August 13, 2009 at 6:30 PM - Regular Meeting August 13, 2009

Rationale:  It is 6:30 PM and I now call to order the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education Meeting.  This is the August 13, 2009 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:  Since the 1999 - 2000 school year Grand Island Public Schools student enrollment has increased from not quite 7,000 students to a school year 2008 - 2009 preschool through 12th grade enrollment of approximately 8,500 students.  Additionally, the number of meals served per day has also shown dramatic increase from 4,162 to 6,438, respectively.  Grand Island Public Schools maintains and operates five production kitchens serving twenty buildings.  During the design and construction of the new Westridge Middle School the conceptual idea of a central kitchen facility took root and over the last few years has appeared on the Districts 10 year master facility plan.  Over the last year design professionals have readied the project for construction bids to be taken.  The project is currently out to bid with a possible projected total cost of up to $8.6 million dollars.  With a project of this size and scope financing the project will be crucial to the project success.  This informational item is intended to update the Board on possible sources and uses of funds necessary to take the project to fruition.

Rationale:  Grand Island Public Schools maintains a banking relationship with Union Bank and Trust for the operation of its 125 plan.  Grand Island Public Schools has contracted with a third party administrator to run the day to day operation of the 125 plan.  In order to facilitate the necessary and appropriate banking transactions between the third party administrator and Union Bank and Trust the District needs to authorize individual employees of the third party administrator the authority to initiate ACH transactions on behalf of the District.  This information item is intended to present the necessary information and document to achieve this desired end result. 

Rationale:  Over the last several years Grand Island Senior High School has offered dual credit course offerings in conjunction with Central Community College (CCC).   This agreement is intended to document the financial terms and conditions of the agreement and outline the specific courses to be offered for the 2009 – 2010 academic school year.

Rationale:  Annually, the "Extra-Standard Committee" meets to review and recommend changes to the extra-standard schedule.  The committee met, reviewed, and recommends the changes as outlined in the attachment.  The 'base salary' follows one year in arrears from the certified salary schedule.  Otherwise the recommendations are based upon impacting the largest number of students possible.

Rationale:  Rationale for Additional Staffing Requests:    

1. Nutrition Services, Head Server - Early Learning Center: When we submitted our staffing plan, we did not add any staff at the Early Learning Center to serve the breakfast and lunch. Meals at the ELC are handled differently than at the elementary schools. Meals are brought to the classroom and served family style in the classroom. Last year at 3rd City, we asked the classroom paras to do that, but it was not the most efficient use of hours and with more classrooms consolidated at the ELC we will need to have a dedicated NS staff member perform this task. The positon would be 24 hrs per week, M - Th each week. The total annual cost would be about $10,000. This cost would be paid out of the Nutrition Services account, so this request does not have a General Fund impact.    

2. Howard Elementary School, 2nd Grade: The enrollment is currently at 93 students. The addition of a 5th section will allow us to reach targeted class sizes of less than 20 per class and receive the subsequent funding dollars. We will be able to fund the position with Title dollars. This class has been on the radar screen, with initial thoughts that we could use an ESL classroom to achieve the targeted <20, but the total numbers are large enough that we have determined it would not be the best use of ESL dollars to stick with that strategy. 

3.Possible additional Requests at the Elementary Schools: At the time of publication of the board information, final school registration numbers were still being evaluated. If further review of those registration numbers indicates a need for additional staffing, it will be presented at the board meeting.  

Rationale:  Grand Island Public Schools currently spends approximately $250,000 per year on a per count print and copy arrangement with Eakes Office Plus.  Currently there is no effective means to control the print and copy activity on the MFD (Multi-Function Devices) [Sharp] devices.  Sharp has developed a software solution that will help the District count and control the individual usage on all sixty (60) devices currently under contract.  The administration anticipates that by managing the individual usage the total cost of this software feature enhancement will pay back in full plus over the remaining time left on the contract, which ends with the 2010 - 2011 school year. 

Rationale:  The City of Grand Island annexed a parcel of land near the Case New Holland manufacturing plant.  State statute requires districts effected by the annexation to negotiate several specific items.  Both Northwest Public Schools and Grand Island Public School met, as required by state law, and negotiated the attached agreement.  Northwest Public Schools has officially approved the agreement.  Grand Island Public Schools needs to approve for the document to become a legally binding agreement.

Rationale:  Due to retirement from the Grand Island Public School district, Mr. Werth will be resigning his position of Secretary to the Board of Education effective August 16, 2009.

Rationale:  Following the retirement of Mr. Werth from the GIPS District, his replacement as Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Robin Dexter, is to assume Mr. Werth's duties.

Rationale:  Grand Island Public Schools along with other member Districts participates in a consortium pursuant to the Nebraska Interlocal Corporation Act to permit its member school districts to recognize NASBMC as a single administrative claiming unit and agent for its members for purposes of the Administrative Claiming Process; (ii) to submit the administrative claims prepared and presented by NASBMC on behalf of its members to the CMS (or other appropriate governmental agencies or instrumentalities) for federal fund participation and payment in accordance with the Administration Claiming Process; and (iii) to cause all amounts that are determined to be due and payable in connection therewith to be paid to NASBMC for and on behalf of its members.

Rationale:  Roles & Responsibilities Forum - August 24, 2009 - 5:30 P.M. - Kneale Administration Building - Challenge Center

Budget Worksession - August 24, 2009 - 6:30 P.M. - Kneale Administration Building - Challenge Center

Budget Public Hearing - September 10, 2009 - 6:30 P.M. - Kneale Administration Building - Board Room

Regular Board Meeting - September 10, 2009 - Immediately following the budget hearing - Kneale Administration Building - Board Room