August 12, 2020 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting
| Minutes |
|---|
|
1. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance
Discussion:
President Gould called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM and the Pledge of Allegiance was said.
|
|
2. Motion to Excuse Board Member's Absence
Discussion:
All members were present.
|
|
3. Open Meeting Law
Discussion:
President Gould reminded the audience that the Open Meeting Laws would be followed.
|
|
4. Consent Agenda
Attachments:
()
Discussion:
Motion by Black, second by Breitkreutz to approve the consent agenda as presented including the regular meeting minutes of July 15, 2020, July Financial Statement and August monthly bills. RCV 6-0. Motion carried.
|
|
4.1. Regular Minutes of July 15, 2020
Attachments:
()
|
|
4.2. Financial Statement/Report
Attachments:
()
|
|
4.3. Monthly Bills
Attachments:
()
|
|
5. Correspondence/Recognition
Attachments:
()
Discussion:
Our research article in collaboration with Dr. Grundmeyer titled "Lessons learned in developing and leveraging a 360-degree evaluation for a first-year superintendent" will be published in the Journal of Education and Human Development.
Thank you to staff for their time, collaboration and action solution approach for reopening school this week. Thank you to Jared and his crew for all of their hard work this summer. They did an excellent job creating dividers and other resources that will be used in our schools to keep everyone healthy and safe. |
|
6. Public Forum
Discussion:
Chris Hoffman expressed his appreciation to everyone in the district by pulling together and making the opening of school happen. It was great to see the excitement in the students and staff.
|
|
7. Discussion Items
|
|
7.1. Administrative Reports
Attachments:
()
Discussion:
Submitted by Allison Stansberry, Jr-Sr High School Principal
It is hard to believe that we are gearing up to get kids back in our buildings after a very long five months of empty halls and empty classrooms. It’s hard to prepare after a gap like that, but the one thing our staff is in agreement with, is that we will have to reestablish relationships and focus on the emotional and mental well-being of not only our students but our staff as well. These past few days we have focused conversations around the reopening plan as well as the importance of providing empathy and grace this upcoming school year. We don’t know what our students have been doing these past few months and we don’t know what fears, concerns, or emotions they may have until we get acclimated to a daily routine and in an environment that allows them to feel safe and comfortable. This must be a priority for us. This summer has been busy, stressful, emotionally draining, but also rewarding, eye opening, and a major learning curve. I am beyond proud of our staff here at RC that have gone above and beyond to do what is best for our students. Our theme this year is "Every Student, Every Day. Whatever It Takes" along with "We are STRONGER together". These past few days I have seen staff collaborating, brainstorming, and most importantly eager to get students in our building! There is no doubt that our staff is excited to be with their colleagues and students again, and there is also no doubt that there is also a level of fear and concern. We will continue to do Whatever it Takes to keep our students and staff safe while also making sure the social and emotional needs are met. Last week we held 6th grade and 7th grade orientations, and student check out for students in grades 8-12 along with senior meetings. This process seemed to go very smoothly and we received a lot of positive feedback. During the first semester we will be implementing a block schedule. There was a teacher team that came together to help develop the reopening plan and with the hard work of Tasha Osten, we were able to create a plan that will reduce transition times and the amount of time students are spending in the hallways. Initial feedback is that teachers are excited and optimistic about the new schedule but nervous about the shift from 45 minute lessons to 90 minute lessons. We will see feedback in the next few weeks once we get up and running. We held Graduation on July 18. It was so nice to see the Class of 2020 one more time and give them the proper send off they deserve, even if it was 98 degrees at 10:00 in the morning. Not only where they the first class to graduate virtually, but they were also the first class to get two graduation ceremonies. Homecoming is currently scheduled for the week of September 8 with the dance being held Saturday, September 12 from 8:00-11:00 PM. We are unsure what this will look like but we will continue to hold out hope that we will be able to hold this event. We will be welcoming 32 new students into our building this year. Our 6th grade class is getting 9 of those new students and they will be our largest class with 67 students. I anticipate a few more between now and the end of the week. Submitted by Brian Gralheer, Assistant Jr-Sr High School Principal/Athletic Director Our 3D Coaching Course was recently completed. It was a great experience for everyone. 3D coaching provides coaches with great resources to coach beyond the sport-specific training and strategy of the game and provides concrete ideas to motivate and inspire student-athletes to challenge themselves individually and collectively. We have had some great discussions in our group. Coaches Placke, Houchins, Lillie, Prai, Rockemann, and myself have been walking through training with deep discussion over the content. I look forward to expanding this opportunity with another cohort. I’ve created my own course based on the material that is 10 x 45 min sessions over the course of a semester. I have been working closely with Keely Schaffer and Steve Rose to finalize our livestreaming initiative. We hope to be fully operational by the time we begin fall sports. The softball and football fields pose the biggest challenge. Another challenge is finding the help to video record the contests. Jared and I continue to be in contact with Kyle Schwarting regarding the potential Walking/XC path on the south 67 acres. Jared has also been in contact with the NRD to create a permanent solution for the erosion problem occurring directly south of the lagoons. We will begin creating a grassed waterway next spring. We are hoping to get a culvert dropped in the ditch to create a viable path in the near future. I had our fall athletic coaches host an online zoom meeting to discuss some potential challenges facing fall sports. I sat in and let them know that things will look different and asked parents to work with us through these tough times. I have had weekly conversations with Conference Ads in discussion on how to host fall athletic events. We have discussed many topics including: restricted crowds/attendance, VB vs FB vs XC vs SB hosting plans, concessions, protocol for coaches and athletes, potential Officials shortage, gate procedures, visiting locker rooms, indoor vs outdoor procedure. We plan to release our procedures for VB, FB, SB, and XC contests this week. We are committed to continuing to provide extracurricular activities to students in a safe fashion. Submitted by Shelly Dostal, Elementary Principal at Valparaiso/K-5 Curriculum Director We will welcome grades 1-5 students and families for a Meet and Greet time on August 10. Families may also make a lunch deposit, complete technology forms and pay fees. Some other booths such as the Booster Club and PTO will also be available. Kindergarteners had a one hour visit on August 3 with three groups staggered throughout the day. The school year begins on August 12. Our usual start of the year kickoff will look different this year. Teachers will bring their students inside and then we will have a morning virtual assembly and announcements. Changes in staff appointments include Ms. Kathleen Cooper-5th Grade; Ms. Amy Ziegler-5th Grade; Ms. Lori Morgan teaching Elementary Technology and assisting with STEM; and Mrs. Maggie Niewohner to 3rd Grade. Total enrollment in Valparaiso as of August 7 is 147 students. Staff attended various trainings this summer. Staff members Kendra Carlson, Heather Bohac, Monica Blank, Kim Hudson, Erin Brewer, Shelly Hlavaty, Tasha Osten, Taylor Craig, Sydney Paige, Carolyn Enevoldsen and I attended the Solution Tree PLC Conference in Omaha or remotely on July 20-22. Administrator Days hosted by NDE and NCSA on July 29-31 were held virtually. New to the profession teachers attended the ESU#2 New Teacher Academy on August 3-4. All new to RC teaching staff attended RC Orientation on August 6. Many teachers also attended graduate level classes. Our teachers continue to grow and learn and we appreciate their efforts to continue their lifelong learning journey. Building administrators met with new to RC teachers on August 7. Opening workshops are being held at the building level this year. Dr. Joel and school nurse Amanda Ehlers met with staff as well. We are all anxious to get the various new routines and procedures in place. Our focus for opening sessions includes Trauma Informed Overview, Reopening Plans, Developing Routines and Procedures, and PLC time. PLCs will develop their norms, establish protocols, and work on the ELOs for the year and how to integrate ELOs to diminish possible gaps in learning. Elementary teachers will review curriculum/instruction/assessment expectations as part of our opening workshops. New resources this year include IXL, techbooks in conjunction with Discovery Education, and EduClimber, our new data warehouse. A big shout out to the custodial staff for making sure the building and grounds are ready for the year! The work completed will help make the building safer and more conducive to learning. Increased regiments to sanitize and disinfect will help the environment safer for all. The PTO will sponsor an elementary family pool party on August 7 at the Wahoo pool. PTO had the first planning meeting for the year on July 21. Items discussed included the Meet and Greet Night, the annual fundraiser, and how to support students and staff as school reopens. Many of the events the PTO sponsors are not possible until we are in Yellow on the risk dial; the PTO decided to wait with their planning. The PTO will provide the elementary staff with lunch on the first day of school. The latest news from the Food Bank is that the Food Bank Backpack Program will not officially begin until October when they can get food. RC will again offer services; we have to work through logistics of food sources. We have been giving families gift cards to purchase groceries over the summer. The RCEF helps with the accounting and a committee including staff, parents, and community members is in charge of oversight. Backpacks filled with food are distributed to families at the end of each week at each elementary school. Families may apply for the program similar to the Free and Reduced Lunch Program and Student Fee Waiver. Funds for the program are from private donations by organizations and individuals and our fundraising event, the Hustle Fun Run and pancake feed, which we don’t know that we will be able to host. A big thank you to all of the organizations and individuals who have donated their money, time, and energy to make this program successful. A special thank you to Immanuel Lutheran Church, and while they are being renovated Ceresco Methodist Church, for housing the food and all volunteers who pack the bags each week. Submitted by Ann Egr, Elementary Principal at Ceresco/Special Education Director Elementary- New Teacher Orientation was held on August 6th at the High School. The district is excited to welcome all new teachers to RC. Kindergarteners had visitation on August 3. Meet and Greet Night is August 10 for students in grades 1-5. Students will meet their teachers outside on the playground area. The first day of school begins on August 12. Unfortunately, students will not gather on the front walk. They will recite the Pledge of Allegiance in their classrooms via the intercom to start the new 2020-2021 school year! Currently Ceresco Elementary has 140 students with three students learning remotely and one student being homeschooled. It is exciting to see the increase in enrollment! The custodial staff has worked very hard this summer to make our district look fantastic. Thank you for your dedication and a huge high five to all of them! PTO hosted a pool party at the Aquatic Center in Wahoo, August 7. They also plan to provide lunch for the elementary staff on August 12. The staff and students appreciate the generosity of the PTO. Raymond Central is very lucky to have such a supportive group! Special Education- Administrator Days were held virtually on July 29-31. NDE updated procedures for Covid-19 services. Currently our numbers in Special Education are rising. A more accurate count will be given in the next board report on the new students that are enrolling in our school. The Educational Service Unit’s Director of Student Services continues to be Daniel Bombeck. Mr. Bombeck is the contact person for CASES (National Council of Administrators of Special Education). For the 2020-2021 school year, the following personnel will serve our students and staff: Karen Vontz-Special Education Student Services Supervisor; Kirsten Peterson-Speech Pathologist; and Phillip Scherer-School Psychologist. They will be contracted through the ESU but will serve Raymond Central students. We are looking forward to a "different" year, but together we will make it a great year! |
|
7.2. Curriculum Report
|
|
7.2.1. Adoption of Revised Nebraska Social Studies Standards - Consider, discuss and take all necessary action
Attachments:
()
Discussion:
Motion by Breitkreutz, second by Burklund to adopt the revised Nebraska Social Studies Standards. RCV 6-0. Motion carried.
|
|
7.3. Superintendent's Report
Discussion:
Total number of summer lunches served was 6,825.
Our student enrollment has grown significantly. Our current 2020-2021 PK-12 enrollment is 713 students. Our option enrollment in is 93 students and out is 120 students. These numbers have been changing daily. Last year’s PK-12 enrollment was 676. Our option in student number was 85 and 120 for option out. We will have 95% of our students returning to a physical school site for learning this fall. Budget season is upon us. We are still waiting for this year’s valuations to come from our counties. Thanks to the work of Tasha Osten, Raymond Central will receive the EducationQuest College Access Grant. The grant will payout $20,000 over the course of 4 years ($2,500 a semester). We are required to have a team which will be a mix of the Counselor, Administration, Dual Credit Teachers, and Career Education Teachers. Money can only be used to support or promote events and activities that create a college going culture in the grades 9-12. The grant has requirements which will include college/career visits and field trips, mini college fairs, career fairs, financial aid presentations, and Dual Credit night. |
|
7.3.1. Goal 1: Ensure continuing well being of staff and students by creating an equitable framework for responding to and recovering from a pandemic.
|
|
7.3.2. Goal 2: Continue the creation of a 10 year facilities strategic plan for implementation that addresses maintenance and improvements for existing building assets.
|
|
7.3.3. Goal 3: Develop progress monitoring tools to evaluate the effectiveness of district initiatives to ensure the sustainability over time.
|
|
7.3.4. 2019-2020 Raymond Central Strategic Plan
Attachments:
()
|
|
7.4. Facilities Report
Attachments:
()
Discussion:
We will schedule a meeting in the next month to begin our prioritization work as a BOE for the 2020-2021 school year. Jared and his crew were able to complete everything but two items on the 2019-2020 prioritization list. Kevin Wolfe will begin construction on the bus barn expansion project in the near future, TRANE is almost complete with the Jr/Sr High School HVAC project and the Val roof project is complete.
|
|
7.5. Review of Technology Plan
|
|
7.6. Update of Raymond Central Crisis and Safety Protocol
|
|
7.7. Committee on American Civics (Breitkreutz - chair, Springer, Burklund)
|
|
7.8. Transportation Committee (Black- Chair, Breitkreutz, Springer)
|
|
7.9. Finance Committee (Springer- chair, Blanchard, Breitkreutz)
|
|
7.10. Facilities Committee (Blanchard- chair, Springer, Burklund)
|
|
7.11. Negotiations Committee (Black- chair, Gould, Blanchard)
|
|
7.12. Curriculum Committee (Gould - chair, Black, Burklund)
|
|
7.13. Policy Committee (Springer- chair, Gould, Black)
|
|
7.14. NASB Monthly Update
Attachments:
()
|
|
7.15. Village of Valparaiso Facilities Agreement - Consider, discuss and take all necessary action
Discussion:
Motion by Blanchard, second by Black to approve the 2020-2021 Village of Valparaiso Facilities Agreement for use of ball fields. RCV 6-0. Motion carried.
|
|
7.16. Lower Platte South NRD Hazard Mitigation Plan Resolution - Consider, discuss and take all necessary action
Attachments:
()
Discussion:
Motion by Breitkreutz, second by Burklund to approve the Lower Platte South NRD Hazard Mitigation Plan Resolution. RCV 6-0. Motion carried.
|
|
7.17. EMC 2020-2021 Raymond Central District Renewal
Discussion:
Motion by Burklund, second by Blanchard to approve the renewal of the district’s annual insurance policy through EMC for $ $114,319.00. RCV 6-0. Motion carried.
|
|
7.18. Upgrade Phone System - Consider, discuss and take all necessary action
Discussion:
Motion by Breitkreutz, second by Gould to approve the upgrade of our telephone system at all three school sites for a maximum cost of $55,000.00. RCV 6-0. Motion carried.
|
|
7.19. Purchase of Two New Transit Vans - Consider, discuss and take all necessary action
Discussion:
Motion by Blanchard, second by Breitkreutz to approve the purchase of two new transit vans at a maximum cost of $35,000.00 each. RCV 6-0. Motion carried.
|
|
7.20. Creation of a RC BOE Equity Committee - Consider, discuss and take all necessary action
Attachments:
()
Discussion:
The creation of a Raymond Central Board of Education Equity Committee was tabled at this time.
|
|
7.21. Review Public Forum Presentation(s) - Consider, discuss, and take all necessary action
|
|
8. Action Items
|
|
8.1. Approval of Surplus Item(s)
Discussion:
Motion by Black, second by Breitkreutz to surplus the following: 2-500 gallon propane tanks; 1-1000 propane tank; 2-2010 Ford E350s (closed seal bid process will be used) when the new vans are purchased; 27-computer monitors - $25 each; duct work from the Ag shop for welding - $50; and 7-Welding Arms - $25-50. RCV 6-0. Motion carried.
|
|
8.2. Approval of Staff Resignation
Discussion:
Motion by Breitkreutz, second by Burklund to approve staff resignations of Kathy Fredrickson, SpEd Para at Valparaiso and Robin Ethridge, part-time cook at Ceresco. RCV 6-0. Motion carried.
|
|
8.3. Approval of Staff Appointment
Discussion:
Motion by Breitkreutz, second by Burklund to approve staff appointments of Kathy Fredrickson, Ceresco Cook and Haley Ayers, Jr-Sr High Head Cook. RCV 6-0. Motion carried.
|
|
8.4. Approval of Substitute(s)
Discussion:
Motion by Breitkreutz, second by Burklund to approve Kristin Grundin and Lori Heiss as Nurse Substitutes; Max McCoy, Jenna Bruhl and Heather Brandt as Substitute Teachers; and Jean Sklenar as substitute cook. RCV 6-0. Motion carried
|
|
8.5. Approval of the Lancaster County and Raymond Central School Resource Officer Inter-Local Agreement
Attachments:
()
Discussion:
Motion by Black, second by Breitkreutz to approve the Interlocal Agreement between Lancaster County and Raymond Central for the provision of School Resource Officer. RCV 6-0. Motion carried.
|
|
8.6. Second Reading of Policies 7060 and 7070
Attachments:
()
Discussion:
Motion by Springer, second by Blanchard to approve the second reading of Policy 7060-Design-Build PSCAA and 7070-Construction Manager at Risk-PSCAA. RCV 6-0. Motion carried.
|
|
8.7. Approval of Next Regular Board Meeting - Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Discussion:
Motion by Breitkreutz, second by Burklund to approve the next regular Board Meeting for Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at 6:00 PM. RCV 6-0. Motion carried.
|
|
9. Adjournment
Discussion:
Motion by Breitkreutz, second by Burklund to adjourn the meeting at 7:27 PM. RCV 6-0. Motion carried.
|
|
10. Important Upcoming Dates:
|
