September 9, 2024 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

• Board President Desh called meeting to order at 7:23 p.m. (immediately following the district tax request public hearing). 
• Board President Desh led the board members and patrons in attendance at the meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

• Board President Desh identified the location of the Open Meetings Act Poster on the wall in the meeting room.
  • The changes are reflected in the currently posted materials: revised April 2024.

• Construction Manager At Risk (CMAR) representatives from BIC provided a progress report on the current building expansion and improvement projects. 
• The CMAR summary report for September 9th, 2024 is now attached to this agenda item. 

• Patriot Day Reminder: Mr. Hart 
• Technology / Student Personal Devices Update: Mr. Hart/ Mr. Johnson
• Social Media Parent Presentation Summary: Mr. Hart/ Mr. Johnson
• Student Services Update: Ms. Walter
  • Math Curriculum, and District Assessments

• No further discussion. 

• No further discussion. 

• No public comment was presented at this meeting. 
  • Patrons in attendance at the Tax Request and Budget Hearings had opportunities to provide comments and ask questions. 

• The following activities were recognized for outstanding student participation and staff sponsorship.
  • Cross Country Boys and Girls
  • Volleyball
  • Football 
  • Golf
  • One Act
  • Panther Paw Tickets 
  • Aspire Academy
  • Bennet Bites:
  • Workplace Experiences and "Internships"
  • Heston Shelton from Eagle provided information about his project for Boy Scouts. 

• Superintendent Hart presented information relative to the latest Legislative Special Session.
  • Please see the attached document. 

• Education Quest will be at the high school on Wednesday, October 16th at 6:00 p.m. to do a financial aid presentation for seniors/parents.

• A summary of the proposal to have current seniors come to board meetings as community engagement experiences was discussed. 

• Recommended Budget Summary
• Tax Request Overview 

• Bennet Elementary School:
  • Wednesday, October 2nd: 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
• Palmyra Junior/ Senior High School:
  • Friday, October 4th: 5:00-6:30 p.m.
    • This is also Homecoming week.

• Our annual safety audit as required by the Nebraska Department of Education is scheduled for Monday, October 7, 2024.
• Superintendent Hart and Mr. Johnson will share the results of the audit at the Monday, October 14th regular board meeting. 

• Please see the attached document. 

• Parent/Teacher conferences will be held on Tuesday, September 24th from 2-8 p.m. 

• Please see the attached documents. 

• Karis King
• Deb Wood
• Please see the attached documents for more information.  

• Friday. November 1^st - Thursday. November 7^th
  • Superintendent completes the self-evaluation
• Monday. November. 11^th
  • NASB sends board self-evaluation results
• Monday. November 11^th - Wednesday. November 20^th
  •  Board members complete their evaluations
• Monday, December. 2^nd
  • The final report & Executive Summary will be emailed and mailed to the board president.

The Student Services Board Report was shared by Ms. Walter:

Highlights of designated topics are listed below.

• Student  Assessment:
  • Bennet and PHS have completed MAPS/NSCAS  assessments for students KDG-10th grade.
  • MAPS/NSCAS will occur in the spring again. This data is what the state uses for reporting.
  • NSCAS results from the spring of 2024 will be provided to parents at September parent-teacher conferences.
• Special Education:
  • Professional development for Ms. Walter has included attending meetings and workshops with the state department to ensure we comply with all areas of special education.
  • The district is currently making changes to documentation standards and IEP writing.
• High Ability Learners:
  • We have added two quiz bowls in our district for 5th and 6th grades.
  • Planning learning opportunities for our students each quarter who qualify for HAL
• Curriculum:
  • The new math curriculum has been implemented in K-12. 
  • Math training will occur on the teacher-in-service day (Wednesday, September 25th.)
  • The Reading Curriculum (Journeys) will expire at the end of this school year. Buildings have started the process of adopting a new K-12 reading curriculum.

• PT Conferences:
  • Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for Tuesday, September 24th, from 2-8 PM. We will have an early dismissal at 1:00 that day.
• Teacher In-Service:
  • Wednesday, September 25th will be a Teacher Workday.
    • Staff will focus on reviewing student data from MAPS/NSCAS/DIBELs and curriculum.
• Construction
  • Construction processes continue to go well in both buildings. Furniture is being delivered, PE is utilizing the garden level, and Palmyra expects to be in all classrooms fully by Thursday, September 12th. 
  • "Area B" in Bennet will be in use starting Monday, Sept. 9th.
• Bus Traffic:
  • Bus pickup/drop off at Palmyra has gone extremely well. Kudos to Mr. Hoeft and all his hard work and planning. The bus lane is fantastic!
  • Seniors and other students will move to the east lots upon completion of the construction.

• The next Transportation Committee Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 11th, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. at Palmyra High School in the west conference room.
• Please note: this meeting was originally scheduled for Wednesday, September 18th at 9:00 a.m. 
• A summary of the meeting will be shared at the Monday, October 14th regular board meeting.

• A Strategic Overview Committee meeting has been scheduled for Monday, September 23rd, 2024 at Palmyra.
  • Please note: If that date doesn't work for the majority of SOC team members, an alternate date will be rescheduled and communicated as soon as possible. 

• The next meeting of this committee is scheduled for Wednesday, October 9th, 2024 at noon at Palmyra High School. 

  • Please note that this will be a public meeting. as required by NDE.

• The Negotiations Committee met last year to finalize the certified Negotiated Agreement for 2024-2025 and 2025-2026. 
  • We are now in Year One of the current two-year contract.
• In alignment with the contents of the CIR agreement currently posted on our district website under the Negotiated Agreement section, the Board of Education continues to officially affirm the District OR-1 Public Education Association as the designated collective bargaining unit for the school district.
• The CIR document is also attached to this agenda item

• The current policy review schedule is attached. 

• This action item was "tabled" due to the board not having the required number of members present (70%) at the meeting to officially vote on this issue.
• This agenda item has been rescheduled for discussion at the Special Board Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 24th, 2024
• Public notice of the rescheduled special meeting will be posted prior to the meeting on Tuesday, September 24th, 2024.

• This recommendation is based on current rates, available services, and discussions with other districts about the best current coverage options for school districts. 
• This switch will also save the district money in annual insurance premiums. 
• No further discussion. 

• This action item was "tabled" until the special meeting on Tuesday, September 24th, 2024 to allow board members to consider additional tax request and budget options. 

• This agenda item has been rescheduled for discussion at the Special Board Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 24th, 2024.

• Public notice of the rescheduled special meeting will be posted prior to the meeting on Tuesday, September 24th, 2024.

• This action item was "tabled" until the special meeting on Tuesday, September 24th,2024 to allow board members to consider additional budget and tax request options. 
• This agenda item has been rescheduled for discussion at the Special Board Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 24th, 2024.
• Public notice of the rescheduled special meeting will be posted before the meeting on Tuesday, September 24th, 2024. 

• Board President Desh, Board members Busch, and Moore will attend the Area membership meeting in Nebraska City on Wednesday, September 11th. 
• No further discussion.

• There is no closed session scheduled for this meeting.

• District Assurance Statement 
• Board Election Results and Summary
• School District Audit
• Fall Membership Report
• Review Superintendent Evaluation Timeline
• Legislative Update
• Curriculum reports
• Option Enrollment
• Committee Meeting Summaries

• The meeting was adjourned at: 8:29 p.m.