Public Meeting Minutes: August 10, 2026 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

1. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance

Discussion:

Board President Desh called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Board President Desh led the board members and patrons in attendance at the meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Please note that the District Goals on the Sparq Agenda platform have been updated in alignment with our current Strategic Plan (2026-2031).

2. Announcement of the Open Meetings Act Posting

Discussion:

Board President Desh identified the location of the Open Meetings Act Poster on the wall in the meeting room.
- Special note: Copies of the updated (2026) Open Meetings Act documents were made available at the meeting.
  - A copy of the Open Meetings Act is also attached to this agenda item.

Attachments: (1)

OpenMeetingsAct.Updated July 2026

3. Staff and Student Presentations

Discussion:

FYI: No staff or student presentations were scheduled for the meeting.
- Special note: A recommendation for the September 14th regular board meeting was discussed at the meeting

4. Consent Agenda

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. This motion, made by Josh Penterman and seconded by Dee Moore, Passed.

Busch: Yea
Calfee: Yea
Cheney : Yea
Desh: Yea
Moore: Yea
Penterman: Yea

No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.

Discussion:

Additional discussion centered on end-of-year financial transfers to depreciation and activities accounts.
Discussion also centered on the cost of student Chromebooks, vendor options, student usage and screen time, and the review process for competitive pricing options related to purchasing technology resources.

4.1. Approval of Board Agenda

4.2. Approval of minutes of previous meetings

Attachments: (3)

4.3. Approval of Claims/Payment of Bills and Payroll

Attachments: (2)

4.4. Certificated/Classified Hire(s)/Reassignment(s)/Resignation(s)

4.5. Financial Reports

Attachments: (2)

5. Public Comment

Discussion:

Craig Bolz of Palmyra provided Public Comment.

6. Administrative Reports

Discussion:

The Superintendent, High School and Elementary School Principals, the Activities Director, and the Director of Student Programs and Services presented reports during this section of the meeting.

6.1. Superintendent's Report

Discussion: Superintendent Hart presented information on the following topics:

Follow-Up to "Transportation-Related" Questions from Last Month
Notice of "Closed Session" for later in the meeting
Crumb Rubber Grant Application Update
Insurance Task Force Meeting Update
NDE Required Trainings Update
Highway #2 Construction Update
"Beginning of School" Update
Capital Conference Update
Olson Complex Update
Taggart Park Update
Activities Update
Summer Building Projects Update:
- Boys and Girls Locker Rooms
- Bennet Mural and Restroom Painting
  - Special thanks to Abi and Sarah Swartzendruber for their efforts with these projects.
- Bennet North Side Reseeding
- Bennet Tree Trimming
Community Early Childhood Initiative Update
Palmyra Village Board Update
- 5th Street Repairs Reimbursement Request Letter Update
Preschool Update
District OR-1 Strategic Plan Update
"Champions" Program Update
Student and Staff Kudos
Option Enrollment Update
2026-2027 Budget Timeline Update

Attachments: (2)

6.2. Administrative Team Report

Discussion: The administrative reports contained information on the following topics:

"Beginning of School" activities update
"Open House" feedback
Staff development training for the first five days of school
Student enrollment update
High school eligibility policy change
High school tardy policy update
ICU program impacts at the high school.
Programs and operational systems update
School improvement goals update
MAPS testing update
MTSS and targeted student support in reading and mathematics
High Ability Learners
Palmyra media center update
Special Education/Preschool update
Special Education Classified and Certified Staffing Update
Life Skills Program Update
K-12 academic and behavioral interventions/social emotional supports
Professional Development

Attachments: (4)

7. Discussion Items- Committee Reports

Attachments: (1)

2026 Board Committee Assignments_ District OR.1. Updated and Approved. January 12. 2026 (2)

7.1. Curriculum: Committee on American Civics Update

Discussion:

The next committee meeting will be on Wednesday, October 14th, 2026, at Palmyra High School from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
- FYI: This meeting is scheduled to be a public meeting.

7.2. Facilities and Transportation Committee

Discussion:

The next Transportation and Facilities meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 12th, 2026.
Summarized the latest Transportation Leadership Meeting.
Provided an update on transportation procedures and vehicle updates

7.3. Technology Committee Update

Discussion:

The next Technology Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 10th at PHS.
Discussion included information specifically related to website updates, the district mobile APP, digital forms for PowerSchool, the "Rooms" parent and staff communication tool, technology usage in the classrooms, and the technology triangle document attached to this agenda item

Attachments: (2)

7.4. Wellness Committee Update

Discussion:

The next District Wellness Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 24th, 2026, at Bennet.

Attachments: (1)

Policy #5417-Wellness-Policy.District OR.1.Reviewed.1.23.24.docx

7.5. Discussion regarding a potential board resolution to increase the district's base growth percentage by 6%.

Discussion:

Discussion included a potential board resolution for the Monday, September 14th, 2026, regular board meeting to increase the district's base growth percentage by up to an additional six percent or another maximum amount as permitted by law.
In the past, the board voted to approve this additional percentage, but has not needed to utilize the capability to do so.
This resolution is expected to be an action item at the Monday, September 14, 2026, board meeting.

Attachments: (1)

Resolution of the Board of Education to Increase Base Growth Percentage to Determine Its Property Tax Request Authority for the 2026-2027 School Year.

8. Strategic Planning Update

Discussion:

Discussion included updates to our social media, website, and district communication platforms.
Certified staff will be assigned to committees to work on designated Driving Goals and Action Steps identified in the Strategic Plan throughout the school year.
The "Rooms" App will replace the "Band" App.

Attachments: (2)

9. Policy Review

Discussion:

The Board Policy Committee reviewed the 4000 and 5000 Series Policies before the board meeting.

9.1. Review 4000 Series (Personnel) and 5000 Series (Students) Board Policies

Discussion:

The discussion included a summary of the members in attendance at the Policy Committee meeting held on Thursday, August 6th.
- The next Policy Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 5th 2026, beginning at 3:30 p.m. at PHS.

Attachments: (2)

9.2. Discuss additional board policies as designated

Discussion: Additional discussion focused on:

District OR-1 Community Fitness Center Memberships
Policy # 1100: Community Use of School Facilities.
Activities Handbook
Facilities access for patrons
District "branding" guidelines for electronic communication standards.
Review of new laws enacted for the 2026–2027 school year.

Attachments: (3)

10. Action Items

Discussion:

There were no action items on the agenda.
No further discussion.

11. Board of Education Development

Discussion:

Discussion focused on upcoming professional development opportunities and information for board members from NASB.

Attachments: (3)

12. Closed Session

Discussion:

A closed session did occur for the meeting.

12.1. Convene Closed Session

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

"Motion to go into closed session for the purpose of a strategy session regarding a possible real estate purchase and discussion of personnel matters, which such closed session is clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest and for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual, and if such individual has not requested a public meeting.". This motion, made by Josh Penterman and seconded by Jaimi Calfee, Passed.

Busch: Yea
Calfee: Yea
Cheney : Yea
Desh: Yea
Moore: Yea
Penterman: Yea

No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.

Discussion:

The closed session began at: 7:45 p.m.
The motion to enter closed session was stated again: This closed session was needed for a strategy session regarding possible property interests and discussion of personnel matters, for which a "closed" session is clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest and for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual, if such individual has not requested a public meeting.

12.2. Reconvene Meeting from Closed Session

Discussion:

No board action was taken during the closed session.
The closed session ended at 9:51 p.m.

13. Topics for Next Month’s Agenda

Discussion:

No further discussion.

14. Adjournment

Discussion:

The meeting was adjourned at 9:52 p.m.
The next regular meeting of the Board of Education is Monday, September 14th, 2026, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at Palmyra Junior /Senior High School in the media center.

August 10, 2026 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

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