January 12, 2026 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 Legislative Resolution 37

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 Reid Bednar, 7th grade teacher at Horizon Middle School; Steven Woodside, assistant principal at Kearney High School; and Ashley Palu, assistant principal at Northeast Elementary School, effective at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. 

Rationale:  Mary Fries, special education teacher at Sunrise Middle School, step advancement from Step 1 to Step 3 and salary adjustment for 94 contract days for the 2026 spring semester, due to graduation; Ariana Bishop, deaf educator at Kearney Public Schools, step advancement from Step 1 to Step 3 and salary adjustment for 94 contract days for the 2026 spring semester, due to graduation; Emma Allen, BA+27, Step 4, .80 FTE, English teacher at Kearney High School, for the 2025-2026 school year; Abbie Scholl, BA, Step 3, 1.0 FTE, math teacher at Kearney High School; Mallory Daley, BA, Step 3, 1.0 FTE, 2nd grade teacher at Northeast Elementary School; Jordan Fuehrer, MA, Step 6, 1.0 FTE, 5th grade teacher at Cottonwood Elementary School; and Mallory Wetherell, MA+27, Step 14, 1.0 FTE, art teacher at Kearney High School, pending Nebraska certification, for the 2026-2027 school year.

Rationale:  The next regular meeting of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education will be held on February 9, 2026 at 5:30 P.M. in the Staff Development Room in the Administration Building at 320 West 24th St, Kearney, NE 68845.