June 17, 2019 at 5:30 PM - Regular Meeting
| Minutes |
|---|
|
I. Board Meeting
|
|
I.A. Call to Order
|
|
I.B. Roll Call of Board
|
|
I.C. Pledge of Allegiance
|
|
I.D. Notice of Open Meeting Posted
|
|
I.D.1. President insures all can hear proceedings
|
|
I.E. Mission Statement
Discussion:
Theresa Seipel read the Mission Statement.
|
|
I.F. Opportunity for Public to be Heard
Discussion:
No one spoke to the board.
|
|
I.G. Presentations
|
|
I.G.1. Foundation Presentation
Discussion:
CPS Foundation Executive and Marketing Director Nicole Anderson said her marketing theme is I’m a Discoverer. She said CPS staff are the best form of marketing. Anderson said since she started in January through May a lot has happened. There is a new CPS Foundation website www.cpsanchor.com. She has tried to design it to be a one stop shop for alumni. The new site also allows for online registrations and donations. This year the foundation awarded 25 scholarships and $5,000 in dual credit scholarships for Career and Technical Education classes.
There were three applications for classroom grants and two were awarded. Chelsea Werner was approved to purchase speech apps for kids to use. Anderson said these are very cost effective because the app can be put in the cloud so it doesn’t need to be on a specific machine. Stacy Smith and Heidi Field were also approved to purchase bands to be used in strength and conditioning. Carl Edwards was selected as Operations Employee of the Year and Stacy Smith was named Educator of the Year. Anderson and Executive Director of Operations and Technology Leonard Kwapnioski are working with Platte Valley Precast to get the sidewalk around the anchor poured. The goal is to have it done before the first reunion in July. She said she has also been pushing for people to purchase bricks. The Discoverer Dash is set for Sept. 13. The first year of the dash there were 60 kids who registered, a little over 100 last year and this year the goal is 150. The lighting of the anchor will be on Dec. 7 after the first home basketball game. There will be smores and some entertainment to go along with the ceremony. Anderson said she has also been working on getting out the I Love Public Schools message and how it benefits people. Another big push was for the #BeKind challenge that CHS teacher Patrick Clark issued to students and the community. There has been a growth in Facebook communication. Anderson is working on getting patrons to continue to return the page and stay engaged. She said it is important that CPS is showing consistent growth in all areas. By next year, there should be even more growth. Ideally, she said she would like to see the district site be more even with the schools instead of having the district having more contact. Anderson said it has been challenging to keep people engaged over the summer since not much is going on in the schools. Her goal is to do one post a week to try to keep people engage. There are more women then men who like CPS on Facebook and the numbers of likes increase at the middle and high school levels. Anderson said the Facebook age demographics are interesting. Centennial and Emerson have a higher average age between 25-34, which must mean the families are a little younger. She said more of those 27 and younger will be more involved in Instagram. She said the goal is to try to connect to more families. By going to Instagram, there may also be more kids going on and liking photos. This would provide a good teaching opportunity to show kids how to use social media correctly. The top things for 2019-20 is focusing on the I am a Discoverer Branding and the CPS logo. Other important issues include an increased focus on engaging alumni and students in the conversation; strategic and consistent use of digital platforms - Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and the website; an increased communication amongst district staff; the anchor project; #BeDiscovererKind; and the Kramer Education Center. Superintendent Dr. Troy Loeffelholz said the district website arrangement is all across the board. He said they are working on getting three or four things that are consistent at all schools so people will know where to find things. When the district switched to the new site, everything was just converted over. Anderson said with branding and marketing, the district is selling to the parents. Anderson said everyone needs to feel like they are a Discoverer. Board President Candy Becher asked if each of the elementary schools will still get to have a mascot. Anderson said they also need to have that connection with the school, so the mascots will stay. The idea of being a discoverer is to discoverer something greater than yourself. Dr. Loeffelholz said the district is still working with Clark Creative Group on coming up with a C logo. He said several districts also have specific guidelines on how to use the logo. Dr. Loeffelholz said Clark Creative is still researching if the current C is a copyright infringement. He said the district is trying to be proactive about the logo. Dr. Loeffelholz said before a logo is adopted, it will be approved by the board. |
|
I.H. Board Special Functions
|
|
I.H.1. CPS Elementary Student Handbook
Discussion:
North Park Principal Bob Hausmann said there were a few additions and some cleanup done to the handbook. He said the principals felt that some of the wording needed to be consolidated. Hausmann said some of the changes were asked to be made by the school nurses, which is a reflection of what the state is saying must be changed. Hausmann said one of the major changes in this area is that children with headlice will not be sent home, but their parents will be contacted and a treatment plan will be developed. Dr. Loeffelholz said legally, these students cannot be sent home and treatments could be done at school.
Attachments:
()
|
|
I.I. Items to be removed from the Consent Agenda
|
|
I.J. Consent Agenda
|
|
I.J.1. Approval of Minutes
Attachments:
()
|
|
I.J.2. Financial Reports M2, M3, M4a
Discussion:
The approximate revenue of $6.3 million is a larger amount than usual because of the hefty property tax payment, Executive Director of Business Operations and Human Relations Dave Melick said. The lunch account also has a positive balance. Candy Becher asked why does the district make money on the lunches. Melick said when more lunches are sold and the company is working efficiently, there should be a profit. Becher said it bothers her that the district is making money off of the lunches. Dr. Loeffelholz said it is not uncommon to have a positive balance. He said the lunch fund is supposed to be self-sustaining, but it also must include the replacement of equipment. Dr. Loeffelholz said the district bought all the equipment for the new high school out of the lunch fund. Melick said the district will have one more payment of state aid in July because there is no payment in August. He said the district will also be doing less advertising in the Omaha World Herald because most of the people are not finding out about the jobs through that medium and it is costly. He said the district is focusing more on online advertising. CDW was paid $7,247.36 for LCD projects. The $55,616.55 payment was made to Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Home for the educating of students at Duncan with half being special education and half being regular ed.
Attachments:
()
|
|
I.J.3. Financial Report M4b
Discussion:
Seipel Repair was paid $1,802.68 for brake work on a suburban and a bus and regular services on other vehicles.
Attachments:
()
|
|
I.J.4. Financial Report M5
Discussion:
Imagine Learning Inc. was paid $10,073 for student licenses. This is an alternative program used at the elementary and middle school level. Marzano Research was paid $28,400 for professional development and a trainer to come and work with staff. Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction Amy Romshek said this is not even the full payment. NWEA Northwest Evaluation Association was paid $21,235 for the math growth test for next year.
Attachments:
()
|
|
I.J.5. Certified Personnel
Discussion:
Kelsey Newman was hired as the new high school science teacher and will also be the head softball coach. Rachel Schmid resigned as the SPED Early Childhood Teacher. Melick said it is highly unlikely there will be a replacement found. He said there is a plan in place to move people around to make it work.
|
|
I.J.6. Classified Personnel
|
|
I.J.7. Professional Travel
Attachments:
()
|
|
I.K. Acceptance of Gifts/Donations
Discussion:
The total contributions for May were $32,448.82. The year to date donations are $381,448.82. Dr. Loeffelholz said a few years ago the total donations were only at $100,000. The CPS Foundation received $20,000 from Behlen Mfg. for 3D printers for CMS and STEM on the Go. There was also a $30,000 donation to STEM on the Go. There are more than 50 kids signed up for the STEM Enrichment Camps this summer.
Attachments:
()
|
|
I.L. Business Operations and Human Relations
|
|
I.L.1. Administrative Functions
|
|
I.L.1.1. Surplus Property
Discussion:
Melick said many of these items are broke or outdated, and the district has no use for them now.
Attachments:
()
|
|
I.L.1.2. Meal Prices for 2019-2020
Discussion:
The lunch prices will remain the same as last year. Melick said the district is not allowed to lower the price even though there is a surplus of money. Dr. Loeffelholz said some years the district has had to increase the rate but not this year. Theresa Seipel said if there is extra money, perhaps some funds could be used to make the lunches a little nicer. Melick said he will pass that information along. Dr. Loeffelholz said food service will be replacing some equipment this summer.
Attachments:
()
|
|
I.L.2. Updates
Discussion:
Melick encouraged the board to read the article in the Omaha World Herald about state aid. He said it is very informative. There are 284 staff participating in the Emergency Medical Bank. There were a little over 200 days available this year and the amount used ranged from 1.25 days up to 15 days. There were 11 teachers who benefited from the bank. Melick said this bank does not cover everything. There are 95 days left over. Melick said he will be asking teachers to donate a day because the balance fell below 100 days. Staff must put in a day to take advantage of the bank.
|
|
I.M. Buildings & Sites/Technology
|
|
I.M.1. Administrative Functions
|
|
I.M.2. Updates
Discussion:
Kramer Education Center is enclosed and work is starting on the inside. Dr. Loeffelholz said once the area dries out, some landscaping will be done to get the water to drain away from the building. He said quotes will also be sought to put up a Kramer Education Center Sign.
|
|
I.N. Curriculum and Instruction
|
|
I.N.1. Administrative Functions
|
|
I.N.1.1. Approval of Courses for 2019-2020: Anatomy & Physiology, Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, Science 5th, Science 6th, Science 7th, Science 8th, Introduction to Business, Accounting, and Advanced Accounting
Discussion:
Romshek said these 11 courses are not new but rewritten. The four at the high school are anatomy and physiology, environmental sciences, biology and chemistry. There were new science standards for grades 5-8. At this level, curriculum needed to be rewritten. Romshek said this had to be done because NDE determined what units of study had to be taught. She said students can get a taste of many topics at different levels. The business courses have been updated and some were eliminated. Romshek said these will continue to be worked on next year. She said she feels the middle school science is a step in the right direction.
|
|
I.N.1.2. Purchase approval for texts and resources for the following courses:
Anatomy & Physiology materials 5th through 8th Science materials Introduction to Business materials Accounting materials Advanced Accounting materials
Discussion:
The total cost of the high school science textbook materials will be 13,387,22. The middle School STEMscopes for grades 5-8 will cost $51,025.45. Romshek said the teachers wanted to pilot one more science curriculum but they couldn’t find anything better than STEMscopes. They will be buying a three-year subscription. Romshek said this program is filled with a lot of resources, and it does mean that the students will be on their Chromebooks all class. She said it is very hands on. Romshek said the science teachers looked hard and STEMscopes is a good product. The Business and Marketing books will cost $17,628.00.
|
|
I.N.2. Updates
Discussion:
No updates were given.
|
|
I.O. Student Services
|
|
I.O.1. Administrative Functions
|
|
I.O.1.1. Request for Speech Therapists
Discussion:
Dr. Loeffelholz said the caseloads are very big for the speech therapists. There are 488 students in need of services which is up from the last five years. Dr. Loeffelholz said it is time to add more help, but he said it is doubtful the district will find someone. He said for some of the hard to fill potions like the SLP, the district may want to consider hiring every year. The board wanted to know if an SLP could be paid more since the position is hard to fill. Melick said the pay is negotiated, but there is some wiggle room with the signing bonus. Contracting services for these students is also not easy because their caseloads are just as high.
Attachments:
()
|
|
I.O.2. Updates
Discussion:
There were no updates given.
|
|
I.P. Superintendent's Report
Discussion:
July 15 will be the only meeting for the month. The board retreat will be on August 5, and this will be the Committee as a Whole meeting. The regular meeting will be on August 19. The next Community 4 Kids meeting will involve daycare and preschool providers. Dr. Loeffelholz said many of these providers are wanting professional development. He said this is something the district could help provide. If students are not going to CPS, they would at least be attending a quality daycare or preschool. Dr. Loeffelholz said other communities invite private providers to professional development. The next opportunity for professional development will be July 9 with dinner at 6 and meeting starting at 6:30 at the ESU north building. Dr. Loeffelholz invited the board members to attend if they wanted.
|
|
I.Q. Board Sharing
Discussion:
Mike Jeffryes said his children just got back from taking a trip to Costa Rica. He said it was a fantastic experience. Doug Willoughby said he was grateful for the minutes and the detail that is included. Seipel said summer is a very busy time of year and it is going fast. Mike Goos said he did not have anything to share this month. Candy Becher said the board will do the executive session next month on the superintendent’s evaluation. She said she is also glad that it is summer. Dr. Loeffelholz said the board should review how to handle trips that are overseas and being hosted by teachers in the summer, but are not school sponsored. He said these are not school sanctioned activities so the school cannot be used for meetings or fundraising. If they are school sanctioned, they must fall under the guidelines of the district. He said if the meetings and other things happen inside the school, the district could be liable. The board did not think this is something the district should be involved in, so this will be discussed more in the future.
|
|
II. Executive Session
Discussion:
The board did go into executive session.
|
|
III. Adjourn
Discussion:
The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
|
