December 16, 2013 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

1. Signature of Notification

2. Call to Order, Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call, Welcome Visitors

2.1. Acknowledge Open Meeting Laws

2.1.i. The Board of Education reserves the right to enter into Executive Session for the protection of the public interest; or the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual, and if the individual has not requested a public meeting.

2.1.ii. Notice of this meeting was published in the Gering Citizen on December 12, 2013.

3. Excuse Absent Board Members

4. Recommendation to Approve Consent Agenda

4.1. Consent Agenda*

4.1.i. *Sequence of agenda items subject to change. Please plan to attend the entire meeting.

4.1.ii. Approval of Agenda/Amendment of Agenda Items

4.1.iii. Approval of Minutes from Previous Board Meetings

4.1.iv. Approval of Claims/Bills

4.1.v. Personnel Items

4.1.v.1. Contract Approvals

4.1.v.2. Resignations

4.1.vi. Approval of Substitute Teacher Rates

4.1.vii. Approval of Student Request for Early Graduation from Alexandria Melroy

5. Patron Comments

5.1. The Board recognizes the importance of citizen participation in school business. In order to assure citizens are heard and board meetings are conducted efficiently and in an organized manner, the Board shall set a 3 minute time limit per patron, not to exceed a total of 30 minutes for all comments.

6. Reports & Discussions

6.1. Recognition of Accomplishments

6.1.i. Mock Trail Team Gering Blue defeated Chadron 1 to claim the district championship and earn a trip to the state tournament at the Lancaster County Courthouse in downtown Lincoln on December 10th & 11th! Thank you to attorneys Bell Island and Todd Morten for their volunteer coaching.

6.1.ii. Northfield's Winter Music Program will be held on December 17th and will run throughout the day in the gym.

6.1.iii. Northfield Booster Club provided Northfield families with a night at the Midwest Theater on December 13th to watch "The Polar Express".

6.1.iv. Gering finished in 4th place at the Lancaster County Mock Trials in Lincoln. This is Gering's 1st top 4 finish at state since 2003. 107 teams from 54 NE schools competed. The top 12 teams made it to state. Be sure to congratulate them on a job well done!

6.1.v. Lincoln Kinder, 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th grade students and Music Instructor Mrs. Tofflemire held a Holiday Musical Performance on December 12th at GHS. Congratulations on a job well done!

6.1.vi. Preschool students, Mrs. Bauer and Mrs. Bowers held an outstanding singing performance on 11/21 and 11/22 at Lincoln Elementary. Children shared a few of their favorite songs with their families and friends.

6.1.vii. Lincoln students/staff, along with the Adopt-a-Business, collected canned food items for the annual Gift of Love. Lincoln Student Council members created a structure with those canned goods that was judged on 12/13. Students are hoping to win $200 to be used to support their 2nd semester projects.

6.1.viii. First ssemester student teachers Alicia Keller, Elizabeth Converse and Doraly Reynaga did an outstanding job of educating Lincoln students. Special thanks to Judi Lyles, Michele Stark, Mickie Janecek and Farrell Becking for supporting these ladies during the 1st semester.

6.1.ix. The district would like to acknowledge the efforts of the maintenance team during recent inclement weather. They did an outstanding job under the circumstances.

6.1.x. Gering Jr. High placed 1st in the Gering Christmas Parade on the day after Thanksgiving. Mr. Richter and the Builders' Club organized the float entry.

6.1.xi. Gering Jr. High students collected over 400 food items for First State Bank's "Gift of Love" food drive.

6.2. Curriculum Committee Meeting Report

6.3. Facilities Committee Meeting Report

6.4. Business Committee Meeting Report

6.4.i. Financial Report - The Business Committee reviewed all bills for this consent agenda. Bills unique to this month were discussed for clarification. The total amount of bills approved in the consent agenda for the month of November, 2013 by specific funds are as follows:

6.4.i.1. Trial Balance Summary

6.4.i.2. Fund Balances

6.4.i.3. Schedule of Investments Held

6.4.i.4. Financial Statement

6.4.i.4.1. Revenues: General Fund=$1,116,149.55; Depreciation Fund=$432.13; Cafeteria Fund=$94,083.62; Activities Fund=$27,637.11; Fees Fund=$8,763.63.

6.5. Personnel Committee Meeting Report

6.6. Superintendent's Report

7. Action Items

7.1. Acceptance of District Audit As Presented

7.2. Decision on Future of After School Program

7.3. Approval of the purchase of Wonders Language Arts materials.

7.4. Approval of the purchase of Pearson Language Arts materinals

8. Tentative Committee & Meeting Dates

9. Board Comments

10. Executive Session for the sole purpose of discussing negotiations strategy

11. Adjournment