December 11, 2023 at 8:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

1.  Review monthly bills using the EMeetings Software.

2.  Review all credit card transactions for the month

3.  Finance Committee Members Sign-off on review of monthly bills, credit card transactions, and district fund balances.

4.  Approve superintendent's expenses (mileage & reimbursement).

5.  Lunch Fund Review-Monthly Lunch Fund Balance Worksheet Attached

6. General Fund Review

7.  Payroll Ledger Review

8.  Insurance Billing Review

9.  ACH Payroll Review

10.  Community Eligibility Provision for Nutrition Program

10. Repayment by Employee - All money that was due back to the district by the employee who didn't properly maintain his certificate has been repaid to the school district as of 12/11/23.

 

Rationale:  Mr. Benjamin has been weeding books in the high school library.  The books he would like to have declared as surplus for immediate sale or disposal appear on the second tab of the attached Excel document.

Rationale:  2 Welders
1 Desk
1 Filing Cabinet

Photos of the items Mr. Cyboron is requesting be declared as surplus are attached to this item.

Rationale: 

Members of the Public, 

This is the portion of the board meeting when we invite anyone in attendance to address the board of education. If you would like to speak to the board regarding any of the items on tonight's agenda or a public concern, now is your opportunity to do so.  Please review the orange sheet (found on the visitors' chairs) of paper that contains the guidelines for public participation.  If you wish to speak to the board at this time, please let me know.  "Would anyone like to address the board at this time?"

 

AFTER THE PERSON(S) INDICATE(S) THEY WISH TO SPEAK

1.  Please stand and state your name?

2.  What topic will you be speaking on?

3.  Are there others in the room who wish to speak to the same topic? (If so, ask that they be recognized so that 30 minutes of time for public comment can be apportioned as per the policy-5 minutes per person).

4.  Optional-"Please understand that public comment is your opportunity to speak to the board and present your concerns, thoughts, feelings, ideas, and observations.  Members of the board are happy to hear from members of the public, but the board will not engage in conversation or dialogue with you during public comment."

4.  "You'll have approximately 5 minutes to address the board, as we allow 5 minutes per person and a total of 30 minutes for public comment.  You may begin when you are ready?"

 

 

 

Rationale:  Mr. Maulsby was hired to be the interim principal for the remainder of the 2023-24 school year.  He began those duties on November 20th.  The board needs to approve his employment contract for that position.

Rationale:  Mr. Maulsby has accepted the interim principal position.  The district needs to hire an interim PE teacher to replace him for the remainder of the school year.  Mr. Maulsby advertised the position and interviewed 3 candidates.  He is recommending the hire of Mr. Cannon Blauvelt as interim 7-12 PE Teacher.

Rationale:  The Buffalo County Election Commissioner has requested that we notify them of our intentions regarding the 2024 election cycle by January 5th, 2024.

Rationale:  The administration would like to discuss the possibility of using sunset memorials as a grieving tool for students.  Policy 5029 prohibits the use of memorials without prior board approval.  The board has allowed the use of sunset memorials in the past, when a staff member passed away.

In advance of the anniversary of the student death we had last year on January 24th, the administrative team and guidance office are exploring ways to help our students cope and grieve.  Mrs. Drahota plans to engage the deceased students' classmates in a conversation around coping strategies, skills, and events in advance of the anniversary of the death.  We would like to know if she is authorized to allow students to utilize "sunset memorials" for 5 school-days, if such memorials are requested and approved by the administrative team.

The superintendent would also encourage and recommend the board to consider modifying the current language of Policy 5029 to include language that allows for temporary "sunset" memorials, when the administration deems it to be appropriate. 


 

Rationale:  The current activity drug testing policy states that we can test for nicotine, but we currently do not.  The current test we provide is $31.  It is $5 to add nicotine.  However, our sales representative said that schools that test for nicotine see a sharp increase in positive test results over any other chemical tested for, because of its highly addictive nature. 

So, I think we would have some more policy work to complete if the school changes what it does now.  Also, some interesting additional information.  We test 9 students 3 times a year.  For a total of 27 tests out of 163 students in grades 7-12th. 

Ord is testing 20 students, twice a month, or 40 students a month, for 9 months out of the year, with a student body of 248 students.  I'm not proposing that we immediately move forward with more testing, adding nicotine to the test, or change the testing timing, but it certainly is worth discussing those options to increase the effectiveness of the program.

Current cost = 27 test x $31 = $837
Cost of Testing 20 students Monthly (9 Months August - April)  = $5,580
Cost Increase = $4,743
Current ms/hs enrollment is 171


The administrative recommendation regarding the future of the current activity drug testing program and policy would be as follows:

1. Increase the testing interval to a monthly testing interval beginning in January of 2024.
2. Increase the testing capacity to include 10 students per testing event.  This would yield a total of 100 test per year (August - May or 10 test X 10 months = 100 test).  This would capture approximately 60% (171 students - Actual percentage is 58.48%) of our 7-12 student body.
3. Include nicotine in the drug testing panel beginning in August of 2024.
4. Prior to including nicotine testing in the test panel, Mr. Maulsby will meet in person with all students in grades 7-12 in January and let them know that the frequency and number of students being tested is going to increase in January 2024 and that nicotine will be tested for beginning in August of 2024.
5. Mr. Maulsby will let students know that if they are currently struggling with nicotine addiction that they can approach him or Mrs. Drahota for resources on how to end their nicotine addiction.
6. Mr. Maulsby will also prepare and deliver to parents a correspondence letting them know that nicotine will be included in the test panel beginning in August and encourage parents to reach out to him or Mrs. Drahota, if they believe their student is currently struggling with a nicotine addiction.
7. At this time, the administrative team does not think that the school should provide students with nicotine replacement therapy.  We believe that allowing a large window of time from January to August (7 months) for students with a nicotine addiction to work with their parents and their doctors to address the addiction is the appropriate course of action.
8. In the coming months, the administrative team will develop a policy revision to the existing activity drug testing policy to offer for the board’s consideration during its annual policy review (June) to prepare for the very strong likelihood that we will see positive test results for nicotine, when the district begins testing for nicotine in August.  The board’s input and guidance on this revision will be essential.  The administrative team will be guided by the thought that we are developing a policy to help and rehabilitate students with a nicotine addiction, rather than simply punishing them, as we develop this draft policy.

Rationale:  Dr. Schroeder and Mr. Schirmer have been working with Midwest Tennis and Track to do an assessment of the needs to maintain the high school track.  The written assessment from Midwest Tennis & Track appears below.  Attached to this agenda item is budget pricing for the proposed work.

The district will need to publicly advertise the work, after a set of bid specifications have been created, which would be done in the coming months.  Ideally, the project would be performed and completed in the Summer of 2024.

From Corey at Midwest Tennis & Track...

Good morning Ken,
 
...Since the track was paved new and the field events were not new at the same time, I would recommend leaving them alone for now as per my conversation with Tony. Other than the surface being hard on the high jump and runways, there doesn’t appear to be any patching or other work necessary, so this would save you money by just doing the track oval and chutes.
 
If you do it that way, someday when the track needs to be replaced, then everything can be done new at the same time. The other thing I would mention is that due to the scuffing of the rubber granules on the track, it is important to get those locked into place with that coating so that you catch it before you lose depth, and at the same time we re-stripe the track as well as it extends the life of the track surface.
 
Please let me know if you have any questions, please feel free to email me back or call or text my cell anytime.
 
Thank you,
 
Corey Curnyn


 

Rationale:  A survey was taken and the date and time that seemed to work for everyone was January 17th @ 5:30.

So, would you like to have a meal?

What other items would you like to have on the agenda besides the building project?

Are you at all interested in hearing from "Facility Advocates," the architect, or the finance professionals, or do you want the retreat to consist of only the administrative team and the board?

Any other details you would like to plan for that evening?
 

Rationale:  The superintendent is to be evaluated twice within his first year of employment with the school district and annually each year thereafter.  This is the first of his two evaluations for the 2023-24 school year.

Rationale:  Thank you to Mrs. Zinnell and Mrs. Ellis for another wonderful elementary Christmas Program.

5th/6th Graders raised over $700 at their annual garage sale.  They donated the money to Mrs. Steele to help offset medical expenses.

Cami Wick, a 6th grader, won the NDOT's "Name A Snowplow Contest".  Cami's name "Fast and Flurryous" was one of 16 selected statewide with almost 1200 names submitted.  The name will be placed on a snowplow in our region.  On Friday, Dec 15 representative from NDOT will bring the snowplow to school and present Cami with a prize.

Taylor Pringle, a 6th grader, won the local Lion's Club Peace Poster Contest.  She also won at the regional level.  It has been submitted to the national competition.  

Piper Kriha and Karaline Huryta represented Ravenna at the All-State Children's Chorus in Lincoln.  They performed at the Leid Center.

Thank you to the Jr. Jays PTO for providing Thanksgiving desserts again this year.  The students really look forward to it.

Grades K-3 have completed the Winter MAP assessments. Grades 4-6 will complete the assessments this week.

Rationale: 

Principal Report December Board Meeting

 

• Thank you for providing me the opportunity to lead and to serve the district.  I consider it an honor to serve as secondary principal.

 

Academic

 

• Winter maps testing was performed this past week. We still have some makeup tests to finish up on Monday and Tuesday.

  • Teachers worked with students to set MAP goals prior to testing. Having goals that students are able to see and work towards, gives teachers the opportunity to discuss student scores and helps lead to better student buy-in.

• AQUESTT Results for Middle & High School

  • Both Elementary and Middle/High School received a Great AQuESTT Classification.

  • As a District, we received a AQuESTT Classification of Excellent

  • Here is a link with more information. https://nep.education.ne.gov/

  • AQuESTT Classification Rules - This link provides a copy of the "business rules" NDE uses to classify schools in the AQuESTT Accountability Model.

  • AQuESTT Explanation - This link is the basic explanation of the rules used for AQuESTT classification.

• Middle School Reading Intervention

  • Providing interventions for reading with our junior high students that have been identified as needing additional support. 

  • Mrs. Maulsby is working to provide these supports for approximately 15 minutes 4 times a week.

  • Mrs. Maulsby and Mrs. Wick are working together on the resources and programs to help meet their needs.

  • This is a pilot project and we will continue to work with teachers and the guidance office to create a more permanent solution going forward.

 

Student Behavior/Mental Health
 

• There was the "Every Brilliant Thing" program for 7-12 students. 

  • Program was engaging and had a good message

  • Our students did a great job of participating and seemed to enjoy it

• SOS Training - Suicide Prevention Training - January 5th

  • Angie and I are working to set up this mental health training for our 9-12 students.

  • We are working on the documentation and resources that will go out to parents prior to the training.
     

Activities
 

• Congratulations One-Act coaches and students on your class C2 state championship.

  • Owen Standage - Class C2 Best Actor

  • Best Tech Crew

  • 7 Acting Awards

• Mrs. Ellis and her students did a great job with their performance in the secondary Christmas concert. 

• JH Wrestling and Girls Basketball wrapped up their successful seasons.

• NDE Enrollment Numbers - used for 24-25 Classifications

  • Girls - 43

  • Boys - 40

Rationale: 

• Fred Meyer - District #41 Senator - St. Paul - Capitol Phone: 402-471-2631
• 2023 Legislative Calendar - Attached
  • January 3rd through April 18th - 60 Day Session (Short Session)
• "Lawmakers are crabby about the lack of reduction in property taxes."  Expect conversation about a hard cap on expenditures, and all sort of other interesting ideas
• Slides from Preview Conference
• EPIC Consumption Tax Constitutional Amendment - Attached

3.  Staff Evaluations Report - Attached is a summary of the number of evaluations that have been completed to date by the administrative team.  All probationary teachers have been evaluated for a full instructional period.  You will note that all of the probationary teachers evaluated by Mr. Blauvelt were also evaluated by the superintendent, because those evaluations are not valid due to the lack of appropriate certification at the time Mr. Blauvelt conducted the evaluations.

4.  Community Eligibility Provision for the School Lunch Program - We are waiting to hear back from Kayte Partch at NDE Nutrition Services, but based on our preliminary review of the account, the revenue generated by offering a free meals for all students through applying for a Community Eligiblity Provision would actually generate substantially less revenue for the school district.  However, we are waiting to hear the final word on the matter back from NDE Nutrition Services.

5.  Summer Projects List - Do the board members have any specific projects they would like for Dan, Todd, and I to explore for this summer?  We should get our bids out for any projects requiring contractors in the next couple of months.  Below are the items that Dan, Todd, Paul, Noah, and I have been discussing:

• Hail Damage from Roof (ALICAP Came out to visit but has never been responsive in addressing the damage).
• Track Re-Surface - Called Greg Gottlob to get an estimate on a new base on 12/11/23.  Tony is looking at a "structural spray" track or two.
• Concrete on North Side of Building - Getting to be a safety hazard.
• Low Spot on Elementary Lawn - Shilo
• Blacktop Playground Elementary - Called Greg Gottlob to get an estimate on 12/11/23.
• Blacktop Reseal on the other two areas - Called Greg Gottlob to get an estimate on 12/11/23.
• Removal of rose bushes/installation of rock (front of elementary)
• Removal of bike rack (front of elementary) and replace with more appropriately sized rack
• Clean up of junk north of Todd’s Shop (oil, tires, pallets, crap)
• Re-heat valves in the high school - Replace existing  - They are 54 years old and continue to stick
• Wood planks in football stadium - replace with aluminum - L & M
• Youth Center Heating Units - at 20 years - Do now or wait until the Phase 1 of Building Project
• Sprinklers West of Elementary
• LED Lighting in Elementary
• Overseed/Reseed the front lawn
• Tractor/Mower - Scorched valves - Its 15 years old - Time to replace - It has no power, so when it rains for 4 days, it can’t cut grass that’s more than 1.5" tall and so without two mowers running, it is easy to get behind on the mowing.

 

Rationale:  Monthly NASB Board Report is attached for review by the board members.