August 25, 2026 at 5:30 PM - Board of Education Special Meeting

Rationale:  Information concerning the Open Meeting Law, Chapter 84, Article 14 of Nebraska State Statutes, is posted in the meeting room at a location accessible to members of the public and attached to the online agenda. 

School Board meetings in Nebraska are meetings held in public, not public meetings.  The public comment agenda item is the only opportunity for the public to address the board. 

Please silence your phones and refrain from texting or using electronics (such as computers) during the meeting; if you must use your phone, please step outside the Board Room.

Mr. Bob Schoby, Board President, will call the Board of Education Special meeting to order. 

Rationale:  The Board Secretary will conduct roll call attendance. 

Rationale:  Dr. Johnson will lead the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Rationale:  The Blair High School Volleyball team would like to request facility usage for a Skills Camp from 1:00-3:00 p.m. on these dates:
Sunday, Sept. 13th, 20th, 27th, October 11th, 18th and 25th.
 

Rationale:  This is the portion of the meeting when members of the public may address the board about matters of public concern.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO SPEAK:

Rationale:  The district budgeted $1,040,000 to be transferred into its Savings Depreciation Fund for 2025-26.  Administration recommends increasing the amount to $1,070,000 since the Activity Fund Transfer recently made was $30,000 below budget.

Rationale:  If 70% of the full Board approves a resolution to access up to 6% additional revenue growth, it would provide up to an additional $1,821,624 of Property Tax Authority to the current $21,370,355 Property Tax Authority to support the General Fund and/or Building Fund for the 2026-2027 Budget. Approving the resolution at a full 6% would increase the District's Property Tax Authority to $23,191,979 for the General Fund and Building Fund.

If the Board approves this resolution, the Board would gain the authority to increase the 2026-2027 property tax request, but it is not required to. The Board may always adopt a budget with a lesser amount than the total Property Authority.

If the Board approves this resolution and later approves a 2026-2027 budget with a property tax request less than Property Tax Authority, the difference will become Unused Property Tax Authority. Unused Property Tax Authority is carried into next year's Property Tax Authority.

Rationale: 

Mr. Shearer presented budget information to the Board Members during Budget Workshops held on August 20, 2026, and August 21, 2026. During these workshops, Mr. Shearer and Dr. Johnson gathered feedback from Board Members regarding the proposed 2026-2027 School District Budget and Tax Request. Based on the feedback received, Mr. Shearer and Dr. Johnson will present a proposed School District Budget and Tax Request for the Board’s consideration. The Board’s action tonight is limited to approving the proposed budget and tax request for purposes of public notice and public hearings.

The proposed budget and tax request will be advertised for the required Public Hearing(s) scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on September 14, 2026, prior to the start of the Regular Board Meeting.

The Board will not be asked to adopt the final 2026-2027 Budget and Tax Resolution tonight. Final adoption of the Budget and Tax Resolution will occur following the public hearings.

Rationale:  The Board of Education is authorized by state statute to hold closed sessions.  Closed sessions may be held when clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual.  Reasons that meet this standard include but are not limited to:  (a) strategy sessions with respect to collective bargaining, real estate matters, pending litigation, or litigation which is imminent as evidenced by communication of a claim or threat of litigation to or by the public body; (b) discussion regarding deployment of security personnel or devices; (c) investigative proceedings regarding allegations of criminal misconduct; (d) evaluation of the job performance of a person when necessary to prevent needless injury to the reputation of a person and if such person has not requested a public meeting; and (e) legal advice.