Superintendent Matt Fisher (middle) addresses the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education Aug. 8, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education members will interview candidates for the vacant Ward C position in an open session after their Sept. 12 Board regular Board meeting.
Board member Katie Mauldin submitted her resignation Aug. 5 because she is moving to another community to work. Mauldin represented Ward C and was elected in 2022.
Superintendent Matt Fisher told the Board Aug. 8 that they had 45 days to select Mauldin’s replacement. That deadline is Sept. 19.
Advertisements will be placed seeking applicants for the position. A deadline for submitting an application was not mentioned at the Aug. 8 Board meeting. Board members voted 8-0 to accept Mauldin’s resignation.
The Board heard a lengthy presentation from Jill Buettner, Summer Learning Design Coordinator, about summer programs offered in the school district. Buettner said the summer programs can’t just be remedial math and English instruction, because that will not attract students. Summer offerings included an English Language Learner program at West Lawn Elementary School; summer school at Dodge, Howard, and Lincoln Elementary Schools; Power Camp which emphasizes STEAM learning (science, technology, engineering, art, and math); middle school programs at Barr, Walnut, and Westridge; and a high school program. The high school program was for “credit recovery” for classes that needed to be completed, and 380 students were registered. The high school also had programs including those for migrant students and Newcomers.
There were numerous sports camps offered. Also, an art camp and robotics camp were offered. An AP/Honors Boot Camp was another course offering. JUMPSTART6 is a program to help students transition into sixth grade.
Police Chief Kevin Denney and Sgt. Ryan Rathman talked about the School Resource Officer program. The memo of understanding for the program is on next Tuesday’s City Council meeting agenda. The Board of Education voted 8-0 to table taking action on an MOU because they did not yet have one approved by the City Council.
The Board also voted 8-0 to table taking action on a district emergency operations plan because it was not included with their Board packet.
At the start of Thursday’s Board meeting, recognition of students occurred for their work on Advanced Placement and ACT testing.
Chief Financial Officer Virgil Harden told the Board that the district’s previous auditor had departed, leaving him scrambling to find a replacement. The Board voted 8-0 to approve BerganKDV as the district’s auditor.
Paul Grieger, managing director of public finance at D.A. Davidson Company, spoke to the board about funding for Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund (QCPUF) school safety and security projects. He also talked to them about bond fund tender offer refinancing.
In other action Thursday night:
*The Board voted 8-0 to approve Nebraska Statute 79-3405 Tax Authority Resolution.
*The Board voted 8-0 to approve changes in Board Police 6230 Staff Protection that deals with employees who are physically injured at work.
*The Board voted 7-1 to approve changes in Policy 8312 Excessive Absenteeism. Students who have 10 unexcused absences per semester or 20 unexcused absences in a school year are deemed to have excessive absenteeism. Board member Dave Hulinsky voted against the motion.
*The Board voted 8-0 to approve changes in Policy 8470 Weapons and Firearms in School. A change requires people such as a law enforcement officer not in uniform but in possession of a firearm to provide documentation to school staff upon entering the building.
*Heard a report from Grand Island Public Schools Foundation Executive Director Kari Hooker-Leep about back-to-school activities and a report from Fundraising Coordinator Mike Bockoven about the Harvest fund-raiser, which will be Sept. 26 at Riverside Golf Club.
