October 14, 2010 at 6:30 PM - Regular Meeting October 14, 2010

Rationale:  It is 6:30 PM and I now call to order the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education Meeting.  This is the October 14, 2010 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:  Gwen Brown, Director of Counseling, will present data and plans that are being utilized to address credit deficient students.

Rationale:  Nancy Jones, Director of the Grand Island TeamMates program will present background information concerning the organizational structure of the Nebraska TeamMates and local affiliates with individual school districts and the need for the (MOU).  Additionally, Nancy will provide specific outcomes information regarding the Grand Island Public Schools TeamMates program during the last three years of a federally funded grant program.

Rationale:  The Jeffries' family has approached the Grand Island Education Foundation to establish a memorial scoreboard in memory of a family member.  The scoreboard has been in place for years but recently was replaced.  This agreement endows a fund to ensure replacement funds are available for future scoreboards.  The agreement is between the following groups; the Grand Island Education Foundation, Grand Island Public Schools, and the Jeffries' family. 

Rationale:  Past district practice is to review and adopt a budget calendar for the subsequent fiscal year in order to properly communicate, plan, and administer the various duties associated with the budget cycle.  The Facilities and Finance Committee of the Board of Education has reviewed the attached fiscal year 2011 - 2012 budget calendar for adoption at the regularly scheduled November Board meeting.  However, due to the expected severe funding reductions several recommendations for changes upon review by the Board of Education are likely.

Rationale:  The District presently has a .5 Behavior Consultant position yet to fill.  The CNSSP Director is requesting to add an additional .5 consultant in order to hire one full time behavior consultant.  This request is being made due to the high number of students identified with extra needs and receiving services within the district.  That factor combined with the goal to decrease the drop out rate makes this position necessary.

Rationale:  As the District approaches the implementation of a continuous calendar, it is necessary to make some modifications to the current teaching contract format that we issue to new staff, to reflect that some staff may be assigned to a continuous calendar school. In addition,  the current contract makes references to statute that needed to be updated.

Rationale:  The Substitute Teacher Pay proposal is designed to ensure that we have a competitive substitute teacher pay package that will adequately meet the needs of the district.  This pay structure is reviewed annually and the recommendations are included as an attachment.  Administration is recommending no increase until January 2010.  At that time,include a small increase that will remain in place for 18 months rather than 12 to help work through the expected budget cuts in 2011-12.

Rationale:  The District presently has a .5 Behavior Consultant position yet to fill.  The CNSSP Director is requesting to add an additional .5 consultant in order to hire one full time behavior consultant.  This request is being made due to the high number of students identified with extra needs and receiving services within the district.  That factor combined with the goal to decrease the drop out rate makes this position necessary.

Rationale:  The City of Grand Island annexes land from time to time in the normal course of the growth of the city.  Per current state statue school districts that are effected by the annexation are required to meet and negotiate in good faith concerning the long-trem outcome of the annexation in several specific areas.  In accordance with both Northwest Public Schools and Grand Island Public Schools Board of education the administration met by proxy.  The attached agreement is the result of that meeting and follows the terms and conditions of the last several agreements as a result of prior annexations.

Rationale:  The Board Operating Principles are submitted for final approval.  The preamble was added as recommended by the Policy Committee and the Committee on Instruction and Americanism was changed to Americanism to match statute.  A suggested change to the preamble is: The Operating Principles set forth in this document have been developed by the GIPS Board of Education.  The Operating Principles serve to guide individual board member interaction as we carry out the duties and responsibilities of our office, as well as to provide information to the public concerning the duties and responsibilities of the Board of Education as a collective whole.

Rationale:  This policy is being presented for final approval.  The Board Operating Principles replaces Policy 2111-Board Ethics.

Rationale:  This policy is presented for final approval.  The policy on Board Committees supports Policy 2111-Board Operating Principles as it delineates approved standing board committees:  Committee on Facilities and Finance; Committee on Personnel; Committee on Americanism; and Committee on Policy Review.

Rationale:  Annually GIPS and CCC enter into an agreement to provide dual credit (both high school credit at GISH and college credit at CCC) courses at GISH for the benefit of the student body.  The agreement for the 2010 - 2011 school year and the courses offered are detailed in the two attachments, respectively.

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 Public Relations Committee.