Public Meeting Minutes: January 18, 2016 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

1. Signature of Notification

2. Call to Order, Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call, Welcome Visitors

2.1. Acknowledge Open Meetings Law

More Information: The Board of Education reserves the right to enter into Executive Session for the protection of the public interest; or the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual, and if the individual has not requested a public meeting.

2.2. Notice of this meeting was published in the Gering Courier on January 14, 2016.

3. Excuse Absent Board Members

4. Action Items

4.1. Election of New Officers

Attachments: (1)

203.1_OrganizationalMeeting

4.1.i. President

Discussion: The Board of Education voted Brian Copsey as the new Board President with three votes in favor.

Attachments: (1)

203.2_President

4.1.ii. Vice President

Discussion: The Board of Education made an unanimous vote to appoint Mary Winn as the Board Vice President.

Attachments: (1)

203.3_VicePresident

4.2. Appointments

4.2.i. Board Secretary

Attachments: (1)

203.4_Secretary

4.2.ii. Board Treasure

Attachments: (1)

203.5_Treasure

5. Consent Agenda

5.1. Approval of Agenda/Amendment of Agenda Items

5.2. Minutes From Previous Board Meeting

Attachments: (1)

BOE Meeting Minutes December 2015

5.3. Approval of Claims/Bills

Attachments: (1)

Dec 2015 AP Distribution Listing

5.4. First Reading of Board Policies

5.4.i. Policy 402.6 - Employee Records

Attachments: (1)

402.6_EmployeeRecords

5.4.ii. Policy 402.7 - Transporting of Students by Employees

Attachments: (1)

402.7_TransportingofStudentsbyEmployees

5.4.iii. Policy 402.8 - Employee Travel Compensation

Attachments: (1)

402.8_EmployeeTravelCompensation

5.4.iv. Policy 402.9 - Recognition for Service of Employees and Others

Attachments: (1)

402.9_RecognitionforServiceofEmployeesandOthers

5.4.v. Policy 402.10 - Employee Political Activity

Attachments: (1)

402.10_EmployeePoliticalActivity

5.4.vi. Policy 402.11 - Credit Cards

Attachments: (1)

402.11_CreditCards

5.4.vii. Policy 402.12 - Employee Involvement in Decision Making

Attachments: (1)

402.12_EmployeeInvolvementinDecisionMaking

5.4.viii. Policy 402.13 - Communication with Employees

Attachments: (1)

402.13_CommunicationwithEmployees

5.4.ix. Policy 402.14 - Employee Use of District Technology

Attachments: (1)

402.14_EmployeeUseofDistrictTechnology

5.4.x. Policy 607.9 - Service Animals

Attachments: (1)

607.9_ServiceAnimals

5.5. Second Reading of Board Policies

5.5.i. Policy 304.1 - Development and Enforcement of Administrative Regulations

Attachments: (1)

304.1 Development and Enforcement of Administrative Regulations

5.5.ii. Policy 304.2 - Monitoring of Administrative Regulations

Attachments: (1)

304.2 Monitoring of Administrative Regulations

5.5.iii. Policy 304.3 - Handbooks and Directives

Attachments: (1)

304.3 Handbooks and Directives

5.5.iv. Policy 305 - Administrator Code of Ethics

Attachments: (1)

305 Administrator Code of Ethics

5.5.v. Policy 401 - Role and Guiding Principles for Employees

Attachments: (1)

401 - Principles for Employees

5.5.vi. Policy 402.2 - Employee Orientation

Attachments: (1)

402.2 - Employee Orientation

5.5.vii. Policy 402.3 - Employee Conflict of Interest

Attachments: (1)

402.3 - Employee Conflict of Interest

5.5.viii. Policy 402.4 - Anti-Nepotism

Attachments: (1)

402.4 - Anti-Nepotism

5.5.ix. Policy 402.5 - Employee Grievances

Attachments: (1)

402.5 - Employee Grievances

5.5.x. Policy 504.21 - Dating Violence Prevention

Attachments: (1)

504.21 - Dating Violence Prevention

5.6. Early Graduation Request -- Jasmyn Boles

More Information: Jasmyn Boles as applied for early graduation from Gering High School in December of 2016. After review, Mr. Hubbard has confirmed that all requirements set forth in policy 611.08 for Early Graduation have been met and recommends that Jasmyn's request be approved.

5.7. Approval of Depository for Funds for Gering Public Schools - Valley Bank, First State Bank, US Bank, Platte Valley Bank, Nebraska Liquid Asset Fund, BOK Financial Services, Wells Fargo Corporate Trust Services

5.8. Approve Corporate Resolution for Valley Bank

Attachments: (1)

2016CorporateResolutionsforFinancialInstitutions

5.9. Approve Corporate Resolution for US Bank

Attachments: (1)

2016CorporateResolutionsforFinancialInstitutions

5.10. Approve Corporate Resolution for First State Bank

Attachments: (1)

2016CorporateResolutionsforFinancialInstitutions

5.11. Approve Corporate Resolution for Platte Valley Bank

Attachments: (1)

2016CorporateResolutionsforFinancialInstitutions

5.12. Approve Corporate Resolution for Nebraska Liquid Asset Fund

Attachments: (1)

2016CorporateResolutionsforFinancialInstitutions

5.13. Approve Corporate Resolution for BOK Financial Services

Attachments: (1)

2016CorporateResolutionsforFinancialInstitutions

5.14. Approve Corporate Resolution for Wells Fargo Corporate Trust

Attachments: (1)

2016CorporateResolutionsforFinancialInstitutions

5.15. Appoint Superintendent Bob Hastings as the Authorized Representative to secure funds for the district

5.16. Appoint Superintendent Bob Hastings or his designee as the Authorized Representative for Gering Public Schools for Federal Programs

5.17. Set Dates and Times for Gering Public Schools Regular Board of Education Meetings for 2016

Attachments: (1)

2016GPSRegularBoardMeetingDatesTimes

5.18. Personnel Items

5.18.i. Resignations

5.18.i.1. 6th Grade Teacher Kathleen Kniss (Northfield Elementary)

6. Patron Comments

7. Reports and Discussions

7.1. Curriculum Committee Report

Discussion: B.J. Peters reported for the Curriculum Committee which discussed the external review term report. The report showed that the Gering Public Schools has shown to have great relationships between the staff and students. A weakness that was observed were the lack of consistencies in the technology and facilities plan which are to be addressed in the near future.

7.2. Facilities Committee Report

Discussion: B.J. Peters reported the Facilities Committee went through the RB&B facilities report closer. During the committee meeting, they laid out options improving the High School facility. A prospective community group will be arranged to help with decisions and improvements that are needed to be made to the facility. Mr. Hastings mentioned there has been great progress going forward with arranging the community group and has received considerable recommendations. They are predicting the group will begin discussing in February.

7.3. Business Committee Report

Discussion: Mr. Shaul reported on behalf of the Business Committee which approved the AP listing. They also discussed the continuation of the agreement with First Student for student transportation through June, 2020.

7.3.i. Trial Balance Summary

Attachments: (1)

BALSHEET- DECEMBER 2015

7.3.ii. Fund Balances

Attachments: (1)

Bldg & Depr Fund-12-31-15

7.3.iii. Schedule of Investments

Attachments: (1)

Certificate of Deposits 12-31-15

7.3.iv. Financial Statements

Attachments: (1)

Finance Report December, 2015

7.4. Superintendent's Report

Discussion: Mr. Hastings discussed extending the contract with First Student as Gering Public Schools student transportation. First Student has agreed for a contract extension through June, 2020. The contract includes a 12.1% rate increase due to maintenance and labor. Mr. Hasting is very appreciative to First Student for their work with the school district and would like to continue with the business relationship. The 2016 Legislative 60 day session has started. Mr. Hastings plans on retaining more information from the Governor and the Senator at near future conventions.

8. Action Items

8.1. Designation of Newspaper of Record

8.1.i. Gering Citizen

Attachments: (2)

8.1.ii. Gering Courier

Attachments: (1)

Gering Courier Record of Request

8.1.iii. Star Herald

Attachments: (1)

Star Herald Newspaper Record of Request

8.2. Accept the 2014-2015 Financial Audit

More Information: Mike Skow from Dana F. Cole & Company presented the 2013-2014 independent financial audit to the Business Committee earlier this month. The audit was presented page-by-page and all questions from the Business Committee were answered by Mr. Skow.

Attachments: (1)

Audit Report 2015

8.3. Resolution forming a Board of Education Facilities Advisory Committee

More Information:

As a result of strategic planning goals, the district has been studying potential changes to grade configurations and associated facilities needs. The committee that recommended a change in grade configuration to K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 also recommended to the administration that the Board of Education form a task force to study the facilities needs created by this move.

Over the past several months, district administration has been working closely with consultants to determine space needs and general facilities upgrades needs in the district. We are now ready to form a Board of Education Advisory Committee who will make facilities upgrade recommendations to the Board of Education.

In order to form a formal Board of Education Advisory Committee, state law and board policy require the Board of Education to pass a resolution that creates the committee and provides direction. The administration and Board Facilities Committee ask that you approve this resolution tonight so that we may begin the formation of this committee.

Attachments: (1)

FacilitiesAdvisoryCommitteeResolution

8.4. First Student Contract Renewal

More Information:

In 2012, GPS partnered with Scottsbluff Public Schools to form an interlocal agency termed "Panhandle Interlocal Transportation Association" and jointly entered into a contract for pupil transportation services with First Student. This contract with First Student is scheduled to end on June 30, 2016. However, it offers an option to extend. Working with Scottsbluff Public Schools and First Student, we have reached a renewal agreement with the following updates to the contract:

Rate adjustment to accommodate increased costs in vehicle maintenance and labor
Termination clause due to financial constraints with notification no later than December 1 with the contract then running through June 30
Option to extend commencing July 1, 2016, and unless terminated earlier as allowed through the contract, ending on June 30, 2020
Provision to allow additional districts to be added by mutual agreement of all existing parties
Addition of coach bus for Gering
Additional location to provide services to coach bus at Gering High School
Miscellaneous housekeeping items such as address changes for both Gering and Scottsbluff District Offices

	Current	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019	2019-2020
Home to school routes		12.1%	2.5%	2.5%	2.5%
Rate/Mile	0.28	0.31	0.32	0.33	0.34
Rate/Day	225.34	252.67	260.25	268.06	276.10
1/4 hour increments	8.20	9.19	9.47	9.75	10.04
Mid-Day Routes	32.80	36.78	37.88	39.02	40.19
Trips
Rate per mile	0.16	0.18	0.18	0.19	0.20
Rate per hour	21.86	24.51	25.25	26.01	26.79
Minimum	54.64	61.27	63.11	65.00	66.95
Driver Standby	21.86	24.51	25.25	26.01	26.79
Driver Layover	131.13	147.04	151.45	155.99	160.67
Bus Rate Extra Day	109.27	122.52	126.20	129.99	133.89
Shop Rates	43.71	50.00	50.00	50.00	50.00

9. Tentative Committee and Meeting Dates

More Information:

Policy Review Committee Monday, January 25th @ 4:30 p.m.

Personnel Committee

Curriculum Committee Thursday, January 4th @ 7 a.m.

Facilities Committee

Business Committee Monday, February 8 @ 4:30 p.m.

February Regular Meeting Monday, February 15th @ 6 p.m.

10. Board Comments

Discussion: Mr. Copsey was extremely grateful to Kathleen Kniss for her many years of service at the Gering Public School district. Mr. Doll attended the Doane Honor Choir performance and was extremely impressed.

11. Adjourn

Discussion: Meeting adjourned 6:30 p.m.

January 18, 2016 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

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