Pending Approval
October 17, 2007
The Hearing to Set the Final Tax Request was held on Monday, October 8, 2007 at the Conestoga Elementary School, 104 East High Street, Murray, NE. Dennis Martin, President, called the meeting to order at 7:37 p.m. Present were Board Members Dennis Martin, Jeff Stanley, Dean Nickels, Judy Simpson, Pat Neu, Gary Todd.; Administrators Mark Sievering; Eric Dennis and Robin Frost; seven visitors. Administrator Angela Leifeld, excused.
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.
The purpose of the hearing was to hear support, opposition, criticism, suggestions or observations of taxpayers relating to setting the final tax request at a different amount than the prior year tax request.
Mark Sievering, Superintendent of Schools, reviewed the final tax request. The proposed tax rate for 2007 is:
General Fund 1.081120
Bond Fund 0.229940
Special Building Fund 0.017140
The Final Tax Request Hearing was closed at 7:40 p.m.
The regular meeting of the Conestoga Board of Education was held Monday, October 8, 2007, at the Conestoga Elementary School, 104 East High Street, Murray, NE. Dennis Martin, President, called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. Present were Board Members Dennis Martin, Jeff Stanley, Dean Nickels, Judy Simpson, Pat Neu, Gary Todd.; Administrators Mark Sievering, Eric Dennis and Robin Frost; seven visitors. Angela Leifeld, excused.
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 Gary Todd, second by Judy Simpson to approve the minutes of the September 10, 2007 Budget Hearing, Hearing. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Motion by Gary Todd, second by Jeff Stanley to approve the minutes of the September 10, 2007, Hearing to Access the Additional 1% Budget Authority. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Motion by Pat Neu, second by Dean Nickels to approve the minutes of the September 10, 2007, regular meeting of the Board of Education. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Motion by Pat Neu second by Judy Simpson 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:
Parent teacher conference attendance was 93%.
Shari Love, paraprofessional, resigned; hired Heather Larson.
Angela Leifeld:
Report as submitted
Robin Frost:
Curriculum mapping is a web based program to help align our
curriculum and assessments while giving a visible curriculum
guide.
State standards will be put on line.
Kyle Steckler: no report
Mark Sievering:
NASB State Education Conference will be November 14 � 16. All six
board members and Mr. Sievering will attend.
Dean Nickels and Judy Simpson received Level One Awards at the
recent Nebraska Association of School Board Area Membership
meeting.
Second break-in at the middle school has been reported.
Nebraska School Bus billed the district for additional insurance
they are required to obtain. Since a signed contract amount is on
file, the district will only pay that amount.
NRCSA/NASB: The Regional NRCSA Conference will be held on Wednesday, October 10, 2007.
COMMITTEE:
Buildings and Grounds: No report
Budget and Finance: No report
Negotiations: No report
Americanism/Instruction: No report
Transportation: No report
Legislation: No report
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
Promotion of District: The Policy Committee began the investigation for ways to promote the district to the public. Some suggestions include: Billboards, folders supplied to real estate agents, web link on the Beaver Lake web site, advertisement in the Cassgram.
The committee proposed that additional time be spent at regular board meetings for solutions to promoting the school. Recently families have moved into the district and immediately optioned out their children to another district. A policy will be submitted to require the family to tour the district before option papers are signed.
Jeff Stanley will organize parents currently involved with school activities to investigate other promotion ideas. County and State permission may be needed before signage is placed. The parent committee will present ideas to the board members for approval.
Mr. Dennis is currently working on a district wide pamphlet for real estate agents. Possibly a reception could be organized.
Teachers have been encouraged to post monthly information on the district web site.
ACTION ITEMS:
Motion by Gary Todd, second by Judy Simpson to approve the Resolution for Payment and Refinance of Tax Anticipation Note (TAN). Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote
Jay Spearman, representative from Ameritas, reviewed the process
of the Tax Anticipation Note (TAN).
The current loan of $1,471,894.79 is due for payment on October
14.
The new TAN in the amount of $700,000 will be issued October
30.
A Certificate of Deposit from the September tax draw will be used
to pay the loan on October 14 until the new loan is available. The
Certificate of Deposit will then be held in the General Fund for
payment of monthly expenses.
$771,894.79 will be paid on the current loan.
A copy of the resolution to issue the new TAN was submitted.
A Promissory Note certificate responsibilities of the district was
submitted.
Motion by Jeff Stanley, second by Pat Neu to approve the resolution to Set the Final Tax Request. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Motion by Gary Todd, second by Dean Nickels to approve the Activities Conference affiliation to East Central Nebraska Conference beginning with the 2008-09 school year. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
The East Central Nebraska Conference consists of 10 schools; East Butler, Elmwood-Murdock, Louisville, Malcolm, Mead, Palmyra, Johnson County Central, Weeping Water, Yutan. Cedar Bluffs will be leaving the conference which opened the slot for Conestoga to join.
Rationale for changing conference:
Conestoga is currently the smallest school in the Capital
conference.
Would be in the middle size of schools in new conference.
Would still have speech contests, plays, athletics, vocal music and
band, art clinic, quiz bowls, and additional opportunities for Jr.
High students,
Would allow more even competition as our programs build.
One concern is the absence of softball for district activity �
would still have a softball team.
Motion by Dean Nickels, second by Pat Neu to approve the Policy Updates packet as presented. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Brady Bergmeyer, CEA President, questioned a portion of the dress code for clarification. A statement on personal appearance is on grooming, not dress.
Pre-option policy states a family wishing to option out will need to arrange a tour of the district before an application is approved.
Policy 2008: Meetings states that the posting of board meeting notices shall be posted on the school website and in at least three prominent places within the school district.
Review of all policies for updating:
Policy 1000: Policy Overview and Mission Statement
Policy 1001: General Policy Statement
Policy 1002: Creation and Amendment of Board of Education
Policies
Policy 1003: Mission of District
Policy 1004: Distribution of Policies
Policy 2000: Policies Regarding Role and Conduct of the Board of
Education
Policy 2001: Role of the Board of Education
Policy 2002: Organization of the Board
Policy 2003: Development and Education of Board Members
Policy 2004: Oath of Office
Policy 2005: Conflict of Interest
Policy 2006: Complaint Procedure
Policy 2007: Reimbursement and Miscellaneous Expenditures
Policy 2008: Meetings
Policy 2010: Preparation for Board Meetings
Policy 2011: Membership in Organizations
Policy 2012: Board Code of Ethics
Policy 2013: Violation of Board Ethics
Policy 2014: Relationship with School Attorney
Motion by Jeff Stanley second Judy Simpson to approve the Pre-Option Procedures policy.
Motion by Gary Todd, second by Dean Nickels to strike the wording -attend a board meeting- from the Pre-Option Procedure Policy. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Motion by Gary Todd, second by Judy Simpson to approve the Pre-Option Procedure Policy as amended. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Motion by Gary Todd, second by Pat Neu to approve Policy 4000: Employee Dress Code as presented. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Discussion was held on the topic of Eight Man Football.
Mr. Sievering and Mr. Steckler are investigating the possibility of enrolling Conestoga in the eight man football program beginning with the 2008-09 school year. The Nebraska Schools Activities Association was petitioned for the change.
Rationale:
Currently 20 high school boys are on the football team.
For 2008-09 would have 10 returning ball players plus incoming
freshmen.
The last two years the district has not been able to field a junior
varsity team.
Enrollment in grades 9-12 has been reported as 125 students.
Enrollment dictates if a C1 or C2 schedule would be followed.
Student safety is a major concern.
Eight man football would allow the district to improve the football
program.
Changing to an eight man football team would:
Be a two year period.
Could have eight man varsity and 11 man junior varsity schedule, if
numbers warrent.
Would give the team a chance to play competitively with schools
closer to the same enrollment as Conestoga.
The football schedules are set by the NSAA and depends on the
region of the school. Due to enrollment, Conestoga could be
scheduled on a C1 or C2 round of games. The membership in a
conference does not dictate the schedule played.
Troy Weatherby, Junior High Football Coach:
Safety of students needs to be the deciding factor of the football
program.
Need to get information to parents and students about the
program.
Need to survey the students as to why they are not participating in
the program.
Ken Leifeld, Jr. High Football Coach:
Played 8 man as a high school student. It is a fast and exciting
game.
Lack of senior leadership has hurt the team building.
Rules are same for both eight and eleven man ball.
Field size is slightly different.
A parent comment: More people will come to games if kids can show their talent and build their school pride by being competitive.
No action taken on the issue, will bring back to November board meeting. Mr. Steckler was asked to get information to the patrons for feedback through flyers available at the next football games, on the web site, talk with participating and non-participating students, talking with the current coaches to be positive about the possible change in the program.
Motion by Gary Todd second by Pat Neu to approve the purchase of a security system at the high school building, funded through the special building fund. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Buildings/Ground Committee will investigate the future purchase of additional commercial lawnmowers for the district.
Motion by Gary Todd, second by Pat Neu to accept the bid from Hawkeye Foodservice Distribution for the purchase of an additional walk-in freezer for the high school food service department. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Funds would come from the lunch fund.
Would need to be fenced in and lockable.
Motion by Jeff Stanley, second by Judy Simpson approved the establishment of a one-half time head of maintenance position and approved the appointment of Tadd Holliman to this position. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
FUTURE DATES:
November 15 Board of Education meeting
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 Dennis Martin adjourned the meeting at 10:35 p.m.
