December 11, 2025 at 5:30 PM - GIPS BOE Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

It is 5:____p.m. and I now call to order the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education Meeting.  This is the December 11, 2025, 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:  6510 CERTIFIED STAFF ASSIGNMENTS AND TRANSFERS (Teacher)

Rationale:  6511 CLASSIFIED STAFF ASSIGNMENTS AND TRANSFERS

Rationale:  6515 CERTIFIED STAFF TUTORING

Rationale:  6610 PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FOR CERTIFIED STAFF

Rationale:  6710 EVALUATION OF CERTIFIED TEACHERS AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT STAFF

Rationale:  6711 CLASSIFIED STAFF PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL

Rationale:  For ten years GIPS has hosted an annual Holiday Card Contest.  The friendly competition provides students from all grades (Preschool - High School) to create and submit original holiday themed artwork.  Each year submissions are gathered, and the district office selects (by vote) three finalists (one Elementary, one Middle School, one High School) to be recognized with one overall winner selected by the Superintendent.  The overall winning artwork is printed on the cover of the annual GIPS Holiday Card.  This holiday season, the district office received over 1,400 submissions from students!  Today, GIPS recognizes the three finalists and overall winner for the 2025 Superintendent Holiday Card Contest:

• Layla Gerber, 9th Grade - GISH (Overall Winner)
• Gabriela Cortez Moreno, 8th Grade - Walnut Middle School (Middle School Finalist)
• Maria Castro Gutierrez, 5th Grade - Howard Elementary (Elementary Finalist)

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:  Presenting the proposed academic calendar for 2026-27 and 2027-28 from the Calendar Committee.

Rationale:  I. Purpose
The purpose of this agenda item is to Inform the Board of Education concerning the process for developing the Annual Facilities Maintenance Project List for the current school year. This list details essential and high-priority maintenance, repair, and upgrade projects necessary to preserve the District’s capital assets, ensure safe learning environments, and maintain operational efficiency across all campuses.

II. Background and Constraint
The District operates a significant portfolio of aging facilities, necessitating a proactive and strategic approach to maintenance. While the need for facility renewal is substantial, capital allocation is constrained by limited financial resources and organizational capacity (staff, time, expertise). This reality requires a disciplined, collaborative methodology for determining which projects move forward each year.

III. Rationale for Prioritization Process
The recommended project list results from a rigorous, joint prioritization process designed to balance system-wide critical needs with specific instructional and operational needs identified at the building level.

1. Collaborative Review and Discussion: District-level facilities administrators met with Building-Level Administrators (Principals and Assistant Principals, Etc.) from every site. These meetings served as crucial forums to review existing facilities data, past maintenance records, and future instructional goals.
2. Joint Needs Assessment: Building administrators provided invaluable input regarding items that directly impact the daily learning environment, such as classroom environmental controls, localized safety concerns, and high-traffic area repairs. District staff provided expertise on critical infrastructure (HVAC, roofs, structural integrity) and regulatory compliance requirements.
3. Prioritization Matrix: All identified projects were reviewed and considered using the following factors:

• Safety and Health: Regulatory compliance, mitigating immediate hazards.
• Asset Preservation: Projects that prevent significant, costly damage (e.g., roof repairs).
• Instructional Impact: Projects that directly improve the student learning experience.
• Organizational Capacity: Feasibility given current staffing levels and project timelines.

IV. Fiscal and Operational Stewardship
The outcome of this collaborative process is a responsible and fiscally prudent maintenance plan. By jointly reviewing and prioritizing projects in light of limited resources and organizational capacity, the District ensures that:

• Financial capital is allocated to the highest-leverage projects that yield the greatest return on investment in safety and preservation.
• District staff capacity is optimally utilized, preventing project overruns or delays.
• The District fulfills its responsibility to maintain safe, equitable, and operational facilities for all students and staff.

Rationale:  This capital equipment lease purchase is essential to facilitate the scheduled renewal of instructional technology across the district. By entering a multi-year lease-purchase agreement, the district can immediately provide up-to-date Apple computers for students and staff, supporting current curriculum requirements and standardized testing mandates. This financing method leverages predictable annual payments $350,000 (maximum) to responsibly spread the significant capital cost over the equipment's expected useful life, ensuring fiscal stability while maintaining high-quality educational tools.

Rationale:  GIPS participates in the E-Rate program to secure funding for its internet and networking devices.  This RFP is currently out for bid and we will determine a winning bidder at the January Board of Education meeting.

Rationale:  9211 DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT

Rationale:  9501 STUDENT AND STAFF MEMORIALS

Rationale:  8463 USE OF VIDEO SURVEILLENCE IN SCHOOLS

Rationale:  This capital equipment lease purchase is essential to facilitate the scheduled renewal of instructional technology across the district. By entering a multi-year lease-purchase agreement, the district can immediately provide up-to-date Apple computers for students and staff, supporting current curriculum requirements and standardized testing mandates. This financing method leverages predictable annual payments $350,000 (maximum) to responsibly spread the significant capital cost over the equipment's expected useful life, ensuring fiscal stability while maintaining high-quality educational tools.

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. Xicara Ramos 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 and for the Superintendent's contract.

Rationale:  Regular Board of Education Meeting - Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.