GIPS Board Brief July 10, 2026

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 July 2026 Regular Board Meeting.

• Agenda
• Video Stream
• Josh Hawley was not present but both gave prior notice.

Two Barr Middle School students were recognized as outstanding scholars in social studies this school year as part of the Nebraska State Civics Bee.

Mya earned first place at the regional Civics Bee held in Kearney this Spring and went on to become Nebraska's first-ever state Civics Bee Champion. Nora Hilligas earned third place at the regional Civics Bee and also received an invitation to compete at the state Civics Bee.

Both students wrote standout essays on timely issues facing local communities in Nebraska, competed in question rounds on social studies topics, and represented both Barr and GIPS well.

Congratulations to the following students from Barr Middle School:

• Mya Bernal - Nebraska State Civics Bee Champion
• Nora Hilligas - Nebraska Civics Bee Qualifier

Read the full story HERE.

Mr. Fisher, GIPS Superintendent, shared a brief update regarding last month's conversation on band instruments.

At our June 11 board meeting during the presentation on the purchase of band and orchestra instruments there was a question asked about who the district provided instruments to free of charge. The information shared at that meeting indicated that they would be provided for all students. While we work with families to figure out ways that every student who wants to be in instrumental music is able to be, there are financial guidelines that we follow to determine who qualifies to use instruments free of charge.

Ultimately, the district does everything it can to ensure families have the support they need while still following program guidelines.

This was shared as an information update.

Hear the full presentation HERE.

Dr. Amanda Levos, GIPS English Learner Director & Equity Systems Navigator, presented an update on the work a committee of GIPS Staff have been working on for the district Strategic Plan.

Goal #3 of the Strategic Plan is: Every student will have a plan for after high school.

Part of our commitment to goal three was to develop a GIPS Profile of a Learner that would serve as a north star for the Preschool - High School student experience. The goal three committee, comprised of 13 GIPS Staff and Administrators from all levels, worked over the last year to develop a Profile of a Learner based on feedback from over 2,800 survey responses and focus group conversations with students, staff, families, community members, and former students.

The new GIPS Profile of a Learner has been developed and is ready for implementation:

ADAPTABLE LEARNERS

An adaptable Preschool - 12th Grade student demonstrates the ability to learn and apply learning to a situation by embracing change, learning from mistakes, accessing resources when appropriate, and persevering through challenges and adversity.

CONFIDENT COMMUNICATORS

A Preschool - 12th Grade student who demonstrates strong communication expresses ideas clearly and confidently. They use a variety of resources and adapt their messages for different audiences and settings while actively listening with empathy and respect. They take responsibility for their communication choices, advocate for themselves and others, and contribute positively to group and community interactions.

PROBLEM SOLVERS

An effective Preschool - 12th Grade problem solver approaches challenges with curiosity, asks thoughtful questions, and develops creative, collaborative, evidence-based solutions. They think critically and flexibly and explore multiple approaches. They reflect on their thinking, utilize feedback, and persevere through setbacks to solve authentic problems.

RESPONSIBLE CONTRIBUTORS

A responsible Preschool - 12th Grade student takes ownership of their learning, actions, and growth. They make respectful, ethical, and thoughtful choices that consider the well-being and safety of themselves and others. Through accountability and self-awareness, they strengthen their community.

This was shared as an information update.

Hear the full presentation HERE.

Cara Kuhl, GIPS 6-12 ELA & Social Studies Coordinator, shared an update on a curriculum review process the district will be starting in the upcoming school year.

During the 2026–2027 school year, the district will enter the research and preparation phase of the 6th–12th Grade ELA resource adoption process.

Initially, the primary focus will be on conducting a needs assessment, developing an implementation plan, and establishing a diverse review committee.

To support this effort, the district plans to partner with The New Teacher Project (TNTP), a national non-profit educational research group, utilizing up to $124,000 in state grant funds. This collaboration will provide 6–12 educators with foundational professional learning, thought partnership, and evaluation tools to analyze a short list of high-quality instructional materials. TNTP is an organization endorsed by the Nebraska Department of Education.

Ultimately, this research phase will culminate in selecting and ordering the specific ELA materials that will be field-tested during the 2027–2028 school year. The cost for partnering with the TNTP group will not come out of the district budget, it will be covered by a grant.

This was shared as both an information and action item so that the work may begin right away.

Hear the full presentation HERE.

Dr. Summer Stephens, GIPS Associate Superintendent, shared the updates on the student handbook for the new school year.

The biggest adjustment is more of a structure change. Connections in the handbook to district policies, instead of re-wording the policy language, will simply reference the name and number of the policy and provide information for students and families to find the policy on the district website.

This was shared as both an information and action item so that the changes may be approved before the start of the new school year.

Hear the full presentation HERE.

Dr. Summer Stephens, GIPS Associate Superintendent, shared a recap on the 2026 Summer Programming provided by the district for students.

The GIPS 2026 Summer Programs highlighted several initiatives designed to support academic growth, enrichment, and skill-building across multiple grade levels.

Here is a summary of the individual programs and the number of students served:

• Summer Strong (Title I Elementary Summer School): Served 243 students with academic and enrichment opportunities in math, reading, and STEAM to prevent summer learning loss.

• Power Camp (Elementary): Engaged 250 K–5 students at Starr Elementary in hands-on STEAM experiences and "Staycation Day" community events.

• Extended School Year: Supported 30 elementary and 22 secondary students (52 total) in maintaining critical skills and working toward individual learning goals.

• Dodge Elementary Summer Learning: Provided specialized literacy and math instruction alongside creative art projects for 40 K–3 students.

• ELevate Summer School: Served 117 K–12 English Learner (EL) and immigrant-qualified students, featuring a library time, math growth, work on State Fair projects, and community storytelling panels, and more.

• Summer Club @ West Lawn: Hosted 28 students for a two-week program packed with scavenger hunts and afternoon STEAM activities.

• GISH Summer Credit Recovery: Enabled Grand Island Senior High students to earn a collective 1,889 credits, helping 20 students officially graduate.

• GISH Jumpstart 9: Welcomed 130 incoming 9th graders for high school transition activities, school tours, and Gallup StrengthsFinder assessments.

• Vocational Rehabilitation Grant (Work-Based Learning): Placed 13 student interns into community jobs to develop critical, durable employability skills.

• Robotics Camps: Engaged 31 students total, including 13 younger students (grades 2–4) and 18 older students (grades 5–7), in Lego Robotics and MakerSpace activities.

This was shared as an information update.

Hear the full presentation HERE.

Mr. Virgil Harden, GIPS Chief Financial Officer, shared an annual update on the opportunity for the Board to adopt an optional property tax authority resolution.

The concept is a Property Tax Authority Cap (or limitation) for all public school Boards of Education in Nebraska. The new Property Tax Authority Resolution is an additional 5% above the current cap.

This will not impact current property taxes for the community. The action would only grant the Board the authority to ask for up to 5% more if needed in the future. Any future action would require a Board vote.

The Board approved the resolution each of the last three years. Three years ago, GIPS did not use any of the funds. Two years ago, GIPS used approximately $1.3 million of the available $6.1 million. Last year, the dollar amount was approximately $6.7 million. Due to this permissible maximization, we have been able to build-up our Special Building Fund which has allowed us to do important facility projects like the renovation of Gates Elementary.

This was shared as an information item and will be up as an action item vote at the August Board meeting.

Hear the 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.

Policy update was developed by legal counsel and meets the requirements of the new state legislature.

Primary change expands the role of attendance monitoring beyond just Social Workers to include Principals.

This was shared as a first read item and will be up for approval at the August Board meeting.

Policy update was developed by legal counsel and meets the requirements of the new state legislature.

Proposed addition would permit the school district to handle purchasing beyond limits without Board approval in case of an emergency.

This was shared as a first read item and will be up for approval at the August Board meeting.

Regular review of an existing policy.

Policy update was developed by legal counsel and meets the requirements of the new state legislature.

Proposed addition would include:

"Upon request, a professional employees’ organization, as defined by state law, shall be granted reasonable access to the physical or electronic mailboxes of certificated employees for purposes consistent with state law and Board Policy. The Superintendent or designee may establish reasonable, content-neutral procedures governing the time, place, and manner of such access to ensure that school business is not disrupted and that the District maintains employee privacy."

This was shared as a first read item and will be up for approval at the August Board meeting.

Regular review of an existing policy.

Policy update was developed by legal counsel and meets the requirements of the new state legislature.

Primary addition is to ensure siblings of option students may be automatically accepted into the district as an option student as well.

This was shared as a first read item and will be up for approval at the August Board meeting.

Regular review of an existing policy.

Proposed changes would include:

• Removing "Entrance Age" from the name of the policy as the policy does not speak much about enrollment age.
  
  
• Adding a section, recommended by legal counsel, stating that if a family is under a certain type of investigation they may not be permitted to unenroll their student.

This was shared as a first read item and will be up for approval at the August Board meeting.

Regular review of an existing policy.

Policy update was developed by legal counsel and meets the requirements of the new state legislature.

Proposed addition, per legal counsel, would read:

"Absences due to illness, including physical or mental illness, that make attendance impossible or impracticable, and that are documented by a credentialed health professional, shall not be the basis for referral to the county attorney. In cases of chronic illness, such documentation will be reviewed each semester."

This was shared as a first read item and will be up for approval at the August Board meeting.

Regular review of an existing policy.

Policy update was developed by legal counsel and meets the requirements of the new state legislature.

Change would state that a student must be enrolled in at least five credit hours (or essentially one class) in order to participate in a school activity.

This was shared as a first read item and will be up for approval at the August Board meeting.

Regular review of an existing policy.

Policy update was developed by legal counsel and meets the requirements of the new state legislature.

The primary change proposed, per legal requirement, dictates that a student in any grade ranging from Kindergarten - 12th Grade may be suspended or expelled if they engage in violent behavior capable of causing physical harm to another student, or school employee.

This was shared as a first read item and will be up for approval at the August Board meeting.

Regular review of an existing policy.

Policy update was developed by legal counsel and meets the requirements of the new state legislature.

The proposed addition, per legal counsel, would read:

"Notwithstanding any other provision of this policy, a student who is or was under the jurisdiction of a juvenile court and placed in out-of-home care at any time during the student’s high school enrollment shall be eligible to graduate from the District if (1) the student, at any point in time, was enrolled in high school in the District, and (2) the student has met the minimum graduation requirements established by state law."

This was shared as a first read item and will be up for approval at the August Board meeting.

Mr. Fisher shared a Superintendent Report with the Board.

See above information item for rationale.

MOTION PASSED: 8 - 0

See above information item for rationale.

MOTION PASSED: 8 - 0

Regular review of an existing policy.

Proposed changes include:

• Updating the introduction of the policy to read as, "Multicultural Education is essential in meeting the mission of Grand Island Public Schools. Students will be provided with opportunities: 1. to gain knowledge and appreciation of their own unique identities. 2. to gain knowledge, understanding and respect for the diversity of our community, our country, and our world."
  
  
• Clarifying the curriculum portion of the language to read as, "The Multicultural Education Program shall be incorporated into Grand Island Public Schools, including curriculum frameworks and course guides, a process for selecting appropriate instructional materials, providing staff development, and periodic assessment of the program."

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

MOTION PASSED: 8 - 0

Regular review of an existing policy.

The proposed change includes updating the definition of the school day and its duration for the district. Newly drafted language would read as:

"The student school day and the certified professional staff work day are distinct schedules. The normal student school day shall be consistent from one elementary building to another. Middle school buildings shall operate with the same student school day in each building. Senior high buildings will utilize a student school day that fits the unique needs of the students in the various programs. The professional work day for certified staff is established as 8.0 hours per day. Recognizing that certified professional staff are salaried-exempt, they are expected to work the hours necessary to fulfill their professional responsibilities, which may routinely extend beyond the 8.0 hour scheduled workday and the student school day."

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

MOTION PASSED: 8 - 0