June 13, 2011 at 7:30 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

Welcome to the Budget Hearing to amend the Employee Benefit Fund 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.   

 The Employee Benefit Fund is used to specifically reserve General Fund money for the benefit of school district employees; i.e. unemployment compensation.  To allocate the money from the General Fund, the District shows the movement of money as an expense from the General Fund, and the Employee Benefit Fund will show the revenue as a transfer from the General Fund.  The Employee Benefit Fund is considered a component of the General Fund.

Board approval is requested to amend the current year Employee Benefit Fund budget (2010-2011). The budget amendment will increase the Employee Benefit Fund Budget of Expenditures and Revenues. No other district funds will change. This action is required due to the increase in Unemployment claims during the fiscal year.  This action will not increase taxes or change the tax levy amount.

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:  May 9, 2011 - 4:30 Study Session Meeting Minutes
May 9, 2011 - 7:30 Regular Meeting Minutes
May 26, 2011 - 2nd Meeting of the Month Meeting Minutes

Rationale: 

Approval of teaching contracts for the 2011-2012 school year for:

1.  Brooke Reynoldson, Middle School, Math/Language Arts
2.  Melissa Ellsworth, Middle School, Math/Language Arts
3.  Cari Kronin, Grant Elementary
4.  Jami Speidel, Grant Elementary
5.  Brianna Brabec, Jefferson Elementary
6.  Erica Dawson, Washington Elementary

Rationale: 

Rationale:  A public hearing was held at the May meeting to discuss, consider, and receive input on the Parental Involvement.  The final copy of the policy is attached.

Rationale: 

The district is in the process of updating certificated employee evaluations. This is an amendment of the policy that will address changes in the evaluation process. 

Rationale:  Recommend approval of the signature of the Associate Superintendent for Student Services for all Federal Grants and Programs and the signature of the Director of Business Services for the Federal Lunch Program for the 2011-2012 school year.

Rationale:  Approval of student handbooks for the 2011-2012 school year.  The board reviewed the handbooks during the earlier study session.

Rationale:  The board reviewed the bids for these items at the study session.

Rationale:  Report on items from the study session.

Rationale:  Board approval of the bills for June were as follows:

• General Fund  -  $356,317.80
• Cooperative Fund  -  $53,674.49
• Lunch Fund  -  $50,315.73
• Special Building Fund  -  $2,831.00
• Bond Fund  -  $742,266.84
• Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund  -  $48,982.68

Several invoices for supplies for the 2011-2012 year were paid in this month's General Fund bills.  The District plans to pay for as much as possible towards the supplies requested/needed for the 2011-2012 school year.  Also included were several purchases made with federal dollars.  The fiscal year-end for the federal grants is August 31 or September 31. 

Reimbursement requests for all District grants for the third quarter have been submitted and we are beginning to receive those funds. 

As of the end of May, our accounts look good.   June is the last month we will receive a state aid payment.  There will not be much revenue coming in during the months of July and August.  What we have at this time will have sustain us until the end of the fiscal year.

Rationale: 

Americansim Reports – All schools have completed their Report on Americanism Activities for the 2010-2011 school year.  The are complete and available for review in the Office of Instruction.

 

 

Kindergarten Early Entry – Beginning the 2012-2013 school year, students attending kindergarten in the fall must be five years old by July 31.  Parents may opt to hold their child out of kindergarten for an additional year, however Nebraska state law mandates that a child who will be age six on or before December 31 must start school in the fall (prior to turning 6 years old).  The current guidelines remain in effect for the 2011-2012 school year, mandating that a child must be five years old before October 15 to begin kindergarten in the fall.

 

Nebraska Statute 79-214, allows school districts to admit children as early entry kindergartners thorugh:  1) documentation of previous attendance in another school district kindergarten program, 2) anticipated attendance through relocation to another school district where kindergarten admission will be allowed eithin the current school year, or 3) a locally designed testing program.

 

Within the next three to four months, Norfolk Public Schools will be developing a policy statement reflecting the requirements of Nebraska Statute 79-214.  Additionally, we will be selecting a testing program and administrative procedures that meet the requirement of the statute. 

Rationale: 

 

 

·        Summer School classes have begun at NPS.  The elementary schools are offering a Title I Reading program to qualifying students.  There are 222 participating students in grades K-4.  At Norfolk Sr. High they have 385 students enrolled for their two sessions.

 

·        Since Norfolk Public Schools is a sponsor of the TeamMates of Norfolk program, I want to inform you that Joyce Kirschner has taken a teaching position with the Crofton Public Schools.  She will be leaving us at the end of June.  DeAne Hahn has been hired to fill this position and will work with Joyce and Mara Riley – our other coordinator – during the week of June 6-10.  We are looking for a seamless transition with this change so we can continue to offer a quality Mentoring program to Norfolk Mentees and Mentors.

 

·        Maintenance and Building and Grounds personnel have put together and prioritized their summer projects.  It is their hope to complete as many of them as time and money allow.

 

 

Rationale:  The Finance Committee discussed:

 

1.    Reviewed District wireless proposal.

2.    Reviewed the bills for June.

3.    Recommendation to approve Silverstone & American United Life for the administration of our 403(b) Plan.

4.    Reviewed the bids for the District pest control, and sanitation pickup for the 2011-2012 school year.

5.    Reviewed the bids for the Lunch program's bread and bread products, milk and milk products for the 2011-2012 school year.

Rationale:  1. Spring Sports Season
2. City Projects
3. Summer District Projects

Rationale:  Request Board approval for the amendment of the 2010-2011 Cooperative Budget as reviewed during the Budget Hearing prior to tonight's regular board meeting.