January 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

Annually, the Board of Education goes through realignment.  

Dr. Jonas will preside over the realignment of the Board of Education.

Rationale:  Policy #2002 states that at the January meeting of the Board of Education, a President, Vice-President, and Secretary shall be elected from the membership to a one-year term of office.  Officers in 2024 were Kyle Fornoff, President; Becky Jobman, Vice President, and Kelly Terrell, Secretary.  Dr. Jonas will accept nominations for offices and conduct the elections.  Becky Vang has served as Secretary to the Board and will continue to do so if approved.   Tonya Steuben has served as Board Treasurer and has agreed to continue to do so if approved.

Rationale:  Nominations for the office of president will be accepted.  No second is required for nominations.  Paper ballots will be used if more than one board member is nominated.

Rationale:  Nominations for the office of vice president will be accepted.  No second is required for nominations.  Paper ballots will be used if more than one board member is nominated.

Rationale:  Nominations for the office of secretary will be accepted.  No second is required for nominations.  Paper ballots will be used if more than one board member is nominated.

Rationale: 

Becky Vang, Dawson County School District #20 Business Manager, has served as Secretary to the Board and has agreed to continue in this role approved by the Board of Education.  Ms. Vang should be authorized to sign checks for the following funds:

Student Activity

Hot Lunch

Petty Cash

Student Fees

Employee Benefit

Depreciation

Rationale:  Mrs. Tonya Steuben, Dayspring Bank, has served as Board Treasurer and has agreed to continue in the role if approved by the Board of Education.

Rationale:  The adoption of an order of business to guide the preparation of future agendas and conduct of meetings as defined in the 2000 series policies.  The following policies are included for reference and have already been approved but are formally accepted at the beginning of each calendar year as the order of business.

2000 Series Index
Policy 2001 - Role of the Board of Education
Policy 2008 - Meetings
 

Rationale:  It is important to review the board/superintendent operating protocol and the organizational structure each time the board reorganizes.    

A successful board and administration alignment can be defined as a connected group of individuals working together, not as separate entities, but a team with clear purpose and understanding of roles with a common goal of making decisions that are in the best interests of students, staff, and community.  The Board and Administration are not in competition with each other but are competing to meet the individual and collective needs of students.

There is no action required.  This is an informational item only.

Rationale:  Board Policy 3035 outlines that the superintendent shall be in control of all school district operations except as provided by another policy or as otherwise provided by law.  Linked here is the administrative chain of command, working from the lowest level in the chain upward. 

This is an informational item and does not require a motion.

 

Rationale: 

Standing Committees

            1.           Personnel / Negotiations

            2.           Facilities & Transportation

            3.           Finance

            4.           Committee on American Civics

            5.           Policy

Policy 2002 outlines that the board shall authorize such special committees as it deems necessary. The board president shall appoint members to the committee, and designate its function, tasks it is to perform, and completion date for its work. After the initial appointment, positions can be modified by a majority vote of the board.  

A list of the proposed 2025 standing committees is linked below. 

Rationale:  The final task under the Realignment of the Board of Education is to disseminate the conflict of interest policy and the associated form.  

Policy 2005 outlines a Conflict of Interest when a board member has a business in which the board member or a member of his or her immediate family is a partner, a limited liability company, stockholder, or serves as a director or an officer for a business that could potentially benefit from board action.

There is no action needed.

Rationale: 

Mission Statement:

Gothenburg Public Schools is the cornerstone of a proud, passionate, and progressive community where students and staff thrive in a positive and innovative environment.  We ensure the growth of all individuals by inspiring them to own and maximize their potential.

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:  This month's celebration of excellence is brought to us by Mrs. Richeson, Director of Teaching and Learning providing updates and insights to our Mentor Program and newest staff members.

Rationale: 

Board Policy 2009 - Opportunity for Public Expression.  
(A copy of the policy is linked here.)

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO SPEAK: This is the portion of the meeting when members of the public may speak to the board about matters of public concern.  

• Getting Started:  When you have been recognized, please stand and state your name.   

• Time Limit:  The board will generally allow a total of 30 minutes for the presentation of all public comments.  Individuals may speak only one time, and must limit comments to around 5 minutes.  If there are more than 6 individuals who wish to address the board, the 30 minutes will be divided equally between the number of speakers.   These time limits may be changed by a majority vote of the board members in attendance to extend the time for a specific item or speaker. 

• Personnel or Student Topic:  If you are planning to speak about a personnel or a student matter involving an individual, please understand that the district has a complaint policy and/or procedures to resolve such complaints and concerns.  The Board requests that you follow the policy and procedures before addressing these matters with the Board.  Board members will generally not respond to any questions you ask or comments about individual staff members or students.  

• General Rules: This is a public meeting for the conduct of business.  Comments from the audience while others are speaking will not be tolerated.  Lewd, obscene, profane, slanderous, threatening and hostile conduct or statements and fighting words (words whose mere utterance entails a call to violence) will not be tolerated. 

• No Action by the Board:  The board will not act on any matter unless it is on the published agenda. 

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

 

Rationale:  The following contracts are recommended for approval:

• Mrs. Maggie Tiller - Director of Teaching & Learning: Mrs. Tiller has taught Science at Gothenburg High School since 2005. She is no stranger to leadership in our district having participated in our School Improvement Committee, MTSS Leadership Team, Building Leadership Team, and Guiding Coalition.  Mrs. Tiller is a relationship-oriented educator who looks forward to helping move the needle for new teachers and using data to guide next steps for educators across the district.  Mrs. Tiller has earned two Master's Degrees from the University Nebraska at Kearney in Curriculum & Instruction (2007) and Educational Leadership & Administration (2021).  Mrs. Tiller's educational journey has prepared her well for this role and we look forward to partnering with her on our administrative team in the years to come.   
• Mr. Connor Rosfeld - Secondary Math: Mr. Rosfeld is a native of Callaway, NE who graduated from UNK in December with a degree in Secondary Math Education and completed his student teaching in Amherst this fall.  He will begin his MA in STEM education this spring!
• Miss Tatum Cool - Speech Language Pathologist: Miss Cool is a native of Arnold, NE who graduated from UNL with her BA May 2023 and will graduate from UNK with her MA in Speech Pathology in May 2025.  She will complete her student teaching at Gothenburg Public Schools this spring with Mrs. Erin Feather. 
• Mr. Nolan Sughroue - Business Teacher: Mr. Sughroue is a native of Alliance, NE who graduated from Hastings College in December with a degree in Business, Marketing, and Information Technology (BMIT).  He completed his student teaching at Hastings Public Schools this past fall.
• Mr. Caleb Franklin - PE Teacher: Mr. Franklin has taught K-12 PE at Anselmo-Merna since 2020. He is a graduate of Midland University with a BA in Fitness and Sports Management - Strength and Conditioning and has demonstrated success coaching wrestling and sprints since 2017.
• Mrs. Kayla Studnicka - Special Education Teacher:  Mrs. Studnicka has served as a paraprofessional at Gothenburg Public Schools since 2022 and will graduate from Chadron State College with a degree in K-12 Special Education.  Her student teaching will be completed at Gothenburg Public Schools.

Rationale:  Annually, the district must appoint a Non-discrimination Compliance Coordinator to meet federal Equal Employment Opportunity requirements and a Title IX Coordinator.

Additional information can be found the Policy 3057 - Title IX.

Rationale:  Districts/systems reported 669.35 positions as unfilled with fully qualified personnel, and 200.65 left vacant for 2024-25. Of those 669.35 positions, 167.95 positions (25.09%) were in districts/systems with less than 500 students. 

Central Nebraska (our region) had the highest percent of districts with unfilled positions and the second-highest percent of unfilled positions overall (41%).  The most challenging position to fill across the state was Special Education (22%) followed by Elementary Education (10%).

Unfilled refers to a position that was filled by someone other than a fully qualified teacher or a position that was left vacant.

Vacant refers to a position that was not filled at all - i.e., in Special Education of the 149.5 unfilled positions, 99 have teachers and 50.5 were left vacant. 

Rationale: 

Committee Reports (Chair in bold)

1.  Personnel Committee (Mr. Fornoff, Mrs. Terrell, Mrs. Jobman)
2. Transportation and Facilities (Mr. Wyatt, Mr. Dalrymple, Mrs. Brass)
3. Finance (Mrs. Jobman, Mr. Wyatt, Mrs. Brass)
4. Committee on American Civics (Mrs. Terrell, Mr. Fornoff, Mr. Dalrymple)
5. Policy Review (Mrs. Terrell, Mr. Fornoff, Mrs. Brass)

 

Rationale: 

Rationale:  Monday, February 10th - Time TBD

Swede Activities:
Reserve BB @ Cozad (5/6:30)