January 9, 2017 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Board members should sign the oath of office and conflict of interest forms as a matter of procedure.

The board annually elects officers at the January meeting. 

1. The Board of Education reserves the right to enter into Closed/Executive Session for 1) the protection of public interest or 2) the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual, and the individual has not requested a public meeting. When making a motion to enter into Closed/Executive Session, the member making such a request should be as specific as possible keeping the previously listed stipulation in consideration. 
2. If the Board is in agreement, a motion maybe to enter into Closed/Executive Session to 1) discuss a personnel matter, or 2) for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of the individual, or 3) to discuss litigation and for the protection of the public interest.
3. Action concerning matters discussed in Closed/Executive Session will be acted upon in open session

Welcome to the Dundy County Stratton Public Schools Board of Education Meeting.  The Board welcomes citizens to attend board meetings to become acquainted with the programs and operations of the district.  Members of the public are also encouraged to share their ideas and opinions with the Board during the agenda item labeled “Public Items”.  Comments or questions from the audience at any other time during the meeting except for the agenda item “Public Items” will out of necessity be declared out of order.

The Nebraska Open Meetings Act prevents the board from speaking to a matter that is not on the agenda.  Please understand that the board may be unable to address your issue during the meeting.  It is not permissible for the board to comment on items not listed for the protection of the public’s right to know and participate in the discussion of items that do come before the board and stated appropriately in the meeting agenda.  

During this agenda item “Public Items” we ask that you abide by the following rules:

Public Comment Protocol and Procedures

1. Anyone wishing to speak to the board on specific agenda items or on other topics relevant to board business must complete a Public Comment Request Card and submit it to the Board President prior to the opening of the meeting.   The public will only be recognized and their comments heard at Item “Public Items” on the board agenda.  The total time allotted for the public comment will not exceed thirty minutes and each member of the public will be allotted not more than five minutes to address the Board.  If a group wishes to speak, please designate one spokesperson for the group.
   
   
2. Please state your name and the topic you are addressing before you begin.  
   
   
3. Speakers are asked to direct their questions and comments to the chair.  A member of the Board of Education or the Superintendent may direct clarifying questions to the chair, but the board will not under any circumstance enter into a debate with any the member of the public.
   
   
4. Speakers may offer objective criticism of district operations and programs, but the Board would encourage members of the public to address complaints concerning individual district personnel through the proper chain of command.  The chair may direct the member of the public to the appropriate means to address concerns brought before the Board; however, the board will not respond with action but will take comments under advisement and direct the comments to the appropriate staff member to address outside of the board meeting.
   
   
5. Please remember that is a public meeting for the conduct of business of the Dundy County Stratton Public School District. Offensive language, personal attacks and hostile conduct will not be tolerated. You should further be advised that there is no legal protection for any comments that are made. 
   
   
6. As stated in NEB. REV. STAT. § 79-570 Class I, II, III, IV, or VI school district; president; meetings; maintenance of order.  

   If any district meeting of a Class I, II, III, IV, or VI school district any person conducts himself or herself in a disorderly manner and persists in such conduct after notice by the president or person presiding, the president or person presiding may order such person to withdraw from the meeting and, if the person refuses, may order any person or persons to take such person into custody until the meeting is adjourned.

7. As stated in NEB. REV. STAT. § 79-571 Class I, II, III, IV, or VI school district; meetings; disorderly conduct; penalty. 

Any person who refuses to withdraw from such meeting on being so ordered as provided in section 79-570 or who willfully disturbs such meeting shall be guilty of a Class V misdemeanor. 

Annual item of business. We traditionally follow the federal mileage rate (IRS) for all programs. The motion from last year was to continue to follow the federal mileage rate. The rate dropped from $0.54 to $0.535.

We annually make a motion to designate an official depository and bank. 

Another annual item of business. For many programs this is statutorily the superintendent.

Presentation of the financial status of the district, balances in various funds, recent/impending activity therein, anticipated expenses and planning for future considerations.

We annually designate our official publication

Committees are annually appointed/re-appointed. This can be done by presidential appointment or board motion. 

Current Committees are:

Finance/Budget/Legislation: Mike Blecha, Kent Lorens, Sandy Noffsinger, ____________

Transportation/Facilities/Grounds: Brad Baney, Mike Blecha, Kevin League, Kent Lorens

Curriculum/Activities/Staff Development: Jason Frederick, Amy Haines, Sandy Noffsinger, Shad Stamm

Americanism: Mike Blecha, Amy Haines, ____________

If you are interested in a new committee assignment please let me know prior to the meeting. 

We adopted goal areas at the December meeting. It is my opinion that the board committees should write the goals, develop plans to implement and determine how we will measure progress. The board went through a good process to develop the areas and it will be better if they hammer out the final versions. Below are the goal areas and the committee I think should work on those goals: 

1. Community relations/career pathways
   • (Curriculum/activities/staff development, Jason, Amy, Sandy, Shad)
2. Increasing cash reserves/budget efficiency
   • (Finance, budget, legislation, Mike, Kent, Sandy, _______)
3. Staff development/professional growth.
   • (Curriculum/activities/staff development, Jason, Amy, Sandy, Shad)

They will just be better goals if we do them this way.

This item is to allow for updated information and discussion on board member purchase of health insurance through the school. 

What we know so far is this:

1. It is allowed. 
2. Signup must take place during open enrollment period or after a 'life event'
3. Board members who wish to purchase the insurance write a check directly to the school. 
4. We will need a policy. 

Questions I have been asked are:

1.  What should that policy say?
2. . Among those of you who are interested are there enough to create your own pool and have a plan different from the teachers or are you all just wanting the teacher plan?
3. If you purchase the plan does that create any conflicts when you are on the negotiations committee? 
4. Do we want to schedule Greg Long from Blue Cross to come visit with us and the teachers?

Superintendent Report

January 9, 2017

1. In-service: There is no school on Jan. 16 for the ESU In-service/PLC training day in McCook.
2. RPAC: We are hosting the first round of RPAC Basketball on Jan. 21. That means we have 6 games here on that Saturday, starting at 10 AM. Anyone who wishes to volunteer to help please contact Crissy.
3. More RPAC:

   Quiz Bowl Jan. 11 at Southwest

   Art Contest Jan. 18 at Cambridge

   Wrestling Jan. 20 at Medicine Valley

   Vocal Music Feb. 6 at Hayes Center

   Speech Meet Feb. 15 at Hitchcock County

4. RPAC/MCC: RPAC and MCC are committed to hosting Volleyball and Basketball Finals at the Graff Event Center through the 2017-2018 seasons. The Student Council Workshop will be held on the MCC campus through the 2019-2020 school year. This partnership has and continues to provide outstanding opportunities for our students and MCC as well.

5. Legislature: Senator Jim Scheer of Norfolk was elected Speaker of the Legislature, defeating Senator Matt Williams of Gothenburg. Senator Mike Groene of North Platte was elected Chair of the Education Committee over Senator Roy Baker of the area south of Lincoln. 

Board items January 2017

Upcoming board workshops: There is a lot of stuff for you to potentially attend coming up. Let Crissy you know if you wish to be signed up.

1. NASB Legislative issues: Lincoln, Jan. 22-23 (Sandy is registered, I will be registering)
2. NASB Budget and Finance Workshop: Lincoln Jan. 23
3. ESU 15/16 Workshop: North Platte, Jan. 25 at 4:00
4. Education Forum: Kearney, Feb. 8-9
5. NRCSA Legislative update: Lincoln, Feb. 22
6. NASB Presidents Retreat: Kearney Feb. 26-27, Norfolk Mar. 5-6
7. NASB School Law Basics: Gering Mar. 7, Kearney Mars 14, Norfolk Mar. 16, Lincoln Mar. 21
8. NRCSA Spring Conference: Kearney March 23-24
9. NSBA National Conference: Denver, Co, March 25-27
10. NASB SWEAT (School Wellness Education & Training): Kearney April 12-13