January 12, 2026 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

As per board policy, the Ravenna School Board reorganizes itself annually at the regular January Board Meeting.

Rationale: 

The Nebraska State Laws regarding conflict of interest and the corresponding forms are available to all board members at: <http://www.nadc.nebraska.gov/e/>.  Any board member with a potential conflict should fill out a conflict of interest form and file it with the superintendent.

A copy of the Conflict of Interest Policy and a copy of the Board Code of Ethics is also attached to this agenda item for review by each board member.

Rationale: 

The school district's attorney recommends that the board review its policy on complaints annually.  Policy 2006 "Complaint Procedure" is attached for review by the Ravenna Board of Education.

Rationale: 

The board needs to appoint an official representative for all of its state and federal programs.  The superintendent requests that he be named as the representative for these programs.

Rationale: 

The board is required to appoint the bus mechanic(s) that do the regular inspections of the fleet vehicles.  The mechanics currently working on the buses and completing the inspections are: Ravenna CO-OP, Complete Auto, Holiday Express Bus/Nebraska Bus & Coach, MC Auto, & Tom Spaulding.

Rationale: 

The Ravenna Board of Education needs to decide how they will publicize their meetings and record that method in their minutes.  It is the recommendation of the administration to publicize the meetings in the manner described in Board Policy 2008, which reads, "Notice of regular and special meetings shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation with the district including, but not limited to The Ravenna News, The Sherman County Times, The Kearney Hub, The Grand Island Independent, & Omaha World-Herald. Such notice shall contain a statement that the agenda shall be readily available for public inspection at the administration office of the school during the normal business hours. In addition, the superintendent is authorized, but not required, to publish the notice of any meeting on the school district’s website, posting in three prominent places within the school district, or by any other appropriate method designated by the board. "

A copy of Board Policy 2008 is attached to this agenda item.

Rationale: 

The board needs to appoint standing committee members for the upcoming school year.  The suggested appointments are attached to this agenda item for the board's review and approval.  They may adjust these committee assignments in any manner they see fit.

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 the review of monthly bills, credit card transactions, and district fund balances.

4.  Approve superintendent's expenses (mileage & reimbursement). - PO 2526-452 ($350 - State Education Conference Registration)

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

6.  General Fund Review-Monthly General Fund Balance Worksheet Attached

7.  Payroll Ledger Review

8.  Insurance Billing Review

9.  ACH Payroll Review

10.  Transfers and Interfund Loan Report—It was suggested to put together a simple document to help board members keep track of what interfund loans and transfers are occurring in conjunction with the building project.  Attached is a draft of that document.




 

Rationale:  The school has a vending machine that is no longer in use.  The administration would like permission to surplus the item.

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: 


 

Rationale:  The board and the superintendent work diligently to keep local property taxes as low as possible.  Part of an effective school budget is maintaining an adequate cash reserve balance in the General Fund to provide enough revenue to meet monthly obligations during the months when tax receipts from the county treasurer are low.  Currently, the school district is well-equipped with an adequate cash reserve.  However, during the 2026-27 budget cycle, the General Fund cash balance is estimated to be lower than is necessary.  Therefore, the superintendent recommends creating the line of credit as a financial contingency.

Board approval of this line of credit costs nothing.  There is no interest or finance fee unless the school borrows money against the line of credit.  The rate for the line of credit is 6.5%.  The operating line of credit will only be used if it is absolutely necessary during the 2026-27 budget cycle.

A copy of the promissory note for the line of credit is attached for the board's review and consideration.

Rationale:  This standing agenda item will appear on the board agenda throughout the length of the bond building project to create a touchpoint for board members on the building project.

Attached is the tentative timeframe for the construction project, so that board members can gain a sense of how the project will progress through its various stages.

Summary of Monthly COA (Contractor-Owner-Architect) Meeting

Summary of Meeting Held on ????:
 

Rationale:  At the December 8, 2025, board meeting the superintendent was directed to collaborate with the media specialist to revise school board policy 6037 and to have it reviewed by the school district's attorney.  A draft of that revised policy is attached to this agenda item for review and consideration by the board of education.

Rationale: 

The Ravenna Board of Education is supposed to appoint members to the Board of Directors for the Ravenna Public School's Foundation at its February Board Meeting.  Each year, we review this information together, so that the board is in a good position in February to make any needed appointments.

Superintendent  (Lifetime Ex-Officio Non-Voting Member)

The "By-Laws of Ravenna Public School Foundation" (see attached) call for the Ravenna Board of Education to appoint the board members.  The purpose of this agenda item is to review the current board appointments, to track the length of the board members' appointments on an annual basis, and to establish a plan to revisit these appointments for review by the board on an annual basis. 

Board Members may serve no more than four consecutive terms:

Board members=2 year term x 4 terms max=8 years

Other appointed members=3 year term x 4 terms max=12 years


Current RPS Foundation Board Membership and when each member's term is scheduled to end:
Misti Fiddelke - Term Ends February 1, 2026 (2 yr. term)
Ryan Osten - Term Ends February 1, 2026 (2 yr. term)
Mike Voelker - Term Ends February 1, 2026 (2 yr. term)
Cassie Giffin - Term Ends February 1, 2027 (3 yr. term) - Wishes to get off of the board, before her term ends.
Cindi Coulter -Term Ends February 1, 2026 (3 yr. term)
Dan Schmidt - Term Ends February 1, 2027 (3 yr. term)
Brandy Brodersen - Term Ends February 1, 2027 (3 yr. term)
Jessica Anderson - Term Ends February 1, 2027 (3 yr. term)
Tina Casey - Term Ends February 1, 2028 (3 yr. term) 

 

 

 

 

Rationale:  As part of our on-going policy review, board members should please review our 1000 & 2000 Series Board Policies in advance of the February Board Meeting.  The superintendent will do the same and provide any suggested revisions to the Board Policy Committee & to the whole board at the February Board Meeting.  It's simply best practice to continually engage in a review of board policies.

These, and all other board policies, are available at: https://meeting.sparqdata.com/Public/Organization/64

Rationale:  1.  1st Semester NEE Observation Report to Board

2.  Summer Project List-Dan and I don't want to commit to a whole lot for summer projects, due to the construction project.  Below, is what we are thinking for the next couple of summers:

This Summer:

• Walk-In Cooler Repair-$4,548 (Health Inspector recommends using a diamond plate to go over existing floor and eliminate "sponginess.")
• Painting Hallways in JH/SR-$3,757 (Randall's Painting - Pleasanton)
• Ceiling Tile Replacement-$33,500 (Same company that is doing the building project.  This amount is for demo, a new grid, and new tiles.  There will be some additional expense for removal and reinstalling lighting, fire, video, and safety devised in the ceiling grid.)
• Maintenance Roof Replacement-$32,000 (TPO to be installed over the existing metal roof.)
• Pre-School Concrete-$3,000 (Shop Class & Mr. Lammers)
• Football & Track Stadium Handrails - (Randall's Painting - Pleasanton.)-$1,464
• LED Lighting Replacement in Elementary (Lower Elementary & Elementary Music Room)-$5,000
• Tiny Toilet-Have called multiple plumbers and waiting on a local to get a number.
• Total Estimate: $83,269 (Bids Received to Date)

Rationale: 

The notice from the Buffalo County Election Commission is attached for review and consideration by the board of education.

The superintendent has completed and submitted the filing for the number of seats to be voted on during the next election by the public with the election commissioner.