December 12, 2024 at 8:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Monthly Meeting

Discussion:  President Lutkemeier opened the meeting at 8:00 pm.  The meeting notice was advertised in the November 28th publication of the Webster County Sun.  "The Open Meetings Act" poster was displayed in the meeting room.

Discussion:  Guest in attendance was Adam Klein.  No comments were offered.

Discussion: 

1. Thank you to Allen and Todd for your service on the board. It is truly a thankless service job and one that the district was extremely fortunate to have you serve in.

2. Thank you to those who attended the NASB conference in Omaha. Hopefully you walked out of there with some valuable information on the important roles you serve as board members. The breakout sessions I attended were some of the best in all the years I have been there.

3. NCSA had their legislative preview on Wednesday, December 11th I attended via zoom. (I will share with you the Nebraska Republican Party Legislative Plan for Nebraska, 109th Legislature outline document, 1st regular session 2025.

4. Part 17 of the E-Funds training and process took place today with the zoom meeting. The hope is we can get this rolled out sooner rather than later. I know this is something that you all want to see finished and we are hopefully starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

5. Thank you to all who were able to attend the Holiday Meal. Great meal appreciated by all.

6. School Lunch Audit was Tuesday, December 10th in Bladen. Tori, Gail, Brittany, Alarissa, Mr. Drake and Myself were a part of the review. It went well, we have a few adjustments and corrections to make but overall, it went very well.

7. We have pricing on multiple trailers for purchase. We are still in the process of working with our two custodians to determine what we truly need and value when looking at making this purchase.

8. The propane bus has arrived. They have another smaller propane bus on hand at the shop that I think we could get a deal on. It does not have AC on it and it is smaller, but it would hold the number of students Krissy hauls very well. Originally quoted at $128,000, and Jamie thought if someone offered Colorado West $100,000 for it there’s a good chance they would take it.

9. I would like to have the building and grounds crew meet me in Bladen before the January meeting at 6 p.m. to discuss the shed and concrete projects down there. I will have a presentation prepared so that you can see what we would like to do inside where it is warm and not dark.

Through the end of November, I currently have:

Worked 99 of 240 contracted days
Used 4.5 vacation days of 25
Used 6 sick leave days of 30

Mr. Bauer also updated board members on moving the Elba game up an hour as a precaution to get ahead of the snow & ice forecast.

Discussion: 

Mr. Drake reported on the following:

Total Enrollment: 132

PreK- 25 (17 all day, 8 half day) Kindergarten - 9
1st Grade - 17
2nd Grade - 14
3rd Grade - 16
4th Grade - 23
5th Grade - 16
6th Grade - 12

Completed Events:
November 25: 5th and 6th Grade to Edgerton Explorit Center
November 26: Elementary to One Act Matinee
December 7: Board/Staff Holiday Get Together
December 11th: Food Program Audit

Upcoming Events:
December 19th: Christmas Concert
December 20th: Reading Bowling Party
December 20th: Last Day of First Semester
January 2nd: Teacher In-Service
January 3rd: 1st Day of 2nd Semester
January 10th: Lions Club Vision and Hearing Screenings

Testing:
Dibels testing completed this week
NSCAS/MAP testing January 13-24

Discussion:
Calendar discussion in January???

• Student days

• School day hours 
  
  Mr. Drake updated board members on the Rutt's Heating & Air Conditioning project still moving forward.  

Discussion: 

Mr. Jones reported on the following:

Professional Development

December 4th-5th - State Principal Conference - Lincoln
January 2nd - Staff In-Service

JH/HS Academics

December 14th - National ACT
December 17th-18th - Semester Finals
December 19th - Hearts and Hands Against Hunger
December 20th - Mini Courses
December 20th - End of Quarter 2 / End of Semester 1
December 20th - 12:30 PM Dismissal

JH/HS Safety Drills

December Fire Drill - TBA

JH/HS Sports / Activities

Winter Sports Numbers:

HS Boys Basketball - 25 Students
HS Girls Basketball - 15 Students
JH Girls Basketball - 9 Students
JH Boys Basketball - TBA

Winter Activity Numbers:

HS Speech -
JH Quiz Bowl - 8 Students
HS Quiz Bowl - 15 Students

Other:
Prom - April 25th

December 3rd - One-Act @ Districts
December 5th - JH GBB @ Red Cloud
December 5th - HS BB @ Red Cloud
December 6th - HS BB @ Deshler
December 9th - JH GBB @ Blue Hill
December 10th - HS BB vs Axtell - Parents Night - Dance, Cheer, Basketball
December 13th - HS BB @ Elba
December 14th - JH GBB @ Kenesaw Tournament
December 14th - 7-12th Grade @ Storm Hockey Night
December 16th - JH GBB vs L/N
December 16th - HS BBB C Team vs Hastings High
December 17th - HS BB vs Gibbon
December 18th - HS BBB C Team vs DT
December 20th - HS BB vs Kenesaw
December 22nd-26th - NSAA Moratorium
December 28th - HS BB @ Lincoln Christian Holiday Tournament
December 30th - HS BB @ Lincoln Christian Holiday Tournament
January 2nd - HS BBB C Team @ Sandy Creek

Other:

Peer Education Project - Will start in January
JAG Update (Jobs for America's Graduates)
Work-Based Learning Update
Prom Update

Discussion:  To review, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding negotiations. The board negotiations team and the teachers' negotiations team came to an agreement on November 13th, 2024 to increase the base by $1000, and keep insurance the same.

Teachers will be placed at their new levels on the next contract.
Sponsors will start where their experience lands them on the schedule.  

Discussion:  The yearly audit was completed and needs the approval of the Board of Education.

Discussion:  As the legislature passed bills we needed a summer update on this policy and these additional adjustments, updates prior to January 1st. 

Discussion:  Due to legislative changes policy 2008 was required to be updated in the summer as well as prior to January 1st.

Discussion:  Mr. Bauer's two-year contract expires on the 30th day of June 2025.  The Board needs to determine if you are going to offer Mr. Bauer a new contract or not.  Then you will need to set terms and submit an offer.  You can choose to vote merely on whether to offer a contract at this meeting or you can set the terms tonight if you so choose.  

The Secretary of the Board has until January 15th to notify the Superintendent in writing of the board's intention not to renew the contract.  

The deadline for a signed contract in the past has always been February 23rd.

Discussion:  Certified Silver Lake Board of Education results are attached from Ramona R. Thomas, Adams County Clerk.  

Congratulations to Shaun, Brant, Daren, Ryan and Adam. 

Allen and Todd - Thank you for all your years of service on the Board of Education.  It's truly been great having you help guide the direction of the district.    

Discussion:  Items for next month's board agenda include board committees, officer elections, and the oath of office for new board members.  Building committee to have a report.  The next regular Board of Education meeting is to take place on Wednesday, January 15th, at 7 pm in Bladen.