November 11, 2024 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:  Kearney Public Schools welcomes all guests to our public meetings. It is the intention of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education that all those present at the Board of Education meetings, whether Board members, KPS staff, or members of the public, act and treat each other with honor and respect. Guests are expected to refrain from speaking during the meeting unless asked to address the Board of Education by the Board President or during their allotted time in public participation. If anyone attending the meeting is determined by the President to be disruptive or a detriment to the procession of the meeting by their words or actions, that person or persons, may be asked by the President to leave the meeting at any time. Anyone who refuses to leave will be escorted from the meeting by either school personnel or a police officer and could be legally barred from attending future meetings. Thank you for helping us to have a respectful meeting forum for everyone to enjoy.

Rationale:  Reading of the resolution.

Rationale:  American Education Week is being observed in the Kearney Public Schools and throughout the country next week, November 18-22, 2024. On Tuesday, November 19, Kearney Public Schools and UNK will co-host a reception for new staff members and members of the community in the UNK Regional Engagement Center from 4:00 to 5:30 PM. Other activities will be conducted in the school buildings to observe this special week. 

Rationale:  Board meetings must 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:  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.

Rationale:  The resignations of Sidney Enochs, 3rd grade teacher at Northeast Elementary School, and Cami Drozd, 6th grade language arts teacher at Horizon Middle School, effective the end of the 2024-2025 school year; and the retirement resignations of Melisa Dobish, special education director for Kearney Public Schools; Kelly Melson, school librarian at Northeast Elementary School; Shelly Whittaker, 4th grade teacher at Northeast Elementary School; Lynn Lebsack, 4th grade teacher at Kenwood Elementary School; Tracy Schall, director of library services and principal at Glenwood Elementary School; Janice Polk, title I teacher at Kenwood Elementary School; Paige Garringer, adaptive PE teacher at Bryant, Central and Emerson Elementary Schools; Chris Preble, 5th grade teacher at Buffalo Hills Elementary School; Karen Fusby, kindergarten teacher at Meadowlark Elementary School, Kandi Stelling, vocal music teacher at Bryant and Central Elementary Schools, and Cathy Gundersen, principal at Northeast Elementary School, effective the end of the 2024-2025 school year, and the resignation of Londyn Rupprecht, 18-21 program teacher at Kearney High School, effective November 8, 2024.

Rationale:  Wendy Castillo, BA, Step 3, 1.0 FTE placement to be determined; Courtney Feeney, MA, Step 14, 1.0 FTE kindergarten teacher at Meadowlark Elementary School, for the 2025-2026 school year; Emily Abed, BA, Step 3, 1.0 FTE 4th grade teacher at Kenwood Elementary School, pending certification, for the 2025-2026 school year. 

Rationale:  The lease purchase will be a 7-year agreement at an annual percentage rate of 3.74%.

Rationale:  The closed session is for the performance evaluation of the superintendent and superintendent contract negotiations.

Rationale:  The next regular meeting of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education will be held on December 9, 2024 at 5:30 P.M. in the Staff Development Room in the Administration Building at 320 West 24th St, Kearney, NE 68845.