March 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

• Board President Desh called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
• 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.

• The following staff presentations occurred during the meeting:
  • ELA Currículum Presentation / Recommendation: Mrs. Carrie Wusk: Kindergarten Teacher at Bennet Elementary School, Mr. Braston Maibaum: 4th Grade Teacher at Bennet Elementary School, and Mrs. Taylor Suhr: 2nd Grade Teacher at Bennet Elementary School, presented information relative to the new English and Language Arts (ELA) curriculum that is being proposed for purchase at the April 14th regular board meeting. 
  • HAL and SPED: 
    • Ms. Linde Walter (Director of Student Services/ Programs) provided information about our Aspire Academy, special education programs, and high-ability learners.
      • More specific information about these topics was also shared during the administrative report later in the meeting.

• No further discussion. 

• No public comment was presented during the meeting.
• A small number of PHS high school seniors attended the meeting in alignment with social studies course requirements.  

Superintendent Hart provided information on the topics listed below: 

• Construction and "Punch List" Building Projects Update:
  • This continues to be a "work in progress" as we identify and correct warranty-related construction items at both buildings. 
• 2025 "Summer Projects" Update: 
  • Bennet Media Center "Refresh"
  • High School Trophy and Memorabilia Display Case
  • High School Locker Rooms and Restrooms
• Olson Complex:
  • Additional Spectator Seating Discussion
• Staffing Update and Budget Projections:
  • Superintendent Hart provided a summary of specific information relative to anticipated budget authority and state aid data for the 2025-2026 school year.
  • Superintendent Hart also provided the rationale for the addition of another certified staff member at the junior/senior high school. 
    • Some of the key points for adding a staff member were to be able to balance schedules at both buildings, offer updated course options for students (digital media and design, middle-level foreign language, etc.), implement a more robust middle-level learning/ teaming structure for 6-8th grade, and assist with more efficient student transitions, (elementary to middle school, HS to post-secondary, middle school to high school, pre-K to kindergarten, etc.
    • The request for an additional certified staff member at the high school will be an action item later in the agenda. 
• Aspire Academy:
  • The Aspire Academy graduation event is scheduled for Friday, May 16, 2025, from 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm at Bennet Elementary School.
• Community Unity Panel Update:
• Bennet/Palmyra Area Early Childhood Center Update: 
  • Superintendent Hart and Ms. Walter provided an update on this community-based initiative. 
  • The next core team meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 18th, at 6:00 p.m. at Bennet Elementary School. 
• FFA Animal Gates Update:
  • New gates were recently installed in the FFA shop at the HS and a picture is attached to this agenda item.
• Student Gratitude Example:
  • Superintendent Hart shared a picture of a Thank-you Note from our students addressed to the PHS Night Cleaning Crew.
• Student and Staff Kudos:
  • Superintendent Hart provided additional information about recent student and staff achievements and special building-level and district-wide events. Some of the items discussed are listed below. 
    • FFA State Qualifiers
    • State Wrestling
    • End of the Year Events
    • Other items
• PowerSchool Data Breach Update:
• School Funding and Finance Update 
• Student-Created: School District Promotional Video:
  • An updated snippet of the student-created video was shared.
• Upcoming Adjusted School Schedules:
  • Monday, March 17th, 2025
    • Early dismissal for all students for NEE Staff Evaluation Training.
  • ACT Test Schedule Update Reminder: 
    • Tuesday, March 25th, 2025 
      • This will be a regular day of school for all elementary students
      • There will be no school for 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 12th-grade students on this day.
      • 10th and 11th-grade students will take the Pre-Act and ACT tests on this day. 
        • Please note that after the board meeting, and in alignment with suggested changes to ACT scheduling and logistics issues, this ACT date was rescheduled for Tuesday, April 8th. 
• Summer Enrichment Dates Update: 
  • Summer enrichment will be held from Monday, June 9th to Thursday, June 26th.
    • Please note: There is no summer enrichment on the following days: Friday, June 13th, June 20th, or June 27th. 
• "The Foundation for Knowledge, District OR-1": Kudos and Website Update:
• High School Video Board Project and Community Partnerships Update  
• Legislative Update

• Superintendent Hart discussed information about a public meeting for all community stakeholders on Thursday, April 3rd, 2025, from 5-7 p.m. at PHS to discuss the Highway #2 Palmyra Area Improvement Project.
  • In response to community concerns regarding the high number of accidents on the stretch of Hwy # 2 between HWY 43 to the west and the Douglas "spur" to the east of Palmyra, representatives from the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) will share an updated traffic safety plan that could significantly reduce vehicle accidents and other traffic issues historically present in this area. 
• A conceptual scope of work will be discussed and additional information about the project will also be presented at the meeting.
• All patrons are encouraged to attend! 

• End of the Third Quarter and Student Report Cards: The third quarter of school ended on Thursday, March 6th. Report cards will be sent home on Thursday, March 13th.
• PHS Prom: This event is scheduled for Saturday, April 5th. The venue is at Prairie Creek Inn in Walton.
• Staff In-Service and Training Update: The next staff professional development day will be Monday, March 31st.
• Bennet Caring Project: This project, organized by the 5th-grade student council, raised over $670.00 for St. Elizabeth’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
• Activities: Music and band competitions update.
• NSCAS/MAPS Standardized Assessments: Student testing will begin on April 22nd and run through May 1st.
• Kindergarten Round-Up: This event is scheduled for Friday, May 2nd, from 9-11 AM. 
• Student Survey Grade Level Meetings: Mr. Hart and Mr. Johnson met with all students 6-12 to discuss the recent student survey results.
• Panther/Scholar Panther of the Week: This program will begin the first week of the 4th quarter.
• Aspire Academy Update: Graduation is scheduled for Friday, May 16, 2025, from 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm at Bennet Elementary School.
• Curriculum Update for English Language Arts: The CKLA curriculum for grades K-5 and the Into Literature 4 curriculum for grades 6-12 have been recommended by the curriculum committee. This recommendation will come to the board meeting for review at the Monday, April 14th regular BOE meeting. 
• Preschool Update: We will offer 3 classrooms of AM and PM for 3 and 4-year-olds. The enrollment eligibility policy was also discussed. 

• A summary of the meeting held on Monday, March 10th, 2025 at the high school was discussed.

• Committee member Dee Moore presented a summary of the meeting held on Wednesday, February 26th, 2025 at Palmyra High School. 
  • The agenda of the meeting is also attached below. 

•   The next District Wellness Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 31st at 10:45 am. at Bennet Elementary.

• Members of the Facilities Committee provided information as requested for the meetings held on Tuesday, February 11th, and Thursday, March 6th, 2025.

• No policy review occurred this month.
• The 1000, 2000, and 3000 Series Policies will be reviewed and summarized for discussion at the Monday, April 14th regular board meeting. 

• No further discussion was presented as this topic was reviewed and discussed earlier in the meeting during the Superintendent's Report.

• No further discussion.

• No closed session occurred at the meeting. 

• No further discussion. 

• The meeting was adjourned at: 9:09 p.m.