(AMENDED)
MINUTES
WAYNE BOARD OF
EDUCATION
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 14, 2008
The
regular meeting of the Wayne Community Schools Board of Education was held at
the Wayne High School, Wayne, NE on Monday, January 14, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. Notice of the meeting and place of agenda
was published in the Wayne Herald. A
copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act was displayed for the public to read.
School
attorney Chris Connolly acted as counsel for the board and called the meeting
to order.
The
following board members answered roll call: Mr. Mark Evetovich, Mrs. Kelly
Kenny, Dr. Carolyn Linster, Mrs. Kaye Morris,
Dr.
Jeryl Nelson and Dr. Jodi Pulfer.
Organization
of the board was now in order:
President -- Nominations were opened for president. Nelson
nominated Mrs. Morris for board president, second by Linster. Motion by Linster to close nominations, second by
Kenny. Closed ballet vote: 6/0 to nominate Mrs. Morris as school board
president for 2008.
President Morris took over
the meeting.
Vice- President -- Nominations were opened for vice president. Pulfer
nominated Dr. Linster for board vice president, second by Evetovich. Motion by Nelson
to close nominations, second by Evetovich. Closed ballet vote: 6/0 to nominate
Dr. Linster as school board vice president for 2008.
Secretary-Treasurer - Nominations were opened for secretary- treasure.
Motion by Linster to nominate Ann Ruwe for school board secretary-treasure,
second by Kenny. Roll call vote for approval of Ann Ruwe as board
secretary-treasurer for 2008: Pulfer, yes; Linster, yes; Morris, yes; Kenny,
yes; Nelson, yes; Evetovich, yes.
Board
members are on committees as follows:
Finance
(includes Negotiations, Planning, Budget) - Dr. Linster, Dr. Nelson, and Mrs.
Morris
Legislative
(includes Policy, Legislation, Americanism, Curriculum) - Mrs. Kenny, Mr. Evetovich, and Dr. Pulfer
Public Relation/Facilities
(includes Foundation, Community Relations, Facilities) - Mrs. Kenny, Mr.
Evetovich, and Dr. Linster.
Technology- Dr. Nelson, Mr.
Evetovich, and Dr. Pulfer
Custodial- Dr. Linster, Mrs.
Morris, and Mrs. Kenny
Adoption of the Amended Agenda: Motion by Kenny, second by Pulfer to approve the amended agenda.
Motion carried. Roll call vote: Linster, yes; Morris, yes; Kenny, yes; Nelson,
yes; Evetovich, yes; Pulfer, yes.
Approval of Minutes from Previous Meetings:
December 10, 2007- Regular Meeting- Motion by Kenny, second by Linster to accept the minutes
for the December 10, 2008 regular meeting with the change to read: The board
will vote on this resignation at the January 14, 2008 meeting and Mrs. Teidtke
has until January 29, 2008 to rescind her resignation. Motion carried. Roll
call vote: Kenny, yes; Nelson, yes;
Evetovich, yes; Pulfer, yes; Linster, yes; Morris, yes.
January 7, 2009- Special
Meeting - Motion
by Linster, second by Pulfer to accept the January 7, 2008 minutes as written.
Motion carried. Roll call vote: Nelson, yes; Evetovich, yes; Pulfer, yes;
Linster, yes; Morris, yes; Kenny, yes.
Pre-Scheduled Communications
from the Public:
Mary
Kranz - Mary suggested to the board that maybe we should have a salary freeze
of 2 percent, and ask the community for a tax override. Also with the low
number of students in some classes, maybe we need to pay for the class, as we
do the college credit classes we offer at the high school.
Communications from the
Public on Agenda Items: Rodney Garwood- Mr. Garwood
stated his concerns that the district should not use the buy out and save money
by making cuts from other areas. Lori Ruskamp spoke on the teachers in service
and how Mr. Don Fritz complemented our staff on exemplary work of the district
standards and assessments. She also stated that the need for a Curriculum Administrator.
She knows how time consuming it is to write standards and submitted records to
the state, and she doesn't want to do it. Amy Duncan asked the board how we got
into this situation. By not hiring any new paras, the Para staff that we
presently have is getting shifted to other places, and students are getting
shorted and not getting all the help they need. Mary Carstens asked the board
how this happened. What is the amount of the short fall? How can we avoid this
in the future?
Dr.
Nelson explained to the audience the district is currently experiencing a budget
shortfall and this will affect the staffing for the 2008-09 school year. The
cause of the budget shortfall includes the following: decline in state aid,
decline in student enrollment, changes in staffing, and the increase in
salaries and other fixed costs such as utilities and fuel.
Jill
Sweetland asked questions to the board. Bill Kranz also stated his concerns.
Personnel:
Resignation of Mrs. Nicki Tiedtke, Elementary
Kindergarten Teacher (Early Leave Incentive) - Motion by Linster, second by Nelson to approve the
resignation of Mrs. Nicki Tiedtke, Elementary Kindergarten teacher with
regrets. Motion carried. Roll call vote: Evetovich, yes; Pulfer, yes; Linster,
yes; Morris, yes; Kenny, yes; Nelson, yes.
Financial Claims and Reports:
Financial Claims- Motion by Pulfer,
second by Linster to approve the financial claims and reports as presented.
Motion carried. Roll call vote: Pulfer, yes; Linster, yes; Morris, yes; Kenny,
yes; Nelson, yes; Evetovich, yes.
Gifts: Dr. Pulfer reported that letters were sent out to alumni and the
money received back was designated to specific areas. Donations totaled around
$46,000 with the majority coming from the Kern Family.
Bids and Contracts: None
Informational Items or Reports:
Administration
Mrs.
Lutt-Mrs.Lutt reported on the Statewide Writing
Assessment, the Nebraska Assessment System and the Assessment documentation for
Nebraska Students and Staff Record System (NSSRS). The NSSRS portal will be
open soon and we will be able to track students that move from district to
district. Mrs. Lutt also had in the board packet an article on Nebraska
Assessment. Mrs. Lutt reported that Dr. Don Fritz outlined where assessments
are heading in the state.
Mr. Hanson- Mr. Hanson reported on
the movement of students in and out of the district at the high school. Since
October, two students moved out and four moved in. CCDC was canceled due to the
snow storm before Christmas and has been rescheduled for February 15 from 9-11
a.m. in the lecture hall. Anyone is welcome to attend. He also reported that
nine students appealed for credit for the first semester. Of the nine, three
were for severe illness or injury. The total represents approximately 3% of our
population that exceeded the maximum day of absence allowed. Three Wayne State
College students are at the high school starting there student teaching.
Finally, congratulations to Mrs. Anderson and Mr. Weber for their great
Christmas concert prior to Christmas break.
Mr.
Schrunk- Mr. Schrunk reported that on Monday, January 11,
2008 Parent/Teachers conferences were held with a great turnout. Spring
pictures will be taken on February 7. Enrollment at the elementary school is
currently at 306 students.
Mr. Krupicka - Mr. Krupicka also reported on enrollment with three
new students in the middle school since the start of the 2nd
semester. The change game fundraiser concludes on Friday, January 18 with
proceeds going to a local charity. Last year they raised $1,200 filling up the
bucket. He also stated that the middle school has two student teachers. The
middle school band concert will be Tuesday, January 22 in the middle school
gym.
Mrs. Ballinger- Mrs. Ballinger reported that
in the area of SPED they have added four additional students at the middle
school and elementary. In ESL two new families have moved into the district,
establishing the need for services through evaluation of eight new students.
Mrs. Ballinger reported that Mrs. Stewart will be presenting at the Nebraska
Department of Education, Excellence in Education Conference in April and Mrs.
Beair will be presenting at the Superintendent's Meeting at the ESU, January 24.
Mr. Ruhl- Mr. Ruhl reported that Dr.
Reinert and he attended the NSAA District III meeting in Norfolk. Twenty six
proposals were voted on during the meeting. The proposals that passed will
advance to the delegate assembly which will take place in April in Lincoln. The
delegate assembly votes on the proposals at that time. He will be a voting
member at this meeting. Winter sports continue with Junior Boys Basketball
starting in January.
Superintendent Report:
Dr. Reinert- Dr. Reinert has been
talking to other districts regarding options on what we can do to cut costs.
Board Committees:
1. Finance-
The finance committee, Mrs. Morris, Dr. Nelson, and Dr. Linster will meet on
Monday, January 28, 2008, at 3:30 p.m. at the high school.
a.
Negotiations - No report
b.
Planning - No report
c.
Budget - No report
2. Legislative
a. Policy
-No report
b. Legislation -No report
c. Americanism
- The Americanism committee, Mrs. Kenny, Mr. Evetovich, and Dr. Pulfer will
meet on Friday, January 18, 2008, at 3:30 p.m. at the high school.
d.
Curriculum - No report
3. Public
Relations/Facilities - The Facility committee, Mr. Evetovich, Dr. Linster, and
Mrs. Kenny will meet Thursday, January 17, 2008, at the high school.
a.
Foundation - Dr. Pulfer reported on the foundation under gifts.
b.
Community Relations- No report
c. Facilities - No report
d. Technology - No report
Old Business:
Administrative
Recommendation for Voluntary Reduction in Force. Motion by Nelson, second
by Pulfer to approve the Wayne Community School District resolution of the
Administrative Recommendation for Voluntary Reduction in Force. Mrs. Morris read
the enter resolution to the audience. Motion carried. Roll call vote: Linster,
yes; Morris, yes; Kenny, yes; Nelson, yes; Evetovich, yes; Pulfer, yes.
New Business: No new business
Communications from the
Public on Agenda Items:
Dale
Alexander asked the board what is a Media Specialist? This is a Librarian. He also asked what was becoming of the
bussing cut. He was also looking into different avenues to come up with a
bussing cut solution. Dr. Reinert stated that a bussing survey should be coming
out around the first of February.
Lynne
Allemann and Charles Shapiro spoke their concerns. Jill Broderson offered her
suggestions from her business on how she goes about cutting cost and maybe the
board could follow.
Rodney
Garwood also stated that if a levy override was sought, an additional one cent
could raise about $40,000.
Boardsmanship: Dr. Reinert invited the
board members to attend with him on January 16, 2008 the GNSA meeting in
Lincoln.
Future Agenda Items: None
Executive Session (if needed): Motion by Kenny, second by Linster to enter
into executive session to discuss performance of staff position and that person
was not requesting an open hearing at 7:43 p.m. Motion carried. Roll call vote:
Kenny, yes; Nelson, yes; Evetovich, yes; Pulfer, yes; Linster, yes; Morris,
yes. Motion by Nelson, second by Linster to come out of executive session and
enter back into regular session at 7:46 p.m. Motion carried. Roll call vote:
Evetovich, yes; Pulfer, yes; Linster, yes; Morris, yes; Kenny, yes; Nelson,
yes.
Adjournment: Motion by Linster, second by Nelson to
adjourn the meeting at 7:53 p.m. Motion carried. Roll call vote: Pulfer, yes; Linster,
yes; Morris, yes; Kenny, yes; Nelson, yes; Evetovich, yes.
The
next regular meeting of the Wayne Community Schools Board of Education will be
held on Monday, February 11, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. at Wayne High School.
Ann Ruwe, Secretary
