May 8, 2023 at 5:30 PM - 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:  We will ask the Board of Education to recognize the following FCCLA State Champions and Runners-up and National Qualifiers from KHS:  Adam Ciprian, Senior FCCLA Knowledge, 1st place; Elizabeth Stewart, Senior Personal Finance, 2nd place; Elizabeth Stewart and Dylan Wall, Sports Nutrition, Level 3, Gold, State Champions and National Qualifiers; Andy Nguyen and Alivia Olson, Chapter in Review Display, Level 3, Gold, State Runners-up and National Qualifiers; and Evelin Munoz Galicia, Career Investigation, Level 3, Gold, National Qualifier.

Rationale:  Ryan Hogue, KHS Assistant Principal and AD, will report on the number of students who participated in various activities at Kearney High School during the 2022-2023 school year.

Rationale:  Superintendent Mundorf will update the Board of Education on legislative activity in the Nebraska Unicameral that affects education.

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:  President Blessing will report to the Board of Education on recent activity in the Nebraska Unicameral that is being monitored by NASB.

Rationale:  The KHS FCCLA Chapter is asking for Board permission to attend the FCCLA Capitol Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., October 8-11, 2023.

Rationale:  The KHS FCCLA Chapter is asking for Board permission to attend the FCCLA Fall Conference in Birmingham, AL., November 9-12 2023

Rationale:  The KHS boys' basketball team is asking for permission to attend the Midwest Showcase in Kansas City, MO., June 16-18, 2023.

Rationale:  The KHS boys' basketball team is asking for permission to attend the USD Team Camp in Vermillion, S.D., June 26-27, 2023.

Rationale:  The Board of Education gave first reading approval to revised Policy 5416 (Homeless/In-Transition Students), last month, which involved the addition of the last paragraph to the policy.  We will ask the Board of Education to give second and final reading to this policy at the May 8, 2023 meeting.

Rationale:  We have received letters of resignation from:  Jessika Lehmann, 1st grade teacher at Kenwood Elementary School; David Gifford, business teacher at Kearney High School; Ryley Scarlett, 5th grade teacher at Bryant Elementary School; and Abby Fong, 2nd grade teacher at Central Elementary School.  We will ask the Board to accept these resignations.

Rationale:  We will ask the Board of Education to approve the employment of the following certificated teaching staff in the Kearney Public Schools for the 2023-2024 school year:  Julia Peterson, BA, Step 3, 1.00 FTE 5th grade teacher at Northeast Elementary School; Erin Sloan, BA, Step 3, 1.00 FTE art teacher at Horizon Middle School; Kelsey Cassel, BA, Step 3, 1.00 FTE 6th grade math teacher at Sunrise Middle School; Allison  McKinnon, BA, Step 8, 1.00 FTE 4th grade teacher at Bryant Elementary School (contingent upon her ability to secure Nebraska certification); Ryan Parkos, BA, Step 3, 1.00 FTE business teacher at Kearney High School (contingent upon issuance of Transition to Teach certificate); Maddie Drozd, MA, Step 3, 1.00 FTE speech/language pathologist at Central Elementary School; Katheryn Sauer, MA, Step 12, 1.00 FTE 1st grade teacher at Kenwood Elementary School; Tahrae Bonnes, MA, Step 13, 1.00 FTE elementary special education teacher; Jodie Sams, MA+45, Step 15, 1.00 FTE special education resource teacher at Sunrise Middle School; Kinzy Dibbern, BA, Step 3, 1.00 FTE pre-school teacher at Kearney Education Center; Betty Smith, MA+45, Step 15, 1.00 FTE 6th grade math teacher at Horizon Middle School; Kari Ehlers, MA. Step 8, 1.00 FTE 2nd grade at Central Elementary School; Hallie Snyder, BA, Step 3, 1.00 FTE art teacher at Kenwood Elementary School (contingent upon her ability to secure Nebraska certification); Jill Bauer, MA, Step 7, .60 FTE speech/language pathologist at Emerson Elementary School; and Kathrin Sindt from 1.00 FTE speech/language pathologist to .80 FTE speech/language pathologist at Kearney Education Center.

Rationale:  It is recommended that beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, the Board of Education add middle school girls' wrestling at Horizon and Sunrise Middle Schools.  The season would begin in early January and conclude in late February.  The addition of this program would provide four seasons of competition for our middle school female student athletes.  Many other school districts provide middle school girls' wrestling during this same time frame and would allow our female student athletes to compete only against other female student athletes.  The anticipated costs for starting the program for the 2023-2024 school year, including uniforms, equipment, travel, coaching stipends, and officials would be $10,047 per school.  Both schools would have one coach.

Rationale:  It is being recommended that the district replace its regular route 2013 Bus #6, our oldest route bus, with a Blue Bird propane 48-passenger bus for the amount of $136,904.00 from Nebraska/Central Equipment Co.  The purchase of this new route bus would help provide better, safer, and more reliable student transportation.  The bus would be pre-purchased now, with production and delivery of the bus in February, 2024.

It is also being recommended that the district purchase a low-miles pre-owned MCI motorcoach from Coach Masters with a similar Cummins diesel engine to our current motorcoach. The motorcoaches are used primarily for varsity athletics and for band trips. One of our two existing motorcoaches has 824,000 miles and parts are costly and difficult to find.  The purchase of a low-mileage pre-owned motorcoach with a similar engine type would provide safer, more reliable student transportation.  The cost of this motorcoach would be $336,650.00, with trade-in allowance, and would be purchased from Coach Masters.

 

Rationale:  Kearney Public Schools received a milk bid from one company for the 2023-2024 school year.  We sent bid requests to two companies, Hiland Dairy and Kemps-LeMars.  Hiland Dairy submitted the only bid. The table below lists the proposed pricing.  The pricing is based on an escalating price. The pricing submitted by Hiland Dairy is reasonable and fair.  Based on this information, it is the recommendation to accept the pricing as proposed by Hiland Dairy for milk products for the 2023-2024 school year.
 

Product	Hiland Dairy
½ pint 1% white milk	.3500
½ Pint Skim Chocolate	.3525
½ Pint Skim Strawberry	.3300
4oz Orange Juice	.2500
4oz Apple Juice	.2400
5lb Sour Cream Low Fat	8.95

 

Rationale:  Kearney Public Schools received a bread bid from one company for the 2023-2024 school year.  Bid requests were sent to two companies: Pan-O-Gold Baking Co., and Bimbo Bakeries.  Pan-O-Gold submitted the only bid. The pricing submitted is reasonable and fair.  Based on this information, it is the recommendation that we accept the pricing as proposed by Pan-O-Gold Baking Co.

Whole Grain Bread 24oz.                                    $2.60
Whole Grain Steak Bun 24 ct.                             $5.60
Whole Grain Hamburger Bun 4" 60 ct.              $12.38
Whole Grain Hamburger Bun 3 ½" 60 ct.          $12.38
Whole Grain Dinner Roll 12 ct.                            $2.40
Whole Grain Hot Dog Bun 16 ct.                         $3.60

Rationale:  We will ask the Board of Education to set Monday, June 26, 2023 at 6:00 P.M. in the Staff Development Room in the Administration Building at 320 West 24th St., Kearney, NE., for a special, public retreat meeting of the Board of Education.