April 10, 2023 at 5:30 PM - Public Hearing & Regular Monthly Meeting of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education

Rationale:  This is an open, public meeting of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education and a copy of the Open Meetings Act is posted in this room.

Rationale:  Jason Owens, Hanny Arram Center principal, will report on the tutoring program at the Center.

Rationale:  Superintendent Mundorf will report on recent activity in the Nebraska Unicameral that affects education.

Rationale:  President Blessing will announce the 2023 Kearney Public Schools/Kearney Public Schools Foundation "Celebration of Excellence" Reception on Thursday, April 27, 2023 from 4:30 to 6:00 P.M. in the Loper Ballroom at the Kearney Holiday Inn, to honor our employees for their years of service, the Foundation award winners, and the 2023 retirees.  Anyone is welcome to attend and reservations can be made through the Foundation Office.

Rationale:  President Blessing will report on the bills in the Nebraska Unicameral that are being monitored by the NASB Legislative Committee.

Rationale:  The KHS wrestling team is asking for permission to attend the Western State Wrestling Camp, June 19-23, 2023 in Gunnison, Colorado.

Rationale:  The KHS boys' basketball team is asking for permission to attend the Summer Team Camp, June 22 & 23, 2023 in Council Bluffs, IA.

Rationale:  The KHS boys' basketball team is asking for permission to attend the Gold Crown Tournament, June 15-17 2023 in Denver, CO.

Rationale:  Members of the KHS DECA Club have requested Board permission to attend the DECA International Career and Development Conference in Orlando, FL.,, April 22-25, 2023.

Rationale:  The KHS girls' basketball team is requesting Board permission to attend the Midwest Girls' Basketball Showcase in Kansas City, MO., June 15 & 16, 2023.

Rationale:  We have changed the activities on September 20 and February 14 to include professional development time in the mornings and conferences/work time in the afternoons on both days.

Rationale:  Last month, the Board of Education gave first reading approval to Board Policy 6420-A (Extra-Curricular Activities).  We will ask the Board of Education to give second and final reading approval to this policy at the April 10, 2023 meeting.

Rationale:  Board meetings may have on the agenda, a specific time entitled Public Participation/Comment, during which patrons may address the Board on matters of general concern.  No public body shall require members of the public to identify themselves as a condition for admission to the meeting, nor shall such body require that the name of any members of the public be placed on the agenda prior to such meeting in order to speak about items on the agenda.  Patrons wishing to address the Board during the Public Participation/Comment will be allowed up to five (5) minutes per speaker to express their view.  Public Participation/Comment may not exceed sixty (60) total minutes.  The Board-imposed time limits may be extended by a majority vote of the Board, following a motion to do so.  Board action may not be taken on matters discussed during the Public Participation/Comment, unless the matter specifically appears on the prepared agenda.  Board of Education members will refrain from expressing personal opinions during Public Participation/Comment.

Any members of the public desiring to address the body shall be required to sign in with the recording secretary prior to the start of the meeting and identify himself or herself, including an address, phone number, and name of any organization represented by such person, unless the address and phone number requirement is waived to protect the security of the individual.

Rationale:  We will ask the Board of Education to accept the resignations of Amanda McConnell, TLC teacher at Kenwood Elementary School; Emily Elgert, speech/language pathologist at Kearney High School; Skye Clark, 4th grade teacher at Northeast Elementary School; Shawna Strong, district special education coordinator; Margaret Florell, 2nd grade teacher at Northeast Elementary School; Greg Yochum, art teacher at Horizon Middle School; Alisha Cudaback, district kindergarten and pre-school specialist; Jessica Berst Spiegel, PSD teacher at Northeast Elementary School; and Rivkah Raffaeli, art teacher at Kenwood Elementary School; as well as the retirement resignation of Lynette Womeldorf, counselor at Sunrise Middle School.

Rationale:  We will ask the Board of Education to approve the employment of the following certificated teaching staff for the Kearney Public Schools for the 2023-2024 school year:  Christopher Smithell, MA, Step 14, 1.00 FTE orchestra teacher at Kearney High School; Scott King, MA+18, Step 14, 1.00 FTE science teacher at Kearney High School; Ashley Chizek, MA, Step 14, 1.00 FTE reading teacher at Bryant and Kenwood Elementary Schools; Emily Ripp, MA+27, Step 5, 1.00 FTE speech/language pathologist at Kearney High School; Taylor Haight, MA, Step 5, 1.00 FTE special education teacher at Horizon Middle School; Hayley Mentzer, MA+36, Step 15, 1.00 FTE KHS special education transition program teacher; Madison McMillan, BA, Step 3, 1.00 FTE 2nd grade teacher at Northeast Elementary School; and Nicole Dippel, BA+27, Step 8, 1.00 FTE 2nd grade teacher at Northeast Elementary School.

Rationale:  We will ask the Board of Education to approve the employment of the following administrative staff in the Kearney Public Schools for the 2023-2024 school year:  Meredith Johnson, Principal at Emerson Elementary School; and Sarah Hawthorne, Assistant Principal at Bryant and Emerson Elementary Schools; in accordance with the Kearney Public Schools Performance-Based  Administrator Supervision and Evaluation Model. 

Rationale:  The math curriculum committee is requesting the adoption of the Eureka 2.0 math curriculum for grades 6-8.  The district has used Eureka for the past several years, and our test data has skyrocketed in that curriculum area.  Eureka 2.0 also aligns very well with the newly-adopted state math standards.

Rationale:  We will ask the Board of Education to approve the Purchase Agreement for the sale of five vacant lots east of Sunrise Middle School, Lots 1-5, Grandview Estates, Thirteenth Addition to the City of Kearney, Buffalo County (1602-1610 East 45th Street, Kearney, NE 68847) to Tamara Brandt, Mulligan Hill, LLC, in the amount of $213,000.00, and authorize Dr. Chris Loofe and Mr. Jason Mundorf to sign all forms and documents to execute said sale.

Rationale:  We will ask the Board of Education to discuss, consider, and take action on a Purchase Agreement and all transaction addendums with the City of Kearney for the purchase of Memorial Field in the amount of $1,500,001.00.

Rationale:  Dr. Loofe has presented the proposed student fees and facility use fees in the Kearney Public Schools, for the 2023-2024 school year for Board of Education consideration and approval as follows:

Transportation Fee - There will be no transportation fees assessed.

Student Meal  Prices - No changes

Instrument Rental Fees - No changes

Activity Tickets - No changes

Facility Use Fees - No changes