April 12, 2023 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Monthly Meeting

Discussion:  President Lutkemeier opened the meeting at 7:00 pm.  The meeting notice was advertised in the April 6th publication of the Blue Hill Leader.  "The Open Meetings Act" poster was displayed in the meeting room.

Discussion:  N/A

Discussion:  See attached document.

Discussion:  Guests in attendance were:  Joan Fisher, Jake and Kyla Lovejoy, Jennifer Karr, Teresa Schmidt and Jennifer tenBensel.  Jake Lovejoy addressed board members regarding Blue Hill's daycare.  He spoke with Joel Ruyblid, Superintendent of Blue Hill, and Tricia Allen, Blue Hill's town clerk.  He reported on the partnership between the school and the town.  501c3 papers have been filed for tax exemption.  Rural development grants (approx $405,000) have been applied for.   The biggest challenge is finding personnel.  Jake would like to see a community daycare started in Bladen both from a personal, as well as, a town board perspective.   

Discussion:  Mr. Bauer asked board members if they were still okay with him leading External School Reviews, as the state had contacted him regarding one in Deshler, slated for March.  Mr. Bauer and Gail will be attending the Superintendent / Bookkeeper SPED/IDEA Bootcamp workshop tomorrow at ESU-9.  Mr. Bauer has been working on the Choice Gas Supplier Selection.  He also spoke to board members about the advantages (reduces head injuries, protects helmets and helps with heat insulation) of Guardian Caps for football.  Football helmets have been ordered.  Mr. Bauer also included updates on proposed legislation.  See attached report.

Discussion:  Mr. Drake reported that a CPR in-service was held on March 29th.  Upcoming events include:  progress reports to be sent home on April 14th; Kindergarten visitation for incoming Kindergartners will be held on April 18th; 1st & 2nd grades at Kearney Children's Museum on April 21st; 12:30 dismissal and an in-service will be held April 26th.  4th grade will travel to the Lincoln Children's Zoo on April 28th; 6th to 7th grade orientation is set for May 2nd; 3rd grade to Stuhr Museum on May 9th; Elementary Concert and Book Fair set for May 11th; Honors Program and 6th grade promotion will be held at 9:00 am with Field Day at 10:30 am on May 17th; the last day of school with a 12:30 pm dismissal is set for May 18th; Staff In-Service is May 23rd and an MTSS Workshop is June 1st.  Jump Start will be held July 31st through August 11th from 8:30 - 11:30 am.  PreK Summer School will also be held July 31st through August 11th from 9 - 11 am.  On an administrative level, Mr. Drake attended a District Meeting with ESU 9 staff on March 15th.  He also attended the NRCSA conference March 23 - 24th.  Mr. Drake will be working with Mr. Lovejoy to complete a Title I peer review on April 14th.  NSCAS and MAP testing will be completed the last 2 weeks of April.  Also, the custodial position is starting to gain a little interest.

Discussion:  Mr. Arntt reported that Girls finished 2nd at the State Powerlifting Meet at Harvard.  There was a teacher in service on March 29th from 1 - 4 pm; the TVC Quiz Bowl was also held at Franklin on the same day.  State FFA was held March 29 - 31st, with no issues.  A Powerlifting Meet at Orchard was held on April 1st; FBLA SLC was held from April 3 - 5th; Prom is set for April 14th; the Jr / Sr High Music Concert is set for April 17th; a Senior Trip to Omaha is set for April 19th with the State Science Fair on April 20th.  State Journalism is set for April 24th & 25th; 12:30 dismissal and a teacher in service to follow from 1 - 4 pm on April 26th; Donkey Basketball will be held at the high school on April 28th; Blood Drive at the high school on May 3rd; Seniors' last day is May 5th - potentially; and Honors Night at the high school at 7 pm, NHS Induction will be 6:45 pm on May 8th.  6th to 7th grade orientation is set for May 9th; Seniors Graduation Practice will be held May 12; and Graduation is set for 4:00 pm on May 13th.  National Science Fair in Dallas, TX will be held May 14 - 19th.  Students' last day is set for May 18th.  Teacher in service will be May 23rd from 8 am - 4 pm.  Administratively:  NSCAS & MAPS testing; board approval of graduates; one or two may need to complete some course work after graduation; and will have Leon Lutkemeier and Brian Karr to hand out diplomas.

Discussion:  Mr. Scott is currently student teaching at Pleasanton.  He has been an assistant football coach for Arcadia/Loup City throughout his college years.  He was an assistant boys basketball coach for Pleasanton this year.  He is a graduate of Burwell Public Schools and the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Discussion:  Ms. Rupprecht is currently teaching at Fremont Public Schools and has been there for the last 4 years.  She has had the opportunity to teach K-4 physical education, 7th and 8th grade and is currently working with the district's 5th and 6th grade physical education classes.  She graduated from Midland University with a degree in PK-12 Physical Education and also obtained her English as a Second Language PK-12 endorsement.  She is a high school graduate of Silver Lake.

Discussion:  Cortney James has been in Franklin Public Schools the last twelve years.  She has served in first grade and pre-school classrooms, as well as, 7 years as a second grade teacher.

Discussion:  Mrs. Thomas comes to us from Colorado.  She has spent the past 7 years at Fowler High School and her previous two years at Cheraw High School, also in Colorado.  She has experience teaching Math, English, Business, Economics and Speech.  She has her MBA and is licensed in Colorado to teach Math, English-Language Arts and Business.

Discussion:  Angela has worked in Fowler, Colorado for the last seven years.  Prior to that, she worked for Otero College, and La Junta Jr.-Sr. High School in Colorado and 2 years at Central High School in King & Queen Courthouse, Virginia.  We will begin working with CCC in the hopes of providing College Algebra and College Trigonometry via dual credit as she was eligible to teach them in Colorado - we will see how that correlates in Nebraska.

Discussion:  Mr. Bauer has attached the Tillotson Restroom Quotes for flooring.  The east restrooms are dated and could use an update.  This flooring would be easier for us to maintain and keep clean. 

Discussion:  We are still in the process of hiring assistant volleyball coach/coaches. 

Mr. Brown would very much appreciate having a third assistant coach.  The value of having someone in the press box when possible at games and another set of eyes and ideas at practice would help the program immensely.  The general consensus of the board was to approve the idea.

Mr. Bauer stated he'd make sure board members have the opportunity to approve any additional positions in the meetings to follow.

Discussion:  After extensive reviews of curriculum we have decided on the Into Literature 6-12 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.  There are 3 pricing options to look at.  The books are writable with interactive online features.  I would recommend we do the 5 year or the 8 year.  

1 year - $9,631.80
5 Year - $21,852.60 / $4,370.52 per year
8 year - $32,832.60 / $4,104.80 per year

Discussion:  Mr. Bauer has had interest from several people in renting the house that Paul Bade is currently living in.  Board members discussed renovating and using the house as a potential daycare or renting it to one of our new incoming teachers.  The general consensus was to lease it to a new teacher.

Discussion:  Information on what other schools are doing was presented to the Board of Education by Mr. Bauer.   Approximately 66% of schools polled were not drug testing.  Some schools policies stated if the student had a 3rd offense, all activities would be banned.  If a student tests positive for steroids, there is a harsher penalty.  If student drug testing is approved, all board members need to support the policy.  And there is a cost involved.  Discussion also included testing on students participating in extracurricular activities vs testing on all students.  Board members decided not to move forward with drug testing.

Discussion:  One student qualified for National FBLA in Atlanta, Georgia this summer.  The district will plan to pay for plane tickets and other related expenses unless instructed differently.  Board members discussed whether or not to send another student along.  Pros and cons were discussed.  The general consensus of board members was to only send qualified students.

 

Discussion:  KSB School Law is preparing a series of 10-15 minute videos for board training and prep.  Board members watched the first one tonight.  If members prefer, Mr. Bauer can just share these individually via e-mail.   These are worthwhile updates.

Discussion:  N/A

Discussion:  The next regular Board of Education meeting is set for 8:15 pm on Thursday, May 11th, at the Elementary in Bladen.