Public Meeting Agenda: February 12, 2024 at 5:30 PM - Regular Monthly Meeting of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education

1. Routine Business

2. Call to Order

3. Open Meetings Act Announcement

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.

4. Pledge of Allegiance

5. Roll Call

5.A. Excuse Absent Board Member

Recommended Motion(s): Move to excuse absent Board member_______________from the meeting.

6. Approval of the Agenda

Recommended Motion(s): Move to approve the agenda for the meeting, as presented.

7. Recognitions

8. Presentations

8.A. Presentation by Horizon Middle School on the Growth of Student Organizations and Clubs at Horizon Middle School

Links:

Horizon Middle School Clubs

Horizon Middle School Clubs

8.B. Legislative Update

Rationale: Mr. Mundorf will report to the Board of Education on the activity of bills in this session of the Nebraska Unicameral that affect education.

9. Public Participation/Comment

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.

10. Board Reports

10.A. NASB Legislative Committee Report

Rationale: Mr. Blessing will report to the Board of Education on bills in the Nebraska Unicameral that are being monitored by the NASB Legislative Committee.

11. Consent Agenda

Rationale: Note: Items on the consent agenda are considered routine and will be enacted under one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items at the meeting unless a Board Member requests an item removed from the agenda for a separate action.

Recommended Motion(s): Move to approve the items on the Consent Agenda, as presented.

Attachments: (7)

11.A. Approval of Minutes of the January 9, 2024 Regular Meeting, the January 22, 2024 Special Meeting, the January 29, 2024 Special Retreat Meeting and the February 7, 2024 Board Committee of the Whole Meeting

11.B. Approval of the February 2024 Claims

11.C. Approval of the February 2024 Financial Reports

11.D. Approval of 7th Grade Volleyball, 7th Grade Girls Basketball, and 7th Grade Boys Basketball as Middle School Sports Offerings for the 2024-2025 School Year with Coaching Positions Added to the 2024-2025 Negotiated Agreement

12. Regular Agenda - Personnel

12.A. Acceptance of Resignations and Retirements

Recommended Motion(s): Move to accept, with regret, the retirement resignation of Pat McFadden, science teacher and cross country/track coach at Kearney High School; and the resignation of Nicole Andreasen, second-grade teacher at Emerson Elementary School, effective the end of the 2023-2024 school year; and the resignation of Sue Liveringhouse, kindergarten teacher at Kenwood Elementary School, effective January 18, 2024.

12.B. Ratification of Negotiated Agreement with the Kearney Education Association

Rationale: The Kearney Public Schools Board of Education has completed negotiations with the Kearney Education Association for contract terms for the 2024-2025 school year. The KEA membership ratified the proposed Negotiated Agreement, so we will ask the Board of Education to ratify the agreement as well.

Recommended Motion(s): Move to ratify the Negotiated Agreement with the Kearney Education Association for contract terms for all certified, non-supervisory employees of the Kearney Public Schools for the 2024-2025 school year as presented.

Links:

2024-2025 Negotiations Summary

2024-2025 Negotiations Summary

12.C. Approval of the Employment of Certificated Staff

Recommended Motion(s): Move to approve the employment of certificated staff- Averie Clanton, BA, Step 3, 1.0 FTE first-grade teacher at Kenwood Elementary School; Stephanie Flint, MA+27, Step 10, 1.0 FTE school counselor at Central Elementary School; Laura Lucas, MA+36, Step 15, 1.0 FTE 7th grade ELA teacher at Sunrise Middle School; Jody Nissen, MA+18, Step 14, 1.0 FTE special education teacher at Bryant Elementary School; Mattie Traphagan, MA, Step 6, 1.0 FTE ELL teacher at Northeast Elementary School; Sadie Uhing, BA, Step 3, 1.0 FTE orchestra teacher at Kearney High School; Cale Uhrmacher, BA, Step 3, 1.0 FTE special education teacher at Sunrise Middle School; Abby Webb, MA, Step 13, 1.0 FTE art teacher at Bryant and Central Elementary Schools; Dee Westcott, BA, Step 6, 1.0 FTE special education teacher at Buffalo Hills Elementary School; Heather Atkinson, BA, Step 3, 1.0 FTE 4th grade teacher at Emerson Elementary School; Tori Lindner, BA, Step 4, 1.0 FTE kindergarten teacher at Glenwood Elementary School; NeLeigh Owens, BA, Step 3, 1.0 FTE kindergarten teacher at Kenwood Elementary School; Whitney Kuhn, MA, Step 6, 1.0 FTE counselor at Emerson Elementary School; Megan Homolka, BA, Step 3, 1.0 FTE Spanish teacher at Horizon Middle School; Alan Varela, BA+18, Step 5, 1.0 FTE math teacher at Kearney High School, for the 2024-2025 School Year; Elliot Lebsack, BA, Step 3, 1.0 FTE social science teacher at Kearney High School; Whitney Lewis, BA, Step 3, 1.0 FTE special education teacher at Kearney High School; Thomas Harling, BA, Step 3, 1.0 FTE woods teacher at Kearney High School, and Molly Lambert, BA, Step 3, 1.0 FTE first-grade teacher at Emerson Elementary School, pending certification, for the 2024-2025 school year.

Attachments: (1)

2024.2_BIOS for Certified Hire for Feb Board Agenda

12.D. Approval of Classified, Classified-Exempt and Administrative Employee Compensation for the 2024-2025 School Year

Rationale: Each year, the Board of Education is asked to set compensation for the classified, classified-exempt, and administrative employees of the school district for the next school year. For the 2024-2025 school year, we are recommending an average increase in total compensation of 5% for classified employees, an average increase in total compensation of 4% for classified-exempt employees, and an average increase in total compensation of 3.5% for administrative employees in Kearney Public Schools. Additionally, we will move all administrative contract dates from August 1 - July 31 to July 1 - June 30 with 10 days added to both the elementary principal and elementary assistant principal contracts. Elementary principals and assistant principals will receive an additional increase in total compensation of 2% for the extra contract days added.

Recommended Motion(s): Move to approve an average increase in total compensation of 5% for classified employees, an average increase in total compensation of 4% for classified-exempt employees, and an average increase in total compensation of 3.5% for administrative employees in Kearney Public Schools. Additionally, we will move all administrative contract dates from August 1 - July 31 to July 1 - June 30 with 10 days added to both the elementary principal and elementary assistant principal contracts. Elementary principals and assistant principals will receive an additional increase in total compensation of 2% for the extra contract days added.

13. Regular Agenda - Business

13.A. Approval of Bid for Chromebooks

Rationale: Requests for quotes were sent out to multiple vendors for grades 5 and 9 Chromebooks and upgrades to Meadowlark and Park Elementary technology on December 28, 2023, with all bids received by January 26, 2024. These proposals were reviewed based on the district's requirements of the device and the evaluation rubric.

Based on these quotes, it is the recommendation that the bid be awarded to Connection in the amount of $351,898.75.

Vendor	Model	Expiration	Unit Price	Total Cost
Connection	Acer C723	6/1/2033	229.25	$ 351,898.75
Computer Hardware	Lenovo 100e G4	6/1/2033	234.59	$ 360,095.65
Sterling	Lenovo 100e G4	6/1/2033	235.57	$ 361,599.95
Trafera	HP 11 MK G9 EE	6/1/2031	215.25	$ 330,408.75
Trafera	Lenovo 100e G3	6/1/2031	225.25	$ 345,758.75
CDW	HP 11 MK G9 EE	6/1/2031	229.31	$ 351,990.85
Sterling	Dell 2110	6/1/2031	248.67	$ 381,708.45

Recommended Motion(s): Move to accept the bid from Connection for grades 5 and 9 Chromebooks, in the amount of $351,898.75.

Attachments: (1)

Technology Bids for 2024-2025

13.B. Approval of Bids for a Special Education Bus, and Regular Bus

Rationale: It is being recommended that the district replace a special education bus that was damaged in an accident and put out of the fleet for a replacement bus. The Transportation Director received three bids and would like to recommend the purchase of one Blue Bird Micro Bus at a cost of $129,000, less any money received from insurance settlements. The expected delivery date of this bus is March 2025.

It is also being recommended that the district replace an existing route bus purchased in 2013 with a new 72-passenger route bus. The Transportation Director received three bids and is recommending a 2025 Blue Bird (Propane) bus, which includes 12 integrated child safety seats, REI camera mounting, and additional undercarriage storage at an approximate cost of $146,000. The expected delivery date of this bus is December 2024.

Recommended Motion(s): Move to accept the recommended purchase of a replacement special education Blue Bird Micro Bus at an estimated cost of $129,000, and a replacement 72-passenger 2025 Blue Bird propane regular route bus at an estimated cost of $146,000, as presented.

14. Regular Agenda - Miscellaneous

14.A. Approval for Steve Gaasch and Jason Mundorf to Attend the NASB Federal Advocacy Fly-In Event in Washington DC, April 29 - May 1, 2024

Recommended Motion(s): Move to approve the participation of Board President Steve Gaasch and Superintendent Jason Mundorf, in the NASB Federal Advocacy Fly-In event in Washington DC, April 29 - May 1, 2024.

15. Next Meeting

Rationale: The next regular meeting of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education will be held on March 11, 2024 at 5:30 P.M. in the Staff Development Room in the Administration Building at 320 West 24th St, Kearney, NE 68845.

16. Adjournment

Recommended Motion(s): Move to adjourn the meeting.

February 12, 2024 at 5:30 PM - Regular Monthly Meeting of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education

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