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:  Approval of contract for 2013-2014 school year for:

1. Sarah Taylor, Speech Pathologist

Rationale: 

Recommend approval of the resignations, effective at the end of the 2012-2013 contract year, for:

1. Kathy Friedrich, 4th Grade Teacher, Washington Elementary School
2. Janet Gannon, Kindergarten Teacher, Westside Elementary School

Rationale:  Mr. Witte's office has approved the application as meeting all of the district requirements.

1. Gustav Landgree-Petersen. Host family is Brad and Lori Strong and sponsor is Student American International. 

Rationale:  This is approval for the district to move ahead with the process to continue access of the Technology Bond. Further action at a later meeting will need to be taken to approve the bond.

Rationale:  Auni Strong from Jefferson Elementary is the Award For Excellence recipient this month.

Rationale: 

Joe Myers, Instructor and high school students presentation:

"K-NEX/Vernior Motion Sensor Lab"

Rationale:  1. School - Business Leader Meetings
2. Norfolk Area Sports Council & Norfolk Area Visitor's Bureau & Dennis Dolliver, NPS A.D. -- State One Act 

Rationale:  The total amount of bills approved in the consent agenda for the month of February, 2013 by specific fund are as follows:

General Fund= $380,932.52; Cooperative Fund= $99,241.94; Lunch Fund= $108,273.49;
Special Building Fund= $8,138.00; Depreciation Fund= $35,580.00; QCPUF= $1,050.00
The Finance and Facility Committee reviewed all claims for this consent agenda. Claims unique to this month were discussed for clarification.

Title I (part C) was approved by the Department of Education.  This was last of our district Title grants that we were waiting approval on. Quarter one expenditures for Title I (part C) were turned in and approved for reimbursement.  Starting this week I will be submitting all quarter two expenditures for all Title, IDEA, and Indian Education grants.  The Business office will also be handling this years Medicaid time study.  This time study with selected staff provides the necessary data that demonstrates we are meeting all state and federal requirements.  All of our E-Rate 470's were filed in early January and all of our 471's have been filed to receive  e-rate on our eligible communication expenditures.

Rationale:  Saxon Math & MAP Test Results

In 2010-2011, NPS began phasing in the Saxon Math program.  The program entered the district during that year in grades K-6.  We then expanded the program to 7th grade last year and finally into 8th grade this school year.  As we have implemented the program, we have been extremely pleased with the improved academic performance of our students.  To highlight this point, let's take a look at the historical results on the spring MAP test for our 8th grade students.

• Spring 2010--41st %ile
• Spring 2011--41st %ile
• Spring 2012--46th %ile
• Spring 2013--61st %ile (preliminary data)

Rationale: 

Report D

March 11, 2013

ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT OF STUDENT SERVICES

Kindergarten registrations for fall 2013 have been on-going since early January. Plans are now underway for our second annual district Kindergarten Round-up at all of our elementary schools on May 1st. More information will be sent to all registered families regarding the activities that will be scheduled. Last year’s activities proved beneficial to staff in preparing for their new class, so we hope this year it will be just as productive.

Our district ELL teachers will complete the ELDA (English Language Development Assessment) by March 22. The assessments will then be sent back for scoring. We anticipate a June/July report on how much growth our second language students have made in their acquisition and use of English in their reading, writing, speaking and listening.

During this school year I have been a part of a group of administrators who have been attending Safety Training at ESU # 1. March 18th marks the end of our training sessions with School Security Services out of Lincoln, NE. It is anticipated that by the time school starts in August, Norfolk Public Schools will have a new, updated Emergency Response Manual. Once received, administrators and staff will review these new safety procedures and practice putting them into action.

There are many groups practicing and preparing for spring activities. Athletes in soccer, baseball and track and field are currently conditioning on a daily basis. Our Speech and Debate team prepares for Districts this coming Saturday and our Fine Arts groups in music are preparing for their District competition in April.

March 13th marks the end of our Third Quarter of this 2012-2013 school year

Spring Parent/Teacher Conference Attendance

School	Spring, 2010	Spring 2011	Spring 2012	Spring 2013
Bel Air Elementary	99.4%	98.0%	99.2%	98.4%
Grant Elementary	100%	99.5%	96.5%	95.9%
Jefferson Elementary	100%	97.0%	98%	97%
Lincoln Elementary	98.2%	100%	100%	100%
Washington Elementary	92.9%	99.2%	97.2%	93.9%
Westside Elementary	91.8%	97.3%	93.9%	95.7%
Woodland Park Elementary	99.6%	99.0%	99%	98%
Norfolk Middle School	65.6%	80.5%	78.7%	79.1%
Norfolk Junior High	62.0%	66.0%	66%	62%
Norfolk Senior High	65.8%	69.6%	63.7%	56.6%

Rationale:  The Finance and Facility Committee met at 12:00 noon today at the Central Office Board Room. The committee reviewed all the claims for this months consent agenda and discussed any claims unique to this past month. 
Mr. Witte shared with the committee the need to replace the water conditioning system at the High School.  The current system needs replacement because it is no longer fixable.  Mr. Witte did a nice job of getting bids and competitive pricing before moving forward with this project.  Information concerning the Cooperative Tech Bond process was shared with the committtee.  Details concerning the purchase of a new mini-van for the use of transporting students with physical disabilities was also discussed.  This van will need to be modified in order to accomodate individuals that are in a wheelchair and that modification will take place to the van prior to delivery.  Students that are wheelchair bound will be able to enter the van from the rear which is safer for both the student and driver.  The van also provides easy access in and out of parking lots as well as mobility around town.  Mary Luhr and Kathy Amen were very helpful in providing assistance in providing specifications for this vehicle.  The committee also reviewed specifics from our current 403 B provider. Our next meeting will be at 12:00 noon on April 11th, 2013.

Rationale:  The committee did not meet with the board this month. The next meeting is scheduled for March 25.

Rationale:  Approval of contract for Dr. Jami Jo Thompson for position of superintendent beginning July 1, 2013.

Rationale:  The board will consider and act upon issues relating to retention of legal counsel to assist it in administering the personnel hearing requested by Elaine Jorgensen to be conducted April 3, 2013.

Rationale:  The second meeting of the month will be held on Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 12:00 noon in the Central Office board room. 

The next regular meeting of the board of education is scheduled for Monday, April 8, 2013. The study session will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the central office board room and the regular business meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the city council chambers.