Board of Education
Pending Approval
September 8, 2009
The 2009-10 Budget Hearing was held Tuesday, September 8, 2009,
at the Conestoga Elementary School, 104 East High Street, Murray,
NE. Gary Todd, President, opened the hearing at 7:08 p.m. Present
were Board Members Jeff Stanley, Dean Nickels, Pat Neu, Gary Todd,
Linda Rice; Administrators Mark Sievering, Robin Frost, Sandra
Peterson; 5 visitors. Excused David Friedli, Eric Dennis, and Scott
Moore.
Notice of the meeting was given in advance by publication 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 East wall of the meeting room.
Testimony was presented by Superintendent Mark Sievering. The
Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund bonds or other Qualified
Construction Bonds can be levied over a period of years. A 5.2
cents per year is allowed with a maximum amount of $3,500,000 .
Long Term Service Agreement retirement payments are excluded from
the $1.05 lid.
Budget was adjusted for salary increases and general increase in
expenses.
There being no further testimony, Gary Todd, President, closed the
2009-10 Budget Hearing at 7:18 p.m.
The regular meeting of the Conestoga Board of Education was held
Tuesday, September 8, 2009, at the Conestoga Elementary School, 104
East High Street, Murray, NE. Gary Todd, President, called the
meeting to order at 7:18 p.m. Present were Board Members Jeff
Stanley, Dean Nickels, Pat Neu, Gary Todd, Linda Rice;
Administrators Mark Sievering and Robin Frost; 5 visitors. Excused
David Friedli, Eric Dennis and Scott Moore.
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 East wall of the meeting room.
Motion by Pat Neu, second by Jeff Stanley to approve the minutes of
the August 11, 2009, regular meeting and work session; August 21,
special meeting. Motion carried 5-0 by roll call vote.
Motion by Dean Nickels second by Pat Neu to approve the claims as
submitted. Motion carried 5-0 by roll call vote.
The agenda was set as presented.
SCHEDULED AUDIENCE: None
REPORTS:
Eric Dennis: No Report
David Friedli: Report as submitted
Robin Frost:
1. Nebraska State Assessment information submitted for review.
Writing, Reading, and Math testing will be completed the 2009-10
school year.
2. Alternative Program schedule finalized utilizing the Apex and IT
online programs. Todaysclass program consists of an autos online
course (funded by the NDE Perkins program).
Sandra Peterson:
1. Currently working on Special Education financial reports.
2. NSSRS report data is being inputted.
3. Will be in the district two days per week.
4. Will record the work process during the year for the next
director to use as a guideline.
Mark Sievering:
1. Report as submitted.
2. Reported the death of Senator Ron Raikes, former chairman of the
State Education Committee.
NRCSA/NASB:
NASB membership meetings schedule has been received.
COMMITTEE:
Buildings and Grounds: No report
Budget and Finance: No report
Negotiations: No report
Policy/Americanism/Instruction: No report
Transportation: No report
Legislation: No report
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
Discussion of instructional hours and staff hours: item tabled for
further investigation by board committee.
ACTION ITEMS:
Nebraska Association of School Boards Board of Directors: Ballot
received from NASB. Pat Neu and Alan Moore of ESU3 nominated for
the Region 9 position.
Motion by Jeff Stanley, second by Linda Rice to cast a ballot for
Pat Neu for the Region 9 Board of Directors position. Motion
carried 4-0 by roll call vote. Pat Neu, abstain.
Monday enrichment class: Bonnie Ahrens, secondary Art teacher,
requests to teach a class on fused glass art on September 28. Class
would be open for 4th grade through 12th grade students.
Motion by Dean Nickels, second by Pat Neu to approve the Fused
Glass Art class taught by Bonnie Ahrens on Monday, September 28,
2009. Motion carried 5-0 by roll call vote.
Building Use Request: A request from Traci Nelson to utilize the
elementary building to teach a dance class. The class would run
October through May on Saturday mornings. Because it is a for
profit use, the board of education must approve and set a fee for
the building use. The board also has the option of waiving the fee
if the class consists of Conestoga students.
Motion by Linda Rice, second by Pat Neu to approve the use of the
elementary cafeteria area for a dance class taught by Traci Nelson.
A fee of $100.00 will be charged. Motion carried 5-0 by roll call
vote.
Cougar Den Guidelines: Mr. Steckler reported the guidelines were
tentative until further regulations could be formatted. During the
school day the facility is used exclusively for classes and school
activities. Priority then would be for in-season athletic teams,
out-of-season athletic teams under the supervision of coaches.
Staff may use the facility when the building is open and unlocked
outside of school hours.
Security, supervision and liability issues are currently under
study and review. Based on those findings, guidelines regarding
additional use by patrons of the district may be revised.
Motion by Dean Nickels, second by Pat Neu to approve the Cougar Den
Usage Guidelines as presented. Motion carried 5-0 by roll call
vote.
Gary Todd, President, called for a recess from 8:14 to 8:21
p.m.
McREL (Mid Continent Regional Education Laboratory) training was
attended by Administrative staff during the summer. Request to
bring the training to teaching staff during this school year. The
program could be partially funded through the REAP grant and Title
1. The training consists of classroom strategies, evaluation tools,
use of technology and other topics.
Motion by Linda Rice, second by Jeff Stanley to approve the
training provided by McREL for the teaching staff. Motion carried
5-0 by roll call vote.
Card key system for exterior doors: Matt Larson, representative
from Siemens Building Technologies, explained the technology needed
to install a camera, monitor system as well as swipe card entrance
capabilities. Areas included in the plan are exterior and interior
at the Nehawka site, daycare entrance, football stadium, cougar
den, additional cameras at the high school building, elementary
building entrances. An annual fee for software support would cost
approximately $3,000. The funds for the project would come from the
Depreciation Fund and the Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking
Fund Bonds. The project would cost approximately $93,479.
Motion by Pat Neu, second by Linda Rice to approve the bid with
Siemens for the card key system for exterior doors at all three
sites with payment from the Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking
Fund Bonds and the Depreciation Fund. Motion carried, 5-0 by roll
call vote.
Safety railing for Cougar Den sidewalk: Received bids to attach a
railing to the sidewalk leading to the cougar den for approximately
$7,200. At this time the railing at the bottom of the steps at the
stadium does not need to be replaced. Will wait for guidelines if
the state Legislature passes a bill pertaining to safety
railing.
Motion by Jeff Stanley, second by Dean Nickels to approve the
construction of a railing by the sidewalk leading to the Cougar
Den, not to exceed $7,200, with funds from the Special Building
Fund. Motion carried 5-0 by roll call vote.
Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund Bonds: Bonds can be
levied, not to exceed .052 cents per year. A bond of 1.2 million
for six years at 4% interest would levy approximately 4 cents. The
longer the payback, the less is levied annually.
Motion by Jeff Stanley, second by Pat Neu to approve the
maintenance projects through the Qualified Capital Purpose
Undertaking Fund Bonds for the amount of $1.2 million for a ten
year period. Motion carried 5-0 by roll call vote.
Athletic storage shed: item tabled until definite plans concerning
the track area are finalized.
2009-10 Budget: information supplied during the Hearing.
Motion by Dean Nickels, second by Pat Neu to approve the 2009-10
Budget as presented. Motion carried 5-0 by roll call vote.
Policies: Technology Committee, Electronic Publishing, Technology
Addendum.
Motion by Jeff Stanley, second by Pat Neu to refer all policies to
the Board Policy Committee. Motion carried 5-0 by roll call
vote.
Conestoga Education Association Negotiations: Changes in the
activity sponsor schedule include the addition of a Speech Coach,
moving Dance Team sponsor onto the same schedule as the cheer
sponsor, increasing the percentage for members of the SAP and SCIP
teams. Terminology change included adding grandchildren to the list
of family qualifications for approved bereavement leave.
A board offer of a $1,000 base salary increase, changes to the
activity schedule, a two year contract with the re-opener clause if
insurance cost increases above 12% has been submitted to the CEA
for consideration.
Motion by Dean Nickels, second by Pat Neu to approve a two year
contract (2009-10 and 2010-11) with the Conestoga Education
Association as submitted. Motion carried 5-0 by roll call vote.
FUTURE DATES:
Monday, October 12, 2009, is the next scheduled Board of Education
meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m.
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 5-0 by roll call vote. President Gary Todd adjourned
the meeting at 9:50 p.m.
