Board of Education Minutes
Pending Approval
March 18, 2008
The regular meeting of the Conestoga Board of Education was held Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at the Conestoga Elementary School, 104 East High Street, Murray, NE. Dennis Martin, President, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were Board Members Dennis Martin, Jeff Stanley, Dean Nickels, Pat Neu, Gary Todd, Judy Simpson; Administrators Mark Sievering; Angela Leifeld and Robin Frost; fourteen visitors. Principal Eric Dennis, absent.
Notice of the meeting was given in advance by publication and/or posting in accordance with the Board approved method for giving notice of meetings. Notice of this meeting and the subjects to be discussed at this meeting were given in advance to all members of the Board of Education. A current copy of the agenda was maintained as stated in the publicized notice.
At the beginning of this meeting, Dennis Martin, President, announced and informed the public that a current copy of the Open Meetings Act is posted on the West wall of the meeting room.
Motion by Dean Nickels, second by Pat Neu to approve the minutes of the February 11, 2008, regular meeting and the February 25, 2008 Board Retreat. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Motion by Gary Todd second by Dean Nickels to approve the claims as submitted. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
The agenda was set as presented.
SCHEDULED AUDIENCE: None
REPORTS:
Eric Dennis: Report as submitted.
Angela Leifeld:
Beginning with the graduating class of 2010 the required hours for
graduation will reflect 40 credits for Social Studies, 5 credits
for Speech, and 30 elective credits. Board Policy will need to be
changed. Sophomore and freshmen students are currently on this
track.
ADA seating in the gym will be completed this summer. Grant money will be expended for the repairs.
Robin Frost: Report as submitted.
Mark Sievering:
Would like to offer summer school. Jr-Sr High classes would enable
credit recovery, elementary for extra help on grade subjects. There
being no objection, the planning process will begin.
Current legislation concerns seat belts on school buses.
Signed by governor: 15 passenger vans modified for use with ten riders and a driver will be eliminated for use by school districts. Have three years to update the current fleet. Currently have two vans this would involve.
Must adopt a policy concerning procedures against bully occurrences.
Bill in legislature to eliminate STARS and incorporate a statewide testing system.
NRCSA/NASB:
NRCSA Spring Conference in Kearney, March 12-13. Mr. Sievering will
attend.
COMMITTEE:
Buildings and Grounds: No report
Budget and Finance: No report
Negotiations: No report
Policy/Americanism/Instruction: Met on Sat. March 8, policy updates
during Action Items
Transportation: No report
Legislation: State Aid was certified Feb. 1 and may be recertified.
The 2008-09 state aid amount for Conestoga is currently
$67,000.
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
Parental Input Survey: Draft submitted for review. Will be mailed
to all families with school age children. Concerns four day school
week and middle school facility.
Status of insurance bonding: LB1017 currently advanced to general file in the legislature. This would eliminate school districts from being able to participate in insurance bonding. Could continue doing this, but it would have to be inside the levy lid.
Eric Dennis entered the meeting at 7:54 p.m.
ACTION ITEMS:
Presentation made by Troy Ruffner and questions answered by the
community planning committee. Have investigated and received bids
or a 60 X 120 foot steel building. Tentative plans include 2,000
sq. foot area for weight equipment, 60 X 80 multipurpose area, two
restrooms, one office, utility room. Building would accommodate
weight classes, wrestling practice, other activities needing an
open space, other outside sport practices in case of inclement
weather.
- Received commitment of donated labor from electricians, plumbers, construction workers, heating/air contractors.
- The building would be purchased and erected by a reputable company.
- Fundraising would be accomplished by the community planning committee with the assistance of Peg Moore and Beverly Todd.
- All incoming funds would be recorded with the Conestoga Foundation.
- Funds would be secured for repayment by the community planning committee. The school district would not be financially responsible.
- Grants would be applied for by the community planning committee.
- Estimated minimum cost for project, $120,000. Estimated maximum cost for project $142,000.
- Board of Education will set the location of the building.
- Board of Education Building/Grounds committee will approve all aspects of the building process.
- Tadd Holliman, maintenance supervisor, will coordinate all activity with the Building/Grounds committee and the construction process.
Motion by Gary Todd, second by Dean Nickels to expend from the special building fund, not to exceed $90,000, towards a fitness/wellness/multipurpose building. Tadd Holliman, head of maintenance, will coordinate all activity with the Building/Grounds Board Committee, for approval, and the community planning committee. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Recess break 8:30 - 8:42 p.m.
Motion by Gary Todd, second by Judy Simpson to approve a total of $50,000 toward the expenditure of summer projects in both buildings. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
$15,000 minimum to be spent at the elementary; $35,000 approximately to be spent at the high school. Principals will prioritize the projects. Man-lift purchase, high school gym floor refurnish and high school boiler not included in summer projects.
Motion by Gary Todd, second by Pat Neu to accept the audit services from Dana F. Cole, CPA. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Bids received from Dana F. Cole & Company, Ric Ortmeier, Melinda Clarke.
Motion by Pat Neu, second by Judy Simpson to approve the board policies as presented. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
4000 Series Policies
4001 Nondiscrimination
4002 Drug Free Workplace
4003 Drug Testing of Drivers
4004 Employment of Relatives
4005 Communication between Board and Relatives
4006 Insurance
4007 Personnel Records
4008 Outside Employment
4009 Restrictions on Employees Receiving Gratuities
4011 FMLA
4013 Grievance Policy
4014 Employee Sex Harassment
4015 Employment of Board Members
4016 Jury Duty
4017 Relations with Collective Bargaining Associations
4018 Corporal Punishment
4019 Safety Committee
4020 Copyright Policy
4021 Family Military Leave Policy
4022 Certification
4023 Professional Ethics
4024 Teachers' Rights, Responsibilities & Duties
4025 Superintendent
4026 Administrative Employees
4027 Part-Time Certificated Employees
4028 Substitute Teachers
4029 Salary Schedule for Certificated Employees
4030 Evaluation of Certificated Employees
4031 Evaluation of Probationary Certificated Employees
4032 Professional Growth
4033 Rights of Probationary Certificated Employees
4034 Teacher Handbook
4035 Rights of Permanent Certificated Employees
4037 Reduction in Force
4038 Classified Staff Defined
4039 Employment of Classified Staff
JFB Graduation Requirements
3006 Controlling Receipts
3014 Use of School Property
Motion by Jeff Stanley, second by Pat Neu to amend the 2007-08 school calendar and have students and teachers in session on Monday, March 31 and Monday, April 7, 2008 to make up inclement weather days previously missed. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
No nominations were presented for the NASB Legislation Committee Member Seat No. 14.
Motion by Dean Nickels, second by Pat Neu to suspend Policy JBCA: Option Enrollment for the 2008-09 school year. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
The district will accept all option in enrollment students with no capacity limitations, with the exception if a program is not offered or special need services are not offered.
Motion by Dean Nickels, second by Pat Neu to approve the hiring of one additional elementary teacher for the 2008-09 school year. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
FUTURE DATES:
March 12-13 NRCSA Conference, Kearney
April 8 Board of Education meeting 7:00 p.m.
Motion by Pat Neu, second by Dean Nickels to adjourn as there was no further business to be brought before the Board of Education. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote. President Dennis Martin adjourned the meeting at 9:33 p.m.
