January 24, 2025 at 12:00 PM - Board of Education 2nd Monthly Meeting

Rationale:  The Norfolk Public School District's Board of Education meeting is called to order.
 

Rationale:  If any board member is absent, there will need to be a  motion to excuse the absence.

Rationale:  This is a legal meeting of the board of education, as advertised by the means specified in board policy. A complete copy of the Open Meetings Act is posted in the board room for your review. A copy of the agenda is available at the desk of the recording secretary.

Rationale:  Please stand and join us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Rationale:  The Norfolk Public Schools staff, administration, and students would like to thank the individuals that serve on the Board of Education for their dedicated service.

Although School Board Appreciation Week will actually occur from January 26-February 1st, we want you to take some time now to tell you that we appreciate everything you do for Norfolk Public Schools. Thank you for all the time and effort you volunteer in order to ensure that all of our students are provided with outstanding learning opportunities that prepare them to meet their goals for the future.

Rationale:  This is the time during the meeting when the public may request to address the Board. According to state law, if you wish to comment, you must identify yourself, including your address, the name of the organization you represent and the topic that you wish to address. "Public Comment" cards are located at the media table, in the back of the room.  Please pick up a card and provide the required information if you plan to speak.  Each individual’s comments will be limited to three minutes and the total cumulative time for all public comments will be limited to 30 minutes.

Please note that the Board cannot discuss or act upon matters that are not listed on the agenda. Therefore, Board members will not respond to your comments or questions. If you wish to request that an item be placed on a future Board agenda, you may contact the Superintendent or her assistant during normal business hours.

Also, note that concerns related to school personnel need to be addressed to the Superintendent using the approved district protocol. Individuals who make false, defamatory, or slanderous statements during public comments may be held legally liable. Slanderous comments are not protected just because they are made at Board meetings.

Additional procedural guidelines are available at the media table.

Rationale: 

The total amount of claims to be approved on the consent agenda by specific fund are listed below:

General Fund = $325,873.44

Nutrition Fund = $242,612.45

Subsidiary Fund = $3,286.51

Special Building Fund = $123,618.81

Senior High Activity Fund = $54,181.69

Junior High Activity Fund = $2,127.05

Student Fee Fund = $904.36

All of these claims were reviewed earlier by the Finance and Facilities Committee.

Rationale:  See attached.

Rationale:  Minutes from the meeting on January 13, 2025 are attached for review. 

Rationale: 

Nelson, Jennifer

• ‘25-’26' School Psychologist, Norfolk Public School District

• Education Specialist, School Psychology, University of Nebraska, Kearney, NE

• 2010-Present, School Psychologist, Holdrege Public Schools, Holdrege, NE

Payne, Casey

• ‘25-’26 English Language Learner (ELL) Teacher, Norfolk Senior High School
• Master of Arts in Teaching, College of Saint Mary, Omaha, NE; May 2020
• Full-Time Substitute Teacher, Norfolk Public Schools, January 2025
• Social Studies Teacher (5-8), Columbus Middle School, Columbus, NE, 8/2023-5/2024

Rader, Sydney

• '25-’26 Special Education LIFE Teacher, Norfolk Junior High School and NHS Head Softball Coach

• Bachelor of Science, Special Education, Missouri Western State University, St. Joseph, MO, 12/2024

• Student Teacher (Life Skills & Job Development Classroom), St. Joseph School District, St. Joseph, MO, 08/2024 to 12/2024

Rationale:  Ben Bohn - Math Teacher, Senior High - Resigning at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

Todd Cook - Band Director, Senior High - Resigning at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

Lorraine Jones - 2nd Grade Teacher, Woodland Park - Retiring at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

Nancy Nissen - Music Teacher, Lincoln and Jefferson Elementary - Retiring at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

Rationale:  Attached are the claims. These claims were reviewed by our Finance and Facilities Committee. 

There are no conflict statements. 

Rationale:  Per the Staffing Proposal discussed earlier, I am requesting the addition of one special education teacher for the 2025-2026 school year  to reduce caseloads and help meet the needs of our special education students at the elementary level. 

Rationale:  Per the Staffing Proposal discussed earlier, I am requesting the addition of one half-time (0.5 FTE) ELL teacher for the 2025-2026 school year  to reduce caseloads and help meet the needs of our ELL students at the Junior High level. 

Rationale: 

The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Monday, February 10th, 2025 at 5:30 PM. 

The 2nd monthly meeting of the Board of Education is scheduled for Monday, February 24th, 2025 at Noon.

All components of these meetings will be held at the NPS Central Administration Offices and will be open to the public unless an Executive Session is needed in order to protect the interest of the district or the reputation of an individual.