August 19, 2019 at 5:30 PM - Regular Meeting
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I. Board Meeting
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I.A. Call to Order
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I.B. Roll Call of Board
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I.C. Pledge of Allegiance
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I.D. Notice of Open Meeting Posted
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I.D.1. President insures all can hear proceedings
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I.E. Mission Statement
Discussion:
Candy Becher read the Mission Statement.
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I.F. Opportunity for Public to be Heard
Discussion:
CPS parent Kristin Hoesing, 7009 S 24 St., expressed concerns about the new pick times for the after school program. She said she can only pick up her child at certain hours and cannot come if it is not the right time. Hoesing asked the board what kind of program does not let a parent pick up their child at any time. She said she talked to several parents, and they have similar concerns. With the structured pick up times, Hoesing said it is challenging to get her child to activities in enough time.
Parent Tim Gentile, 769 S 32nd Ave., was concerned because his daughter was not allowed to take pre-algebra as a seventh grader. He said his daughter received a grade of 98 percent in sixth grade math and was told at the end of last year she would be in pre-algebra. Gentile said he didn’t find out she was not accepted until right before school started. The reason was because she did not score high enough on the MAP test. Gentile said this will hinder his daughter when she gets into high school. He said he should have been told by the school of the importance of the MAP math test. Gentile said all the school told him was to make sure she eats a good breakfast and had a good night’s sleep. Nothing was mentioned about not getting into a class if the score wasn’t high enough. He said the high grade in sixth grade math doesn’t count for anything even though it was a year-long class. He said there should not be that much weight put on the MAP test. |
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I.G. Adjourn
Discussion:
The board adjourned for the hearing at 5:43 p.m.
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I.H. Hearings
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I.H.1. Special Hearing - Annual review on Parent Relations Goals, Policy 1005.02, Regulations and Exhibits
Discussion:
Superintendent Dr. Troy Loeffelholz said the biggest change is in defining parent and family. He said CPS has so many children that may not be living with their parents but instead an aunt, grandparents or other relatives. Dr. Loeffelholz said with the change in wording, this will allow the child’s guardian to have the same rights as a parent.
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I.H.2. Special Hearing - Annual Review of Policy 1005.03, Regulations and Exhibits - Parental Involvement in the School
Discussion:
Dr. Loeffelholz said the district wants more parents involved in their child's education.
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I.H.3. Adjourn from Special Hearing
Discussion:
The board adjourned from the special hearing at 5:51 p.m.
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I.I. Presentations/Recognitions
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I.I.1. EL Presentation
Discussion:
EL Coordinator Erica Earley said language and integration are the two goals for the program. She said this year the department offered adult English classes with the goal to educate the families on ways to communicate with the school in English. Earley said they wanted the parents to feel comfortable with the school district. The classes were offered on four consecutive Mondays with one in the morning and one in the evening. EL Parent Liaison and translator Santiago Vasquez said they wanted to teach practical English that may be needed if they came to the schools. The morning class was more popular with stay at home moms because they could come to class while their children were at school. In addition to teaching the vocabulary, there were also break out session where they worked with a partner to practice. Earley said they were really pleased with the engagement. She said they started out with 12 people in the evening session, and it grew to 14. She said the department plans to do it again. Vasquez said they did a lot of brainstorming to determine which vocabulary words to focus on. Earley said they also went off of the types of calls they received from parents, and things they did not know how to say. A survey was done afterwards to see what the adults thought of the classes. Each participant received a certificate after the class. Vasquez said the parents were very appreciative of the certificate and thought it was similar to getting a high school diploma. The people liked the class and would like to see more offered. In the future, they said they would like to learn how to speak to their child’s teachers. Vasquez said CPS worked with Platte Valley Literacy when creating the program and referred the people there to take more classes.
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I.J. Board Special Functions
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I.J.1. Second and Final Reading of Policy 203.06 Board Committees
Discussion:
Dr. Loeffelholz said the changes in this policy reflect what the board is currently doing. He said the Americanism Committee is required to have two meetings a year. Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction Amy Romshek said a good time to schedule one of the meetings would be shortly after the State Board of Education approves the new social studies standards.
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I.J.2. Second and Final Reading of Policy 502.01 Resident Students
Discussion:
Dr. Loeffelholz said this policy simply states that a person must live in the district to be considered a resident.
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I.J.3. First Reading of Policy 402.12.05 Staff Social Media Policy and Social Media Regulations
Discussion:
The board has heard presentations on this topic in the past. Dr. Loeffelholz said this policy sets boundaries for staff, but also adds more flexibility. He said staff can now have Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Dr. Loeffelholz said if they create a professional page, they can post student photos, and share it to their personal page. However, they can’t go out and take pictures of their kids and other students, and post it to their personal page first. He said the district knows which students have photo restrictions, so this is the better approach. The Board is also included in this policy. Dr. Loeffelholz said there are some boundaries, but the administration wants to protect staff. He said there have been issues in the past.
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I.J.4. First Reading of Policy 607.05 Travel, Regulation 1 Instruction - Travel, and Regulation 2 Field Trip or Excursion Approval Form
Discussion:
Dr. Loeffelholz said this policy spells out travel during the school year. It includes how many sponsors are need for events. He said this policy does not cover traveling abroad with students. Dr. Loeffelholz said if planning a trip overseas, he would recommend the informational and recruiting meetings be held off school grounds. He said when it takes place at school, parents assume it is a school sponsored event, and it is not. When a sport or activity goes to a camp over the summer, the students fall under the school guidelines because it is connected to the school. These other trips are not educational but for fun. Dr. Loeffelholz said students have had great opportunities for awesome trips, but it is not tied to the curriculum. He said the school attorney has said if the district wants this to fall under the school, the trip must happen during the school year and not in summer so students could fall under the discipline policy. Doug Molczyk said if anything happens in the school building, parents still think it is tied to school. Promotional flyers could not be handed out during the school day, but things could be posted on the bulletin board. Dr. Loeffelholz said he will draft something on summer trips and send it to Mike Goos and Doug Willoughby.
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I.J.5. First Reading of Policy 1004.01 Media Relations Including Exhibits 1 & 2
Discussion:
Dr. Loeffelholz said this policy applies to all media, and the guidelines are taken directly from the NSAA. He said all media request filter through Director of Marketing Nicole Anderson, and she sets everything up. One board member questioned what to do with parents taking photos on the field at games and how this applies to them. Dr. Loeffelholz said CHS Activities Director Tim Kwapnioski and Anderson are meeting with the parents. He said these parents will be hired by the district and all the photos then belong to CPS. He said these parents will be assigned to take photos. He said there is also a third person who the district will be visiting with about helping with photos. He said the key is they don't own the pictures, and they must turn them over to CPS. Dr. Loeffelholz said these parents may be selling the pictures for profit. He said now with the marketing person, this issue can be addressed. Dr. Loeffelholz said these parents will work on an event by event basis and take the pictures for CPS. Dr. Loeffelholz said if anyone has any questions or concerns about the policies to contact him.
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I.K. Items to be removed from the Consent Agenda
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I.L. Consent Agenda
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I.L.1. Approval of Minutes
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I.L.2. Financial Reports M2, M3, M4a
Discussion:
Executive Director of Business Operations and Human Relations Dave Melick said August is a slow month because there is no state aid and little property taxes. B-D was paid $101,300.40 to BD for work on Kramer and another $7,892.50 to RVW for work also at Kramer. The payment to CPM Education Program of $71,126.40 was for math text books and materials.
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I.L.3. Financial Report M4b
Discussion:
Seipel Repair was paid $3,638.30 for doing five different brake jobs, three on vans, and two on buses along with getting everything serviced for the start of school.
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I.L.4. Financial Report M4c
Discussion:
Trina Jeffryes was refunded $190 for tuition reimbursement.
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I.L.5. Financial Report M5
Discussion:
Melick said there were a lot of switches and battery backups purchased from CVW Government.
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I.L.6. Certified Personnel
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I.L.7. Classified Personnel
Discussion:
Dr. Loeffelholz said there have been a lot of classified staff hired. He said the after school program also now falls under CPS, and these people are considered employees. Many CPS paras have increased their hours with the after school program to be considered full time and receive benefits.
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I.L.8. Professional Travel
Discussion:
Dr. Loeffelholz said there has not been a lot of travel last month.
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I.M. Acceptance of Gifts/Donations
Discussion:
There was $102,800.98 donated back to the district from the Foundation and umbrella organizations. Dr. Loeffelholz said the amount is a little high because the foundation serves as the fiscal agent for Platte-Colfax Community and Family Partnership until this group can receive its own 501 C3 status. For this month, the Platte-Colfax Community Family partnership accounted for $68,778.96. Dr. Loeffelholz said CPS students benefit from this group. Once they have the needed nonprofit status, this money will be gone.
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I.N. Business Operations and Human Relations
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I.N.1. Policies
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I.N.2. Administrative Functions
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I.N.2.1. 2019-2020 Teacher Handbook
Discussion:
Melick said CPS continues to struggle with spending money that doesn't need to spent because people don’t inform businesses of the district’s tax exempt status. He said now if a person does not inform a business of the tax exempt status on purchases the person will pay the tax and not the district. Melick said the only exception is if it is a place out of state, and the business will not recognize the tax exempt status. He said there is a tax exempt form, yet most employees don’t use it. To help with this issue, Melick said this information is now in the handbook. He said the only other change was removing the grading scale because it was not correct and adding whatever is used in the buildings.
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I.N.2.2. 2019-2020 Classified Handbook
Discussion:
One of the big changes in the handbook is to clarify reporting child abuse. Melick said at the recommendation of the school attorney, it is no longer enough to just report suspected child abuse to a principal or supervisor. The employee must follow up and make sure the individual actually reported it. Melick said just because a person told someone about the situation, there needs to be follow up to make sure it was done.
Melick said the classified handbook salary scale had to be updated due to the after school staff being added. He said there are currently 20 paras working as staff in the after school program, which brings them up to full-time hours. He said the pay for those CPS staff working for the after school is also the same wage they make as a para. Melick said the paras are not allowed to go over 8 hours a day so it does not become overtime. With the added full time people, they also now receive benefits. Melick said right now the lunch staff still falls under CPS, but in two years when it is bid out, the staff will transition to either LunchTime Solutions or whoever gets the bid.
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I.N.2.3. Surplus Property
Discussion:
There are several items from CHS Instrumental Music, radios, microscopes and extra supplies from the CMS Amplify Pilot; chairs, desks, tables, bookcases, humidifiers, an overhead projector and VCR from Lost Creek; and a paper shredder from the Student Center.
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I.N.3. Updates
Discussion:
Melick said on May 24, CPS applied for the fresh fruit and vegetable grant. Last year Emerson and North Park each received the grant. This year Centennial, Emerson, North Park, West Park and CMS applied for the grant, but none of them were funded. Melick said the notice of not being funded was very last minute, and he tried calling to talk to someone about the denial, but no one returned his calls. He said he does not think he will get any response. LunchTime Solutions has purchased a big panel truck, and it will be installed with heating and cooling centers to keep food at better temperatures. Melick said there are once again grants available for food service equipment, and the district is applying for units that will help with temperature control. These cost around $9,000 each. Melick said he has told the principals if there is extra money in the budget, perhaps some healthy snacks could be purchased. He said the snacks are not the same as the fresh fruit and vegetables that were served during lunch. The two schools received $50 per student for the healthy snacks. Melick said there are still some job positions that are not filled.
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I.O. Buildings & Sites/Technology
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I.O.1. Policies
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I.O.2. Administrative Functions
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I.O.2.1. 2019-2020 Safety Committee Members
Discussion:
Executive Director of Operations and Technology Leonard Kwapnioski said several new people were added to replace those who left the district. He said every building principal is involved in selecting a representative from their building. Kwapnioski said there are also now crisis team members on the safety committee.
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I.O.2.2. CMI Contract for 2019-2020
Discussion:
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I.O.2.3. Boiler Bids
Discussion:
Kwapnioski said there are four buildings that must have boilers inspected every year: Emerson, Centennial, Kramer Education Center and CMS. The contract is with Trane for $4,647.
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I.O.2.4. Service Master Contract for 2019-2020
Discussion:
Kwapnioski said the reason for contracting with Service Master is the district had difficulty filling custodian positions. He said the contract is higher than last year because some additional duties were requested, and this also includes the extra help during the summer. Kwapnioski said every one of the buildings have a map of what is cleaned daily. He said it is still a savings to the district because Service Master uses their own chemicals. Kwapnioski said the number of hours is an estimate of what it will take to clean the buildings. Service Master runs the background checks on their employees and not CPS. Kwapnioski said there have not been any issues, and the building principals have an open line of communications with owner Kurt Shevlin. Kwapnioski said when the district first made the switch, the labor was higher than what they were paying. He said if CPS could find the workforce it would be great. He said this is a concerns as custodians get closer to retirement. The total cost of the contract is $247,347.
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I.O.3. Updates
Discussion:
Kwapnioski said the signs made by Distar Industries are up at CHS. There is one located by the activity entrance and two on the STEM building. He said Distar donated the signs and all the district had to do was to install them. He said the signs are very well done and look nice. Kwapnioski said Distar has been a big partner for the Anchor Project. He said the company will be recognized for their efforts. He said there still needs to be a little work done at Kramer were the wall collapsed. Kwapnioski said he is hoping the fence can be taken down, so the weeds can be removed and grass seeded.
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I.P. Curriculum and Instruction
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I.P.1. Policies
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I.P.2. Administrative Functions
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I.P.3. Updates
Discussion:
Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction Amy Romshek gave an update on Strategic Plan No. 1 and academic achievement. She said one measure they wanted to look at is to make sure all teachers are competent with the super seven elements. Romshek said teachers have been working on providing rigorous learning goals for students. She said as a district, staff is not as high with applications because it is the most difficult one. Romshek said they are working on the last learning goals and proficiency scales and hope to be done with common assessments soon. After December, the focus will shift to standards based grading. She said the goal is to finish the common assessments the first semester. Jan Hoegh will be working with staff for five days. Sep 17, 18 and 19 and Oct. 11 and Oct. 25.
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I.Q. Student Services
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I.Q.1. Policies
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I.Q.2. Administrative Functions
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I.Q.3. Updates
Discussion:
Executive Director of Student Services and Special Education Jason Harris said the early childhood survey is completed, and there were 386 English speaking surveys returned and and 74 in Spanish. He said the Spanish speaking numbers increased after it was put on the EL Facebook page and a text went out. The Spanish speakers had an average income of $20,000-$39,999 and had a GED or high school diploma. However, Harris said the majority didn't answer that question but this was the average of those who did. The English speakers who took the survey had an income of between $100,000- $139,000 and most had at least a bachelor degree. There are meetings scheduled for Sep. 10 and 24; Oct. 8 and Oct. 22; Nov. 12 and Nov 26 and Dec. 10 from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
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I.R. Superintendent's Report
Discussion:
Dr. Loeffelholz reminded the board that they need to sign up for one of the meetings that are coming up. The dates are August 21 in Fremont; Sept. 4 in York; and Sept. 25 in Norfolk. Candy Becher and Theresa Seipel are already signed up. Dr. Loeffelholz said he is signed up to go the Property Tax Reform Town Hall meeting in Norfolk. There will be several senators attending, and they include: Jim Scheer, Lou Ann Linehan, Tom Briese and Ben Hansen. There were 80 kids who participated in activities at the STEM on the Go trailer during Columbus Days on Saturday, and several stayed the entire 2 hours. Dr. Loeffelholz said Danita Wickens is doing a great job with STEM on the Go. He had two conversations with the parent who addressed the board with concerns about the change in pick up from the after school program. Dr. Loeffelholz said according to the grant, students must attend the program for a least an hour for it to count as an enrollment. The schedule release times are 4:30 p.m., 5:15 p.m. and 6 p.m. Students can request to have their children picked up earlier, but they must wait in an unsupervised area. Mike Jeffryes said he has heard from 5-7 parents who don't want their kids left by themselves. Dr. Loeffelholz said in order to have drop in pick up, another person would need to be hired to man the door. At the start of the after school program, all students have homework time. Mike Jeffryes said he is concerned if a parent cannot pick up his or her child. In the past, one door was left open so parents could get in when needed but now the doors are locked for safety reasons. Dr. Loeffelholz said parents have cell phones of the lead staff and site coordinator as well as Stacey Whiting and Sara Colford. However, several building principals said cell phones don’t work in all parts of the buildings. Doug Molczyk said perhaps parents could be given so many early outs and then their child is out of the program. Parents do pay for the program unless they qualify for free or reduced lunch. Theresa Seipel said she understands the parents’ concerns and would not want to be unable to pick up her child. The board decided to discuss this issue at another time. Dr. Loeffelholz thanked Doug Willoughby for helping to serve lunch at the convocation, and Candy Becher for speaking and welcoming staff.
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I.S. Board Sharing
Discussion:
Mike Goos welcomed all the staff back to school, and he hopes everyone has a good year. Goos said he just finished reading 24th and Glory by Dirk Chatelain, and he would recommend people read it. Theresa Seipel said she is sorry she missed the convocation. She said she is glad everyone is back in the swing of things. Doug Willoughby welcomed everyone back. He said he enjoyed attending the convocation. Willoughby said as a former teacher, he enjoys going back to see the staff. Mike Jeffryes said he is glad school is back in session and has three children in CPS this year. He said one started this year at CMS and is doing great. Jeffryes also thank Tim Gentile and said he understands the situation. He said he hopes the school will provide him with some feedback. Jeffryes said he also recently moved a kid to UNL. Doug Molczyk also welcomed back the staff and said it will be a great year. He also thanked Gentile for coming to express his concerns to the board. Molczyk said he is excited about the school year and has gotten his activity pass and plans to attend a lot of events. Candy Becher welcomed the staff back and said this will be a wonderful school year. She said she hopes everything will go well.
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I.S.1. Board/Superintendent Goals
Discussion:
Candy Becher said the board needs to set a date for another retreat to discuss the board and superintendent goals. She said preschool and setting up the nonprofit corporation also needs to be discussed.
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II. Executive Session
Discussion:
The board went into executive session at 7:51 p.m. to discuss the superintendent's evaluation.
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III. Adjourn
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