Change – the word seemed to be a common theme of many of the topics discussed at the Superior Board of Education meeting Monday evening. All members of the board were present for the meeting except Peggy Meyer.
Routine business included approving May claims from the general fund in the amount of $656.796.25.
A half time family and consumer science contract was extended to Bailey Ellwanger. An amended budget was approved and an occupational therapist interlocal agreement with South Central Unified District Five was accepted. COVID Protocols were accepted; approval granted to recycle a list of out-dated technology and three policies approved with minor changes.
One of the big changes for elementary students this fall will be a new grading system for math. No longer will there be a letter or percentage grade. Instead each math standard taught will be marked as exceeds expectations, meets expectations, approaching expectations or does not meet expectations. The new grading system is called standards-referenced grading.
“Parents need to realize if their child meets expectations, they are doing very well,” Supt. Kobza said.
Standards-referenced grading is designed to better communicated what each student knows and is able to do according to identified outcomes.
Math instructors have completed proficiency scale. Social science and science instructors are close and language arts is moving quickly. Only subject areas in which proficiency scales are complete will standards-referenced grading be used.
It is all part of the curriculum work that has been an ongoing process at Superior Public Schools the past three years.
“Our standards are based on what it will take to make every student college ready,” Supt. Kobza said. “Parents can know what we are doing to help their child and what they can do to assist.”
Logan Christiancy and Supt. Kobza reviewed a recent cyber security report the district received from Pine Cove Consulting. There are changes ahead, some of which will be implemented this fall. For example, any app an instructor wants to use must first be researched and approved by the tech specialist, Christiancy, who will make sure the app is coming from a reliable source.
Supt. Kobza said, “Since Russia invaded Ukraine, there has been a huge step-up in cyber attacks on schools. Lots of the threats from Russia and China are focusing on grades six through 12. If they can get a sixth grade student’s social security number, generally they have several years to use that number before most students will realize there is a problem. Ransom money is another reason for the cyber attacks.
“This past year several schools in Nebraska have been hit. Gering was the first. ALICAP ( the school’s insurance provider) paid $600,000 assisting schools who have been hit this past year,” he said.
Supt. Kobza described what potentially will happen with a cyber attack. When a school has a cyber attack, the computer system is frozen and the computer screen provides instruction on where ransom money is to be sent. The school will immediately contact ALICAP and the Department of Homeland Security. ALICAP will send two teams: a forensics team and a ransom team. The forensics team will go through the school’s entire computer system including all personal devices used. They will work until they have found and destroyed all the cyber viruses and worms. The ransom team goes to work negotiating with the attacker.
“If you pay ransom money without destroying the worm that caused the problem, you will pay ransom money over and over,” Kobza said, “because the worm will continue to weave it’s way through the system and cause problems. The process is not cheap.”
The school is insured for $1 million for cyber security. Backups are made twice each day and networks are separated. More and more instructors will use school equipment for instructional work only while the use of personal devices for school work will be discouraged.
Supt. Kobza compared the inconveniences to things area residents had to put up with during WWII. “We are in a cyberwar — all of us.” He said. “Your phone, your computer…”
Another change the Superior Board of Education will be considering is the acquisition of an electric school bus. Superior Public Schools has qualified for a $375,000 grant to purchase an electric school bus. The grant includes an additional $20,000 for a hook-up station to charge the bus. Currently, electric school buses are manufactured by Bluebird and sell for $400,000. (Superior had been paying approximately $100,000) for a new school bus.
Board members immediately had questions. Matt Bargen said, “We had better make sure our power lines can carry enough juice to charge it.”
Jason Jensen said, “Wonder if it will hold a diesel engine?”
Matt Sullivan said, “It will cost four times what we have been paying for a bus?”
Another said, ‘I wonder who can repair it, when it breaks down.”
One suggested the district wait and see how many of the electric buses were sitting along the road.
Discussion regarding an electric bus will be a topic of upcoming board meetings.
The junior high football program was also discussed. Cletus Corman, a long-time Deshler football coach and SYAA coach, was present. During public session he said, “ I want to know what Superior plans are for junior high football this fall?”
Corman had heard there are only nine boys interested. The team plays eight-man football.
This year’s Superior eighth grade class has a limited number of boys who participate in athletics. Seventh grade numbers are also weak.
Supt. Kobza had visited with Paul Heusinkvelt, athletic director, who reported there are 10 to 12 seventh and eighth grade boys who plan to play football this fall. Superior had earlier contacted Deshler Public Schools to inquire about a cooperative agreement for junior high football. (The two schools already have a wrestling cooperative agreement.)
However, Deshler has 20 junior high boys planning to play football and they practice at 7:30 a.m. each morning which allows the possibility of the football coaching staff coaching both high school and junior high.
Athletic rules prohibit sixth grade students playing when there is an enrollment of 12 boys in seventh and eighth grade.
Supt. Kobza has considered visiting Lawrence-Nelson about a cooperative junior high football program. Corman reported their numbers are also high and they too practice at 7:30 a.m.
Corman said, “There are two six grade students who have the size needed to play. If sixth grade students play on the junior high team, he doubts they would also play on the Superior Youth Assoication (SYAA) teams.
“It would be hard on SYAA,” he said. “I also have invested considerable time with SYAA and would just like to know.”
Supt. Kobza said, “I will contact the Nebraska Athletic Association and see if I can get a waiver so our sixth grade students can play. In the mean time we will continue to recruit.”
After fifth grade, numbers seem stong again.
Another topic Supt. Kobz asked the board to evaluate is the paraprofessional pay. It will first be discussed by the finance committee. Currently paraprofessionals are paid by the hour and are eligible to pay $80 per month for a $4,000 deductible single health insurance plan, with the school paying the remaining premium.
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