March 10, 2020 at 6:30 PM - REGULAR MEETING

Discussion:  The regular business meeting of ESU 15 was called to order at 6:30 P.M. on March 10, 2020, at ESU 15 Trenton Office.

Discussion:  Pledge of Allegiance was cited.

Discussion:  President Repass advised every one of the open meetings act being posted and available.

Discussion:  President Repass verified that the ESU 15 Board meeting was advertised according to policy.

Discussion:  Present were: Marty Conroy, Dave Jibben, John Metzger, Kate Repass, Allison Sandman and Jesse Stevens.

Discussion:  Absent Board Members: Cheri Burke, Dennis Chipman, Jason Loop, Jessie Stevens.

Discussion:  March Payables of $139,225.75 and Payroll of $76,054.76.

Discussion:  The board thanked Hayley Uerling for her seven years of service at the ESU 15 and wished her all the luck in her future ventures.

Discussion:  The board thanked Kara Delano for her forty-seven years of service in education with thirty-seven of those years of with ESU 15. We hope she enjoys her retirement. 

Discussion:  Mr. Calvert updated the board on the legislative progress on property tax relief and other legislative topics. Senator Groene's discipline bill has not passed and LB-965 will establish a bill for children that are deaf or hard of hearing. 

Discussion:  Mr. Calvert has visited with most superintendents for SPED services. He is in the search to find speech pathologists. Mr. Calvert has been exploring some of the following options: BOCES out of Colorado is unable to provide speech services to ESU 15 at this time. A Salt Lake City, UT recruiter has made contact and has been looking to find a speech pathologist.  Global Tele-Therapy Services may need to be used.

Discussion:  Mr. Calvert updated the board on the Climate Survey results. 

Discussion:  Mr. Calvert updated the board on COVID-19 planning and what that means for our ESU and our schools. SPED issues may come up with schools doing online classes. Similar to several other diseases that have went around,  good hand washing is very important and listening to your regional Health Department. If there is a communal spread of two or more in a region they make take more drastic measures to contain. Mr. Calvert obtained copies of other school plans and have distributed to superintendents. At this time fourteen days is the recommended length of quarantine. 

Loan forgiveness results are in. Eight additional teachers have received an average of $185 to $115 per month in savings. That is an average of $34,354 per person for a total of $200,000 in our Service Unit. ESU 2's district has saved teacher and staff for over seven million dollars.

ESU 15 has hired a Hitchcock County High School student to do our cleaning.

Discussion:  Allison went to the NSAB President retreat. She discussed online superintendent evaluation, demographics and census with 360. Marsha Harring was a speaker. 

Discussion:  Adjourned meeting at 7:20 pm. Next board meet on April 14th, 2020  @ 6:30 pm at Trenton Office and via DL.