December 14, 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 December 14, 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 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 3.3? 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 - None
• Personnel Committee
• Policy Committee
• Public Relations and Partnership Development Committee - None
• Governance Committee
• GNSA/Legislative Committee - None

Rationale:  Each year the superintendent invites all GIPS students to submit original artwork to be used for the district's holiday card. One card design is selected from a student PK-Elementary, middle school and high school.  One card is printed and used as the district's holiday card.

2023 Winners:
Josue Talamantes, 4th Grade, Seedling Mile Elementary School
Saybel Raez Almaguer, 6th Grade, Walnut Middle School
Fremni Rodriguez Marrero, 10th Grade, Grand Island Senior High (GISH)

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:  GIEA Request for Recognition for 2025-2026

Rationale:  Families in Transition Report

Rationale:  Mental Health Supports (Parent Guidance.org, Parent Support Webinars and coaching, SmartGenSociety, and CareSolace)

Rationale:  2024-2025 Calendar adoption

Rationale:  GIPS's current agreement with Unite Private Networks for the district Wide Area Network ends 6/30/2024. GIPS solicited and received 3 responses to our WAN Transport RFP via the E-Rate portal process to secure WAN services for the district for the next 5 years, with optional extensions if they meet the ongoing needs of the district for 5 additional years.

Rationale:  GIPS currently subscribes to a volume license agreement for Microsoft Office, by switching to an alternative educational program we can purchase equivalent licensing for a 6 year period and save a substantial amount over the current annual cost.

Rationale:  The presentation will share how schools fared with last spring's testing and the state adjusting of cut scores for ELA and Math. Overall, the results were good and moved us further in the direction of pre-pandemic performance. Also, a detailed presentation on graduation rate performance.

Rationale:  Accept and Place on File Audited Financial Report as of August 31, 2023 as prepared by Porter & Co, CPA's.

Rationale:  In a continuing effort to maximize investment revenue, maintain liquidity, and keep local tax proceeds continuously invested and therefore reinvested in Grand Island the GIPS Business Office in concert with the Board of Education Facilities and Finance Committee recommends pursuing bank accounts with Pinnacle Bank.

Rationale:  Revenue and expenditure projections for the 2024-25 budget and beyond indicate a need to identify cost-savings measures.  A plan to address this need is being developed.  

Rationale:  2024-2025 Calendar adoption

Rationale:  GIPS's current agreement with Unite Private Networks for the district Wide Area Network ends 6/30/2024. GIPS solicited and received 3 responses to our WAN Transport RFP via the E-Rate portal process to secure WAN services for the district for the next 5 years, with optional extensions if they meet the ongoing needs of the district for 5 additional years.

Rationale:  5312.1 STUDENT CONDUCT ON SCHOOL BUSES CONTRACT

Rationale:  5441 AUTHORIZED USE OF DISTRICT VEHICLES

Rationale:  5510 FOOD SERVICES MANAGEMENT

Rationale:  5521 COPYRIGHT COMPLIANCE

Rationale:  5521.1 COPYRIGHT COMPLIANCE Addendum

Rationale:  5522 MAIL AND DELIVERY SERVICES

Rationale:  5530 INSURANCE MANAGEMENT

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: 

Ms. Beltran will present the student representative's report to the board. 

Rationale: 

Mr. Fisher will present the superintendent report. 

Rationale: 

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

Rationale:  The Grand Island Education Association has been recognized as the exclusive bargaining agent for the certified non-supervisory staff of the Grand Island Public Schools.  After bargaining in good faith with the GIEA, an agreement was reached for the 2024-2025 contract year.

Rationale:  Special Board of Education Meeting - Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Regular Board of Education Meeting - Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 5:30 p.m.