January 8, 2015 at 6:30 PM - GIPS Regular BOE Meeting

Rationale:  It is 6:30 PM and I now call to order the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education Meeting.  This is the January 8, 2015 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. Wagner, will you please call the roll?

Rationale:  Roll Call.

Rationale: 

The Mission  

Every Student, Every Day, a Success
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 experience a sense of belonging, contribution, and success; and
- every student will develop responsibility and show respect for others as well as oneself.  
In educating students, we teach hearts as well as minds.

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? 

Rationale:  Two Barr Middle School Students, Grant Cole and Kylee Sodomka will be recognized for their recent honorable selection to the 2015 Nebraska State Bandmasters Association Eighth Grade All-State  Band.  Both will be performing Saturday, January 17th, 2015 at UNK. 

Rationale:  In recognition and thanks to outgoing board member Tonja Broadwell for the service, time given, and imprint left on the Grand Island Public School District and it's 9400 students.  Thanks for all you've done.

Dates of Service January 2011 through January 2015.

Rationale:  A motion is necessary to adjourn the 2016 Board of Education and appoint Robin Dexter, Secretary of the Board, as acting Chairman, to call the 2017 Board of Education to order and preside during the election of the 2017 President of the Board of Education.

Rationale:  Dr. Dexter will administer the Oath of Office  to the newly elected, re-elected, or appointed board members, who consist of:  Carlos Barcenas, Dan Brosz, Bonnie Hinkle, Jane Meidlinger, and Jennifer Worthington.
 

I, ____________, do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the State of Nebraska, against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely and without mental reservation or for purpose of evasion; and that I will faithfully and impartially perform the duties as a member of the School Board of School District Number 2 of Grand Island, Nebraska, commencing January 8, 2015 according to law and to the best of my ability.  And I do swear that I do not advocate, nor am I a member of any political party or organization that advocates the overthrow of the government of the United States or of this state by force or violence; and that during such time as I am in this position I will not advocate nor become a member of any political party or organization that advocates the overthrow of the government of the United States or of this state by force or violence.  So help me God.

Rationale: 

In past years, the Board established Board Operating Principles and recently updated those principles into Policy #2111 .   Each Board member, at the time the new Board is convened, will sign the acknowledgment of the Board Operating Principles.  The signed document will be placed on file with the January 2015 Board minutes.  

Rationale:  Dr. Dexter will convene and call to order the 2015 Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education.

Rationale:  The Secretary of the Board will entertain a motion for nominations for President of the Board of Education, conduct a written ballot, and announce the results.  The newly elected President will then chair the remainder of the meeting.

Rationale:  The President of the Board of Education will entertain a motion for nominations for Vice President of the Board of Education, conduct a ballot, and announce the results of the election.

Rationale:  The President will inform Board members of the Standing Committees and Special Committees for 2015 and ask them to consider which committees they would prefer.

Rationale: 

The Preschool calendar for the 2015-16 school year is presented for review.  A team of ELC Staff developed the proposed 2015-2016 ELC Calendar. This calendar closely aligns with the district's traditional school calendar and meets the requirements of Rule 11 for preschool.  

Rationale:   

Rationale:  Board members who participated in school building visits this past month will report out on their visit.

Rationale:  The principals from the Continuous Calendar Schools, Mrs. Gloor, Ms Fiala, Mrs. Schnitzler, and Mr. Hauser, addressed the Board of Education last month with the Continuous School Calendar Team's recommendation regarding CSC for the 2015-2016 school year.  At that time the recommendation was for 3 of the schools (West Lawn, Jefferson and Starr) to return  to the traditional calendar with Howard remaining on the Continuous Calendar.  Due to additional input from Howard staff, the committee has met with administration  during this past month.  Following those discussions, the decision was made to continue with the original recommendation.

Rationale:  ClassLink LaunchPad is an online service which will provide single sign-on functionality for all our staff and students.  LaunchPad gives clients a single login to a portal which will then automatically log them in to any of our over 30 online resources.  With online curriculum growing everyday and with each new adoption requiring an additional username and password this service should dramatically reduce the overhead and time students and staff spend managing logins and passwords as well as keeping usernames and passwords more secure.  This service will also allow access to more of our online resources from home for our students.

Rationale:  Mr. Petsch will present the Servicemaster Recovery Management Account Agreement, which is a contract for hazard mitigation as a result of a disaster, should there ever be a need.  There is zero cost to this contract unless the services are engaged and used. 

Rationale:  As part of the September 9, 2014 successful $69.9 million dollar bond referendum, Shoemaker Elementary will have a multiple classroom addition constructed to bring the facility from a three to four unit (four – kindergarten classrooms, four – first grade classrooms, etc.) building. Additionally, a new administrative area, commons area, and remodeling open concept space into modern educational learning space will also take place. Administration and the Facilities and Finance Committee reviewed the bid responses and recommends the construction contract (base bid and alternate 1 [back pick-up drive], alternate 2b [motorized bleachers], alternate 3 [reroof existing 'old' roof]) be awarded to Lacy Construction Company in the total amount of $6,375,000 to be paid from bond proceeds.

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the Facility and Finance Committee.  From this committee, there is also a possibility of a presentation and recommendation for action on any item which might have recently arisen requiring a short turn around time frame.

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

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the Legislative Committee.

Rationale:  A quarterly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration by the NASB Board of Directors.

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the Public Relations Committee.

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