September 11, 2017 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular 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. 

The administration and food service manager recommend changing the lunch cost for a pre-school student to $2.00

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

Approval of 2017-2018 budget

The adoption of the budget in the previous item leads to approval of the district tax request. We are approving a dollar amount for the tax request, not the levy amount. The attached resolution is what you are being asked to approve. 

The board annually approves bus routes. We approve them at the September meeting to try to iron out the kinks before approval. It went much smoother this year with Robert here. 

The administration will present enrollment numbers to the board.

Senator Kolowski represents District 44 and is the vice-chair of the Education Committee. He is seeking input from school regarding the types things we would like to be part of or removed from the state aid formula. Bring thoughts for discussion. His letter is attached. 

The board needs to select it's negotiations team for this year. This can be accomplished via motion and vote or presidential appointment. Last year's Negotiation team was: 

Chair: Jason Frederick

Past Chair: Sandy Noffsinger

Committee: Amy Haines, Kent Lorens

If you are interested in serving on this committee please contact Shad or myself.

The statutory timeline for negotiation is:

• September 1 Bargaining agent must request recognition
• October 1 Governing board must respond to request
• November 1 negotiations must begin
• February 8 If no agreement parties must submit to resolution officer

The board may want to consider entering executive session to discuss strategy for this negotiations season.

The board should enter closed session to discuss negotiations strategies.

After the motion the president states:

The board has adopted a motion to enter closed session to discuss the negotiations strategy because it is in the school district’s best interest and the public’s best interest to discuss this in closed session. The board will limit its discussion to this issue.

The board exits executive session when the president declares the session over or when an individual board member feels the board is no longer discussing the material matter of the motion to enter executive session. 

After the declaration and motion to exit executive session has passed the president states:

The board entered closed session to discuss the negotiations strategy because it is in the school district’s best interest and the public’s best interest to discuss this in closed session. The board limited its discussion to that issue.

The board needs to select it's negotiations team for this year. This can be accomplished via motion and vote or presidential appointment. Last year's Negotiation team was: 

Chair: Jason Frederick

Past Chair: Sandy Noffsinger

Committee: Amy Haines, Kent Lorens

If you are interested in serving on this committee please contact Shad or myself.

Sandy may have information from the NASB to report

The board annually approves the current list of potential substitute teachers.