ARLINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS’
BOARD OF EDUCATION
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2013, 7:00 P.M.
HS CONFERENCE ROOM
1. Call Meeting to Order and Roll Call: President Mark Jamison 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 Micheal Dwyer, Mark Jamison, Matt O’Daniel, Luanne Sundberg, Greg Sampson, and Shanon Willmott. Also present were Lynn Johnson, superintendent, Andrew Farber, high school principal, David Fritson, elementary school principal, and Cheryl Keeler, recording secretary. James Shada, athletic director, was attending a school function.
1.2 Approval of Regular Meeting Agenda: Moved by Greg Sampson and seconded by Matt O’Daniel to approve the regular agenda as presented. Motion carried on a 6-0 roll call vote with Mike Dwyer, Mark Jamison, Matt O’Daniel, Greg Sampson, Luanne Sundberg, and Shanon Willmott voting in favor of the motion.
2. Welcome to Guests and Public Forum: Kathy Rhea addressed the board. Mrs. Rhea stated her tax bill is $70 per acre while corn only sells for $4 per bushel. She expressed concern with board transparency stating she never saw any information regarding a jury trial. She also expressed her concern about the cost of the building project that exceeded what the taxpayers agreed to in the bond issue. Finally, she requested two years of detailed budgets.
3. Consent Agenda
3.1 Minutes/Ratify Action of the November 11, 2013 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 $7237.60
Bond Fund (Principal/Interest Bond Payment) Union Bank $313,358.75
Depreciation Fund FCMG $499,871.00
Depreciation Fund FCMG $2,640.00
Moved by Mike Dwyer and seconded by Matt O’Daniel to approve the consent agenda as presented. Motion carried on a 6-0 roll call vote.
4. Curriculum/Instruction Reports: Social Studies Report
Barry Jurgensen presented a power point of the social studies report. Highlights included the multicultural aspects of social studies and the standards and measurements done to show the growth students are making in test scores. Mr. Farber informed the board that Mr. Jurgensen has been asked to sit on the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Board on the basis of his historical knowledge and recognition he and students have received on their underground railroad project.
5. Review of Annual District Plan - Plan Item 3.0: The board recognized changes to item 3.0 which addresses the district plan for technology. Although these are broad at this time, they will continue to be reviewed and modified as needed.
6. Principals’ Reports: Andrew Farber, high school principal, presented his written report and asked for any questions. Highlights of the report included finals schedule, jeans drive, senior citizen dinner and the visit from Wahoo science teachers. David Fritson, elementary principal, gave an update on the crosswalk situation. No parking signs have been put in place but some parents are still parking on the west side of 9th Street. Students have been educated on proper street crossing procedures. Four adults are on north side of building when school is dismissed to help with student supervision. James Shada, athletic director, was absent. He had submitted a written report. Highlights of his written report included student participation numbers in winter activity, Hall of Fame board was moved to the entrance of the new gym, and summary of the Sportsmanship Leadership Summit attended by sixteen students.
Mr. Farber exited the meeting at 7:30 p.m.
7. Superintendent’s Report:
7.1 Holiday Celebration: Monday, December 16 – Holiday breakfast for transportation and food service employees.
Wednesday, December 18 – Administrator soup luncheon for staff.
Thursday, December 19 – BOE meat/cheese trays for staff.
7.2 February Board Retreat – Date set for February 11, 2014. Mr. Dwyer will contact Marcia Hering from NASB about attending the meeting to facilitate the board discussion of standards, outcomes, and district leadership.
7.3 Discuss process for filling board vacancy: The same procedures will be followed as in the past. The committee will review applications and select three or four to interview and present to full board.
8. Board of Education Committee Reports
8.1 Americanism/Education Evaluation: No meeting
8.2 Buildings and Grounds Committee: No meeting
8.3 Finance Committee: No meeting
8.4 Legislative Update: Mike Dwyer presented the legislative report. Dynamic year coming up with senators working on big picture legacy issues during the short 60 day session.
8.5 Negotiations Committee: Meetings have been held with A.E.A. and more dates are pending for continuation of negotiations.
Mr. Farber re-entered the meeting at 7:55 p.m.
8.6 Professional Development Sharing: Board members shared information they received from sessions they attended at the regional meeting and state convention. Interest was shown for paper-free board meetings. A system is available that would allow us to make use of technology and allow us to be more efficient. Superintendent Johnson and board representatives will meet with the vendor of e-meetings to obtain additional information.
9. Unfinished Business: None
10. New Business
10.1 Discuss, Consider and Take Necessary Action to accept the resignation of a non-certified employee. Moved by Matt O’Daniel and seconded by Greg Sampson to accept the resignation of Brandi Carvajal as a part-time custodian effective Wednesday, November 27, 2013 as presented. Motion carried on a 6-0 roll call vote.
10.2 Discuss, Consider and Take Necessary Action to accept the resignation of a board member. Moved by Greg Sampson and seconded by Mike Dwyer to accept the resignation of Board Member Mark Jamison effective December 31, 2013 as presented. Motion carried on a 6-0 roll call vote.
10.3 Discuss, Consider and Take Necessary Action to approve an amendment to Policy No. 6910 Dispensing Medications on second reading. Moved by Matt O’Daniel and seconded by Shanon Willmott to approve Policy 6910 Dispensing Medications on second reading as presented. Motion carried on a 6-0 roll call vote.
10.4 Discuss, Consider and Take Necessary Action to approve amending Policy 8151 Standing Committees on second reading: This was tabled until January.
10.5 Review, Discuss and Consider the policies in the 7000 and 8000 range.
The board discussed having the buildings and grounds committee review the proposed changes to the 7000's for additional clarity. There was discussion that policies pertaining to conflict of interest may merit further consideration. The board decided to give additional time and focus to the review of the 8000 range of policies.
Recess was entered into at 8:35 p.m.
Exited Recess at 8:40 p.m.
11. Executive Session: Discuss and Consider the superintendent’s evaluation.
Moved by Shanon Willmott and seconded Matt O’Daniel to enter into closed session to evaluate the job performance of the superintendent and to prevent the needless injury to the employee’s reputation. Motion carried on a 6-0 roll call vote.
Time Entered Executive Session: 8:41 p.m.
Time Exited Executive Session: 11:35 p.m.
12. Action On Executive Session Items: No action taken.
13. Adjournment: There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 11:47 p.m.
_____________________________ ____________________________
Mark Jamison, Board President Lynn Johnson, Board Secretary
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