February 25, 2014 at 9:00 AM - SEA Monthly Meeting

Rationale:  1.  Finance Report:  See Attached
2.  2014-15 School Calendar proposal.  We reviewed the input from staff members from each building and have a 2014-15 calendar draft for the planning committee of the board to consider.

3.  Health Savings Account Option (BC/BS):  Sue Warner from Blue Cross/Blue Shield met with Marlene and I to review the new requirements under the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care).  In our meeting, she explained that they have had to make some changes to their plans to make sure they comply with the minimum care provisions of the law.  If you would like her to present this information to your association, we can arrange a Friday afternoon to have her present this option to members of your association.

4.  Staff Requisitions:  We are getting ready to open the new staff requisition/inventory program.  This program will allow teachers to review their requests from the previous year, check current classroom inventory, and build their requests for the 2014-15 school year.  We will provide training for staff at each building prior to beginning this process.

5.  Strategic Plan:  The draft plan is complete and will go to the planning committee of the board for their recommendations prior to being released to district-wide staff.  Due to the fire at Cargill, we have not received their final vote on prioritizing their recommendations.

6.  After-School Grant:  The after-school grant has been submitted.  This is a five-year grant to support extended day/extended year programs for students at the elementary and middle school.  We should be notified in April if our grant has been funded.

7.  SIG Application:  The school improvement grant application for the middle school has been submitted.  We should hear by May if this grant has been approved.

8.  Technology Position:  We have advertised and interviewed for the technology position (Kerri Jo).  We made an offer, but the applicant has decided not to accept the position and remain in his current district.  We will reopen the position again to see if we can attract a candidate to begin in the summer or fall.  We are prepared to work through the spring with our current staff and your building lan managers.? 

9.  Certificate Renewal:  NDE has sent out the list of teachers needing to renew their certificates for the 2014-15 school year.  Please remind your colleagues to get this completed as soon as possible to minimize possible problems with their renewal.  They can renew online and pay with a credit card. 

10.  2014 Priority Bills:

• Adams ... LB 438 ... Select File (Change the accountability system for schools and school districts under the Quality Education Accountability Act)
• Ashford ... LB 464 ... Select File (Change court jurisdiction over juveniles and indictment procedures with pending amendments relevant to truancy)
• Brasch ... LB 145 ... Held in Committee (Change valuation of agricultural land and horticultural land)
• Campbell ... LB 887 ... Held in Committee (Adopt the Wellness in Nebraska Act -- Medicaid expansion legislation)
• Conrad ... LB 485 ... Held in Committee (Prohibit discrimination based upon sexual orientation as prescribed)
• Harms ... LB 807 ... Held in Committee (Change provisions relating to provisional operator's permits, interactive wireless communication devices, and occupant protection systems and update references to certain federal provisions)
• Kolowski ... LB 276 ... Held in Committee (Change reimbursement provisions under the Early Intervention Act and require a Medicaid state plan amendment -- relating to MIPS)
• Lautenbaugh ... LB 972 ... Held in Committee (Adopt the Independent Public Schools Act -- charter school legislation)
• McCoy ... LB 670 ... Held in Committee (Change property tax valuations of agricultural land and horticultural land)
• Nordquist ... LB 943 ... Held in Committee (Change the minimum wage rate)
• Scheer ... LB 682 ... General File (Provide for formation of allied school systems as prescribed)
• Smith ... LB 1097 ... Held in Committee (Change individual income tax brackets and rates and corporate income tax rates)
• Sullivan ... LB 1103 ... General File (Provide for a strategic planning process for education)

B.  Committee Priority Bills 

• Education Committee ... LB 725 ... Select File (Change student growth adjustment correction and local effort rate yield under TEEOSA -- lower the LER to $1.03)
• Education Committee ... LB 967 ... Held in Committee (Change provisions relating to state aid to schools and funding for early childhood education programs)
• Retirement Committee ... LB 1042 ... Held in Committee (Provide for repayments by school employees rejoining a retirement system)
• Revenue Committee ... LB 987 ... Held in Committee (Adjust individual income tax brackets for inflation and exempt social security benefits from income taxation)

C.  Speaker Priority Bills -- not yet released