June 15, 2020 at 5:30 PM - Regular Board of Directors Meeting
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1. Call the Meeting to Order
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
LEADERSHIP • SERVICE • SUPPORT
Notice of this meeting was given in advance according to State Law 84-1411, by giving notice of the meeting to the public on ESU 7 website www.esu7.org and posted at location of meeting. Notice of this meeting was also given in advance to all members of the Board of Education of Educational Service Unit 7. Availability of the agenda and purpose of the hearing was communicated in the advance notice of the meeting and in the notice to the members of this hearing. All proceedings of the Board of Education of Educational Service Unit 7 were taken while the convened hearing was open to the attendance of the public.
Discussion:
Comments:
Roll call was taken at 5:32pm Vice President Doug Kluth conducted the meeting. Staff present: Larianne Polk, Administrator Linda Shefcyk, Business Manager Mindy Reed, Secretary to the Board of Directors Marci Ostmeyer, Professional Development Director Darus Mettler, Special Education Director Tami Clay, Incoming Special Education Director Dan Ellsworth, Network Operations Director |
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1.1. Notification of Open Meetings Law
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
This meeting has been preceded by reasonable advance notice and is hereby declared to be in open session. A copy of the Open Meetings Act is posted in the meeting room.
Attachments:
()
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1.2. Roll Call
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
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1.3. Absent Board Members
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
Recommendation: Discuss, consider and take action to approve the Board member absences.
Recommended Motion(s):
Approval of Board Member absences as presented Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Tammy Roh absent.
Marni Danhauer absent. Dan Hoesly absent. |
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1.4. Pledge of Allegiance
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Attachments:
()
Discussion:
All members present participated in the Pledge of Allegiance.
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2. Approval of Agenda
Speaker(s):
Don Ellison or Designee
Rationale:
The sequence of agenda topics is subject to change at the discretion of the Board.
Recommended Motion(s):
Agenda as presented Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Agenda approved.
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3. Welcome Visitors
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Goals:
Discussion:
No visitors present.
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4. Public Comment
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
The Board has the discretion to limit the amount of time set aside for public participation.
Citizens wishing to address the Board on a certain agenda item must notify the Educational Service Unit Administrator prior to the board meeting. Citizens wishing to present petitions to the Board may do so at this time. However, the Board will only receive the petitions and not act upon them or their contents.
Goals:
Discussion:
No public comments provided.
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5. Consent Agenda
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
Unless removed from the consent agenda, items identified within the consent agenda will be acted on at one time. If any Board member wishes to discuss an item, it must be removed from the consent agenda at which time the remaining items will be acted upon. Consent Agenda Includes:
Recommendation: Discuss, consider and take any action necessary to approve the consent agenda as presented.
Recommended Motion(s):
Consent agenda as presented Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Goals:
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Consent agenda was approved.
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5.1. Minutes
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
This is a consent item.
Attachments:
()
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5.2. Presentation of Bills # 70921 through # 70998 totaling $744,159.76
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
The summary of bills for the current month total:$744,159.76- Bills # 70921 through # 70998 No Inservice this month
Attachments:
()
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5.3. Authorization of Administrator to Sign for Federal/State Funds
Speaker(s):
Larianne Polk
Rationale:
This Board action authorizes Administrator Polk to be the official signature for all federal and state program funds from July 15, 2019-July 31, 2020.
This is a consent item.
Goals:
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5.4. 2020-2021 Contract for Hayley Murphy, School Psychologist Intern.
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
Insert brief description here. Attach resume if provided. Do not need to attach contracts for Classified Staff.
This is a consent item.
Attachments:
()
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5.5. 2020-2021 Contract for Ronelle Jackson, Mental Health Practitioner
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
2020-2021 Contract for Ronelle Jackson, Mental Health Practitioner
Attachments:
()
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5.6. 2020-2021 Contract for Nicki Brigham, Nebraska Licensed Registered Nurse.
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
2020-2021 Contract for Nicki Brigham, Nebraska Licensed Registered Nurse.
Attachments:
()
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6. Treasurer's Report
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
This is a consent item.
Attachments:
()
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Administrator Polk reviewed the Treasurer's Report.
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7. Budgeting for additional 1% Budget Authority
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
Nebraska Statute allows an additional 1% in budgeted property tax asking requiring an affirmative vote of 75% of the governing body for approval. These additional budget authority dollars remain critical as we continue to operate with the one and a half cent levy, no state aid funding for 2020-2021, and spending restrictions for the upcoming years. In the event valuations change or additional funding becomes available, this action will allow ESU 7 additional budget authority to access those dollars. Recommendation: Discuss, consider and take any necessary action to approve the additional 1% in budgeted tax asking.
Recommended Motion(s):
Budgeting for additional 1% Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Goals:
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Administrator Polk explained what the 1% budget authority means.
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8. Budget Hearing and Budget Summary - Thursday, September 17 at 5:15 p.m. in the ESU 7 Oak Room
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
Recommendation: Discuss, consider and take any action necessary to approve the date for the 2020-2021 ESU 7 Budget Hearing and Budget Summary on Monday, September 17th, 5:15 p.m. ESU 7 Oak Conference Room.
Recommended Motion(s):
2020-2021 ESU 7 Budget Hearing and Budget Summary on Monday, September 17th, 5:15 p.m. ESU 7 Oak Conference Room Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Goals:
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
The agenda item noted the meeting was Monday, September 17. This needs to be corrected to Thursday, September 17.
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9. Final Tax Request Hearing - Thursday, September 17 at 5:25 p.m. in the ESU 7 Oak Room
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
Recommendation: Discuss, consider and take any action necessary to set the 2020-2021 ESU 7 Final Tax Request Hearing on Monday, September 17th, 5:25 p.m. ESU 7 Oak Conference Room.
Recommended Motion(s):
2020-2021 ESU 7 Final Tax Request Hearing on Monday, September 17th, 5:25 p.m. ESU 7 Oak Conference Room Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Goals:
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
The agenda item noted the meeting was Monday, September 17. This needs to be corrected to Thursday, September 17.
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10. Reading of Article IV, Section 1, D Employee Benefits
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
Recommendation: Discuss, consider and take all necessary action to approve Article IV, Section 1, D Employee Benefits.
Recommended Motion(s):
Approve Article IV, Section 1, D Employee Benefits as presented Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
()
Goals:
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Administrator Polk reminded the Board that last month was the first reading of this policy. The term "terminated" was changed. The Health Insurance Benefit section was added to the policy. Administrator Polk read through the Health Insurance Policy portion. It was recommended to strike through the sentence, "The cost of health insurance is a shared responsibility between the Board and the qualified employee groups." The new sentence replacing the sentence that was previously removed will read, "The cost of health insurance is prorated to the personnel's FTE. Please reference the personnel handbook for insurance rates."
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11. Recommend closing the book on all previous policy manuals and use the newly adopted Board policy book.
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
Move to close the book on all previous policy manuals and use the newly adopted Board policy book.
Recommended Motion(s):
Move to close the book on all previous policy manuals and use the newly adopted Board policy book as presented Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Goals:
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
This board action removes the former policy book previously approved by the Board.
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12. Educational Service Unit Cen7ter and Learning Academy Handbooks
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
Annually, the Board of Educational Service Unit 7, will review and approve the ESU 7 Student Handbooks.
Recommendation: Discuss, consider and take any action necessary to approve the handbooks for the Educational Service Unit 7 Cen7ter and Learning Academy Programs.
Recommended Motion(s):
Approval of handbooks for the Educational Service Unit 7 Cen7ter and Learning Academy Programs Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Recommended Motion(s) #2:
Review and approve handbook policy: Article III, Section 7, G Internet Safety; Article V, Section 5, A Child Abuse and Neglect; Article V, Section 5 C Use of Restraint and Seclusion; Article V, Section 5, D Removal of Students and Interviews of Students; Article V, Section 6, B Search and Seizure; Article V, Section 6, C Anti Bullying; Article V, Section 7, B Dispensing Medications; Article V, Section 7, F Wellness Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
()
Goals:
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Administrator Polk explained that the policies in the handbooks will be reviewed annually. This is simply an approval of existing policies. The handbooks themselves did not change much. There were some areas that said "the Administrator will..." and those were cleared up to say which Administrator it was referring to. The biggest change in the handbooks were the sign-off pages at the end. The current 19-20 handbook had one parent approval page which had five approvals with one signature. Each one of the items on the form has been broken out to individual pages needing a signature on each page.
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13. Authorization of the Administrator to Pay July Bills in absence of July Board Meeting
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
The ESU 7 Board of Directors will not meet in July, 2020. This Board action gives authority to the Administrator to pay July bills. The ESU 7 Board will approve these expenses in the next possible Board Meeting. Recommendation: Discuss, consider and take any action to approve the Administrator's payment of bills in July 2020.
Recommended Motion(s):
Authorization of the Administrator to Pay July Bills Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Goals:
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Administrator Polk noted the Board does not meet in July. Administrator Polk needs the authority to pay the bills for ESU 7 in July. The Board will review and approve what was spent in August.
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14. ESU 7 COVID-19 Pay Resolution
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
After consultation with legal council it is recommended that the following resolution be adopted and approved for up to four weeks.
Recommendation: Discuss, consider and take all necessary action to approve the ESU 7 COVID-19 Pay Resolution.
Recommended Motion(s):
Approval of ESU 7 COVID-19 Pay Resolution Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
()
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Vice President Doug Kluth added the resolution needs to be amended to 8 weeks instead of the documented 4 weeks since the Board does not meet in July.
Administrator Polk added ESU 7 is at a Level 2 Open status right now. All staff are working so there is no need for this resolution at this time and it may not be needed as long as the COVID-19 situation continues to improve. The COVID-19 Guide is a very fluid and highly collaborative document including input from ESU 7's Health Departments. |
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15. Administrator's Report General
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
Goals - Attached for your Review
ESUCC Update Upcoming Events Update on staff recruitment Board Members up for election
Attachments:
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Goals:
Discussion:
Administrator Polk provided an ESUCC update - ESUCC partnered with UNL Innovation Campus who partnered with the Ethanol Board to produce and distribute hand sanitizer. ESUCC partnered with them to get hand sanitizer to distribute to the schools. ESU 7 received 330 gallons and distributed them out to schools. The hand sanitizer is free to the schools. ESU 7 has more than 1,200 gallons of additional hand sanitizer coming mid-July. ESUCC is working with DHHS on face masks. We are looking at 2 masks per staff and student with the hopes of getting 5 masks per staff and student. If we receive 5, we will have about 2,200 masks to distribute before school starts. Administrator Polk continues to meet with the Commissioner and his office, Directors, Superintendents, and the Health Departments a few times a week.
According to the ESU 7 COVID-19 Guide, in-person meetings have started to be scheduled while following current DHM guidelines. The Directors have discussed the All Staff Meeting in Fall with the intention to have it in person across the ESU 7 campus. Administrator Polk provided a report of staff recruiting methods and ideas to Vice President Kluth, please see the attached report for details. Board Members still needing to submit their election paperwork by the July 15 deadline: Gary Wieseler, Dick Luebbe, and Tamra Roh. |
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15.1. Services Update
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
SIMPL Update
Quarterly Report Zoom delivered services Items inside this item include visit updates, quarterly report, director reports, etc.
Attachments:
()
Goals:
Discussion:
SIMPL Update - SIMPL is the statewide database for ESU services. In SIMPL, 2,670 activities have been logged since August 1, 2019. Since March 1, 2020 there have been 1,186 activity logs entered. This gives information about how busy staff have been during the past couple of months.
Professional Development Director Ostmeyer update - From March 20, 2020 to April 30, 2020, members of the PD Dept. and the Mental Health Practitioner have had 435 people attend Zoom sessions. Teachers wanted to receive support, talk to each other, and receive resources. April was focused on support. In May there were 108 Principals in the Zoom meetings; it was a split between elementary and secondary school Principals. Principal Zoom meetings are still taking place. There have been meetings added giving information about self-care for teachers. There have been interactive Zoom sessions offered for teachers. Participant numbers are better than they have been before. Special Education Director Mettler update - The Special Education Department have been having Zoom meetings with individuals, groups, and with parents. Director Mettler showed the end of the year videos for the Learning Academy and Cen7ter. Technology Director Ellsworth update - The Tech Department connected over 2,000 teachers to Zoom. The Tech Department used Zoom to remote into computers to help resolve technology issues. Administrator Polk emphasized the positive message of returning to work and school in the fall. All precautions will be in place to provide a safe place for staff and students. |
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15.2. Facilities Update
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
The Administrator will provide a facilities update during this item.
Proposed Summer Hours: Monday-Thursday 7:00am-4:30pm with 1/2 hour lunch. Friday 7:30am-11:30am. Door Lock Update
Goals:
Discussion:
Director Ellsworth stated that the internal locks are finished. Director Ellsworth is waiting on some keys. The external door locks have been changed and the master keys have been assigned. The digital door locks are done. There were some issues with the equipment but another solution was found until the technology was corrected. The door lock project is finished.
Administrator Polk proposed new summer hours. Columbus Public has these same hours and ESU 7 and Columbus Public share a campus. ESU 7 will be open 40 hours a week. The hours will be Monday-Friday 7:00am-4:30pm and Friday from 7:30am-11:30am. ESU 7 has gathered data over the last two years and it was determined there is no Friday afternoon traffic in and out of the building. The proposed hours were reviewed with the different departments. Changing the hours would fall under the responsibility of the Administrator so therefore action is not necessary with this item. The rest of summer will be used as a pilot for the new hours. If the hours work well, ESU 7 may start the summer hours the Monday after the Spring All Staff Meeting and end the summer hours the Friday before the Fall All Staff Meeting going forward. |
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15.3. 2020-2021 Contract for Kris Johnson, Paraprofessional/Brailist.
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
2020-2021 Contract for Kris Johnson, Paraprofessional/Brailist.
Discussion:
Administrator Polk approved and signed the contract.
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16. Committee Reports
Speaker(s):
Committee Chair
Goals:
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16.1. Budget Committee Report
Speaker(s):
Budget Committee Chair
Rationale:
Chairman Pauley will provide an update.
Discussion:
Board Secretary and Budget Chairperson Pauley provided a Budget Committee update. The General Budget and the Special Education budgets were reviewed. Chairperson Pauley emphasized the responsibility of the ESU 7 Board is to be good stewards of ESU 7 taxpayers. Board Member Stephens requested additional meetings between the Budget Committee and the Negotiations Committee in order to best make decisions for employee total compensation. These meetings will be arranged for the 2020 negotiations season. Administrator Polk will schedule a preliminary meeting with Board Members Stephens or Miller along with her and the ESUEA Negotiations chairperson.
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17. Appoint Vice President Officer Position to fill vacancy created by Doug Kluth's resignation.
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
Vice Present position will become vacant July 1, 2020.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Board Member Gary Wieseler was appointed as the Vice President Officer Position to fill the vacancy, through December 2020, created by Board Vice President Kluth's resignation.
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18. Adjournment
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Discussion:
Meeting adjourned at 7:03pm.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Mindy Reed, Recording Secretary to the ESU 7 Board. |
