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Minutes- February 12, 2018

February 13, 2018

The regular meeting of the Board of Education of the Creighton Community School District No. 13 was held on February 12, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. in the High School Library.

Notice of the meeting was given in advance thereof by publication in the Creighton News, as shown by the Affidavit of Publication attached to the minutes.  Notice was also posted at the City Offices, front door of the high school, and front door of the elementary school.

Notice of the meeting was simultaneously sent to all the members and a copy of their acknowledgment and receipt of notice and agenda is attached to these minutes.  Availability of the agenda was communicated in the advance notice as was the notice to the members of this meeting.  All proceedings hereafter shown were taken while the convened meeting was opened to the attendance of the public.  The agenda for the meeting is attached and incorporated into these minutes.

President Morrill called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.

Morrill announced that the Open Meeting Laws Act Poster was displayed on the wall at the entrance.

Members present: Kay Morrill, Colleen Farnik, Tim Gragert, Greg Kuhlman, and Dixie Hanefeldt.  Hanefeldt moved to excuse Duane Fanta.  Seconded by Gragert.  RCV:  5-0.  Motion Carried.

Others Present:  Superintendent Thompson, Principal Nilson, Secretary Hoffman, and district patrons.   

The Pledge of Allegiance was said.

Gragert moved to approve the agenda.  Seconded by Hanefeldt.  RCV:  5-0.  Fanta excused.  Motion Carried.

There was no public comment.     

Hanefeldt moved to approve the January minutes.  Seconded by Kuhlman.  RCV:  5-0.  Fanta excused.  Motion Carried.  Gragert moved to approve the monthly financial report.  Seconded by Kuhlman.  RCV:  5-0.  Fanta excused.  Motion Carried.  Hanefeldt moved to approve the policy committee report and the reviewed policy changes to 602.02, 604.01, 605.01, 611.08, and 203.06.  Seconded by Gragert.  RCV:  5-0.  Fanta excused.  Motion Carried.

Reports:  

1. Superintendent Thompson stated that work will begin on the new security camera system next week.  A group of elementary teachers visited some area schools to discuss their reading series.  The elementary teachers decided to go with the Journeys reading series, and Superintendent Thompson will get a finalized quote for the March meeting.  Ten Chromebooks will be purchased for the SPED department.  Knox County Cattleman Association will be grilling hamburgers at school on February 22. 

2.  Principal Nilson updated the board on winter activities.  He attended a principal’s meeting at the ESU on Monday where they discussed TestWiz, the WSC Co-Teaching Model, and 1 to 1 initiatives.  The special education review is complete.  Apple Classroom is being utilized in the high school classrooms to monitor student iPad usage.  Teachers can use the software to lock students out of different websites or applications.    
3.  President Morrill reminded board members that incumbents have until February 15 to file for the next election.  She shared a handout on current legislative bills that are being debated.  A list of the new committee members was handed out.  The committee chairperson will need to make sure that the committee fulfills its duties and report back to the board.

Copies of all reports are available at the office with the official minutes.

4. There was no correspondence.

Discussion/Action Items:

1. Sue Kennedy from TeamMates explained the program to the board.  TeamMates is a mentoring program started by Tom Osborne that provides students with a personal mentor.  Students who need a mentor can be nominated by a parent, school staff member, or themselves.  The program is open to any student, not just students with poor grades or few role models.  Mentor/mentees meet for thirty minutes a week at school, during hours that school staff is around.  A local board would be created to oversee a local TeamMates program.  The school would need to pay for the annual participation fee (which is waived the first year) and for background checks on the mentors.  She fielded questions about the program from board members. The board will discuss the idea more in March.  
2. Superintendent Thompson handed out a proposed calendar for the 2018-2019 school year.  He will show it to the staff and see if they have any suggestions.
3. Superintendent Thompson said that we held back just under $25,000 when we made our last payment to 360 Energy Engineers.  The purpose of this was to make sure they finished up any loose ends before we paid them the final payment.  He asked the board if they would like to continue to hold the money or if they would like us to pay them.  The consensus of the Board was to review the contract specifications for final payment and to continue to withhold until work is completed to satisfaction. 
4. Gragert moved to accept the resignation of Kelly Blair, effective the end of this school year.  Seconded by Farnik.  RCV:  5-0.  Fanta excused.  Motion Carried.
5. Four candidates were interviewed for the high school English position.  The administration recommends Nicole Strope for the position.  Gragert moved to approve Nicole Strope for the high school English position.  Seconded by Kuhlman.  RCV:  5-0.  Fanta excused.  Motion Carried.
6. At the January meeting, the board discussed adding an industrial technology program and gave the Superintendent permission to advertise the position.  Principal Nilson had surveyed students to gage interest in the program.  Survey results showed that there is a lot of interest in the area.  After interviews were completed, the administration recommends Colby Eymann for the position.  Gragert moved to approve the contract for Colby Eymann for industrial technology.  Seconded by Hanefeldt.  RCV:  5-0.  Fanta excused.  Motion Carried. 
7. State statute requires a change in superintendent salary be posted at least 3 days prior to Board approval. The certificated staff received a 2.5% raise this year.  The superintendent salary for the 18-19 school year will be posted with a 2.5% increase in salary.  This will be acted on in March.
8. Principal Nilson was offered his contract back for the 18-19 school year.  Hanefeldt moved to increase the principal salary by 2.5%.  Seconded by Kuhlman.  RCV:  5-0.  Fanta excused.  Motion Carried.
1. The planning and development committee met on January 24.  They created a demographic spreadsheet for the community member committee to ensure a varied representation and then recommended 8 more district patrons. Hanefeldt moved to approve the additional eight names to fill out the demographics of the community group.  Seconded by Gragert.  RCV:  5-0.  Fanta excused.  Motion Carried.
10. Gragert moved to approve the annual membership dues for the Nebraska Association of School Boards for $3,633.  The NASB provides several services to the school. Seconded by Hanefeldt.  RCV:  5-0.  Fanta excused.  Motion Carried.
11.   Several board workshops are scheduled for the next couple of months.  Hanefeldt moved to approve Kuhlman’s attendance at the Budget and Finance workshop on March 15.  Seconded by Gragert.  RCV:  5-0.  Fanta excused.  Motion Carried.  Hanefeldt moved to approve Morrill’s attendance at the President’s Retreat on February 18 and 19 in Lincoln.  Seconded by Kuhlman.  RCV:  5-0.  Fanta excused.  Motion Carried.  Gragert moved to approve Farnik’s attendance at the Education Forum February 21 and 22 in Kearney.  Seconded by Hanefeldt.  RCV:  5-0.  Fanta excused.  Motion Carried.

The following bills were paid:

At 9:07 p.m., President Morrill adjourned the meeting.  The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Monday, March 12, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. in the High School Library.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Jennifer Hoffman, Secretary