February 12, 2024 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

1. Call to Order

1.1. Roll Call

1.2. Recognition of Open Meeting Law

1.3. Pledge of Allegiance

2. Reports, Communications & Public Participation

2.1. Board accepts public comments

2.2. Student board member report

3. Approve the consent agenda, which includes the minutes and financials

3.1. Approval of Expenditures/Payroll for January 2024

4. Reports from Staff Members and Committees

4.1. Policy Committee

4.2. Superintendent's presentation of the Annual Report
 

5. Administrator's written reports: Please review prior to the board meeting

6. Superintendent's comments

School Improvement

• Communications plan
  • The new website is being designed, but some teachers are actually using it now to help connect with families at home.
• Student survey data is in the process of being collected and reviewed by building level teams.
• Parent survey data has been collected
  • Building teams are reviewing the data
  • Sharing the data with staff in the building
  • Designing building level action plans to address areas of improvement.
  • Once complete, these action plans are shared with the  district school improvement team.
• Reviewing student assessment data is underway
  • Student scores by grade level and content area
    • Trend data
    • Comparison data
  • Demographic information
    • Free and reduced lunch count is our largest demographic breakout.

DRAFT 2024-2025 Calendar for Review

• Please see the attached calendar. 
  • Many similarities between 2023-2024 and the 2024-2025 calendars. 
  • The students' start date is Aug. 14.
    • The teachers' first day is Aug. 12. 
  • The students' end date is May 16.
    • The teachers' last day is May 19.
  • The semesters are relatively equal in length.
  • Christmas break is a little longer due to when Christmas day and New Year's Day fall
  • Easter break is late April, which is about 3 weeks later. 
• Please provide guidance on the calendar prior to next month's board meeting, where I hope to have the 2024-2025 calendar approved. 

Parking Lot Project

• We have recently had a meeting with the YMCA and architects and engineers to discuss the construction of a new parking lot on the west side of the tennis courts and YMCA building. 
  • The YMCA still has some funds to raise for the project to go through.
• We are currently working through usage agreements with our school attorney.
  • Classroom space at the YMCA
  • Potential expansion of space for classes or activities
  • Gym usage at the YMCA
  • Pool usage at the YMCA
  • YMCA member and guest usage of the newly constructed parking lot
  • YMCA usage of green space
  • Maintenance obligations/agreements
  • Extended day program usage

Legislative Update

• LB 878 and LB 988 is legislation that we should keep an eye on because it has to do with the passing of bonds. 
• LB 1415 would put 986 million dollars to be distributed to schools. This would mean the state has put a sales tax increase into place, and property taxes would be lowered.
• LB 1241 would force a school district's levy down if the valuations go up. 
• I have not seen a new bill on this issue, but the governor is interested in a bill, possibly down the road, that would require 3rd grade students to pass a reading test before moving on to the next grade. This is an issue due to a multitude of reasons why a student may not pass a reading test in 3rd grade. He also made mention of past research that might make one believe that students who can't read at grade level in third grade are destined to fall behind their peers, which is not necessarily true. 

Meeting with Mid-Plains Community College 

• Mr. Dickes, Mr. Curl and I had a productive meeting with several Mid-Plains Community College leaders. During our meeting we  discussed several issues.
  • Potential and current projects for both entities.
  • Potential increases in dual credit course offerings on both campuses.
  • Varied career pathway opportunities.
  • Potential usage of the CAST building for welding instruction by MPS staff. 
  • Use of MPS facilities in academic areas where MCC may have future needs.
  • Building stronger partnerships between MPS and MCC in multiple areas.
• The meeting went very well, and we believe that we have identified some areas of potential growth and collaboration to work towards. 

7. Business Manager comments

8. Board member comments

9. New Business

9.1. Accept Resignations

9.2. Accept resignation from Sharon Bennett, 5th Grade Social Studies 

9.3. Approve new contract for Logan Loker - Senior High Math

9.4. Approve contract for Ciara Loker - Senior High ELA

9.5. Approve new contract for Sheryl Gunsch - Structured Resource Room

9.6. Approve the McCook High School Tennis facility resurfacing Project with Renner Sports surfaces and with support from The United State Tennis Association and The USTA Missouri Valley Section. 

9.7. Special Education Policy 

10. Positive Comments

11. Adjournment

12. Items for Review

12.1. McCook Public Schools Policy - Section 1000