April 8, 2021 at 5:30 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 8, 2021 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. Simmons, 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.
• At regular business meetings any school district-related matter can be presented to the Board, but only agenda items can be acted upon during a given meeting. At special meetings, comments will be limited to the subject of action items of the meeting's agenda. 
• Speakers will not be permitted to make defamatory comments, or use abusive or vulgar language. Expressions of personal complaints about staff or students are discouraged at public meetings. Concerns about individuals should be brought to the attention of the appropriate administrative authority. Specific building or program concerns should be brought to the attention of the building principal or program supervisor. 

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:  Grant Report Update for the April 2021 Board of Education Meeting.  

Rationale:  The Zearn School Account and On-Demand Professional Development subscription period for the 2021-
2022 school year begins on the day this agreement is signed, and runs through June 30, 2022. Zearn will
invoice the Nebraska Department of Education upon receipt of a valid purchase order from NDE at no cost to GIPS.

Rationale:  Engleman will share the steps taken to create a community of readers! Partnering with the PTO, we have incorporated a read-a-thon connected to supporting our book vending machine, participated in the One School, One Book program and share our IRIP progress this year.

Rationale:  During the summer and fall of 2020, every staff member took part in a book study to create a unified foundation for operation. Staff have since relied on the structures of that information to brave a pandemic while caring well for our students and one another. Our team has taken the four skill sets and implemented them over the course of the last two years.  Our four focus areas; Rumbling with Vulnerability, Living into our Values, Braving Trust, and Learning to Rise.  This framework has provided a structure for navigating new ground and creating a culture for safety for difficult conversations around students as well as a safe learning environment for our students to learn within.  We have created braver leaders and a more courageous culture for our students to be successful.

Rationale:  Dr. Ken Schroeder has been hired as the CFO for GIPS and will begin his duties fulltime on July 1. Dr. Schroeder has been working with Mr. Harden to ensure a smooth transition, and as such will be interacting more frequently with district staff and board members leading up to his official hire date

Rationale:  Invite the Board of Education to the annual Grand Island Education Association Retirement and Years of Service Celebration

Rationale:  As part of the new REL Central contract, Marzano Research is seeking to partner with  Nebraska school districts to develop a toolkit to support teachers in implementing the recommendations in the Teaching Strategies for Improving Algebra Knowledge in Middle and High School Students Practice Guide.  To ensure the toolkit meets practitioner needs, Marzano Research seeks to engage school districts in roles that include thought partner, reviewer, developer, and/or implementer. Participation will rely on Marzano Research securing funding for the REL Central Contract.

Rationale:  Over the past year, GIPS has reconsidered project and initiative itineraries. The district conducted a SWOT analysis to learn how to better diagnose the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that would be exacerbated by the pandemic. To that end, GIPS concentrated on clarifying district priorities, engaging school and community leaders, and executing budget decisions that promote equity. With the pandemic’s economic impacts creating an unprecedented environment for PK-12 education, GIPS is proactively repurposing its resources to ensure students are on track to thrive.

Our district is stronger now because staff saw this moment as an opportunity to innovate and to reimagine possibilities for students.
 

Rationale:  GIPS would like to work with Policy Studies Associates to bring together our current strategic plan, equity work, and staffing study as well as the strategic use of ESSR funds to recover from COVID-19.

Rationale: 

Mr. Petsch will present the construction update. 

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Kendall Bartling will give update the Board and community with a report as student representative.  

Rationale: 

Dr. Grover will present the superintendent report. 

Rationale:  As part of the new REL Central contract, Marzano Research is seeking to partner with  Nebraska school districts to develop a toolkit to support teachers in implementing the recommendations in the Teaching Strategies for Improving Algebra Knowledge in Middle and High School Students Practice Guide.  To ensure the toolkit meets practitioner needs, Marzano Research seeks to engage school districts in roles that include thought partner, reviewer, developer, and/or implementer. Participation will rely on Marzano Research securing funding for the REL Central Contract.

Rationale:  It is proposed that the district adopt CKLA as a resource that will be used to integrate ELA and Social Studies together, ensuring more equitable opportunities for our K - 5 students. 

Rationale:  MyPerspectives was initially adopted in the 2016 - 2017 school year. This adoption included just a three year purchase of consumable student materials and six year purchase of digital licenses and as of this school year, those consumables will run out. Student consumables are necessary to support teachers with implementation of high quality instructional materials.

Rationale:  From time to time the City of Grand Island annexes land into the City of Grand Island. Per state statute GIPS and Northwest Public Schools are required to negotiate concerning the annexed land. Over time the attached agreement format has been developed and agreed to by both GIPS and Northwest Public Schools for this purpose.

Rationale:  In order to facilitate the smooth Sale and Purchase of Real Estate for the Construction Technology the Board of Education has authorized the Chief Financial Officer this authority. With the retirement of the current CFO the BOE needs to shift this to the Superintendent or a designee.

Rationale:  Dr. Dexter will present revisions to the 2021 2022 Student Handbook

Rationale:  After a series of acquisitions our endpoint management product no longer meets the district’s needs.  Afte researching multiple vendors ZoHo Desktop Central would handle both our windows and mac endpoints as well as any mobile tablet devices.  This product would ultimately save the district money as we are paying more than this amount in maintenance for existing software which does not fully meet our needs.
 

Rationale:  GIPS is in need of a contractor to provide the School District with a cost-effective controlled print management solution including multi-function copiers, printers, service, supplies, accountability, scan to email functionality, scan to production center functionality, online web-based fax services, and low-cost prints per page across the district. 
 

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 in the Governance Committee.

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: 

The Board will convene into executive session for the purpose of discussing the Superintendent Evaluation. 

Rationale:  Regular Board of Education Meeting: Thursday May 13, 2021 at 5:30 PM.