November 12, 2018 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale:  Information concerning the Open Meeting Law, Chapter 84, Article 14 of Nebraska State Statutes, is posted on the bulletin board in this room.

Mr. Lyle Schjodt, Board President, will call the Board of Education Regular meeting to order. 

Rationale: 

The Board Secretary will conduct roll call attendance.

Rationale:  Mrs. Whitney Hodson and Mrs. Angie Boyd, teachers at Arbor Park, will introduce students who will share details about their recent trip to Good Shepherd Lutheran Home for their Veterans Day activity and will lead the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Students: Nolan Olson, Lane Christensen, Tucker Storjohann, Cece Thompson, Havah Huber, and Regan Blatert. 

Rationale:  October 8, 2018 Board of Education Regular Board Meeting Minutes

Rationale:  October 31, 2018 - Treasurer Report - Building Fund and Savings Depreciation Fund
October 31, 2018 - Treasurer Report - General Fund

Rationale:  Activity Fund Claims - October 2018
General Fund Claims - October 2018

Rationale:  American Broadband recently signed an agreement to enter into contract as a founding partner for the Blair Community Schools scoreboards. The scoreboards are located in the high school gymnasiums and the football field.  Copy of the contract is attached. 

We appreciate American Broadband and the support for Blair Community Schools. 

Rationale:  The Otte-Blair Middle School Band Boosters collected $150,000.00 in Family Fare receipts to participate in the Direct Your Dollars program.  Nonprofit organizations can earn $1,000.00 by collecting $150,000.00 in eligible receipts.  The Band Boosters received a $1,000.00 check for meeting the threshold for the awards program. The check will be split between Otte Band Boosters and Otte Student Senate.  

Rationale:  Holly Mackie, School Nurse, had written and received a Cargill Community Enrichment Grant. The Cargill Community Enrichment Committee awarded Blair Community Schools a donation in the amount of $2,000.00 to be designated towards the purchase of a Spot Vision Screener.  The screener would assist the nurse's in efficiently screening students and be able to screen for more eye conditions than the traditional vision eye charts.   We would like to thank them for their generous donation and we appreciate their support and commitment to Blair Community Schools. 

Rationale: 

The BHS Dance Team is requesting permission to have the dancers hold their choreography clinic on Sunday, December 2nd, 2018, and Sunday, December 9th, 2018.  In order to get the entire squads together to learn choreography, this needs to take place on a Sunday due to the number of activities each girl is involved in at BHS. 

The administration recommends approving this request with parent permission. 

Rationale: 

A letter has been received from Dr. Stogdill, Principal of Otte-Blair Middle School, requesting permission for the 8th Grade Band to take a daylong trip to Adventureland in Des Moines, Iowa on Monday, June 3, 2019.  The students will perform a concert in the park and will spend the rest of the day at the park under the supervision of the band director and parent volunteers.  No district funds are being requested for this event.  

The administration recommends approving this request. 

Rationale:  The Blair Dance center, under the direction of Jill Sailors, is requesting the use of the Blair High School Auditorium for May 23-June 2, 2019 for their annual dance recital.  June 2, 2019 is a Sunday and requires Board approval.  A fee does accompany this facility request.  

Rationale:  This is the portion of the meeting when members of the public may address the board about matters of public concern.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO SPEAK:

Rationale: 

The Policy Committee met on Monday, October 22, 2018.  Meeting minutes are attached.

 

Rationale: 

The Curriculum Committee met on Wednesday, October 31, 2018.  Meeting minutes are attached.

 

Rationale: 

The Buildings, Grounds, and Transportation Committee met on Thursday, November 1, 2018.  Meeting minutes are attached.

Rationale: 

The Finance Committee met on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.  Meeting minutes are attached.

Item from this committee for proposed Board action:

• to approve the installation and purchase of new carpet at Blair High School pending the outcome of the insurance money.
• to approve entering a Memorandum of Understanding Joint Purchase of Communications with the Washington County Public Safety Communications Agency, a purchasing agency appointed under the direction of the Washington County Board of Supervisors, for the purchase of subscriber radio devices. 

Rationale:  Discuss, consider, and take all necessary action to accept resignation from Board of Education member Brad Kreifels.

Rationale:  Discuss, consider,  and take all necessary action to adopt a procedure for the appointment of a new member to the Board of Education to fill the vacancy thereon created by the resignation of Brad Kreifels:

1. Appoint the non-elected candidate from the last election who received the highest number of votes, after confirming the candidates willingness to fill the vacancy.  The benefit is this is simple and politically neutral.  
2. Board members informally recruit candidates and Board votes to appoint successor.  
3. Formal advertisement and interview process.  The board can adopt a motion to use a formal "vacancy filling process".  The process includes advertising, have the candidates complete an application to provide information about their background, and reasons for wanting to be on the board.  Interview the candidates, but the interviews can not be held in a closed session.  Some boards interview through a committee process.

Rationale:  The Board can adopt a motion to appoint the non-elected candidate from the last election who received the hightest number of votes, after confirming the candidates willingness to fill the vacancy.

Rationale:  The Board can adopt a motion to informally recruit candidates and Board votes to appoint successor. 

Rationale:  The Board can adopt a motion to use a formal "Vacancy Filling Process".  The process includes advertising, have the candidates complete an application to provide information about their background, and reasons for wanting to be on the Board.  Interviewing the candidates can not be held in closed session but some Boards interview through a committee process.   

Rationale: 

1. November Building Board Reports are attached.
2. The annual State Education Conference will be held on November 15th & 16th.  This is an incredible source of networking, learning and recognition for all school board members.  Flyer is attached with the agenda for the conference.
3. NASB will be conducting New Board Member Workshops for newly elected board members, as well as those who have served two (2) years or less.  Wednesday, December 5, 2018, is the workshop scheduled closest to our location in La Vista.  Let Angie know if you are interested in attending.  Flyer is attached with the workshop information.