SBRC Approves Additional Budget Authority for Farragut & Hamburg Distircts

Below is the, “Summary of Action” regarding the Farragut and Hamburg Corrective Action Plans at the January 21, 2015 School Budget Review Committee Hearing.

31. Farragut Community School District

The decision of the Committee in this matter is to approve modified supplemental

amount for the 2014-2015 school year in the amount of $803,010 as part of its corrective

action plan, pending receipt of board minutes authorizing the request, and to direct the

district to resubmit its corrective action plan at the April hearings with sufficient

reductions in expenditures to end FY15 with a positive unspent balance. The Committee

directed the district to adopt a plan to maximize the amount of savings in the shortest

period of time.

The district is directed to operate its expenditures in compliance with Iowa Code. The

district shall not expend in the General Fund for FY15 more than $2,002,533, not

including any allowable special education expenditures in excess of special education

receipts, plus actual miscellaneous income received. Miscellaneous income shall not be

expended until received.

The district is directed to submit monthly reports to its board and to the SBRC

demonstrating the financial position of the district in relationship to its certified budget

control lines and to maximum spending authority. These reports shall be available to the

auditor on request.

32. Hamburg Community School District

The decision of the Committee in this matter is to approve modified supplemental

amount for the 2014-2015 school year in the amount of $148,951 as part of its corrective

action plan and to direct the district to resubmit at the April hearings a corrective action

plan that shows sufficient changes to ensure that the district will complete FY15 with a

positive unspent balance. The Committee directed the district to adopt a plan to

maximize the amount of savings in the shortest period of time.

The district is directed to operate its expenditures in compliance with Iowa Code. The

district shall not expend in the General Fund for FY15 more than $2,508,006, not

including any allowable special education expenditures in excess of special education 9

receipts, plus actual miscellaneous income received. Miscellaneous income shall not be

expended until received.

The district is directed to submit monthly reports to its board and to the SBRC

demonstrating the financial position of the district in relationship to its certified budget

control lines and to maximum spending authority. These reports shall be available to the

auditor on request.

The complete findings of from the January 21, 2015 meeting can be found here

Summary:

• Due to the fact that the motion provided a significant amount of modified supplemental aid, $803,010 on behalf of Farragut and $148,950 on behalf of Hamburg the SBRC approved similar motions for each district with the same conditions and it was apparent by their discussions that modified supplemental aid would not be granted without these conditions. The only difference in each motion is the amount of modified supplemental aid.

• The primary condition is that the districts implement a building configuration plan that maximizes potential cost savings to each district and that maximizes the utilization of remaining staff after our budget reductions. In addition the building configuration plan needs to be one that can be implemented in the shortest amount of time that requires the least amount of facility upgrades.

• The only building configuration plan that was discussed during the SBRC hearing was the proposal approved by Farragut  Board at the Monday, January 21, 2015 regular Board meeting. That proposal was based on the proposal that Hamburg Superintendent Terry Kenealy presented at the Mediation Session last week. The SBRC motion was consistent with the proposal, adopted by the Farragut Board, following the Farragut discussion.

• During the discussion it was also stated by Dr. Berger and it was obvious that the committee members were in agreement that the two districts needed to adopt the most efficient and cost effective building configuration plan and stop the movement towards arbitration. Dr. Lane Plugge was in attendance and he concurred that arbitration should be taken off the table.

I believe that the Farragut and Hamburg districts have been given quite possibly our last opportunity to prove that we can step and act in the best interests of our students The SBRC finding will be part of our scheduled phase II accreditation visit in February. Following the accreditation visit, which will examine not only budgetary issues, but also facility equity and accessibility and educational programming the Department of Education will present findings  to the State Board of Education recommending accreditation or non-accreditation of the district(s)  for action at the March State Board of Education Meeting.

Help LCPS Celebrate Staff Recognition Week

Schools across the country will celebrate and recognize our hard-working teachers and support staff during staff recognition week, May  5th through 10th. To say, "thank you," to a staff member who has made a difference, please log onto the LCPS district Facebook page and thank that special staff member

( https://www.facebook.com/pages/Loup-City-Public-Schools/144655882253701 or search for Loup City Public Schools on Facebook)

On the district Facebook page, please "like," our tribute to staff members and/or leave a comment. Please join us in letting that special staff member know how much you appreciate all that he/she does for kids.

2013-14 Report to the Community

Included with the January District Newsletter is this year’s report to the community, the State-of-The-District Report. This report details basic information about the district as well as highlights the successes and challenges of the past year. I hope you find the report instructive, informative and most of all a springboard for discussions to facilitate the continuous improvement that is our top priority. The report can be accessed at the Loup City district website: http://blog.loupcity.k12.ne.us/ or at the link below:

http://blog.loupcity.k12.ne.us/thinrichs/files/2010/08/2013-14-State-of-the-District-Report.pdf

LCPS Board Members Recognized During Nebraska School Board Member Week

By

Tom Hinrichs

LCPS Superintendent

January 2014 is School Board Recognition Month

As citizens who serve children and represent their communities, school board members face complex and demanding challenges. All LCPS Patrons should recognize the vital contributions these elected public officials play in the education of our children. They are extraordinary people who voluntarily tackle the enormous job of governing school districts.

January 2014 is School Board Recognition Month—a great time to focus on the crucial role board members play in our communities and schools. 

School board members come from all walks of life. While they wear many hats in the workday world, school board members put on a collective hat when they get down to the business of leading our school districts. Board members must pull together as a team toward a common goal—helping students achieve. While they may individually disagree on certain issues, their role as a board is to consistently strive toward that goal.

The time spent in board meetings represents just a small fraction of the hours school board members devote to leading the LCPS District. They also work hard at seminars and training sessions to keep abreast of the latest trends in educational leadership, are deeply involved in community activities, and spend many hours in the schools and at extracurricular events.

We hope you’ll take this opportunity to help acknowledge the men and women who make the time to share their leadership and voice about the future of Loup City children. 

The men and women serving on the Loup City Public Schools Board of Education, their tenure and terms of office are:

Mike Rademacher: Board President (1991- 2014)

Jerry Kowalski: Board Vice President (2013-2016)

Cindy Ericson: Board Secretary (2011-2014)

Loraine Panowicz: Board Treasurer (1999-2014)

Jim Jaeschke: (1999-2016)

Joe Jerabek (2013-14)

Kelly Griffith: (2005-2016)

Cindy Ference: (2013-2016)

Jill Young: (2013-2016)

Arcadia- Loup City Co-op Extended

The Arcadia and Loup City schools have agreed to extend their co-operative activities agreement for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 school years. The new two-year co-op cycle will encompass junior and senior high NSAA sponsored athletics, including:

·       Football

·       Cross County

·       Golf (girls and boys)

·       Cross Country

·       Basketball

·       Wrestling

·       Track & Field

During this two-year cycle, high school football was added to the Rebel co-op. The Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) sets football classification (Classes A, B, C1, C2, and D1 & D2) and compiles football schedules every two years. Classification is determined by the combined enrollment of the co-opting schools. The combined Arcadia-Loup City enrollments will most likely result in the Rebels playing in the class C-2 classification in all co-op activities.

By offering a comprehensive co-operative sports program, the Arcadia and Loup City Schools continue their commitment of providing maximum opportunities for our students of all interests and abilities.

LCPS Security Upgrades Up and Running

Starting on Monday October 7, 2013, the new state-of-the-art security system at LCPS became fully functional.  The improvements: A-phones, security cameras and a keyless entry system provide enhanced building security and an interface with law enforcement to make our campus as secure as possible.

A-phones (air phones) have been installed at the entry doors to the Junior-senior high wing and the elementary wing of the 4-12 building as well as the kitchen door. An A-phone is a combination camera and intercom system, which allows school personnel to monitor visitors and control access to the building. Anyone wishing to enter the school, during school hours is required to ring a buzzer on the A-phone and be, “buzzed in,” by school personnel.  Visitors can then sign in and be escorted to the area they wish to visit. All other doors will be locked and inaccessible during school yours.

Security Cameras have been installed inside and outside of the 4- 12 building and outside of the Primary School. Each  of the 68 cameras is connected to a digital video recorder (DVR), which records images from each camera 24 hours per. day- seven days per. week. Cameras are monitored from a big-screen high definition television in the conference room. Images from security cameras may also be viewed online from administrator’s computers, ipads or smart phones.

The video freed from the LCPS system is being made available to the Sherman County Sheriff’s Department, which will be able to monitor building security cameras remotely.

Our new keyless entry system will access control for staff members and patrons who use the LCPS facilities. All LCPS staff members have been issues electronic key cards -Proxy Cards- which allow entrance to any of the six doors, which are controlled by the electronic locks.  Keys will no longer work in any outside door at the 4-12 building.

Groups who use our facilities will be granted access in one of two ways:

•     By having doors automatically unlocked for patron access at pre-determined times, or
•     By being issued an electronic key card, which will grant access at pre-set times.

Building access is set daily according to this Schedule

                 

• 7:15: Main doors are unlocked. All students who arrive before 7:45 are directed to the commons
• 7:45: Doors are opened for student access
• 8:15: Building secured- All access via A-phones and wireless entry cards
• 3:20: Main doors opened for dismissal
• 3:45: Building secured

While security cameras monitor the outside of the Primary School, there is no need for A-phones or wireless entry at the K-3 building. All of the doors at the primary school are locked from the inside- and access is controlled by staff members- making the K-3 building a very secure facility.

By implementing this state-of-the art security system, the Loup City Board of Education is demonstrating a strong and positive commitment to the goal of maintaining safe and orderly schools.  

Public Meeting to Discuss H.S. Football Options

The Loup City Public Schools Board of Education will be holding a public forum on Monday October 7, 2013 at 8 pm in the Junior-Senior High School commons to discuss options for the future configuration of high school football at Loup City and Arcadia High Schools

The Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) sets football classification (Classes A,B,C1,C2,and D1 & D2) and compiles football schedules every two years. The next NSAA cycle for classification and scheduling includes the 2014 & 2015 seasons.  Before the start of the two-year cycle, schools featuring co-operative programs must notify the NSAA of their intent to combine and field a single team.

A decision must be made prior to the November 1st, 2013 (the NSAA deadline) for declaring whether Loup City High School will remain alone in high school football for the next two years or co-op with Arcadia High School for high school football.  Both schools are in a co-op for all other junior high and high school sports this year.  High school football is not part of this co-op yet.  Schools/Co-ops in excess of 83 students (both boys and girls) in grades 9-11 are not eligible for 8-man state high school football playoffs.  Recently, we sent out surveys to the families of boys in grades 5-11 to best determine the course of action for LCPS regarding high school football.  Those options are:

·       Co-op football with Arcadia but opt to play 8-man football and not be eligible for the playoffs due to having enrollment (grades 9-11) in excess of the 83 student cutoff.

·       Co-op football with Arcadia and play either 8 or 11-man football as our enrollment dictates.

·       Do not coop with Arcadia and stay in the 8-man classification for the foreseeable future and be eligible for the playoffs

These options will be discussed at the Oct. 7th public forum, where patrons will have the opportunity to ask questions and have their opinions heard by the LCPS Board. Please plan to join us for this discussion on the future of high school football at Loup City and Arcadia.