January 15, 2026 at 6:00 PM - Annual Board Reorganization Meeting and Work Session

Rationale: 

As required by Nebraska law, the public is advised that the Open Meetings Act is posted and copies of the Open Meetings Act are available for the public. 

Rationale:  Consistent with Board Policy 2002, the Superintendent shall assume chairperson duties of the meeting for the purpose of electing a Board President.

Rationale:  Consistent with Board Policy 2002, the Board of Education shall elect a president, a vice-president, and a secretary/treasurer by secret ballot, from the membership of the Board at the Annual Meeting.

Rationale: 
1.   Nomination of one or more candidates.
2.   Closing of nominations.
3.   Election by secret ballot.
4.   Announcement of new President for 2026.
5.   Gavel is presented to the new Board President.

Rationale: 
1.   Nomination of one or more candidates.
2.   Closing of nominations.
3.   Election by secret ballot.
4.   Announcement of new Vice President for 2026.

Rationale: 
1.   Nomination of one or more candidates.
2.   Closing of nominations.
3.   Election by secret ballot.
4.   Announcement of new Secretary/Treasurer for 2026.

Rationale:  Consistent with Board Policy 2002, and upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board shall appoint/reappoint the following officers and advisors:

Dr. Thomas Szlanda......Assistant Secretary
Denise Behrends...........Recording Secretary
Shelly Julian..................Assistant Treasurer
John Hauser..................Non-discrimination & Compliance Officer
John Hauser..................Title IX Coordinator
Alex Griess....................Bus Mechanic
Curtis Reimer, M.D........School Physician ($500/year)
Perry Law Firm and KSB School Law.......Legal Counsel (fees based upon services rendered)

 

Rationale:  The Superintendent of Schools recommends that the Board of Education appoint the Superintendent, or Superintendent's Designee, as the District's officer for federal programs. These federal programs include, but are not limited to, Vocational Education, Title I, Title II, Title III, IDEA, Homeless, and the school lunch program.

Rationale:  The Superintendent of Schools recommends that the Board of Education designate the depositories for all school funds by approving the following Hastings banks as depositories for Adams County School District #18: Five Points Bank, Nebraska School District Liquid Asset Fund, Pinnacle Bank, US Bank.

Rationale:  Consistent with Board Policies 701 and 704.1, the Board of Education will be asked to approve the following two financial resolutions.

Rationale:  That, under the authority of Section 77-2338, Reissue Revised Statutes, Nebraska, 1943, the County Treasurer of Adams County, Nebraska, is hereby ordered and directed by the Board of Education of Adams County School District No. 18, in the State of Nebraska, to invest any of the sinking funds, bonds, or otherwise of said District in, and to take up any warrant of said District when signed by the President and Secretary of the Board of Education of said District, the interest earned on such warrant to be credited to the sinking funds of the District from which the invested funds were drawn with this order and direction become effective the sixteenth (15th) day of January, 2026, and continuing in full force and effect and binding upon said Treasurer and only until the fifteenth (15th) day of January, 2027.

Rationale:  That, under the authority of Section 72-202 72-1246, 77-2341, 79-520, 79-1308.01, Reissued Revised Statutes, Nebraska, 1943, the President and the Secretary of the Board of Education of Adams County School District No. 18, in the State of Nebraska, are hereby authorized, ordered, and directed by said Board of Education whenever required in order to obtain monies for the General Fund of the District, and such monies cannot be obtained under authority of Section 77-2338, reissue Revised Statutes, Nebraska, 1943, to borrow such money from other funds of the District, including without limitation, the Sites and Building Fund or the Construction Fund, or in other words, to invest such Sites and Building or Construction Funds in the notes, warrants, or other written evidences of indebtedness or obligations of the District, provided such written evidences of indebtedness are duly signed by the President and Secretary of said Board on behalf of the District and are permanently registered and recorded in a book used for that purpose by the Secretary, provided any such written evidence of indebtedness bears a reasonable rate of interest with the interest earned thereon to be credited to the fund from which the monies were drawn, and provided further the earnings available for debt service have, for a five-year period, immediately preceding the date of purchase, averaged not less than two times such debt service requirements, with this authorization, order and direction becoming effective the sixteenth (15th) day of January, 2026, and continuing in full force and effect and binding upon said Board each succeeding day thereafter not indefinately, but only until the fifteenth (15th) day of January, 2027.

Rationale:  The Superintendent recommends that the Board of Education designate an official newspaper each year and that the Hastings Tribune be designated as the District's official newspaper for 2026.

Rationale:  The 2025 GNSA representative was Sharon Brooks.

The President appoints a Board member to be the GNSA Representative.

Rationale:  The 2025 HPS Foundation representative was Sharon Brooks.

The President appoints a Board member to be the HPS Foundation Representative.

Rationale:  Per Board Policy 2002, "The Board shall have no standing committees other than the Standing Committee on American Civics, which is required by law."  Per Board Policy 203.01, "At the annual meeting, the Board shall appoint all necessary Board officers and committees."

The Standing Committee on American Civics shall consist of three members appointed by the President of the Board of Education.  Responsibilities of the Committee will be to:
1.  Examine recommended social studies textbooks and report findings based on this examination to other members of the Board of Education. 
2.  The Committee shall take all other steps to ensure compliance with Nebraska law.
3.  Review all major proposals prepared by the Superintendent and instructional staff for adoption of new textbooks, development of new instructional programs, revision of existing instructional programs, modification of established graduation requirements, and other related matters.
4.  After the review is completed, the Committee will make a recommendation to the full Board of Education about approval or adoption of the matter under consideration.

2025 members were Chris Shade, Stacie Widhelm and Andrew McCarty

The President appoints Board members to the Standing Committee on American Civics.

Rationale:  In addition to the Board President and Vice President, the 2025 member  was Jim Boeve.

The President appoints Board member(s) to the Superintendent's succession planning committee.

Rationale:  In addition to the Board President, the 2025 members were Jodi Graves, Jim Boeve and Stacie Widhelm.

The President appoints Board members to the negotiations committee.

Rationale:  Annual review and reminders of Board Policy 2005: Conflict of Interest; Policy 2006: Complaint Procedure; and Policy 2012: Board Code of Ethics.

Rationale: 

Rationale:  This month's Spotlight on Learning will feature Longfellow Elementary

Rationale:  Consider 2026-27 district calendar. 

Rationale:  Any resident or employee of Hastings Public Schools District #18 is welcome to address the Board of Education at this time on items pertaining to education and/or the operation of the District.  Any person wishing to address the Board is requested to raise their hand and, on being recognized, give his/her name and address. Questions relating to employees of the District will not be permitted; such questions should be referred to the Superintendent at another time.  It is requested that comments be limited to five (5) minutes.  Citizens who wish to present petitions to the Board may do so at this time; however, the Board will only receive the petitions and will not act upon them or their contents.