January 13, 2025 at 5:30 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale:  The Norfolk Public School District's Board of Education meeting is called to order.  

Rationale:  If any board member is absent, there will need to be a  motion to excuse the absence.

Rationale:  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.

Rationale:  Please stand and join us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Rationale:  Sandy Wolfe will administer the Oath of Office to incoming Board members Steve McNally and Dr. Patti Gubbels.

Rationale:  If any board member is absent, there will need to be a  motion to excuse the absence.

Rationale: 

According to Board Policy 9121, the Board President:

* Presides at all meetings of the School Board

* Countersigns all orders upon the school treasury for funds to be dispersed by the district

* Countersigns all warrants of the Secretary of the County Treasurer

* Maintains order at public meetings of the School Board

* Appears for and on behalf of the district in all suits brought by or against the District

* Appoints or provides for the election of committees of the Board and stays apprised of the work of all such committees

* Calls special meetings of the Board when warranted

* Will have authority to sign on all bank accounts

The Superintendent will call for nominations for the office of Board President.  Once nominations have ceased, one of the following procedures will be utilized:

If only one person is nominated: 

The superintendent will ask for a motion to approve that person as Board President and proceed with an electronic vote.

If more than one person is nominated:

The Superintendent will provide Board members with a ballot on which they will write the name of the person that they want to vote for. 

Callan Collins will count the votes and read the tally for the record.

The candidate with the most votes will serve as our 2025 Board President, beginning immediately.

Board Policy 8130 specifies that the motion to elect officers should state:  I move that _________ be elected as Board President to serve a term of one year, or until the person's successor is elected and qualified.

Rationale: 

According to Board Policy 9122, the Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in case of the absence of the President.

* Will have authority to sign on all bank accounts

The Board President will call for nominations for the office of Vice President.  Once nominations have ceased, one of the following procedures will be utilized:

If only one person is nominated: 

The Board President will ask for a motion to approve that person as Vice President and proceed with an electronic vote.

If more than one person is nominated:

The President will provide Board members with a ballot on which they will write the name of the person that they want to vote for. 

Callan Collins will count the votes and read the tally for the record.

The candidate with the most votes will serve as our 2025 Vice President, beginning immediately.

Board Policy 8130 specifies that the motion to elect officers should state:  I move that _________ be elected as Vice President to serve a term of one year, or until the person's successor is elected and qualified.

Rationale: 

It is customary for the District's Director of Business Services to serve as Board Treasurer. Therefore, I recommend that you appoint Mr. Erik Wilson to serve as the 2025 Board Treasurer. 

Board Policy 8130 specifies that the motion to elect officers should state: I move that _________ be elected as Board Treasurer to serve a term of one year, or until the person's successor is elected and qualified.

Rationale: 

It is customary for the district's Superintendent to serve as the Board's Secretary. Therefore, I recommend that you appoint me as your 2025 Board Secretary.

Board Policy 8130 specifies that the motion to elect officers should state:  I move that _________ be elected as Board Secretary to serve a term of one year, or until the person's successor is elected and qualified.

Rationale:  One of the duties assigned to the Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent/Board of Education is to serve as the Recording Secretary of the Board of Education. Therefore, I recommend that Callan Collins be appointed as the Recording Secretary for the BOE.

Rationale: 

For numerous years, the district's primary legal counsel has been provided via the attorneys at Perry Law Firm.  We continue to be satisfied with their advice and performance. Therefore, I recommend that we continue to use their services on an as needed basis.

Other legal firms may be used from time to time for special cases that require specialized expertise.

Rationale:  Committee assignments are to be discussed and determined by the Board. 

• Negotiations Committee
• Curriculum Committee
• American Civics Committee
• Finance and Facilities Committee
• Policy Committee
• Government Relations Committee
• Superintendent Evaluation Committee
• Activities Committee
• Staff Member of the Month
• NPS Foundation Board
• District Wellness Committee

Upcoming meetings for the Government Relations Committee and Policy Committee will need to be scheduled. 

Rationale: 

Resolution regarding the District's depository banks:

RESOLVED, that the official depository of school funds for Madison County School District 59-0002 is hereby designated to be at BankFirst, Elkhorn Valley Bank & Trust, Midwest Bank and Nebraska Liquid Asset Fund, and that the designation of any other institution as the depository of school funds is hereby withdrawn.  BankFirst will be the primary depository for the General Fund. Midwest Bank will be the primary depository for the Bond Fund, Special Building Fund and Depreciation Fund. Elkhorn Valley Bank & Trust will be the primary depository for all other Funds and Nebraska Liquid Asset Fund will serve as a depository for cash reserves in the General, Bond, QCPUF, Special Building, and Depreciation Funds.

Rationale: 

Historically, we have used the Norfolk Daily News as our newspaper of record. This is where we publish public notices, RFPs, etc.

Rationale: 

According to Policy 3130 the Board of Education shall be presented annually the list of recommended card assignments that have authority to use school district issued credit cards and purchasing cards.  The credit cards are issued through BankFirst.  All credit cards have the school district's name and card number on them, as well as the individual name. The district Voyager fleet cards for fuel can only be used by organizations that qualify for the state fuel rate. These cards are also numbered with the school district name on them.  All cards are initially checked out through the Business Office and returned to the Business Office when they expire or a listed assignment is no longer needed in the district.

Rationale:  Norfolk Public Schools reviews policies on a four-year rotation in order to ensure they are kept current. The only policies up for approval tonight are policies 3010 - 3120 related to Business Operations. There have been no changes to these policies since their first reading.

• 3010 - Budget Planning

• 3011 - Fund Balance Reporting

• 3020 - Public Review of Budget

• 3030 - Transfer of Funds Between Categories

• 3040 - Budget as Spending Plan - Budgeted Items

• 3050 - Tuition Fees

• 3060 - Materials Fees

• 3070 - Summer School Fees

• 3080 - Federal Funds

• 3090 - Sales and Disposal of School Property

• 3100 - Leasing

• 3110 - Short-Term Investing

• 3120 - Depository

Rationale: 

In addition to our 4-year policy review rotation, an additional policy update is completed each summer following the Nebraska legislative session to address any changes required due to new statutes. This date is tentatively set for July 14, 2025.

Rationale: 

State statutes require that School Board members disclose any Conflicts of Interest that they may have related to contracts and employment issues, as well as any other matters that may have a financial impact on the Board member or his/her family.  The procedures for conflict disclosure and reporting have been provided to all Board members for their review.

All Board members understand their duty to disclose potential conflicts of interest and refrain from voting on such items.  Potential items that may be a conflict include: reimbursement of expenses and the payment of wages for activity workers. Our Finance Office will notify Board members if such items appear on the monthly claims and assist them in preparing a conflict of interest disclosure statement.

Rationale:  Junior High Student Council 

Rationale:  Award for Excellence presented to Teresa Watters, Special Education Teacher, Norfolk Middle School. 

Rationale:  Computer Science & Personal Finance Presentation

Rationale: 

This is the time during the meeting when the public may request to address the Board. According to state law, if you wish to comment you must identify yourself, including your address, the name of the organization you represent and the topic that you wish to address. "Public Comment" cards are located at the Media table, in the back of the room.  Please pick up a card and provide the required information, if you plan to speak.  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. Individuals who make false, defamatory,  or slanderous statements during public comments may be held legally liable. Slanderous comments are not protected just because they are made at Board meetings.

Additional procedural guidelines are available at the media table.

Rationale: 

The total amount of claims to be approved on the consent agenda by specific fund are listed below:

General Fund = $265,927.34

Nutrition Fund = $4,138.41

Subsidiary Fund = $4,260.56

Special Building Fund = $743,275.58

Senior High Activity Fund = $42,462.40

Junior High Activity Fund = $2,230.93

Student Fee Fund = $146.98

All of these claims were reviewed earlier today by the Finance and Facilities Committee.

Rationale: 

CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION, AND ASSESSMENT

December was an important month for monitoring student progress.  Students participated in the NSCAS Growth Winter testing in ELA and Math.  Students also participated in MAPS Fluency diagnostic testing for reading.  My team works very hard to make sure everything is prepared for testing and help teachers troubleshoot any issues that arise during testing.  During January my team will support both principals and teachers as they analyze data from the assessments, set goals and make plans for the second semester.       

Rationale: 

Our English Language Learner (ELL) students will be able to begin taking the English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA) from January 27 - March 14, 2025.   This assessment evaluates our students' proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing the English language. 

Our district special education team will meet on Wednesday, January 22nd.  Our special education leadership team will meet this semester to discuss our Targeted Improvement Plan moving forward.  Our focus is in the area of reading.

Rationale: 

• We have begun to think about Kindergarten Round Up for next school year.  The application process for Lincoln/Montessori kindergarten students opened on January 1.  There will be a drawing on April 1 to fill our two sections in that building.  We have also started taking registration applications for kindergarten students in their neighborhood elementary schools.  Parents must have a birth certificate and copy of immunization records to begin the enrollment process.  Kindergarten Round Up will take place on April 30.

• Preschool registration begins on January 13 for Little Panthers.  The link to the application will be on the website under the Little Panthers tab.  Parents without internet access can complete the pre-application by calling 402-371-8030.  This is a shared application with NPS and Norfolk Head Start.

• Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled for the second week in February:

  • February 10: Elem, MS, and JH from 4:00-7:00

  • February 11: Elem and HS from 4:00-7:00

  • February 12: MS, JH, and HS from 4:00-7:00

  • February 13: School dismissed at 11:30... Elem, MS, JH, and HS from 1:00-4:00

Rationale: 

On January 20, NPS will host the ESU 8 Winter Workshop at the Senior High.  Approximately 20 school districts will gather to listen to keynote speaker, Juli Burney, multiple award winning teacher, humorist and author.  For the remainder of the day, teachers and administrators will have the opportunity to attend three different sessions of their choice, choosing from over 75 sessions that cover a wide range of topics.  

Retirement letters have started to come in and recruiting for the 2025-2026 school year is underway.  I am scheduled to attend job fairs in January and February to recruit at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, the University of Nebraska Kearney, the University of Nebraska Omaha, Wayne State College and the South Dakota Teacher Fair.

Rationale:  Monthly Enrollment Update
Elementary Makerpaces
Superintendent's Listening Sessions
 

Rationale:  The Facilities & Finance Committee met earlier today. Board members present were ___ .

The committee reviewed claims and financial reports. A review of the board agenda items included the board reorganization, bank resolution, credit card designations, and the school psychologists' salary schedule. 

An update was given on the Middle School construction project and Senior High Chiller project. Other items discussed included an elementary student savings program and Chromebook purchases. 
The next Finance and Facilities Committee meeting is scheduled for February 10th.
 

Rationale:  The Activities Committee met on Friday, January 10, 2025.
Mr. Erwin reviewed Senior High participation numbers and Mr. Hinrichs reviewed Junior High participation numbers.  This was followed by an in-depth discussion of potential budget cuts for future years, as well as our out-of-state travel policy.  These recommendations will be forwarded to the Policy Committee for further review.

Rationale:  Minutes from the meeting on December 20, 2024 are attached for review. 

Rationale:  Cinda Brown - Title I Interventionist, Grant Elementary - retiring at the end of the 2024-2025 school year

Josi Johnson - Guidance Counselor, Lincoln Montessori - retiring at the end of the 2024-2025 school year

Jill Marsden - Kindergarten Teacher, Lincoln Montessori - retiring at the end of the 2024-2025 school year

Mickie Mueller - Educational Technology Facilitator - retiring at the end of the 2024-2025 school year

Gretchen Vanness - 1/2 Teacher, Lincoln Montessori - retiring at the end of the 2024-2025 school year
 

Rationale:  Attached are the claims. These claims were reviewed earlier by our Finance and Facilities Committee. 

There are no conflict statements this month.

Rationale:  See attached Student and Staff Calendars for 2025-2026. 

Rationale:  We have struggled to fill School Psychologist positions in the district for the last few years. Through negotiations, we were able to split this group off from the Certified Teacher Salary Schedule and create a separate salary schedule that provides a compensation package with better incentives for years of service and staying with the district. This was discussed with our current School Psychologists, and they felt this approach could be helpful for recruitment. 

Rationale:  I am requesting permission to put out an RFP to bidders for our planned purchase of desktop devices. This is part of our 5 year rotation plan and we have depreciated funds in the past for this purchase. This is only permission to get bids, I will bring the results of those bids to the board at a later date for a decision to move forward with a purchase.

Rationale: 

The 2nd monthly meeting of the Board of Education is scheduled for Friday, January 24th, 2025 at Noon. This is a change from the typical meeting time.

The following regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Monday, February 10th, 2025 at 5:30 PM. 

All components of these meetings will be held at the NPS Central Administration Offices and will be open to the public unless an Executive Session is needed in order to protect the interest of the district or the reputation of an individual.