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 October Regular Board Meeting.

• Agenda
• Video Stream
• Mr. Josh Sikes and Mrs. Lindsey Jurgens were not present but gave prior notice.

Dr. Amanda Levos, GIPS English Learner Director & Equity Systems Navigator, and Melinda Sturgill, GIPS Welcome Center Coordinator, shared an overview of the EL Program and Welcome Center services with the Board.

Presentation highlights include insights and data as of this week:

• GIPS currently has 59 birth countries & 57 home languages represented in the student body.
• The Welcome Center has served 528 students so far in the 2024-25 school year. The 2023-24 school year total was 989.
• In June & July, GIPS hosted "Multilingual Registration Days" designed to more efficiently serve families needing to do assessment and registration thru the Welcome Center. Overall, we registered or assessed 101 students to prepare for the 2024-25 school year.
• Total number of EL Students at GIPS currently is 2,547 or 27% of district students.
• EL Program has grown by 379 students in the last two years.
• 9% of EL students recently redesignated as English Fluent. 209 scored proficient as of May 2024.
• 13% of EL students are served in the Newcomers program.
• In the 2024 Graduating Cohort, 23% of students (132) started in GIPS Newcomers. The average GPA for newcomers was 2.54; 18 graduated with a GPA of 3.5

Hear the full presentation HERE.

Mr. Dan Petsch, GIPS Grounds & Safety Director, shared an update with the Board on an opportunity regarding Shoemaker Elementary.

In order to bring coherence to the Shoemaker Elementary School, property already owned by the District and to set the stage for possible parking lot or other land improvements the District wishes to acquire this real estate. Back in 2015, the district reached out to the owner of the property just south of Shoemaker Elementary to inquire about selling. Recently, that owner reached back out to the district stating they were ready to sell. GIPS believes acquiring the property would be smart long-term planning as it would provide an opportunity to expand parking for Shoemaker when needed.

This was shared as both an information and action item at October's meeting.

Hear Mr. Petsch'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.

This policy requires us to pass an updated resolution that indicates the number of students we would accept in various programs (grades Kindergarten - 5th Grade) for the 2025-26 school year. Everything in the resolution remains the same. The only proposed change would be in the "Appendix" section of the resolution which updates a little of the wording.

This was shared as both a first read and action item at October's Meeting so it may be voted on to meet legal requirements.

Brand new proposed policy for the district.

After completing our QCPUF bonding process, a legal recommendation was made that the district actually implement a policy regarding the GIPS Cash Reserve. While the policy would be new, it would simply reflect the standard best practice our district has been following. Highlights of the policy include:

• The District will strive to maintain a cash reserve balance equivalent to three months of operating expenses in the General Fund.
• Lists approved uses for the cash reserves.
• Maps out the process of replenishment of cash reserves if needed.
• Highlights the process of investments regarding the cash reserves.

This was shared as an information item and will be up as an action item for vote at November's Board Meeting.

Regular review of an existing policy. No changes are being proposed.

This was shared as an information item and will be up as an action item vote at November's Board Meeting.

Regular review of an existing policy. No changes are being proposed.

This was shared as an information item and will be up as an action item vote at November's Board Meeting.

Regular review of an existing policy. Proposed changes would include:

• Changing “Physician” to “Healthcare Provider”
• Changing “Emergency Care Plan (ECP)” to an “Emergency Action Plan (EAP)”
• Adding a stipulation to complete and return the form for special dietary needs

This was shared as an information item and will be up as an action item vote at November's Board Meeting.

Matt Fisher, GIPS Superintendent, shared an update from the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation.

Highlights of the report included:

1. The Foundation announced its gratitude for all the outstanding support for our 3rd Annual Harvest Fundraiser. We are appreciative of all the support of GIPS Staff, Administration, Board’s both GIPS and GIPS Foundation as well as the overwhelming support of the community. Thank you to everyone for your stupendous generosity.
   
   
2. The GIPS Foundation is partnering with GEAR UP to offer a Scholarship Fair for our students and parents at the Islander Annex building on Thursday, November 20, 2024. There will be presentations on the local scholarship applications and booths for students and parents to visit. Several College partners have agreed to be there as well as Education Quest and GISH Academy Principals and Counselors.
   
   
3. The Foundation’s college scholarship online application will open December 1 and is accessible on our website: https://gipsfoundation.org/.

Hear the full Foundation report HERE.

Owen Williams, GISH Senior, was elected by his peers to represent them on the Board of Education as a Student Representative. At each Board Meeting, Owen shares a student report.

Highlights from Owen's report include:

• GISH hosted its first Pep Rally this week; the first one in three years!
• The Fall musical for GISH this year is "The Little Mermaid". Tickets are now on sale for the show. You may purchase tickets HERE.
• Katie Lofing & Sarah Wichman will be competing at State Girls Golf next week.
• GISH Cheer Camp welcomes over 100 K-5th Grade students.
• Softball is competing in districts hosted at Papillion La Vista.
• GISH Volleyball is currently ranked and having a strong season.
• Marching Band also received Superior Ratings at the Kearney Band Days and Harvest of Harmony competitions.
• GISH College Fair was Tuesday which welcomed over 40 post-high school opportunities
• Children's book authors Jim Munroe and Alan Katz and visited district Elementary schools.
• Starr Elementary recently hosted a Family Literacy Night which was successful.
• GISH GearUp has taken over 70 students on college visits this year so far. GearUp also has over 130 students signed up to visit UNK, UNO, & Wayne State.
• GISH hosted a volunteer fair sponsored by GearUp - 14 agencies were there; over 500 students attended
• Staff Shout-Out: Dennis Shelton, GISH Custodian

Hear Owen's full report HERE.

Mr. Fisher shared a Superintendent Report with the Board.

• Congratulations to our Board Student Representative, Owen Williams, on being named to the GISH 2024 Homecoming Court!
  
  
• The GISH Pep Rally hosted yesterday was a neat event. Over 400 students attended the event which was hosted after school. All Fall Activities, Sports, and Fine Arts were recognized.
  
  
• The College Fair at GISH this week was good. And thank you to Board Members, Eric & Carlos, who were on site providing opportunities for eligible students to register to vote.
  
  
• Parent / Teacher Conferences were hosted this week across the district.
  
  
• On November 12th for our Parent Advisory Council Meeting, John Spotts from NASB will be there giving a presentation for our parent group. His focus will be to share some of the challenges that education is facing.
  
  
• Today I attended a “Property Tax Reform” workshop being hosted by the NEbraska Chamber of Commerce in Lincoln. This was day one of a three session workshop. Much of today’s conversation was focused on, “How did we get where we’re at?”. Senators, Superintendents, and Community leaders were in attendance.
  
  
• Congratulations to Board Member Lisa Albers! She has achieved Level 8 for the NASB service award — which is an honor not many board members across our state receive. She is also being recognized with the “Excellence in Action Award” presented by the YWCA.
  

Hear Mr. Fisher's full report HERE.

Through mutual agreement between GIPS & Northwest Public Schools, when the City of Grand Island annexes land into the City of Grand Island and the corresponding land valuation is moved into the GIPS valuation, we enter into an annexation agreement as proposed for the City of Grand Island Ordinance 9938 - Wildwood Business Park dated 08/22/2023.

The land has an assessed valuation of $727,694. In consideration of the agreement, GIPS will pay NWPS a one-time lump sum payment of $43,090.86 on or before December 31, 2024.

Over time, this annexed farm land will add value to the Grand Island Public Schools valuation.

This was shared as an information item at September's Board Meeting.

MOTION PASSED: 7 - 0

See above information item for rationale.

MOTION PASSED: 7 - 0

Regular review of an existing policy. No changes were proposed.

This was shared as an information item at September's Board Meeting.

MOTION PASSED: 7 - 0

Regular review of an existing policy.

The only proposed edit would be to change the label "Elementary students" to simply say "students" so that the policy may be inclusive of all students.

This was shared as a first read item at September's Board Meeting.

MOTION PASSED: 7 - 0

See above policy update section for rationale.

MOTION PASSED: 7 - 0

Review of an existing policy.

Proposed changes would include:

• Removing “The” in front of Grand Island Public Schools so it would reflect the official name of GIPS.
• Also proposing a change that would specify the legal process and form a student must complete if they are 16 or less than 18 years of age and wanting to withdraw from school.

This was shared as a first read item at September's Board Meeting.

MOTION PASSED: 7 - 0

Review of an existing policy.

After discussion with the Nebraska Department of Education, the recommended adjustment would be to clarify that alternative disciplinary measures (while handled on a case-by-case basis) would be "inside the school". Previously the policy was unclear about whether "inside" or "outside" the school.

This was shared as a first read item at September's Board Meeting.

MOTION PASSED: 7 - 0