December 9, 2019 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale:  Information concerning the Open Meeting Law, Chapter 84, Article 14 of Nebraska State Statutes, is posted on the bulletin board in this room.

Mrs. Kari Loseke, Board President, will call the Board of Education Regular meeting to order. 

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The Board Secretary will conduct roll call attendance.

Rationale:  Mr. Flynn, Science Teacher at Otte Blair Middle School, will introduce students from his Environmental Science class who will lead the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance.  

In addition, the students will share a Google Expedition with the Board. ESU#3 will be coming to assist with this.  The Board member will get to experience the Sustainability VR Tour with Expedition Goggles.

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• November 11, 2019 Board of Education Work Session and Regular Meeting Minutes.

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• Teammates Thank You

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• General Fund
• Building and Savings & Depreciation

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• November 2019 Activity Fund Claims
• November 2019 General Fund Claims

Rationale:  Trent Bourgeois, Superintendent of CF Industries Blair Terminal, will be present to award mini grants totaling $3,059 to the following teachers:

1. Taffy Jones
2. Morgan Kowalewski
3. Laura Pike
4. Tracy Bye
5. Rebecca Cox
6. Krissy Anderson
7. Laura Schlachter
8. Carly Miller
9. Lauren Diffy
10. Brooke Roach
11. Jennifer Chikos
12. Morgan Kowalewski
13. Carissa Donner
14. Kylie Dirkschneider
15. Heather Beal
16. Peggy Rutcosky

The goal of the CF Industries Classroom Minigrant Program is to award educators who find the most innovative ways to incorporate agriculture and/or the environment into a classroom project. 

Rationale:  Mrs. Holly Mackie, School Nurse, has written and received a Blair Area Community Foundation (BACF) Grant. The BACF awarded Blair Community Schools a donation in the amount of $3,000 to be designated towards the purchase of a Spot Vision Screener.  The screener would assist the nurse's in efficiently screening students and be able to screen for more eye conditions than the traditional vision eye charts.   We would like to thank them for their generous donation and we appreciate their support and commitment to Blair Community Schools. 

Mrs. Mackie has written and been awarded grants from Washington County Bank, Memorial Community Hospital and Cargill to assist with the purchase of the Spot Vision Screener.  The cost of the screener is $7,500 and with the approval of this grant brings the total raised to $5,600.  

Rationale:  Mrs. Tracy Bye, District Media Specialist, has written and received a Cornhusker Motor Club Foundation Education Grant.  The foundation awarded Mrs. Bye a donation in the amount of $2,000 to be designated toward the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Program.  We would like to thank them for their generous donation and we appreciate their support and commitment to Blair Community Schools. 

Rationale:  This is the portion of the meeting when members of the public may address the board about matters of public concern.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO SPEAK:

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The Policy Committee met on Monday, November 25, 2019.  Meeting minutes are attached.

 

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The Curriculum Committee did not meet this month.  

Dr. Ladwig shared via email with the committee, that a motion will be presented to approve the new Nebraska Department of Education State Social Studies Standards as previously approved by the Nebraska State Board of Education.  The new standards suggest what students should learn about history, civics, geography and economics. 

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The Buildings, Grounds, and Transportation Committee met on Tuesday, November 26, 2019.  Meeting minutes are attached.

 

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The Finance Committee met on Tuesday, December 3, 2019.  Meeting minutes are attached.

 

Rationale:  Approval of a contract with Mr. Darren Harsin for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year, which shall begin on January 3, 2020, as a Social Studies Teacher at Blair High School 

Rationale:  Ashley Miskowiec, Deerfield Primary Kindergarten Teacher, has submitted a letter of resignation effective upon the conclusion of the 2019-20 school year. 

Steihl Reeves, High School Social Studies Teacher, has submitted a letter of resignation effective on December 11, 2019.

Rationale:  Board Report Attached

• Activities
• Blair High School
• Otte-Blair Middle School
• Arbor Park Intermediate
• K-2 Primary

Rationale:  The Board of Education is authorized by state statute to hold closed sessions.  Closed sessions may be held when clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual.  Reasons that meet this standard include but are not limited to:  (a) strategy sessions with respect to collective bargaining, real estate matters, pending litigation, or litigation which is imminent as evidenced by communication of a claim or threat of litigation to or by the public body; (b) discussion regarding deployment of security personnel or devices; (c) investigative proceedings regarding allegations of criminal misconduct; (d) evaluation of the job performance of a person when necessary to prevent needless injury to the reputation of a person and if such person has not requested a public meeting; and (e) legal advice.

The Board will go into Closed Session for the protection of public interest on the discussion of collective bargaining.