August Board Minutes
by Web Development
September 03, 2009
Proceedings of the
Bridgeport Public Schools
Morrill County School District #63
Board of Education
Monday, August 10, 2009 – 7:00 PM
Jr./Sr. High School Media Center
President Justin Corman called the regular meeting to order at
7:00 p.m. Roll call was taken. Members present: George Chikos, Kay
Anderson, Justin Corman, Dale Nichols, Vickie Hall, and Ken
Jacobson. Also present were Superintendent Dave Miller, Recording
Secretary Vonnie Brown, Elementary Principal Kevin Myers, High
School Principal Titus Staples, and visitors.
President Corman informed the public of the Open Meetings Act
posted by the library door.
It was moved by Anderson and seconded by Jacobson to approve the
agenda with the addition of Item I regarding a telephone
notification system. Yes: Chikos, Anderson, Hall, Nichols, and
Corman. No: Jacobson.
There were no communications.
Visitors Ed Flynn, Tammy Dean, and Willis Beyer were
recognized.
Business Meeting:
After some discussion regarding board expenditures, it was moved by
Chikos and seconded by Hall to approve the Consent Agenda. The
Consent Agenda includes the financial reports and payables ending
July 31, 2009, and August General Fund payroll and Summer School
payroll and withholding of $429,600.81. Yes: Chikos, Jacobson,
Anderson, Nichols, Hall, and Corman. No: none.
Bills paid were as listed:
Paid To Amount
Building Fund
ZM Lumber 864.96
864.96
Depreciation Fund
Buller Fixture Company 10,730.00
Clemco Inc. 25,612.65
Gary's Cleaning and Restoratio 4,606.71
40,949.36
Employee Benefits Fund
PayFlex Systems USA 124.60
124.60
General Fund
Summer School Wages 20,926.25
Advancing Technology 4,873.15
Airgas Intermountain 30.21
AJ Sheet Metal 151,523.22
Cynthia Almquist 742.24
Bateman's Trading Post 399.40
Bigger Faster Stronger 619.00
Blue Cross Blue Shield of NE 1,890.25
Bridgeport News Blade 119.52
Capital Business Systems Inc. 1,764.03
Capital Business Systems 89.84
City of Bridgeport 4,553.21
Cranmore Pest Control LLC 85.00
Culligan Water Conditioning 123.09
Christina Deines 88.00
ESU #13 11,018.12
Farm Plan 90.52
Gamble Store 224.16
GTM Sportswear 46.00
Hillyard Inc. 1,825.67
Hotsy Equipment Company 22.86
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 173.60
Insight Public Sector 1,184.98
Michelle Keszler 282.70
Source Gas 206.20
Koke's Auto Farm Truck 1,304.64
Lee's Service 1,052.40
Linweld 11.53
Lisa Lussetto 133.65
McGraw - Hill 119.40
Morrill County Community Hospi 437.00
Nebraska Central Equipment 505.51
NE Safety & Fire Equipment 582.00
Nebraska School Activities Ass 8.00
Omaha Truck Center 70,000.00
Principal Life Ins Co 1,248.98
Purchase Power 1,915.43
Platte Valley National Bank 2,393.62
Qwest 607.18
Riverside Lumber 438.24
Rogers Athletics 242.00
Bev Sestak 49.87
Clay Sheldon 2,150.00
Sportime 305.98
Staples Credit Plan 1,544.13
Sweet Things Bakery 21.15
TALX UCM Services 125.66
US Bank 286.00
Verizon 343.52
VIAERO 564.93
Voss Lighting 904.36
Wells Fargo Card Services 1,943.72
21st Century 351.00
Airgas Intermountain 31.22
Capital Business Systems Inc. 12.95
Ideal Laundry and Cleaners Inc 472.71
Nebraska Central Equipment 91.01
Panhandle Coop System 231.80
Performance Auto Spa 30.00
293,360.81
Lunch Fund
Cash-Wa Distributing 2,120.40
ESU #13 642.29
2,762.69
The board congratulated Mr. Myers, Elementary Principal, in his new
venture upon the purchase of Bridgeport NewsBlade. They also
welcomed Mr. Staples as the new High School Principal.
Unfinished Business:
Student Fees, Parental Involvement Policy, and Allowable Growth
Rate were discussed at a hearing on July 31. Mr. Miller provided
additional information regarding the growth rate. It is a number
calculated by the Department of Education and originally was
applicable to budget calculations that no longer serves any
purpose. It was moved by Hall and seconded by Chikos to approve the
Student Fees Policy, the Parental Involvement Policy, and the
Allowable Growth Rate of 3.1653%. Yes: Corman, Anderson, Nichols,
Hall, Jacobson, and Chikos. No: None.
Ed Flynn of A. J. Sheetmetal reported on the status of the Air
Conditioning project. The chiller is due to be here on the 14th.
Projected completion date for the project is now September 1 -12.
Mammoth will be here Monday, August 17, to test the air handling
equipment. There were three change notices presented by AJ
Sheetmetal for an electrical deficiencies, finish work for
replacement work done in the gym, and new air handling units. It
was moved by Chikos and seconded by Jacobson to approve the three
change notices. Yes: Corman, Anderson, Nichols, Hall, Jacobson, and
Chikos. No: None.
Willis Beyer, Maintenance and Transportation Director, spoke to the
board regarding the time that was required for him to be present at
the school this past summer to be available and assist the
construction staff with the Air Conditioning Project. With these
requirements on his time, he has been unable to use his vacation
time. He requested that he be paid out the balance of his vacation.
It was moved by Jacobson and seconded by Chikos that the school
give Willis Beyer his vacation as pay rather than time this year.
Yes: Corman, Anderson, Nichols, Hall, Jacobson, and Chikos. No:
None.
New Business:
Tammy Dean attended the National School Nurse’s Conference in
Maryland this summer and she thanked the board for supporting her
attendance at the conference. She said that the National status of
the conference gave insights to situations that could be coming and
a ‘heads up’ on trends in nursing and disease prevention.
Rauner & Associates, of Sidney, Nebraska, have been the
auditors for Bridgeport Public Schools for several years and
administration is satisfied with their performance. It was moved by
Chikos and seconded by Jacobson to approve Rauner & Associates
to perform the 2008-2009 school year audit. Yes: Corman, Anderson,
Nichols, Hall, Jacobson, and Chikos. No: None.
Letters were sent to Bateman Trading Post, Lee’s Service, and
Panhandle Coop, asking them if they would like to participate in
the gas purchase rotation as they have in the past. All three have
responded and do want to participate. It was moved by Jacobson and
seconded by Chikos to approve continuation of the gas purchase
rotation. Yes: Corman, Anderson, Nichols, Hall, Jacobson, and
Chikos. No: None.
The board reviewed the staff handbook and recommended changes
pertaining to fund raising and purchasing procedures. It was moved
by Hall and seconded Jacobson to approve the Staff Handbook with
the recommended changes. Yes: Corman, Anderson, Nichols, Hall,
Jacobson, and Chikos. No: None.
The board reviewed the Computer Usage Policy as well as a Parent
Waiver form for the new school-wide e-mail system from gaggle.net.
This system is interactive for teachers and students that includes
homework drop off and assignments. It was moved by Chikos and
seconded by Nichols to approve the Computer Usage Policy and
acknowledgement forms. Yes: Corman, Anderson, Nichols, Hall,
Jacobson, and Chikos. No: None.
NASB has formed a consortium in order to access the 2008-2009
Medicaid reimbursement funds. To join this consortium, the board
must sign a resolution to become members in the consortium. It was
moved by Jacobson and seconded by Hall to sign the NASB Medicaid
Consortium Membership Agreement. Yes: Corman, Anderson, Nichols,
Hall, Jacobson, and Chikos. No: None.
Justin Corman gave a status report on teacher negotiations. The
Bridgeport Education Association (BEA) and Negotiations Committee
have met once and discussed some options. They will meet again on
August 19.
Mr. Miller spoke with Tracy Shuck, the school’s consultants for the
lunch program. Mr. Shuck recommended an increase of five cents for
breakfast and ten cents for lunch in an attempt to break even for
the 2009-2010 school year. It was moved by Anderson and seconded by
Nichols to raise the lunch prices as recommended. Yes: Corman,
Anderson, Nichols, Hall, Jacobson, and Chikos. No: None.
The school has been looking into a telephone notification system
that is an option offered on the Infinite Campus program that is
already in place at the school. This system will make telephone
calls with a recorded message to designated groups, or to the whole
list of numbers, with notifications of such things as snow days
late starts and early outs, activity buses running late, special
activity practices, etc. It was moved by Chikos and seconded by
Nichols to approve enrollment in this system. Yes: Corman,
Anderson, Nichols, Hall, and Chikos. No: Jacobson.
Discussion and Reports:
There was discussion of the Beginning of the Year picnic being held
at the east park August 18 at 6:30 p.m. There will be hamburgers
and hot dogs, salads, chips, drinks, and dessert. Gail Beyer will
begin setup by 4:00 p.m. Board members were asked to arrive by 6:00
p.m. to help with preparations.
There was $100,000 budgeted to be transferred from the General Fund
to the Depreciation Fund. It was moved by Anderson and seconded by
Hall to approve the transfer as Capital Outlay to facilitate
appropriate capital projects. Yes: Corman, Anderson, Nichols, Hall,
Jacobson, and Chikos. No: None.
Mr. Myers reported that 24 staff members attended Reading Mastery
training. He was pleased with the turnout as he wants the staff to
stay excited about the reading program. It has worked very well
toward helping Bridgeport Public Schools meet Annual Yearly
Progress (AYP). At the Inservices, teacher groups will work on
aligning curriculum to meet reading standards and identifying what
standards need supplemented.
Mr. Staples reported that the schedule is done, gaggle.net has been
implemented, there is a new floor in the Weight Room, athletic
conditioning began today, TeamMates lead group has met,
administration is working on needs assessment for the building,
custodians and office staff have been working to free up space for
a meeting room in the high school, Job Shadowing program has been
revised and expectations set up, dress codes have been discussed,
and storage has been reorganized. Plans have been made for
Inservice to open up communications.
Mr. Miller read a letter from Mrs. Hoxworth regarding an incident
while traveling in the school vehicle. She suggested the school
implement a procedure plan and ensure that certain roadside
equipment is in the school vehicles. The superintendent’s office
will research roadside assistance insurance plans and establish a
procedure protocol for breakdowns.
Mr. Miller reported on a solicitation visit that he had from Human
Ex. It is a company that does training to recognize talented
individuals and assists in communication. It was suggested that Mr.
Miller observe for himself for this year. After the first year, if
he feels the school would benefit from the services offered by
Human Ex, the board would consider contracting with them.
Mr. Miller reported on the retrofit grant for air conditioning
projects that was discussed at the last meeting. Bridgeport Public
Schools does not qualify for the grant as it is only for homes at
this time.
It was moved by Jacobson and seconded by Nichols to adjourn at 8:45
p.m. Yes: Chikos, Jacobson, Anderson, Nichols, Hall, and Corman.
No: none.
Respectfully Submitted,
Vonnie Brown
Recording Secretary
Approved by:
Dave Miller, Superintendent
Public Notice is hereby given that the next regular meeting of the
Bridgeport Board of Education will be at 7:00 p.m. on Monday,
September 14, at the Bridgeport Public Schools Media Center. Agenda
will available upon request at the Superintendent’s Office at 800 Q
Street after September 10.
