June 10, 2019 at 12:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

The mission of Gothenburg Public Schools is to prepare all students within a positive and innovative learning environment.

A copy of the open meetings law is posted on the wall of the Board Room and is available to the public.

Rationale: 

The Board reserves the right to rearrange the order of items as needed.

Rationale: 

Opportunity for Public Expression:

• This item serves as the time entitled for public forum during which patrons may address the Board on matters of general concern per Board Policy 8346, Opportunity for Public Expression.  (A copy of the policy is available.)

• Patrons will be allowed five (5) minutes to express their view.  Board of Education Members will refrain from expressing personal opinions during the Public Forum unless asked a direct question by a patron recognized by the Board President as having the floor.  The board imposed time limit may be extended by a majority vote of the Board.  The board may limit collective comments on a particular topic when necessary. The Board may not take action on matters discussed in the Public Forum unless the item appears on the prepared agenda.

• All concerns and complaints should go through the chain of command beginning with the teacher/sponsor and then to the building administrator/program supervisor and finally to the Superintendent.  If the initiating party is not satisfied with the response of the Superintendent, said party may address a written appeal to the Board of Education through the Secretary of the Board.

As a meeting of the Gothenburg Board of Education is a meeting held in public and not a public meeting, visitors should refrain from comments unless recognized by the chair.

Rationale:  Student Council members Neligh Anderson, Ryan Brown and Heath Keiser would like to discuss the addition of bottle fillers.

Rationale: 

Nebraska School Districts are required to have annual hearings for each of the following areas:

Budget (September)

Tax Request (September)

Student Fees Policy (June)

Parental Involvement Policy (June)

 

Other Hearings may be scheduled as needed.

Rationale: 

The Board President will declare the Hearing open. 

1.  Review of Student Fees Policy

2.  Review of the amount of money collected from students pursuant to, and the use of waivers provided in, the student fees policies of District #20 for the 2018-19 year.

3.  Public comment, information, and input concerning Student Fees Policy.

The Board President will declare the Hearing closed. 

 

Rationale: 

The Board President will declare the hearing open. 

1. Review of Parent Involvement Policy (Policy 6400).

2. Public comment, information, and input concerning Parent Involvement Policy.

The Board President will declare the hearing closed.

Rationale: 

1. Approval of Previous Minutes

2. Approval of the Treasurer's Report

3. Approval of the Warrants / Bills

  a.  Petty Cash

  b.  Student Activity

  c.  Hot Lunch

  d.  Bank Statement

  e.  Summary of Accounts and Receipts

  f.  Monthly Expenditure Report

  g. Check Journal

4. Excuse Absent Board Members

5. Consider Option Enrollment Requests
Option In:
Corbyn Sattler - 12th from Cozad
Zachary Smith - 9th from Brady

Option Out:
Noah Hasenauer - 10th to Cozad
 

 

Rationale:  The Board of Education for Gothenburg Public Schools approved the addition of Personal Finance as a graduation requirement beginning with the Class of 2022 during the regular board meeting held in June of 2018.   Leadership within Gothenburg High School would like to keep the total credits required for graduation at 240 credits by eliminating the Information Technology requirement offsetting the addition of Personal Finance.

This item is being introduced in June to be considered for approval in July.  

Rationale:  The Gothenburg Early Childhood Coalition has partnered with the three public entities to address birth to five early childhood wellness and education.  The public entities are in receipt of a Community Well-Being Collaborative Work Plan for the purpose of providing a coordinated system of community resource and support to prevent adverse childhood experience and promote a cycle of well-being within the Dawson County community.

Rationale: 

This is done on an annual basis typically in August prior to the new fiscal year beginning in September.  However, due to the transition in the District Office, it needs to be considered in June.

Rationale: 

Mr. Herman has submitted a list of extra-duty assignments for the 2019-20 school year.

Coaching changes for 2019-20 (are noted in green on the attachment.)

 

 

Rationale: 

Dawson County School District #20, Gothenburg Public Schools, participates in a policy update and revision process with the Perry Law Firm through Educational Service Unit #10.  Mr. Perry typically sends proposed revisions upon completion of the legislative session so policies may or may not be available for the June meeting.  According to the bylaws of the board, while policies may typically be introduced in one meeting and approved at a second meeting, policies may be approved in a single meeting if necessary.  This may become applicable if policies are proposed which impact handbooks and are not received until after the June meeting.

Internal Board Policies

Policy 8310 - Formulation of Policies

Policy 8320 - Adoption, amendment, or suspension of polices

Bylaws of the Board

  Policy 9200 - Formulation, Adoption, Amendment of Policies 

 

Introduce new policies and revisions to existing Board Policy.

The policies will be reviewed prior to the July meeting by the Policy Committee (Brundage, Jobman, Fornoff) . 

A summary of the changes is attached and is titled: 
"2019 Annual Policy Update - ESU 10"

Policies in need of revision or updating are "redline."  The other policies are proposed new policies.
 

 

Rationale: 

1. Junior-Senior High Student Handbook (Attachments include Handbook and proposed changes)

2. Elementary Handbook (Attachments include Handbook and proposed changes)

3. A. Faculty Handbook (Attachments include Handbook and proposed changes)

    B. Certificated Employee Evaluation Instrument (Reg 4150 A)

    C.  Counselor Evaluation Instrument

    D.  School Psychologist Evaluation Instrument

    E.  Technology Coordinator Evaluation Instrument

4. Coach’s Handbook (Attachments include Handbook and proposed changes)

5. Non-Certificated Employee Handbook (Attachments include Handbook and proposed changes)

    A. Employment Agreement - Form A - Non-Certificated

    B. Employee Evaluation Instrument - Non-Certificated

    C. Para-Educator Evaluation Instrument - Non-Certificated

6. Administrator’s Evaluation Instruments

    A. Principal Evaluation Instrument

    B. Activities Director Evaluation Instrument

    C. Superintendent Evaluation Instrument

7. Volunteer Handbook

Rationale: 

Committee Reports (Chair in bold)

1.  Personnel Committee (Mr. Sitorius, Mr. Brundage, Mr. Fornoff)
2. Transportation and Facilities (Mr. Hudson, Mrs. Jobman, Mr. Wyatt)
3. Finance (Mr. Fornoff, Mr. Wyatt, Mr. Sitorius)
4. Curriculum & Americanism (Mrs. Jobman, Mr. Brundage, Mr. Hudson)
5. Policy Review (Mr. Brundage, Mr. Fornoff, Mrs. Jobman)

 

Rationale: 

Rationale: 

The Board of Education may hold a closed session by the affirmative vote of a majority of its voting members if a closed session is clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual and if such individual has not requested a public meeting.  Closed sessions may be held for, but shall not be limited to, such reasons as:  (a) strategy sessions with respect to collective bargaining, real estate purchases, or litigation; (b) discussion regarding deployment of security personnel or devices; (c) investigative proceedings regarding allegations or misconduct; or (d) evaluation of the job performance of a person when necessary to prevent needless injury to the reputation of a person.

The vote to hold a closed session shall be taken in open session.  The subject matter and the reason necessitating the closed session shall be identified in the motion to close.  If the motion to close passes, then the presiding officer immediately prior to the closed session shall restate on the record the limitation of the subject matter of the closed session. The Board shall restrict its consideration of matters during the closed portions to only those purposes set forth in the motion to close as the reason for the closed session. The meeting shall be reconvened in open session before any formal action may be taken.

Rationale:  Move July 8 Board Meeting to July 15th due to the July 4th holiday.

Hold a Finance Retreat during the week of July 22nd.

August 12th Board Meeting will need to be at noon (or 5:00) due to the Open House scheduled for that evening.

Budget Workshop after August 20th and before August 29th.

Budget and Tax Request Hearings on Sept. 9th before Sept Board Meeting