School Board meeting summary

The Bancroft-Rosalie Board of Education met Monday, July 9, 2012 at 7:30 pm in Bancroft. Superintendent Cerny presented the June transportation report, the Kindergarten Early Entrance Procedures, and MAP test results grades 3-11.

Principal Sjuts presented information on the Positive Behavior Intervention Supports program, handbook changes for 2012-13 and athletic schedules.

In old business the board approved extending the retaining wall to the end of the school garage and paving a 50’ x 100’ area north of the addition, including sidewalk replacement. The bid from Great Plains Communications was accepted for a new phone system and 2.5% increases were approved for administrators.

In new business, the board named First National Bank as the official bank for the general fund and Citizens Bank for all other funds, named the Wisner News-Chronicle as the official newspaper, selected Harding, Schultz, and Downs as legal council, and set hot lunch prices and class enrollment limits.

Hearings were held to discuss the Student Fee Policy and the Parent Involvement Policy and both were adopted without changes.

In other new business, the board approved the teaching contract for Jessica McPhillips, reviewed the school census, and approved the school flexible benefit plan. First approval was given for revised policies 0413 and 0590.

The board went into executive session to discuss administrator salaries and the open position on the school board.

School Lunch rule changes will effect school lunches

This ran in the Omaha World Herald. Read the entire article at http://www.omaha.com/article/20120709/NEWS/707099923/1707#new-school-lunch-rules-less-bread-less-salt.

My opinion: Unfortunately, regardless of how nutritious something is, if kids don't like it they won't eat it. And if they don't get enough to eat, they won't be happy.

From the article:
"Food companies that cater to schools are shrinking their buns and breadsticks, removing the breading from chicken nuggets and launching a host of other new products to give the nation's schools options as they rewrite menus to comply with strict new federal school lunch rules."

"(School food service) managers are feeling the pressure to comply with the rule changes, which they call the most significant in 30 years. Under the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, districts must offer more fruits and vegetables and increase fiber while limiting grains, meats and sodium. The reward for compliance is an extra federal reimbursement of 6 cents per meal."

"Much of the calculating focuses on a new requirement that schools serve kids fewer grain products each week. Figuring out what combination of breads, buns, breaded products and pastas will fit under the new limit poses the most difficult challenge in the law this year, according to company and school officials. Beginning in the coming school year, for example, kindergartners through fifth-graders will be restricted to 9 ounces of grains a week for lunch. The average hot dog bun weighs 1.5 ounces to 2 ounces."

"Sharon Davis, assistant director of nutrition services for the Nebraska Department of Education, said the rule changes will probably bring an end to two common cafeteria practices: offering free leftovers and placing out bowls of bread as a supplement to the day's fare. “That's a big change,” she said. “The bread baskets probably won't be in existence anymore.”

School Board agenda July 9, 2012

Updated School Calendar for 2012-13

This calendar includes monthly 2:00 dismissal dates for staff development. The early dismissal days are Wednesdays. Parents are encouraged to schedule dental and other student appointments on these afternoons. High school practices will be held at regular times (4:00 pm) on early dismissal days.

Follow-up on State Sportsmanship Award

The following nine schools received the Farmer's 2011-12 Sportsmanship Award:
Bancroft-Rosalie
Battle Creek
Elkhorn South
Gothenburg
Lincoln Lutheran
Norfolk Catholic
Pierce
Plattsmouth
Valentine

Bancroft-Rosalie is the only class D school to receive the award this year.

Spring Academic All-State Awards

The Nebraska School Activities Association is pleased to announce the student recipients of the Spring 2012 Nebraska Chiropractic Physicians Association Academic All-State Awards for their individual academic excellence, leadership and significant contributions in their NSAA activity.

Boys Golf- Preston Peters
Music- Jasmine Greenfield and Olivia Nottlemann
Boys Track and Field- Dylan Slaughter
Girls Track and Field- Makala Muller and Jessica Tietz

Summer School begins July 23

The Bancroft-Rosalie School “Jump Start” summer school will begin the last week in July. Jump Start is a program designed to develop and review skills in math and reading in order to prepare students for the beginning of the new school year.

Students were selected for Jump Start summer school based on MAP test scores in Reading and Math and NeSA state assessments (Grades 3-8) and teacher recommendations (Grades K-2). 

Teachers and paraprofessionals will be working with students on an individual plan that has been developed by their teachers focusing on the needs of that student. In some cases we are recommending entire reading groups attend so that the group can catch up with another reading group. Teachers for summer school are: Mrs. Schuttler, Mrs. Zwygart, Mr. Grinvalds, Mrs. Vogt, Mrs. Elsasser, Mrs. James, and Mrs. Wegner.

Classes will meet for twelve days, Monday through Thursday beginning July 23. The following are summer school dates and times:

July 23-24-25-26                 8:15-   11:45 am                                                                  

July 30-31 August 1-2         8:15-   11:45 am

August 6-7-8-9                     8:15-   11:45 am 

Rosalie and Walthill students can ride the van that will leave Rosalie at 8:00 am and will leave Bancroft at 11:50 am returning to Rosalie at 12:00 noon.