MINUTES BOARD OF EDUCATION REPORT JULY 10, 2023
The regular meeting of the Board of Education was held on July 10th. This meeting was advertised in the July 5th edition of the Battle Creek Enterprise. Vice President Toby Thompson called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. Members present were Sean Lindgren, Tammy Bierman, Paul Kuchar, and Tom Leathers. Jeremy Pochop was absent. Also, present were Superintendent Jake Luhr and Principals Jeff Heimes and Curtis Childers, and one visitor. The new open meeting law poster was discussed and posted and will be followed at every Board meeting. To start the Board meeting, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Sean Lindgren made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, which included the July general fund bills that totaled $76,709.69. Paul Kuchar seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr updated the Board on the construction project at the elementary and the high school.
Mr. Luhr presented to the Board a legislative update on LB 243. LB 243 increases state aid and limits revenue growth. More information will be shared as more in learned about budget impacts of LB 243.
A Public Hearing was held for Policies 6400 and 6410 Parental Engagement. Vice President Toby Thompson opened the hearing for public comment, and Mr. Luhr advised the Board that he had no recommended changes to Policies 6400 and 6410. The Public Hearing was closed.
A Public Hearing was held for Policy 5416 Student Fees. Vice President Toby Thompson opened the hearing for public comment. Mr. Luhr advised the Board that he had added pre-school fees and technology fees to Appendix 1 of the Student Fees Policy. The Public Hearing was closed. Tom Leathers made a motion to approve the changes made to Policy 5416 Student Fees by adding the pre-school fees and technology fees. Paul Kuchar seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr presented policy updates that require Board approval as changes are required by law.
Policy 5004 changed the enrollment requirement from 10 credits(1 course per semester) to 5 credits(1 course per year) for home school students to participate in extracurricular activities. Sean Lindgren made a motion to approve the changes to Policy 5004. Tom Leathers seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Policy 5103 added eligibility criteria for part-time students at the bottom of the policy. Sean Lindgren made a motion to approve the change to Policy 5103. Paul Kuchar seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Policy 5006 changed so that the district can NOT declare special education programs at capacity. An option enrollment applicant who is on an IEP must be reviewed on an individual case by case basis and make a determination of whether the district has capacity to provide needed services and/or accommodation to that student. Also, the new law states that capacities for the next year must be set by October 15th of the current school year. Sean Lindgren made a motion to approve the changes to Policy 5006. Tom Leathers seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Policy 5101 changed the student discipline for a pre-school through second grade student due to passage of LB 705. The new cell phone policy was also added. Tom Leathers made a motion to approve the changes to Policy 5101. Paul Kuchar seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Policy 5102 changed to outline the process for providing an alternative education plan for an expelled student. Paul Kuchar made a motion to approve the changes to Policy 5102. Sean Lindgren seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Policy 6212 changed the dates the State Board of Education adopted standards for Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Paul Kuchar made a motion to approve the changes to Policy 6212. Sean Lindgren seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Policy 6284 changed the law citation, but there were no changes to the policy. Tom Leathers made a motion to approve the change the law citation to Policy 6284. Sean Lindgren seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Policy 6600 added the language of through the age of twenty-one, changes to disciplinary removal as it relates to a change of placement, and added a section stating all people involved in the implementation of an IEP shall have access to the IEP and specific responsibilities for carrying out the IEP. Paul Kuchar made a motion to approve the changes to Policy 6600. Sean Lindgren seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Policy 6700 changed to include concealed firearms due to passage of LB 77 constitutional concealed carry. It is still illegal to conceal carry in schools or on school grounds or in a school vehicle with limited exceptions. Sean Lindgren made a motion to approve the changes to Policy 6700. Paul Kuchar seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Policy 8130 changed to add recording secretary to the policy. Sean Lindgren made a motion to approve the change to Policy 8130. Tom Leathers seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr presented to the Board the New Policy Recommendations required by law.
Policy 1101 Use of School Facilities: Student Groups – LB 805 which was amended into Section 126 of LB 705. This policy requires schools to allow designated youth organizations the opportunity to provide information to students at the school but may not interfere with instructional time and must be scheduled through building administration. Sean Lindgren made a motion to adopt Policy 1101 Use of School Facilities. Tom Leathers seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Policy 6921 Seizure Safe Schools is necessary to be in compliance with LB 639. Each school will have a seizure safe plan. Paul Kuchar made a motion to adopt Policy 6921 Seizure Safe Schools. Tom Leathers seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Policy 6215 Collection of Information Relating to Dyslexia. LB 298 requires public school districts to submit information about student dyslexia to NDE. NDE will collect the data and provide a report to the legislature. Sean Lindgren made a motion to adopt Policy 6215 Collection of Information Relating to Dyslexia. Tom Leathers seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Policy 6930 Behavioral Points of Contact. Each school building must have at least one behavioral point of contact. Contacts must be listed on the school’s website and in the student handbook.
Paul Kuchar made a motion to adopt Policy 6930 Behavioral Points of Contact. Sean Lindgren seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr presented to the Board New Policy Considerations with first and second readings recommended.
Policy 4171 - Resignation of Certificated Employees. Mr. Luhr advised the Board that this policy would be worth considering. He will talk to the committee of the BCEA negotiations team about changing the date of accepting resignation letters from April 16th to March 15th. This policy will be discussed again at a later Board meeting.
Policy 5602 - Naloxone. Some schools have begun storing Naloxone(Narcan) in their buildings to address opioid overdoses. Sean Lindgren made a motion to approve the first reading of Policy 5602 - Naloxone. Tom Leathers seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Policy 6288 – Artificial Intelligence. This policy specifically addresses how students may incorporate artificial intelligence without violating plagiarism and cheating rules. Sean Lindgren made a motion to approve the first reading of Policy 6288 – Artificial Intelligence. Tom Leathers seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr presented to the Board the elementary and secondary handbooks with updates to both from Mr. Childers and Mr. Heimes. Paul Kuchar made a motion to approve the elementary and secondary handbooks with changes. Sean Lindgren seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr presented to the Board the 2023-24 Certified Handbook with changes. Sean Lindgren made a motion to approve the 2023-24 Certified Handbook with changes. Paul Kuchar seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr presented to the Board a chart of breakfast/hot lunch prices for the 2023-24 school year which included an array of prices from area schools. The 2023-24 proposed breakfast prices would increase .10 and the lunches would increase .05. The adult prices would remain the same at $2.25 for breakfast and $4.50 for lunch. The juice and extra entrée prices would also increase. The new breakfast prices would be $1.75 for PK-6th grades and $2.00 for 7-12th grades. The new lunch prices would be $2.50 for PK-6th grades and $2.75 for 7-12th grades. Tom Leathers made a motion to approve the proposed breakfast/lunch price increases. Sean Lindgren seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr presented to the Board a Building Fund invoice from CWP Architects in the amount of $1,155.40 for professional services rendered through May 31st. Paul Kuchar made a motion to approve the Building Fund invoice from CWP Architects for $1,155.40. Sean Lindgren seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr presented to the Board a Building Fund invoice from Mid-State Engineering & Testing in the amount of $2,091.00 for construction testing services through May 31st. Sean Lindgren made a motion to approve the Building Fund invoice from Mid-State Engineering & Testing for $2,091.00. Paul Kuchar seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr presented to the Board a Building Fund invoice from Hausmann Construction in the amount of $1,371,220.20 for construction services rendered through June 30th. Sean Lindgren made a motion to approve the Building Fund invoice from Hausmann Construction for $1,371,220.20. Paul Kuchar seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Comments were heard from the Board, Principals, and Superintendent.
With no further business, Board Vice President Toby Thompson adjourned the meeting at 7:24 P.M.
Submitted by,
Jake Luhr, Secretary Board of Education