April 11, 2011 at 7:30 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

Welcome to the Budget Hearing to amend the school budget for the 2010-2011 school year. The purpose of this hearing is to give taxpayers the opportunity to discuss, consider, and receive input regarding the proposed amended budget.

Ms. Schwartz will review it and the board will provide an opportunity for public comment. The adoption of the budget will take place by a vote during the board meeting and not at the hearing.   

This is approval for the Norfolk Public Schools current year budget (2010-2011). The budget amendment will increase the General Fund Budget of Expenditures and Revenues. No other district funds will change. This action will protect the District’s budget growth in the event that unforeseen additional dollars become available.

• This action will not increase taxes or change the tax levy amount.
• This action will not increase district spending. The district is continuing to restrict spending as much as possible to help address the state aid reductions.
• The amended budget will address the receipt of Federal Education Jobs funds.
• The amended budget will provide the District with a broader base to apply the state’s revised spending lid formula.
• This action protects the budget authority of the district.

Rationale:  If any board member is absent, there will need to be a  motion to excuse the absence.

Rationale:   

It is the vision of the Norfolk Public Schools to actively engage all students in learning
through a relevant and comprehensive standards-based curriculum that integrates
 21^st century skills, tools, context, and assessments.  

• Goal #1:  All students will succeed at each grade level and graduate from high school well-prepared for a variety of post-secondary pursuits.

• Goal #2:  All students will feel connected with the school and the learning process.

• Goal #3:  District resources, programs, and departments will be aligned to attain high levels of student achievement and instructional excellence.

• Goal #4:  The community will be engaged to support high levels of student achievement.

  The mission of the Norfolk Public Schools is to prepare studentswith the skills and knowledge to meet the challenges of a complex, global society.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rationale:  March 14, 2011 - Study Session
March 14, 2011 - Regualar Session
March 24 - 2nd Meeting of the Month
April 6, 2011 - Special Meeting

Rationale:  None.

Rationale:  Recommend approval of the retirement resignations of:

1. Janis Jensen, first grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary effective at the end of the 2010-2011 contract year.
2. Thomas McConnell,Junior High technology coordinator, effective at the end of the 2010-2011 contract year.

Rationale:  "Lincoln's Littlest Learners Go Digital" by Andrea Pehoviack and Monica Pickinpaugh.

Rationale: 

Most of the general accounting activity, other than the day to day business, has been concentrated on the analysis of the first spin of state aid and the impact on our budgets, both current and projected.  Based on the initial spin, we will see a 25% reduction in state aid for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. 

 

For the remainder of this budget year:

• Reduce current year spending
• Pay down on next year’s orders (if possible)
• End the year with additional carryover to continue to provide for adequate monthly cash flow in 2011-2012.

We plan to spend the Education Jobs fund on teacher salaries and salary related items.  The application for the funds opens in April and once that is approved, we will request reimbursement for those dollars.  We plan to carryover the approximate $790,000 in Education Jobs funds to support financial activity for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

Rationale: 

APL Training

Approximately 50 elementary teachers and administrators recently completed five days of APL training. The training was led by David Perry and Jean Anastasio from APL Associates and focused on research-based instructional strategies and techniques. With the completion of this training, all elementary classroom teachers (K-6) and elementary and middle level principals (K-8) have received the training.

On May 25 and 26, approximately 90 teachers and administrators from the Junior High and High School will receive days one and two of the APL training. An additional 50 elementary, middle level, and high school "specials" teachers (SPED, ELL, Title I, Guidance, etc.) will be trained during the 2011-2012 school year.

APL training is paid through the district's Title II A grant which targets high quality professional development for teachers and administrators.


DIBELS Next

DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills), one of the main reading assessments delivered in the elementary grades, is transitioning to the next generation of their assessment called DIBELS Next. DIBELS Next provides much of the same information as the original DIBELS tests, but adds new components that will allow teachers to better analyze the comprehension levels of students.

Elementary teachers are scheduled to be trained in the use and administration of DIBELS Next on May 25 and 26.  The training will be provided by staff developers from Educational Service Unit #8 at no charge.  Training materials will be paid through the district's Title II A grant which targets high quality professional develoment for teachers and administrators.

NeSA-Reading, Math, & Science Assessments

The district is currently in the midst of the administration of all NeSA exams in Reading, Mathematics, and Science. All students in grades 3-8 and 11 are taking the reading and math assessments and students in grades 5, 8, and 11 are involved with the Science pilot test. Some tests are being administered online and some paper/pencil. By the end of the testing window on May 6, Norfolk Public Schools students will have taken part in 9,284 NeSA Reading, Math, & Science test sessions, 1,482 NeSA-Writing test sessions, and 6,054 MAP test sessions. From approximately February 1, students in these grades will have taken part in over 17,000 testing sessions throughout the district.

Rationale: 

 

-          Just wanted to let you know that our Building and Grounds personnel have been working hard to ready and revitalize our school owned “green space” in preparation for spring sports and other activities.  They have also been extremely helpful in collecting and sorting school owned materials as we prepare our buildings for sale and/or bid.  Their effort has been appreciated.

 

 

-          Some district wide activities that may be of interest to the Board of Ed and the community are:

v  Friday, April 29- Is the High School Jazz Band and Choir Show

v  Monday, May 2- LOYALTY DAY PARADE – beginning at 4:00 p.m.

v  Friday, May 6- TeamMates of Norfolk – ONE HOUR WALK. 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the Sr. High

v  Thursday, May 12- JOM Awards Banquet- 5:00 p.m. at the Ponca Tribal Center

v  Sunday, May 15- Graduation- 2:00 p.m. at Memorial Field

 

 

-          There are many activities listed on our district’s activity calendar that cover the remaining six and on-half weeks of school.  Please take the time to review this schedule and I encourage you to attend those of interest to you.

 

Rationale:  Discuss, consider, and take all necessary action to reduce and reorganize the curricular and extra-curricular programs offered by Norfolk Public Schools beginning in the 2011-12 school year.

Rationale: 

We are requesting approval of the amendment to the Norfolk Public Schools current year budget (2010-2011). The budget amendment will increase the General Fund Budget of Expenditures and Revenues. No other district funds will change. This action will protect the District’s budget growth in the event that unforeseen additional dollars become available.

• This action will not increase taxes or change the tax levy amount.
• This action will not increase district spending. The district is continuing to restrict spending as much as possible to help address the state aid reductions.
• The amended budget will address the receipt of Federal Education Jobs funds.
• The amended budget will provide the District with a broader base to apply the state’s revised spending lid formula.
• This action protects the budget authority of the district.