Public Meeting Minutes: July 14, 2025 at 5:30 PM - Public Hearing and Regular Meeting

1. Public Hearing for Additional Property Tax Request Authority

1.A. Convene Hearing

Discussion:

Hearing convened at 5:30 PM.

1.B. Presentation, Discussion and Public Input

Discussion:

Meagan Kerschner, Director of Finance, presented information requesting access to the district's additional property tax request authority by up to an additional 5%, or other maximum as permitted by law, above the base growth percentage.

1.C. Close Hearing

2. Routine Business

2.A. Call to Order

Discussion: President Icenogle called the meeting to order at 5:36 PM.

2.B. Open Meetings Act Announcement

2.C. Board Meeting Decorum Expectations

2.D. Pledge of Allegiance

2.E. Roll Call

2.E.I. Excuse Absent Board Member

2.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.

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

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

3. Recognitions

3.A. Recognition of the Kearney High School Girls Basketball Team and Head Coach Drew Danielson for Receiving the 2024-2025 Nebraska Coaches Association Academic Excellence Award

Discussion:

Drew Danielson, Kearney High School Girls Basketball Coach, reported that this year they had a really special team and receiving this award is a testament to the culture that is being built.

3.B. Recognition of Head Coach Nate Polacek and the Kearney High School Girls Track Individual State Champions and Runners-Up

Discussion:

Nate Polacek, Kearney High Girls Track Coach mentioned that this was a great team to coach. There were over 100 girls on the team, and they put a lot of time and effort into this season, and many of them provided great leadership. Coach Polacek introduced Abigail Burger and Kyah Hazard, who spoke about their season and their plans for the future.

3.C. Recognition of Kearney High School FFA 2025 National Qualifiers

Discussion:

Sheridan Swotek, Kearney High School Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor, introduced Josh Hamilton, Mackinzey Brennan, Jazmin Recroft and Rachel Covert, who all qualified for nationals, and Hudson Dellevoet, the 2025-2026 Kearney FFA President. Ms. Swotek acknowledged all the time and effort outside the classroom that it takes to qualify for nationals. The students must first qualify for the state competition and win their category in order to advance to nationals. They compete against 19 other schools at the state level and hundreds of other students at nationals. She added that she is not only excited and proud of them for their achievement and composition, but also how they have grown as leaders.

4. Presentations

4.A. KHS Report on the Class of 2025 Academic and Scholarship Achievements

Discussion:

Mr. Jeff Ganz, Kearney High School Principal, expressed his gratitude to the KHS Counseling Office, the administrative team, and all staff at both KHS and the Hanny Arram Center for Success for their efforts in making the 2025 graduation ceremony a success. He shared that 390 students fulfilled all graduation requirements this year. The Class of 2025 contributed more than 8,000 hours of community service, earned $5.3 million in scholarships, and 76 students achieved a GPA of 4.0 or higher.

4.B. Construction Update

Discussion:

Kent Cordes with BD Construction gave an update on all the construction projects finishing up and continuing throughout the district.

4.C. Middle School Enrollment Overview

Discussion:

Superintendent Jason Mundorf shared projected enrollment figures for the middle schools over the coming years. He emphasized that the district has reached a point where it must begin making decisions to balance student numbers between Horizon and Sunrise Middle Schools. Mr. Clint Edwards, Director of 6-12 Education, noted that while many options are available, the key will be determining the best plan to serve the community.

5. Public Participation/Comment

6. Board Reports

6.A. Kearney Public Schools Foundation Report

Discussion:

Mrs. Smallcomb reported on various KPS Foundation achievements throughout the year. (The summary is attached to the agenda).

7. 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 Amanda Smallcomb, Passed.

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

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

7.A. Approval of Minutes of the June 9, 2025, Regular Meeting; the June 16, 2025, Summer Special Retreat Meeting; the July 9, 2025, Board Committee of the Whole Meeting of the Board of Education

7.B. Approval of the July 2025 Claims

7.C. Approval of the July 2025 Financial Reports

7.D. Approval of Kearney High School FBLA National Fall Leadership Conference Trip, November 6-9, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona

7.E. Authorize the Superintendent or His/Her Designee to Dispose of All Obsolete Furniture, Books, Materials, and Equipment in the Most Favorable Manner to the District in Accordance with All Laws, Rules, and Regulations Pertaining to Such Disposition, for the 2025-2026 School Year

7.F. Designate Mr. Jason Mundorf as the Authorized Representative of the Kearney Public Schools to Sign All Claims and Forms for All Federal Programs for the 2025-2026 School Year

7.G. Designate Shelia Sanford and Meagan Kershner as the Authorized Representatives of the Kearney Public Schools to Sign All Claims for Reimbursement, as Well as All Federal, State, and Local Information Pertaining to the School Food Service Program, for the 2025-2026 School Year.

7.H. Approval of the 2025-2026 KPS Handbooks and School Guidebooks

8. Regular Agenda - Personnel

8.A. Acceptance of Resignation

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to accept, with regret, the resignation as presented. This motion, made by Paul Hazard and seconded by Niki Deeds, Passed.

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

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

8.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 Drew Blessing and seconded by Amanda Smallcomb, Passed.

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

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

8.C. Discuss, consider, and take all necessary action to approve the Resolution to Cancel the Employment Contract of Jill Hadwiger

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to approve the Resolution to Cancel the Employment Contract of Jill Hadwiger. This motion, made by Drew Blessing and seconded by Amy Barth, Passed.

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

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

9. Regular Agenda - Business

9.A. Second and Final Reading Approval of New and Revised Board Policies

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to approve the second and final reading of new and revised board policies, as presented. This motion, made by John Icenogle and seconded by Paul Hazard, Passed.

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

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

Discussion:

Mr. Mundorf reviewed the new and revised board policies that were previously discussed.

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 Amanda Smallcomb and seconded by Drew Blessing, Passed.

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

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

Discussion:

Mr. Mundorf mentioned that he met with the Board policy committee, and they reviewed all the recommended policy changes based on new state statutes from Perry Law Firm. The changes were also reviewed during this month's Committee meeting.

9.C. Approve a Proposed Temporary Easement Requested by Kearney Regional Medical Center for the Expansion of 6th Avenue Near the Southeast Corner of Land Owned by Kearney Public Schools

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Move to approve the proposed temporary easement, requested by Kearney Regional Medical Center for the expansion of 6th Avenue near the southeast corner of land owned by Kearney Public Schools, as presented. This motion, made by Niki Deeds and seconded by Paul Hazard, Passed.

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

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

Discussion:

Mr. Mundorf explained that Kearney Regional Hospital is requesting an extension of 6th Avenue westward to the KPS property line. The proposed easement would provide a turnaround area for vehicles where the road currently ends. He clarified that this extension would involve no cost or liability for the district.

9.D. Discuss, Consider and Take Possible Action to Increase the District's Overall Property Tax Request Authority Up to an Additional 5% or Other Maximum as Permitted by Law, 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 Paul Hazard and seconded by Amy Barth, Passed.

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

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

Discussion:

It was noted that the approval of the additional property tax request authority is essential due to the unknown status of legislative negotiations at this time, so that the district will have access to the funds should they be required in preparing the 2025-2026
budget.

10. Regular Agenda - Miscellaneous

11. Next Meeting

12. Adjournment

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

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

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

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

Discussion:

Meeting was adjourned at 6:51 PM.

Regular Board
Attendance Taken on 7/14/2025 at 5:37 PM
Amy Barth	Present
Drew Blessing	Present
Niki Deeds	Present
Paul Hazard	Present
John Icenogle	Present
Amanda Smallcomb	Present
Present: 6, Absent: 0

July 14, 2025 at 5:30 PM - Public Hearing and Regular Meeting

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