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 June 2025 Regular Board Meeting.

• Agenda
• Video Stream
• Tracy Goodman was not present but gave prior notice.

Celia McCoy made her mark both in the Grand Island Senior High record books and at the State level this year.

The lead hurdler on the GISH Girls Track & Field Team earned two Gold Medals at the Nebraska State Track Meet in May by winning both the 100 and 300 meter hurdle races. Additionally, she broke the school record (again) this season for the 300m Hurdles and set a new all-area record.

She also earned the overall 100m All Class Medal from the NSAA State Track Meet.

Congratulations, Celia!

The GISH Unified Track & Field Girls Team made history this year. For the first time in school history, the Girls Unified Track & Field Team qualified for the girls only division (in its first year) at the NSAA State Track & Field Meet.

The Unified Girls Team swept all four events bringing home the Gold Medal in the Long Jump, 100 Meter Dash, Shot Put, and the 4x100 Meter Relay along with a number of additional placement medals. Congratulations to these students:

• Wendy Kolar
• Aurora Karr
• Sophia Mora
• Bailey Senff

Go, Islanders!

Dr. Carrie Kolar, GIPS Chief of Human Capital Management, shared a proposed update to Extra Standard Compensation for the district.

Proposed extra standard updates would include:

• Vocal Music will be changed to Show Choir to eliminate confusion about the assignment.
  
  
• FBLA will be changed to DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America); both are business focused.
  
  
• Adding the following Coaching or Sponsor roles: Assistant GISH Track Coach, Assistant GISH Unified Track Coach, Assistant GISH Cross Country Coach, Middle School Speech Sponsor, Middle School Assistant Speech Sponsor, GISH HOSA Assistant Sponsor, & GISH Assistant Bowling Coach.

Dr. Kolar presented the requests to add seven extra standard positions (mentioned above) for the 2025-26 school year to support learning and extracurricular activities at our Middle Schools and GISH. The total cost would be $14,166.

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

Here Dr. Kolar'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.

Regular review of an existing policy.

The proposed update would include:

• Removing the “The” listed before the name “Grand Island Public Schools”.

This was shared as a first read item and will be up as an Action Item vote at the July Board meeting.

Regular review of an existing policy.

No changes are being proposed at this time.

This was shared as a first read item and will be up as an Action Item vote at the July Board meeting.

Regular review of an existing policy.

No changes are being proposed at this time.

This was shared as a first read item and will be up as an Action Item vote at the July Board meeting.

Regular review of an existing policy.

Only proposed change would be to remove the name of the timecard keeping platform used (as it has changed in the district) and replace it with "time record".

This was shared as a first read item and will be up as an Action Item vote at the July Board meeting.

Regular review of an existing policy.

The proposed updates would include:

• Removing the “The” listed before the name “Grand Island Public Schools”.
• Removing the word "accrual" in two sentences as it serves as a redundant word usage.

Regular review of an existing policy.

This policy had not been reviewed since 2011 and was in need of some updates to better reflect best practice and meet state standards.

Notable proposed changes would include:

• Updated the definition of what “reduction in force” means to better model the industry standard for school districts across Nebraska.
• Superintendent would share recommendations for “positions” for reduction, rather than naming individuals.
• Provides an list of considerations that would be made if making a recommendation for reduction.
• Clarified the legal requirements on the “right of recall”.

This was shared as a first read item and will be up as an Action Item at the July Board meeting.

Regular review of an existing policy.

Due to a new statewide legislative mandate, a few new additions and refinements are needed to be reflected in the current district policy. The State provided a model policy stating that public school districts are required to either adopt the model policy, or one that closely resembles the model.

Much of the current policy would stay the same. A few notable updates to the existing policy would include:

• Changing the policy name to "Student Dress Code & Grooming" (state requirement)
• Adding the specific mention that students are allowed to wear religious attire, adornments, and other attie associates with race, national origin, or religion.
• Adding that students are permitted to wear natural and protective hairstyles.
• Adding that attire should not promote violence, drugs, alcohol, profanity, or hate speech.

This was shared as a first read item and will be up as an Action Item at the July Board meeting.

1. The Foundation received more than 2000 nominations for 489 teachers and staff for the 2025 Teacher of the Year Program (Teacher/ Staff Member/ Administrator of the Year.) This year we went online with all nominations, this afforded the Foundation the ability to provide to e-mails all these nominations e-mailed out to those who were nominated before the end of the school year. Winners will be announced at the Welcome Back in August. For the 21st year, our Sponsor for this program will be First National Bank of Omaha.
   
   
2. The Foundation Board will have the following business before them at their June 17, 2025 meeting:
   a. Teacher of the Year Winner Recommendation
   b. Miller Legacy Scholarship and GIPSF Professional Development Grant recipient will be recommended
   c. 2025 Audit Engagement
   d. Investment Policy Review
   
   
3. The Foundation board will also review the 2025 Scholarship Program Statistics including feedback from reviewers and the annual scholarship application integrity audit.
   
   
4. The Foundation Board does not plan to meet in July.

Mr. Fisher shared a Superintendent Report with the Board.

• We have a number of different Summer Schools and Programs taking place this month.
  
  
• On Monday I met with the Activities Directors (High School & Middle School) to discuss budgeting processes and eligibility policies.
  
  
• We recently discussed the needs for repairing musical instruments across the district. We’re also seeing exciting growth in band activities at our Middle Schools.
  
  
• Met this week with the College Park Board. The discussion was focused on finding a strong State College partnership for College Park. Chadron State had representation there alongside other leaders of the Community. The idea was floated to potentially explore a joint partnership with Chadron State, Wayne State, & Peru State Colleges to work together in providing support at College Park.
  
  
• Budget materials from the State Auditor’s office are now available. We’re in the process of reviewing those so we may continue our budgeting work.
  
  
• This year’s Legislative session is complete. We have a number of things we’ll work our way through with some of the new legislation that has come as a result.

Hear Mr. Fisher's full report HERE.

Regular review of an existing policy.

Proposed updates would include:

• Removing the “The” listed before the name “Grand Island Public Schools”.
• Updating a few of the protocols to better coincide with current practices in the district regarding internet use.

This was shared as a first read item at the May Board meeting.

MOTION PASSED: 8 - 0

Regular review of an existing policy.

Proposed updates would include:

• Updating the job title of the Human Resources Director to reflect the current job title which is, “Chief of Human Capital Management”
• Updating phrasing to say “personnel records” rather than “personnel records files”.
  
  

This was shared as a first read item at the May Board meeting.

MOTION PASSED: 8 - 0

Regular review of an existing policy.

Proposed updates would include:

• Removing the “The” listed before the name “Grand Island Public Schools”.
• Updating “music and physical education instruction” to read as “specials instruction” so it covers all specials classes.

This was shared as a first read item at the May Board meeting.

MOTION PASSED: 8 - 0

Regular review of an existing policy.

The proposed update would include:

• Removing the “The” listed before the name “Grand Island Public Schools”.

This was shared as a first read item at the May Board meeting.

MOTION PASSED: 8 - 0

Regular review of an existing policy.

Proposed updates would include:

• Removing the “The” listed before the name “Grand Island Public Schools”.
• Removing one phrase “the support” and simply referencing classified staff as such.

This was shared as a first read item at the May Board meeting.

MOTION PASSED: 8 - 0

Regular review of an existing policy.

The proposed update would include:

• Removing the “The” listed before the name “Grand Island Public Schools”.

This was shared as a first read item at the May Board meeting.

MOTION PASSED: 8 - 0

Regular review of an existing policy.

Proposed updates would include:

• Proposal would eliminate the existing policy and replace it with a newly written one.
• New draft for the policy was provided by Perry Law Firm.
• Update would make the policy more general to adhere to the federal requirements.

After much discussion, the feedback was to take a second look at some of the wording of the policy regarding birth certificates. The intent is to bring this back to the policy committee for a little more work.

A motion was made to table this policy for further review and then bring it back for another vote consideration.

MOTION TO TABLE THE POLICY FOR FURTHER REVIEW PASSED: 8 - 0