July 14, 2014 at 12:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

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

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

Rationale:  Special Recognition: The Nebraska Association of Elem. School Principals (NAESP) have awarded the Robinson family a Friend of Education Award for their work with the  Blessings in a Backpack program.

Rationale:  Doug Witte is being presented a Distinguished Leadership Award in honor of  his 21 years of exemplary service to Norfolk Public Schools.

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:  Total amount of claims approved in the consent agenda for the month of July, 2014 by specific fund are as follows:

General Fund = $408,330.73
Cooperative Fund= $5,825.10 
Bond Fund= $601.43
Student Fee Fund= $514.62
Special Building Fund= $182.30
QCPUF Fund= $257,881.95
Nutrition Services Fund= $71,256.03
Depreciation Fund= $200.00

The total amount of claims for the month of June, 2014 in the Activities fund are as follows:

Activity Fund = $123,609.89

We are ending our fiscal year within budget.  Over the next few weeks I will be making some recommendations to move dollars to depreciation from the general fund after looking over our depreciation needs.  I will bring that item and some other recommendations through the finance and facility committee to the August board meeting. 

Rationale: 

CURRICULUM

• The PLC workshop on June 23-24^th at the LLLC had over 80 participants. The evaluations reflected positive reviews.
• The first phase of the curriculum work with teachers occurred on June 25-26. I believe it was very productive.
• There has been some correspondence with NDE as they work through the final pieces of collecting data for State of the Schools Report, sometimes we just need to clarify some records.

HUMAN RESOURCES

• Mr. Kwapnioski has begun taking over many of the HR responsibilities. The transition is going smoothly.
• There is one local substitute listed for your review and approval.
• Pre-Opening Agenda for 2014-15 is complete.

TECHNOLOGY

• This time of the year the technology department is very busy doing off-season work to ensure we are ready to go when school starts. Computer lab software is being updated and yearly maintenance is occurring as well. Work is also being completed at maintenance for wireless service in that building. 

Rationale: 

 

• Painting Projects:  Great progress has been made with our district painting projects this summer at the following schools: Woodland Park, Grant, Senior High and Central Office. There is still some anticipated classroom/hallway projects to be completed at Jefferson and the Junior High as construction projects come to a close at these schools.

   

• All of our school grounds have been sprayed for weeds and sand burrs.  Sprinkler systems are all operational -except one bank- at the Middle School where concrete work is being completed. Aaron Rang has done some over-seeding on some playing fields that are being watered, now that summer camps are finished.

   

• Concrete work on sidewalks, driveways/streets and curbs has been completed at Central Office and Bel Air.  The crew is currently at the Middle School where a sidewalk is being added to the south side of the exit street onto First Street.  Some of this work was done as a part of our district’s maintenance concrete replacement plan and some is being done for compliance with city code.  All projects are a part of the district’s QCPUF coverage.

   

• Asbestos has been removed from the old College Building and we are currently waiting for word through Hespe Construction for the start of demolition.  Last word is that the company is waiting for accessibility to the “right sized” crane to handle the project.

   

• Stage safety lighting, rigging repair and replacement projects have been let for bids at the Carson Theatre.  Mr. Robinson will have more information in this regard at a later time.

 

• Transition meetings with administrators regarding program responsibilities in the Administrative Reorganization Plan for the district have gone well.  We have had good conversations regarding the developmental history of some programs and I can see where these programs will continue to grow and flourish for Norfolk Public School students under their direction.

Rationale: 

Staff/Students Return:
I have missed seeing staff and students in the buildings and look forward to their return.

Staff will  return to duty on Monday, August 11th. They will have three days of preparation and professional development prior to students' return on Thursday, August 14th, including an opening session by motivational author Jon Gordon on the 11th.

All First through 9th graders will start on August14th.

Extra time and attention will be given to the transition of our Kindergarten and 9th grade students. Therefore, half of our kindergarten students will start on Thursday, August 14th and the other half will start on Friday, August15th.  Information will be sent to kindergarten parents regarding which day their child starts.

All 10th-12th graders will start on the 15th.

Mr. Kwapnioskil will be positing Additional Back to School information on our NPS website soon.

Special Events for Board Members:
We have several special events coming up in the near future that you may wish to consider attending:

New Teachers' Welcome/Luncheon:
* Thursday, August 7th 11:30-1:00 
* Middle School Cafeteria
* RSVP to Sara Goodwater

NCEA/Chamber of Commerce/NPS Welcome Back & Thank You BBQ
* Friday, August 8th 11:30-1:00
* Chamber of Commerce Parking Lot
* RSVP online

Opening Day for Teachers
* Monday, August 11th 8:00-11:45
* Johnny Carson Theatre
* RSVP to Sara Goodwater

Reformatting of Board/Admin Reports:
We will be reformatting or Boare/Admin Reports next month to match the reformatting of Central Office Administration:

Bill will give a Finance and Facilities Report.
Beth will give a Curriculum, Assessment, and Instruction Report.
Mary will give a Student Services Report.
Tim will give a Human Resources/Personnel Report.
And, I will give the Superintendent's Report

On a side note: Mr. Kwapnioski's title is being changes from Director of Human Resources, Public Relations, and School Improvement to Director of Human Resources and Accreditation.  His job responsibilities will still includ Public Relations, along with several other ares.  But, Director of HR and Accreditation is much simpler to write and say.  Director of HR, PR, and SIP is a real mouth-full and doesn't fit on letterhead or business cards very well.

Rationale:  The Finance and Facilities Committee did not meet this month.  However, Committee members did have the opportunity to review claims electronicaly prior to our meeting.

Rationale:  The Policy Committee met Thursday, July 10th at noon to review Policy Section 8000 related to Internal Board Policies.  These policies will be reviewed with the entire Board during our retreat this afternoon to ensure that everyone has a clear understanding of our internal operations and any changes that may be made as a result of these policies.  If we need to make any revisions to these policies, we can do that prior to our Second Reading next month.

No changes were made to Policy Section 6000b or the policies contained in our Annual Review. These are ready for Second Reading and Approval today.

Rationale:  June 9, 2014 Regular Board Meeting Minutes

Rationale: 

Michele Dickey Reading at Bel Air Elementary

 Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Unified from University of Nebraska in Kearney, Nebraska

 Previously student taught at Washington Elementary in Norfolk, Nebraska

 

 

Suzanne Ames .5 FTE Reading (Title I) at Woodland Park Elementary

Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education  from Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska

Previously student taught in Battle Creek and then substituted for Norfolk Public Schools

 

Rationale:  None at this time

Rationale:  There have been no changes to this Policy since our First Reading last month. Approval of this policy will allow us to coop with schools outside our district boundaries for swimming.

Rationale:  There have been no changes to these policies since our First Reading last month.

Rationale:  There have been no changes to these policies since our First Reading last month.

Rationale:  The Policy Committee  has reviewed these policies related to the internal operations of the Board, and we will discuss them in detail during our retreat later today.  If we need to make any changes based upon our discussion, we can do that prior to our Second Reading next month.

Rationale:  Larissa Marques, a student from Brazil, who is proficient in English, for the full school year.  
Sponsored by John Witherspoon and the Rotary Exchange.

Rationale:  Wisner-Pilger Schools has requested that we enter into a 2 year cooperative agreement with them for Girls Swimming. Our recent changes to Board Policy will allow this.

Rationale:  We would like permission to sell 9 used desks to an interested community member. Our profit on the desks would be very nominal, but it would save us from taking them to the landfill. 

Rationale: 

Rationale:  The Board of Education will complete the second  semester evaluation of NPS Superintendent, Dr. Jami Jo Thompson. This evaluation will include areas of strength, where Dr. Thompson is excelling, as well as areas where the board would like to see changes or improvements.

Rationale:  Our next meeting will be held at noon on Thursday, July 24th in the Central Office Board Room.  It is anticipated that this will be a short meeting to approve bids that did not come in prior to today.

Our next Regular Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 11th at 5:00 in the City Chamber Office.  

Rationale:  We will take a short break before transitioning into the  Conference Room for our Board Retreat.  No business will be conducted during the Board Retreat.  This will be an educational meeting for the board.

Topics will include:

1. Ice-Breaker

2. Goals/Progress Update

·         Strategic Plan Update -- SAP Co-Chairs

·         Facilities Update -- B. Robinson/Thompson

·         Student Performance Data -- Thompson

 

3. Board By-Laws and Procedures

·         Open Meetings Law -- Thompson

·         Policy Section 8000 Preview -- Thompson

·         Policy Section 9000 Preview -- Thompson

·         Meeting Format -- Thompson

Breaks (recesses) will be scheduled throughout the afternoon.  

All aspects of the Retreat are open to the public.  In fact, we will not adjourn this meeting until we are finished with the Retreat.

 

 

Rationale:  We will not be adjourning our meeting until after the Board Retreat.  However, we will take a short 15 minute recess to allow for brief media interviews and our transition into the Conference Room.