Minutes of Regular Monthly Meeting
May 8, 2008
by Paula Jensen
May 15, 2008
Elgin Public School Board
Regular May School Board Meeting
Distance Learning Room EPS
May 8, 2008 7:30 PM
President Heithoff called the regularly scheduled May 2008 Elgin Public School Board Meeting to order at 7:30 PM. Board members present were Steve Heithoff, Stan Heithoff, Laurie Waterbury, Mary Bauer, Bruce Anderson, and Scott Beckman. Also present were Principal Fisher, staff member Krista Eisenhauer and Dennis Morgan of the Elgin Review. Mike Schmitt of Schmitt Construction, and Rhoda Bjelland of Guarantee Roofing also attended the meeting. Dr. Fredrickson was absent due to illness.
President Heithoff reminded everyone that a copy of the Nebraska open meeting law was posted in the meeting room.
School board meeting notice complied with Meeting Notice Policy # 204.07.
Bauer moved, Waterbury seconded, to approve consent agenda items #4- approve the minutes from the previous meeting, the regular April school board meeting, item #6- accept the April 2008 financial report, and item # 7- board bills, and to remove item # 5 adopt the agenda for individual consideration. Motion passed on a 6 to 0-yes vote.
Stan Heithoff moved to adopt the agenda as amended. Drainage work was added to item #16, and summer mowing, item #19, had inadvertently been left off the school website agenda. Both were added to the meeting agenda. Anderson second. Motion passed on a 6 to 0 yes vote.
Title 1 instructor, Krista Eisenhauer presented one of the reading strategies she has implemented, Rewards Reading, to the board.
Principals Report- Mr. Fisher reported that graduation will be May 10, and the last day of school for students will be May 16. The gym floor will be refinished this summer and the new sound system has been installed in the gym. The Awards Banquet and the High School music program had been held, and the elementary music concert will be May 13. District Track was held in Burwell, May 7, and District Golf will be held May 12. New junior high football helmets will need to be replaced as the ones in use are no longer legal to use.
Superintendents Report- Dr. Fredrickson’s report included information regarding the Northern Tier literacy council’s summarizing of the DIBELS reading scores, and the Northern Tier legislative study.
The Board recognized the instrumentalists and vocalists for all receiving superior ratings at District Music Contest, under the direction of music director, Mrs. Deb Jones. Krista Eisenhauer on earning her Masters Degree in curriculum and instruction. Mrs. Rita Heithoff and the art students earning awards at the ESU and NVC art shows. Conner Kinney for receiving first place in the Modern Woodmen Speech Contest. Academic
All-State winners, Alisha Anderson, Brent Mahnke, Nathan Niewohner, and Tyler Reestman. Jennifer Bush was recognized for the honor of being selected as the ELKS Teen of the Year, and for being a member of the state qualifying OID speech team. Also recognized were the members of the District Runners Up, boys track team, and state track meet qualifiers Matt Anderson, Tyler Johnson, Chris Dewald, Clint Meis and Justine Meis.
The board considered elementary roof bids and proposals from Guarantee Roofing and Schmitt Construction.
Anderson moved, Waterbury second, to accept a bid of $23,955 for replacement of the elementary building roof from Guarantee Roofing. The motion passed with a unanimous yes vote.
The board also discussed several summer improvement projects. Mike Schmitt of Schmitt Construction was present to explain the bids and review projects.
Stan Heithoff moved to accept a bid of $14,860 for concrete work, drainage work, installation of a shop fan, seal the northeast elementary basement wall, and install hand railings, from Schmitt Construction. Bauer second. Motion passed on a 6 to 0 yes vote.
Waterbury moved to hire Jan Schmitt for summer mowing. Stan Heithoff second. The motion received a 6 to 0 yes vote.
Anderson moved, Bauer second, to purchase a Collins-14 passenger mini bus for $47,600. The motion received a unanimous yes vote.
The board and Principal Fisher reviewed the 403B Plan components for District 18, Elgin Public Schools.
Stan Heithoff moved, Anderson second, to accept a bid of $2,640 from Deets Furniture and Flooring to replace carpet in the administrative offices. Motion passed 6 to 0, yes vote.
Andereson moved to accept changes/updates to the 2008/2009 student handbook. Waterbury second. This motion passed with a 6 to 0 yes vote.
Proposed additions and changes to the teachers’ handbook were reviewed.
Anderson moved to approve use of school vans for summer activities. Beckman second. Motion passed on a 6 to 0 yes vote.
Waterbury moved, Beckman second, to accept the resignation of staff member Barb Best. The motion passed on a 6 to 0 unanimous yes vote.
Bauer moved to accept the contract for Amy Selting as 7-12 Business Education Teacher. Stan Heithoff second. Motion passed on a 6 to 0 yes vote.
Anderson moved to enter closed session for personnel and teacher negotiations to protect the public interest and prevent the needless injury to the reputation of an individual, and that no individual has requested a public meeting. Bauer second. Motion passed on a 6 to 0 yes vote.
President Heithoff then restated the motion to enter closed session for personnel and teacher negotiations to protect the pubic interest and to prevent the needless injury to the reputation of an individual, and that no individual has requested a public meeting.
The board entered closed session at 10:34 PM to discuss personnel and teacher negotiations.
The board returned to open session at 11:00 PM.
The board discussed staff survey components.
There will be a NASB open meetings law workshop, in Norfolk, June 24th.
The next regularly scheduled Elgin Public School Board meeting will be Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 7:30 PM, in the distance learning room, Elgin Public High School.
Waterbury moved to adjourn at 11:36 PM. Bauer second. Motion passed with a 6 to 0 yes vote.
Scott Beckman – Board Secretary
--This is a draft copy, and does not become the official Elgin Public School Board minutes until approved at the next regular or advertised meeting.
