April 8, 2019 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting
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1. OPENING PROCEDURES
Rationale:
COPY OF OPEN MEETINGS ACT: The Board of Education makes available at least one current copy of the Open Meetings Act posted in the meeting room at a location accessible to members of the public. The Act is posted on the south wall of the meeting room. ORDER OF AGENDA ITEMS: The Arlington Board of Education reserves the right to adjust the order of items on this agenda.
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1.1. Call Meeting to Order
Discussion:
Matt O'Daniel called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
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1.2. Roll Call
Discussion:
Board members present were Matt O'Daniel, Shanon Willmott, Bruce Scheer, Janet Warner, and Jason Arp. Jessica Scheer arrived at 7:04 p.m. and was excused tardy. Also present were Superintendent Lynn Johnson, High School Principal Aaron Pfingsten, High School Athletic Director James Shada, Elementary Principal Jacqueline Morgan, and recording secretary Jenny Hansen.
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1.3. Pledge of Allegiance
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1.4. Approval of Regular Meeting Agenda
Rationale:
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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2. WELCOME TO GUESTS AND PUBLIC FORUM
Rationale:
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC FORUM: Getting Started: When it is your turn to speak during the public forum portion of the agenda, please come forward, sign your name and address on the sign-in sheet and state your name to the Board of Education. Personnel or Student Topic: If you are planning to speak about a personnel or student matter involving an individual, please understand that our policies require that such concerns initially be directed to the administration for consideration. Board members will generally not respond to any questions you ask or comments you make about individual staff members or students. You are cautioned that slanderous comments are not protected just because they are made at a board meeting. General Rules: Please remember that this is a meeting of the Board of Education held in public for conducting the business of the Board of Education. Disruptions, offensive language, personal attacks and hostile conduct will not be tolerated. |
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3. CURRICULUM/INSTRUCTION REPORTS
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3.1. Choir and Band Report
Discussion:
Mr. Pfingsten spoke on behalf of the choir and band instructors. The musical was excellent this year despite the many obstacles and this weekend will be the District Music Contest.
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4. PRINCIPALS’ REPORTS
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4.1. Mr. Pfingsten's Report
Discussion:
Mr. Pfingsten reviewed his report including that Midland University announcing three outstanding high school leaders from Arlington Public Schools, 8th grader stock market winners, the upcoming art show, graduation set for May 19, and the Metro Community College construction truck that visited Arlington Public Schools for students.
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4.2. Mrs. Morgan's Report
Discussion:
Mrs. Morgan reviewed her report including that over 30 elementary students participated in the high school musical and about the entertaining performance from the Omaha Street Percussion. She also reported that there were a dozen families in attendance at the preschool parent meeting and she introduced a therapy dog pilot program detailing the benefits to students.
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4.3. Mr. Shada's Report
Discussion:
Mr. Shada reviewed his report including FFA and FBLA handouts he shared with the board, he reiterated that the musical was great again this year, and he updated flood repairs to the baseball field.
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5. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
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5.1. Staffing Update
Rationale:
Resignations: Shelby Quinn, Elementary Special Education
2019-20 New Hires: Cailyn Johnson, Secondary Language Arts Teacher Sara Sharp, Elementary Special Education Teacher Sabrena Lozo, Elementary Special Education Paraeducator Contract Nonrenewal: Child Psychologist contracted from Fort Calhoun
Discussion:
Mrs. Johnson shared staffing changes including the resignation of Shelby Quinn and the new hires including Cailyn Johnson, Sarah Sharp, and Sabrena Lozo. She also updated the board regarding changes to our contract with Ft Calhoun for a School Psychologist and our current search to fill this position.
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5.2. Suggestions for project to be completed with potential memorial donation.
Discussion:
The board has been advised that a donor would like to fund a project in memory of their loved ones. The board discussed possible projects. It was decided there would be value to students, patrons, and the community at large if we could add a marque. The location is undecided.
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6. COMMITTEE AND REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS
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6.1. Professional Development Sharing
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7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
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7.1. Discuss, Consider and Take Necessary Action to enter a contract with DLR Group for facility master planning.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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8. NEW BUSINESS
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8.1. Discuss and Consider changes to the length of the school day for the 2019-2020 school year.
Rationale:
Capturing additional instructional time would enhance our ability to meet learner needs through increasing time and access to interventions as defined by the MTSS process.
^ Start time would be 8:05 a.m. rather than 8:15 a.m. ^ End time for grades 5-6 would be 3:30 p.m.
Discussion:
The board and administration discussed changing the school start time for the 2019-2020 school year from 8:15 a.m. to 8:05 a.m. This would change the teacher start time from 7:50 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. They also discussed changing the 5-6th grade end time from the elementary time of 3:15 p.m. to the middle school/ high school time of 3:30 p.m. This was proposed to capture more time for intervention but would also be beneficial for all students, including high ability, to provide more time to meet individual needs. Mrs. Johnson shared that they would ask for parent input prior to finalizing decisions and make sure to notify students and parents of any changes before the end of the school year.
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8.2. Discuss, Consider and Take Necessary action to approve the purchase of a bus.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
The board typically tries to purchase a new bus each to keep the fleet updated. After discussion, the board agreed to purchase two new buses. The first bus will be paid out of the 2018-2019 budget and the second will be paid out of the 2019-2020 budget.
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8.3. Discuss and Consider damage of the flooding to school property and actions being taken to remediate and repair the damage.
Discussion:
Mrs. Johnson updated the board on repairs since the flood to the bus barn and the baseball field. After much discussion, the board agreed to take an insurance cash payout which can be used for building repairs or updates rather than restoring the office at the bus barn to 'as is' condition. There are still decisions to make regarding the long-term use of the office space and beneficial configuration. Flood damage to the baseball field, concessions, and other equipment is being addressed. Repairs not covered by insurance may be covered with federal disaster relief funds.
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8.4. Discuss and Consider the use of therapy dogs in school.
Discussion:
Mrs. Johnson lead a discussion regarding a therapy dog in the school. This is becoming common in schools due to the value this can provide to students. Suggestions were made to look into insurance and to gather parent input prior to implementing so we can be aware of any children with a fear of dogs.
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8.5. Discuss and Review Policies 5201-5405.
Discussion:
The board agreed that no changes were needed to the policies presented.
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9. CONSENT AGENDA
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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9.1. Minutes of the Previous Board Meeting(s): March 11, 2019 Special Meeting and March 11,2019 Regular Meeting Minutes
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9.2. Monthly Financial Reports
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9.3. Accept the resignation of Shelby Quinn as elementary special education teacher effective at the end of her 2018-2019 contract.
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9.4. Hire Cailyn Johnson as secondary language arts teacher for the 2019-2020 school year.
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9.5. Hire Sarah Sharp as an elementary special education teacher for the 2019-2020 school year.
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9.6. Hire Sabrena Lozo as an elementary special education paraeducator for the 2019-2020 school year.
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10. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Rationale:
The Arlington Board of Education reserves the right to go into Closed/Executive Session at any time in accordance with Section 84-1410. A copy of the Open Meetings Act is posted in the board room for review by the public. |
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11. ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS
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12. ADJOURNMENT
Discussion:
Matt O'Daniel adjouned the meeting at 8:38 pm.
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