ARLINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS’
BOARD OF EDUCATION
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2014
7:00 P.M. HS CONFERENCE ROOM
1. Call Regular Meeting to Order and Roll Call: President Mike Dwyer called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All proceedings hereafter shown were taken while this meeting was open to the public.
Roll call was taken. Present were board members Mike Dwyer, Matt O’Daniel, Teri O’Flaherty, Greg Sampson, Luanne Sundberg and Shannon Willmott. Also present were David Fritson, elementary principal, James Shada, assistant principal/AD, Lynn Johnson, superintendent and Cheryl Keeler, recording secretary.
1.1 Approval of Regular Meeting Agenda: Moved by Matt O’Daniel and seconded by Greg Sampson to approve the regular agenda as presented. Motion carried on a 6-0 roll call vote with Mike Dwyer, Matt O’Daniel, Teri O’Flaherty, Greg Sampson, Luanne Sundberg and Shanon Willmott voting in favor of the motion.
2. Welcome to Guests and Public Forum: Comments were received from Nathan Kinnaman regarding participation of district home schooled children in extracurriculars. In order to participate in NSAA sanctioned activities students must successfully complete a minimum of 20 credit hours in the previous semester. Currently, the school policy only allows home schooled students to enroll in two classes or ten credit hours, which doesn’t meet NSAA requirements. Mr. Kinnaman requested the policy be adjusted from two classes to four classes.
3. Consent Agenda:
3.1 Minutes/Ratify Action of the March 10, 2014 regular meeting.
3.2 Monthly Financial Reports, Claims (Check Register), Special Fund Transfers, Hot Lunch Report and Activity Report.
Employee Benefit Fund BCBS Health Insurance $7,237.60
Moved by Greg Sampson and seconded by Teri O’Flaherty to approve the consent
agenda as presented. Motion carried on a 6-0 roll call vote.
4. Curriculum/Instruction Reports: Jennifer Preissler, high school science teacher and Sara Horner, middle school science teacher presented the science report. Highlights of the report include information pertaining to high school labs, experiments, NeSa testing and new textbooks that allow students to have online access to those textbooks and labs.
5. Review of Annual District Plan: Plan Item 6.0: Discussion of feasibility of before and after school programs. Lynn Johnson presented information she’d received regarding the implementation of such a program. The program is being considered in order to serve the needs of parents. More information will be gathered by Mrs. Johnson and brought to the May board meeting for action.
5.1 Set date for board work session: Wednesday, May 7, at 6:30 p.m.
6. Principals’ Reports: High School Principal Andrew Farber submitted a written report. Highlights included changes to the Spanish curriculum, FBLA award winners from the state leadership conference, teacher walkthrough summary and honors night schedules. Athletic Director James Shada presented information regarding the upcoming athletic banquet and track meets. David Fritson, elementary principal, highlighted information in his report regarding author Jeff Kurrus, who shared photography with students and inspired them to become authors. Mr. Fritson also shared information on the NeSA celebration, schedule changes and staff changes.
7. Superintendent’s Report:
7.1 Upcoming Professional Development: School Law Seminar in Kearney – June 6
7.2 Superintendent’s Goals: The Ad Hoc committee shared their progress in establishing job targets and goals for the superintendent. The focus is on both internal and external communication. Changes are being made to the evaluation instrument to make it less subjective.
7.3 Update on Technology Plan: Determining the cost for mounting projection systems in the elementary classrooms is in progress. Next year will begin year two of a three year technology lease program. Costs for the second year of the plan are higher than originally projected.
7.4 Discuss Procedures for Employees Leaving the District: Mrs. Johnson presented an exit survey form to be used as a guide for improving recruitment and retention.
8. Committee and Representative Reports:
8.1 Americanism/Education Evaluation: The committee reported that many of the curriculum changes have already been reported on during the principals’ reports. There is a change to the curriculum cycle which will required that Policy 6121 be amended.
8.2 Buildings and Grounds Committee: There was a presentation by Trane on using performance contracting for facility improvements. The buildings and grounds committee seeks input from the finance committee on this topic. Other items discussed were improvements to the fence at the track, roping off under the bleachers during events, summer projects in the building, facility fees assessed to AYS and progress of the Safe Routes Project.
8.3 Finance Committee: No meeting. Next meeting scheduled for April 21.
8.4 Negotiations Committee: Met April 2 to continue discussions of paraprofessional negotiations. Counter proposal has been returned to para representatives.
8.5 NASB Legislative Representative: Three bills affecting schools were discussed: LB 438 identification of under performing schools, LB 1103 a study to coordinate a statewide education plan and LB 907 addressing permissible questions on employment applications.
8.6 Professional Development Sharing: None
9. Unfinished:
9.1 Discuss, Consider and Take Necessary Action to amend Policy 4170 Leave of Absence on second reading.
Moved by Greg Sampson and seconded by Shanon Willmott to amend Policy 4170 Leave of Absence on second reading as presented. Motion carried on a 6-0 roll call vote.
9.2 Discuss, Consider and Take Necessary Action to incorporate electronic board meetings using eMeeting software: Issues regarding devices to be used will be established later. Training is planned for the June meeting. The service will allow all the minutes to be web-based and archived and provide note taking capabilities. The goal is to have paperless meetings.
Moved by Matt O’Daniel and seconded by Shanon Willmott to incorporate electronic board meetings using eMeeting software as presented. Motion carried on a 6-0 roll call vote.
10. New Business:
10.1 Discuss, Consider and Take Necessary Action to accept staff members’ resignations.
Moved by Matt O’Daniel and seconded by Mike Dwyer to accept the resignation of Laura McElmuray as a mathematics teacher effective at the end of her 2013-2014 teaching contract as presented. Motion carried on a 6-0 roll call vote.
Moved by Greg Sampson and seconded by Teri O’Flaherty to accept the resignation of Linsey Van Ornum as a family consumer science teacher effective at the end of her 2013-2014 teaching contract as presented. Motion carried on a 6-0 roll call vote.
Moved by Mike Dwyer and seconded by Greg Sampson to accept the resignation of Ryan Van Ornum as a physical education teacher effective at the end of his 2013-2014 teaching contract as presented. Motion carried on a 6-0 roll call vote.
Moved by Matt O’Daniel and seconded by Shanon Willmott to accept the resignation of Irene Kenkel as a preschool paraeducator effective at the end of the 2013-2014 school year as presented. Motion carried on a 6-0 roll call vote.
Moved by Greg Sampson and seconded by Teri O’Flaherty to accept the resignation of Michelle Dam as a paraeducator effective at the end of the 2013-2014 school year as presented. Motion carried on a 6-0 roll call vote.
10.2 Discuss, Consider and Take Necessary Action to approve teaching contracts.
Moved by Shanon Willmott and seconded by Greg Sampson to approve a teaching contract for Sarah Detjens as a special education teacher with initial placement as appropriate on the salary schedule as presented. Motion carried on a 6-0 roll call vote.
Moved by Greg Sampson and seconded by Matt O’Daniel to approve a one year (2014-2015) teaching contract for Nicole Fairhead as an elementary teacher with initial placement as appropriate on the salary schedule as presented. Motion carried on a 6-0 roll call vote.
10.3 Discuss, Consider and Take Necessary Action to hire a non-certified employee.
Moved by Matt O’Daniel and seconded by Greg Sampson to hire Rita Bonilla as a full-time evening custodian effective Monday, April 7, 2014 as presented. Motion carried on a 6-0 roll call vote.
10.4 Discuss, Consider and Review the following policies:
New Construction:
7030 Facilities – Selection of Architect/Engineer
7040 Facilities – Financing of Construction – Building Fund
7050 Facilities – Bids and Contracts
7051 Facilities – Awarding Contracts
7052 Facilities – Change Orders
7053 Facilities – Performance, Labor and Material Payment Bonds
INTERNAL BOARD POLICIES:
8261 Conflict of Interest-Employment of Immediate Family Member
8270 Conflict of Interest/Procedures
8271 Reporting Procedures
8272 Code of Ethics
8300 Methods of Operation
8310 Formulation of Policies
8320 Adoption, Amendment or Suspension of Policies
8330 Formulation of Administrative Regulations
8340 Meetings
8341 Types of Meetings
8342 Designated Method of Giving Notice of Meetings
8343 Agenda Construction and Control
8344 Location of School Board Meetings
8345 Procedures During Meetings
8346 Opportunity for Public Expression
8347 Teacher-Administrator-Board of Education Relationships
11. Executive Session: None
12. Action on Executive Session Items: None
13. Adjournment: There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:51 p.m.
_________________________________ ___________________________________
Micheal Dwyer, Board President Lynn Johnson, Board Secretary
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