January 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting
| Regular Board | |
| Attendance Taken on 1/13/2025 at 6:00 PM | |
| Lisa Brass | Present |
| Matt Dalrymple | Absent |
| Kyle Fornoff | Present |
| Becky Jobman | Present |
| Kelly Terrell | Present |
| Nate Wyatt | Present |
| Present: 5, Absent: 1 | |
| Minutes | |
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1. Realignment of Board of Education for 2025
Rationale:
Annually, the Board of Education goes through realignment.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas confirmed there are no new members.
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1.1. Election of Officers
Rationale:
Policy #2002 states that at the January meeting of the Board of Education, a President, Vice-President, and Secretary shall be elected from the membership to a one-year term of office. Officers in 2024 were Kyle Fornoff, President; Becky Jobman, Vice President, and Kelly Terrell, Secretary. Dr. Jonas will accept nominations for offices and conduct the elections. Becky Vang has served as Secretary to the Board and will continue to do so if approved. Tonya Steuben has served as Board Treasurer and has agreed to continue to do so if approved.
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1.1.1. Election of President
Rationale:
Nominations for the office of president will be accepted. No second is required for nominations. Paper ballots will be used if more than one board member is nominated.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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1.1.2. Election of Vice President
Rationale:
Nominations for the office of vice president will be accepted. No second is required for nominations. Paper ballots will be used if more than one board member is nominated.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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1.1.3. Election of Secretary
Rationale:
Nominations for the office of secretary will be accepted. No second is required for nominations. Paper ballots will be used if more than one board member is nominated.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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1.1.4. Appointment of Secretary to the Board
Rationale:
Becky Vang, Dawson County School District #20 Business Manager, has served as Secretary to the Board and has agreed to continue in this role approved by the Board of Education. Ms. Vang should be authorized to sign checks for the following funds: Student Activity Hot Lunch Petty Cash Student Fees Employee Benefit Depreciation
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Unanimous vote to appoint Becky Vang as secretary to the board.
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1.1.5. Appointment of Board Treasurer
Rationale:
Mrs. Tonya Steuben, Dayspring Bank, has served as Board Treasurer and has agreed to continue in the role if approved by the Board of Education.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Unanimous vote to appoint Tonya Steuben as Board Treasurer.
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1.2. Adoption of Order of Business
Rationale:
The adoption of an order of business to guide the preparation of future agendas and conduct of meetings as defined in the 2000 series policies. The following policies are included for reference and have already been approved but are formally accepted at the beginning of each calendar year as the order of business.
2000 Series Index Policy 2001 - Role of the Board of Education Policy 2008 - Meetings
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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1.3. Review of Board/Superintendent Operating Protocol and Organizational Structure
Rationale:
It is important to review the board/superintendent operating protocol and the organizational structure each time the board reorganizes.
A successful board and administration alignment can be defined as a connected group of individuals working together, not as separate entities, but a team with clear purpose and understanding of roles with a common goal of making decisions that are in the best interests of students, staff, and community. The Board and Administration are not in competition with each other but are competing to meet the individual and collective needs of students. There is no action required. This is an informational item only.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas read over the rationale and attachments. No action was taken.
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1.4. Review Chain of Command
Rationale:
Board Policy 3035 outlines that the superintendent shall be in control of all school district operations except as provided by another policy or as otherwise provided by law. Linked here is the administrative chain of command, working from the lowest level in the chain upward.
This is an informational item and does not require a motion.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas read the rationale and attachment. No action was taken.
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1.5. Discussion of Standing Committees for 2025
Rationale:
Standing Committees 1. Personnel / Negotiations 2. Facilities & Transportation 3. Finance 4. Committee on American Civics 5. Policy Policy 2002 outlines that the board shall authorize such special committees as it deems necessary. The board president shall appoint members to the committee, and designate its function, tasks it is to perform, and completion date for its work. After the initial appointment, positions can be modified by a majority vote of the board.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas read the rationale and attachment. A note was made that Lisa Brass would not join the Negotiations Committee until after the current negotiations had completed.
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1.6. Distribution of Conflict of Interest Policies and Forms
Rationale:
The final task under the Realignment of the Board of Education is to disseminate the conflict of interest policy and the associated form.
Policy 2005 outlines a Conflict of Interest when a board member has a business in which the board member or a member of his or her immediate family is a partner, a limited liability company, stockholder, or serves as a director or an officer for a business that could potentially benefit from board action. There is no action needed.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas read over the rationale and attachments. No action was taken.
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2. Call to Order & Pledge of Allegiance
Rationale:
Mission Statement: A copy of the open meetings law is posted on the wall of the Board Room and is available to the public. |
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3. Approve the Agenda
Rationale:
The Board reserves the right to rearrange the order of items as needed.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
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4. Recognition of Visitors
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4.1. Celebration of Excellence
Rationale:
This month's celebration of excellence is brought to us by Mrs. Richeson, Director of Teaching and Learning providing updates and insights to our Mentor Program and newest staff members.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas introduced Miss. Elwood and Mrs. Richeson. Mrs. Richeson stated that one of her favorite parts of her position is the Mentor and mentee program and the opportunity to help facilitate the transition into our district in lots of different ways. Ways like orientation, meeting early, once a month meeting, reflection sessions and walk-throughs. Mrs. Richeson advised that she remembers when Dr. Jonas was in this role, Mrs. Richeson was always very curious about how Dr. Jonas had built these incredible relationships with these new staff members. As a building principle, Mrs. Richeson always felt that Dr. Jonas knew them very well. Mrs. Richeson stated she had asked all the mentees to give a little quote about the program and handed out those quotes to everyone. She advised there are 15 members of the program this year, which is bigger than it has been in quite a few years. Mrs. Richeson introduced Miss. Elwood and stated she had come to talk about her experience in person. Miss. Elwood stated the mentor program is awesome and that she didn't think she could have adjusted as easily and as best she could have without it. It helped her become accustomed to everything and to know the school and the staff so much better. The meetings have provided a great schedule and routine to get through everything and has helped with any questions she has had as a first year teacher and has boosted to everyone she knew about the program. Dr. Jonas asked Miss. Elwood to provide some background regarding what she teaches. Miss. Elwood stated she teaches high school English and the yearbook. She advised she has been having a blast with year book and that it has been so much fun. She stated whenever she needs help that she can go to the Engish department and previous faculty and admin. Mrs. Richerson stated that Miss. Elwood's mentor is Ms. Beavers and that we have another new English teacher, Miss. Bloos and her mentor is Mrs. Long. She stated that on Wednesdays when they have their PLC time, and it's been a good time. Miss. Elwood stated during PLC time she feels so involved with it and that this is the first time she feels that she has pieces to put into a PLC process and that every meeting they have is extremely productive. Even if it's just the one-on-one meetings she has with Ms. Beavers, she helps her with a lot of things. Mr. Wyatt asked Miss. Elwood if this was her first year and Miss. Elwood replied yes. Dr. Jonas confirmed with her that Miss. Elwood student taught at Grand Island high school. Mr. Fornoff asked what attached Miss. Elwood to Gothenburg. Miss. Elwood stated she looked at the application online and liked that it looked like such an open community and had a lot of opportunities despite being such a small town. She stated that she graduated from Sutherland, which was not too far from here. Mr. Wyatt asked if she had experienced any similar programs elsewhere and Miss. Elwood stated nothing too similar to this one and that someone of her friends from school had gone to larger schools where they were assigned a teacher to help them, but it is not as hands on or as close-knit as this one.
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4.2. Public Participation
Rationale:
Board Policy 2009 - Opportunity for Public Expression. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO SPEAK: This is the portion of the meeting when members of the public may speak to the board about matters of public concern.
Discussion:
No public participation.
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5. Action Items
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5.1. Consent Agenda
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
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
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5.2. Personnel
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5.2.1. Consider the resignation of certificated staff.
Discussion:
No staff resignations at this time.
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5.2.2. Consider approval of contract(s) for certificated staff.
Rationale:
The following contracts are recommended for approval:
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas read over the rationale and attachment. Mr. Fornoff thanked the staff for their work in getting these positions filled, thanked our retiring teachers for their early notice, and noted the board's appreciation of their services to our school and community.
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6. Policy & Procedure
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6.1. Appoint Superintendent as Non-discrimination Compliance Coordinator and Title IX Coordinator.
Rationale:
Annually, the district must appoint a Non-discrimination Compliance Coordinator to meet federal Equal Employment Opportunity requirements and a Title IX Coordinator.
Additional information can be found the Policy 3057 - Title IX.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas confirmed she had previously served in this role and that this vote comes in front of the board every January.
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7. Informational Items
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7.1. 2024-2025 Teacher Shortage Report
Rationale:
Districts/systems reported 669.35 positions as unfilled with fully qualified personnel, and 200.65 left vacant for 2024-25. Of those 669.35 positions, 167.95 positions (25.09%) were in districts/systems with less than 500 students.
Central Nebraska (our region) had the highest percent of districts with unfilled positions and the second-highest percent of unfilled positions overall (41%). The most challenging position to fill across the state was Special Education (22%) followed by Elementary Education (10%). Unfilled refers to a position that was filled by someone other than a fully qualified teacher or a position that was left vacant. Vacant refers to a position that was not filled at all - i.e., in Special Education of the 149.5 unfilled positions, 99 have teachers and 50.5 were left vacant.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas read over the rationale and attachment. Mr. Wyatt asked what current positions we have to fill. Dr. Jonas stated we currently have posted spanish, which we have been advertising for a while. We also have posted science and upper elementary education. Mrs. Terrell asked if there has been any statistics on the visa staff that have been hired? Dr. Jonas stated that what she has heard are that these positions cost about $10-15k to fill and that typically, classroom management is a growth opportunity as student expectations look differently in other countries. Mr. Wyatt stated we have experienced that job posting for spanish for quite a while and had a reasonable workaround that we have been able to engage resources from outside the district geographically. He asked what does that look like for a science teacher and if those options are readily available as well. Both Dr. Jonas and Mr. Ryker stated they are not aware of any yet but that may be something they to explore.
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8. Reports
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8.1. Board of Education Reports
Rationale:
Committee Reports (Chair in bold)
Discussion:
Personnel Committee - Mr. Fornoff stated they have another meeting this Friday and feel they are getting close to settling with the GEA then they can move on to non-certificated staff and then administrators.
Transportation and Facilities - Mr. Wyatt confirmed they had not met. Finance - Mrs. Jobman confirmed ESSER funds are all paid and the federal grant funds have all been paid. She stated all expenses are in line, but there was a little change in how the coaches get paid this year as they used to get paid throughout the year but now are being paid during the months they coach. This came from the NPERS audit that we are required to do, so the same amount of money, just given to them in a shorter amount of time. She confirmed expenditures and receipts are on track, although the tax receipts are down as expected from recent years. Going back historically to how we received tax receipts, and there is no additional incentive for property tax credits for timely people to make their property taxes. So some interesting conversation that came out of that is that people are paying less of their property tax now because the credit is built into the statement they receive, but we don't actually know when we'll get that credit back, as the state has not been very straight forward in telling us that. Committee on American Civics - Mrs. Terrell confirmed they had not met since December. Policy Review - Mrs. Terrell confirmed they had not met since December.
Attachments:
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8.2. Administrative Reports
Rationale:
1. Topic Specific Administrative Reports
2. General Administrative Reports a. Elementary (Mrs. Floyd) b. High School (Mr. Ryker) c. Activities (Mr. Mroczek) d. Special Populations (Mrs. McKenna) e. Teaching and Learning (Mrs. Richeson) f. Superintendent (Dr. Jonas)
Discussion:
See attached admin reports.
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9. Next Meeting
Rationale:
Monday, February 10th - Time TBD
Swede Activities: Reserve BB @ Cozad (5/6:30)
Discussion:
The next meeting was scheduled for February 10th @ 6 PM.
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10. Adjournment
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
The meeting was adjourned at 6:59 PM.
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