August 12, 2013 at 5:45 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale:  The Norfolk Public School District's board of education meeting is called to order.  

Rationale:  Please stand and join us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

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:  This is the time during the board meeting when the public may request to address the board regarding an agenda item. If you wish to comment, we ask that you identify yourself and indicate the agenda item to which you will be speaking.

Rationale:  The Facility and Finance Committee met today at 12:00 noon in the central office board room. The committee had an opportunity to review all claims and fund balances for July. The committee then discussed the upcoming schedule for 2013-2014 budget development and presentation to the board and public over the next month.  We also discussed a refinancing plan for our 2005 bonds and its impact on possible savings to our taxpayers.  Mr. Witte shared updates on HVAC, roofs, and concrete.  Dr. Thompson shared information from a TEEOSA meeting that was held in Kearney at the end of July.  The Jr. High has new serving and food distribution line for this school year, the new line is very nice and meets our food service needs at the Jr. High.  Grant school also has new lunch tables for this school year, these tables have been a need at Grant for the past several years and the lunch fund was able to support that expenditure this year as well as the new lunch line at the Jr. High. The next scheduled meeting will be on August 19th at 12:00 noon in the central office board room, this meeting will focus on the 13-14 Budget. The next regular meeting will be held on Sept. 9th at 12:00 noon in the central office board room.

Rationale:  The next Activities Committtee meeting will be held at noon on Monday, August 26th at Central Office.

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

General Fund=$1,274,506.41
Cooperative Fund=$3,605.97
Student Fee Fund=$48,589.65
Lunch Fund=$8,371.91
QCPUF Fund=$179,774.40
Depreciation Fund= $320.63
Special Building Fund=$13,804.29
Bond Fund=$67.56

The Finance and Facility Committee reviewed all claims for this consent agenda, we are busy preparing for the upcoming school year with getting our new and existing employees through the benefit process as well as getting set up for payroll. We have property evaluations being determined from the county assessors, that information will be availiable to us no later than August 20th.
 

Rationale: 

In the month of June and July, the hire forms have been flooding our office. As far as I know, all certified positions are now fulfilled.

Math and Reading orders have been arriving and disseminated to their appropriate school buildings.

Hired and began training new technology person.

30 including me, attended Professional Learning Communities at Work Institute in Minneapolis, MN July 7-10. Valuable conference and pleased that I was given the opportunity to go.

Experiencing a large learning curve with all of the details of this job. Pat McCollough, Bill Robinson, Doug Witte, etc...have been especially helpful.

Forward thinking: PLC schedule is in place, pre-school opening session schedules and agendas are done

Rationale:  Monday, August 12, 2103 is the first full day of school for ALL staff. In the afternoon, I will be meeting separately with Title I- Reading and ELL (English Language Learners) staff to discuss program plans and budgets for this school year.

NPS will have an “overflow” kindergarten section this year. This had to be established since our kindergarten classes at Washington Elementary and Westside Elementary grew to exceed the suggested classroom cap of 25 student per classroom. This additional classroom will be housed at Jefferson Elementary School. This enrollment currently stands at 16 students. Bussing for these kindergarten students from Washington and Westside is provided by the school district for those wishing to use it.

Additional basic school supplies, as listed in the district’s “Fee Waiver Policy,” have been purchased by the school district and will be made available to those qualifying students who request them. These are basic school materials like paper, pencils, glue, folders, binders, etc.

NCLB (No Child Left Behind) allocations for the 2013-2014 school year have been released from the NE Department of Education. Federal sequestration has had some effect on allocations to the State, which resulted in some impact to our school district. District allocations received to-date are listed below with a comparison to allocations from 2012-2013.

NCLB Category	2012-2013	2013-2014
Title I-Part A	$902,257	$868,361
Title II-Part A (Highly Qualified Teachers)	$158,863	$151,091
Title III-LEP (Limited English Proficient)	$20,861	$20,338
Title III-IE (Immigrant Education)	$626	$0

Rationale:  TEEOSA Meetings:
Bill Robinson and Dr. Jami Jo Thompson met with superintendents and business managers from across the state on July 29th and with the Educaiton  Committee of the Nebraska Legislature on July 30th to discuss concerns regarding our current state aid formula (TEEOSA) and brainstorm potential solutions/improvements.

Board Meeting Format:
Board members have expressed an interest in changing the format of board meetings.  Several changes were made to this meeting and several others may be considered in the future.  Current changes include:
* moving supper to 5:00 and the meeting to 5:45.
* changing "amendments of agenda" to "approval of agenda"
* placing all discussion items, committee reports, and public comments before approval items (consent and action)
* adding principal reports
*changing "old business" to "update on previous business"

Future changes being considered:
* addition of curriculum and program reveiw reports
* determining best time for board supper


Policy Review Process:
We have received a draft copy  of our revised and updated policy manual from Perry Law Firm and need to determine how best to move forward with the police review and adoption process.

I am recommending that the Policy Committee meet during the first week of each month to review one section of policy.  This policy section would be scheduled for a  first reading during the Regular Board Meeting the following week, and it would be scheduled for a second reading adn adoption during the Regular Board meeting the following month.  

As we get into the process we may determine that this is overly aggressive, especially for sections 4000, 5000, and 6000 which are quite lengthy.  But, I think this is a good way to start.  
See the attached Sample Schedule.

This will take a significant time commitment on behalf of all board members, particularly the members of the Policy Committee.  Later in the meeting, we will ask the current members of this committee if they are able to commit this amount of time or if we need to reassign new members.

Rationale:  The NPSFoundation is proud to announce a great new opportunity for students at Norfolk High School.  The foundationw will begin offering New Dual Credit Scholarships for students enrolling in dual credit courses.

Fundraising Campaign
The NPS Foundation will begin Monday, August 12th with a kick-off at the back to school welcome at the Johnny Carson Theatre.

Rationale:  We will be adding this new component in the near future.  

Rationale:  It is important for  all school board members and the superintendent to understand and accept their roles and responsibilities and to agree to follow set Operating Principles in order to function efficiently and effectively.  (See attachements for discussion.)

Rationale:  Minutes for the Board Meeting held July 15, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.

Rationale:  Approval of up to $500,000 General Fund expenditures to pay end-of-the year bills.  This will be disclosed on the September Board meeting along with normal August claims.

Rationale:  According to state statute, the board must appoint members to serve on the Americanism Committee at the beginning of each school year.

Julee Pfeil, Bruce Mitchell, and Dr. Brad Krivohlavek were appointed to this committee during the reorganization of the board in January and could certainly be re-appointed now.

This committee is responsible for reviewing the district's curricular materials and activities to ensure compliance with this statutue.  (See attachment.)

Rationale:  The Policy Review Committee will require a significant time commitment as we implement the Policy Review  Committtee, including a significant amount of reading and additional monthly meetings.  Current Committee members are:  Dr. Brad Krivohlavek, Sandy Wolfe, and Bob Waite.  We need to affirm that the current members are able to commit this additional time and/or assign new members.  

Rationale:  The second meeting of the month will be held on Thursday, August 22, 2013 at 12:00 noon in the Central Office board room. 

The next regular meeting of the board of education is scheduled for Monday, September 9, 2013 at 5:45 at the Norfolk Chamber Office. This meeting will be proceeded by a Budget Hearing and Tax Hearing at 5:35 at the same location, and the board supper at 5:00.