October 9, 2014 at 6:30 PM - Regular Meeting

Rationale:  It is 6:30 PM and I now call to order the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education Meeting.  This is the October 9, 2014 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: 

Rationale:   

Rationale:  Seedling Mile Elementary School in recognition of being selected as a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School.

Rationale: 

GISH staff, Mrs. Maggie Mintken, Shaun Willey, Julie Markvicka, Cally Macosko, will present information on Islander Summit. Islander Summit is held the first Wednesday of the month on the “Early Out Wednesday”. Staff will share the planning process, typical agenda for the day, process for supporting staff, and
process for evaluating student/staff perceptions of the Islander Summit options.

Rationale:  Mr. McDowell, Director of 21st Century Learning, will review several useful technology tools which Board members have access to, including Google Mail and Google Calendars.

Rationale:  Substitute teacher pay was last increased in August 2013. This proposed increase would be effective January 5, 2015 and will keep our substitute teacher pay schedule competitive with area school districts with whom we compete for substitute teachers. 

Rationale:  Due to the current revenue and expenditure levels within the District during the current fiscal year several steps have been taken to position the District to withstand continued changes in both revenue and expenditures.  One of those steps is to bring forward a "Targeted Voluntary Early Retirement Incentive Plan" or TVERIP.  This is a DRAFT plan and is in the process of being updated and modified by District legal council (Cline, Williams) from the last time we utilized this action in 2010 - 2011 school year.  The plan and the detail of such were reviewed by the F&F committee and will be presented to the entire BOE for approval during the November 2014 regularly scheduled meeting.  Key aspects of the plan include, but are not limited to, the following;
1.  An employee would need twenty-nine (29) years of continuous service to the District to qualify.
2.  Employee agrees to resign and give up right to a continuing contract for a maximum per employee price of $37,500 (same as 2011).
3.  A maximum of Twenty (20) employees can participate.
4.  The anticipated maximum cost of the plan is $750,000 already set-a-side in the Employee Benefit Fund.
5.  The maximum anticipated General Fund reduction for the 2015 - 2016 school year is approximately $850,000.
6.  Administration my ask for for the plan to operate in both FY14-15 and FY15-16.

Rationale:  Strong financial management of District resources has always been Grand Island Public Schools standard operating procedure.  However, in the past we did not formalize the operating procedures with which investment decisions were made.  The attached proposed investment policy simply puts in writing the investment procedures followed by Grand Island Public Schools.  A natural and logical consequence of this policy will be periodic review of investments by the Facilities and Finance Committee of the Board.

Rationale:  Due to installing a bus lane in front of West Lawn Elementary School on College Street GIPS needs to enter into a new updated utilities easement with the City of Grand Island.  The movement of the easement is a natural outcome of the new bus lane construction.

Rationale: 

WHEREAS, the Municipalities Continuing Disclosure Cooperation Initiative (the “Initiative”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) has been introduced for municipal issuers and underwriters, and the underwriter of the District has reported one or more of the District’s bond issues to the Commission pursuant to the Initiative; and WHEREAS, the District has evaluated the benefits and risks of participation in the Initiative and has determined that participation in the Initiative is appropriate for the District to reduce future risk and uncertainty;

 

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the District hereby authorizes the District to participate in the Initiative under the terms of the Initiative, and further authorizes the President of the Board of Education of the District to approve, finalize, execute and deliver for and on behalf of the District any and all documents, certificates and questionnaires necessary or appropriate for the District to participate in the Initiative including, without limitation, an agreement with the commission under the terms set forth in the Initiative.

Rationale:  Dr. Winter will open discussion on board member preferences for visiting schools in the district.

Rationale:  Per our 403(b) plan legal council, Grand Island Public Schools needs to update and amend our current 403(b) plan definition of "Spouse" in order to comply with changes made to the Internal Revenue Service for federal tax purposes.

Rationale:  Mr. Harden and Mr. Greiger (with DA Davidson) discussed the process and timeline for issuing bonds and refinancing existing bonds.  Board members received the resolution authorizing the issuance, sale and delivery of general obligation school bonds in an aggregate stated principal amount not to exceed $69,900,000; prescribing the form of the bonds; fixing in part and providing for the fixing in part of the terms of the bonds; providing for the levy and collection of taxes to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds; and related matters.

Rationale:  Resolution authorizing the call of a portion of the outstanding principal amount of Hall County School District 0002 (Grand Island Public Schools) in the State of Nebraska, Build America Bonds (taxable interest – direct pay), series 2009, dated November 12, 2009, for payment and redemption prior to maturity.

Rationale:  The Board was presented a resolution authorizing the issuance of not to exceed $4,500,000 principal amount of limited tax refunding building bonds, series 2014 of Hall County School District 0002 (Grand Island Public Schools) in the State of Nebraska; prescribing the form of the bonds; providing for the fixing of the terms of the bonds; providing for the levy and collection of a limited annual tax to pay the principal of and interest on such bonds; and authorizing certain other documents and actions in connection therewith

Rationale:  Strong financial management of District resources has always been Grand Island Public Schools standard operating procedure.  However, in the past we did not formalize the operating procedures with which investment decisions were made.  The attached proposed investment policy simply puts in writing the investment procedures followed by Grand Island Public Schools.  A natural and logical consequence of this policy will be periodic review of investments by the Facilities and Finance Committee of the Board.

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the Facility and Finance Committee.  From this committee, there is also a possibility of a presentation and recommendation for action on any item which might have recently arisen requiring a short turn around time frame.

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the Teaching and Learning Committee.

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the Personnel Committee.

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the Policy Committee.

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration by the Grand Island Education Foundation.

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the Legislative Committee.

Rationale:  A quarterly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration by the NASB Board of Directors.

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the Public Relations Committee.