May 9, 2013 at 6:30 PM - May 9, 2013 Regular Meeting

Rationale:  It is 6:30 PM and I now call to order the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education Meeting.  This is the May 9, 2013 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.

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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:  Skills Academy is a CNSSP program initiated in 2011 to provide research based educational services to students with emotional and behavioral disabilities. After two years of implementation, the Skills team would like to share data, introduce the staff and a few successes of the program. Toni Palmer will present background and introduce Renee Hunt, program coordinator. Renee will explain the data collected and introduce the staff.  Members of the team will also share success stories and their appreciation for the district support. 

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Shelli Pfeiffer, Secondary Curriculum Specialist, along with representatives from the secondary counseling staff, will present information on Naviance. - Naviance is a web-based platform that integrates success planning, career planning, college planning, and family engagement tools in one easy-to-use, solution that can be configured based on the needs of students and staff. Naviance provides the framework for every student to have a Personal Learning Plan (PLP). This is a first year investment of $17,640.00 and an annual recurring cost of $11,140.00.

Rationale:  The middle schools will be moving to a Trimester Grading and Reporting Schedule for the 2013-14 school year. Report cards will be sent home every 12 weeks and progress reports will be available electronically in the Parent Portal every 6 weeks. This move from reporting quarterly to trimesters is due to the schedule changes for Explore courses. Art, Music, and Financial Literacy will be taught as trimester courses replacing the elective courses currently offered quarterly. Health and Wellness (formerly Family and Consumer Science) will be a year long every-other-day course opposite of Physical Education. The Health and Wellness course will include Top Twenty character building curriculum.

Rationale:  The Extra Standard Committee has met and recommends changes to the Extra Standard Schedule for the 2013-2014 school year totaling $ 27,740.00  A detailed summary of those changes is attached.

Rationale:  Dr. Winter, Mr. Brown, Mrs. Broadwell, Mrs. Hinkle, Mr. Elsberd, and Ms. Vahle attended the National NSBA Conference in San Diego California in April.  All will report out on their experiences and sessions attended.

Rationale:  The need to fill speech pathology positions has prompted CNSSP to contract with GI Physical Therapy for one speech pathology position. CNSSP currently has two positions unfilled. Speech pathology positions have been unfilled in previous years and CNSSP has hired speech pathology techs. Techs require supervision by our licensed Speech Paths that increases their already full caseloads. We are requesting approval of a three-year contract to maintain speech services and this contract is consistent with the costs associated with a GIPS speech contract with experience.

Rationale:  Dr. Winter will present a proposal submitted by the District Management Council to conduct a performance audit of Grand Island Public School current roles, schedules and pedagogical approaches found within the scope of CNSSP overall operations.

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