March 17, 2025 at 5:30 PM - GIPS BOE Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

It is 5:____p.m. and I now call to order the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education Meeting.  This is the March 17, 2025 meeting.  Notice of this meeting has been advertised in the Grand Island Independent, which is the District's designated method of giving notice of these meetings.

We want those in attendance to know that copies of the Open Meetings Act are available at the entrance to the Board Room.  If anyone in attendance is interested in addressing our Board, you are welcome to do so.  We simply request that you complete the appropriate form and turn it in to us so that you may be recognized during the Requests to Address the Board part of our meeting.  If you have not already completed the form, please see the staff person outside the entrance to this room.  Public comment is welcome. We do ask that no signs be brought into the boardroom.

Mrs. Dibbert, will you please call the roll?

Rationale:  Roll Call.

Rationale:  The first item on the agenda tonight is the Consent Agenda.  The Consent Agenda to be approved is as follows:

(items read.)

This is the Consent Agenda as published.  Would anyone like to remove any items or add any items to the Consent Agenda? (pause)

Does anyone have a potential conflict of interest on agenda item 3.3? If so, please state the check number that you will be abstaining from voting on.

Rationale:  Standing Committees
 A monthly agenda presented to the board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration in the standing committees.  
 

• Finance and Facilities Committee
• Leading for Learning Committee
• Personnel Committee
• Policy Committee
• Public Relations and Partnership Development Committee - None
• Governance Committee
• GNSA/Legislative Committee - None

Rationale:  GO Educationally Based Services

Rationale:  Instructional Coaching Group

Rationale:  The 2025 Hall County Spelling Bee brought the county’s best spellers together in a grueling competition of words.  Qualifying students from numerous Hall County schools compete in various grade level categories ranging from 5th Grade - 8th Grade.  The 2025 Hall County Bee featured a number of GIPS student spellers and found a few among the top winners in the county: 

• Makenna Ostrander - Westridge Middle School - Hall County Spelling Bee Champion
• Tatiana Sage - Westridge - 2nd Place Overall
• Addie Haag - Westridge - 3rd Place Overall
• Brody Troidl - Westridge - 6th Grade 1st Place
• Remi Buchfinck - Westridge - 7th Grade 1st Place
• Mackenzie Fanta - Seedling Mile Elementary - 5th Grade 1st Place

Rationale:  Both the Grand Island Senior High Boys and Girls Wrestling Teams had a strong showing at the 2025 NSAA State Wrestling Tournament in February.  Among the stand out accolades were two individual state champion wrestlers for the Islanders; one for the Boys Team and one for the Girls Team.  Congratulations to the following state champion wrestlers: 

• Alex Gates - NSAA State Champion Boys Wrestling - 132 Weight Class
• Anyia Roberts - NSAA State Champion Girls Wrestling (back-to-back) - 155 Weight Class 

Rationale: 

• Each person addressing the board will be allowed 5 minutes. The Board of Education has the prerogative to limit speaking to 3 minutes when there are three or more patrons to allow speakers an opportunity to address the Board in a timely manner.
• We allocate up to 30 minutes for addressing the board at each regular board meeting.
• Please face the Board, not the audience when you speak
• We want to hear what is being said so we ask the audience to refrain from making comments or sounds that make it hard to hear the speaker. 
• No signs are allowed in the boardroom.
• We will not engage in dialogue with patrons presenting to the Board, the purpose of the requests to address the board is to listen to patrons.
• The Board president and superintendent will identify staff to follow-up on information requested from patrons when necessary.
• At regular business meetings any school district-related matter can be presented to the Board, but only agenda items can be acted upon during a given meeting. At special meetings, comments will be limited to the subject of action items of the meeting's agenda. 
• Speakers will not be permitted to make defamatory comments, or use abusive or vulgar language. 
• Expressions of personal complaints about staff or students are discouraged at public meetings. Concerns about individuals should be brought to the attention of the appropriate administrative authority. Specific building or program concerns should be brought to the attention of the building principal or program supervisor.

Rationale:  The FiT team will share information and answer questions about the GIPS Families in Transition Program.

Rationale:  The GISH facility next to the Grand Island Senior High Tennis Courts and Memorial Stadium currently known as the "Success Academy Building" is the new home for our High School Skills Academy.  This scenario, of course, has caused notable confusion with our staff, families, and community stakeholders.  It is the district's vision for that facility to be renamed to something that would not be tied to a specific program.  That way, going forward, the building may retain its name for years or decades to come without causing confusion for our students, families, staff, and our community.  In order to re-name a facility at GIPS, Board Policy #4510 dictates we form a committee of voices including Board Members, Administrators, Teachers, and Community Members.  This information and action item seeks to present a potential committee to the Board and seek a vote of approval for the committee so the process of renaming the "Success Academy Building" may begin. 

Rationale:  4530 FACILITY FINANCE PROGRAM

Rationale:  4552 SELECTION OF ARCHITECT

Rationale:  4553 CONTRACTOR'S FAIR EMPLOYMENT CLAUSE

Rationale:  4561 PROCEDURES FOR ACQUISITION OF SCHOOL SITES

Rationale:  4610 SCHOOL PROPERTIES DISPOSAL

Rationale:  4620 REQUESTS, DONATIONS, AND GIFTS

Rationale:  4630 GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION

Rationale:  Annually, all Nebraska school districts are required to have an independent audit and file an annual financial report (AFR). For the Fiscal Year ending August 31st. Grand Island Public Schools submitted our AFR timely but received permission to submit our audit report on or before 01/31/2025 due to a change in auditors.

Rationale:  As part of the safety and security projects approved by the Board during the August 8, 2024 meeting the attached proposals were received from Kidwell Incorporated and CEI Security & Sound for security cameras for various district buildings. The lowest responsible proposal is from Kidwell Incorporated in the amount of $2,131,828 to be paid from the QCPUF.

Rationale:  4321 GATE RECEIPTS AND ADMISSIONS

Rationale:  4322 INCOME FROM SCHOOL SALES AND/OR SERVICES

Rationale:  4330 IMPRESSED FUNDS ACCOUNT

Rationale:  4340 CASH IN SCHOOL BUILDING

Rationale:  4450 PAYROLL AND PAYMENT POLICY

Rationale:  4470 SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS

Rationale:  A monthly report to the Board and community on the major items discussed and under consideration by the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation.

Rationale: 

Mr. Williams will present the student representative's report to the board. 

Rationale: 

Mr. Fisher will present the superintendent report. 

Rationale: 

The Board will convene into executive session for the purpose of discussing XX.

Rationale:  Regular Board of Education Meeting - Thursday, April 10, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.