January 14, 2019 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

Rationale: 

1. The Board of Education reserves the right to enter into Closed/Executive Session for 1) the protection of public interest or 2) the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual, and the individual has not requested a public meeting. When making a motion to enter into Closed/Executive Session, the member making such a request should be as specific as possible keeping the previously listed stipulation in consideration. 
2. If the Board is in agreement, a motion maybe to enter into Closed/Executive Session to 1) discuss a personnel matter, or 2) for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of the individual, or 3) to discuss litigation and for the protection of the public interest.
3. Action concerning matters discussed in Closed/Executive Session will be acted upon in open session

Rationale: 

Welcome to the Dundy County Stratton Public Schools Board of Education Meeting.  The Board welcomes citizens to attend board meetings to become acquainted with the programs and operations of the district.  Members of the public are also encouraged to share their ideas and opinions with the Board during the agenda item labeled “Public Items”.  Comments or questions from the audience at any other time during the meeting except for the agenda item “Public Items” will out of necessity be declared out of order.

The Nebraska Open Meetings Act prevents the board from speaking to a matter that is not on the agenda.  Please understand that the board may be unable to address your issue during the meeting.  It is not permissible for the board to comment on items not listed for the protection of the public’s right to know and participate in the discussion of items that do come before the board and stated appropriately in the meeting agenda.  

During this agenda item “Public Items” we ask that you abide by the following rules:

Public Comment Protocol and Procedures

1. Anyone wishing to speak to the board on specific agenda items or on other topics relevant to board business must complete a Public Comment Request Card and submit it to the Board President prior to the opening of the meeting.   The public will only be recognized and their comments heard at Item “Public Items” on the board agenda.  The total time allotted for the public comment will not exceed thirty minutes and each member of the public will be allotted not more than five minutes to address the Board.  If a group wishes to speak, please designate one spokesperson for the group.
   
   
2. Please state your name and the topic you are addressing before you begin.  
   
   
3. Speakers are asked to direct their questions and comments to the chair.  A member of the Board of Education or the Superintendent may direct clarifying questions to the chair, but the board will not under any circumstance enter into a debate with any the member of the public.
   
   
4. Speakers may offer objective criticism of district operations and programs, but the Board would encourage members of the public to address complaints concerning individual district personnel through the proper chain of command.  The chair may direct the member of the public to the appropriate means to address concerns brought before the Board; however, the board will not respond with action but will take comments under advisement and direct the comments to the appropriate staff member to address outside of the board meeting.
   
   
5. Please remember that is a public meeting for the conduct of business of the Dundy County Stratton Public School District. Offensive language, personal attacks and hostile conduct will not be tolerated. You should further be advised that there is no legal protection for any comments that are made. 
   
   
6. As stated in NEB. REV. STAT. § 79-570 Class I, II, III, IV, or VI school district; president; meetings; maintenance of order.  

   If any district meeting of a Class I, II, III, IV, or VI school district any person conducts himself or herself in a disorderly manner and persists in such conduct after notice by the president or person presiding, the president or person presiding may order such person to withdraw from the meeting and, if the person refuses, may order any person or persons to take such person into custody until the meeting is adjourned.

7. As stated in NEB. REV. STAT. § 79-571 Class I, II, III, IV, or VI school district; meetings; disorderly conduct; penalty. 

Any person who refuses to withdraw from such meeting on being so ordered as provided in section 79-570 or who willfully disturbs such meeting shall be guilty of a Class V misdemeanor. 

Rationale:  Consent agenda items are generally housekeeping and routine items which require board action but should be discussion free. On this agenda items from 8.E on are beginning of the calendar year items. We already have those things in place but it puts them on the official record annually

Rationale:  To verify that notice of the meeting was given by publication in the Benkelman Post, a legal newspaper for Dundy County Stratton and by written notice to each member of the board, the designated method of giving notice

Rationale:  To adopt the agenda of this meeting. The board reserves the right to change the order of items within the agenda.

Rationale:  The superintendent currently fills this role

Rationale:  The district business manager has been filling this role and that should continue. She has agreed to continue to do this. 

Rationale:  We have generally followed the federal rate for mileage reimbursements for authorized travel. For 2018 it was 54.5 cents per mile, it changes to 58 cents for 2019.

Rationale:  The superintendent generally serves in this capacity

Rationale:  Part of the protocols for negotiations is the request of the DCSEA to act as the official bargaining agent of the teachers and the boards acceptance of that request. With the change in negotiations rules a few years ago, the NSEA has pushed their local units to get this done earlier. By mutual understanding our local association and the board conduct this procedure right after negotiations have been completed. 

Rationale:  We are required to have a Title IX coordinator by statute. Currently the Superintendent fills that role. 

Rationale:  Bill Wilson has submitted his  resignation from teaching effective at the conclusion of this school year. 

At this time his is the only resignation I have.

Rationale:  Presentation of the financial status of the district, balances in various funds, recent/impending activity therein, anticipated expenses and planning for future considerations.

Rationale:  This item allows for the reporting on and discussion of items brought forth by the NASB or items the board wishes to address with NASB.

NASB Monthly Update for Board Meetings
Agenda Item:  JANUARY 2019

"NASB Update"
Happy New Year.  January is always a busy time with the start of another Legislative Session, and School Board Member Week, which will run January 27^th through February 2^nd this year!  We can’t say it enough, thank you for the work you do for your district, community, and the entire state!  Look for a special recognition at this year’s Legislative Issues Conference.  More to come ...
This year’s 90-day legislative session started Wednesday, January 9^th, and will see 13 new faces being their first term as a state senator.  Be sure to stay engaged from the start as Days 1-10 will be fast-paced with the election of leadership and the introduction of bills. 
NASB will be keeping you updated as key items play out online, through social media, and in our Legislative communication.  Follow along, and don’t ever hesitate to reach out to us for questions, clarifications, or ways you can help assist us share your story to the senators themselves.  Stay in close tabs with NASB throughout the Session, scheduled to go into June, through Board Notes, Legislative Notes, twitter, and NASBonline.org for news, updates, and call to actions.  Tips for you and your board this Session ...

• Know Your Districts Data
• Tell Your Story, or help US tell it for you
• Educate on Education
• Know that no one is more qualified to talk about your district than YOU!

A few weeks after the session has started, join NASB, your peers, the Senators themselves, and get a firsthand look at what has been introduced at this year’s Legislative Issues Conference, January 27-28, in Lincoln.  Register now at www.NASBonline.org
The next few months will see a lot of other learning opportunities and events besides LIC, like:

• Budget & Finance Workshop (February 13 in La Vista, February 20 in North Platte)
• President’s Retreat (February 17-18 in Kearney, February 24-25 in Lincoln)
• NAEP State Convention (March 26-27 in Grand Island)
• NSBA Annual Conference (March 30 - April 1 in Philadelphia)
• Spring Legal Workshops (details to come)

You can learn more, and register for the above events at www.NASBonline.org

Stay engaged online at www.NASBonline.org and follow NASB on twitter at www.twitter.com/NASBonline using the hashtag #liveNASB -
To see a quick glimpse at the various items the NASB is involved in, check out pages 10 & 11 each month in the Board Notes newsletter for "This Month In ..."  To access the latest newsletter, click here: https://nasb.enviseams.com/docs/default-source/board-notes/board-notes---december-2018.pdf?sfvrsn=dabb6991_4
Thanks for all you do for your board, your community and the entire state by serving public education in Nebraska.
 

Rationale:  This item is normally on the consent agenda, but Jason is not comfortable voting on it as he publishes the paper. We place it on the business agenda so that he may fulfill his obligation to abstain when voting on an item which raises conflict of interest concerns. 

Rationale:  Committees are appointed annually. The list of our current standing committees, their membership and everyone's details of service is attached. 

Typically members express interest to the president and he makes the appointments. 

Rationale:  This will be the second reading of the policy. Should it pass tonight we will move to implement as soon as possible. At 6:30 we will have a representative from one of the potential vendors call in to the meeting to present and answer questions. 

Rationale:  I will highlight a couple of the legislative proposals before the NSAA that I think are pertinent. If you want to see the entire list of proposals I will have them available for you to see upon request.

Rationale:  Senator Mike Groene was elected to a second two-year term as Chair of the Education Committee.  Senator Groene won re-election on a second ballot to Senator Rick Kolowski.

Senator Lou Ann Linehan was elected over Senator Brett Lindstrom for Chair of the Revenue Committee.
 
The preliminary committee roster is attached:
 
Education Committee
Groene (C), Brewer, Kolowski, Linehan, Morfeld, Murman, Pansing Brooks, Walz
 
Revenue Committee
Linehan (C), Briese, Crawford, Friesen, Groene, Kolterman, Lindstrom, McCollister

Rationale:  Agenda item to allow for discussion of staffing for the next school year and beyond. 

Rationale:  January 14, 2019

Report Cards
Report cards were mailed Friday January 4^th 2019.The elementary typically sends them out by the end of the week after the quarter ends.

Enrollment
Benkelman Elementary start of the year enrollment grades K-6 128; current enrollment grades K-6 136.
Stratton Elementary start of the year enrollment grades K-6 33; current enrollment grades K-6 32.

Lockdown / Evacuation Drill
Benkelman and Stratton held another lockdown drill and then an evacuation drill on Thursday January 10th. It went very well.

DARE Program
Thank you to the Dundy County Sheriff department for providing DARE playground balls to the elementary schools.

Men’s Club
Thank you to the men’s club for providing popcorn at the 2^nd quarter AR movie.


Mr. Rotherham
 

Rationale:  Superintendent Report
January 14, 2019

 

1. In-service: We have Kelly Erickson from ESU 15 coming in for some of the remaining Friday in-services. We will be working on curriculum issues with her.

 

2. RPAC:

Quiz Bowl Jan. 9 at Hitchcock County
Art Contest Jan. 16 at Cambridge
Wrestling Jan. 18 at Maxwell
Basketball Jan. 19-26 at Wauneta/Palisade, DCS, Paxton, MCC
Vocal Music Feb. 4 at Wauneta/Palisade
Speech Meet Feb. 13 at Medicine Valley
 

3. RPAC/MCC: RPAC and MCC are committed to hosting the Student Council Workshop, Volleyball and Basketball Finals at the Graff Event Center through the 2019-2020 school year. This partnership has and continues to provide outstanding opportunities for our students and MCC as well.

 

4. NRCSA: If anyone wishes to nominate for the NRCSA Awards, let me know. The nominations are due at the end of this month. I have received a couple of nominations already.

 

5. Food service inspection: We have ordered some new equipment and made some repairs to stuff we had to meet the requirements  of the inspection. The one thing we haven’t done yet is the installation of a separate sink in the high school serving area. That will be a major undertaking as the walls and floor are concrete.

 

6. IRS review: The person from Kansas City requested information from us for the 2015-2016 fiscal year. Stacey scanned all the documents and saved them on a secured flash drive. She mailed the drive to Kansas City. Now we wait. As far as we know everything is in order. Stacey did have a phone call review set up for Wednesday the 9^th but the government is shut down.

 

7. NSAA Board: I was elected to follow Alan Garey on the NSAA board. Those duties officially start next year, but there are things that I will need to do this spring in preparation. I will also examine whether to continue the serve on the NRCSA executive board or step down from that position.

Rationale:  Board items January 2018


 

1. Upcoming board workshops: There is a lot of stuff for you to potentially attend coming up. Let Crissy you know if you wish to be signed up.

Jan. 27-28     NASB Legislative Issues Conference, Lincoln
Jan. 23          ESU 15/16 board member workshop North Platte (High School)
Mar. 5            NRCSA Legislative Forum Lincoln
Mar. 21-22    NRCSA Spring Conference
 

2. Board events:

Jan. 14          Foundation meeting 7:00 MT
Jan. 14          Regular meeting 6:00 MT
Jan. 24          possible meeting date
 

3. 2018-2019 Calendar

Attached is the information for the 2019-20 calendar. Approval of a calendar will be on your February agenda