January 13, 2020 at 5:30 PM - Regular Meeting

Discussion:  Doug Willoughby read the mission statement.

Discussion: 

Paula Lawrence, principal at West Park Elementary presented information on the 2019-2020 school year. Demographics- Poverty range has dropped slightly to 66%, West Park is at 13% for SPED and 26% ELL. 

2018-19 Radar Chart-continuous improvement goals: This chart is the baseline, with next year’s data, we hope to see the chart show increases in the goals set. Ms. Lawrence talked about the MAP testing and the goal is that all students will be at 61st percentile or above. Goals after testing this year will show the chart moving outward. The continuous goals are for all students to be at the 61st percentile in math and reading.  Each student has written a hypothesis statement to help them move closer to this goal. 

Reading Goals: Kindergarten and 1st grade teachers looked at kindergarten data from last year, they saw similarities with continuous blending, modeling and increase in practices of continuous blending students will increase their fluency.  Literary text was a weak area for first grade, increased practices and reviews focusing on literary text will increase their RIT score overall. Third graders are working on students completing item analysis at the end of each cycle. Teachers are using this data to reteach and to practice during reading and WIN time. The 4th graders weak area is characteristics of information text, they will continue practicing and reviews in that area.

 

Math Goals: 61st percentile for all students on Map Math tests, each grade level has identified a different area that they need help in.  Kindergarten is working on becoming proficient in number sense skills. First grade, looking at kindergarten scores and after Map testing in the fall, the weak area is in geometry. When looking at this data, what does this really mean, shapes, time and money. Additional practices in these skills to increase scores. Second grade will utilize iXL to develop practice skills for number sense and teach and review math vocabulary to help increase scores. Third graders will use item analysis of common assessment to reteach and practice skills during WIN time and math time.  Fourth grade is reviewing algebraic and geometry concepts during WIN time and math block. 

 

West Park offers a special program to support students through the Recently Arrived Program. This program is for EL students in 3rd and 4th grade who are new and who have been in an english speaking classroom less than a year.  These students are assessed by the EL Department and have participated in the ELPA 21 screener. This program offers busing from home to West Park each day. This year there are 15 students in the EL Recently Arrived Program. They are in the program for about a year, the students are tested and if they test out, the student moves to their home school. These students spend most of their day with Ms. Ortiz,  and they do join their grade level for math and specials. Each year we learn more, this year 11 of the 15 are 3rd graders. 

Partnership with YMCA working on core values: caring, respect, responsibility and honesty.  They come at the end of the week to meet with a different grade level. At the end of each quarter, the students have an opportunity to go to the YMCA. Throughout the quarter, they refer to the proficiency scale for use of vocabulary to talk to the students, they listen to the interactions and they speak to the students about their respectful behavior. They have to be at a level 3 to go on the Y trip for activities. This program is building a positive culture at West Park.

Ms. Lawrence shared that West Park has assemblies, where they identify students of the month. The student receive a pennant and the student’s photo goes up on the bulletin board. They have activities with high school students reading with them, STEM trailer activities, 2nd graders sold cookies with the money used to buy gifts for Holiday Spirit Coop. Board members, Mike Goos commented that he was at West Park and they have an amazing staff, and Theresa Seipel said the YMCA program sounds awesome. 

Discussion: 

Approval of Board President appointments was briefly discussed, personnel was added to the name of the Negotiations Committee. All committee appointments stayed the same.

Discussion:   There were no questions.

Discussion:  Dr. Loeffelholz said there had been 2 firm name changes recently.
Fehringer & Mielak
Grant Law Firm
 

Discussion: 

Discussion included the addition of the Omaha World Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star.  Alpha media handles our radio coverage.

Discussion: 

Dr. Troy Loeffelholz was assigned as the Affirmative Action Coordinator position.

Discussion: 

Mr. Dave Hiebner, CHS Principal,  shared his vision of the two newly created positions for CHS, 9th Grade Seminar course will be tailored to the needs of CHS freshmen and will allow CHS to move forward with NDE rule 47 ccreditation. It will guide freshmen through the transition from 8th grade to be more successful at CHS. One goal will be for freshmen to understand what it means to be a citizen of CHS, this will make some improvements.

The STEM position will immediately fill some holes. Dr. Loeffelholz also said this will allow for those year long courses for juniors and seniors.  Funding for these positions should be resolved by February. STEM Teacher will help initially to assist the new construction class working with Shelby Lumber. The STEM Department will then be able to utilize the staff to keep our construction courses on track, and get more students into STEM classes that are not being met at this time. Open to looking at what applicants look like and how candidates will fit on the team. These two positions will help start the Career Academy for NDE. 

Board member Mike Jeffryes asked Mr. Hiebner what the priorities for staffing are in the big picture.   Hiebner says health sciences are a big request with 30% of students wanting to go into the health sciences. Technology students are very interested in digital media and coding, at this time we are unable to offer these classes. Freshmen Career Seminar is very important for freshmen success.

Discussion: 

Mr. Dave Melick, Executive Director of Operations and Human Resources,  reported on the financial reports, it was a slow month for property taxes, there is enough to pay all invoices. 
Mr. Melick said CPS spent 1.3 million last month,  $800,000 shown on the report is the very last payment on one of the three refunding bonds. This amount was is paid twice a year. $86,000,00 is a low amount for property taxes.  Rent came in from farm ground that CPS rents. Some SPED reimbursement that comes from the state was also noted in revenues.
Financial Report M4a indicates some mileage paid for people that move from building to building. Neo Funds is postage dollars. CPS After School Program student fees. Frontline Technologies was paid an annual maintenance fee. Platte Valley Equipment was paid for a replacement rotary broom for snow removal. There was payment for switches that needed replacement at CMS. 

Discussion: 

Mr. Melick said financial report M4b was for Board President Candy Becher’s State Conference travel reimbursement.

Discussion:  Mr. Melick said financial report M4c was for Board Member Theresa Seipel's State Conference travel reimbursement.

Discussion:  Mr. Melick said financial report M4c was for Board Member Theresa Seipel's State Conference travel reimbursement.

Discussion: 

Dr. Loeffelholz reported on Classified staff hires, mostly CPS After School Program adding or replacing staff.  

Discussion: 

Dr. Loeffelholz shared some of the traveling that has been happening in the district. CPS nurses went to the Northeast Nebraska Drug Conference in Norfolk, he attended the Legislative Preview in Lincoln, Jason Harris attended the Wayne State Interview Fair in Wayne, NE. 

Discussion: 

Dr. Loeffelholz gave the contributions total at $48,467.96, this included money going to STEM on the Go, School PTOs and Holiday Spirit Co-op from the CPS Foundation. 

Discussion: 

Mr. Melick talked about surplus property including old band uniforms, they will hold on to these until the new ones arrive.  Some of them will be sold to costume shops or maybe to a smaller school district. Also listed for surplus are some broken risers that haven’t been usable for some time.

Discussion: 

Mr. Melick spoke about the fundraising application. The CHS Diamond Dancers will sell Trevor’s fight bracelets at the Jam the Gym Event, they hope to raise $500.00-$1000.00, for the Trevor Luckey Scholarship. 

Discussion: 

Two TERIP applications have been turned in so far according to Mr. Melick.  The deadline is February 9th. AdTeam training is coming up. He also said he would be contacting the Negotiations and Personnel Committee to update them on negotiations and the policy dealing with compensation for snow days.

Discussion: 

Leonard Kwapnioski, Executive Director of Technology and Building and Sites,  talked about the fuel bids, fuel costs tend to fluctuate a lot. The bids include the new fuel for new buses with additives added in, oil, fluids, antifreeze. The bid is better when buying in bulk.  He said that $3.10 per gal was the most CPS has ever paid. He is working on a 6 month option because this is the first time we have bid this to better control our costs. Farmers Pride from Battle Creek, Sapp Brothers and Central Valley Ag bid everything, T-Bone bid on fuel only. Board Member Mike Jeffryes asked if Farmers Pride is local enough, local is defined as within a 50 mile radius and pricing within reason.

Discussion:  Mr. Kwapnioski updated on the Kramer Education Center, 12 firms requested RFP's.  Ten architectural firms, 2 engineering firms, and any interested companies were required to be present. They were all offered a tour. Deadline for proposals is February 4th, all questions must be submitted by the end of January.  He said a recommendation will be made to the Buildings and Sites Committee by the next board meeting. The CPS maintenance team has taken out 90% of lighting, so it is dark. Maintenance is scrapping stuff out. 

Discussion: 

Dr. Amy Romshek updated the board on mid year curriculum work. The CHS Business Department will have its new 5 courses completed by end of the 3rd quarter. The science teachers are working to find the best science materials for the district. They are piloting materials that are high quality and align well with CPS curriculum.  The teachers pilot this curriculum by teaching one lesson and giving feedback. Dr. Romshek shared that it is better to try with students before purchase. Thirty teachers across the district agreed to test chosen curriculum.  Some of the materials are supplied by the company and some are supplied by the district. Pilot time depends on grade level, elementary is usually a unit per
grade level. Generally takes about a quarter. At the high school level, the pilot takes about half a quarter.  Biology teachers use the curriculum with each section. Two teachers work together in piloting curriculum. New materials are better and align better. 

Dr. Romshek shared a video that included Math consultant, Shannon Kiebler co-teaching with several other teachers, there were also teachers observing and then a debriefing following the class. All of the visits by Shannon were video-taped to use for future training. 

Discussion: 

Jason Harris, Executive Director of Student Services and SPED updated on the work of Community for Kids that is being done. Early childhood (Kramer Education Center) started meeting last semester to coordinate opportunities for childcare and preschool. This group has developed a mission.  New people have been invited for these sub committee groups, School and Programming, Community Services, Provider and Parent Outreach, Business and Industry Grants/Funding. The next scheduled meeting is on January 30, 2020. This group will be bringing a recommendation to the Board. Ms. Seipel commented that lots of work has been going into this project and It is getting exciting as ideas come together.

Discussion: 

Dr. Loeffelholz reminded the board about the board retreat, and who would be included to attend with a suggestion of inviting any principals the board thought necessary. Community for Kids is scheduled to show the film "No Small Matter" to be shown in the HS concert hall. This film digs into parents needs for childcare and schools.  The "I Love Public Schools" event is January 29th, 2020. CPS will be posting on social media with student and staff sharing their feelings on their school. Isaiah May, CPS Communications Coordinator, has been gathering video of teachers and students in preparation for the event. National Random Act of Kindness Day is February 17.  Perpetual random acts of kindness will be tracked through social media. CPS will be including the community, first stop will be the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce. HR/Operations interviews starting next week, 21st, 24th, 31st. There have been about 17 candidates. Dr. Loeffelholz talked about funding sources for the Early Childhood Program/Kramer Education Center.  Clark Creative Group will help develop and solicit a plan. Nebraska Community Fund has shared great information regarding the rules changing from programming to capital projects. Several foundations were mentioned that could help CPS with funding, Buffet, Education, Daugherty Foundation, Sherwood Foundation, Kiewit, William and Ruth Scott Foundation, John Scott, and the Dixon Family. Walter Scott has started to award organizations in poverty. Next 2 or 3 months will be spent getting the marketing piece down and meet with all the foundations. The timing seems to be right for this project, especially for smaller communities. Being close enough to Omaha to have representative come out and have a look at our program may be key.

Discussion: 

Mike Jeffyes said, this is a slow time, glad everyone stayed safe. His senior daughter is  working on scholarships. Doug Willoughby said he hopes everyone had a wonderful Christmas and got rejuvenated, it was a good vacation. Reminded everyone about tomorrow evening’s wrestling meet against Norfolk. Theresa Seipel thanked everyone for scheduling one meeting this month. She enjoys going out to other buildings, but really enjoyed West Park. An old friend of her daughter, Fayth Ryan teaches kindergarten and it was nice to see her. She hadn’t visited that building in awhile. MIke Goos said he often visits West Park, thinks the staff is awesome, likes to see the growth. He is very excited about early childhood program, it is an investment for the future for our community. Doug Molczyk said it was a great vacation, he is excited about Kramer and extending the STEM Program and 9th grade seminar is exciting. 

 

Discussion:  The Board did not go into Executive Session.

Discussion: 

Adjourned at 7:09.