April 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM - April Regular Board Meeting

Discussion:  Ryan Stearns called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and roll call was taken. 

Discussion: 
We, at Brady Public Schools, strive to create a positive culture in which all learners reach their fullest potential as EAGLES!

Discussion:  Thank You Note to the school from Brady School Foundation 
Thank You Note to Mrs. Foster and Molly Most from Brady School Foundation
 

Discussion:  The last task force meeting met and discussed current donations. The remaining amount needed is $184,000. The task force also will be visiting surrounding area Learning Centers. The first payment will be made by the school out of the Building Fund for $150,000. 

Discussion:  Tonja Shaw came to share about Summer School. This year it will be called Summer Camp and will only be 3 weeks and 13 days instead of 4 weeks and 16 days. Summer camp will start June 2nd through June 19th, Monday thourgh Thursday, 8:30-11:30AM. Incoming kindergarten through 8th grade are invited to attend! Sydney Widick, Bridget Rossman, Angela Johnson, Nate Stienike, will cover K-4th grade. Rebecca Stearns, Yentle Dyas, Kate Axthelm, and Macey Widick will cover 5th-8th grade. The teacher pay rate will continue to be $35, with hiring a couple para's. The flyer has already been advertised via facebook and the flyer will go come home with students in May. Tonja would like families to register on the QR code which is located on the flyer. Tonja will make personal phone calls closer to Summer Camp starting based on registration numbers. State reimbursement requires summer school to be held 12 days for a minimum of three hours, so the district will continue to get reimbursed. 

Discussion:  Ava Foster came to share about State FFA Convention. State FFA took place April 2nd and 3rd at the Pinnacle Bank Area. Brady Public Schools was recognized as a new chapter. Keaton Fattig and Ava Foster walked across the big stage to take the new chapter recognition during the event. Officer interviews are on Wednesday April 16th for the 2025-2026 school year. 

Discussion:  Alexis Buck gave her student report. FFA Students went to State FFA State Leadership Conference. At the Anselmo-Merna track meet the Girls received 1st place and the Boys received 4th place! April 8th and 10th were the Spring concerts. It was a special night, but also sad as it was Mrs. Pohlman's last concerts! The Brady district received Superior rating for Large Emsemable at the MNAC conference. Samantha Pavelka was hired for next years new principal. 
 

Discussion:  Tina Golter gave her report. Flower Bed removal by the old gym. Removal of the dead tree in front of the cafeteria windows. Gentry would like a bench with a plaque in place of the memorial tree. Mowing has started and the water will get turned on for the football field this Friday! 

Discussion:  Dan Robison gave his report. Driver's Education is coming up for June with two applications so far. #15 bus went to Inland to fix the horn and back up beeper. #09 bus went to Knoedler's to have water pump replace. 

Discussion:  Mrs. Foster gave Ryan's Report. Rochester Midland did their quarterly report. Cooling tower was cleaned and sprayed out with chemicals. Everything is running smoothly. The demolition on the football bleachers has started and is continuing to go smoothly. The shop kids even got to help out. All playground equipment is in good shape. The soccer nets had to receive more zip tipes to attach net to the poles. 

Discussion:  Mr. Seamann gave his report. Mr. Seamann started off his report to recognize the speech team.  The speech team were the D1-5 district Champions and qualified 9 individuals for the state speech meet.  The following were individual district champs: Zoe Johnson in Entertainment, Jayden Tillman in Poetry, Ava Foster in Informative and Ella Warren in Persuasive. Our other state qualifiers were Carlee Tillman in Informative, Reanna Davis in Persuasive, Violet Gentry in POI and Benji Robison in Extemp. Would also like to recognize our band and chorus members for their accomplishments at the MNAC music contest.  Our concert band earned a superior rating and the large instrumental Ensemble award.  Jayden Tillman earned a superior rating and the conference gold medal for low male vocal.  Aiden Mitchum also earned a superior rating for low male vocal. Would also like to recognize the following students for earning MNAC all-conference in basketball.  Payton Stienike first team and Taryn Stearns, Lydia McGown and Cinch Sanger Honorable Mention. 
Mr. Seamann gave a Conference Meeting update with NSAA final votings. The Volleyball tournament will no longer rotate between NP Community College and Broken Bow. Brady Public Schools will host the Saturday portion. Bball/vball district finals no longer have 180 mile restriction. Whoever has the higher ceed will host. Football 8 man eligible changed to 55. A third class of 8 man football will start 2026 which will then be D1, D2 and D3. 

Discussion:  Mr. Larson started off his report by talking about the Danielson Teacher Appraisal Instrument. Mr. Larson has six more walk throughs to complete this second semester. Mr. Larson also went over the master schedule for the 2025-2026 high school schedule. The major change is for JH PE. At the end of the day 7th and 8th period will include MTSS support Tuesday and Thursday, and JH PE M/W/F. This will allow for JH students to be able to practice more in their sport since currently it is only during 8th period. There will be a Healthy Lifestyle class which will involve Yoga and Dance during 8th period for students not participating in a sport. Next year during 2nd period there will be an ACT prep class that involves John Baylor Curriculum. Spanish 1 and Spanish 2 will again be through ESU 5, but will have the same instructor for both classes next year. Eustis Farnam will also participate in our Spanish 1 which will half our costs. 

Discussion:  Mrs. Foster gave her report and stated ESSA State Monitoring visit is Wednesday April 16. Miss Nebraska will visit on Thursday April 17 and will talk with the FFA students and have an elementary assembly. All water damage has been repaired. Steele’s Restoration was involved in the mitigation and restoration. ALICAP insurance is pursuing subrogation against AGC. They have been placed on notice and will send a final subrogation demand once everything is completed and paid out. Thirteen new students will option in next year. Eleven preschoolers will come back next year with three applying to come in. It is recommended to move to an AM and PM preschool. This would allow us to take more students and not have to turn away. There is a calendar change for next year which involves March 31st. Brady will no longer host MNAC music. The calendar will show April 3rd as a no school day instead of a half day. The Mapping Grant was approved for $5,000. The team will build a rough draft based on existing maps. They will then schedule an onsite visit for more information and then submit the maps to the school board for approval. Molly Miller was recognized for Tyson's Hunger hero for $5,000. The money will go towards updating equipment in the kitchen. The district applied for the Fresh Fruits and Veggie Program grant for next year. Mrs. Foster has some recommendations to cover staffing for next year. Currently Jen Most is half time preschool and half time Title I teacher. Mrs. Foster recommends to move Jen Most to fulltime preschool to accomodate all the incoming preschoolers. The district would then need to fill a Title I teacher, since we are a Title I school and it is required to have Title I serve K-12 students. This position would be fully reimbursable. The last position to cover would be to hire a local sub for K-12 Music and Band to allow more time to recruit a certified Band and Music Teacher. The position was posted in September 2024 and the district still has received zero applications. 

Discussion:  The Board would like to formerly recognize Mrs. Valerie Pohlman and Mrs. Beth Boden for their outstanding showcase of student performances and skills at their last Spring Concert.  
The Board expresses much gratitude to both teachers on their outstanding dedication to the music and band programs. Together, they have 63 years of service to Brady's music program! We wish them well in their well deserved retirement!

Discussion:  General Fund is under budget by 15.98% and Lunch Fund is under budget by 12.26%. The March CD renewal was turned into a 13-Month Flex CD at 3.8% for $227,419.36.

Discussion: 

Discussion:  Wednesday April 2 the Preschool Advisory Committee met in the Pre-K room. We went over the parent’s survey and explored the ideas of having the class as an all day, split into two sessions, or leaving as is. We will continue looking at avenues at our next meeting. We also went over the ECERS-3 Summary Report from the observation date of March 27 and discussed the findings for any categories we could improve on within our capabilities.

Discussion:  Mrs. Foster went over many new Legistrature Bills. It is a busy time right now!

Discussion:  Mrs. Foster and Molly Most will attend the BUDGET & FINANCE WORKSHOP on Wednesday, April 16 in Kearney. Upcoming events include: SCHOOL LAW SEMINAR: June 11-12 - Kearney, LEADERSHIP WORKSHOPS: Monday, July 28 - Gering, Tuesday, July 29 - Kearney, Wednesday, July 30 - Lincoln, AREA MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS Wednesday, September 3 - North Platte, 2025 STATE EDUCATION CONFERENCE: November 19-21 - Omaha.
The school board will get recognized as the board of excellence- Diamond Award at the Area Member Meeting. 

Discussion:  Total cost for ESU 16 services for the 25-26 school year: $258,917. The reason for the increase is Early Childhood Services increased by $51,408. These are services we are required to provide to our Birth to 5 population in Brady. This number is not stagnant but will fluxuate based on the needs of our students and the services they require.

Discussion:  Currently the district has a 10,000 policy for all staff members at a rate of $2 a person. Another option would be to bump up the district amount to a 35,000 policy for $8 a person. If the district decides to choose the 35,000 policy, everyone would have to be pushed to that policy. Currently there are already some staff members who have bumped up their policy and just pay the difference. It was decided to stay at the 10,000 policy and if the staff member wants to bump up to the next level they can do it on their own. 

Discussion:  Mrs. Foster presented three options to maintain our gym floors. Option 1: Both Gyms (2 coats this summer) $7,250, Option 2: New Gym only (2 coats both in Summer) $5,410, Option 3: New Gym only (1 coat in the summer at $2,817, 1 coat in the winter at $2,705): Total cost: $5,522. Mrs. Foster recommends to do Option 3 as it would provide better traction and wear through the seasons. Many schools are moving to this because it has higher sustainability. Ryan Stearns recommends to base summer coating on controls installation.

Discussion:  The policy committee met on April 2 and added the following to the policy: Students who have more than 20 unexcused absences will be required to attend summer school. Failure to attend summer school in its entirety may result in grade retention and reporting to proper authorities.

Discussion:  The policy committee reviewed this program. This is an optional program for all families to opt IN or OUT of.  This year to date the district has spent $1,005 on chromebook repairs and replacements. The purpose of this program is to offset the cost that the district ensues on top of providing devices for each student.  Our hope is that more students will take better care of their devices. If a student Opts In -- There is no cost for lost supplies and a lost chromebook would cost $75. If a student Opts Out - The student would pay for the lost supplies and a lost chromebook would be $250. The program would entail a $30 premium cost per year per student. The $30 will roll over to the next school year if no damages were completed that year. 

Discussion:  ALICAP is doing your insurance policy different this year. They sent out a request to see if the district still wants ALICAP Insurance and then will supply an amount at a later date. Mrs. Foster recommends to continue to use ALICAP insurance for next year.  

Discussion:  There are 10 applicants. Four are current seniors, one is a student no longer enrolled at BPS, and five are BPS graduates.There is $5,800 in the Scholarship Fund. Mrs. Foster recommends to provide past graduates $400 each ($2000) and Current Seniors $950 each ($3,800). 

Discussion:  Mrs. Foster recommends to move Jen Most to a full time Preschool Teacher position. Right now she is .5 Preschool and .5 Title I Teacher. Enrollment is currently at 14 preschoolers for the next school year and anticipating it to grow to 18. Two sections (AM and PM) would allow for smaller class sizes of 8-9 students. 

Discussion: 

General Fund
Check #	Check Date	Entity Name	Amount
4610	03/14/2025	Flatwater Bank	22.60
7306	03/11/2025	Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Ne	166.90
7307	03/11/2025	Colonial Life	6.00
7308	03/11/2025	Brady Get 'N Go	2,787.70
7309	03/17/2025	Green Acres Lawn Care	2,658.39
7310	03/31/2025	Nebraska Schoolmasters Club	175.00
7311	03/31/2025	Western Nebraska Administrators	125.00
7312	03/31/2025	Nebraska Schoolmasters Club	20.00
7313	03/31/2025	School Outfitters	4,404.45
7314	03/31/2025	WCK, INC	6,950.00
7328	04/14/2025	Ace Hardware	115.96
7329	04/14/2025	Al's Lock & Safe	53.75
7330	04/14/2025	Amazon Capital Services	118.68
7331	04/14/2025	Amy Bourge Photography	592.00
7332	04/14/2025	Black Hills Energy	1,720.44
7333	04/14/2025	Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Ne	166.90
7334	04/14/2025	Brady Get 'N Go	2,410.09
7335	04/14/2025	Brady School Hot Lunch	1,000.00
7336	04/14/2025	Capital Business Systems Inc	1,836.41
7337	04/14/2025	Capital Business Systems, Inc - Wyoming	5.57
7338	04/14/2025	Capital One	136.06
7339	04/14/2025	Charlies's North PLatte Plumbing LLC	305.76
7340	04/14/2025	Clearfly	482.02
7341	04/14/2025	Colonial Life	6.00
7342	04/14/2025	Consolidated Telecom, Inc.	116.86
7343	04/14/2025	Dawson County Public Power District	4,814.63
7344	04/14/2025	Educational Service Unit #16	23,594.24
7345	04/14/2025	Engineered Controls	394.00
7346	04/14/2025	First National Bank	10,138.01
7347	04/14/2025	Gothenburg Health	138.09
7348	04/14/2025	Harco Athletic Reconditioning, Inc	1,470.00
7349	04/14/2025	Heartland Sprinkler Systems	90.00
7350	04/14/2025	Hinton's Lock & Alarm	987.00
7351	04/14/2025	Holiday Inn Express Kearney	756.00
7352	04/14/2025	Inland Truck Parts and Service	161.17
7353	04/14/2025	The Instrumentalist Co	44.50
7354	04/14/2025	Jones School Supply Company, Inc.	79.96
7355	04/14/2025	Knoedler Automotive	1,462.47
7356	04/14/2025	Kubota- North Platte	171.99
7357	04/14/2025	Lincoln County Clerk	397.43
7358	04/14/2025	Lincoln County Sheriff	86.76
7359	04/14/2025	Matheson Tri-Gas Inc	372.05
7360	04/14/2025	Menards	1,656.70
7361	04/14/2025	Mid West Grads	401.80
7362	04/14/2025	NASB	30.00
7363	04/14/2025	Nebraska Council of School Administrators	330.00
7364	04/14/2025	North Platte Bulletin	130.00
7365	04/14/2025	North Platte Telegraph	80.00
7366	04/14/2025	Otis Elevator Company	192.18
7367	04/14/2025	Paper Tiger Shredding	45.00
7368	04/14/2025	Pearson Education, Inc	168.94
7369	04/14/2025	Platinum Awards and Gifts	423.08
7370	04/14/2025	Platte Valley Electric	953.09
7371	04/14/2025	Reliable Pest Control Service	71.00
7372	04/14/2025	RSchoolToday	300.00
7373	04/14/2025	S & S Auto Parts, Inc.	301.37
7374	04/14/2025	Schaben Sanitation	459.59
7375	04/14/2025	Sherwin Williams	276.70
7376	04/14/2025	Staples	497.81
7377	04/14/2025	Syndicate Publishing	212.04
7378	04/14/2025	Teacher Synergy, LLC	246.75
7379	04/14/2025	Treasurer, State of Nebraska	200.00
7380	04/14/2025	Village Of Brady	968.62
7381	04/14/2025	Macey Widick	31.59
7382	04/14/2025	Yandas Music & Pro Audio	232.98
		TOTAL	$      79,750.08

____________________________________ Ryan Stearns President, Board of Education
____________________________________ Marge Spencer Secretary, Board of Education
The time and date of the Brady Public School’s regular meeting was advertised in Gothenburg
Leader and posted at the Brady Get-N-Go, Post Office, and Flatwater Bank. The next regular meeting will be May 12th, 2025 at 6:00 PM.