May 18, 2020 at 9:00 AM - SAA Weekly Meeting
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I. Discussion Items
Rationale:
Communication Effort Respect Responsibility Belief One Good Thing! MEETING AGENDA AND DISCUSSION TOPICS: 1. 2019-20 School Calendar: Our final workday is May 21st (185 Day Contract). We will be closed on Friday, May 22nd through Monday, May 25th. Extended contracts may begin May 26th. Teachers and counselors on extended contracts must coordinate days with their building principals. 2. 9-12 4th Packet Mailing: The 4th packet is to be mailed with student awards and year-end communication to our students this week. Final grades are due on Wednesday, May 20th. jGrading for 4th quarter and second semester. 3. Staff Check-out: Staff checkout may be done Tuesday-Thursday this week. Summer extended contracts may begin on Tuesday, May 26th. 4. Graduation: Seniors will be checking in their iPads when they are finished and will pick up their caps and gowns and have a picture taken with their diploma in their graduation attire. We are tentatively planning on an in-person graduation ceremony on the weekend of August 1-2. 5. Food Service: Reminder, our food program will suspend services on Friday through Monday for Memorial Day. We changed our summer food application to include both breakfast and lunch. 6. Backpack Program: We will continue with our backpack program as long as we have food. Staff interested in working in helping out with the backpack program on Friday mornings can sign up at the middle school. 7. Food Pantry: Any update on this program over the summer months? 8. Summer School: We are still considering options for July summer school. If we are able to host in-person school we will run on this schedule:
Weekend update for last week from our legal counsel:
1. Weight Rooms and Baseball/Softball. By now, you have probably heard about the Governor’s announcement that, beginning June 1, schools may open weight rooms and baseball/softball fields, with restrictions. The ability to open weight rooms and fields does not require schools to do so. Some schools have already decided against opening, while other schools have committed to opening. If you plan on opening either baseball/softball fields and/or your weight room, you and your board should consider the following from a legal standpoint:
If you plan to open your fields or weight rooms and would like these release/waiver and agreement documents, please let us know.
2. NDE Confirms "Launch Nebraska" is Recommended, Not Required. Per the attached email from Lane Carr at NDE, the "Launch Nebraska" initiatives are recommended but not required. 3. Governor’s Office Reviewing Executive Order on Public Meetings. On March 17th, Governor Ricketts signed Executive Order 2020-03 that allowed public bodies to meet virtually under the Open Meetings Act. By its own terms, Executive Order 2020-03 is set to expire on May 31st. Per an email exchange earlier this week with the Governor’s Chief of Staff, the Governor’s Office is reviewing the Order and still deciding whether to extend the Order to a later date or let the Order expire. If the Order is not extended, then boards will need to return to conducting in-person meetings, beginning June 1st. 4. Governor’s Office Reviewing Reading Improvement Act Waiver. Per the same email exchange earlier this week with the Governor’s Chief of Staff, the Governor’s Office is also reviewing a possible waiver under the Reading Improvement Act’s summer school requirements. There is some delay in this process because of the uncertainty as to whether summer school can include in-person instruction. 5. CARES Act Update. Bryce Wilson at NDE has confirmed (in the attached email) that CARES Act money will not count as an accountable receipt for state aid purposes. Senator Groene has apparently indicated that he will introduce and push legislation to require the CARES Act funding to be included as an accountable receipt. In subsequent conversations, Bryce indicated that it will likely be weeks before any school district receives any CARES Act funds. In addition, NDE is reviewing the federal guidance on private schools and CARES funding, but no definitive decision has been made at NDE about what NDE will require of public schools. 6. Legislative Return. Speaking of the Legislature, the Speaker continues to look for ways for the Legislature to finish the 2020 session. Evidently, there are possible return dates in June, July and even this fall - all contingent on the health directives in place at the time. When the Legislature returns, the Speaker will give 10 days’ notice and his plan seems to be that the remaining days in the legislative calendar will be longer days in order to accomplish more work. Most of the bills that were enacted earlier this year (including LB 148) will not become effective until 90 days after the conclusion of the legislative session (whenever that will be). If school-related bills (such as LB 147, dealing with student discipline) are passed this late in the calendar year, it could be problematic for schools to implement new laws in the middle of the school year. 7. Unemployment and Intent to Return. Several schools have had to address employees applying (and even approved) for unemployment benefits. This problem may compound over the summer months, especially for those employees who do not generally work during the summer months. If you are concerned about employees filing for unemployment over the summer, you should consider having your employees complete an "Intent to Return" form to ensure that you have documentation of their intent to return to employment in the fall. 8. Employment Concerns Next Fall. Along the same lines, planning for the fall has been a discussion point lately. It is probably too early to know what will happen, but there may need to be board-level discussions over the summer about various employment-related items during the fall. For instance, if employees are unable to return in the fall, will your district continue to pay them (not to work)? If employees are able to return to work in the fall, but an employee refuses (for health, safety or any other reason), how will the district handle that employee’s situation? These are just a couple examples of difficult decisions that may become more pressing as we move closer to the fall. 9. Special Education and English-Language Learner Students - Return in Fall? This week, NDE staff members reportedly stated that special education and English-Language Learner students will be allowed to return to in-person instruction in the fall, even if general education students are required to learn remotely. Nothing to this effect has been put in writing and, if this occurs, there will be several legal issues to consider. In any event, this may be something to keep on your radar in the coming weeks for fall planning. 10. Contract Provisions. There may be a need to address administrator contracts for those administrators who are leaving the district but expected to work at the graduation ceremony that will occur after the administrator leaves the district. In addition, if you are a retiring administrator and want to participate in the graduation ceremony later in the summer, you should contact NPERS to discuss your situation and the timing of your benefits. 11. New CDC Reopening Recommendations. Yesterday, the CDC announced its "guidance" on schools’ plans for reopening: See attached guidance.
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