April 13, 2026 at 5:30 PM - Public Hearing and Regular Monthly Meeting of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education
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1. Public Hearing & Review of American Civics Education Policy & Requirements
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1.A. Convene Hearing
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1.B. Policy Review, Public Input & Discussion
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1.C. Close Hearing
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2. Routine Business
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2.A. Call to Order
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2.B. 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.
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2.C. Board Meeting Decorum Expectations
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.
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2.D. Pledge of Allegiance
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2.E. Roll Call
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2.E.I. Excuse Absent Board Member
Recommended Motion(s):
Move to excuse absent Board member_______________from the meeting.
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2.F. Approval of the Agenda
Recommended Motion(s):
Move to approve the agenda for the meeting, as presented.
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3. Recognitions
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4. Presentations
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4.A. Presentation from Megan Schmidt, Principal at Bright Futures Preschool, Celebrating What Makes Bright Futures Special
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4.B. Presentation from Jason Owens, Principal at Hanny Arram Center for Success, about the KidWind STEM Competition
Attachments:
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4.C. Announcement of the 2026 Celebration of Excellence
Rationale:
Kearney Public Schools and the Kearney Public Schools Foundation will host the 2026 Celebration of Excellence reception on Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. at the Kearney Holiday Inn to honor the Foundation award winners, 2026 retirees and our employees for their years of service. Anyone is welcome to attend, and reservations can be made on the Foundation's website.
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5. Legislative Update
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6. Public Participation/Comment
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. |
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7. Board Reports
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8. 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.
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8.A. Approval of Minutes of the March 9, 2026, Regular Meeting and the April 1, 2026, Committee of the Whole Meeting
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8.B. Approval of the April 2026 Claims
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8.C. Approval of the April 2026 Financial Reports
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8.D. Approval of Kearney High School Girls Wrestling Trip to the Iowa Wrestling Camp, June 8–11, 2026 in Fort Dodge, Iowa
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8.E. Approval of Kearney High School Boys Wrestling Trip to the Missouri Wrestling Camp, June 20–24, 2026 in Columbia, Missouri
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8.F. Approval of Kearney High School FBLA Trip to the National Leadership Conference, June 28–July 3, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas
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8.G. Approval of Kearney High School FBLA Trip to the National Fall Leadership Conference, November 4–7, 2026 in Washington, DC
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9. Regular Agenda - Personnel
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9.A. Acceptance of Resignations and Retirements
Rationale:
The resignations of Holli Ourada, toddler teacher at Bright Futures Preschool; Britany Lousberg, special education teacher at Sunrise Middle School; Allysen Gross, special education teacher at Sunrise Middle School, and Emma Allen, English teacher at Kearney High School, effective the end of the 2025-2026 school year.
Recommended Motion(s):
Move to accept, with regret, the resignations and retirements as presented.
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9.B. Approval of the Employment of Certificated Staff
Rationale:
Jordyn Boehler, BA, Step 3, 1.0 FTE, 1st grade teacher at Bryant Elementary School; Shelbee Burke, BA, Step 3, 1.0 FTE, family and consumer science teacher at Horizon Middle School; Abigail Fong, MA+45, Step 11, 1.0 FTE, reading teacher at Horizon Middle School; Rhonda Soto, MA, Step 14, 1.0 FTE, English teacher at Sunrise Middle School; Keri Troester, MA, Step 5, 1.0 FTE, special education teacher at Sunrise Middle School; Brent Swift, BA, Step 7, 1.0 FTE, math teacher at Sunrise Middle School; Jessica Moore, MA, Step 14, 1.0 FTE, reading teacher at Windy Hills Elementary School; Kris Conner, MA+18, Step 14, 1.0 FTE, business teacher at Kearney High School; Clayton Waddle, MA+45, Step 16, 1.0 FTE, special education teacher at Sunrise Middle School, and Angela Blankenship, MA+45, Step 15, 1.0 FTE, curriculum technology specialist, for the 2026-2027 school year.
Recommended Motion(s):
Move to employ the certificated staff at Kearney Public Schools for the 2026-2027 school year
as presented.
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9.C. Approval of the Employment of Administrative Staff
Rationale:
Approval of Jason Sullivan as principal at Sunrise Middle School; Patrick Moore as assistant principal at Horizon Middle School, and Christa Anderson as special education supervisor at Kearney Public Schools, starting the 2026-2027 school year.
Recommended Motion(s):
Move to approve Jason Sullivan as principal at Sunrise Middle School; Patrick Moore as assistant principal at Horizon Middle School, and Christa Anderson as special education supervisor at Kearney Public Schools, starting the 2026-2027 school year.
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9.D. Approval of Classified, Classified Exempt and Administrative Employee Compensation for the 2026-2027 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 2026-2027 school year, we are recommending an average increase in total compensation of 5% for classified employees, 3% for classified-exempt employees, and an average increase in total compensation of 2.5% for administrative employees in Kearney Public Schools.
Recommended Motion(s):
Move to approve an average increase in total compensation of 5% for classified employees, 3% for classified-exempt employees, and an average increase in total compensation of 2.5% for administrative employees in Kearney Public Schools.
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9.E. Approval of the Ratified Addendum to the Negotiated Agreement between KEA and the Board of Education for the 2026–2027 School Year
Recommended Motion(s):
Move to approve the ratified addendum to the negotiated agreement between KEA and the Board of Education for the 2026-2027 school year.
Attachments:
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10. Regular Agenda - Business
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10.A. Approve a Resolution authorizing the issuance of General Obligation Refunding Bonds of Buffalo County School District 0007, in the State of Nebraska, in an aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $16,200,000 for the purpose of refunding certain outstanding indebtedness of the district; prescribing the form of such bonds; fixing in part and providing for the fixing in part of the terms of the bonds; providing for the levy and collection of an annual tax for the purpose of paying the principal of and interest on such bonds as they become due; and authorizing certain other documents and actions in connection therewith.
Recommended Motion(s):
Move to approve a Resolution authorizing the issuance of General Obligation Refunding Bonds of Buffalo County School District 0007, in the State of Nebraska, in an aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $16,200,000 for the purpose of refunding certain outstanding indebtedness of the district; prescribing the form of such bonds; fixing in part and providing for the fixing in part of the terms of the bonds; providing for the levy and collection of an annual tax for the purpose of paying the principal of and interest on such bonds as they become due; and authorizing certain other documents and actions in connection therewith.
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10.B. Approve a bid from Springer Roofing in the amount of $228,301 to replace the Meadowlark Elementary roof in the summer of 2026. This project was approved under the QCPUF bond projects issuance and will be paid out of the existing QCPUF bond funds accordingly.
Recommended Motion(s):
Move to approve a bid from Springer Roofing in the amount of $228,301 to replace the Meadowlark Elementary roof in the summer of 2026.
Attachments:
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11. Regular Agenda - Miscellaneous
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11.A. Approval of the 2026-2027 Transportation Handbook
Recommended Motion(s):
Move to approve the 2026-2027 Transportation Handbook, as presented.
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11.B. Approve a Permanent Right-of-Way and Utility Easement with the City of Kearney at or near the intersection of 45th Street and N Avenue for the purposes of sidewalk construction and lane expansion for the new traffic light installation at the corner of 45th Street and N Avenue.
Recommended Motion(s):
Move to approve a Permanent Right-of-Way and Utility Easement with the City of Kearney, as presented.
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11.C. First Reading Approval of the Revised 5000 Section of Board Policies
Recommended Motion(s):
Move to approve the first reading of the Revised 5000 Section of Board Policies, as presented.
Attachments:
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11.D. First Reading Approval of the Revised 6000 Section of Board Policies
Recommended Motion(s):
Move to approve the first reading of the Revised 6000 Section of Board Policies, as presented.
Attachments:
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11.E. Discuss, consider, and take all necessary action to approve the Resolution to cancel Molly Brown's teaching contract, effective March 6, 2026
Recommended Motion(s):
Move to adopt the Resolution to cancel Molly Brown's teaching contract, effective March 6, 2026.
Attachments:
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12. Next Meeting
Rationale:
The next regular meeting of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education will be held on May 11, 2026 at 5:30 P.M. in the Staff Development Room in the Administration Building at 320 West 24th St, Kearney, NE 68845.
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13. Adjournment
Recommended Motion(s):
Move to adjourn the meeting.
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