The Grand Island Public Schools "Board Brief" is an online monthly publication sharing the Board of Education meeting highlights, updates, campus recognitions, and more.

Here's a recap of the January 2024 Regular Board Meeting.

• Agenda
• Video Stream
• All Board members were present.

Keeping students’ learning experiences as the primary focus has helped us as we have worked to adjust to the financial future of the district. As we have shared throughout the process, there is a very real need for the GIPS district to find ways to lower our operational costs districtwide by $5 million.

Yesterday we shared an initial plan for the 2024-25 school year budget and staffing adjustments with the Board of Education at our January meeting. We wanted to take a moment to share that plan with you, our families and community, in hopes it may provide clarity into how we will adjust some things going into next school year.

You may hear the full update from Superintendent Matt Fisher by watching the video linked below.

Or, you may read the article on the district website HERE.

The Board operates with two internally elected officers of President and Vice President.

Here is what the process looks like:

• Nominations were called for by oral ballot.
• Voting was conducted by written ballot.
• Motions were made and accepted for the Board President and V.P. officers.

The GIPS Board President will be Hank McFarland who was re-elected with a voting margin of (5-4).

GIPS Board Vice President will be Josh Hawley with a voting margin of (5-4).

Cory Gearhart, GIPS Chief Information Officer, shared a district cyber security update with the Board.

Periodically GIPS needs to renew it's licensing for Firewalls, Anti-virus, Endpoint detection, VPN, Anti-malware, etc. We are extending the current equipment and licensing for 30 additional months to push us into the next E-Rate category two, five-year cycle.

This was shared as information and will be an Action Item up for vote at February's Board meeting.

Hear Mr. Gearhart's full presentation HERE.

Mr. Fisher shared the latest installment of district policy reviews and proposed updates. Descriptions of the proposals may be found immediately below.

Hear Mr. Fisher's full presentation on policies HERE.

Review of an existing policy.

A proposed change would be to clarify the title of "Hall County School District 2" which is the legal name for Grand Island Public Schools.

This was shared as first read and will be an Action Item for vote at February's Board meeting.

Review of an existing policy.

No proposed changes at the time of this regular review.

This was shared as first read and will be an Action Item for vote at February's Board meeting.

Review of an existing policy.

No proposed changes at the time of this regular review.

This was shared as first read and will be an Action Item for vote at February's Board meeting.

Review of an existing policy.

The only proposed change would be increasing the Pre-School class size limit from 15 students to 20 students per session or class. This increase would be within the framework mandated by the Nebraska Department of Education and would be consistent with the recommended budget adjustments for the 2024-25 school year.

This was shared as first read and will be an Action Item for vote at February's Board meeting.

Review of an existing policy.

The proposed changes would be to update the priority order of considering students transferring schools within the district. Priority two has slightly updated language. Priority three would be a new listing to the policy. The new priority order would read:

"Transfers will be reviewed and approved based on the following priority:

1. Capacity of grade level — Policy 8220 Admission of Resident Students
2. Sibling currently enrolled at requested school
3. Parent is a staff member at destination school
4. Day care needs
5. Attendance or discipline issues at neighborhood school
6. Enrollment Option Students

Applicants will be notified of approval or denial prior to the first day of school for the current year."

This was shared as first read and will be an Action Item for vote at February's Board meeting.

Adi Beltran, GISH Senior and Board Student Representative, shared her latest report with the Board of Education. A few highlights may be found below.

ATHLETICS

• Congrats to Coach Morrison - 100 Dual Wins
• Girls Wrestling - 3rd Straight Year Winning Flatwater Fracas
• Anyia Roberts become first Girls Wrestling Athlete to earn 100 wins
• Football was mentioned in the Lincoln Journal Star Team
  
  

• Show Choir hosted their Annual Kids Camp and performed at their annual Premiere Night. They performed well!

• Winter Ball was this past weekend. The student council was up early to decorate. The theme was "Under the Lanterns".

• The Superintendent Student Advisory Council (SSAC) met this week with Mr. Fisher. We had discussions on school environment, cell phones, and budget reductions. Mrs. Albers was also there to update us on period poverty and the good news about a bill for that being introduced at the state level.
• Really grateful to be a part of that group. I feel like we gain really good insight into the student body and this group is the most committed to making the most impact. Really glad to be a part of that.
• Cell Phone policies at GISH are going better than we thought it would!

Hear Adi's full report HERE.

Mr. Fisher shared a Superintendent Report with the Board.

A few highlights include:

• The Superintendent Student Advisory Council (SSAC) met with me this week. We had a really good conversation with the GISH student leaders. Such a thoughtful group and the real input they bring. They shared really good feedback about the new cell phone expectations and the Academy updates.
  
  
• The Elementary Show Choir Camp wrapped up. Want to give a "Nice Bike" to the Fine Arts Department for putting together a great camp. We’ve heard from a parent about how much of a positive impact it made to their child.
  
  
• Snow Days! We’re pacing ourselves about tomorrow (Friday).
  
  
• Been really focused on communicating as much as possible with our staff, families, and stakeholders about the work we’ve been doing on the budget.
  
  
• I got to sit in for the GISH Football Interviews. It has been a rewarding experience to be a part of that and to talk with our staff about how important the program can be for our young people.
  
  
• Legislative Session is now going on: One of the bills that has been introduced speaks directly to period poverty. This is something that’s really close to Mrs. Albers and our SSAC group with their work on it at GISH. Legislative Committee will continue to meet weekly for updates.
  
  
• Key Communicator’s will be meeting on Monday.

Hear Mr. Fisher's full report HERE.

This would allow the Grand Island Education Association (GIEA) to continue to be the exclusive bargaining agent with Grand Island Public Schools (GIPS) for the 2025-26 school year.

This was presented as first read at December's Board meeting.

Motion Passed: 9 - 0

Mr. Cory Gearhart, GIPS Chief Information Officer, also shared an update regarding Microsoft Office licensing in the district.

GIPS currently subscribes to a volume license agreement for Microsoft Office, by switching to an alternative educational program we can purchase equivalent licensing for a 6 year period and save a substantial amount over the current annual cost.

This was presented as information at December's Board Meeting.

Motion Passed: 9 - 0

Mr. Virgil Harden, GIPS Chief Financial Officer, shared a brief overview of the GIPS Annual Audited Financial Report.

The 97-page report was prepared by Porter & Co., CPA's. Mr. Harden confirmed that we have been given a "clean" audit report to state that the district's financial statements are accurate.

This was shared as information at December's Board Meeting.

Motion Passed: 9 - 0

Mr. Virgil Harde, GIPS Chief Financial Officer, also shared an update on the conversations the district has been having with Pinnacle Bank.

In a continuing effort to maximize investment revenue, maintain liquidity, and keep local tax proceeds continuously invested and therefore reinvested in Grand Island the GIPS Business Office in concert with the Board of Education Facilities and Finance Committee recommends pursuing bank accounts with Pinnacle Bank.

This was shared as information at December's Board Meeting.

Motion Passed: 8 - 0

Hank McFarland abstained from the vote as he is employed by Pinnacle Bank.

Mr. Virgil Harden, GIPS Chief Financial Officer, also shared a brief overview of the district's work in preparing for next school year's budget at December's Board meeting. Specifically pertaining to the need to decrease spending from the General Fund by $5 million.

Why do we need to decrease spending by $5 million?

• We want to continue our commitment to compensating our teachers and staff in a competitive fashion.
• ESSER III dollars will be going away next summer.
• Local valuation growth will result in less financial support from the state.

District has been working the past few months with GIPS Principals to brainstorm ideas and put plans together on how to be more efficient in spending. Here is how the district is currently working to split up the spending reductions:

• District Administration Level - $1.5 million
• Pre-K & Elementary School - $500,000
• Middle School - $1 million
• High School - $2 million

More details on the budget adjustments for 2024-25 may be found in the opening message of this newsletter above.

Hear the full conversation HERE.

Motion Passed: 9 - 0

Regular review of an existing policy.

A proposed change would be to change all "1's" listed in the term "Title I" to the Roman numeral I to be consistent with government listings.

This was presented as first read at December's Board meeting.

Motion Passed: 9 - 0

Regular review of an existing policy.

Proposing to expand the policy to include all schools to have Narcan Nasal Spray instead of just secondary schools. Also proposing to eliminate a paragraph speaking to specifics on storage instructions.

This was presented as first read at December's Board meeting.

Motion Passed: 9 - 0

The Board entered into Executive Session for the purpose of negotiations of the Superintendent's Contract.

Upon returning from the Executive Session the Board voted to approve Mr. Fisher's contract for the next school year at the same compensation rate he is currently on. Contract details will be uploaded to the district website as soon as the contract is finalized and submitted.

Mr. McFarland shared affirming comments of the decision and Mr. Fisher's role as the district leader. You may hear those comments HERE.

Motion Passed: 9 - 0