GIPS Board Brief September 12, 2025

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 September 2025 Regular Board Meeting.

• Agenda
• Video Stream
• Mr. Josh Hawley & Mr. Eric Garcia-Mendez were not present but gave prior notice.

Katherin Xicara, a Senior at Grand Island Senior High, was sworn in to her board position as the student representative. The student board representative is chosen by the GISH Senior Class by election.

“I’m really excited to serve and to get to know everyone in the district!” Katherin said, “Since I am a Newcomer and coming here to start brand new, it’s really nice to be able to find a community here. I would like to inspire others to really find their community and find their place of belonging; to make everybody feel welcome here.”

Click the button below to read the full article.

Ms. Kay Niebuhr, Science Teacher at Walnut Middle School & GIPS Secondary Science Coordinator, and Mr. Kevin Butters, 5th Grade Teacher at Stolley Park Elementary & GIPS Elementary Science Standards Coordinator, shared a report regarding Nebraska's latest required updates to school science standards.

The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) updated the "College & Career Ready Standards for Science" in September of 2024. In keeping current with GIPS District policy #7310, the updated standards are permitted to adopt the updated standards equal to or excess in rigor of what is approved by NDE.

Current Nebraska Science standards have been in-place across the state (and GIPS) since 2017. The latest updates for the statewide standards going forward (2024 and beyond) include:

• Refinements made across standards based on the last seven years of implementation experience.
• Most changes relate to minor wording adjustments to enhance higher-level thinking skills.
• The 2024-25 school year began the "Exploration Stage" for the revised standards, with a focus on professional development for educators.

This was shared as both an Information Item and an Action Item for vote so that the new standards may be implemented for the current school year.

And, as a fun activity, Mr. Butters brought an interactive science experiment for all the Board Members to participate in. Be sure to catch the fun activity as the stream link below!

Hear the full report HERE.

Mr. Matt Fisher, GIPS Superintendent, presented a request regarding the GISH Bowling Teams.

Because Wood River High School does not have enough students interested in bowling to field a team, they have requested to CoOp this sport with Grand Island Senior High.

By agreeing to a CoOp, Wood River High School student athletes would be able to participate on the GISH Bowling Teams (Boys, Girls, & Unified) for the 2025-26 school year and competition season.

This was shared as both an Information Item and an Action Item for vote so that, if approved, the CoOp may go into effect immediately.

Hear the full presentation HERE.

Dr. Summer Stephens, GIPS Associate Superintendent, shared an overview of the annual Culture & Climate Surveys the district is required to administrator on an annual basis by the state.

The Spring 2025 SEL and Climate, Culture, and Communication surveys collected responses from students (grades 3-12), staff, and families to inform school improvement plans and district initiatives.

• The SEL survey focused on competencies like supportive relationships and self-management, with response rates provided for each grade level.
  
  
• The Climate, Culture, and Communication survey was piloted in Spring 2025, and future plans include crosswalking the two surveys and identifying screener tools for early identification of SEL needs.

The data from these surveys will be used to drive change, celebrate successes, and identify areas for improvement within schools and the district. We use the data collected to inform decisions on school improvement plans, SECA curriculum, school counselor and social worker support and resources, and more.

Overall, our responses and data from the last few years show a trend of maintaining. While some areas we saw improvement, we are seeing a trend of our students especially feeling similarly about school, their relationships, and their learning throughout the last 3-5 years.

Information about what the surveys look like may be found on our district website HERE.

This was shared as a report only.

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.

Regular review of an existing policy.

No changes are being proposed at this time.

This was shared as an Information Item and will be up for vote as an Action Item at the October Board Meeting.

Regular review of an existing policy.

No changes are being proposed at this time.

This was shared as an Information Item and will be up for vote as an Action Item at the October Board Meeting.

Regular review of an existing policy.

No changes are being proposed at this time.

This was shared as an Information Item and will be up for vote as an Action Item at the October Board Meeting.

Regular review of an existing policy.

The only proposed change includes:

• Clarifying that the reimbursement payout will be delivered as is reflected on the individual's contract (rather than over the course of monthly payments).

This was shared as an Information Item and will be up for vote as an Action Item at the October Board Meeting.

Regular review of an existing policy.

Only proposed changes would include:

• Adding the following language: "Respect for the individual regardless of economic status, intellectual or physical ability, race (including skin color and protective hairstyles, which could include but are not limited to braids, locks, twists, tight coils or curls, cornrows, Bantu knots, afros, weaves, wigs, or head wraps)..."
• Removing the “The” listed before the name “Grand Island Public Schools”.
• Adding the phrase "military or veteran status" in the list of "respect all individuals".

This was shared as an Information Item and will be up for vote as an Action Item at the October Board meeting.

Regular review of an existing policy.

Proposed updates would include:

• Expanding the following language to be consistent with other similarly worded policies: "Respect for the individual regardless of economic status, intellectual or physical ability, race (including skin color and protective hairstyles, which could include but are not limited to braids, locks, twists, tight coils or curls, cornrows, Bantu knots, afros, weaves, wigs, or head wraps)..."
• Removing the “The” listed before the name “Grand Island Public Schools”.
• Adding the phrase "military or veteran status" in the list of "respect all individuals".

This was shared as an Information Item and will be up for vote as an Action Item at the October Board meeting.

Regular review of an existing policy.

Proposed updates would include:

• Expanding the following language to be consistent with other similarly worded policies: "Respect for the individual regardless of economic status, intellectual or physical ability, race (including skin color and protective hairstyles, which could include but are not limited to braids, locks, twists, tight coils or curls, cornrows, Bantu knots, afros, weaves, wigs, or head wraps)..."
• Removing the “The” listed before the name “Grand Island Public Schools”.
• Adding the phrase "military or veteran status" in the list of "respect all individuals".

This was shared as an Information Item and will be up for vote as an Action Item at the October Board meeting.

Regular review of an existing policy.

The recommendation would be to eliminate this policy altogether as it does not reflect the current protocols or needs of the district. The Nebraska Department of Education has adopted providing this service for schools across the state.

This was shared as an Information Item and will be up for vote as an Action Item at the October Board meeting.

1. The Foundation Staff and Board met with organizations operating under our umbrella on Tuesday, August 25 to review policies and procedures and build relationships. The organizations that currently operate under the GIPS Foundation’s Umbrella include boosters clubs, special project clubs, and other ongoing philanthropy-funded ventures.
   
   
2. The Foundation has opened the online Classroom Grant application. This year there will only be one round of grants shall be for projects that will benefit students after November or during the spring or summer of 2026. Classroom grant requests will be accepted through September 25.
   
   Classroom grants are designed to fund educational opportunities for students that are not available through the school district's general budget.
   
   
3. The Foundation will undergo our annual audit this week.
   
   
4. The 4th annual Harvest Gala will be held on September 25 at Riverside Golf Club. Doors will open at 5:30PM Tickets are available at GIPSFoundation.org
   
   
5. The Foundation Board will meet on their September 16, 2025. The annual budget will be presented.

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

Highlights from Katherin's report include:

• Fall Musical has started rehearsal, the show is SHREK.

• Includes 140 students (100 from GISH; 40 from across the district)

• Marching Band will perform tomorrow night at halftime of the first home football game of the season.

• Girls Golf - Katie Lofing finished 9th place at the Jackrabbit Run

• Dance Team shared spray painted Islanders logos for people's driveways recently that donated to their team fundraiser.

• Girls XC - Katie Johnson broke the school record

• Boys XC - Recently finished 14th overall (out of 54) during a meet

Events Around GIPS:

• GIPS TeamMates won the North Central Regional Chapter of the Year Award

• GISH Islanders Athletes visited Engelman Elementary

• West Lawn hosted a STEAM Family Night for their students and families. GISH members of National Honor Society were on-site to help with the event.

• GISH is on a strong start on continuing with their "Cell Phone Free" protocols and adjusted schedule.

• GISH Art Student have seven murals currently on display at Grand Island Regional Medical Center.

Staff Shout-Out:

• Mr. Bouray - Engineering Teacher at GISH

Hear the full report HERE.

Mr. Fisher shared a Superintendent Report with the Board.

• The school year is off and running! We’re into our fourth week and I think things are going really well.
  
  

• Elementary schools have already done their first round of assessments testing to help us get a baseline for them in this school year.
  
  

• The Marching Band gears-up to perform at the first home football game tomorrow night.
  
  

• Current enrollment: 9,769 students today.
  
  

• Yesterday, we held our first meeting for the school year with the Superintendent Student Advisory Council; a group of student leaders from GISH.
  
  

• Our Board Governance committee has discussed the merits of conducting a Board Self Evaluation. That will be delivered to all members by early October to complete. The goal is for the Governance Committee to put together and present a summary report of the evaluation in November.
  
  

• Board Retreat is scheduled for October 10th. The major topic of discussion will be facilities and the future needs of the district.

Hear Mr. Fisher's full report HERE.

See above Information Item for rationale.

MOTION PASSED: 7 - 0

See above Information Item for rationale.

MOTION PASSED: 7 - 0

Regular review of an existing policy.

Only proposed change 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 for voting approval at the September Board meeting.

MOTION PASSED: 7 - 0

Regular review of an existing policy.

Recommendation would be to eliminate this policy as it is redundant. The wording and coverage of this policy is already captured in another existing policy.

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

MOTION PASSED: 7 - 0

All other policies from the August Board meeting were voted on and approved in the consent agenda as those policies did not require approved changes or simply fixed grammatical errors.