The Grand Island Public Schools "Board Brief" is an online monthly publication dedicated to sharing the Board of Education meeting highlights, updates, campus recognitions, and more.

Today's edition recaps the regular March 13, 2023 GIPS Board meeting.

• Public Meeting Agenda
• Board Meeting Video Stream
• Below are highlights from the regular March Board Meeting.
• Board Member Mrs. Lindsey Jurgens was not present but gave prior notice to her absence.

The GIPS Board of Education celebrated the GISH Boys and Girls Bowling Teams for their strong seasons.

• Kaden Kuusela earned the Class A Boys Singles Title.
• Boys Bowling earned their second straight Class A State Championship.
• Girls Bowling finished as District Winners and State Runners-Up.

Go, Islanders!

Mitchell Roush, GIPS Communications Director, was recently named to the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) 2022-2023 “35 Under 35” Class, which honors emerging leaders in school communications across the country.

Every other year, NSPRA's 35 Under 35 program recognizes school public relations professionals who are making a difference for their school districts or education-related employers.

The Board recognized Roush for earning this national honor. Congratulations, Mitchell!

Lee Wolfe (Principal), Samantha Amick (Social Worker), and Arik Streck (4th Grade Teacher) from Shoemaker Elementary presented an inside look into the social emotional support efforts taking place in their school.

Supporting social and emotional needs and development/communication skills for their students helps to positively impact connections to school and in turn academic progress. Implementing "Restorative Circles" time in classrooms on a weekly basis has helped Shoemaker students grow in their own self-awareness, cultivate empathy, and feel more confident in the classroom. The activity also strengthens connections between teachers and students.

Restorative Circles empowers students by:

• Strengthening problem solving skills.
• Holding each other accountable.
• Acknowledging each other's feelings.
• Accepting individual needs.
• Resolving conflicts.
• Building classroom communities.

Learn more about Shoemaker's Restorative Circles HERE.

Maggie McDermott, GIPS Foundation Annual Giving Coordinator, shared exciting updates with the Board of Education surrounding scholarships and support for district students and teachers.

Here are a few highlights from the GIPS Foundation in 2022:

• $1,184,062 invested into programs, scholarships, and grants benefiting students.
• $510,533 awarded to 88 Class of '22 students.
• $90,335 legacy funds awarded through 80+ grants.
• $108,562 given in the Annual Staff Campaign.
• $13,815 awarded in Classroom Grants benefitting 3,126 students.

Looking towards 2023, this year will mark year 20 of the Annual Staff Giving Campaign. The GIPS Foundation has set a goal of 93% (or higher) of Staff and Board of Education members contributing to the campaign.

Hear more from Maggie's update HERE.

Mrs. Tausha Jones (5th Grade Teacher at Wasmer Elementary) spend the first semester of the current school year in the Tri-City ASCEND program to learn first hand the work of being a building Principal. She shared her experiences, challenges, and discoveries with the Board of Education.

Tri-City ASCEND is a yearly opportunity for educators to gain experience as growing, potential leaders in the education arena. The partnership with Hastings Public Schools and Kearney Public Schools completed its second year in December.

Learn more about Tri-City ASCEND here.

Dr. Toni Palmer, GIPS Chief of Leadership & Learning, and Administrators from the three Middle Schools (Barr, Walnut, & Westridge) presented an updated look at the Middle School Redesign project and how the Middle School Learner Profile will look to be implemented over the next two years.

Two months ago, the Middle School Design Team shared an in-depth walk through the initial framework. You may read a detailed update on that presentation HERE.

Last month, Dr. Palmer shared updates mapping out the feedback gained from Middle School Teachers to identify areas that needed more clarity and a recommendation to expand the rollout of the new design to provide a more feasible timetable for a phased implementation. A detailed update on that feedback may be found HERE.

A few key elements will be implemented for the 2023-24 school year to help ensure equity of learning across all district middle schools:

• 60 minute core classes (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies)
• Develop and implement a district wide model for Advisory Time
• Develop and implement a district wide model for Teacher Teams
• Staffing one Band and one Orchestra teacher at each Middle School with additional support for 6th Grade.

Each building also shared a sample schedule of what a typical day may look like for students at Barr, Walnut, and Westridge starting next school year (2023-24).

These samples (pictured below) are not final but provide a window into how the 60 minute core classes adjustment may look for our 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Click on a photo to enlarge.

The full conversation regarding Middle School design and schedules may be found HERE.

Year two will carry new implementations as well in the 2024-25 school year across all district middle schools:

• Implement a defined district wide intervention and extension model
• Implement elective offerings that are high interest, highly relevant, and enhance College/Career readiness.
• Move to semesters.

The cornerstone of the Middle School Redesign remains the Learner Profile as all three Middle Schools look to ensure curriculum equity:

The Grand Island Education Association (GIEA) and the GIPS Board of Education are nearing the finish line of a negotiated agreement for the 2023-24 school year. An overview of the drafted agreement was presented by Brian Kort, GIPS HR Coordinator.

While the agreement is not yet finalized, both GIEA and the Board are confident the bulk of what has been drafted will be presented as an Action Item for approval at next month's meeting.

A few notable items include:

• $1,500 increase in base pay for educators — the largest single year increase in recent GIPS history.
• Expanded whole family insurance for Married Couples
• Increased overage pay for teachers
• Pay for unused sick leave upon retirement for staff who have served 30+ years

The full update shared by Mr. Kort may be found HERE.

The Panorama Survey surveys students, staff, and parents to gather input on how they and their students are supported in school. This tool is used to monitor school climate and culture in GIPS schools. The NDE school improvement process requires a survey to gather student, staff, and parent input.

Panorama Education partners with schools and districts to collect and analyze data about social-emotional learning, school climate, family engagement, and more. With research-backed surveys and a leading technology platform, Panorama helps educators act on data to improve student outcomes. Panorama has supported millions of students across thousands of districts in 45 states, which allows for the development of valid and reliable questions to collect, disaggregate, and compare data to inform school improvement.

GIPS has been utilizing Panorama as a survey tool since 2018 and has been the most consistent data assessment in the district throughout that time. Panorama School Culture & Climate surveys also help GIPS maintain operations within legal requirements as highlighted by the state through Rule 10, the School Improvement Accreditation Process, and Title I Schools.

The district contract with Panorama is up for renewal again this year. This item and conversation was presented as information and will be voted on as an action item next month.

Learn more about Panorama at GIPS, HERE.

Every year, building level and district level administrators share requests for new or expanded staff positions for the upcoming year. Brian Kort, GIPS Recruitment & Retention Coordinator, provide a look into the new and/or expanded staffing requests for the 2023-24 school year.

Pre-School:

• Hello Hero Case Manager - Early Learning Center to oversee services that are required by the state for GIPS to provide

Elementary School:

• Four Full Time Certified Teachers due to expected class sizes at Dodge, Jefferson, Knickrehm, and Newell Elementaries

Middle School:

• One full time Orchestra Instructor
• One full time Band Instructor
• Increasing Westridge Social Worker from part time to full time
• Part time custodian - Westridge

Special Education:

• One full time Speech Language Pathologist

Central Office:

• Increasing Nurse Supervisor Role and Pay to a 230 day yearly contract
• Increase in pay to expand responsibilities for Community Liaison for one of our Community Schools

Buildings & Grounds:

• One full time Low Voltage Technician to provide better support to all district buildings

These requests are in addition to what would be "regular" hiring of roles for classroom teachers, support staff, and the like throughout the district for 2023-24.

Mr. Kort's full presentation on Staffing Requests may be found HERE.

Hope Squad is a school-based, peer to peer behavioral health support program. Fifteen educators will be trained by Hope Squad Trainers as Hope Squad advisors in June of 2023. Hope Squad student members will be chosen by their peers through a school-wide nomination process. We anticipate 8-10 students for each grade level at GISH.

Orientation will be provided to students and parents with a required signed parent permission form. The Hope Squad will use the Hope Squad National Curriculum.

Due to the need to schedule training, this was presented as both information and action.

A recap of potentially bringing Hope Squad to GIPS may be found in the December '22 Board Meeting, HERE.

Dan Petsch, GIPS Director of Grounds, shared updated bids and a recommendation for contracting vendor on upcoming building projects.

The recommendation would be to enter into a contract with Duncan Theis Construction Co. to handle the following building improvement, security, and expansion projects:

• Walnut Middle School
• Howard Elementary
• Lincoln Elementary
• West Lawn Elementary
• Wasmer Elementary
• Newell Elementary
  
  

Each of those projects would be covered by ESSER III funds. This proposal was shared as both information and action to be voted upon.

Another project on the horizon would be building improvements to Gates Elementary. Mr. Petsch affirmed that project will be happening in this next wave and will be covered by his department budget.

Hear the full presentation HERE.

Zach Cloutier, GISH Student Representative, provided updates of the successes and upcoming events at Grand Island Senior High.

Here are a few highlights:

• The Superintendent Student Advisory Council (SSAC) had its first meeting with new GIPS Superintendent, Mr. Matt Fisher. Their conversation went really well. SSAC is looking forward to working with Mr. Fisher on school improvements and projects.
• National Honor Society inducted their new Junior Class. They'll also be collaborating with the Senior NHS Class to help plan the community wide Easter Basket Extravaganza event this month.
• Winter Activites came to a close. Many groups found great success such as the Bowling Teams State hardware, State Speech qualifiers, Record breaking performances at State Swimming, and Boys Basketball winning a district game.
• Spring Activities are kicking-off.
• "Big Fish: The Musical" is set to premiere at Grand Island Senior High. Dates are March 30th, 31st, April 1st, and April 2nd. Tickets may be purchases online HERE.

Thank you, Zach, for representing your fellow students and school!

Mr. Fisher shared a Superintendent Report with the Board.

A few highlights include:

• The Student Superintendent Advisory Council (SSAC) is a really impressive group. Their diversity, representation, and the way they engage is incredible. They had great questions and were also great listeners. This is a group that can really get things going to make a true difference in their school.
• GISH National Honor Society inducted it's largest class ever with over 90 students. Congratulations to those Juniors who are working hard!
• CoolSpeak Poetry Slam was powerful. Hearing the bared souls that took place there from our students was sobering and yet exciting to see what our kids can do.
• Hosting the Show Choir competition a few weeks ago was a great opportunity to see our students performing. So talented!

A few key staffing updates:

• HR Director interviews are taking place today (3/14).
• CFO - We're zeroing-in on some potential candidates for possible interviews next week.
• Director of College & Career Readiness - We will be potentially expanding this role to include more superversity opportunities and collaboration with secondary Principals.

A few things that are coming up soon:

• Legislative Advocacy Day (April)
• Staff Appreciation Week (May)
• State School Board Conference (June)

Hear Mr. Fisher's full report and highlights of State Legislative Bills on our watch HERE.

GIPS K-8 Mathematics is currently aligned to the 2015 Nebraska Mathematics Standards. This will provide an update to changes made in the new 2022 Mathematics Standards set, which by law is reviewed and revised every seven years by the state.

Motion Passed: 8 - 0

See the staffing request information item above for rationale.

Motion Passed: 8 - 0

See the Hope Squad information item above for rationale.

Motion Passed: 8 - 0

Approve Duncan Theis Construction to do the project and contract.

Motion Passed: 8 - 0