Superior School Board adding to security system

Monday evening, members of the Superior Board of Education met in regular session at the Superior High School library. The primary focus of the agenda was policy approval. Policies were divided into three categories: new policies, change polices and policies to review. Five new polices were approved, 22 policies changed and four were reviewed as part of an ongoing three year cycle. None of the policies were read aloud and there was no significant discussion. Most were recommended by legal council or required by state statue.

Supt. John Whetzal repeatedly mentioned Title 9, which he indicated has been extensively reworked and will have an impact on the district. Related changes including deletions and changes in wording constituted a 34 page document about sexual discrimination. The opening paragraph reads, “The school district does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates including admission and employment.”

Title IX has been known as the federal policy that established girls sports in 1972, as schools were required to provide equal opportunities for both males and females.

As rewritten Title IX is designed to protect students and employees from sex-based harassment and sexual violence. The regulation overhauls how institutions respond to reports of sexual misconduct. It expands protections for LGBTQ+ and pregnant students and makes it easier for victims to report sexual harassment.

Two of the new policies addressed maps. One outlines the procedures for sharing a map of the school buildings and property so emergency personnel can respond efficiently to an emergency.

The second directs the school district to use Gail-Peters projection maps instead of Mercator maps. Mercator maps have been used in classrooms to teach geography for decades.

Peggy Meyer, board president, asked what the change would cost the district. Supt. Whetzal does not expect it to be a costly change. He indicated it can be done gradually as new maps are needed. The change is designed to teach students that all maps have flaws. Gail-Peters maps are supported because they they show the size of countries more accurately. Mercator maps have been criticized because they exaggerate the size of Europe and North America and shrink South America and Africa. However, Gail-Peters maps will stretch horizontally countries near the poles and stretch countries near the equator vertically.

Another new policy is titled Malcom X Day Education. The opening of it reads, “Each year on May 19th, designated as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, Malcom X Day, the school district will hold suitable exercises in recognition of the late Nebraska Hall of Fame inductee El-Jajj Malik El-Shabazz, and his contribution to the betterment of society.”

A third new policy allows parents to request their student repeat a grade level. There are specific guidelines for kindergarten through fourth grade and and a different set of guidelines for fifth through twelfth grade students. Conditions include things like being at least one year below grade level, missing more than half of a school year or experiencing a severe mental or physical illness resulting in hospitalization of two or more weeks during the school year.

Five of the six board members were present: Peggy Meyer, Luke Meyers, Matt Bargen, Krista Tatro and Bard Biltoft. Matt Sullivan was absent.

Board members unanimously approved May general fund expenditures of $636,909.16.

They also raised the certified substitute teacher daily rate from $125 to $145 per day. The figure positions the school in the middle of an array of what nearby similar districts pay for substitutes.

Logan Christiancy, technology coordinator, reviewed a new web site the school will introduce to the public in July. The new website is expected to be more phone friendly. It will be in English but can translate into Spanish.

It will bring all school related social media to one place and be administrated by Stephanie Corman, activities director, and by Christiancy. One entry will affect all related parts of the communication system. For example, a change in an athletic schedule made on the web-site will automatically update the school calendar. Features included will be much like the current web-site, but one will be able to flip through the pages much like one does with Facebook. One will be able to click on a sporting event and see the final score.

Access to the school building is also changing. A more secure reader system will be in place when school starts. It is expected to be more tamper proof and will control who can open doors. It is expected to cost less than the current system and provide more features. For example, doors off the gymnasium to the junior high locker room will be kept locked and coordinators can manage who is coming and going throughout the day. It will also be known who has entered the locker rooms and keep a log of the time entered and the time left.

Stephanie Corman reported more than $4,000 was raised by the silent auction at the athletic banquet. She reviewed the uniform replacement cycle for each sport. In general, uniforms are expected to last five to six years in football, volleyball and basketball. Nine to 11 years in wrestling, bowling and track.

With board approval, Corman has begun coordinating all hotel scheduling and payment. The hotel coordinator will be expected to secure group rates, work only with hotels that direct bill and to fill out the proper paperwork so the school’s tax free status is honored. Thus coaches and sponsors will not need to carry school credit cards. She has secured refunds of approximately $500 during the spring sports season related to over billing.

Considerable discussion focused on academic eligibility to participate in the school’s activity programs. New standards will most likely be approved at the July meeting when the athletic handbook is to be approved. Discussion suggests the new standards will require students to take at least four classes on campus, take at least four classes the proceeding semester on campus, be in regular attendance and have not less than a 70 percent grade average in all but two classes. In prior years a 60 percent grade average was required.

Corman also reported that 81 students are participating in the summer weight lifting and speed program. A new computer scheduling system is helping the coaching staff coordinate the use of equipment and facilities.

A computer based system used to request and schedule maintenance will be expanded to manage transportation scheduling and building access for special activities. Requests must be made at least 24 hours in advance. It is hoped the new procedure will minimize the number of phone calls administrators received after they have left the building and enhance communication. Everyone will know what vehicle they will get, who the driver will be, when they are leaving and expected time of return.

By consent, the board encouraged Supt. Whetzal to proceed with financial planning for staff based on a poll of staff preference. The company will work with individuals to assist them with financial investments.

Supt. Whetzal reported the school’s cash reserve fund is rapidly getting back on track. Funds from the accounts were heavily dipped into to re-roof the school, to renovate restrooms and rebuild the front entrance last year.

He encouraged board members to check out the cafeteria floor. “It is beautiful, he said.” A side entrance has been in use as work continues in the cafeteria.

He reported the parking lot in front of the junior-senior high school will be slip sealed within the next six weeks. He expects the slip seal will extend the parking lot’s life.

He asked for volunteers to help interview applicants for an assistant business manager. This is a new position. Auditors have long dinged the school not having more personnel involved in the school’s business office.

Next month’s meeting is expected to be longer than usual as plans for the coming school year are finalized.