January 9, 2024 at 7:00 PM - Regular Meeting

Rationale:  Outgoing President Wilkins will announce the adjournment of the 2023 Board of Education and appoint a president pro-tempore to begin the reorganization of the Board for 2024.

President Wilkins may appoint himself or a member of the board or the superintendent to act as President. Once the new President for 2024 is elected, that person will assume control of the meeting.

_________________ is appointed President Pro-Tempore.

Rationale:  President Pro-tempore will conduct the election for board president.  The newly elected president will conduct the remainder of the elections and chair the remainder of the meeting.

The chair will call for nominations for the office.  Nominations are to be made by any member and seconded by another member.  If more than one name is placed in the nomination, the chair will call for a written ballot to be cast.  The recording secretary will count the votes.

If only one name is placed in the nomination, the chair may entertain a motion to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot.  The motion requires a second, followed by a recall vote.

This process will be followed to elect the board President, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer for 2024. 

Rationale:  The chair will call for nominations for the office.  Nominations are to be made by any member and seconded by another member.  If more than one name is placed in the nomination, the chair will call for a written ballot to be cast.  The recording secretary will count the votes.

If only one name is placed in the nomination, the chair may entertain a motion to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot.  The motion requires a second, followed by a recall vote.

Rationale:  The chair will call for nominations for the office.  Nominations are to be made by any member and seconded by another member.  If more than one name is placed in the nomination, the chair will call for a written ballot to be cast.  The recording secretary will count the votes.

If only one name is placed in the nomination, the chair may entertain a motion to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot.  The motion requires a second, followed by a recall vote.

Rationale:  The Board Member Code of Ethics is outlined in policy 202.01.  Board members are being provided a copy of policy 202.01 for their reference as part of the January Board Reorganizational Meeting.  

It is recommended by NASB for Boards to review the code of ethics policy periodically, which was completed at the December 2023 regular meeting.

Rationale:  This allows the Board to approve the agenda as published according to policy 204.07.

Rationale:  The president will appoint Dedra Stoner, Lacey Marbry, and Dale Hafer as Recording Secretary(s) for the Board

Rationale:  Ainsworth has made 3 attempts to join the Niobrara Valley Conference.  The Southwest Conference has been good, it is becoming more and more difficult to maintain membership due to our decreasing size, increased size of other members, and overall distance of travel.

The Board asked us to bring information about what it would look like to be independent.  Therefore, Mr. Wroblewski will have a list of pros and cons in addition to general information about what it would look like to leave our current conference.  

We have reached out to other schools to indicate our interest in forming a 12-member conference that would span from Valentine to Laurel-Concord-Coleridge with a West/East Division. However, we have not heard much about that effort.

Some concerns are surfacing by parents and patrons regarding our continued membership in the SWC.  That is why this has been placed as an agenda item this month.  If the Board is ready to make a decision, that is fine.  If not, it is recommended to convene the Athletics and Activities Committee of the Board and prepare for a recommendation to be decided upon at the February regular meeting.

Rationale:  Kristin Olson will be present to provide a report and update to the Board about NCDC benefits and services.  

Rationale:  Annually, the board approves the date(s) and place for the regular meetings of the board.  Nebraska Statutes Revised §79-554 states that all board of education meetings for Class III districts shall be held on or before the third Monday of every month.

All board meetings shall be subject to open meeting laws as stated in §84-1408 to §84-1414.

The President or any two members may call special meetings, but all members shall be notified.

We have designated all meetings to be held at the District Office.

The meeting times were set for 7:00 p.m. November through March and 8:00 p.m. April through October. The board may change the meeting times at its discretion.

Rationale:  Annually, the board committee assignments are reorganized under the direction of the board president. President Wilkins has provided a document of appointed members to the various board committees for 2024.

The Board may approve the slate of committee assignments as presented or request the newly elected President revise the assignments if there are members who wish to change committees.

Rationale:  The board shall designate the newspaper of general circulation to be used for the district legal notices and official publications. Additionally, the board may announce notices of special meetings and all other notices on KBRB radio and may post these notices in public places such as the US Post Office lobby, the Court House lobby, and the front door of Ainsworth High School. Notice will also be available via the public access link on the school district website.

Rationale:  The district provides each bank with a corporate resolution to approve individuals and authorized signatures for district funds and accounts.  The resolution requires two signatures among the three board officers for the Employee Benefit, Building, Depreciation, Hot Lunch, Bond, and General Funds. 

The Superintendent, Board Secretary/Treasurer, and Business Manager are authorized to make short-term intra-fund transfers from one bank to another.

Activity Fund checks may be signed by the superintendent or any two of the high school administrators and secretaries of the secondary school office.

General Fund Clearing Account to be signed by any two of Dale Hafer, Dedra Stoner, and Lacey Marbry.  It is noted that West Plains Bank will not be reviewing checks for two signatures.

The district maintains a Safe Deposit box at Homestead Bank and the superintendent along with three elected board members have authorized signatures.

Rationale:  To comply with board reorganization procedures and statutory requirements, the board should move to:
1. Authorize Treasurer to pay bills within limits of budget resolution.
2. Authorize Treasurer, per district office personnel, to invest all interim monies and funds as per policy.
3. Authorize Superintendent or designee:
a.  As the purchasing agent for the district.
b. To receive tax monies and/or other receipts from the County Treasurer.
c. To apply for and receive monies, receipts, and funds from all federal and state resources.
d. To serve as custodian of and purchasing agent for Activity Fund accounts.
e. To serve as hearing officer for any student suspensions or expulsions.

Rationale:  The Board is committed to the ongoing review and maintenance of Board Policy.  Policies will be provided to the Policy Committee in advance and then to the entire Board for review/approval on a regular basis.  

The policies in this month's review are standard policies and have no recommendation for change or update either from Mr. Hafer or the NASB Policy Review Service.  A simple review is sufficient unless the Board proposes changes to the policies presented.

As per Board Policy, a review of policy may be conducted by one reading of the Board.  If changes are made, the current Board Policy requires 2 readings of the Board prior to the adoption of changes.

Rationale:  A copy of the annual district audit was provided to all board members at the December regular meeting to allow time for review and to ask questions before approval.

Section 79-1089 of Nebraska Revised Statutes requires each school district to have an annual audit of all financial records by a certified public accountant.  Ainsworth School District #10 complies with this requirement each year.

Dana F. Cole & Company from Ainsworth, NE performed the audit and prepared the auditor’s report for 2022-23 for Ainsworth District #10.

Rationale:  The Board developed the attached list of goals as a result of the Superintendent's evaluation in December in conjunction with ongoing efforts and initiatives.  

As part of accountability and collaboration, the goals are presented to be recognized/approved by the board.  The Superintendent will provide periodic updates to the goals throughout the upcoming year.

Rationale:  With the AEA settled with the Board as well as the Supt's Contract, it would be Mr. Hafer's preference to take care of the Principal's and AD's contracts.  It is recommended to enter into closed session to protect the public interest and protect the needless injury to individual's reputation.

Attached is an array of current administrative costs within the array used to negotiate the teacher's contract for 2024-25.

Rationale:  The next regular meeting of the Board is scheduled for February 12, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the District Office. Current agendas will be available for public inspection in the office of the superintendent.