August 13, 2026 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 August 13, 2026 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 - None.
• GNSA/Legislative Committee - None.

Rationale:  Two additional updates:

1.  On pg. 9 (of amended addition), under Section "Student Use of Bicycles and Other Small-Wheeled Devices", as the last sentence add:  No e-bikes, e-scooters, or battery-powered micro-mobility devices can be stored inside any GIPS facilities."

2. In the school lunch cost section, the adult meals will be as follows:
Breakfast will remain at $3.00
Lunch will be increased to $5.30

Rationale:  Students will be recognized for stellar results in their AP exams. Honorees for the Board Meeting earned the titles of AP Scholar, AP Scholar with Honor, and AP Scholar with Distinction.

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:  Provide an overview of the revisions to the Nebraska Rule 3 on High Ability Learners and the impact on GIPS programming.

Rationale:  Gates Elementary Addition and Renovations

Rationale:  Annually, the district identifies and funds facility projects.  Mr. Petsch will update the Board on the progress of the fiscal year 2025 - 2026 project list and likely next steps for fiscal year 2026 - 2027.

Rationale:  Transportation Routes for the 2026-2027 school year.

Rationale:  7410 BASIC INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM

Rationale:  7411 HEALTH EDUCATION

Rationale:  7414 EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Rationale:  7470 INSTRUCTION FOR NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING STUDENTS

Rationale:  7480 SCHOOL COUNSELING

Rationale:  7550 CONTRACTED INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES

Rationale:  7570 HOMEWORK

Rationale:  7580 PILOT PROJECTS

Rationale:  7840 STATE FIRE DAY

Rationale:  8231 HOMELESS STUDENTS

Rationale:  Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-3405, at least seventy percent of the Board of Education of the School District affirmatively votes to increase the School District’s overall property tax request authority by an additional five percent above the base growth percentage, or other maximum amount as permitted by law. The Superintendent or designee is hereby authorized and directed to take any action consistent with this Resolution to ensure that the School District’s overall property tax request complies with this Resolution.

Rationale:  Gates Elementary Addition and Renovations

Rationale:  Transportation Routes for the 2026-2027 school year.

Rationale:  8312 EXCESSIVE ABSENTEEISM

Rationale:  8453 STUDENT SUSPENSION, EXPULSION, AND MANDATORY REASSIGNMENT

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: 

________ will present the student representative's report to the board. 

Rationale: 

Mr. Fisher will present the superintendent report. 

Rationale:  Regular Board of Education Meeting - Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.