December 12, 2019 at 5:30 PM - GIPS BOE Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

It is 5:30 PM and I now call to order the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education Meeting.  This is the December 12, 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.

Mrs. Suhr, 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:  Minutes of the regular meeting on November 14, 2019. 
Published notice of the regular meeting on December 12, 2019.
Published notice of the strategic plan work session on December 17, 2019.

Rationale:  Item #1  :  This is the cost to revise the mounting bracket for the plank seating on the west side from tread mount to riser mount type.  This type of bracket allows us to clean under the seating much easier.  We would have done this on the east side but the existing concrete structure wouldn't hold the anchors.  Total Cost:  $2,424.47

Item #2  :  The end wall on the 2nd level on both sides of the West stadium were framed up per the drawings but had to be moved 2" in for the expected shifting of the precast risers.  CMBA thought this would be a no cost directive.  It wasn't.  It added time to the contractor's scope of work and thus a cost to us.  Total Cost:  $2,002.12

Item #3  :  This add was requested/directed by the city when they were doing the new water main on Custer.  This is a better long lasting solution for us.  Total Add:  $537.34

Item #4  :  This is a credit for revising the ceiling tile type in the meeting room and deleting ceiling in a data room.  Total Credit:  ($529.50)

Item #5  :  We had to fur out the dividing wall in the press box for an electric panel and add some additional conduit for low voltage time clock system.  Total Add:  $856.56

Item #6  :  CMBA called out to paint the exterior handrails throughout the project.  We asked for a credit because the galvanized finish looked pretty good and the credit was substantial.  Total Deduct:  ($13,120.00)

Rationale:  Mrs. Charity LaBrie will recognize two Grand Island Senior High students and one middle school student for their participation in 2020 All State Band and Choir.

Rationale:  Superintendent's Holiday Card Contest winners
Each year GIPS presents a holiday card design contest for all students, preschool through grade 12. Three winners are chosen from all the entries; one each from PreK-5, middle school and high school. The winners each receive a gift card and Dr. Grover personally makes the final decision on which card becomes the district's holiday card for the year. Each winner is here to be honored. This year's theme is "Love, Peace & Kindness." Here are the winners:

• Overall/Middle School: Kalyssa Littlejohn, seventh grade, Walnut Middle School
• PreK-Elementary: Leah Michalski, 5th grade, Newell Elementary
• High School: Vanessa Irene Alvarez, sophomore, Grand Island Senior High

Rationale:  The Grand Island Senior High Mariachi Band will perform one song. 

Rationale:  Dr. Carrie Kolar, Dodge principal; Angie Eberle, Dodge assistant principal; Nikole Kasperbauer, 5th-grade teacher; Michelle Carter, 5th-grade teacher; and  5th-grade students will be presenting on the addition of community circles and the steps being taken to implement restorative practices.

Rationale:  Mr. Mikhail Happ, West Lawn principal, will present on the impact of their  Character Stables and the steps being taken to improve student character across the building.

Rationale:  Mr. Rob Bishop, Knickrehm Elementary principal, will share how a school-wide check-in/check-out pilot is strengthening their school-wide behavior plan. 

Rationale:  Mrs. Jennifer Worthington and Mr. Jack Sheard will present the Marketing/PR plan. 

Rationale: 

Madison Lane, 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:  This memorandum of understanding ("MOU") contains all of the items of agreement between the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL, the "Consortium" and "Party") and with Grand Island Public Schools at Lincoln Elementary ("Partner" and "Party") (jointly, the "Parties") for the production and delivery of the MOU products and services to support implementation of 4- component family literacy and additional research-based family engagement activities during SY 2018-2023 in support of the Statewide Family Engagement Centers, CFDA Number: 84.310A (the "Program") in Nebraska.  Mrs. Worthington will update the Board of the revised MOU with NCFL.

Rationale:  Dr. Dexter will present the proposed District Calendar for 2020 2021 and share the committee decision-making processes that went into the proposal.

Rationale:  Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) were created in 2003 so that individuals covered by high-deductible health plans could receive tax-preferred treatment of money saved for medical expenses.  Generally, an adult who is covered by a high-deductible health plan (and has no other first-dollar coverage) may establish an HSA. In order to manage individuial employee accounts Grand Island Public Schools needs to work with a Third Party Administrator (TPA). This way individual employees can manage their own health care expenses within the Health Savings Account structure provided by Internal Revenue Service rules and regulations.

Rationale:  Removal of the Templeton Institutional Fund International Equity Series Primary Shares and addition of the DFA International Value Portfolio (I) (Ticker: DFIVX) ("DFA Fund").

Union Bank & Trust Company ("Union Bank") has made Grand Island Public Schools aware of a change to its mutual fund platform that affects the Grand Island Public Schools 403(b)/457(b) Plan (the "Plans") for the investment option "Templeton Institutional Fund International Equity Series Primary Shares".
The removal of Templeton Institutional Fund International Equity Series Primary Shares (Ticker: TFEQX) ("Templeton Fund") and addition of DFA International Value Portfolio (I) (Ticker: DFIVX) ("DFA Fund").

The Plan currently offers the Templeton Fund, which seeks long-term capital growth by investing primarily in companies located outside the United States, including companies located in developing market countries. Union Bank is removing the Templeton Fund from its mutual fund platform and replacing it with the DFA Fund. The Templeton Fund has experienced significant analyst turnover recently, has shown disappointing risk adjusted return results in recent periods, and has a higher expense ratio compared to the DFA Fund.

The DFA Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing in securities of non-U.S. companies in countries with developed markets considered to be value stocks.

Rationale:  Grand Island Public Schools annually prepares and reviews a budgeting development process calendar for the subsequent fiscal year in order to properly communicate, plan, and administer the various duties associated with the budgeting process.  The Facilities and Finance Committee of the Board of Education has reviewed the proposed fiscal year 2020 - 2021 budget calendar for adoption in December.

Rationale:  Grand Island Public Schools currently offers employees who qualify the dual option of enrolling in a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) or a High Deductible Health Savings Plan Eligible (HDHSAE) option.  Currently the price difference between the two options is roughly $100 per month or $1,200 annually. The current benefit does not allow for the savings to be passed on to the employee as this is the first calendar year we have offered the HSA option. The change would be to have the District place the savings for employees who enroll directly into the employees HSA account. There would be no additional cost to the District since the amounts would match with this change in benefit.

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 in the Board Governance 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:  GIPS Board Report - NASB State Education Conference

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

Rationale: 

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

Rationale:  Approval of the Central Nebraska Education Agency Resolution

Rationale:  December 17,2020 - Strategic Plan Retreat 8-10:00 AM
January 09, 2020 - Regular Board Meeting, 5:30 PM