

GIPS Board Brief April 18, 2023
Updates from the GIPS Board of Education

GIPS Board Brief - April 18, 2023
The Grand Island Public Schools "Board Brief" is an online monthly publication dedicated to sharing the Board of Education meeting highlights, updates, campus recognitions, and more.
Today's edition recaps the regular April 17, 2023 GIPS Board meeting.
Board of Education Meeting - 4.17.2023
- Public Meeting Agenda
- Board Meeting Video Stream
- Below are highlights from the regular April Board Meeting.
- Board Members Mr. Josh Sikes and Mrs. Lindsey Jurgens were not present but gave prior notice to their absence.
Special Recognitions
GISH Student Artist Scholastic Gold Key Award Winners
The GIPS Board of Education recognized Mrs. Micki Nuss, GISH Art Teacher, and six Islander Artists who earned recognition from the 2023 Scholastic Arts Awards.
Each student recognized earned the prestigious Scholastic Gold Key Award for their original artwork:
- Cindy Garcia- Clay - Bust
- Kalyssa Littlejohn- Graphite Drawing - "Self Portrait"
- Angella Nguyen- Ink Pen Drawing - "Self Portrait"
- Aspen Poltack- Cardboard Mask - "Lion Head"
- Amy Smith- Graphite Drawing - "Their Life"
- Eboni Sughroue- Oil Painting - "Connections"
READ MORE about about the GISH Art program and their performance at the Scholastic Art show.
Way to go, Islanders!
Special Guest
Welcome, Chief Denney!
Newly appointed Grand Island Police Department Chief, Kevin Denney, was formally introduced to the Board of Education. Denney shared his history in law enforcement and SRO experience, insights on his approach to public safety, and affirmed the strong emphasis on security and safety GIPS carries in their schools.
We look forward to a friendly partnership with Chief Denney as we continue working with the GIPD.
Information Items
HOSA Happenings & Health Fair
HOSA is a student led organization of Future Health Professionals. Grand Island Senior High (GISH) has a chapter that is sponsored by the Academy of Medical Sciences and GISH teacher, Mrs. Megan Stone.
HOSA President, Alejandro Amador, and Vice President, MacKenzie Skarka, presented to the Board a recap of their year and the successes they've had as a chapter. They recapped activities, performance at the State Competition, earning trips to Nationals, and the Free Healthcare Services Fair they hosted with over a dozen community medical partners.
Catch their full presentation HERE.
We're proud of these student leaders!
GIPS Geometry Update & Algebra 2 Pilot
In order to meet college and career readiness benchmarks and support objective 2.2 on the On Track to Thrive 2025 Strategic Plan, students would benefit from access to high-quality instructional materials that focus on essential content and provide a balance of learning opportunities.
Dr. Danielle Buhrman, GIPS Math Curriculum Coordinator, provided an in-depth update on the need for updated math resources — especially at the secondary level.
The last resource adoption in Geometry took place in 2016-2017 and teachers will lose access to the previous digital materials after this school year. In order to meet college and career readiness benchmarks and support objective 2.2 of the On Track to Thrive 2025 Strategic Plan, students would benefit from access to high quality instructional materials that focus on essential content and provide a balance of mathematical rigor in regards to application, conceptual understanding, and procedural fluency.
Using a guaranteed and viable curriculum across the district is curriculum equity. We are clarifying the standards-aligned learning outcomes in our curriculum that should be common across ALL geometry classrooms. Specifically, this resource adoption would benefit math classrooms in the Freshman Academy, GISH Geometry students, and GISH Building Leadership.
Additionally, Dr. Buhrman shared a proposal for High School level Algebra teachers (three teachers) to participate in a pilot project geared towards enhancing Algebra curriculum by using the following resources:
- Illustrative Mathematics (currently adopted by Algebra 1)
- Open-Up Mathematics (currently being adopted by Geometry)
The intent is to select a resource by March of 2024 to adopt for the '24-'25 school year.
Catch Dr. Buhrman's full presentation HERE.
This was shared as an information item and will be back for voting next month.
American Civics Bi-Yearly Update
Dr. Evan Lee, GIPS Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator, shared the district's bi-annual update on the work of American Civics instruction within the district. This presentation is in compliance with Nebraska PL 79-724 and GIPS Board Policy 2230.
A few highlights include:
- K-12 current curriculum is aligned to the 2019 social students standards, public law, and GIPS Board Policies.
- GIPS social studies curriculum utilizes formative, interim, and summative assessments to measure mastery of standards, and incorporates large projects/events at 8th Grade and 9th Grade levels.
- 6th Grade curriculum devotes at least on hour per week to American History discussion, exploration of ethnic group contributions to the growth of America, historical background, memorization, and singing of patriotic songs, and more.
Please note: What is commonly known as Critical Race Theory (CRT) is not part of the GIPS curriculum.
Catch Dr. Lee's full presentation HERE.
Harvard Strategic Data Project Fellowship Update & Capstone Project
Mr. Pat Larson, GIPS Systems & Data Analyst, has been part of the Harvard Strategic Data Project Fellow program for the last two years. The Harvard SDP program is designed to help educational organizations to transform their use of data to improve student outcomes and help solve problems through evidence-based, forward-thinking principles.
Mr. Larson has been working for the past 16 months on a fellowship project studying student needs across campuses relating to high school graduation. His capstone project is being presented in May to the other Harvard fellows. Prior to his May presentation, Mr. Larson shared his key findings with the Board.
Catch the full presentation HERE.
Student & Parent Handbook Revisions for 2023-24
Every year a team of GIPS leaders from every level get together to review the district handbook. It provides an opportunity to make necessary adjustments where needed before the upcoming school year as well as affirm protocols that are working.
Dr. Robin Dexter, GIPS Associate Superintendent, shared an overview of proposed updates to the Student/Parent Handbook for the 2023-24 school year. Some of the updates would include:
- Updating info to the new HR Director.
- Updating "Welcome" letter.
- Expanding supports to include Married students along with pregnant or parenting students.
- Fixing policy cross references.
- Formalizing National Honor Society Membership Guidelines.
- Adjustments to Student/Parent Laptop Agreement forms.
Dr. Dexter's full presentation may be found HERE.
Student Representative Report
Zach Cloutier, GISH Student Representative, provided updates of the successes and upcoming events at Grand Island Senior High.
Here are a few highlights:
- ACT Day - First time all Juniors were required to attend the John Baylor prep session.
- AP Exams are coming-up in the first week of May.
- GISH hosted its Annual Hiring Fair.
- Academic Aristocrats Honors Night celebrated a large number of GISH Seniors.
- GISH Prom at Riverside will be April 29th.
- Student Elections are coming up which will include the Student Board Representative on the ballot alongside student body President, VP, and more.
- Superintendent Student Advisory Council (SSAC) is making tremendous project towards combating period poverty at Grand Island Senior High. They aim to break this topic and support free from any stigma or shame.
- Spring sports is finding success and increased participation across the board.
Thank you, Zach, for your leadership and student support!
Superintendent Report
Mr. Fisher shared a Superintendent Report with the Board.
A few highlights include:
- Superintendent Student Advisory Council (SSAC) has really done some nice work around the components Zach has highlighted. Their work is to be commended.
- The election for the Board Student Rep would include an application, vetting, and approval process before appearing on the ballot as suggested by the SSAC.
- Academic Aristocrats Honors Night was a huge success! The GIPS Foundation is awarding just shy of $600k scholarships to the Class of 2023.
- The GIPS Foundation Capital Campaign is drawing to a close. Contributing to those efforts helps show the commitment we have as a Board and District Leadership Team to the mission of the district.
- Also, Teacher of the Year Nominations will be open soon (per the GIPS Foundation)!
- Staffing continues to be something we’re talking about quite a bit. We are still actively recruiting and seeking applicants.
- We’re still about 18 elementary teachers short. We're actively recruiting and interviewing candidates for these positions.
- Still short about five Middle School science teachers. We’re looking to potentially bring back a few teachers out of retirement.
- One thing that helped us track staffing needs was the March 31st registration deadline. Helps us set and hold to our class size bands.
- Core Schedules at GISH were released earlier this year than in years past. Again, helps us forecast the need for staffing and class size expectations.
- April 26th is the Registered Apprentice signing day.
- Governor Pillen will be in attendance.
- A great opportunity to highlight things we are doing with our Academy program.
- Master Facility Planning Workshop on Friday of this week, April 21st.
Hear Mr. Fisher's full report and legislative update is available to watch HERE.
Action Items
Master Agreement with the GIEA
The Grand Island Education Association (GIEA) and the GIPS Board of Education have negotiated an agreement for the 2023-24 school year.
A few notable items include:
- $1,500 increase in base pay for educators — the largest single year increase in recent GIPS history.
- Expanded whole family insurance for Married Couples
- Increased overage pay for teachers
- Pay for unused sick leave upon retirement for staff who have served 30+ years
The full update shared by Mr. Kort last month may be found HERE.
Motion Passed: 7 - 0
Real estate listing agreement for the old Grand Island Public Schools Early Learning Center Property
The school district wishes to divest of the property located at 4360 W. Capital Avenue, which is the site of the old Early Learning Center. The property was declared as surplus property at a previous board meeting. Attached to this agenda item is a listing agreement with Realtor Al Avery. The school district will need to enter into the attached agreement and to designate the board president, Mr. Hank McFarland to execute the sale of the property on behalf of the school district.
Motion Passed: 7 - 0
Incumbency Certificate & Resolution with First National Capital Markets
Grand Island Public Schools currently invests funds held by the school district as cash reserve and as proceeds for bond fund payments in the Nebraska Liquid Asset Fund (NLAF). The district has enjoyed a long and stable investment history with NLAF. However, the investment products that are made available to the district through NLAF can be somewhat limited, contingent upon market conditions. Due to the fact that investments are somewhat limited, the district is unable to maximize its capital investment to help offset operating costs and debt repayment.
First National Capital Markets offer additional, secure investment opportunities for the school district, such as the opportunity to invest in treasury products, which produce a higher rate of return on investment than the CD investments typically offered by NLAF. The recommendation from the Finance Office is to open an account with First National Capital for the purpose of creating additional investment tools to the district's portfolio in order to make the best use of the taxpayers' investment in the school district.
Motion Passed: 7 - 0
Resolution to Open First National Bank Simple Business Account and to Designated Approved Signers on the Account
In conjunction with the creation of the First National Capital Market Account, Grand Island Public Schools will need a Business Operating Account to manage financial transactions with First National Bank. The recommendation is to open a Simple Business Account with the First National Bank branch in Grand Island, Nebraska, for this specific and solitary purpose. The board president, superintendent, board secretary, and the chief financial officer should be authorized to transact on the account.
Motion Passed: 7 - 0
Panorama Survey Renewal
The Panorama Survey surveys students, staff, and parents to gather input on how they and their students are supported in school. This tool is used to monitor school climate and culture in GIPS schools. The NDE school improvement process requires a survey to gather student, staff, and parent input.
Panorama Education partners with schools and districts to collect and analyze data about social-emotional learning, school climate, family engagement, and more. With research-backed surveys and a leading technology platform, Panorama helps educators act on data to improve student outcomes. Panorama has supported millions of students in thousands of schools across 45+ states, which allows for the development of valid and reliable questions to collect, disaggregate, and compare data to inform school improvement.
The vote focused on renewing GIPS' contract with Panorama for one more year.
Dr. Robin Dexter shared an in-depth overview last month of how GIPS has utilized Panorama in the district since 2018. Learn more about Panorama at GIPS on the district website HERE.
Before voting, the Board also shared a discussion on the merits of utilizing the Panorama resource, the costs involved, and how GIPS uses the data to enhance student experiences. That conversation may be found HERE.
Motion Passed: 4 - 3
May '23 Board Meeting
Live stream for the Board meeting will be available on the GIPS YouTube channel.