August 14, 2017 at 5:30 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

The Norfolk Public School District's board of education meeting is called to order.  

This is a legal meeting of the board of education, as advertised by the means specified in board policy. A complete copy of the Open Meetings Act is posted in the board room for your review. A copy of the agenda is available at the desk of the recording secretary.

Dr. Jami Jo Thompson (Superintendent), Sarah Dittmer (Communications Director) and Kim Erickson (NSEA President) will share information with the Board regarding the work that has been completed by the District Communications Team.

This is the time during the meeting when the public may request to address the Board. If you wish to comment, we ask that you identify yourself and the topic that you wish to address. Each individual's comments will be limited to five minutes.

 Please note that  the Board cannot discuss or act upon matters that are not listed on the agenda. Therefore, Board  members will not respond to your comments or questions.  If you wish to request that an item be placed on a future Board agenda, you may contact the Superintendent or her assistant during normal business hours.

Also note that concerns related to school personnel need to be addressed to the Superintendent using the approved district protocol.

Total amount of claims to be approved in the consent agenda for the month of August, 2017 by specific fund are as follows:
General Fund = $635,290.03

Nutrition Services Fund = $3,056.04

Cooperative Fund = $124,559.83

Depreciation Fund= $19,925

Special Building Fund = $494,145.77

QCPUF= $1,178.32

Employee Benefit Fund = $480.00

Student Fee Fund = $14,325.09

The total amount of claims for the month of July, 2017 in the Activities fund are as follows:
Activity Fund =$92,382.83

All of these claims were reviewed earlier today by the Finance and Facility Committee.  The 17-18 Budget is close to completion, I am waiting on final valuation numbers from the assessors which I should have by August 18th.  We will have a budget workshop for the entire board on August 24th before bringing the final budget to the public hearing on Sept. 11th.

CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION & ASSESSMENT:

• Math Program Implementation: Training was provided to teachers in May and again in August. The August training was designed to meet the needs of teachers based upon the survey they completed after spring training. One session was focused on learning more deeply the online components and the other session was focused on specific components of grade level operation and organization, which was developed and led by pilot teachers. I feel confident the attendees are growing in their comfort level and eagerness to dive into the program.
• The senior high has chosen to move from NWEA MAP National Assessments to ASPIRE. This decision evolved after newly gained information from the summer Assessment in Action Conference. Professionals from other states that use ACT as a senior high measurement advised that the data becomes much more meaningful for students and teachers. Because ASPIRE aligns more closely to ACT and provides the information necessary to help drive instructional decisions for teachers and assists students decision making regarding their college or career planning.
• The state assessment known as NeSA is currently being transferred to a new test engine. This test engine is the same as the MAP test engine developed by NWEA. Because of this massive change, our results from Spring 2017 NeSA is delayed. By board meeting, we are expecting to have cut score measures published online and we can begin analyzing our actual data. As a reminder - again - the Nebraska Department of Education is urging us to communicate with our boards and community so they know we expect to see a statewide and local drop in state assessment scores. Our rigor, expectations and assessments are increasing. I will continue to update you monthly as we evolve this school year.

TITLE

• Allocations appear to have decreased but not at a level that will affect our Title staffing and support.

The 2017 summer school number for each level are as follows:

Little Panthers Preschool:29

Elementary: 364

MS/JH: 203

SH: 295

Total: 891

As a reminder; open house for the Middle School, Junior High and High School are scheduled for Tuesday, August 15th. The Middle School will be open 5:30-6:30 PM, Junior High will be open from 7:00-8:00 PM and the High School will be open 6:00-8:00 PM.

Elementary buildings are open Wednesday, August 16th, 5:30-6:30 PM. 

Thursday, August 17th students at the elementary schools, Middle School, Jr High as well as the 9th graders and new students of the High School report for classes.  The returning students in grades 10th - 12th will start classes on Friday, August 18th.  Kindergarten classes are split for the first two days; half will attend on Thursday and half will attend on Friday. Parents were informed which day their Kindergartner will report to school.

Additional basic school supplies, as guided by the district school supply lists have been purchased by the school district and will be made available to those qualifying students who request them. These are basic school materials like paper, pencils, glue, folders, binders, etc.

"New to the District" Staff Training:

This past week we were able to meet our newest group of educators and spend time with them, getting to know them and preparing them for the beginning of the school year. The group spent time learning about our district instructional and operational practices. Some of the topics included in the training were curriculum, assessment, professional practices, the evaluation process, building positive student relationships, Professional Learning Communities, and technology, This is an excellent group of educators and they are ready to serve our students, our district and our community.  

Instructional Model:

Work on the district Instructional Model continues and the task force will meet several times during first semester to continue planning for future implementation.

Beginning of School Information:

All certified staff returned to duty on Monday, August 14th. School resumes on Thursday, August 17th.

Substitute Teacher Training:

• We have another substitute teacher training workshop scheduled for Tuesday, August 22nd from 9:00 -10:00 a.m. at Central Office.
• We greatly appreciate our substitute teachers and they do a great job meeting the needs of our students when our regular teachers are absent.
• We are still looking for quality substitute teachers and individuals interested in subbing for our district can apply online at www.norfolkpublicschools.org

Personnel Information:

Listed below are the current openings for various staff positions.

Current Classified Openings:

• Activity Drivers
• General Maintenance
• Substitute Custodians
• General Maint. /Transportation
• Washington- Special Education Para
• Senior High- Full Time Custodian
• Junior High- Special Education Para
• Senior High- Campus Security
• District Route Driver
• Middle School Classroom Para

Current Certified Staff Openings:

• Senior High- Secondary Endorsed Teacher
• Elementary Resource Teacher at Bel Air
• HAL Facilitator- JF,WE,WP

 Current Coaching Openings:

• JH Assistant Wrestling
• 9th Assistant Boys Track
• Girls IM Basketball

Norfolk Public Schools will be in session Monday, August 21st, the day of the Solar Eclipse.  Our plans for that day include:

Students in grades K-3 will stay inside throughout the duration of the eclipse. Teachers will be encouraged to have a brief discussion about the eclipse and watch it online.

Students in grades 4-6 will participate in the solar eclipse, meaning that they will watch it outside following the safety precautions outlined by the administration.

The participation of students in grades 7-12 will vary depending on their class schedule. Teachers may choose to have their class participate in the solar eclipse if they tie it to their curriculum and follow the safety precautions outlined by the administration.

Precautions outlined by the administration include:

* Obtaining signed waiver and release forms for every student that is participating

* Insuring that all students have and wear NASA solar eclipse safety glasses 

* Providing students with specific instructions regarding the wearing and removal of their safety glasses

Parents may choose to excuse their child from participating in the solar eclipse by signing an Opt-Out form.  Parents may also choose to excuse their child from school that day if they want to participate in the eclipse with their child.

The committee met today at 12:00 noon and reviewed all claims for August, Activity claims for July and current fund balances.  We also discussed the following facility items:

• Facility Updates (Career Academy, Middle School Access Road, additional sidewalks at Sr. High)
• Received an update from Neighborworks
• Reviewed timeline on budget and tax request for 17-18

Our next meeting will be a special meeting on August 23rd to review and discuss the final draft budget for 17-18 at 12:00 noon.

The following polices were reviewed electronically by the Policy Committee, which recommends that their first reading be approved.

1200 (Anti-discrimination)

3130 (Purchasing Policies)

3131 (Procurement Plan-School Food Authorities)

3131.1 (Procurement Plan - Code of Conduct)

3570 (ESSA)

4003 (Anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, and anti-retaliation)

4029 (Fundraising)

5202 AR (Notification of Rights Under FERPA)

5413 (Requests to Contact students and Student Interviews by Non-School Personnel)

5418 (Homeless Students)

6800 (Internet Safety and Acceptable Use Policy)

8130 (Annual Organizational Meeting)

9330 (Parliamentary Procedure)

The Activities Committee has not met. Our first meeting is scheduled for noon on Monday, September 25th.

There are no committee meeting minutes this month.

Minutes from the July 10, 2017 and  August 3, 2017 meetings are attached.

Becky Bahnflect (Life and Autism teacher at the Middle School) has submitted her resignation. She is asking that we consider her situation an "extreme extenuating circumstance" as allowed in Board Policy 4110. Her husband is a pastor and has been called to a church in Illinois.

This is a consent agenda item. If you wish to discuss and vote on it separately, you may make a motion to remove it from the consent agenda.

Attached are the August, 2017 claims for approval.  These claims have been reviewed by our finance and facilities committee.

According to state statute, 79-724:

(1) Every school board shall, at the beginning of each school year, appoint from its members a committee of three, to be known as the committee on Americanism. The committee on Americanism shall:
(a) Carefully examine, inspect, and approve all textbooks used in the teaching of American history and civil government in the school. Such textbooks shall adequately stress the services of the men and women who achieved our national independence, established our constitutional government, and preserved our union and shall be so written to include contributions by ethnic groups as to develop a pride and respect for our institutions and not be a mere recital of events and dates;
(b) Assure themselves as to the character of all teachers employed and their knowledge and acceptance of the American form of government; and
(c) Take all such other steps as will assure the carrying out of the provisions of this section.
(2) All American history courses approved for grade levels as provided by this section shall include and adequately stress contributions of all ethnic groups (a) to the development and growth of America into a great nation, (b) to art, music, education, medicine, literature, science, politics, and government, and (c) to the war services in all wars of this nation.
(3) All grades of all public, private, denominational, and parochial schools, below the sixth grade, shall devote at least one hour per week to exercises or teaching periods for the following purpose:
(a) The recital of stories having to do with American history or the deeds and exploits of American heroes;
(b) The singing of patriotic songs and the insistence that every pupil memorize the Star-Spangled Banner and America; and
(c) The development of reverence for the flag and instruction as to proper conduct in its presentation.
(4) In at least two of the three grades from the fifth grade to the eighth grade in all public, private, denominational, and parochial schools, at least three periods per week shall be set aside to be devoted to the teaching of American history from approved textbooks, taught in such a way as to make the course interesting and attractive and to develop a love of country.
(5) In at least two grades of every high school, at least three periods per week shall be devoted to the teaching of civics, during which courses specific attention shall be given to the following matters:
(a) The United States Constitution and the Constitution of Nebraska;
(b) The benefits and advantages of our form of government and the dangers and fallacies of Nazism, Communism, and similar ideologies; and
(c) The duties of citizenship, including active participation in the improvement of a citizen's community, state, country, and world and the value and practice of civil discourse between opposing interests.
(6) Appropriate patriotic exercises suitable to the occasion shall be held under the direction of the superintendent in every public, private, denominational, and parochial school on Lincoln's birthday, Washington's birthday, Flag Day, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day, or on the day preceding or following such holiday, if the school is in session.
(7) Every school board, the State Board of Education, and the superintendent of each school district in the state shall be held directly responsible in the order named for carrying out this section, and neglect thereof by any employee.

Our current Americanism Committee members are Bruce Mitchell, Patti Gubbels, and Arnie Robinson.

In support of the continued work in the Strategic Action Plan of Curriculum, more courses are ready for acceptance by the Board of Education. Curriculum work has been updated and developed in the areas of Ag, Ag Science, Spanish and Family & Consumer Sciences. Summaries and documents were shared with Curriculum Committee Members for prior review. Please accept the updated curriculums.  

These policies were reviewed electronically by the Policy Committee and the administration team. All revisions proposed by the Perry Law Firm were acceptable to both teams, as they represent changes in state and/or federal law. 

Our next Board meeting is scheduled for noon on Thursday, August 24th at the Central Administration Offices.