, and glove drive during December and have extended into January. The group will travel to the People’s City Mission HELP center in late January to deliver their donations and help the mission with their work. Thank you to Mrs. White for leading the charge and to Mr. Rose, Ms. Brown, and Mrs. Genrich for their assistance. Kudos to all of the generous donors for their support!

     PTO - The Holiday Shoppe was a great success. Thank you to the many volunteers for organizing, purchasing, and helping at the Holiday Shoppe. The Girls with Ideas class wrapped up their sessions. They led a coin drive in December which raised $1023.02 for the Ceresco Library. The class was led by Dr. Harriet Gould with assistance from Miranda Hornung and Payton Taylor. Participants were Jacey Hofpar, Sava Hitz, Carlee Wolfe, Elizabeth Sklenar, Alyssa Grundin, Bella Thornburg, and Juliann Tvrdy. Thank you to all who donated!

     A special thank you to the generous donors for providing gifts for some of our students through the "Angel Giving Trees" during the holiday season.

     MUSTANG Award recipients for November/December were: Stryker Youngblood, Josie Kohl, Brilynn Geidner, Gianni Johnson, Jolee Kliment, Phoenix Monroe-Burch, Max Pierce, Amirah Potter, Wyatt Suchy, Owen Virgil, Karrie Weaver, Millie Burton, Joshlyn Garrett, Izzy Lubischer, Izzy Soden, Makenna Hellerich, Grayson Goering, Marissa Jensen, Layna Eddie, Tess Roubal, Savanna Benes, Ella Buresh, Lucas Den Hartog, Evelyn Dickey, Gabe Fritsch, Hailey Hengtgen, William Jelinek, Tavion Johnson, Ellie Potter, Drew Tice, Jianna White, Moya Windhorst, Khloe Cuttlers, Tucker Matulka, Sean Schultz, Jacey Hofpar, Lennox Mai, Evan Potter, Shyanne Sears, Tavis Steele, Carlee Wolfe, Sava Hitz, James Liu, Gavin Becker, Quincy Cotter, Erika Donahue, Taylor Drake, Brandt Fletcher, Landon Lubischer, Preston Lubischer, Brooke Munford, Dawson Potter, Liam Tvrdy, Ellie White, Colten Weise.

     POP (Positive Office Pass) lunch for second quarter will be held on January 15. We had over 65 POP passes!

Submitted by Ann Egr, Elementary Principal at Ceresco and Director of Special Education

     Welcome to 2018! The students were excited to be back and ready to learn. It was nice to see all of the smiling faces.

     Our monthly MUSTANG assembly was held on December 22. The following students were honored with a MUSTANG award: Stella Harvey, Easton Lubischer, Aiden Powers, Wesley Bryan, Aviana Pebley, Allyson Tvrdy, Kayla Matulka, Mason Mumm, Cooper Saf, Zoey Goddette, Lydia O’Malley, Ali Al-Baaj, Julianne Tvrdy, Alyssa Rothwell. P.O.P (Positive Office Pass) drawing recipients were: Lilly Hudson, Nolan Meranda-Melia, Will Varilek, Chloe Thomas, Susana Becher, Rae Thomas.

     The Girls with Ideas program, lead by Dr. Gould, held a penny drive in December to raise money for new books for the Ceresco Library. The total amount raised between the two elementary buildings was $1023.02!!! Thank-you to the following: Dr. Gould (Leader), Miranda Hornung and Peyton Taylor (Student Assistants), Girls with Ideas members Elizabeth Sklenar, Alyssa Grundin, Bella Thornburg, Juliann Tvrdy, Carlee Wolfe, Jacey Hofpar, Sava Hitz and ALL who supported this penny drive. The generosity of this district is to be commended!

     The second round of DIBELS was completed in December. The data is used in conjunction with other assessment tools to evaluate students’ reading progress to develop appropriate supports and interventions.

     Homework club will resume Monday, January 8. Thank-you Mrs. Genrich for running this valuable program.

     The district is currently accepting kindergarten registrations for 2017-2018 until February 23, 2018. The application process for the district preschool is available until March 15.

     Training - Dr. Joel and myself will attend Beyond School Bells on January 16 in Columbus. The free series is sponsored in part by the University of Nebraska Extension to provide professional development opportunities for afterschool programs and those interested in starting an afterschool program or Expanded Learning Opportunity Program (ELO) in four regions across Greater Nebraska. The goal for this professional development is to create opportunities for afterschool professionals working across the state to share best practices and learn new skills that can help improve the quality and sustainability of their community’s summer and afterschool programs.

During second semester, all Raymond Central administrators and staff will continue their learning around differentiation and study effective practices related to differentiated instruction.

     The Nebraskans United for Property Tax Reform group was formed on December 27, 2016 to begin working on school funding issues and to combat political rhetoric that we have high property taxes in this state because of excessive school spending. They are encouraging all school districts to adopt their resolution, which dozens of schools have already done so. 

      Discussion needs to be held regarding transporting Preschool students to our current pickup/drop off locations. We will always provide transportation for special education students, however, are not required for general education students. Next year the midline bus with the lift will be used to transport a wheelchair bound student.

     The breakfast survey was sent out last Thursday afternoon to all 6-12 students and parents. The offering of breakfast is in conjunction with the updating of our wellness policy. 

     Superintendent Joel reported that we have officially received the DRAFT air quality study from Davis Design for the Elementary at Ceresco giving us two options that will solve our humidity and mold issue, but one would replace our heat pumps which are already 20 years old. Brandon Sire, Engineer at Davis Design, will attend our February Board Meeting to present and answer questions after the report is finalized.

     Christmas break was much needed and appreciated throughout the school. 

     Girls Basketball got second in the Lincoln Lutheran Holiday tournament and boys got 4th place in the tournament. Girls basketball won against Centennial last weekend and boys lost. Both basketball teams lost to David City Tuesday night.

     Junior high basketball began this week. Junior high wrestling will start in a couple of weeks.

     Last week wrestling went 2-3 at Wilber. Thursday night they wrestle at Malcolm.

     The Speech Team spoke at Millard North last week and got 9th place.

     FFA is having their annual Alumni Consignment Auction this Sunday, January 14.

Superintendent Joel presented the 2018-19 proposed school calendar for the Board's review.  The calendar will be acted on at our February Board Meeting.

     Nebraska Department of Education, Rule 11, outlines the need for highly qualified para educators in the preschool setting.  After discussion, item was tabled until our next  meeting in order for Superintendent Joel can gather additional information. 

Motion by Blanchard, second by Breitkreutz to compensate a retiring teacher at the end of the school year for 10 sick days at $100 per day, if they have accumulated 45 unused sick days and agree to donate the remaining 35 days to the catastrophic sick leave bank.  RCV 6-0.

Motion by Springer, second by Black to approve three contracts to repair our primary lagoon and bring the secondary lagoon to working order for up to $46,429.00.  RCV 6-0.

Motion by Springer, second by Breitkreutz to approve and submit Resolution Supporting Principles of Nebraskans United for Property Tax Reform and Education.  RCV 6-0.

Motion by Blanchard, second by Black to approve resignations received from Amanda Higgins, Head Volleyball Coach; Robin Ethridge, Co-Head Cook at Ceresco; Carolyn Hajek, Co-Head Cook at Ceresco; Stacy Roberts, SpEd Para at Ceresco; and Teresa Hansen, Assistant Cook at Ceresco.  RCV 6-0.

Motion by Black, second by Breitkreutz to approve Stacy Roberts as head cook at Ceresco; Robin Ethridge as co-assistant cook at Ceresco; Carolyn Hajek as co-assistant cook at Ceresco; Stacy Roberts as head cook at Ceresco; Cindra Jensen as Preschool Para; and Kristine Donahue as SpEd Para at Ceresco.  RCV 6-0. 

Motion by Urbom, second by Gould to retain the legal counsel of Perry, Guthery, Haase, & Gessford Law Office for 2018.  RCV 6-0.

Motion by Urbom, second by Black to approve the Resolution designating official depository(s) of 2018 school funds for Raymond Central School District to be CerescoBank, Oak Creek Valley Bank, First Northeast Bank of Nebraska, First National Bank Fremont, and BOK Financial, and that the designation of any other institution as the depository of shool funds is hereby withdrawn.  RCV 6-0.

Motion by Urbom, second by Springer to approve the mileage rate of $.545 effective January 1, 2018.  RCV 6-0.

Motion by Urbom, second by Springer to approve the next regular Board of Education Meeting as Wednesday, February 14, 2018 at the Ceresco Elementary School at 7:00 PM.  RCV 6-0.

Motion by Gould, second by Springer to enter executive session to discuss Superintendent Joel's contract at 8:50 PM.  RCV 6-0.

Motion by Black, second by Gould to return to regular session at 9:42 PM.  RCV 6-0.

Motion by Blanchard, second by Breitkreutz to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 PM.  RCV 6-0.