March 10, 2008 Minutes
by Veryle Winter
March 14, 2008
NORFOLK PUBLIC SCHOOLS
NORFOLK, NEBRASKA
Notice—Notice of the regular meeting
was published in the Norfolk Daily News on Tuesday, March 4,
with a correction in the City Happenings on Thursday, March 6,
2008, and notices posted on the doors of the NPS Administration
Office, Post Office, City Council Chambers, and Public Library on
Monday, March 10, 2008.
4:30
Session
4:30 Session—The Board of Education met on Monday,
February 11, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. for the study session at Jefferson
Elementary School Library, and at 7:30 moved to the City Council
Chambers for the regular meeting. Members present included
Brad Krivohlavek, Jane McDaniel, Clark Froehlich, Alfredo Ramirez
(absent from 7:30 to 8:00 p.m.), and Paul Cazabon.
Absent: Julee Pfeil. Also present were Superintendent
Marlene Uhing, Robert Waite, Dan DePasquale, and Doug
Witte.
Legal Meeting – Brad Krivohlavek, President, called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. and declared a legal meeting of the Board of Education.
Open Meetings Act – Brad Krivohlavek announced that a complete copy of the Open Meetings Act was available for review if anyone was interested and that a complete board packet is available for review. Dr. Krivohlavek welcomed everyone to the meeting.
McREL Presentation – Steve Morton, Doug Witte, and Scott gave a presentation on the McREL workshop they attended. The presentation was on the “Art of Leadership”. Each board member was given a handout on the six areas of district level responsibilities.
Energy Report – Chuck Foxhoven gave the board an update on the savings to the district as a result of energy reduction/cost savings measures. Our district has reached a savings of over $1 million dollars since we started the program in January of 2002. Our present heating bills are still less than they were in 2002 (including all the increases).
Preliminary Budget Information 2008 – Mr. Waite reported on the state aid that Norfolk may or may not receive. He stated that Norfolk is scheduled to receive $1.6 million plus $1,000 but that these figures may be recalculated. The final figures are to be recertified by April 17, 2008. Mr. Waite reported that we are taking a very conservative approach to our budget at this time. We will definitely be losing some funding because of our loss of total or partial funding for interlocal agreements, migrant funding, Medicaid funding, etc.
Pre-School Update – Mr. Witte gave a PowerPoint presentation to the board on pre-school. He also distributed handouts on the pre-kindergarten program and an early childhood curriculum guide. Mr. Witte reported on the current and projected enrollment at the two preschool programs we currently have at Grant and Northern Hills Elementary Schools. Mr. Witte was invited to come back and report to the board at a later meeting.
Parent Meetings –
Montessori -- Dr. Uhing reported that she had met with the Montessori parents and had told them that they would not be moving this year but that they would be moving. It is not known yet if that move will be to Jefferson School or not. Dr. Uhing stated she is trying to look the needs of both schools and is looking at the facilities and schools in general before making a decision. She told the parents that they would be included in some committees when we start discussing options available.
Winter and Reiche Schools – Dr. Uhing met with both of these schools and stated she would be working with them to transition into the city schools. She discussed with them how they would like to see the facilities, property, and materials disposed. She also stated that each school will be given the opportunity to celebrate their school and its past history. The students will be given a chance to visits our city schools. The parents will be given first chance at the boundary exceptions that will be approved at the April meeting. The faculty will also be able to give some choices of where they would like to be placed.
The remaining materials and the buildings will be sold. We are in the process of determining the value of the property. We have had some interest in the Winter property. Open houses will take place at the end of the school year.
Staff Appreciation Update – March 19 – Dr. Uhing discussed the details of the Staff Appreciation Day on March 19, 2008.
Tour of Jefferson – The board members were given a tour of Jefferson Elementary School.
Adjournment – President Brad
Krivohlavek adjourned the meeting at approximately 5:45 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
Consent Agenda
Regular Meeting – Brad Krivohlavek, President, called the regular meeting of the Board of Education to order at 7:30 p.m. and declared a legally advertised meeting. He welcomed everyone.
Open Meetings Act – Brad Krivohlavek, President, announced that a complete copy of the Open Meetings Act is posted on the West wall in the City Council Chambers located at 309 Madison Avenue and that a complete board packet is available for review.
Amendment to Consent Agenda – It was moved by Paul Cazabon, seconded by Clark Froehlich, to remove Item D., Personnel, from the consent agenda items. Roll call: Aye – Krivohlavek, McDaniel, Cazabon, and Froehlich. Nay – None. Absent: Ramirez and Pfeil. Motion carried.
Consent Agenda -- It was moved by Clark Froehlich, seconded by Paul Cazabon, to approve the consent agenda as amended and to add Holly Wetjen to the list of resignations. Roll call: Aye – Krivohlavek, Cazabon, and Froehlich. Nay – None. Absent: Ramirez and Pfeil. Motion carried.
Minutes -- Regular Meeting, February 11, 2008
2nd Meeting of the Month, February 28, 2008
Board Retreat, January 15, 2008
Excused Absence – None
NASB Membership – Approved continuing a membership for the 2008-2009 school year in the Nebraska Association of School Boards.
Personnel: Resignation – Approved the following resignations and retirements effective at the end of the 2007-2008 school year:
Abbie Baack, 5th grade at Washington
Kelly DeHaes, Senior High English
Sarah Thoene, 4th grade at Lincoln
Mary Smalley, nurse at Senior High
Holly Wetjen, 4th grade at Lincoln
NJUMP Interlocal Agreement – Approved an extension of the natural gas cooping purchase with NASB for an additional year.
Boundary Exceptions for Rural School Students – Approved the following statement to the Boundary Exception Policy: “Consider the boundary exception requests by current students of Reiche and Winter Schools first and allow them to take precedence for placement based on availability of vacancies for the 2008-2009 school year” in order to keep our plan in place to help them with transition into the district.
Claims –Approved claims in the amount of $309,552.27 for General Fund: $61,995.38 for Cooperative Fund; $43,207.50 for Lunch Fund; $34,488.59 for Reserve/Depreciation Fund and $179,270.30 for Special Building Fund.
Award for Excellence – Linda Hunt, Special Education Paraprofessional at Junior High, was awarded the Award for Excellence.
Focus on Students – Focus on Students was presented by Beth Getup and Middle School students on Middle School Podcasting.
Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Marlene Uhing's report included: Congratulations to Linda Hunt, Award for Excellence recipient, congratulations to John Furrow for being awarded the Jack Snider “Young Band Director of the Year for Nebraska, and legislative update.
Financial Report– Robert Waite gave the financial report.
Instruction/Personnel – Dr. DePasquale reported on the Carl Perkins Vocational Education Grant.
Student Services Report – Mr. Witte reported on spring parent/teacher conference attendance, attendance at NCA in Chicago, ELDA, MAT – 8 achievement tests, 2008-2009 registration, baseball and golf activities, district music contest, and Spring Musical and Winter Music Concert.
Finance Committee – Mr. Waite share information about the budget planning process. A budget planning meeting will take place within the next two weeks to begin the process.
Activities Committee Report – Dr. Uhing reported that the Activities Committee met on February 25, 2008. Items discussed included extracurricular vacancies, 5-year plan, prioritization of the 5-year plan, and the facilities rental handbook and possibly making some updates to the policy and handbook.
Regular Agenda Item
New Hires – It was moved by Clark Froehlich, seconded by Paul Cazabon, to approve the following as new staff for the 2008-2009 school year:
- Ashley Benes – Senior High Agriculture Education
- Kristen Blair – Senior High Family and Consumer Science
Roll call: Aye – Krivohlavek, McDaniel, Ramirez, Cazabon, and Froehlich. Nay – None. Absent: Pfeil. Motion carried.
Future Meetings – Regular meeting, Monday, April 14, 2008, 4:30 p.m. study session and 7:30 p.m. regular meeting, no 2nd meeting of the month in March, and Staff Appreciation Day on March 19, 2008.
Adjournment – President Brad Krivohlavek declared the
regular meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Marlene Uhing,
Secretary
Brad
Krivohlavek, President
Board of
Education
Board of Education
