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Minutes- July 13, 2020

July 20, 2020

The regular meeting of the Board of Education of the Creighton Community School District No. 13 was held on July 13, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the High School Library.

Notice of the meeting was given in advance thereof by publication in the Knox County 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 7:00 p.m.  Morrill announced that the Open Meeting Laws Act Poster was displayed on the wall at the entrance.

Members present: Kay Morrill, Duane Fanta, Matt Fritz, Amy Borgmann, and Greg Kuhlman.  Fanta moved to excuse Dixie Hanefeldt.  Seconded by Fritz.  RCV:  5-0.  Motion Carried.  Others Present:  Superintendent Thompson, Principal Nilson, Secretary Hoffman and district patrons.   

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Kuhlman moved to approve the agenda, seconded by Borgmann. RCV: 5-0.  Hanefeldt excused.  Motion Carried.

There was no public comment.

Reports:

1. Superintendent Thompson stated that a survey would be going out to parents and staff this week to get some input to use for planning for the school year.  The crisis committee will become the “Return to School Committee” and will work with the administration to develop a plan for reopening.  Classified contracts have been offered and Superintendent Thompson indicated that one para will not be returning. The administration will reevaluate the need for a replacement para.  The roof project should be finalized in August and the HVAC unit for the multipurpose room was installed on Monday.
2. Principal Nilson shared that camps and open gyms for all activities were allowed on July 1.  Sanitizing logs are currently being used at high traffic areas in the school.
3. Board President Morrill stated that the school’s NRCSA membership needs to be renewed by September 15.  She also shared upcoming committee work.
4. The Personnel committee met on June 19.  Discussion included the AD position. A recommendation was made for Superintendent Thompson and Principal Nilson to share the position for the 2020-21 school year.  Legal counsel shared a rewritten extra duty contract to help account for COVID shut down of extra-curricular activities. The committee recommends paying 25% of extra duty pay with monthly paychecks and the remaining 75% to be paid at the completion of the activity.  Classified wages and salaries were discussed and the committee recommended a 3% raise for the classified staff.. 
5. Thank you’s for the McDowell Trust were read from Amanda Juracek, Carson Lilly, and Haley Novacek.

Fritz moved to approve the consent agenda which included the June Minutes, July financial reports, and the revisions to policies 501.11, 504.16, 508.15, 801.04, and 502.02.  Seconded by Borgmann.  RCV:  5-0.  Hanefeldt excused.  Motion Carried. 

Discussion/Action Items:               

1. The Personnel committee recommended a three percent raise for classified staff.  Fanta moved to approve a three percent raise for classified staff for the 2020-21 school year.  Seconded by Fritz.  RCV:  5-0.  Hanefeldt excused.  Motion Carried.
2. The annual review of the Student Fees Policy was held.  The floor was opened to public comment.  There was no public comment. Changes to the policy included an increase to Student lunch prices of ten cents to $2.55 for grades P-6 and $2.75 for grades 7-12.  Fanta moved to approve the changes to the Student Fees Policy for the 2020-21 school year.  Seconded by Fritz.  RCV:  5-0.  Hanefeldt excused.  Motion Carried.
3. Principal Nilson explained the following changes to the student handbooks:   1) Students will be allowed three digital days of absences in addition to the current 6 days per semester. Digital Days can be utilized by students when they are not feeling well but will not be seeing a physician. Parents will have to state that the student is using a digital day when they call in the absence in the morning.  The student will be electronically sent their homework which will need to be turned in by 10:00 am the following school day.  Administrative discretion will have to be used for students home with COVID; 2) To help promote and model positive sportsmanship, parents, students and patrons shall not contact a coach or sponsor for 24 hours after a game/event.  After 24 hours, if the parent, student, or patron would like to address a topic with the coach a time will be set up for the individual(s) to meet with the AD and coach/sponsor; 3) Definition and clarification Information for extended campus coursework was added to the handbooks.  Upon the recommendation of the Policy Committee, Fanta moved to approve the inclusion of the three items listed above to the handbook; with the exception of the final sentence on the digital day statement (Students need to be in good academic standing to utilize a digital day will be omitted).  Seconded by Kuhlman.  RCV:  5-0.  Hanefeldt excused.  Motion Carried.
4. Following the recommendation of the Policy Committee and in accordance with the Nebraska Association of School Boards, Borgmann moved to include policies 105.00 (Return to School Committee), 205.08 (Board Policy and Temporary Waivers of NDE Rules), and 607.10 (Classroom Environment) to the policy handbook.  Seconded by Fritz.  RCV:  5-0.  Hanefeldt excused.  Motion Carried.
5. Fritz moved to approve the roof payment to RaDec Construction for $29,650.71.  Seconded by Kuhlman.  RCV:  5-0.  Hanefeldt excused.  Motion Carried.
6. Superintendent Thompson explained that the administration would be meeting with the Return to School Committee and they were interested in the board members’ thoughts on reopening.  School is scheduled to start on August 19.  The results of the surveys sent out to staff and parents will also be utilized by the committee.  Board members shared their ideas on meeting the health department’s recommendations for social distancing and the usage of masks.  The administration will share the board members’ ideas with the Return to School Committee.
7. There are no upcoming board conferences at this time.

The following bills were paid:

At 8:04 p.m., Fanta moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Fritz.  RCV:  5-0.  Hanefeldt excused.  Motion Carried.  The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Monday, August 10, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. in the High School Library.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                                                    Jennifer Hoffman, Secretary