Public Meeting Minutes: June 9, 2025 at 5:30 PM - Regular Monthly Meeting of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education

1. Routine Business

1.A. Call to Order

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

1.B. 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.

1.C. Board Meeting Decorum Expectations

1.D. Pledge of Allegiance

1.E. Roll Call

1.E.I. Excuse Absent Board Member

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to excuse absent Board member Paul Hazard from the meeting. This motion, made by John Icenogle and seconded by Niki Deeds, Passed.

Paul Hazard: Absent
Niki Deeds: Yea
Amanda Smallcomb: Yea
John Icenogle: Yea
Drew Blessing: Yea
Amy Barth: Yea

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

1.F. Approval of the Agenda

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to approve the agenda for the meeting, as presented. This motion, made by John Icenogle and seconded by Drew Blessing, Passed.

Paul Hazard: Absent
Niki Deeds: Yea
Amanda Smallcomb: Yea
John Icenogle: Yea
Drew Blessing: Yea
Amy Barth: Yea

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

2. Recognitions

2.A. Recognition of Kearney Public Schools Head Athletic Trainer, Brian Haas, for Receiving the Nebraska State Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Outstanding Service Award

Discussion:

Mr. Ryan Hogue, KHS Assistant Principal and Athletic Director, introduced Brian Haas, Kearney Public Schools Head Athletic Trainer. Mr. Hogue commended Brian for the great service he provides to KPS and for the number of awards he has received. Brian received the Nebraska State Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Outstanding Service Award, and he was named one of the nation's Most Valuable Athletic Trainers of the Year by "Training and Conditioning" magazine.

2.B. Recognition of the Kearney High School Swimming and Diving Team and Current Head Coach Sarah Coffman for Receiving the 2024-2025 Nebraska Coaches Association Academic Excellence Award

Discussion:

Mr. Hogue introduced Sarah Coffman, Head Coach of the Kearney Public Schools Swimming and Diving Team. Ms. Coffman mentioned that she is so proud of these student athletes. They work very hard in the pool and in the classroom.

2.C. Recognition of the Kearney High School Boys Track Team and Head Coach Broc Howard as the 2025 State Champions and the Individual State Champions and Runners-Up

Discussion:

Mr. Hogue introduced Broc Howard, Head Coach of the Kearney High School Boys Track team. Mr. Howard thanked all the coaches, their families and the athletes for their dedication and time they put into the season. Mr. Howard presented a few highlights from the season and from the state track meet. He also mentioned that these athletes do a great job of representing Kearney and Kearney Public Schools. Mr. Howard thanked Mr. Hogue, Sue Higgins, Amy Cope and Mr. Ganz for helping them out through the season.
Coach Brandon Cool introduced Zaire LaGrone-Miller. Coach Cool spoke about Zaire's positive attitude, work ethic and leadership. Zaire was presented with the State All-Class Championship metals for the 100M and 200M.

3. Presentations

3.A. Kearney High School Report on Student Participation in Activities

Discussion:

Mr. Hogue reported on the number of students who participated in various activities and athletics at Kearney High School and Sunrise and Horizon Middle Schools during the 2024-2025 school year.
Mr. Hogue highlighted the challenges that Class A schools are facing with the growing numbers. There will be 37–38 schools in Class A in two years.

3.B. Construction Update

Discussion:

Kent Cordes of BD Construction gave an update on all the construction projects happening throughout the district.

3.C. Legislative Update

Discussion:

Superintendent Mundorf and Drew Blessing gave an update on bills in the Nebraska Legislature up to the session closing.

4. Public Participation/Comment

5. Board Reports

6. Consent Agenda

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to approve the items on the Consent Agenda, as presented. This motion, made by Drew Blessing and seconded by Amanda Smallcomb, Passed.

Paul Hazard: Absent
Niki Deeds: Yea
Amanda Smallcomb: Yea
John Icenogle: Yea
Drew Blessing: Yea
Amy Barth: Yea

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

6.A. Approval of Minutes of the May 12, 2025, Regular Meeting; and the June 4, 2025, Committee of the Whole Meeting of the Board of Education

6.B. Approval of the June Claims

6.C. Approval of the June Financial Reports

6.D. Approval of the Kearney High School Boys Basketball Trip to the Midwest Showcase, June 20-22, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri

6.E. Approval of the Kearney High School FCCLA Capitol Leadership Trip, November 15-19, 2025 in Washington, D.C.

7. Regular Agenda - Personnel

7.A. Acceptance of Resignations

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to accept, with regret, the resignation as presented. This motion, made by John Icenogle and seconded by Drew Blessing, Passed.

Paul Hazard: Absent
Niki Deeds: Yea
Amanda Smallcomb: Yea
John Icenogle: Yea
Drew Blessing: Yea
Amy Barth: Yea

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

7.B. Approval of the Employment of Certificated Staff

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to employ the certificated staff at Kearney Public Schools for the 2025-2026 school year, as presented. This motion, made by Amanda Smallcomb and seconded by Niki Deeds, Passed.

Paul Hazard: Absent
Niki Deeds: Yea
Amanda Smallcomb: Yea
John Icenogle: Yea
Drew Blessing: Yea
Amy Barth: Yea

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

8. Regular Agenda - Business

8.A. Approval of an Update to Check Signing Authority for the Flex Account at NebraskaLand Bank for the Remainder of 2025. This update includes the removal of JoAnne Sawyer and the addition of Michelle Bond and Joel Mundorf to the Flex Account check signing authority.

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to approve an update to check signing authority for the flex account at NebraskaLand Bank for the remainder of 2025, as presented. This motion, made by Amy Barth and seconded by Amanda Smallcomb, Passed.

Paul Hazard: Absent
Niki Deeds: Yea
Amanda Smallcomb: Yea
John Icenogle: Yea
Drew Blessing: Yea
Amy Barth: Yea

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

9. Regular Agenda - Miscellaneous

9.A. First and Final Reading Approval of Revised Board Policies

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to approve the first and final reading of the revised board policies, as presented. This motion, made by John Icenogle and seconded by Niki Deeds, Passed.

Paul Hazard: Absent
Niki Deeds: Yea
Amanda Smallcomb: Yea
John Icenogle: Yea
Drew Blessing: Yea
Amy Barth: Yea

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

Discussion:

Policy 5101 was thoroughly evaluated, and the required changes were discussed with regard to the dress code at the committee meeting that took place on June 4, 2025.
Mr. Mundorf added that 6260 was also discussed during the committee meeting. However, late in the week he noticed that policy 1210 also has language related to parent and community engagement. Perry Law Firm recommended deleting language in sections A, B, C and D, so that it is not repetitive in policy 6260.
Mr. Mundorf explained that the reason this is the first and final reading of these two policies is because these changes are part of the state requirements, and that because of the late legislative session, we are required to be in compliance by July 1, 2025.

9.B. First Reading Approval of New and Revised Board Policies

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to approve the first reading of new and revised board policies, as presented. This motion, made by John Icenogle and seconded by Drew Blessing, Passed.

Paul Hazard: Absent
Niki Deeds: Yea
Amanda Smallcomb: Yea
John Icenogle: Yea
Drew Blessing: Yea
Amy Barth: Yea

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

Discussion:

Mr. Mundorf reported that policy 4240 was reviewed during the committee meeting held on June 4, 2025. Minor revisions were discussed, specifically concerning the safe driving record requirements for drivers responsible for transporting students. The Perry Law Firm suggested changes to policy 3410—which aligns with our policy 4240—regarding the required time elapsed since certain driving offenses and the requirement for most drivers to obtain a medical examiner's certificate. During the committee meeting, the board considered reducing the required period from twenty years to ten years, while the Perry Law Firm recommended a reduction to seven years. Mr. Mundorf added that this is helpful because we are trying to hire some drivers now who would be affected by this policy.
Policy 6050 is a new policy covering behavioral intervention and classroom management and was also discussed at the June committee meeting.
The board agreed to move forward with first-reading approval of the new policy 6050 and policy 4240.

10. Next Meeting

11. Adjournment

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to adjourn the meeting. This motion, made by Amanda Smallcomb and seconded by Niki Deeds, Passed.

Paul Hazard: Absent
Niki Deeds: Yea
Amanda Smallcomb: Yea
John Icenogle: Yea
Drew Blessing: Yea
Amy Barth: Yea

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

Discussion:

Meeting was adjourned at 7:04 PM.

Regular Board
Attendance Taken on 6/9/2025 at 5:32 PM
Amy Barth	Present
Drew Blessing	Present
Niki Deeds	Present
Paul Hazard	Absent
John Icenogle	Present
Amanda Smallcomb	Present
Present: 5, Absent: 1

June 9, 2025 at 5:30 PM - Regular Monthly Meeting of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education

Web Viewer