The Board of Education passed an amended bond resolution that authorized an increase in the maximum interest cost from 3.5% to 4.25% for the upcoming sale of bonds. The recommendation is for our school district's General Obligation Bonds, Series 2022, with a principal amount not to exceed $38.85 million. The recommendation was made out of an abundance of caution based on changes in market conditions since the date the original resolution was approved (March 21, 2022). The Board approved the amended resolution.

View the March 31 Legislative Report.

Curriculum and Instruction Support staff presented to the Board on their work over the last several months to review and identify secondary World Languages textbooks and resources. A standard curriculum development cycle was followed to identify the materials needed and gather feedback from various stakeholders.

Staff began the process by reviewing submissions to an RFP and potential textbooks and resources. Materials were also available for review by teachers, our community and the World Languages Advisory Committee. Materials were then selected based on the feedback for field testing in classrooms throughout our district. Additional feedback was collected from staff following the field testing.

Curriculum and Instruction Support staff will now work with potential vendors on negotiated agreements for selected materials. Selected materials include hardcopy student and teacher textbooks and digital resources.

The final textbook and resource recommendations, along with negotiated agreements with the selected vendors, will come back before the Board for approval in the future.

Chief Academic Officer Susan Christopherson provided an update to the Board regarding College & Career Academies and Pathways.

School Design teams consisting of school leadership, curriculum specialists and teachers have been working to finalize course development and advisory board development. Schools have also been working on expanding advanced academic opportunities at each school. Benson High completed its first Cambridge International team visit, Northwest High staff learned about developing a model for Early College and North High was accepted as an AP Capstone school. Student ambassadors at each school have received training on the opportunities available at their school, as well as all schools. Student ambassadors were instrumental in giving school tours and assisting with open houses held in January.

In addition, CIS staff continue to work closely with the Nebraska Department of Education. They are also engaging staff through fireside chats and students through meetings with the Superintendent's Advisory Council.

Over the next six months, school design teams will continue to work to ensure curriculum guides are ready and staff has appropriate content training. Advisory boards and committees will begin to meet. A District Master Scheduling team continues to support the work schools are doing. This summer, CIS and School Leadership Teams will come together in July for the first-ever College & Career Academies and Pathways workshop. Time will be dedicated to supporting school teams and ensuring staff is ready for the 2022-23 school year.

The Policy Committee recommended changes to the following policies. The policies will come before the board for a second reading in the future.

Policy Adjustments

The next regularly scheduled Board Meeting is tentatively scheduled for April 18, 2022. It is tentatively scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.

To review previous Board of Education agendas, click here. If you are having trouble accessing direct links, please access the full Board of Education Agenda to view presentations and other documents.

The video from the meeting will be available by Wednesday at noon following the meeting. The video can be viewed by clicking here.