April 16, 2012 at 5:00 PM - Work Session and Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

Discussion:  CMS Principal Doug Kluth said the middle school teachers will show things they have been doing with iPads. The Middle School committees then reported to the board. The improvement committee has a good mix of teachers. This group focuses on updating the school profile as well as communicating building CI goals in math and language arts. The School Culture Committee focuses on assessing school climate and culture. The Academic Support Committee's goals are exploring the technology use for faculty, promoting content area teaching skills, exploring standard assessments, examining Wednesday study hall and other things. The PLC Committee's (Professional Learning Communities) main goal is to promote the mission statement, and the best way to do this is to put it on everything. The Outreach Committee’s major project is to plan the open house and promote the use of School Fusion and Powerschool. Professional Development Committee found out that teachers and students learn in the same way. The iPads have been an important part of professional development this year. The School Organization Committee looks at parent survey data.

Discussion:  Executive Director of Technology and Operations Leonard Kwapnioski said a year ago the floor started to show splinters so the district started looking at what could be done. The current stage floor is 50 plus years old. Leroy Svatora architect for Davis Designs said Omaha Stage will be the general contractor because they do the majority of the work on stage floors in the state, and they were also part of the high school renovation project. This project will begin once school dismisses.

Discussion:  The Board of Education reconvened at 7:00 p.m. for the regular board meeting.

Discussion:  Alan Dostal read the Mission Statement.

Discussion:  CPS Foundation Executive Director Jessica Kuehler presented the list of nominees for the CPS Foundation Educator of the year Award. They include: Jared Berg (CMS), Patrick Clark (CHS), Cheryl Ferguson (Lost Creek), Codi Hrouda (Centennial), Kim Korth (CHS), Linda Mohr (CHS), Jeff Peabody (CHS), Kim Shevlin (CMS), Susan Uhl (CHS), Amy Young (Emerson), Susan Bopp-Esch (CMS), Lisa Davies (North Park), Brandi Fleming (CHS), Megan Johnson (Lost Creek), Misty Liakos (North Park), Janelle Muntz (Centennial), Kendra Richter (CMS), Janet Stevens (Emerson), Valerie Wallin (CHS), Jenny Bos (Lost Creek), Celeste Ditter (CMS), Michele Gotschall (West Park), Vickie Keller (CMS), Angie Luebbe (North Park), Cristine Niles (Centennial), Anne Robertson (CHS), Edgar Travers (CMS), Anne Weber (CMS), Dianne Cattau (Centennial), Rita Douglass (Emerson), Teresa Hausmann (Centennial), Leann Klee (Centennial), Jenny Meyer (North Park), Lorraine Paprocki (Lost Creek), Sandi Seckel (West Park), Joyce Udey (Centennial) and Robyn Wilcox (Emerson). The finalists are Codi Hrouda, Megan Johnson, Celeste Ditter, Michele Gotschall and Sandi Seckel.

Discussion:  CPS Foundation Executive Director Jessica Kuehler presented the list of nominees for the CPS Foundation Operations Employee of the Year Award. The Operation Employee of the Year will receive $500 cash, sponsored by Bob Markham Class of 1976 and his wife Chris. They include: Kyle Coulter (CHS), Katie Korgie (CMS), Paul Nieuwenhuis (CMS), Michelle Cruise (Administration), Guy Loop (Maintenance), Raymond Rinkol (CHS), Jean Kamrath (CHS), Kris Miller (Administration), Suzanne Stevenson (Administration), Judy Koll (Administration) and Calvin Mustard (CHS). The finalists are Michelle Cruise, Jean Kamrath and Calvin Mustard.

Discussion:  Megan Johnson, special education teacher at Lost Creek Elementary School was recognized for receiving the Friend of Autism Award at the 9th annual ASD Network State Conference.

Discussion:  Sponsor Dave Hiebner and Patrick Clark gave a presentation on the Close-Up D.C. trip for 12 students. Both educators and students benefited from the trip.

Discussion:  Dr. Loeffelholz said there is a lot of action in HR with four certified resignations and nine hires. He said there are also some contract amendments. On the classified side, Jeff Uchtman was hired as the system administrator and there were five resignations. The 2012 tentative graduates were also part of the consent agenda.

Discussion:  No items were removed from the Consent Agenda.

Discussion:  Interim Executive Director of Business Operations Bob Waite said the district is a little ahead in the budget from last year. He said the federal government decided school lunch programs must have paid lunch equity. He said the free and reduced amount must be within a certain amount of those paying full price. Waite said there is a formula that will determine if the students are paying too much or too little money.

Discussion:  The policy does idefine profit and nonprofit. Dr. Loeffelholz said the district needs to clean up the community use of schools policies. Some of the rules that govern the policy include: the district has the right to first refusal, no tobacco or alcohol is allowed on school property and no religious or political meetings, unless held by students of the District, shall not be held on or in school facilities without the approval of the Board of Education. Student activities, of a religious or political nature, must be approved by the superintendent and/or designee.

Discussion:  Dr. Loeffelholz said this is the final reading, and it will involve moving cheerleaders and the Diamond Dancers to varsity status. Dr. Loeffelholz said after this change, there will be no isolated programs out there. Curry said at the last meeting, he asked if dance was specific enough but nothing was changed. Dr. Loeffelholz said the change was supposed to be made but was accidently omitted. Dance team will be defined as a CHS sponsored dance team.

Discussion:  Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction Amy Romshek said last year she gave an update of the curriculum for K-12 science. She said this year science is being updated with materials that better align with the curriculum. Kindergarten wanted to go with a different company because it better aligned with what was being taught at CPS. Romshek said teachers in grades 9-12 requested to wait and see if the one-to-one iPad initiative will happen. The health textbook is for grades 6-9. Romshek said the 9th grade health teachers requested an iPad cart instead of a textbook. She said these teachers have created their own text and run copies of booklets for students. She said teachers are already using multiple apps for physical education and health classes. She said a cart is more in the direction the district is heading.

Discussion:  Dr. Romshek said the report will show the board the shared key concepts for each grade level. She said there is a list of things teachers expect students to do at the end of those classes.

Discussion:  Haynes is well respected by the staff and does a lot for the kids.

Discussion:  Mark Brown as the Activities Coordinator is also an internal candidate who will continue to move the program in the right direction.

Discussion:  Mr. Harris said the reading interventionist will be funded through the special education flex money. The reading interventionist works with students who fall between general education and special education and need additional help.

Discussion:  This item was removed until teacher negotiations are over.

Discussion:  Dr. Loeffelholz gave a report on the status of financial revenue for the district as compared to array schools. Comparisons were made in Tax Levy, Valuation, Per-pupil cost, and State Aid numbers.

Discussion:  Goos said he attended the conference where Megan Johnson was recognized and she did an excellent job of representing CPS. Curry said the best production he has seen in a long time was the middle school’s Fiddler on the Roof Jr. He said the students did an excellent job. He said he also enjoyed the variety show between the students and teachers.