October 12, 2026 at 5:30 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Executive Summary: Superintendent’s Monthly Report

Reporting Period: September 2026 (For the October 2026 Board Meeting)

Financial Performance & Project Management

The district remains in a strong, highly stable financial position as we begin the new fiscal year.

• General Fund: With 8.3% of the fiscal year elapsed, General Fund revenue is 12.69% YTD, while expenses ended at 10.24% YTD.

• All Funds: Combined district funds show total revenue at 12.36% YTD and total expenditures at 10.0% YTD.

• 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 School Calendars have been attached for your review.  

• Current Focus: 

  • The business office is actively engaged in the Annual Financial Review of the 2025–2026 fiscal year. 

  • We are actively engaged in the 2025-2026 audit with CLA, Inc and KSO, Inc.

  • 2025-2026 SPED Final Financial Review

  • NASB: Mr. Bednar and I attended the NASB Labor Relations conference.  Key takeaways include:  

    • Nebraska has introduced stricter, mandatory hiring background check requirements for school staff under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-880. Designed to prevent schools from hiring individuals with past records of child abuse, neglect, or sexual misconduct, these strict guidelines apply to anyone seeking employment in a position that involves regular contact with students.  

    • EHA Rates will be released later this month with a large percentage increase expected.

    • Negotiation Timelines and requirements were covered. (1st meeting prior to ONovember 1st)

Facilities & Infrastructure Updates

Progress continues across multiple scheduled campus improvements:

• Senior High School: 

  • Carpeting the Music wing of the building during Parent teacher conferences.

• Junior High School:

  • Installing new steam tables in the cafeteria.

• Central Elementary School:

  • Installing new Reach in Freezer

• McCook Elementary School:

  • Installing new Washing machine

Compliance & Operations

• Food Services: The District Food Services Management company OPPA   served 15,460 meals.

• State & Federal Reporting: Full compliance has been maintained with Several September filings successfully completed:

  • 2026–2027 Student Census Report

  • 2026-2027 School budget (LC-2) to NDE/State auditors and the counties

  • 2026-2027 Staff Reporting to the NDE

  • TEEOSA Documents

    • Summer School Units

    • Student Growth

    • Estimated Poverty and LEP Expenditures

    • Assessed Values and Levies

    • Option Enrollment Report

Key Dates

• End of 1st Quarter - No School K-5:  October 16th, 2026

• Election Day:  November 3rd, 2026  

• November Board of Education Meeting: November 9th, 2026 @ 5:30 pm.

• NASB State Convention in Omaha:  November 19th and 20th, 2026  

Executive Summary: Chief of K-12 Education and Instruction

Curriculum and Vertical Alignment

Curriculum and Vertical Alignment days are planned for the next two Wednesdays. This year’s theme is Strengthening Our
Foundation: PLC Question #1 — What do we want students to know?

• A clear, shared answer to Question #1 provides the foundation for meaningful PLC conversations. Question #1 sets the foundation; Questions #2-4 guide what we do with it through assessment, intervention, and extension.
• Teams will clarify and refine essential learnings and examine alignment across grade levels to identify gaps, unnecessary
overlap, and the skills students need for the next level.
• Curriculum CARDS will replace offset targets. Each card will break down an essential standard into specific learning targets
and "I can" statements, explain why it is essential, identify instructional resources, outline when and how long it is taught, and
connect it to the corresponding CRT assessment.
• The goal is a shared, usable curriculum that strengthens teacher clarity, instructional consistency, and the work of every PLC.

Online District Policies

• Our district policies have been updated in the SparkData online policy system. The public link will go live on the district website next week.
• Mr. Gross, Trisha Willis, and I participated in training last week to support use of the updated system