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December Board Meeting

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radio test good evening order our regular monthly meeting of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education Haitian this Monday December 12th 2022 please call the roll violence and Pledge of Allegiance one nation Madam president I would really appreciate your help discussion on the agenda please call the roll I will pass that on to East Ramen and you present price reviews dedication Kearney Public Schools I can't thank you enough I'm going to half of our district leadership board for a district I took it to you know just a few things that I came up with is probably not an all-inclusive start me the things that came to my mind during your leadership presence is a present price of course in 2022 so the improvements mr. stratman you would have been involved with the Northeast renovation the Buffalo Bills Edition both of you would have been involved with the Kearney high school edition of additional rooms in Sunrise the track and turf replacement at Verizon are associated KUSI prep projects and probably maybe the top A-list the handy around Center for Success so we we've been able to accomplish many building projects in your toe things that will be incredibly important for students for years to come also but you both have led through the challenging time of covid-19 are beastly helping us through issues with I'm asking and policies and a school closure and in all sorts of things there we got some challenging tricks on my Dachshunds in your 10-year both in language arts and math charge time does with many new leaders in our buildings and obviously in our district both in our district office and obviously with the you both have done all this and Grace you've been public service to Kearney public schools in New Braunfels on a Carne with that's really hard to do you you've met your constituents and you served us all well so I mean half of our present rice your blacks as recognition 4 years of dedicated service to Corning public I'm sorry to Kearny Board of Education and the promotion of educational excellence in Kearney public school for 4 years and was just rapping and recognition of 8 years dedicated Service Learning Board of patient and educational excellence in Kearney Public Schools that was long ago I don't have anything formal prepared but I do want to say thank you first I want to say thank you to send me twice to represent them it's not locked funny that we have a friend of 45,000 people in Three Counties and that includes the 15 or so and Phelps County that sometimes build up the results I want to thank my wife for allowing me to yes I know that it's not lost on me being the time away from home that I put into this and I want to thank my fellow board members really been an honor to serve with the first wave of board members including mr. Glover and I am a I am a product of public schools from grade school through law school that's what I know and so some small part of me held the word that I got on this board it can someone pay back the opportunities that I had one of the things I've always tried to keep in mind is what would have been best for 14 year old me what are the opportunities that I would like High School inside always trying to have that at as a dozen examples of less than mediocre athlete who really Joy Band and Fine Arts was going to make that was going to make her school or better for that and so I really appreciate it the opportunity here as if we've had some some Valley and got some pizza I think I better District over the last 8 years and when I sat here and I mostly that is mostly most of that is due to the people in this room in your seats for for you and it's not lost on me because a energy because I know the time and effort that I put into it and this is a volunteer position so I know how much each of you put into your positions and I I just really am thankful to all of you thanks Oliver doesn't mean I'm going away I'll find something else to do and I'm like I said I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the public schools in Kearney for allowing me to have the opportunity that I've had so with that being said I think you all and you're going to get out of here listening to me the last four years maybe sometimes not being very happy but when we moved here in 2004 it was a quick and easy decision for the highest level of Education is out there any I have friends and family and lots of places and I truly truly believe that the opportunities that kind of high school offers along with the center Now is really serving our population and a level that just astounds me people sitting in this room that lots of you hopefully I'm lying or not maybe getting to see but I hope you will acknowledge the hard work that our cabinets are leadership our principals, teachers do in this District it is truly by incredible incredible honor that I've had these last four years serving beside them as well as my fellow board members and it was short I am waiting great pride in what we've accomplished there's a board there was a lot of challenges that this board has been incredible as well as the previous two years that I served and I too am not going away I am still going to be sitting here on my paper I see you on the other side of the microphone but I still have a huge bring desire and love for public education and Chris thank you very much for and our executive cabinet Lowe's whole numbers are going to be speaking on this and this is our state through the State of the Union Address Wireman Mulligan's exactly catabolism a large round of applause after we give the January Avenue will cover a variety of areas in the annual report Eagle for Droid in your ear but you'd like to see it is here in I mean we have a ghost at the Whittier Building I always knew there was one here at 9 but it's actually confirmed the first couple of pages of the envelope or die there's a message from her myself and then obviously we we would like to recognize our Board of Education members we mention a lot tonight about the important work you do and obviously this report is reflected of your app our vision mission statements for Kearney Public Schools provide a sage the board of learning community that empowers them to become problem solvers engaged citizens and compassionate people who own their future that starve our mission is much shorter and firing power since impact the world I believe we believe public education benefits the entire community and teaches father citizenship and if we share responsibility of all people education the whole Child Development activities social emotional health and well-being instruction address of critical thinking communication collaboration creativity in a global Society expectations of Higher Achievement education should be paid every student's name every student should take their education and everyone is entitled to a safe and respectful learning environment are district by the Numbers course these numbers fluctuate just a little bit but when this reporter will 5731 student we have a graduation rate is just slightly above 93% we have 35% of our students qualify for free and reduced lunch 3% of our students for English learners population of 15% a Mobility rate means dudes that are moving from one school to the next is about 5.9% to 4% of Kearney high school graduates After High School we have one after school program in KCl think that's our 21st Century Learning granted that provides after-school programming in Alton Elementary as well as long as we have 15 total goals in Kearny Public Schools 1 High School to Middle School 19 traditional Center for success and include 29 administrators 432 teachers 201 Educators 9 Technology support folks 33 Transportation employees 82 and Food Service 58 facilities in 40 clerical staff members our district has family 19. 355 students who have a home language that is not English so sometimes we do have a diverse school system and I will turn it over to mrs. permit our focus on bereavement weed before the Strategic plan I mention that went into effect this year she is helping us leave the mtss building and District Improvement improvement process and social talk to you little bit of Irish does the board is where there are four pillars that really started the foundation of the work that we do here in Kearney public schools and really helping us move forward helping us continue that would put my processor entering that we're providing Equitable opportunities and the most the the best environment for students as discussed earlier Readiness this has been a foundation of the work that we've been any public schools I would say for at least the 10-year that Mr Chapman alluded to for the eight years that he has spoken, so it really was a focus when we moved into the new high school spin even fires that we've offered play great robots career opportunities for students and KVs and that really hot is something that we're very passionate about and we continue to move forward in these areas the second pillar is our guarantee to Bible curriculum and so we made some strides in individualizing the services that we provide for students with given the opportunity to meet the unique needs of every Zoo but underneath all of that is the very strong crickler Foundation that we hope to provide to all students everyday and every building and then we continue to work on that Critter Nation making sure that the experiences that suit the classroom is the same across the buildings and that we give them the strong Foundation that allows us to be able to build those individual support through a process pillar 3 is new in this procedure plan and I would think the board for taking on this maybe dogs and color and supporting the work that Kearney Public Schools is going to do and is doing in the teacher retention and Recruitment and there's a lot to unpack when you talk about teacher Recruitment and attention and a complex and very multi-faceted conversation to have but I think it's one is critical right now the Kearney Public Schools is always a district that wants to be very forward-thinking and feel knowing that teacher shortages potentially looming and although they we haven't felt the effect of those in our district yet like some other districts in the country into her across the stage we want to make sure that we are always looking at ways to make a public schools in amazing place to learn Hebrew and so making this one of the pillars of our strategic plan I think it's critical to Our Success going forward I miss the loudest to be able to have conversations with him building with teachers and involving them in the conversations about what does make ABS and brake and how do we make it even better so that we make sure that we're recruiting and retaining the highest qualities that possible boars are social and emotional learning I think everyone knows that in order for students to get the most out of there occasionally. They also have to have a really solid foundation and they have to be able to come to school in an environment that state where they are feeling mentally and emotionally safe and supported and we have lots of dinner programs that were using greatly lemon we don't have quite as you support staff that are also really focused on helping us achieve these goals so that together structure are professional development days this year and away play where we are able to get T-shirt be back every single building has committees and each for these pillars that involves and include the staff within their building so that our teachers have a voice in that that they are part of that goes that process said that you were having a conversation about how we accomplished and and need to go over these four pillars thank you for allowing me to address you this evening or today you slides are probably repeat but until we feel it's important to include in its annual report this financial income is our budget for this current school year you can see throughout that slime where the Mets that 68 million dollars comes from a large portion of that 63% comes from our property taxes all the way down to bring our next highest would be our state and so this is where we planned are in a lawyer next line place next to the breakdown of how we plan to extend that 60 million dollars you can see a little less than half is in regular education in a 12% of dedicated bird special navigation you can see the different pie slices there for the remaining I would like to highlight how we propose to use our increased resources we obviously have hiring and retaining staff that can be directly attributed to the competitive job market in our community additionally there's increased numbers and additional expenses associated with special education or the American with disability Education Act are you also on board and you know where strategic plan five year plan in advance will call for additional dollars to plan for the future and you have done that additionally this fall we approved juicy pop bond to approve mini-state the accessibility and air quality concern throughout many of our buildings across the district West line please again this is just a person of fiscal year 2223 to take into account the difference from one year to the next and the percent change please note at the bottom in the white you see Pub in fiscal year 2003 with either 12.4 million dollars added to the budget. the difference for the change in percentage next why please this is a summary of our tax request in our Le'Veon formation when all was said and done I'm going down to the very bottom works estimated tax levy you can see in the school year 21 that we were $2 21 and even though through the addition of cue C puppet the 12.4 million dollars the tax levy increased by about the penny 80 books so we do a lot of hard work on your part lot of communication a lot of dialogue that you were able to make make a budget and hopefully we are expanding and using those resources to the best of our ability and that's for our students and Ferrari stacked next line please this is a part of the requirements for that we provide annual surveys I think the surveys went out today that the person so I marched over should have received surveys today that came out every six basically to get the stakeholder input on how we are doing as a school district and to provide any input on use of funds today you can see through the spreadsheet here how we have been suspended our funds to this point and what our plans are for the future next light please and I am done price of this next light is just going to highlight some statistics about our talented teachers and staff here within our building so the average age is 41.8 or we have to 432 teachers within the district the average years of observed is 11.4 with the average year experience overall as 15.5 and we have 67% of our teaching staff that currently has their master's degree so in addition to our outstanding staff we also wanted to take an opportunity to highlight our Reddit Raiders because they do those leaders in our district do outstanding things for students in our school and then prove who is the principal at Emerson Elementary recently has won the outstanding new principal of the Year award shran in a tsp Ryan Hoag the assistant principal for activities at Kearny High School has one of these different principle of the year for the state so just another example of some great people that we have working with us make a note to myself thank you for letting us share this with you today some of these numbers have been covered earlier but will reiterate the importance of some of them graduation ring and grown this year to 93% which was a giant positive college-bound we heard earlier 74% of the present our role as you can see us at 89 student 25 students a CT with 30 plus or higher 25 also scored above 32 so 89 students with 4.0 Scholars based on the Cuba Warriors score 36 of the perfect score of the two cages student earn on the ACT and then to semi-finalists for the National Merit Scholarship broke and then 193 students that take the ACT prep course is vital in the success and then 300 case to take advanced placement or dual credit classes each year so we can go to the benefits to the schedule that we have accountability was put on hold for a couple years but it's back now and so that after we have to be a reminder Souls what that stands for and that's accountability for Quality education in schools today and tomorrow. Does that occurred last spring were again turned out to be very good for crying Public School other or categories excellent good evening and by and large across the district very very good rate as you can see at the bottom of that page while to find another class a school that was grades were excellent but what do you know well going to beat us there down there in the right-hand corner beyond that are schools excellent schools were Glenwood Kenwood Meadowlark heart many Hills are great school for Buffalo Hills Central and Horizon and are good school where Brian Emerson Northeast sunrise in Kearney High that's based upon Pescatore primarily Stop Route and the level of improvement is another consideration when the designation alright I'm back this goes into surprise slides with a TB results you can see typically we are above the state average in all the categories with the exception of this year language is English and reading combined am I am working with mr. Ganso identify whether your ACT prep or things that we need to do cuz that's not typically what do you see so this is kind of what I normally there, but then the rest of them they were 49.5% better with 6% better and signs and then push the correlates to the average of 16.3 or 18.1 or 18.3 but it almost all cases were better than the state and you can see up there largest composite is 19.3 compared to the state average of 18.6 This Is the End Gap this would be our 6th 7th and 8th graders to get on the testing if you look across the board here you would see that we are basically + 10 and Ela in the middle level + 12 in math and + 13 compared to the other than science I'm an integrated down by gray sew-in dla words satire and grella 7% iron 7th grade and 6% higher in 8th grade jump down the map again 6th grade 747 again and said ok Google and then passports so is Gordon coming from our middle level and then ultimately it by the board game for science I know what everyone else has said thank you again for the opportunity Elementary is ecstatic a minimum of 10% higher in all areas compared with the average District average we were 10% above the state in ela scores 12% above and mass and 13% above and science Jelly's boards are 2% of us they are birds in grade 10% above and forth and 10% of weapon fifth grade in math we really saw some great work third grade was 13% above the state average 16% of a fourth grade average and 15% above we also saw great results with 11% higher than the state average is well so really phenomenal work happening in the elementary and cannot give you our staff or students families 731 devices or our students which is 141 Chromebook for every kid including kindergarten and you would be so surprised at how well they can maneuver their way on those lovely Chromebook right time to watch Wonder Why technology has so many men spell primarily it helps in 16 lessons beyond our classroom star kid can really start to get a global education with the technology devices in our classroom and I would also say that it really helps speed up the testing that required a necessary for us to be able to get those results would have been a help lessen the classroom instruction because everyone can kind of test in bulk and so we can we can schedule and get it done it and wanted Kearney Public Schools we have a focus and activities arts and Athletics and we have many abilities that we recognize every month minions do the organizations that already State recognition the artist we have amazing Martin programs and recognized as leaders in the state we have tremendous prog-rock and competing against the best in Lincoln and Omaha and I always tell people when you think that's not a big deal just do the math on how many people live in Lincoln and Omaha and how much greater the size their Community is the car name if you put that extrapolate at a table with smaller schools that be like carne competing against sword and other schools of that size or smaller when you when you automatically look at us or athletic programs at 1 many championship the class we've been out there in that we're really proud of all three of those days enclosure again I appreciate your your time with the presentation I know it's kind of funky when somebody later to come out back and forth but it takes Oliver District leaders I I could give this presentation but I really want to highlight all of them because every one of these District leaders I have a fantastic team they work with our building L every day with our staff they're very committed and she goes out with the leaders in the back we feel like we haven't heard about a tremendous results that were very proud of their only it about a couple of districts in the state in class A that have no needs Improvement across the floor in the air quest ratings or one of them that doesn't happen with that happens with a lot of great leaders Library teachers and make sure that our kids are ready to go for learning so does our 150th year operation we've had many things already but we would just really like to thank the Carnegie Museum for always and trusting us with educating our children for the you know the last hundred fifty years and good Lord willing will be here for at least another hundred and fifty years and and I doing those efforts with all getting car and so any questions anyone has relative for  report let me know when you are and I can it's also get on the website website will will will really are they count in the two-year schools and the four years I just want to emphasize that because we have a lot of kids into 30% of our graduates to go directly to okay so we have a a large percentage of kids that go directly from Kearney High School to the Unk every year so I've been staying in Kearney on the collar so I think that speaks well then you and Kate call Doris Burke some of them like me wanting to leave the house what's a great presentation think I may have on the agenda specific time English patient may address the board on matters of General concern any member of the public in order to speak about items on the agenda, it may not exceed 60 minutes the board impose term limits may be extended by a majority vote of the board probably a motion to do so or action may not be taken on matters discussed during the public participation, unless the matter specifically appears on the prepare agenda for the vegetation members will refrain from expressing personal opinions during public participation, any members of the public designed to address this body shall be required to sign in with cherry pie filling and identify himself or herself including an address phone number and name of any other organization represented by such person unless the address and phone number department is way to protect the security of the individual this is why we have no please enter thank you very much will move on to item 6 which is the board report and this is going to be a problem on the nasd and your education conference that mister mister attended and do we draw straws or who's going call Al Abel. Thursday night dinners group but most the time figured go into session for attorneys there so just talked about highlights from the state conference is there different size because there's the the two majors will not bring their stuff but have an expected in course then when we need legal advice we need you know I also went to Governor Washington Senators Oconomowoc are we don't know what part of that I end-of-year legislation committee meeting or I will start and the last one I'd call out is Impressions on Safford then I attended one on Wednesday and it had to do with it to get a shortage in about five or six different ways that people could become teachers in the state of Nebraska and typically what we think of it Disney Channel and I'm so if anybody interested in education and thinking that isn't even a possibility for me there might be a way for you to help out your local system include at the same time another person has expertise in something doesn't necessarily mean they can teach it and throw there is support and some help and how to teach them how to reach students and I got some of those kinds of things and surrounding states are there where are difficult it is to get your certification in the state of Nebraska that we don't judge just because you have a certification and like I don't know I'm up here seder Braska might be why we are well and why we have qualified teachers and so we don't want to and I'll lower the certification of people we want qualified I qualified people in there but just take a look at that they also said this is I can do topical it has become a Hot Topic but prior to 2015 it started to happen and Kobe just brought it in my car and everything else is going on with education but it's not a new issue but there's like a rain so it is and it isn't an issue in one particular area anymore to be very Terraria said it was an issue so I talked a lot about growing around with not only teachers but also for administration and 4in of those kind of things do we just need to really work on that and make it up A+ profession to go into the other one what did mention that was on developing your relationship with your foundation and that Rancher with me because I already have a Bank of America in pain and they just they just do lots of things to do in Polar Express right now you know I want to continue to work on that and I think you got to go home thank you for your sordid Workshop that Gabby attended my body is weak a lot of Vacations so obviously looking at those folks that are interested maybe have some college but they're trying to figure out the path as mentioned the legal updates are always good Goshi ation but I was particularly good to hear all the different leave options and things at different districts are looking at considering you know I Know It's Not Butter supposed to be the highlight but for me personally at the Highlight always been just have time with the board I have for dinner have some dialog we don't always get the opportunity day-to-day Life coming together and get to know each other Batarang yeah thank you so much takeaways included the legislative the upcoming legislative season in regards to what the legislature and our governor elect goes with our state funding formula ansiosa there was really a lot of collaboration amongst the financial officials in the state that's a lot of good conversation and one of my biggest takeaways however was I'm working with the Educators Health Alliance Group and with eh eh in terms of the impact of the 6.87% additional increase will have on the Goshi ation and the Challenger negotiations is upon us and you're we want to be stewards of taxpayer dollars and we will continue to do so however the negotiations, I think will be a challenge most of the counter counterparts from across the state or anywhere between 4 1/2 and 6 1/2 per cent total compensation and will be interesting to see where we land as a district when you folks so I was fortunate to sit in a mini sessions and hopefully I provided you with with some additional information as well as Kea so we cannot negotiate a berry season and we can get settled here this early spring or any questions Brian's number honey Collins all right we're going to move onto item number 7 which is our consent age in and I can send a gender basically if some of our regular monthly duties and bills proving minutes making sure and we also this month did a audit of the Windy Hills PTO the first in the second half proved the consent agenda of Defense has any further discussion find the difference Russian classes I think you might have a few items tonight first I'm here to ask the Board of Education to improve the early going to be for your approval last night we're still doing some verification on eligibility and so unfortunately Melanie didn't get on the agenda not a prison I moved to approve the early resignation instead of request is it going to be fall let's just say we have received the letter v Nation from Jennifer Kaley really served as assistant. I would met a president I would move to accept the resignation of Jennifer Katie assistant principal party High School effective November 22nd 2022 November 22nd 2022 this is why message thank you next we are going to move onto item number 9 regular agenda item under business and proceed with the exceptions of the construction manager proposal are you coming to the table so obviously you're not a friend. are accused for being such a manager at risk of the project we received two that would be deconstruction the back in our instruction Norfolk. We had a committee that meant I heard presentations from both these sand companies with their interest in being a construction manager at-risk basically our team done that and discuss everything was very close obviously BB being here in Kearney supporting our local community supporting job in our community is very important to us as are both of them and we have to continue working with us number of projects out of the Easy Button Rihanna was accepted proposal for construction manager the k.c. power and Associated projects and the capias applying for that opportunity. we had one that had a nine-year working relationship was for the school district and we had I met this guy and give us not any product good matter what we're going to get a good product and not a good time in India decided to recommend that we would do it better job next time that we are our review has noticed and no statute to change the lack of years and then I'd like to make a challenge the early to do it by recognizing the competition is there we had one company and the individual and it's all very well and I would challenge any way that would be cool after yesterday but that was that I also got on and I think I want process that's an easy choice and when you have to qualify companies that definitely makes it harder and relationship in Kearny local is is definitely something that we've always looked at considered banks are definitely I would say that beckenhauer definitely gave me a run for their money this time so any other groundhog when we please call roll my next item is our regular I'm agenda under the miscellaneous items are Hertz on his penne and that's the approval of a memorandum of understanding night I can spend hours probably talking about you and K in the relationship we down with them we've had an agreement in place with you and gave her a number of years where they have you like APS billeting indoor pool and gym for practices or something of that nature at times in the open to use Verizon in the church there were some of their fur I gave you the benefit of a number of years it will cost at their home football games at Cubs Stadium to have our graduation at the store on 4th and Center will use our Ponderosa ring for senior we use their indoor track facility for indoor me so I know I'm probably forgetting things off the top of my head but we have a we've had an ongoing relationship this board ucreditu had a real commitment he wanted you to stand that relationship to get that in place and it's renew that agreement the agreement was started really back in 2005 with some full of thinking at that time dr. Anderson and then I believe John may have been on that as well. Back when I was on the foundation that time and the agreement was great it maybe wasn't always easily found and I talked about that but we wanted to really bothered by something that would stand for a number of years they've no questions out of do I will we have in place for both entities this will take taxpayers money tax dollars and it takes a lot of people mr. watch really wish this on with you and I'll legal channels but it doesn't happen overnight. I work a lot with Ryan ho is Mark Bauer so there's a lot of people like I get to I asked you to accept the NYU but the ones that are doing the heavy lifting the work under water and power they would be recognized for trying to make sure that we had this how do you tonight being here so we have a great partnership with you and K and occasionally and now here in a facility sharing this be a 10-year agreement in 2033 digital billboard advertising a boat down by which would be great a lot of our sponsors like to do those sort of advertising during our event so he'll be able to do that will be there as well so we're outside of the barbershop in weren't any dialog that is one of them many I just am so amazed all the time the memorandums of understanding that we have with the city with so many different antibodies. I think that's extremely important for us to remember that I do have to say this is probably though very good for the next 10 years and so I think I just cried cuz I was, but I do think though between both institutions is very large book ran the Kearney Community this agreement and the continued agreement and partnership between University and Kearney Public Schools provides a lot of aren't you nice but it also saves money because it provides has access to facilities that we don't otherwise have maintained that we don't otherwise have to build Sports Center beneficial relationship in that way but I look at this as not Reinventing the wheel when it comes to facilities these facilities are available to us use their available to the university to use and so why would we double up on on the building when we a really good partnership relationship with the university so I'm pleased with work I know this took longer than a day to put together I think it speaks to the importance of the agreement by chance or watches as a deer I appreciate all the work that's gone into it because it is not lost on me the time effort energy that went into this weekend and it was a lot of things up for debate but this document I think fully explains our relationship and our responsibility for it so thank you to work on it and look forward to seeing you also liked a comment that this is something that was kind of on my radar when I started in office and knowing that it was probably going to happen after this termed but I do appreciate the board and the leadership of dr. Edwards as well in dialogue with a ways back and and I know that jumping through hoops when we start dealing with State entities and education and all those different thing but it was a doctor of dialogue and then we had a lot of discussions about what does it look like moving forward and we do we work together those memorandums. Versus different talk about things that was just wrong and talk about it makes sense no different than some of the other clutter things we've done with Kearney Catholic and these are the things that we need to continue to do as a district and this one is very welcome. Bye to the board and I appreciate you want a meeting at 4 p.m. that we had at the district that we thought were important to us for a student and the fact that we have been able to do this with basically a $0 between the two and I am very appreciative that under Alex and I just because he did have a little bit of blood I appreciate that very much thank you very much. the next item on our agenda appeal of our library books reconsideration the committee's decision on the book Empire of the storm which of these individuals I will or in the emotion we can go into the Iowa Madam president I would move that we take no action on the citizen appeal and that we accept the recommendation of the committee to leave the book in place at Crane High School to take no action on the appeal made by the citizens and uphold the decision of the committee any further dialogue Madam president thank you I have spent considerable time on this I think any time that we have a parent bring a concern or complaint to the school board about a book or any material located in our buildings should be met would be up in the Deep by Mozart seriousness and also the utmost scrutiny I struggle with some of the content in the books just because it's it's Empire of storms first part of the storm is a part of a series of books Throne of Glass series and I didn't know much about these but why so I am really into these I did some reviews I read through part of the book I read through the other parts that were concerned they are marketed and is young adult adult young adult science fiction and the other books are meant to be addressed in maturity with the age of the reader there are some sensitive there are some sensitive items located in the book but at the end of the day it is still targeted toward town and dog Market in that way on Amazon it's marketed that way by the publishing house and reviewing the committee notations I think there's about 30 pages of notes on it and I really that we had a very balanced Committee of professional community members and staff that reviewed this book and gave us some feedback on it because I I will admit again I struggle with a parent parent concern on a book and I want to take that with the utmost sincerity and seriousness on the other hand because we do like the content of the book doesn't mean that it should be removed if there's literary value to that and we can debate what literary value is but again this is a series marketed to young adults meant to regress with them as this we're not we're not asked to review the entire series we're not asked to review the scope of the series just one booking at series it's challenging to me that this is where we're at as a school board that were asked her if you end up visual books that are not part of their curriculum this is not a book that people are mandated to read this is not a book that is required reading this is not even a book. it's all a show at Kearney High School Wish by the way we continue to be the most transparent District in the state when it comes to what's available in our library every library in our district weather elementary schools middle school high school to hang around Center every volume in our library is available on our website for the public to see which books are available with that being said our district has become a Target because of the books that are available in our library because we provide transparency to those books because we allow the public to look at what books are available on our website our district has repeatedly been made as a as a district that provide inappropriate bookstore students which I would challenge we we sat here for the last year while this has been an underlying issue in our country we have had six people, discuss the contents of books read excerpts of books came from teenagers today are faced with more outside influence than any other generation in our history whether cell phones weathers internet whether it is TV shows whatever it is and I is a school board member don't want to be engaged providing that type of material but again it comes down to what is lyric literary value what is it scene what am I one of the cases that every loss studies is there is a case where they're talking about obscenity and the Supreme Court Justice at the time said I can't Define it I know it when I see it and that's a different strain pork chops this week so we're asked to determine whether this book is obscene and I will also note that I'm both parent complained that neither book was read by the parents submitting this complaint but there were passages of the book that were chose to be defensive and when you read the entirety of the committee's comments about this the first Empire of the sun's is it is me Empire the storm it's a fairly benign world that has stopped more mature what is apparently the name book because it's a science fiction book and I thought this was really pretty much the the summarization of the book it was about the writing style in the book and I thought this was probably more of a proper reason to remove I don't have it right in front of me but I am offended by the poor quality of the writing and punctuation as the violence language excetera there are multiple reasons why does bullshittin may not be appropriate or libraries but to say that it's not appropriate for young adult I don't think is one of them because we have a school this we have a high school we have to provide literary materials for forty-three-year-old freshman and eighteen-year-old seniors very gray area for literature should every book be a nice low B only appropriate for 14 year old and we're going to have seniors there we're not providing a service to our seniors by providing them material like this they made they might find enjoyable in the engagement and read and so again I struggle with this because I know it came sincere sincere concern that this book be removed but this is Conan pill that we go down by opening the floodgates to remove books that have been in our school for years sometimes. to remove these books that may have literary value or made man gauge on stupid neck Main and Gage some of our students and reading so for that reason I will not be supporting the removal of its buddy I will rely on recognition videos I would just like to add an addition that during this timeframe we've also heard rust Library policy and have to put the choice of books into the parents and what one parent may consider is appropriate reading may be very inappropriate for another family and this is public education and we do service first number of students and families within our district and as much as some things may not be okay in my family may be totally fine and it's just got done and we're going to face this constantly and that's why we put this policy into place that parents can be in control of what reading and so for that reason I also will not be proceeding with overriding people that understand could you please read the motion back there's no action on Wednesday and accepted call the roll mr. gas tell me which is the review and discuss from taking action on the citizen appeal of the library book reconsideration plays The Vision on the book train I know second Mountain what's the difference Esther blessing 2nd and Mrs Gifford made the motion for deserting for the dialogue mr.com cover to cover and I don't want this comment about we couldn't get me in contact there are some very difficult a very palpable I think it look at awesome without it deals with with David in written call English class or study Dillon Town, sporting goods and Dylan Thomas is somebody who is very difficult to understand very dirty is very disturbing very difficult I understand what some of the things for the more you read it the more you can understand where you build into more you can see to the there and it was very challenging but very rewarding in the end similar and because it's the right number because you did a great job writing and go back and forth and see different story are you paying contacts you get together reinforcement for premarital or abuse alcohol out of this wood Macy's from the Derby thing because you're not taking us on entire thing is so disturbing and time but it leaves you over I would probably recommend that this would be tile in a large class board there could be some discussion amongst the group Philippine literature good child it make you want to learn more make you want to throw this gives you an opportunity to have to deal with Dusty old adult toys are made or not washed wisdom and hopefully doesn't leave them on to make better choices and Alton Wayne the challenge I would have is that our parents need to be involved and parents should be a kid wakame where my daughter and bring this look all in Reading because I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my beast. dealt with it I agree with negative things with your dash in bed talking with you and the things in this well-dressed the questions on write a review of this box or in touch on the trail by literary critics there's a reason or purpose of a question really easy to cherry-pick and take things out of her life in the life of those around her is this book appropriate some of the things that I picked out of here they're big Smitty said were these are issues that sometimes will do my face Now does not work if I dropped it talks about negative share another person's that I do not believe that this is a trajectory of tire light and then all you have to do is understand this book is to look at the author's note on the back of book author said crank the drug is indeed a monster one that is tough to leave behind when you invited into your life Olympics so when I look at all of these things that really tired me out that makes me upset that this book is challenged because it is I'm sure it's very good. but it is important for some students be able to read this book and see what effect does that have on life how to take an agent to someone who has everything has been completely run that light and life with Erica so you're pretty fired up and I think that you should know what you're challenging and how am I the parts name the only thing I would add is that I would greatly think many of the time that they are putting in a request for her very taxing the committee members were asking if we can do this and then I work only is there is there going to be where they're at right now or if we have to take some opinions of I would like to after what must have been astonished at how quickly the committee was able to read this book and me not to say that they've been through this Sunday and I'm and credible I'm putting together a very diverse thank you very much as well as a board can you please call the roll ask for a motion from the superintendent's contract negotiations for the lawyer as the first and the second for us to go in The Possession for the purpose of conducting a strategy session regards

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