Public Meeting Minutes: October 9, 2023 at 5:30 PM - Regular Monthly Meeting

1. Routine Business

2. Call to Order

Discussion: Vice President Gaasch called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM.

3. Open Meetings Act Announcement

Discussion: This is an open, public meeting of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education, and a copy of the Open Meetings Act is posted in this room.

4. Pledge of Allegiance

5. Roll Call

5.A. Excuse Absent Board Member

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to excuse absent Board member Drew Blessing from the meeting. This motion, made by Kathy Gifford and seconded by Paul Hazard, Passed.

Drew Blessing: Absent
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.

6. 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: Absent
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.

7. Recognitions - None

8. Presentations

8.A. Presentation by Glenwood Elementary School on STEM Carts

Discussion:

Glenwood Elementary Principal Tracy Schall presented information about the use of STEM carts in the KPS elementary schools. Mr. Mark Whitacre wrote a grant for funds from the Making Space for Innovative Thinking Resources and, in addition, secured other community funding totaling a little over $43,000. Local donors Eaton Corporation, Kearney Keno, and Bayer Fund helped create this opportunity for KPS students, and all of the items were purchased from CR Toys. Mrs. Schall noted that she was most excited that grant funds were donated by the community and they were able to spend them within the community. Items for the STEM carts were selected to align with the six Nebraska career clusters. Mrs. Schall thanked the teachers who donated their time to help put together 20 totes for all of the elementary schools, noting that each school now has two totes, one targeted for grades K-2 and the other for grades 3-5. At the end of the semester, totes will be swapped with a partner school, and then students will have the opportunity for new experiences.
Mrs. Gifford stated that she liked the fact that all schools could participate and voiced her appreciation for utilizing local businesses.

9. Public Participation/Comment

Discussion:

Ms. Brooke Ritter spoke to the Board about her dislike and disgust of certain books in the Kearney Public Schools libraries that she considers to be pornographic or sexual in nature. She expressed her wish to have all of these books removed from the libraries and urged the Board to consider what this material is teaching children. Ms. Ritter challenged the Board and administration to show her how the material in these books would make her child a better person or prepare her to be college and career ready.

10. Board Reports - None

11. Consent Agenda

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to approve the items on the Consent Agenda, as presented. This motion, made by John Icenogle and seconded by Kathy Gifford, Passed.

Drew Blessing: Absent
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.

11.A. Approval of Minutes of the September 11, 2023 Regular Meeting and the October 3, 2023 Board Committee of the Whole Meeting

11.B. Approval of the October 2023 Claims

11.C. Approval of the October Financial Reports

11.D. Acceptance of the Meadowlark Elementary Parent Advisory Committee Annual Self-Audit Report for the 2022-2023 School Year

11.E. Acceptance of the Windy Hills Elementary PTO Annual Self-Audit Report for the 2022-2023 School Year

11.F. Acceptance of the Kearney High School Theater Boosters Annual Self-Audit Report for the 2022-2023 School Year

11.G. Approval of the KHS FFA LCCC Steel Days Welding Scholarship Contest Trip on October 18-20, 2023 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with no direct cost incurred by the school district

11.H. Approval of the Kearney Public Schools Substitute Handbook for the 2023-2024 School Year

11.I. Approval of the KPS Board Negotiations Team of Drew Blessing, Dave Brandt, and John Icenogle for the 2024-2025 School Year

11.J. Approval of Dave Brandt to serve as the Kearney Public Schools NASB Voting Delegate for the 2023 State Education Conference

12. Regular Agenda - Personnel

12.A. Acceptance of the Retirement Resignation of Jeff Shield, Skilled and Technical Science Teacher and SkillsUSA Advisor at Kearney High School, effective the end of the 2023-2024 School Year

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to accept, with regret, the retirement resignation of Jeff Shield, Skilled and Technical Science Teacher and SkillsUSA Advisor at Kearney High School, effective the end of the 2023-2024 school year. This motion, made by Kathy Gifford and seconded by Dave Brandt, Passed.

Drew Blessing: Absent
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:

Dr. Herrmann stated that Mr. Jeff Shield began his career and now will end his career with Kearney Public Schools as a skilled and technical science teacher. She noted that he is the instructor for the construction tech program, which will leave KPS with big shoes to fill, not to mention his 32 years of knowledge and experience. Dr. Herrmann said that the district is grateful that Mr. Shield has given plenty of notice so that the search can begin for the best applicant to fill this position.
Mrs. Gifford took a moment to thank Mr. Shield for all of the work that he has done for Kearney Public Schools and the community. She noted his teaching and involvement in the many quality houses that were built in Kearney during Mr. Shield's time with KPS. She stressed the importance of the skills that are taught in the skilled and technical science classes and the need to find quality applicants to fill this position.
Mr. Gaasch stated that Mr. Shield was his teacher many years ago and expressed his belief that the skills taught in his classes are very valuable to our community and society. He acknowledged what a fantastic job Mr. Shield has done.

13. Regular Agenda - Business - None

14. Regular Agenda - Miscellaneous

14.A. Adoption of the Kearney Public Schools Option Enrollment Resolution for the 2024-2025 School Year

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to adopt the Kearney Public Schools Option Enrollment Resolution for the 2024-2025 school year, as presented. This motion, made by Kathy Gifford and seconded by Dave Brandt, Passed.

Drew Blessing: Absent
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:

Dr. Dan Endorf reviewed the changes to the Kearney Public Schools Option Resolution for the 2024-2025 school year in relation to the latest legislative actions. The first change is an additional column on the option enrollment policy which includes a breakdown of the number of students in each section or classroom. The second modification is that the special education capacity will be determined on a case-by-case basis in accordance with state law and the available resources as determined by the District's Director of Special Education, Ms. Melisa Dobish. Dr. Endorf also stated that no option enrollment students will be accepted at Buffalo Hills or Windy Hills Elementary Schools due to the renovations taking place at Windy Hills. He also noted that there is no initial placement of option students in the Hanny Arram Center as there is a procedure for admission that does not allow for automatic qualification. Dr. Endorf clarified, as in past discussions with the Board, that Kearney Public Schools is anticipating a rise in kindergarten enrollment in the next couple of years, stating that because of this, option acceptance numbers may become limited.

15. Closed Session

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to closed session for negotiation and strategy discussion with respect to the 2024-2025 collective bargaining. This motion, made by Kathy Gifford and seconded by Dave Brandt, Passed.

Drew Blessing: Absent
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:

The Board moved to closed session for negotiation and strategy discussion with respect to the 2024-2025 collective bargaining at 6:05 PM.

16. Return to Open Session

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to return to open session. This motion, made by Kathy Gifford and seconded by John Icenogle, Passed.

Drew Blessing: Absent
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:

The Board returned to open session at 7:07 PM.

17. Closed Session

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to closed session for the protection of the public interest or 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 Kathy Gifford and seconded by John Icenogle, Passed.

Drew Blessing: Absent
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:

The Board moved to closed session for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual and if such individual has not requested a public meeting at 7:08 PM.

18. Return to Open Session

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to return to open session. This motion, made by John Icenogle and seconded by Kathy Gifford, Passed.

Drew Blessing: Absent
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:

The Board returned to open session at 7:27 PM.

19. Next Meeting

Discussion:

The next regular meeting of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education will be held on November 13, 2023 at 5:30 P.M. in the Staff Development Room in the Administration Building at 320 West 24th St, Kearney, NE 68845.

20. Adjournment

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

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

Drew Blessing: Absent
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:

Meeting was adjourned at 7:29 PM.

Regular Board
Attendance Taken on 10/9/2023 at 5:31 PM
Drew Blessing	Absent
Dave Brandt	Present
Steve Gaasch	Present
Kathy Gifford	Present
Paul Hazard	Present
John Icenogle	Present
Present: 5, Absent: 1

October 9, 2023 at 5:30 PM - Regular Monthly Meeting

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