February 9, 2012 at 6:30 PM - Regular Meeting February 9, 2012

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 9, 2012 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:  This calendar is for the four schools designated to follow the Continuous School Calendar for 2012-13 - which are Howard, Jefferson, Starr and West Lawn.  The calendar was developed by the 2012-13 CSC Committee and was based around the traditional calendar as approved by the Board on Jan. 12, 2012.

Rationale:  Due to recent financial market conditions the District is in a position to refinance all of the 2005 series general obligation bonds to further reduce the debt interest cost to the taxpayer.  In order to take advantage of the rapidly changing market conditions quick action is necessary to achieve the desired results.  Therefore, at the regularly scheduled February Board meeting this issue with be both an informational and action item to take full advantage of lower interest rates currently available in the bond market.

Rationale:  In order to move from doing business via credit cards to procurement or purchasing cards (P-Cards) the district needs do the following;

1.  Enter into a agreement with the Nebraska Liquid Asset Fund (NLAF) "The Association" sponsored by the Nebraska School Boards Association.
2.  Enter into an Membership Agreement between the sponsoring bank (Bank of Montreal) via a Corporate MasterCard Program, PFM Financial Services, LLC (NLAF), and the district.
3.  Pass a resolution authorizing the issuance of individual procurement cards.

After executing these documents the district will establish necessary business office procedures, best practices, and implement the P-Cards on a limited test basis initially.  A long term goal will be to replace all current Corporate VISA credit cards, petty cash, and the purchase of any prepaid VISA cards.  The P-Card process integrates directly with our financial software package iVisions and should have several benefits such as streamlining the procurement process, reducing transaction time and expenses, and allow the business office to provide better support to district employees who need to purchase goods and\or services on the district's behalf.

Rationale:  The Nebraska Joint Utilities Management Program (NJUMP) is an interlocal agreement sponsored by the Nebraska Association of School Boards (NASB), which has been very successful in providing participating districts a lower cost bulk natural gas supply.  In order to continue our participation in the program we are required to periodically update the terms and conditions of our interlocal agreement.  The attached document is the new interlocal agreement, effective July 1, 2012, we will be participating in the NJUMP via.

Rationale:  The district was approached by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with the request to use our property located at 804 Stolley Park Road West as an extraction and monitoring point for the Parkview Superfund Site.  After legal review and contract modifications it is the administrations recommendation to enter into the "Consent to Access for EPA Environmental Response Action "Agreement" as presented.

Rationale:  The Grand Island Education Association ("GIEA") requests that the school board of Grand Island Public Schools take action to recognize GIEA as exclusive bargaining agent for all the District's non-supervisory, certificated employees for the 2013-2014 contract year.

Rationale:  CNSSP Advisory Board reviewed and revised the CNSSP Handbook and Contract. The Handbook and Contract were presented for discussion in January.  A correction was made and the Board is being asked to approve the final version.

Rationale:  The GIPS Preschool Calendar for 2012-2013 was presented for discussion in January and the Board is being asked to approve it this month. This calendar follows the GIPS District Calendar except for parent contact days and Friday planning and meeting days.

Rationale:  Due to resent financial market conditions the District is in a position to refinance all of the 2005 series general obligation bonds to further reduce the debt interest cost to the taxpayer.  In order to take advantage of the rapidly changing market conditions quick action is necessary to achieve the desired results.  Therefore, at the regularly scheduled February Board meeting this issue with be both an informational and action item to take full advantage of lower interest rates currently available in the bond market.

Due to the timing of this issue this item is both an informational and action item.  The following resolutions must be passed to refinance the bonds;

1.  Resolution Calling the General Obligation Bonds, Series 2005 for Redemption on December 15, 2015

2.  Resolution authorizing the issuance of General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2012

Rationale:  The district was approached by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with the request to use our property located at 804 Stolley Park Road West as an extraction and monitoring point for the Parkview Superfund Site.  After legal review and contract modifications it is the administrations recommendation to enter into the "Consent to Access for EPA Environmental Response Action "Agreement" as presented.

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the Facility and Finance Committee.  From this committee, there is also a possibility of a presentation and recommendation for action on any item which might have recently arisen requiring a short turn around time frame.

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.

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