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Board of Education: May Minutes

Conestoga Board of Education

May 12, 2009

The regular meeting of the Conestoga Board of Education was held Tuesday, May 12, 2009, at the Conestoga Elementary School, 104 East High Street, Murray, NE. Gary Todd, President, called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. Present were Board Members Jeff Stanley, Dean Nickels, Pat Neu, Gary Todd, Scott Moore, Linda Rice; Administrators Mark Sievering; Robin Frost and Eric Dennis. 15 visitors. Angela Leifeld, high school music concert.

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, Gary Todd, 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 Pat Neu, second by Linda Rice to approve the minutes of the Thursday, April 2, 2009, special meeting and Tuesday, April 14, 2009, regular meeting. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.

Motion by Dean Nickels, second by Scott Moore to approve the claims as submitted. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.

The agenda was amended:
Scheduled Audience: Tanner Miner, FFA representative, report on current affairs.
Action Item C2: three teacher contracts for ratification.

SCHEDULED AUDIENCE:
Mark Weilage represented a parent group concerning class sizes for 2009-10 and future years. Understanding the financial aspect and space in the buildings, would request consideration to increase first and second grades to three classes each. Current first grade has 44 students and second grade consists of 40 students. All other grades have three classes each.

Bobbie Keene and Lisa Bergmeyer gave an overview of the current first grade classes and concern for their education in the upcoming years. This class has a wide range of learning behaviors and require an abundant amount of re-direction.

Board members supplied information concerning the limit of option enrollment students, building space, financial revenue, etc.
 A short term loan is scheduled to be repaid from the tax revenue in May.
 State Aid receipts for the 2009-10 school year will not be announced until June.
 Compared to 07-08 budget year, the 08-09 budget year to date is currently showing a   $650,000 decrease in budget surplus.
 Special Education re-imbursement is collected a year in arrears and by the 2010-11 year will be down to 50% re-imbursement.
 Long term space issue is being investigated by board committees.
 Possibility of hiring paraprofessionals to assist in the classrooms if teacher cost is not available in the budget for 2009-10.

Tanner Miner, FFA representative, gave an overview of recent happenings in the organization.
 Bike ride for diabetes
 Assisted with PTO Carnival
 Pizza Sales
 Completed planting test plot
 May 20-21 COLT Leadership Conference
 2009-10 Officers:
Cory Schlichtemeier – President
Tanner Miner – Vice President
Will Salisbury – Secretary
Amanda Slafter – Treasurer
Shannon King – Reporter
Adam Johns – Sentinel
Abigail Wehrbein – Parliamentarian
 Ag team will represent Conestoga at Nationals

REPORTS:
Eric Dennis:

  1. Terra Nova testing scores show an increase for this year.


Angela Leifeld: Report as submitted

Robin Frost:

  1. State Reading Pilot Test has been submitted to ESU 3


Mark Sievering

  1. Rule 10 Accreditation for the 2008-09 school year shows a shortage of class hours in Vocational Courses. Will need to correct the schedule for 2009-10 to correct the error and be removed from a probation status.

    NRCSA/NASB: No report

    COMMITTEE:
    Buildings and Grounds: No report
    Budget and Finance: No report
    Negotiations: No report
    Policy/Americanism/Instruction: Action Item to accept policy series
    Transportation: No report
    Legislation: No report

    DISCUSSION ITEMS: None

    ACTION ITEMS:
    Policy Series 5000 and 6000
    Committee reviewed and submitted for acceptance a partial listing of policies from series 5000 and 6000. The policies were received from the law firm of Harding Schultz.

    Motion by Pat Neu, second by Scott Moore to approve Policies 5013, 5014, 5015, 5016, 5017, 5018, 5019, 5020, 5021, 5022, 5023, 5024, 5025, 5026, 5027, 5028, 5030, 5031, 5032, 5033, 5034, 5035, 5036, 5037, 5038, 5039, 5040, 5041, 5042, 5043, 6001, 6002, 6003, 6004, 6005, 6006, 6008, 6009, 6011, 6012, 6013, 6015, 6016, 6017, 6018, 6019, 6020, 6021, 6022, 6026, 6027, 6028, 6029, 6030, 6031, 6032 as presented by the Policy/Americanism/Instruction Committee. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.

    Facilities projects utilizing Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund Bonds:
    Next step in the process is approval to collect bids for the recommended projects. Projects will then be prioritized by the Building/Grounds Committee with the assistance of Tadd Holliman. Recommendation to add to the list: Cougar Den, wrestling mat or floor covering; expansion to elementary parking lot.

    Motion by Dean Nickels, second by Jeff Stanley to approve the list of facilities projects utilizing Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund Bonds as presented and obtain bids to complete the projects as prioritized by the Board of Education. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.

    Motion by Linda Rice, second by Pat Neu to accept the resignation of David Brown, chemistry/physics teacher, at the end of the 2008-09 school year. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.

    Motion by Jeff Stanley, second by Pat Neu to accept contracts with Greg Huskey, chemistry/physics teacher; Carissa VanSkiver, elementary teacher; and Katherine Rasby, elementary teacher, for the 2009-10 school year. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.

    Staff Needs for 2009-10: Recommendation to add a one-half Special Education Coordinator or Director. Currently Jeff Harkness is one-half teacher, one-half coordinator. He would be moved to a full time teacher. A Special Education Coordinator is able to represent the district at IEP meetings but unable perform other duties needed by the district. A Special Education Director would hold an administrative certificate and therefore, be able to evaluate and supervise teachers as well as complete all state and federal requirements for the Special Education Department.

    Motion by Dean Nickels, second by Pat Neu to hire a one-half Special Education Coordinator or Director for the 2009-10 school year. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.

    FUTURE DATES:
    May 17 Retirement reception for Susan Yeoman 2:00 p.m. at elementary building
    May 21 Retirement reception for Nancy Stohlmann 2:45 at high school building
    May 21 Last day for students
    May 22 Last day for staff

    June 9 Board of Education meeting 7:00 p.m. at elementary building conference room.
    Gary Todd and Jeff Stanley received a letter from a parent concerning the four day school week. Administrative staff have scheduled a meeting with the parents at 3:00 p.m. on May 13.

    Motion by Dean Nickels, second by Pat Neu 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 Gary Todd adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.

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