February 8, 2021 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

The mission of Gothenburg Public Schools is to prepare all students within a positive and innovative learning environment.

A copy of the open meetings law is posted on the wall of the Board Room and is available to the public.

Rationale: 

The Board reserves the right to rearrange the order of items as needed.

Rationale: 

Opportunity for Public Expression:

• This item serves as the time entitled for public forum during which patrons may address the Board on matters of general concern per Board Policy 8346, Opportunity for Public Expression.  (A copy of the policy is available.)

• Patrons will be allowed five (5) minutes to express their view.  Board of Education Members will refrain from expressing personal opinions during the Public Forum unless asked a direct question by a patron recognized by the Board President as having the floor.  The board imposed time limit may be extended by a majority vote of the Board.  The board may limit collective comments on a particular topic when necessary. The Board may not take action on matters discussed in the Public Forum unless the item appears on the prepared agenda.

• All concerns and complaints should go through the chain of command beginning with the teacher/sponsor and then to the building administrator/program supervisor and finally to the Superintendent.  If the initiating party is not satisfied with the response of the Superintendent, said party may address a written appeal to the Board of Education through the Secretary of the Board.

As a meeting of the Gothenburg Board of Education is a meeting held in public and not a public meeting, visitors should refrain from comments unless recognized by the chair.

Rationale:  Mr. Wiggins will present on the dual credit offerings at Gothenburg High School.

Rationale: 

1. Approval of Previous Minutes

2. Approval of the Treasurer's Report

3. Approval of the Warrants / Bills

  a.  Petty Cash

  b.  Student Activity

  c.  Hot Lunch

  d.  Bank Statement

  e.  Summary of Accounts and Receipts

  f.  Monthly Expenditure Report

  g. Check Journal

4. Excuse Absent Board Members

5. Consider Option Enrollment Requests

2021-22 Option In:
Joel Knauss - Kindergarten from Cozad
Ryker Wieseler - Kindergarten from Cozad

2020-21 Option Out:
Sierra Pearson - 12th Grade to North Platte

 

Rationale:  Board committee assignments were presented at the January board meeting.

Rationale:  A tentative agreement between Dawson County School District #20, Gothenburg Public Schools and the Gothenburg Education Association was reached through the negotiations process. The agreement represents an increase of 1.41% on the base salary or an approximate increase in total compensation of 2.44%.  Comparability for this negotiations cycle was based on total compensation including salary, insurance, retirement and social security and was calculated using staff employed by the district in October of 2020.  Certificated staff compensation is based on comparability with schools of similar size and who are located within a similar geographic area.  The comparability was completed by KSB Law.

The Gothenburg Education Association has ratified the proposed agreement.

Rationale:  Gothenburg board policy 2120 states that the Superintendent of Schools shall be evaluated twice during the first year of employment and at least once annually thereafter.  The Gothenburg Board of Education has completed Dr. Rhodes' 2020-2021 evaluation and performance goals.

Rationale:  The Superintendent currently has a three-year contract that expires on June 30, 2023.  At this time, the board should consider a motion to extend the contract to expire on June 30, 2024.

Rationale:  Annual evaluations are in progress for all administrators.  The Gothenburg administrative team is a professional group of leaders.  District #20 will continue to benefit from their employment.  Salaries will be considered later in the Spring in conjunction with non-certificated staff.

Rationale:  We join the following cooperatives as student needs are identified.  Program costs are prorated between districts who utilize the program.

Audiology. Several audiological services are available, these include comprehensive hearing evaluations for individuals from birth to 21 years of age; analysis, testing, and troubleshooting of hearing aid and cochlear implant devices used by students; consultation on FM system/auditory trainer device purchases for use at school as well as fitting and adjusting school amplification devices and assessment of classroom acoustics; and on-site school consultations regarding the impact of hearing loss, noise exposure, hearing loss prevention, and how to properly use and troubleshoot equipment.
 
Deaf Education. Three deaf educators provided direct services, consultative services, and assessment services to school districts in ESU 10 and ESU 11 to assist them in providing services to students, birth-21 who are deaf or hard of hearing.
 
Vision Services. A vision specialist provided direct services, consultative services, and assessment services to ESU 10 school districts’ students, ages birth-21 who are blind or partially sighted.  
 
Vocational Transition. A vocational transition specialist provided on-site assistance to 21 school districts for students with disabilities age 16 and older to help them realize independent living and employment appropriate to each student’s skills and abilities.
 
SpEd Supplemental Supervision School Age. There was a change in 2018-19 for districts who were not part of the supervision cooperative.  The service unit has an obligation to evaluate and supervise the special education staff that they employ and the programs in which they work so all districts that contract for staff are required to contribute to the supervision cooperative.  Costs are adjusted for districts with their own special education supervisors to account for staff supervision only and do not include charges for other supervision services. These costs appear on the schedule A as SpEd Supplemental Supervision services.

Rationale:  Physical Therapy:  Team Therapy provides direct services, consultative services and assessment services to District #20 for physical therapy services.

Mr. Kyle Fornoff has filed a conflict of interest form (NADC Form C-3) per Board Policy 8260 and will not participate in the discussion or consideration of this agenda item.  Mr. Fornoff will leave the board table and sit within the visitor's area during the discussion of this item.

 

Rationale:  Occupational Therapy:  Danette Anderson, OTD, OTR/L provides direct services, consultative services and assessment services to District #20 for occupational therapy services.

Rationale:  Mrs. Susan Massin has been offered a teaching contract for the 2021-2022 school year.  Mrs. Massin is currently a Paraprofessional for District #20.  Mrs. Massin will teach Family and Consumer Sciences.

Rationale: 

Committee Reports (Chair in bold)

1.  Personnel Committee (Mr. Sitorius, Mr. Brundage, Mr. Fornoff)
2. Transportation and Facilities (Mr. Hudson, Mrs. Jobman, Mr. Wyatt)
3. Finance (Mr. Fornoff, Mr. Wyatt, Mr. Sitorius)
4. Committee on American Civics (Mrs. Jobman, Mr. Brundage, Mr. Hudson)
5. Policy Review (Mr. Brundage, Mr. Fornoff, Mrs. Jobman)

 

Rationale: 

Rationale:  The first draft of the school calendar is attached.  Discussions will be held with the administrative team, leadership team and the advisory council.

Rationale: 

The Board of Education may hold a closed session by the affirmative vote of a majority of its voting members if a closed session is clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual and if such individual has not requested a public meeting.  Closed sessions may be held for, but shall not be limited to, such reasons as:  (a) strategy sessions with respect to collective bargaining, real estate purchases, or litigation; (b) discussion regarding deployment of security personnel or devices; (c) investigative proceedings regarding allegations or misconduct; or (d) evaluation of the job performance of a person when necessary to prevent needless injury to the reputation of a person.

The vote to hold a closed session shall be taken in open session.  The subject matter and the reason necessitating the closed session shall be identified in the motion to close.  If the motion to close passes, then the presiding officer immediately prior to the closed session shall restate on the record the limitation of the subject matter of the closed session. The Board shall restrict its consideration of matters during the closed portions to only those purposes set forth in the motion to close as the reason for the closed session. The meeting shall be reconvened in open session before any formal action may be taken.

Rationale:  TBD  (2nd Monday of the month)