Conestoga Public Schools
September 10, 2007
September 18, 2007
The Budget
Hearing of the Conestoga Board of Education was held Monday,
September 10, 2007, at the Conestoga Elementary School, 104 East
High Street, Murray, NE. Dennis Martin, President, opened the
hearing at 7:30 p.m. for testimony.
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 East wall of the meeting room.
Mark Sievering, Superintendent of Schools, submitted the budget for review, explained the exclusion from the levy for inter-local agreements and the different sections of the budget to reach the maximum levy of $1.05.
The Budget Hearing was closed at 7:37 p.m.
The hearing to Access the Additional 1% Budget Authority Hearing was held on Monday, September 10, 2007, at the Conestoga Elementary School, 104 East High Street, Murray, NE. Dennis Martin, President, opened the hearing at 7:37 p.m. for testimony.
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 East wall of the meeting room.
Mark Sievering, Superintendent of Schools, explained that by approving to access an additional 1% of budget authority, the funds could be used if needed. Currently the funds are not available and not needed by the district.
The Hearing to Access the Additional 1% Budget Authority was closed at 7:40.
The regular meeting of the Conestoga Board of Education was held Monday, September 10, 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, Judy Simpson, Jeff Stanley, Dean Nickels, Pat Neu, Gary Todd.; Administrators Mark Sievering; Angela Leifeld, Eric Dennis and Robin Frost; eleven visitors.
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 Judy Simpson to approve the minutes of the August 13, 2007, regular meeting and the August 13, 2007 Budget Amendment hearing. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Motion by Pat Neu 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:
FFA President, Glenn Spangler, reported membership of 41. Projects for the past year have included assisting at a pancake feed, clean up of the school grounds, assisted with a grape harvest, attended Nebraska State Fair and Husker Harvest Days. Upcoming events include soil judging contests, leadership impact training and national convention. The FFA organization thanks the School Board for their continuing support.
REPORTS:
Eric Dennis:
1. Enrollment 327 students – 14 more than the 2006-07 school year.
2. Report as submitted.
Angela Leifeld:
1. Hired a custodian and paraprofessional.
2. Enrollment 271 students – down from 2006-07 school year.
3. Completing teacher evaluations.
Robin Frost:
Curriculum Report: Received Department of Education report. Elementary did not meet the reading requirements, partially due to special education testing and the free/reduced information. Math scores increased but still have areas of concern.
The areas of concerned are being addressed by:
1. Staff is attending State Writing Training.
2. Special Education teachers are attending training on alternative assessment methods.
3. All teachers are entering the assessment data and will be more aware of the student progress.
4. Aligned the tests with other school Conestoga contracts student with.
5.
Attending area curriculum meetings.
Over-all the students are achieving, there are a couple areas that
need to be adjusted for better recording of scores. The ACT
and Terra Nova testing results have increased.
Kyle Steckler:
1. Will be attending the Activities Director State Convention in Grand Island.
Mark Sievering:
1. Option In students number 63; Option Out – 182
2. Request for input from the Board concerning employees keeping their children with them during work hours. Feedback was designated toward certified and classified staff. Certified teachers, being salaried employees, could have their children remain before and after school. Classified employee’s would be under the discretion of the administrators.
NRCSA/NASB: No report
COMMITTEE:
Buildings and Grounds: Update on fitness/weight room building. Group will need to have direction from an architect, will district cover the cost. After a spec bid is obtained the community group can begin raising funds and make decisions on the type of building and where it will be placed. Buildings and Grounds committee and community group members will visit other school sites to formulate a plan. Will report again at the October meeting.
Budget and
Finance: No report
Negotiations: No report
Americanism/Instruction: No report
Transportation: No report
Legislation: No report
DISCUSSION ITEMS: None
ACTION ITEMS:
Motion by Dean Nickels, second by Gary Todd to approve the early graduation of Ashley Meyer, at the end of the 2007-08 school year, upon successful completion of graduation requirements. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Motion by Gary Todd, second by Judy Simpson to approve the newly formed FFA Advisory Council as presented. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Jonathan Anderson, FFA Advisor, submitted a list of potential members of an Eastridge Trust Advisory Council. The Council would suggest ideas, projects, industry needs, and student job opportunities that would enhance the FFA program through the use of the Eastridge Trust. The Board of Education and Foundation Board of Trustees would be the approval board for all fund usage.
Motion by Jeff Stanley, second by Gary Todd to suspend Policy BDC: Policy Adoption. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Motion by Jeff Stanley, second by Pat Neu to adopt Policy 1002: Creation and Amendment of Policies as presented. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Tabled Professional Dress Code.
Tabled Investment Policy for Eastridge Funds.
Motion by Gary Todd, second by Dean Nickels to approve the State Aid Levy Exclusion as presented. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Motion by Pat Neu, second by Judy Simpson to approve Accessing 1% Budget Authority Beyond Basic Allowable Growth Rate. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Motion by Dean Nickels, second by Pat Neu to approve the 2007-08 Budget as presented. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Tabled the Tax Anticipation Note (TAN).
The note will be paid off and refinanced at the October meeting. At that time, less will be borrowed therefore paying $755,000 towards the debt.
Motion by Judy Simpson, second by Pat Neu to designate Mark Sievering, Superintendent of Schools, as the Authorized Representative of the District. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Motion by Pat Neu, second by Jeff Stanley to approve the 2007-08 Negotiated Agreement with the Conestoga Education Association. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Motion by Dean Nickels, second by Judy Simpson to approve the contract with the Speech Pathologist for the 2007-08 school year. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
Motion by Dean Nickels, second by Judy Simpson to approve the 2007-08 Substitute Teacher and Substitute Classified wages as presented. Motion carried 6-0 by roll call vote.
FUTURE DATES:
A. October 8 Board meeting 7:30 p.m. and Hearing to Set Property Tax Resolution
Motion by Gary Todd, second by Judy Simpson 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 9:30 p.m.
