April 11, 2019 at 4:30 PM - GIPS BOE Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

It is 5:____PM and I now call to order the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education Meeting.  This is the April 11, 2019 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.

Ms. Celmer, will you please call the roll?

Rationale:  Roll Call.

Rationale: 

The Mission  

Every Student, Every Day, a Success!  In educating students, we teach hearts as well as minds. 

Student Commitments  

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 be honored for their unique qualities and backgrounds;
- 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.   

 

 

Rationale: 

• Each individual addressing the board will be allowed 5 minutes. The Board of Education has the prerogative to limit speaking to 3 minutes when there are three or more patrons to allow speakers an opportunity to address the Board in a timely manner.
• We will not engage in dialogue with patrons presenting to the Board
• The Board president and superintendent will identify staff to follow-up on information requested from patrons
• The Board president may share a statement on behalf of the Board when addressing a major issue in the district

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? (pause)

Does anyone have a potential conflict of interest on agenda item 5.2? If so, please state the check number that you will be abstaining from voting on.

Rationale:  Brian Jensen will recognize the following State Swimming Champions:
Jonathan Novinski - Gold Medal in the 500 Freestyle

 

Rationale:  Karma Lewandowski will invite board members to the GIEA Retirement and Years of Service Recognition Celebration on Wednesday, May 8th, at 4:30 p.m. at Balz Reception Hall.

Rationale:  Kelli Arens will present on the Community Greeter Program.

Rationale:  The Westridge Rachel's Challenge Social Media student group will highlight student projects and outreach highlights. 

Rationale:  Traci Skalberg will present the GIPS Foundation Report 

Rationale:  Donna Helzer will share a 2-minute presentation on child abuse prevention in recognition of child abuse information month.

Rationale:  Dr. McDowell will present a proposal for an equipment purchase for the Lifestyles Fitness class at Grand Island Senior High. The course will provide an additional elective option for GISH students while promoting lifetime healthy fitness habits. 

Rationale:  Dr. McDowell will propose the purchase of a 3D printer which will serve the Engineering Pathway and Architecture & Design Pathway. The printer will allow students to print out their prototypes to ensure accuracy of their computer-generated models. 

Rationale:  GIPS currently contracts with Head Start to provide early childhood programs through three grants. Grant providers are requesting that GIPS and Head Start share a Letter of Agreement in order to receive grant funding. Grants are: Six Pence Home Visitors, Six Pence Center Care Providers, and NDE ECH Expansion Grant. Letters of Agreement for more than $30,000 or more than 18 months require Board approval.

Rationale:  Dr. Dexter will present a proposed contract between GIPS and NDE. The contract term is for May 1, 2019 to July 31, 2019 for the amount of 49,320.76 to be paid to GIPS from NDE. This is an information and action item due to the May 1, 2019 start date.

Rationale:  Dr. Dexter will share information on changes to the Success Academy Middle School Program.

Rationale:  Dr. Dexter will present a proposal for an online curriculum resource to support alternative education programs. This is presented as an information and action item due to the timing of grant funds.

Rationale:  Dr. Dexter will ask the board to approve the contract between GIPS and Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, as presented earlier in the meeting, to provide a summer learning opportunity targeting incoming 6^th graders to all three GIPS Middle Schools. 

Rationale:  Dr. Mancini will provide a summary of the Winter to Winter MAP assessment results and information regarding a new Insight MAP report and how it informs Leading for Learning decisions.

Rationale: 

Luis Rodriguez, student representative, will present a report on GISH activities.

Rationale: 

Mr. Petsch will present the construction update. 

Rationale: 

Dr. Grover will present the superintendent report. 

Rationale:  Jeff Gilbertson and Toni Palmer will ask the board to approve a 2019-2020 contract with American Alliance for Innovative Systems LLC (AAIS) as presented at last month's meeting. David Holden, AAIS, will work in coordination with Grand Island Senior High to conduct 13 days of professional development training ("Daily Trainings") with teachers and appropriate staff on the topics of Career Academy and Content PLC Support at Grand Island Senior High. Cost will be $33,800 to be funded by the L4L budget.

Rationale:  Dr. Robin Dexter will ask the board to approve the 3-year renewal contract for the Ombudsman program as presented at last month's meeting. This renewal includes the addition of a special ed teacher and a social worker to support 70 students in the OMB classroom. The addition of staff will bea $60,500 addition to current costs. Students needing special education support have increased as has the need to connect students to community agencies to increase behavioral health supports and to improve attendance. Funds to support the increase in costs will be requested from IDEA funds. 

Rationale:  Dr. Dexter will ask the board to approve the contract between GIPS and NDE as presented earlier in the meeting. 

Rationale:  Nebraska Children and Families Foundation and the Grand Island Public Schools are entering into this contract to provide a summer learning opportunity targeting incoming 6^th graders to all three GIPS Middle Schools. It is well known that the transition to middle school can be a time of heightened anxiety for children and their families. Quality expanded learning opportunities are a proven approach for promoting student engagement in learning and ultimately high school graduation. The contract is for the summer of 2019 and is for up to $50,000. This is presented as an information and action item due to implementation date.

Rationale:  Dr. Dexter will ask the board to approve the purchase of Acellus online curriculum resources to support alternative education programs at a cost of $60,780 with grant support of $40,040. This contract is for one year with the option to renew annually. Funding is supported by SPED funds.

Rationale:  Dr. Josh McDowell will ask the board to approve the proposed contract with the National Academy Foundation (NAF) as presented at last month's meeting. NAF will provide a guaranteed and viable curriculum based on industry standards to students in the Academy of Business and Communication. 

Rationale:  The Government Finance Officers Best Practices in School District Budgeting advocate for improved collaboration between finance and academic leaders and the advancement of student outcomes through more effective use of resources. The Best Practices in School Budgeting incorporate research proven practices into a cohesive budget process that is centered on aligning resources with student outcomes through strong collaboration of academic and finance staff. Government Finance Officers Association Best Practices in School District Budgeting facilitates cost effectiveness concepts including, but not limited to, academic return on investment, and other methods to improve District budgeting policies, practices, and procedures.
School districts, including Grand Island Public Schools, are under continuous pressures to provide a high-quality education to their students with ever tighter budgets. Government Finance Officers Association has developed the Best Practices in School Budgeting and numerous related resources and supports in order to help school districts better align their limited resources with their student outcome and achievement goals.
 Step 1. Plan and Prepare. The planning and budgeting process begins with mobilizing key stakeholders, gathering information on academic performance and cost structure, and establishing principles and policies to guide the budget process.
Step 2. Set Instructional Priorities. The budget needs to be rooted in the priorities of the district. Intentionally created instructional priorities provide a strong basis for developing a district’s budget and strategic financial plan, as well as presenting a budget document.
Step 3. Pay for Priorities. Current resources and expenditures must be thoroughly analyzed in order to find the capacity to pay for top instructional priorities.
Step 4. Implement Plan. The "strategic financial plan" is the long-term road map for implementing the district’s instructional priorities. A "plan of action" describes how the strategic financial plan will be translated into coherent actionable steps.
Step 5. Ensure Sustainability. The planning and budgeting process should be one that can be replicated in the future in order to ensure the district remains focused and plans accordingly for reaching its student achievement goals.

Besides adopting this proclamation, and as a next step, Grand Island Public Schools is developing district-wide budget policies and principles that will set baseline expectations for its budget process centered on the district’s core values.

 

Rationale:  Grand Island Public Schools has self-administered our 403(b) and 457(b) program since adopting our current plan on October 9, 2008. Since that time, the IRS implemented a 403(b) Pre-approved Plan Program, which is designed to provide assurance that a 403(b) plan document meets the Code’s requirements. This year, the IRS issued guidance which states that plan sponsors should restate their plan on a pre-approved plan by March 31, 2020. By adopting a pre-approved plan by this date, an eligible employer sponsoring a 403(b) plan may retroactively correct defects in the form of its plan back to the first day of the remedial amendment period, which is later of January 1, 2010 or the plan’s effective date. Adopting a pre-approved plan ensures the document complies with the requirements of Code Section 403(b). The Facilities and Finance Committee recommends entering into a new plan document with Union Bank & Trust for Third Party 403(b) and 457(b) for Grand Island Public Schools on behalf of our employees who choose to participate in this voluntary employee benefit. The FINAL "PLAN" documents are attached for the BOE review. All documents have undergone extensive legal review and agreement negotiations on terms and conditions.

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 Leading for 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 in the Public Relations and Partnership Development Committee.

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

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration by The Greater Nebraska Schools Association and Legislative Updates.

Rationale:  A monthly update from the Nebraska Association of School Boards.  

Rationale:  Board members who attended the National School Board Association Conference will report on sessions attended.

Rationale:  Thursday, May 9, 2019 - Regular Board Meeting, 5:30pm