September 15, 2021 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

• The meeting was called to order by Board President Desh at 7:00 p.m. 
• Board President Desh led the board members (and patrons in attendance) in the Pledge of Allegiance.

• Board President Desh identified the location of the Open Meetings Act Poster on the wall in the meeting room.

• Board members expressed their deep appreciation for Mr. Church's dedication and almost 20 years of board service to the school district and the Bennet and Palmyra communities.
• Additional discussion included stories and memories regarding Doug's words of wisdom, his consistent focus on students, and his ability to sustain focus on growth and improvement (even during difficult times) throughout his board tenure.

• The board accepted the resignation of Board Member Doug Church. In accordance with state law, the Board will begin the process of appointing an individual to complete the remainder of Mr. Church's term on the board.
• District OR-1  is encouraging community members to consider this volunteer position in support of public education and the students of District OR-1.
• Applications will be available at the office of the Superintendent until Friday, October 1, 2021. 
• Qualified applicants must be a registered voter and a resident of District OR-1.
• Application Deadline: Friday, October 1, 2021 

• No additional discussion. 

• No additional discussion. 

• No public comment was presented during the meeting. 

Administrative reports are available in their entirety at: https://meeting.sparqdata.com/Public/Organization/174

• Some of the topics covered in the Superintendent report included: Return to School Update, School Safety and Security, NASB Board Leadership Opportunities, Booster Club Activities, Student Assembly Summary, Teacher and Superintendent Leadership Development, Instructional Model Information, NDE Health Standards Update, and ESSER Resources overview. 

• Superintendent Hart provided an update on the current "Return to School" Plan (updated August 26th,2021). 
• Discussion points included options for responding to changes to the LLCHD DHM when the current DHM expires on September 30th, the value and effectiveness of Remote Learning, the difficulty in balancing communication inconsistencies regarding the effectiveness of masks and the COVID vaccination, and current community opinions on a variety of topics related to the prolonged effects of the pandemic.  
• Additional summary information was provided related to our District Health and Wellness Task Force. This task force (made up of staff, board, and community members)  continues to provide a balanced look at the current COVID numbers and related challenges specific to District OR-1. 

• This report included updates and information on:  the upcoming Parent-Teacher conference schedule (9/21/), upcoming Staff Development Schedule (9/22), the High School three-week grading window, homecoming feedback, and activity participation numbers. 

• Superintendent Hart and Board Member Maahs provided brief summaries of the transportation areas listed below: 
  • Pre-School Seat Belts
  • Future gravel added to the lot south of the paved high school parking lot
  • Striping for Crosswalks and Bus Parking Areas
  • Expenses and Updates for Designated Buses and Vehicles
  • Masking Protocols and Enforcement
  • Air Conditioning Options 
  • Activities
  • Bus Drivers and Subs
  • Driver Requirements and Training 
• Additional questions related to recruitment efforts to find more sub drivers (even if they only drive once or twice a week) and options for possibly moving the school calendar up a few weeks to minimize the number of extremely hot days starting the school year were considered.  

• Board President Desh and Superintendent Hart provided a brief overview of projects related to the Olson Complex.
• The topics included an update on items still in need of completion (see attached punch list for more detail), existing warranties and the current condition of trees on the property, the future need for additional football seating at the complex, the possibility of adding more sports in the near future (girls softball, soccer, etc.), upcoming Olson Complex events (for example: October 8th will include a large flag being displayed prior to the football game), and NSAA football classification for next year.   

• Discussion included finding a replacement for Mr. Church on the Americanism Committee, ensuring the appropriate content of current instructional materials and curriculum, and timelines and budget allocations for updating our current social studies curriculum. 
• Also included was a request to have a social studies teacher present to the board sometime this fall information about our current social studies curriculum, graduation requirements, and community service projects. 

• Superintendent Hart provided a summary to the board about the progress of our current Strategic Planning timeline and community engagement process. 
• Currently, a Strategic Planning Overview Committee meeting is scheduled for Sunday, November 7th, and Wednesday, November 10th.
• A community engagement meeting is scheduled for Sunday, November 7th. All interested patrons are encouraged (and invited) to attend. 
• More information will be available on our school website in the coming months about these strategic planning community engagement opportunities. 
• Superintendent Hart also provided answers to stakeholder questions submitted at the budget and tax request hearing meetings on Monday, September 13th. 

• Superintendent Hart provided a brief update on the progress of the comprehensive enrollment study.
• This enrollment study is scheduled to be completed by the end of the first semester. 

• No further discussion.

• No further discussion.

• Board member Wilen provided a summary of the NASB Facilities and Construction Conference she recently attended in Kearney. Mrs. Wilen shared information about the following topics: energy efficient building materials, the benefits of having an "owner's rep" on major construction projects, trends in construction and facilities, FEMA grant opportunities, and the importance of proactively communicating with community stakeholders and gathering input about district initiatives and facility projects.   

• The date and time of the next board meeting is Monday, October 11th, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. at Palmyra High School in the media center. 

• No closed session.