February 9, 2023 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 February 9, 2023 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 so that you may be recognized during the Requests to Address the Board part of our meeting.  If you have not already completed the form, please see the staff person outside the entrance to this room.  Public comment is welcome. We do ask that no signs be brought into the boardroom.

Mrs. Dibbert, 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 school district of Grand Island:

• Every student has access to high-quality, culturally responsive, and engaging learning environments.  
• Every student will develop literacy skills across disciplines.  
• Every student is socially and emotionally equipped to thrive in school and in life. 
• Every student will graduate as a college, career, and community-ready citizen.  

 

 

 

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 4.3? If so, please state the check number that you will be abstaining from voting on.

Rationale:  Standing Committees
 A monthly agenda presented to the board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the standing committees.  
 

• Finance and Facilities Committee
• Leading for Learning Committee
• Personnel Committee 
• Policy Committee - None
• Public Relations and Partnership Development Committee - None
• Governance Committee
• GNSA/Legislative Committee - None

Rationale:  The improvement in the effectiveness of positive proactive support strategies increased instructional time for learning and fosters a positive culture and climate.

Rationale: 

• Each person 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 allocate up to 30 minutes for addressing the board at each regular board meeting.
• Please face the Board,  not the audience when you speak
• We want to hear what is being said so we ask the audience to refrain from making comments or sounds that make it hard to hear the speaker. 
• No signs are allowed in the boardroom.
• We will not engage in dialogue with patrons presenting to the Board, the purpose of the requests to address the board is to listen to patrons.
• The Board president and superintendent will identify staff to follow-up on information requested from patrons when necessary.
• 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:  Dr. Dexter will present a resolution to "adopt by resolution specific standards for acceptance and rejection of enrollment option applications due to student capacity and space in special programs" - Special Education Programs, Alternative Programs, and English Learner Newcomer Programs.
This will be for information and action.

Rationale:   GIPS K-8 Mathematics is currently aligned to the 2015 Nebraska Mathematics Standards. This will provide an update to changes made in the new 2022 Mathematics Standards set, which by law is reviewed and revised every seven years by the state. This is information for February and request for BoE adoption in March.

Rationale:  Dr. Palmer will present updates on implementation of the Middle School Learner Profile to include staff feedback and timeline.

Rationale:  The Newcomer Program is specifically designed to provide language instruction to recently arrived students that have demonstrated limited English language proficiency. The program supports language development, foundational content academic knowledge and skills,
acclimation to the U.S. School System, and parent/family engagement.

The Newcomer Program aligns with multiple success measures within our strategic plan, including developing literacy skills across disciplines and learning in a safe and resourceful environment.

We currently have 3 Newcomer teachers organized by grade level (Grades 2-3, Grades 3-4, and Grades 4-5). We would like to hire two additional Newcomer teachers to support the growing number of students enrolling in GIPS that qualify for Newcomer services. Our guidance in the past has been class sizes of 12-15 students for our Grades 2-5  Newcomer Program. This is comparable to other districts with elementary Newcomer class sizes of 10-12.

Rationale:  The school board president and the superintendent of schools are authorized to transact on the school's bank accounts at 5 Points Bank.  With the recent changes in the positions of school board president and superintendent at Grand Island Public Schools, Mr. Matt Fisher and Mr. Hank McFarland need to be named on the account.  5 Points requires a copy of the board minutes at which the Grand Island Board of Education acknowledges and approves this change in order to update the banking resolution.

Rationale:  Review BoE committee assignments for 2023

Rationale: 

Mr. Petsch will present the construction update. 

Rationale: 

Mr. Cloutier will present the student representative's report to the board. 

Rationale: 

Mr. Fisher will present the superintendent report. 

Rationale:  GIEA Request for Recognition for 2024-2025

Rationale:  Dr. Dexter will present a resolution to "adopt by resolution specific standards for acceptance and rejection of enrollment option applications due to student capacity and space in special programs" - Special Education Programs, Alternative Programs, and English Learner Newcomer Programs.
This will be for information and action.

Rationale:  The Newcomer Program is specifically designed to provide language instruction to recently arrived students that have demonstrated limited English language proficiency. The program supports language development, foundational content academic knowledge and skills,
acclimation to the U.S. School System, and parent/family engagement.

The Newcomer Program aligns with multiple success measures within our strategic plan, including developing literacy skills across disciplines and learning in a safe and resourceful environment.

We currently have 3 Newcomer teachers organized by grade level (Grades 2-3, Grades 3-4, and Grades 4-5). We would like to hire two additional Newcomer teachers to support the growing number of students enrolling in GIPS that qualify for Newcomer services. Our guidance in the past has been class sizes of 12-15 students for our Grades 2-5  Newcomer Program. This is comparable to other districts with elementary Newcomer class sizes of 10-12.

Rationale:  The school board president and the superintendent of schools are authorized to transact on the school's bank accounts at 5 Points Bank.  With the recent changes in the positions of school board president and superintendent at Grand Island Public Schools, Mr. Matt Fisher and Mr. Hank McFarland need to be named on the account.  5 Points requires a copy of the board minutes at which the Grand Island Board of Education acknowledges and approves this change in order to update the banking resolution.

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 update from the Nebraska Association of School Boards.  

Rationale: 

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

Rationale:  Regular Board of Education Meeting - March 13, 2023 at 5:30 PM.