MINUTES OF SPECIAL BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
HERINGTON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 487
CITY/SCHOOL OFFICES
19 NORTH BROADWAY
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
David Powell called to order the special meeting of the Board of
Education of U.S.D. 487 at 5:30 p.m., March 12, 2008. Board members
and other staff present were: Stacey Berndt, Rod Erickson, Alan
Stuart, Diana Floyd, Bret Beye, James Carnes, Deb Geissert, Patty
Kahle, Barb Kurtenbach, Julie Albrecht, Miranda Christner, Rosann
Otte, Superintendent John Thissen, and Clerk of the Board, Robyn
Heitfield. Diana Floyd left the meeting at 8:15 p.m.
1. ADOPT AGENDA Stacy Berndt moved (Erickson) to adopt the
agenda. Motion carried 6-0.
2. IBB MEETING
Facilitator, John Doern was not present due to a death in his
family.
STANDARDS
Workable
Ratifiable – Is this ratifiable by the teachers and Board?
Cost – Is there a cost associated with each issue?
ISSUE 1: LEAVE - Granting Leave
Approval
Interests:
• Fair and consistent
• In policy
• Timely
• Handled by competent administration
• Chain of command decision
• Not a weapon
Options:
A. Negotiated agreement (pg 8) to read “No person shall be exempted
……..permission
of the Superintendent”
B. Negotiated agreement (pg 8) to read person shall be exempted
……permission of the
building Administration”
C. Negotiated agreement (pg 8) to read “No personal shall be
exempted …… permission
of the Superintendent and/or Building administration”
D. No change
Standards:
Option W R C Comment____________
A N ? N
B Y ? N
C Y Y N Chosen by
Committee
D N Y N
ISSUE 1: LEAVE – Jury Duty Leave
Interests:
• Match District policy
• Be in negotiated agreement
• To create language for negotiated agreement from District
policy
Options:
A. Put language from District policy into Negotiated Agreement
B. No change
C. Add own language to Negotiated Agreement
Standards:
Option W R C Comment
A
B
C
No decisions were made on the Standards pending research to the
District policy handbook.
ISSUE 1: LEAVE – Professional Leave
Interests:
• More teacher control in Professional/Personal development
• Meet goals of requesting teacher
• Encourage personal growth
• Look at cost of workshop
• Equal use of leave by all teachers
• Supplemental vs. teaching contract
• Meet district/building goals
Options:
A. Certified employees allowed at least one professional day per
contract year
B. Superintendent will encourage each certified employee to take no
less than two
professional leave days and will grant (pg 8) ………
C. Certified employees will be allowed two professional days of
choice to meet
individual, district and/or building goals
D. Superintendent will encourage each employee no more than three
consecutive professional days during the contract year
E. One day of self-initiated professional leave will be granted to
each teacher
F. No change – administration strongly encourages teachers to use
professional leave
Standards:
Option W R C Comment_____________
A Y ? ?
B Y N
C Y ? ?
D ?
E Y ?
F Y Y N Chosen by
committee
ISSUE 2. STAFF RETENTION – Retain qualified/certified staff
Interests:
• Legality of offering outside the salary schedule
• Quick decisions
• Act equitably
• Teacher morale
• Keeping a well-known person in the community
• Teacher commitment to the District
• Definition of “good quality teacher”
Options:
A. Offer supplemental to offset difference in pay
B. Pay all teachers more
C. Must have ten years vested in the District
Standards:
Option W R C Comment
A Y N Y
B Y Y Y
C N N Y
ISSUE 2. STAFF RETENTION – New Teacher Orientation to
District
Interests:
• Make sure they have materials needed to be successful
• Identify time for the preparation
• Mentor in field/building will be assigned
• Identify the base of information needed
• New teacher handbook – specific by building
• Retain teachers
• Cost for additional orientation programs outside contract
days
• Understand responsibilities of goals for school improvement plan
and intervention before school starts
• Who does orientation?
• Classroom setup – equipment available
Options:
A. Supplemental position
B. Develop orientation program
C. New teacher orientation two days (with pay) prior to staff
returning
D. Ongoing orientation updates
Standards:
Option W R C Comment
A Y Y Y Mr. Thissen
to develop
B Y Y Y Mr. Thissen to
develop
C Y Y Y Depending on
cost
D Y Y Y Mr. Thissen to
develop
ISSUE 2. STAFF RETENTION – Extended Mentoring Program
Interests:
• Support for three years
• Cost of program
• Mentor in building/subject area
• Possibility of an active teacher being the mentor
• New to district/profession
• New teacher success and retention
• Mentoring training
Options:
A. Develop and support a three year mentoring program and training
of the
mentor with focus in the classroom
B. Develop and support a two year mentoring program and training of
the mentor
with focus in the classroom
Standards:
Option W R C Comment___________________
A Y Y Y Ratifiable
dependent upon cost
B Y Y Y Ratifiable
dependent upon cost
ISSUE 2. STAFF RETENTION – Tuition
Interests:
• Adequately fund tuition cost
• Promote ongoing professional development
Options:
A. Allot more money
B. Decrease money
C. No change
Standards:
Option W R C Comment___________
A Y Y Y Need to study
cost
B Y N N
C Y Y N
A suggestion was made to change the wording in the Negotiated
Agreement under Personal Leave (page 8, 4th paragraph) to read
“Teachers shall properly file written notification in advance
(three days) of a temporary leave for personal business. However,
in the event of extreme or emergency situations as determined by
the employee’s building administrator and/or superintendent, the
employee may be granted such leave upon shorter request time.” The
committee came to a consensus that this change be added.
3. ADJOURNMENT At 9:05 p.m., Bret Beye moved (Berndt) to adjourn
the meeting. Motion carried 5-0.
________________________________________
Robyn Heitfield, Clerk of Board of Education
Attest: ____________________________________
David Powell, President
Date: _____________________________________
