June 11, 2009 at 6:30 PM - Regular Meeting June 11, 2009

Rationale:  It is 6:30 PM and I now call to order the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education Meeting.  This is the June 11, 2009 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:  Lance Kush, a sophomore at GISH, is being recognized for First Place in sports news coverage in the 2009 State Journalism Contest.  Introduced by Joe Kutlas.

Rationale:  Alex Armes of Grand Island Senior High is being recognized for earning the All-Class Gold Medal Championship 200M at the 2009 Nebraska State Track Meet.  Introduced by Joe Kutlas.

Rationale:  The 2008-2009 school year second semester opening of the 'new' Engleman Elementary School building has allowed the old site to be re-purposed.  The Board and administration implemented a plan to re-purpose the building site into a dedicated early childhood learning center for the District's pre-school programs.  Via a recommendation from the 'facilities naming committee' per board policy the building is being officially re-named to better reflect the actual education programs carried out at the site and communicate that to our stakeholders.

Rationale:  The student wellness center at Grand Island Senior High School operates, in part, via a three year lease agreement between Grand Island Public Schools and Saint Francis Medical Center.  A new three year lease period starts July 1, 2009 and therefore, the lease agreement needs to be renewed.  It is District practice to have a representative from Saint Francis Medical Center present information and statistical data supporting the student wellness center activities for the prior three year period prior to considering this action item.

Rationale:  Childcare Solutions, Inc. is a Grand Island Public Schools sponsored community outreach program designed to promote the highest standard of early childhood care possible for the children of the Grand Island and surrounding communities.  Heartland United Way is a partner agency and provides additional resources for Childcare Solutions to operate.  The GIPS Board of Education is Childcare Solutions defacto board and therefore needs to approve the HUW - Participating Agency Agreement for Childcare Solutions, Inc.

Rationale:  Annually, the "Extra-Standard Committee" meets to review and recommend changes to the extra-standard schedule.  The committee met, reviewed, and recommends the changes as outlined in the attachment.  The 'base salary' follows one year in arrears from the certified salary schedule.  Otherwise the recommendations are based upon impacting the largest number of students possible.

Rationale:  The Lunch Fund operates the District's National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) via revenue from Federal, State, and user resources.  The Lunch Fund maintains a healthy cash position, but with ever increasing food, materials, supplies, and labor costs a modest five-cent increase in meal prices is recommended.  A modest increase now helps us guard against a major increase later.  Additionally, with the planned construction of the "Central Food Production Facility" a large part of the cash balance will be spent down to implement the project.  Therefore, additional revenue is needed to keep the program financially strong and in the black. 

Rationale:  The Boys and Girls Club wish to use specific and general use areas of Walnut Middle School.  The proposed agreement outlines the working relationship between Grand Island Public Schools and the Boys and Girls Club.  This partnership represents a strengthening of our after school programs for our communities children at little or no cost to the District.

Rationale:  As the District continues to grow in student enrollment classroom space is an ever increasing issue and priority.  Local resources are almost always the only source for building additional classroom space.  However, with the influx of additional Federal stimulus dollars via IDEA we are able to fund the proposed annex for Jefferson Elementary School.