September 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

The formation of public policy is public business and may not be conducted in secret.  Every meeting of the Norris Board shall be open to the public and abide by the Nebraska Open Meetings Act, a copy of which is available for inspection at our meeting site.

Rationale: 

The Norris School District, in collaboration with our communities and families, provides a safe, positive environment that empowers students to grow, explore, and engage into lifelong learners and responsible, productive citizens.

Rationale:  Updates to the Board from Norris student council representative.

Rationale:  Reports from administrators on items of interest to the Board.

Rationale:  The regular board meeting agenda provides for citizens to present information or to express opinions to the board through public comment.

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Rationale:  The Superintendent reports on matters of interest to the Board.

Rationale: 

• October 1-2 - Labor Relations Workshop (Jim, Gary, Rhonda and Derrick)  

• October 8 - American Civis Committee Meeting

• October 8 - Regular Board of Education Meeting 

• October 9 - 10 - District Audit 

• October 29 - 1st Negotiations Meeting @ 4:30 PM

Rationale: 

• Fall Sports

  • Fall sports and activities are underway. Check out the Activities Calendar to find upcoming events, home or away.

• Norris Board of Education

  • On August 26^th, the Norris Board of Education was awarded the NASB Board of Excellence Award. This honor reflects the Board’s commitment to continuous learning, strong governance, and a shared vision for the future of Norris. Congratulations to Jim Devine, Gary Kubicek, Aaron Wubbels, Rhonda Burbach, Craig Gana, and Steph Meese! Individual awards included:

    • President Jim Devine - Level VII

    • Vice President Gary Kubicek - Level VII

    • Steph Meese - Levels III & IV

• Norris High School Advanced Placement Opportunities

  • Norris High School continues to expand Advanced Placement (AP) opportunities for students, with four courses currently offered: AP Pre-Calculus, AP Statistics, AP U.S. Government & Politics, and AP World History. This past year, 112 AP exams were completed — the largest number in our school’s history. We are especially proud that 83% of exams earned a score of 3 or higher, demonstrating college-level mastery. Many students reached the highest levels, with 32 exams scored at a 4 and 9 exams scored at a perfect 5.

  • By subject, students excelled across the board:

    • AP World History: Nearly half of exams earned a 4 or 5.

    • AP U.S. Government & Politics: Over 40% of exams earneda 4 or 5.

    • AP Pre-Calculus: In its first year, 9 students earned a 4 or 5.

    • AP Statisitics: While most students enroll in dual credit, those who tested demonstrated strong preparation.

  • These results reflect the dedication of our students and the expertise of our teachers. We are proud of their accomplishments and look forward to continuing to increase both the number of students taking AP exams and the level of success they achieve.

Rationale:  Certified
Hire
Resignation
Retire

Extra Duty
Hire
Resignation
Retire

Support Staff
Hire

• Bailey Payne - ES Special Education Para
• Tiffany Twiss - IS Special Education Para
• Laura Stanard - MS Special Education Para
• Scott Novotny - ES Custodian
• Donna Van Kirk - Bus Driver

Resignation
Retire

Rationale:  Consent items are considered routine and will be passed with a vote; however, any Board member can ask to remove an item from the consent list for separate action.  Normally included in the consent items are the agenda, minutes, approval of the claims, financial reports, and any personnel matters or other reports identified in the Superintendent's Report.  The order of the agenda items may be rearranged according to the Board's preference.

Rationale:  Provide the Board of Education and public with an update on the Titan Fundraising Committee's efforts. 

Rationale: 

Rationale:  General Fund - $36,297,110.00
Depreciation Fund - $961,003.00
Employee Benefit  - $48,633.00
Activities - $1,681,775.00
School Nutrition - $2,236,234.00 
Bond Fund - $3,815,296.00
Special Building Fund - $4,380,493.00 
Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund - $934,087.00
Student Fee - $14,749.00

Total $50,369,380

Rationale:  General Fund - $18,181,818
Special Building - $1,444,444
Bond - $8333,333
QCPUF - $389,899
Total: $20,849,494

Rationale:  General Fund - .0662163
Special Building - .052605
Bond - .025012
QCPUF - .014200

Rationale:  Updates on commercial and residential development within the Norris District including annexations.

Rationale:  CLICK HERE for more information. 

Rationale: 

Replacement & Reliability
This purchase will replace the 2005 John Deere 1445 Series 2, which has become increasingly costly in repairs and has resulted in downtime during snow removal operations. By replacing it, the district will reduce repair costs, avoid interruptions in service, and improve the reliability of winter maintenance.

Improved Snow Removal Capabilities
Currently, the district does not have a power broom for snow removal. The addition of this attachment will allow for a much cleaner and safer finish on sidewalks, improving conditions for students, staff, and community members during inclement weather.

Versatility & Long-Term Investment
The Ventrac Tractor provides significant flexibility with a wide range of attachment options for year-round use:

• Winter: Power snow blade, snow blower, spreader for salt.

• Summer: Mower, brush shredder, fertilizer spreader, stump grinder.

While these attachments represent additional costs, they can be acquired gradually. Importantly, Ventrac has maintained a consistent attachment design since 1998, ensuring that attachments purchased now or in the future will remain compatible.

Rationale:  The following needs to be replaced at the Middle School:

• 10cuft Water Softener
• Water Storage Tank (2)
  • One storage tank has been non-functional for years. We are in a position to replace both, and would like to do so. 
• Expansion Tank

Total Cost is $29,622.39

• Insurance will cover $9,900.00, bringing Norris' responsibility to $19,722.39.

Rationale:  Board member updates on matters of interest to the Board.

Rationale:  Monthly correspondence of interest to the Board.

Rationale:  The next regular scheduled Board Meeting is October 8, 2025