Public Meeting Minutes: September 11, 2023 at 5:30 PM - 2023-2024 Additional Property Tax Hearing, Annual Budget Hearing, Final Property Tax Request Hearing and Regular Monthly Meeting of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education

1. Additional Property Tax Request Authority Hearing

1.A. Convene hearing

1.B. Discussion and public input

Discussion:

Dr. Chris Loofe reviewed his powerpoint presentation and provided information on the possible increase in the district's property tax request authority by up to an additional 5%, or other maximum amount as permitted by law, above the base growth percentage.

1.C. Close hearing

2. Annual Budget Hearing

2.A. Convene hearing

2.B. Discussion and public input

Discussion:

Dr. Chris Loofe reviewed his powerpoint presentation and provided information regarding the proposed budgets for the Kearney Public Schools for the 2023-2024 school year.

2.C. Close hearing

3. Final Property Tax Request Hearing

3.A. Convene hearing

3.B. Discussion and public input

Discussion:

Dr. Chris Loofe reviewed his powerpoint presentation and provided information on the proposed property tax requests to support the various budgets of the Kearney Public Schools for the 2023-2024 school year.

3.C. Close hearing

4. Routine Business

4.A. Call to Order

Discussion: President Blessing called the meeting to order.

4.B. Open Meetings Act Announcement

4.C. Pledge of Allegiance

4.D. Roll Call

4.D.I. Excuse Absent Board Member

4.E. Approval of the Agenda

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to approve the agenda for the meeting, as presented. This motion, made by Dave Brandt and seconded by Kathy Gifford, Passed.

Drew Blessing: Yea
Dave Brandt: Yea
Steve Gaasch: Yea
Kathy Gifford: Yea
Paul Hazard: Yea
John Icenogle: Yea

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

5. Recognitions

5.A. Recognition of Kameran Dostal

Discussion:

Mrs. Meredith Johnson, Emerson Elementary Principal and Mr. Mark Stute, Meadowlark Elementary Principal, introduced Kameran Dostal, Art Teacher at Emerson and Meadowlark Elementary Schools. They noted that Kameran has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious 2023 Nebraska Art Teachers Association, Elementary Art Educator of the Year award. This honor is bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated outstanding dedication and contributions to the field of art education.

5.B. Recognition of Kaylei Becker

Discussion:

Mr. Jeff Ganz, Kearney High School Principal, introduced Kaylei Becker, Kearney High School Business Teacher. He noted that Kaylei has been selected as the Nebraska State Business Education Association (NSBEA) Rookie Teacher of the Year. This NSBEA award recognizes a teacher within the first three years of service who promotes education in Business, Marketing and Information Technology, through instruction, best practices and opportunities for professional growth and networking among Nebraska educators.

6. Presentations

6.A. Presentation from Teresa Schnoor, Central Elementary Principal, on CKLA

Discussion:

Mrs. Schnoor spoke to the Board about diversity at Central Elementary School. She stated that eight languages other than English are spoken at Central. She talked about how they use the Google Translate app on district iPads for print and verbal translations to help students stay on track with learning in the classroom.

7. Public Participation/Comment

Discussion:

None

8. Board Reports

Discussion:

None

9. Consent Agenda

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to approve the items on the consent agenda, as presented. This motion, made by Kathy Gifford and seconded by Dave Brandt, Passed.

Drew Blessing: Yea
Dave Brandt: Yea
Steve Gaasch: Yea
Kathy Gifford: Yea
Paul Hazard: Yea
John Icenogle: Yea

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

Discussion:

Note: Items on the consent agenda are considered routine and will be enacted under one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items at the meeting unless a Board Member requests an item removed from the agenda for a separate action.

9.A. Approval of the minutes of the August 14, 2023 regular meeting, the August 23, 2023 special budget retreat meeting and the September 6, 2023 Board Committee of the Whole meeting.

9.B. Approval of the September 2023 claims

9.C. Approval of the September 2023 financial reports

9.D. Approval of Professional Advancements for Teaching Staff for the 2023-2024 School Year

9.E. Acceptance of the Glenwood Community Organization Annual Self-Audit Report for the 2022-2023 School Year

9.F. Acceptance of the Kenwood PTO Annual Self-Audit Report for the 2022-2023 School Year

9.G. Approval of the KHS FCCLA Chapter trip to the National Leadership Conference, June 29 - July 3, 2024, in Seattle, Washington

9.H. Approval of the KHS DECA Chapter trip to the DECA Power Trip on November 16 - 19, 2023 in Austin, Texas

9.I. Approval of the KHS DECA Chapter trip to the DECA International Career and Development Conference on April 26 - 30, 2024, in Anaheim, California

9.J. Recognition of the Kearney Education Association as the Exclusive Bargaining Agent for all Non-Supervisory Certificated Staff in the Kearney Public Schools for the 2025-2026 Contract Year

9.K. Rescinsion of Action to Set the Date for a Special Board of Education Meeting on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 5:30 in the Staff Development Room of the Administration Building at 320 West 24th St, Kearney, NE

10. Regular Agenda - Business

10.A. Discuss, Consider and Take Possible Action to Increase the District's Overall Property Tax Request Authority by up to an Additional 5%, Above the Base Growth Percentage

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to adopt the resolution to increase the school district's overall property tax request authority by up to an additional 5% above the base growth percentage, and authorize and direct the Superintendent or designee to take any action to ensure that the school district's overall property tax request complies with LB243. This motion, made by John Icenogle and seconded by Kathy Gifford, Passed.

Drew Blessing: Yea
Dave Brandt: Yea
Steve Gaasch: Yea
Kathy Gifford: Yea
Paul Hazard: Yea
John Icenogle: Yea

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

Discussion:

During the discussion, various questions were asked for further clarification.
Mr. Blessing emphasized the importance of reserving this property tax authority for future years as well and noted that if use of these funds were to happen, this would be brought before the Board again and the public would be informed.
Mr. Icenogle stated the importance of education, infrastructure, technology and safety and his belief that this tax request allows KPS to address all items while not being overly aggressive.

10.B. Adoption of Budgets for the Kearney Public Schools for the 2023-2024 School Year

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to adopt the Kearney Public Schools General Fund Budget in the amount of $73,615,368; the Special Building Fund Budget in the amount of $2,971,280; the Bond Fund Budget in the amount of $16,254,205; the Depreciation Fund Budget in the amount of $1,374,679; the Employee Benefit Fund Budget in the amount of $311,744; the Activity Fund Budget in the amount of $3,743,946; the School Nutrition Fund Budget in the amount of $4,562,125; the Student Fee Fund Budget in the amount of $437,192; the Cooperative Fund Budget in the amount of $700,000; and the Qualifying Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund Budget in the amount of $11,643,214, for the 2023-2024 school year. This motion, made by Kathy Gifford and seconded by Dave Brandt, Passed.

Drew Blessing: Nay
Dave Brandt: Yea
Steve Gaasch: Yea
Kathy Gifford: Yea
Paul Hazard: Yea
John Icenogle: Yea

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

Discussion:

Collectively, the Board acknowledged and thanked the KPS Administration for all of their work in preparing the 2023-2024 budget.
Mr. Hazard cited the competitive employment market and the rising cost of living, as well as the importance of retaining good teachers and staff as his reasons for supporting this budget.
Mr. Brandt and Mrs. Gifford referenced all of the various construction projects in the district and their necessity for keeping KPS facilities environmentally compliant and safe for student learning as their reasons for supporting this budget.
Mr. Blessing asserted that he felt that the budget was justified but that his concern was with the revenue sources and where the money was being taken from. He stated that in his five years on the Board, in the past couple of years, money had been allocated out of the cash reserve, noting that while this allocation was available, no money was actually taken from reserves, resulting in less money from the taxpayers but allowing for more flexibility. Mr. Blessing cited that this was the highest tax asking and percent increase he has seen in his time on the Board. These were his reasons for not supporting this budget.

10.C. Approval of Property Tax Requests for the 2023-2024 School Year

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to approve the Resolution to set the property tax request for the General Fund be set at $46,066,705; the Bond Fund be set at $7,433,508; the Special Building Fund be set at $1,010,101 and the Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund be set at $1,406,061 with the total property tax request be set at $55,916,375, for the 2023-2024 school year. This motion, made by Dave Brandt and seconded by Steve Gaasch, Passed.

Drew Blessing: Nay
Dave Brandt: Yea
Steve Gaasch: Yea
Kathy Gifford: Yea
Paul Hazard: Yea
John Icenogle: Yea

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

Discussion:

Mr. Blessing stated again his opposition to the tax request and how the revenue was written into the budget, this would be his reason for not supporting this resolution.

11. Regular Agenda - Miscellaneous

11.A. Approval of the Memorandum of Understanding with Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) Nebraska for the 2024-2025 School Year

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to approve the Memorandum of Understanding with Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) Nebraska for the 2024-2025 school year, as presented. This motion, made by Steve Gaasch and seconded by Kathy Gifford, Passed.

Drew Blessing: Yea
Dave Brandt: Yea
Steve Gaasch: Yea
Kathy Gifford: Yea
Paul Hazard: Yea
John Icenogle: Yea

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

Discussion:

Mr. Mundorf reviewed his powerpoint and presented information to the Board on Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG), noting Mr. Edwards' active involvement in developing this opportunity for Kearney Public Schools. It is proposed that JAG would be implemented at the Hanny Arram Center for Success (HACS) in the 2024-2025 school year and it will have a targeted career development program for its students. It is expected that between 35-55 students will participate.
Mrs. Gifford expressed the importance of Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses, not only as they contribute to the KPS Strategic Plan, but also in that there is proven evidence that students who are involved and make connections in programs such as these, have a greater chance of graduating and moving on to college or their chosen career and are therefore prepared to be contributing citizens in our community, state and world.
Mr. Hazard asked if KPS was on the hook to continue with this program if expected results are not achieved. Mr. Mundorf stated that the MOU does allow either party to sever the relationship as long as ample notice is given. Mr. Hazard voiced his feeling that some students at KHS could benefit from this as well. Mr. Mundorf stated that KHS already has its own CTE curriculum and that this MOU was contracted specifically with HACS. He stated that if implementation at HACS went well and it was determined to be a viable option for other schools, this could be discussed at that point.

11.B. Adjournment

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to adjourn the meeting. This motion, made by John Icenogle and seconded by Kathy Gifford, Passed.

Drew Blessing: Yea
Dave Brandt: Yea
Steve Gaasch: Yea
Kathy Gifford: Yea
Paul Hazard: Yea
John Icenogle: Yea

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

Regular Board
Attendance Taken on 9/11/2023 at 5:26 PM
Drew Blessing	Present
Dave Brandt	Present
Steve Gaasch	Present
Kathy Gifford	Present
Paul Hazard	Present
John Icenogle	Present
Present: 6, Absent: 0

September 11, 2023 at 5:30 PM - 2023-2024 Additional Property Tax Hearing, Annual Budget Hearing, Final Property Tax Request Hearing and Regular Monthly Meeting of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education

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