February 10, 2011 at 6:30 PM - Regular Meeting February 10, 2011

Rationale:  It is 6:30 PM and I now call to order the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education Meeting.  This is the February 10, 2011 meeting.  Notice of this meeting has been advertised in the Grand Island Independent, which is the District's designated method of giving notice of these meetings.

We want those in attendance to know that copies of the Open Meetings Act are available at the entrance to the Board Room.  If anyone in attendance is interested in addressing our Board, you are welcome to do so.  We simply request that you complete the appropriate form and turn it in to us now so that you may be recognized during the Public Forum part of our meeting.  These forms are also located by the entry doors of this room.

Mrs. Wagner, will you please call the roll?

Rationale:  Roll Call.

Rationale: 

The Mission  

Every Student, Every Day, a Success
Within the Grand Island Public Schools,
- every student will be taught to read, write, and communicate effectively; solve problems; acquire and apply knowledge; and demonstrate mastery through performance to the best of the student's abilities;  
- every student will be treated with fairness and dignity;
- every student will experience a sense of belonging, contribution, and success; and
- every student will develop responsibility and show respect for others as well as oneself.  
In educating students, we teach hearts as well as minds.

Rationale:  The first item on the agenda tonight is the Consent Agenda.  The Consent Agenda to be approved is as follows:

(items read.)

This is the Consent Agenda as published.  Would anyone like to remove any items or add any items to the Consent Agenda? 

Rationale:  Dr. Dexter will present information on United Way Grant application. This grant partially funds GIPS Child Care Solutions. The grant request is for $21,000.00 of a $71,159.00 total budget. Child Care Solutions provides parenting education and referral assistance to community day care providers.

Grant Proposal is attached

Rationale:  In the summer of 2009 the District put artificial field turf and other improvements in at Memorial Stadium.  This project was financed in part by debt via COP (Certificates of Participation) a type of financing available to public entities.  The term of the debt was seven years, with the COP callable in June of 2014.  Given the anticipated revenue reductions via reduced state aid the District is considering paying the debt off now.  This helps in two ways.  First, the District has the ability to save interest expense if the debt is paid earlier than originally financed.  Second, the District avoids $70,000 plus of general fund expense in the upcoming tight fiscal years.  The down side is the District needs to use cash reserves paid into a trust account until the COP become callable.  The District needs to consider if paying this General Fund debt obligation early make fiscal sense.  The decision rests upon the better of the two options; maintaining cash reserves or saving interest expense and debt payment obligations in the General Fund.

Rationale:  An additional payout option for future VERIP plans is available for use by the District.  Several Nebraska school districts in partnership with National Insurance Services have established a Non-Elective Special Pay 403(b) program.  This program saves both the employee and the employer the normally due (7.65%) FICA tax on payments made within a VERIP with this plan in place.  The employee has no choice in the payout method (i.e. 403(b)) thus the term "Non-Elective" with this plan.  However, the FICA savings and the immediately available cash via the 403(b) contribution from the District gives the employee the full benefit with the flexibility to withdraw the funds from the 403(b) account.  Our legal counsel for our 403(b) plan is familiar with this special pay 403(b) plan and has done an initial review of the plan documents.  The administration intends to present this for approval during the March 14, 2011 regularly scheduled board meeting.       

Rationale:  Presentation of a contract for discussion with ESU 10 to provide audiology services for CNSSP.
Contract attached
2009-2010 = $19,320.47; 2010-2011 = $21,000.00 @; 2011-2012= $22,050.00 @

Rationale:  Presentation of 2011-2012 ELC Calendar for approval at March Board meeting.

Rationale:  Dr. Dexter will present data collected from Terra Nova for 4th grade, EXPLORE for 8th grade, and PLAN for 10th grade administered in the Fall of 2010.

Rationale:  Mrs. Palmer will present a proposal to provide educational services to students with social/emotional disorders in CNSSP.

Rationale:  On Thursday, February 3, 2011 from 5:30 P.M. to approximately 9:00 P.M. the Board of Education and Central Office Staff conducted an open public meeting concerning the fiscal year 2011 - 2012 budget reduction issues.  Mr. Harden will review for the Board the items that consensus was reached on and where that leaves us as we move forward into more detailed budget reductions.

Rationale:  Last month Dr. Dexter presented the Draft Copy of the 2011-2012 calendar for the Continuous School Year schedule being offered at Howard Elementary School.  The Board is being asked to adopt that calendar at this month's board meeting.

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the Facility and Finance Committee.

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the Teaching and Learning Committee.

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the Personnel Committee.

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the Policy Committee.

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration by the Grand Island Education Foundation.

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the Legislative Committee.

Rationale:  A quarterly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration by the NASB Board of Directors.