School
Board Meeting
Sept. 8,
2014
Meeting called to order at 6:29
p.m. Corrections to the minutes and
consent to pull out an agenda item for further consideration in closed session
after regular board meeting.
Minutes approved with corrections and
consideration for further policy items placed as separate line items for
approval (recommended by MSBA) that comply with Federal and State
Laws (1-E14) approved.
No public comments
CMNEA Report- Susan McClintic- Updated the board on our activities
since June. 3 members attended the NEA
RA in Denver. CMNEA had a booth at CPS
Technapaloza and shared how technology can connect to the classroom with
support from NEA. Participants on this
day were able to sign up for support, register to receive information for their classrooms and win prizes. In August CMNEA held
building and leadership training for CMNEA leadership. CMNEA PAC also held an extensive training for
upcoming November and April elections.
Pencils and ear bugs were supplied to members who request them. Bargaining team met and updated training.
CMNEA is glad to see Columbia school board join discussion with many other boards
about Amendment 3. CMNEA will vote at
the Sept. meeting to hold a position on the Amendment. CMNEA hopes the school board will continue the discussion during this month's session.
MSTA Report- Susie Adams- Shared this was her first time at the
podium as MSTA local president, 21 year social studies veteran in CPS. Welcomed new teachers and stated that Battle Hired hired the
most new teachers. Privileged to work with
CMNEA and provide lunch and invite new teachers to join the organization which
bests matches their philosophy. New
transportation to Battle has been wonderful for working students and family
members.
Amendment 3 discussion heating up and
expressed gratitude to work with CMNEA, and with the collaborative effort we can
bring about change and looks forward to working with CMNEA in future
collaborative activities.
Discussion on board assignments to
committees as assigned by CPS Board President King
C. Amendment 3- Stiepleman gave facts about what this Amendment
would entail. Stiepleman shared what the
language meant and how it would affect local communities. He shared that there is a broad coalition of
community members across the state that is working to educate community members
on this issue. Evaluations would be
changed, even though Columbia has PBTE as our evaluation for teachers, the cost
of impact of the amendment was questioned when the foundation formula has never
been fully funded, and the future of the educational profession was a concern. With such strict restrictions, who would want
to become a teacher?
King wanted to
give time for public discussion and ask MSBA to come speak to CPS board at the
Oct. meeting before the vote.
·
Sessions shared that
he did have a sample language from MSBA about opposition to 3 and asked the
board to view it and vote on it.
·
Pries stressed
that the board vote now because the election would be here soon and did not
feel the board needed MSBA to “tell us how to think or feel.” Also shared that the legislation wouldn't even
touch this issue, letting everyone know that this is not best practice for our
state.
·
King then stated
that the board could move discussion up for their LATE Sept. board work meeting
and adopt the resolution then, but still allow for discussion at the Oct. board
meeting so that the public could learn about the Amendment.
·
Both Sessions and
Pries said that by the board adopting the resolution now, the board WOULD be
letting the public know about the Amendment and be ready to educate now. Sessions stressed that the election would be
here before we knew it and Oct. would be too late. Wade and Mees also voiced concern for waiting too long to oppose as a board, which represents the community.
·
Board went ahead
and decided to WAIT until Sept. work session to vote on the resolution and invite MSBA to
talk about 3 at the Oct. board meeting.
5.
Superintendent Report: District Goals:
·
To Be the Best in
the District. How? Through our core values
- Honesty and Transparency. Review the budget often to meet the needs of the district now, rather than later such as adjusting the budget.
- · Adaptability. We must be creative with discipline, attendance and achievement.
- · Teamwork: What is the focus of our district? We've dumped so much on teachers’ plates that it has become a platter. What is the true focus for our students, educational programs and teachers?
- · Commitment: to students, community and district.
- · We will be fiscally responsible with taxpayers’ money.
- · We will partner with the community to help children enter school ready to succeed.
- · Students will read on level by the end of third grade.
- · We will actively support student transitions.
- · Students will graduate with the necessary skills to enroll in college and /or a career program of their choice. (Cradle to Career)
- · Ninety percent of students will attend school at least ninety percent of the time.
- · Out of school suspension numbers will decrease.
- · Students will improve on district and state testing. This will be our rallying cry.
The team will:
- · Monitor with our progress using a balanced scorecard that is simple and makes sense.
- · Share our rallying cry with the whole community.
- · Be prepared with a support system for schools.
Question about decreasing the suspension
of students by pries, worried that this will burden teachers by keeping
troubled students in the room. Will
there be tools in place to still support teachers? Stiepleman said yes, because as students have
the right for safe schools, so do teachers.
Stiepleman does not want poor behaviors within the classroom, and
teachers will not be placed in harm’s way.
Pries and Sessions praised the goals.
Questions about the scorecard by
Whitt. Stiepleman will share a copy at
the October board meeting.
Cushing- Asking how some schools’ scores
went up/down. Stiepleman explained how
students fared overall in the past 3 years. (Basically leveled out, didn't make huge jumps again but are improving. There was much discussion about ratings and rating
points, meeting student needs and meeting a school’s need while staying within
budget.
Security System Enhancements- Hickman
and Rock Bridge high schools were greatly upgraded to HD cameras with remote
viewing. These schools were also upgraded
on alarms, staff key cards and more remote activation. Principals may view their schools on camera
and tape with Smart phones as long as they are in any CPS building. The district has purchased 40 emergency radios. There is one state of the art radio in every
building in the district to talk to someone OUTSIDE their building in order to
communicate to security. All schools now
have their video intercom and electric door lock. RB and Hickman will have student access
management going. Career center will get
going soon. There was some discussion
about various experiences with other schools and security.
Two Mile Prairie Elementary Signage.- Linda Quinley shared that a concerned parent from Two Mile provided
information about increased traffic, and fear that a student could get hurt
because of lack of sidewalk and drop off/pick up areas. These parents wanted a lower speed and clear
signs marking school ahead. All
voted yes, passed with Jim Whitt unable to vote due to sudden illness and left
early.
7.
New Business
a. 7 bids were submitted for construction
of Southwest Elementary. ORF
Construction from Bridgeton, MO. had a bid total of $16, 019,300 as the bid winner because of it
being the lowest. Cushing asked why not a local contractor. State law requires schools to contract with
lowest bidder. Ashland was the closest
local contractors (River City Construction) and they were set at 4,000.00
higher. No Columbia based contractor
sent a bid, even though an ad was in the paper for two weeks.
Accept the bid- All voted yes. One absent.
b. 2015 IBC code- Storm shelters.
Elementary schools will be required to have storm shelters. Columbia will have the opportunity to decide
if they will accept this new code or not.
It could cost $1M. Consideration
would have to be on the square footage of the building, ventilation, restroom
needs, etc. Stiepleman shared this
information about the building so the board was aware that this will be coming
down in the near future. No action
required. Quinley shared that should
this code come to be, the district would sell a Bond and get the monetary
resources from the sale.
C. Board voted for ratification of
summer authority contracts on building needs.
6 voted yes, one absent.
D.
Consideration on change orders for building contracts. CPS Board asked questions and asked for
clarification. 6 voted yes. One absent
E.
Consideration of policy. There is Policy
for district community involvement on district committees. As of now, there are 3 committees and
getting replacements. The proposal is to
add new wording in the policy of lowering the number of board members on
committees. Changed language to say, “Up
to 3 board members on committees” and then add language to seek replacements
when a board member resigns early in the school year. This would also allow the board president the
flexibility to appoint 1, 2, or even 3 board members on a committee. Debate on language and formation of
committees took place.
Moved to table discussion. No seconded.
More debate on what to do. Pries
finally seconded to table discussion.
All in favor? 5 voted yes. One abstained. One absent.
F. Quinley- Sessions moved to approve
updated budget. Quinley shared updating language, clearing up operational
transfers and net zero changes, and showing revenues over resources. Quinley also shared changes in capital action
because of finished projects over the summer.
Quinley asking to add funds for a cell tower near Battle High school,
and funds for repairs to schools after the July summer storm. 6 voted yes.
One absent.
Board announcements. Brief questions from board members.
Meeting adj. 8:37 p.m.
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