May 12, 2025 at 8:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

1.  Review monthly bills using the EMeetings Software.

2.  Review all credit card transactions for the month

3.  Finance Committee Members Sign-off on review of monthly bills, credit card transactions, and district fund balances.

4.  Approve superintendent's expenses

5.  Lunch Fund Review-Monthly Lunch Fund Balance Worksheet Attached

6.  General Fund & Other Fund Reviews

7.  Payroll Ledger Review

8.  Insurance Billing Review

9.  ACH Payroll Review

10.  Classified Salary Discussion for Dave Huryta and Dan Cyboron

11.  Future Tax Levy & Cash Reserve Projections Spreadsheet ("Ravenna Financial Info Projections Spreadsheet" - Attached)

12.  Lease Purchase Agreement to Preserve Cash Reserve Balances in General and Special Building Funds (Sample Lease Purchase Schedule Attached)-
 

• We don't have to decide about the lease purchase until late next year.  There will be adequate reserves due to the influx of money in the special building fund from the bond fund proceeds and the balance already in the special building fund from the saving of the $2.0 million dollars for the project to borrow against.  During that time, we will earn interest on all of the money in the special building fund, including the bond fund proceeds.  So, for all of the 2025-26 budget cycle and approximately 1/3 of the 2026-27 budget cycle, we are going to be holding those special building funds proceeds and slowly spending them.
• It is the job of the board to have "layers of financial contingency" to ensure we can operate the school in financially hard times.   We are entering into those times as we encounter hyperinflation due to tariffs and a decline in the agricultural sector's economy.  Not ensuring adequate reserves are in place will only increase the tax burden we place on our tax payers, as we attempt to keep the General Fund levy as low as possible.

• If we have a major building issue within the next couple of years, we will have to exercise a lease purchase through the special building fund or significantly increase the tax request in the special building fund to pay for it.  There may not be adequate cash reserves in the General Fund or the Special Building Fund to cover the cost of another major project.  So, we will end up entering into a lease purchase agreement for such repairs or go back to the public and ask for another bond.  Keeping the money on hand in the event of such an incident, until cash reserve return to more acceptable levels, is responsible contingency planning.

• We are entering into a market ripe with "hyperinflation."  We want to ensure we deliver on our promise to the public.  The lease purchase will allow us to retain extra capital for the building project that can be used to complete the project, if the bids are not coming in where they should be. 

• We are going to experience low cash reserves, at certain points in time, in the General Fund over the course of fiscal years 2025-26 through 2027-28.  We can either "borrow from ourselves" or borrow from the bank at 6% interest.

• We told the taxpayers repeatedly during our public meetings that we as a board would not unilaterally enter into a lease purchase agreement and arbitrarily assert our will upon them.  We would not proceed with obligating the taxpayers with any debt without their approval of that debt.  Entering into a lease purchase agreement at this point in time is different because they have approved the project and committed to financing $5.5 million dollars of the project over the next 20 years, with the understanding that an additional $2.0 million will be provided from the special building fund.  

• We are keeping the promise we made to the taxpayers.  We are putting $2.0 million dollars towards the project.  $2.0 million dollars that has already been collected in the special building fund will be paid towards the project.  There was no promise about whether the $2.0 million would be used at the first part of the project, during the middle of the project, or during the last part of the project.  $2.0 million is $2.0 million, put towards the project.

• There is no penalty for paying off the debt early.  The lease will be a seven-year term, but it can literally be paid off at any point in time.

• The project is going to span two budget cycles.  So, we are going to be "holding onto" the $2.0 million dollars for 2 budget cycles anyway.  Why wouldn't we want to exercise the option to hold onto the money for another year or two in order to ensure we have adequate cash reserves which will allow us to ensure that we can keep the general fund and special building fund as low as possible, while working on decreasing expenditures, rather than simply increase the levy rate to ensure we have an adequate cash reserve.

13.  Bond Fund Proceeds Deposit Options

 

Rationale:  "Woody" the old maintenance van (VIN# 1FBSS31S73HA47217) is passed its prime and the custodial staff is asking that it be declared as surplus for immediate sale or disposal.  It is a 2003 F-3500 extended van with 142,134 miles on it.  

Rationale:  The used lumber from the "band bleachers" that were replaced with aluminum planking at the football field last summer need to be disposed of.  The superintendent is asking that they be declared as surplus so that they can be sold for $5 a board.  A picture of the lumber is attached.

Rationale: 

Members of the Public, 

This is the portion of the board meeting when we invite anyone in attendance to address the board of education. If you would like to speak to the board regarding any of the items on tonight's agenda or a public concern, now is your opportunity to do so.  Please review the orange sheet (found on the visitors' chairs) of paper that contains the guidelines for public participation.  If you wish to speak to the board at this time, please let me know.  "Would anyone like to address the board at this time?"

 

AFTER THE PERSON(S) INDICATE(S) THEY WISH TO SPEAK

1.  Please stand and state your name?

2.  What topic will you be speaking on?

3.  Are there others in the room who wish to speak to the same topic? (If so, ask that they be recognized so that 30 minutes of time for public comment can be apportioned as per the policy-5 minutes per person).

4.  Optional-"Please understand that public comment is your opportunity to speak to the board and present your concerns, thoughts, feelings, ideas, and observations.  Members of the board are happy to hear from members of the public, but the board will not engage in conversation or dialogue with you during public comment."

4.  "You'll have approximately 5 minutes to address the board, as we allow 5 minutes per person and a total of 30 minutes for public comment.  You may begin when you are ready?"

 

 

 

Rationale:  Board policy 2007 (attached) allows for the purchase of one annual appreciation meal per year for board members and for staff.  The annual appreciation meal will be held on May 20th @ 12:00 PM (noon) - 2:30 PM at the Ravenna Golf Course.

Rationale:  The school district usually provides momentos for our retiring staff members.  This year we have two staff members who are retiring: Gary Psota (40 years of service) & Peal Sklenar (3 years of service).  We wish them both well in their retirements.

 

Rationale:  Mr. Ellis is requesting transportation costs to the FBLA National Convention this summer.  Our activities handbook indicates that the school district will pay for travel costs associated with attending state and and national level competition.  We have covered this cost in the past.  The item is on the agenda so that the board is aware of the expenditure.

Note from Mr. Ellis
I wanted to provide a quick breakdown of the National FBLA costs for this summer, similar to what I shared last year. This year’s request is much more concise—and significantly lower than the $9,000 requested last year—since we only have two students attending.

Unfortunately, the travel package is out of our control, which means I’m unable to arrange our own flights and transportation to reduce our costs. Because of this, we’re requesting the amount required for the official FBLA travel package and the rest to be covered through our chapter. I know it's always been approved in past years, but I never want to assume, so I wanted to check in and kindly ask for approval again this year.

Thank you!

Rationale:  Each year the school nutrition program must renew its purchase agreement for dairy products for students participating in the school nutrition program.

The district received one bid from Hiland Dairy, who is our current dairy products provider.  The bid is attached to this agenda item for review and consideration by the board.

Proposed Milk Prices for School Year 2025-26 from Hiland Dairy

Regular Half Pint: $0.4475
Half Pint Chocolate: $0.4600
Half Pint Strawberry: $0.4600
Gallon: $5.5216

*Note these prices have a escalator/de-escalator pricing, which usually makes the price of a half pint of milk move by about $.00054 either up or down.  In short, the school will be paying $0.4475 for a half-pint of white milk and about $0.46 for a half pint of chocolate or strawberry milk.

 

Rationale:  The board wanted to give consideration to a market adjustment for Dave Huryta and for Dan Cyboron.

Rationale:  Extra Duty Pay for Coaches was discussed at the March 2025 board meeting.  Mr. Schirmer has collected the rates of pay for the conference schools for girls wrestling.  The spreadsheet containing those rates is attached to this agenda item.

The administration would recommend a pay rate of 12% for the head high school girls coach and a rate of 7% for the assistant high school girls coach, as the vast majority of the other conference schools pay the same rate to the girls head coaches as they do to the boys head coaches.

 

Rationale:  Attached are the requested hours logged for the one-act directors.  Hilary did some comparing and she said that the number of hours are in line with what a head junior high volleyball or football coach or an assistant volleyball coach, which would be about 7%.

The administration would recommend increasing the head position to 7% and to hiring two assistant directors at 2.5% to help prepare for the transitions in the program that will likely occur in future years.

Ravenna:
Head - 5% (which is currently being split between the head and the assistant/technical director) - 2.5%
Assistant - 2.5%

Amherst:
Head - 5% (.25% experience factor per year, to a max of 7.5% of base)
(Head and Assistant not specified, only one rate provided.)

Arcadia: 
Head -  11% - 14%
Assistant - 4.8% - 6.2%

Central City:
Head -  5% - 10%
Assistant - 3% - 5%

Centura:
Head -  8% - 10.7%
Assistant - 4% - 6.7%

Doniphan-Trumbull:
Head -  4.93%
Assistant - (not specified)

Gibbon:
Head - 4% - 6% (Based on experience-max of 6%)
Assistant - 2% - 3.5%

Loup City:
Head - 6%
Assistant - 3%

Ord:
Head - 7.7% - 14%
Assistant - 5% - 8.6%

Pleasanton:
Head - 5%
Assistant - 3%

Shelton:
Head - 6%
Assistant - 3%

St. Paul:
Head - 7%
Assistant - No assistant, head director position only

Wood River:
Head - 2.5% - $2,000 Floor
Assistant - $500 (fixed)
 

Rationale:  The board discussed providing Noah Maulsby with a $5,000 salary increase and providing Mr. Anderson with a 3% salary increase for the 2025-26 contract term at the April 14th Board Meeting.

Rationale:  The board of education discussed providing the superintendent of schools with a 3% wage increase for the 2025-27 contract term.  A copy of the "Superintendent Pay Transparency Act" that was posted, as per statute, on the school district's website in advance of the May 12th Board Meeting where this matter is being considered by the board is attached to this agenda item, as well as a current copy of the superinendent's updated contract.

Rationale:  This policy needs to be revised as Dr. Finkner is going to be retiring soon and Dr. Rodgers office is going to be the medical advisor for the school's AED Program.  Karalee talked to Dr. Rodgers office and got this approved.

A copy of the current policy that names Dr. Finkner as the medical advisor and a copy of the proposed, revised policy that names Dr. Rodgers as the medical advisor for the program are attached to this agenda item.

Rationale:  Mrs. Yendra would like to update her Spanish curriculum and include an AI component.  A quote for the curriculum she wishes to purchase is attached to this agenda item.  The information regarding the pricing of the AI component appears below.

Information and Pricing form sales representative on AI Spanish Curriculum Component

Rationale:  At the April 15th board meeting, there was a discussion about installing air conditioning in the concession stand.  A bid for doing so is attached to this agenda item.  This bid is being provided as "budget pricing."  Additional bids from other contractors can be secured at the discretion of the board.

Rationale:  Each year the board of education, in consultation with the superintendent and the school's bookkeeper, review and set the meal prices for the upcoming school year.  The school uses the "PLE Calculation Tool" from NDE Nutrition Services to determine the required increase.

According to NDE, the PLE Tool will be released by the USDA in the near future.

The information below shows the current meal prices and the proposed meal prices for the 2024-25 school year.


Current Meal/Milk Prices:

K-6 Breakfast: $2.15
7-12 Breakfast: $2.30
Adult Breakfast: $2.90

K-6 Lunch: $3.25
7-12 Lunch: $3.45
Adult Lunch: $4.55

Regular Milk: $0.45
Special Milk: $0.25



Recommended Meal/Milk Prices for 2025-26:

K-6 Breakfast: 
7-12 Breakfast: 
Adult Breakfast: 

K-6 Lunch: 
7-12 Lunch: 
Adult Lunch: 

Regular Milk: 
Special Milk: 
 

Rationale:  1.  Summer Projects:

• Air Conditioning in the Concession Stand-$8,000 (Budget Price)
• Playground Fence - $30,000 (Budget Pricing)
• 7 Countertops/Sinkbases in the Elementary: $6,000 (General Fund or Depreciation Fund - Dan will perform the work)
• 4 Classrooms of LED Lighting in Elementary: $6,000 (General Fund or Depreciation Fund)
• Tree Removal & Replanting: $10,000 (Grant Funded)
• Football Field Lighting: $160,000 - Budget Price After Insurance (Depreciation & Insurance Joint Funded)
• Drywall Cracks in Elementary Walls - (Waiting on Estimate - General Fund)
• Door Between Mr. Ellis & Mrs. Zinnell's Room - (Waiting on Estimate-General Fund)

2.  Teaching Evaluation Instrument Approved by NDE (See Attached)

3.  Rule 10 Violation - (See Attached - 3 Documents)

4.  Extra Duty Assignments for 2025-26 (See Attached)
Volleyball

• Erin Jarvi will be the lone head coach. 
• Abby Steele is moving from varsity to Jr. High coach.
• Lisa Anderson is moving from Jr. High to being assistant high school coach.

Basketball

• Hannah Turek is supposed to come back to help. If not, Dale Zoerb will be the sole assistant coach.

Wrestling

• Jaden Treffer is no longer a volunteer coach.
• High School girls wrestling will need to be assigned a head coach and an assistant coach upon approval of the pay for the two positions.  Mr. Schirmer will make these appointments.

One-Act

• After the board decides on the pay for the head and assistant one-act director(s) positions, Mr. Schirmer will appoint the two, new assistant directors, as Mrs. Jarzynka will no longer be an assistant director.

Cheer

• Kinsley Musil will be taking over the cheer sponsorship from Sherry Nelson and Katie Lewandowski.

5. TIF Report 2024 - Attached - $2,039,890 of taxable valuation that cannot be accessed due to TIF Financing. 

6.  Future Tax Levy & Cash Reserve Projection Spreadsheet ("Ravenna Financial Info Projections Spreadsheet" Attached)
 

Rationale:  NASB MEMBER GOLF OUTING
Wednesday, June 11 - Kearney

SCHOOL LAW SEMINAR
June 11-12 - Kearney

LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS
Monday, July 28 - Gering
Tuesday, July 29 - Kearney
Wednesday, July 30 - Lincoln