Regular November 2023 Board Meeting as advertised in the Pilot-Tribune/Enterprise Monday, November 13, 2023 7:00 PM and on fortcalhounschools.org High School Media Center AGENDA ROUTINE BUSINESS - Call to Order: The president called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. There were 4 administrators and 37 visitors. She asked that there be no talking and that cell phones be silenced. -Note Nebraska Open Meeting Laws: So noted. - Excused Absences: All members were present. - Roll Call: Mike Bonacci-Present; Josh Christensen-Present; Cassie Kelly-Present; Amanda Schrum-Present; Kelli Shaner-Present; Ted Welchert-Present.-Approval of Agenda: Moved that the agenda be approved as presented. This motion, made by Josh Christensen and seconded by Cassie Kelly, Passed. Mike Bonacci: Yea, Josh Christensen: Yea, Cassie Kelly: Yea, Amanda Schrum: Yea, Kelli Shaner: Yea, Ted Welchert: Yea-American Education Week 2023: President Schrum read the American Education Week Proclamation. REGULAR AGENDA-Public Participation: No one requested to address the board. - Approval of Claims: Moved that the claims for November be approved in the amount of $164,218.46 from the General Fund, $14,563.50 from the Building Fund, $163,858.66 from the QCP Fund and $7,980.00 from Savings & Depreciation. This motion, made by Christensen and seconded by Kelly, Passed. Mike Bonacci: Yea, Josh Christensen: Yea, Cassie Kelly: Yea, Amanda Schrum: Yea, Kelli Shaner: Yea, Ted Welchert: Yea. Mr. Green explained the expenses from Alpha for tuition, Arbor Family for counselling both inside and outside the buildings, Country Tire for one of the vans, Crowne Plaza for Administrator Days, ESU #3 for special education tuition and the yearly coop purchase, a deposit for support of the Activity Fund that has previously been approved, Just for Kids for OT and PT, registrations to the NASB convention, and Electronic Sound to align the football field camera and microphone with HUDL which is part of the replacement schedule of expenses. The QPC bond payment was also paid. - Claim for Abe's Trash: Moved that the claim from Abe's Trash be approved in the amount of $1,565.45. This motion, made by Bonacci and seconded by Shaner, Passed. Josh Christensen: Abstain, Mike Bonacci: Yea, Cassie Kelly: Yea, Amanda Schrum: Yea, Kelli Shaner: Yea, Ted Welchert: Yea-Consent Agenda: Moved that the Consent Agenda be approved as presented. This motion, made by Christensen and seconded by Kelly, Passed. Mike Bonacci: Yea, Josh Christensen: Yea, Cassie Kelly: Yea, Amanda Schrum: Yea, Kelli Shaner: Yea, Ted Welchert: Yea. Mr. Green explained the district now has new accounting codes that align with the state so there are more descriptors on the financial reports. It is also now not possible to compare with prior years as the items in the new codes do not match the old ones.-Standing Committee Reports: American Civics Committee-Cassie Kelly reported on policy review, the track and field update, discussing getting pricing for purchasing a new van, discussing security cameras for the track/field with no opinion either way; an official vote on closing the Fiduciary account; moving forward with renewing the contract with Access for copying/printing; an alternate plan until a night time janitor can be found; discussions about a new Special Education Director; and an OK for FCYSO to move forward with plans for the JC Field. Finance Committee-Amanda Schrum reported on discussing the same items and recommending the purchase of a new van, getting prices and presenting it at the board meeting; getting prices for the additional camera for the track/field; supporting getting temporary help from the cleaning company until a new night custodian can be found; hearing the plan for the new special education director, which will be announced to the administration and then staff; and being OK with FCYSO moving forward with their plans for the field.-Superintendent's Evaluation, Contract and Compensation: •Moved that the board of education offer the position of Superintendent of Schools to Jerry Green for 2024-25. This motion, made by Christensen and seconded by Bonacci, Passed. Mike Bonacci: Yea, Josh Christensen: Yea, Cassie Kelly: Yea, Amanda Schrum: Yea, Kelli Shaner: Yea, Ted Welchert: Yea. Copies of the evaluation were given to Mr. Green with areas of needed growth including attracting and retention of teachers and continued communication with the board. He is a great leader and has a great working relationship with his outside colleagues. He has been great with the new board members, in facilitating the track and field project, navigating policies, and is appreciated for what he has done for the district. •Moved that the board of education table the superintendent's contract and compensation until a later date. This motion, made by Schrum and seconded by Shaner, Passed. Mike Bonacci: Yea, Josh Christensen: Yea, Cassie Kelly: Yea, Amanda Schrum: Yea, Kelli Shaner: Yea, Ted Welchert: Yea. -Policies 3005-School Activities Fund; 3007-Review of Bills; 3008-Gifts, Grants and Bequests; 3009-Audit; and 3010-Insurance: Moved that the board of education waive first reading and pass on second reading Policies 3005-School Activities Fund; 3007-Review of Bills; 3008-Gifts, Grants and Bequests; 3009-Audit; and 3010-Insurance. This motion, made by Kelly and seconded by Shaner, Passed. Mike Bonacci: Yea, Josh Christensen: Yea, Cassie Kelly: Yea, Amanda Schrum: Yea, Kelli Shaner: Yea, Ted Welchert: Yea. There were no issues that warrant changes, but 3007 which still works will have more discussion to work more toward the policy itself--a recommendation coming from the audit.-Van Purchase: Moved that the board of education vote to complete the purchase of a 2023 Ford Transit Passenger Wagon from Woodhouse in the amount of $57,524.00 which includes the trade-in of Van #7, as recommended by the committees. This motion, made by Christensen and seconded by Kelly, Passed. Mike Bonacci: Yea, Josh Christensen: Yea, Cassie Kelly: Yea, Amanda Schrum: Yea, Kelli Shaner: Yea, Ted Welchert: Yea. Committees talked about the types of vans and Mr. Green saw them in Syracuse and took pictures of them. He called around and was told not many are being manufactured at this time but dealers will keep an eye out for them. Woodhouse called and they had a Transit they could get. Mr. Green got the information and price on it, presented it to the Finance Committee and they recommended going ahead with setting up the purchase. It’s an all-wheel drive vehicle. There was no comparative pricing as no other dealers had vans on site to compare and they are selling at or above sticker price. New are about year out if ordered. It is time to replace a van and it has been in the Savings & Depreciation replacement schedule. - Update and Renew the District's Contract with Access Leasing: Moved that the board of education accept the updated contract renewal from Access Leasing. This motion, made by Christensen and seconded by Shaner, Passed. Mike Bonacci: Yea, Josh Christensen: Yea, Cassie Kelly: Yea, Amanda Schrum: Yea, Kelli Shaner: Yea, Ted Welchert: Yea. Mr. Green said this contract includes all district printers. Our lease is up and the new 5-year contract will replace all equipment with new and the pricing is good. Mr. Wilson is happy with their products and service. Moving forward, it is hoped it will all be in play by the start of the second semester. -2022-23 Audit: Moved that the audit of all funds for 2022-23 be approved as presented. This motion, made by Shaner and seconded by Christensen, Passed. Mike Bonacci: Yea, Josh Christensen: Yea, Cassie Kelly: Yea, Amanda Schrum: Yea, Kelli Shaner: Yea, Ted Welchert: Yea. The audit is yearly and mandated to look at all finances and accounts. The auditors conduct interviews and discuss accounts. It all came out good with no big areas of concern. There were two deficiencies. The district’s internal system of reporting and them having to formulate what they wanted to see, and segregation of duties which is common in districts our size. President Schrum would like to take this recommendation and have the board “put their eyes on it” to be more in line with the policy. She will formulate a plan to implement in January. Mike Bonacci commented that there were no instances of noncompliance. - Closing of Fiduciary Fund Account at WCB: Moved that the Board of Education approve closing the County of Washington School District #3 Fiduciary Fund account at WCB. This motion, made by Kelly and seconded by Christensen, Passed. Mike Bonacci: Yea, Josh Christensen: Yea, Cassie Kelly: Yea, Amanda Schrum: Yea, Kelli Shaner: Yea, Ted Welchert: Yea. This is a recommendation from last year’s audit and was closed, but the auditors asked for board action to make it official. - Resignations: •Moved that the board of education accept the resignation of Ashley Dougherty effective at the end of the 2023-24 school year. This motion, made by Shaner and seconded by Christensen, Passed. Mike Bonacci: Yea, Josh Christensen: Yea, Cassie Kelly: Yea, Amanda Schrum: Yea, Kelli Shaner: Yea, Ted Welchert: Yea. Mr. Green reported she has been in the district for 12 years and has done a really good job of having the program in compliance as when she came there was a lot of work to do. He offered a huge thank you to her and what she’s done for us. •Moved that the board of education accept the resignation of Paul Bentley at the end of the 2023-24 school year. This motion, made by Shaner and seconded by Bonacci, Passed. Mike Bonacci: Yea, Josh Christensen: Yea, Cassie Kelly: Yea, Amanda Schrum: Yea, Kelli Shaner: Yea, Ted Welchert: Yea. Mr. Green reported Paul has been here 42 years, is a great teacher and has a great impact on our kids’ lives. He can truly attest the Paul Bentley is an “icon of what Fort Calhoun Community Schools is about”, which is the depth of care our staff has for our students. We wish him well. Dr. Wemhoff said thank you, that he’s been a great teacher and wished him the best of luck. Board members asked if he had taught anywhere other than Fort Calhoun and commented that either family members or themselves have had him as a teacher. - Board Member Reports: Cassie Kelly thanked Ted Welchert for the storage building which looks really nice. Mike Bonacci said the facilities look awesome. Other comments were the number of students at the meeting with the other half coming in December, being anxious for winter sports, having had Mr. Bentley as a teacher, and looking forward to the Thanksgiving Feast at the elementary school.-Administrator Reports: Dr. Wemhoff: Reported on Parent Teacher conferences with 72% of the students represented; MTSS meetings including collecting data to find what is working and solutions to close our learning gap; also looking at teacher data and NSCAS data with guidance from ESU personnel; awesome representation of Fort Calhoun at Conference Honor Choir and Junior high Sportsmanship Summit at UNL; a great Veteran’s Day Program and thank you to Mr. Humphrey, Mr. Prauner and all the Skills USA kids; POPP Lockin with the most in attendance ever and food/clothing drives; early dismissal on 11/22nd for Thanksgiving: and upcoming November events including all day drama rehearsal, HS Thanksgiving dinner, our e-Sports team qualifying for State in Wayne, and Conference One Act Play. Mr. Wagner: Reported a 99% participation at Parent-Teacher Conferences; the great job our 4th graders and Mrs. Roby did with the music for Veterans Day, the student council members were selected and are having a food drive and fire safety awareness week. He gave an update on the Problem-Solving Team, PBIS, professional development and upcoming events. The school improvement staff survey will be coming soon and the next external visit will be in 2024-25. Mr. Schleifer: He spoke of Fall activities and pointed out royalty, record holders, all conference, all district and state players some who were in the audience and instrumental in the successes. He also spoke about the Dance Team going to Florida for Nationals, upcoming One Act Play competitions and performances, and Winter sports getting underway.-Superintendent Report: Mr. Green reported on goals and that he will have a mid-year update on them in December; it is hoped that the track project will be done by Thanksgiving or early December; Mr. Wilson researching security cameras; upcoming negotiations meetings; attending a job fair with mostly elementary ed students in attendance and talking up Fort Calhoun; interviewing for the 6th grade position; and an update on the access security make over at both buildings. He also said the state conference starts at 8:15 and anyone who would like to ride needs to be at the high school by 7:15 PM. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the president declared the meeting adjourned at 7:42PM. ZNEZ ENT 11-17-23
