April 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Regular Board of Education Meeting
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1. GPS Board of Education Information
More Information:
The meeting agenda will be kept current and available for public inspection in the office of the Secretary of the Board of Education at the Central Office during regular working hours.
District Vision: Gering Public Schools provides a collaborative community, inspiring excellence and innovation in teaching and learning to empower student growth and leadership in school and life. District Mission: Gering Public Schools exists to equip today's learners with the skills necessary to be tomorrow's leaders. The Open Meetings Act requires and the intention of the Board is that agenda items be sufficiently descriptive to give the public reasonable notice of matters to be considered at the meeting. The Board of Education releases its agenda well in advance of most meetings and desires that all interested persons are fully informed. Any interested person who has a question or needs clarification about the sufficiency of a descriptive item should contact the Office of the Superintendent of Schools. If anyone in attendance is interested in addressing our Board, you are welcome to do so. We simply request that you complete the appropriate form and turn it in to us now, so that you may be recognized during the 'Patron Comment' section of our meeting. These forms are located by the entry doors of the meeting room. Agenda items are subject to reordering at the discretion of the board president. Board members may request specific agenda item(s) be moved to a different place on the agenda. Please attend the entire meeting to ensure you hear discussion on a particular agenda item. |
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2. Opening Procedures
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2.1. Call to Order
More Information:
The Board of Education reserves the right to enter into Executive Session for the protection of the public interest, or the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual, and if the individual has not requested a public meeting.
Discussion:
This meeting was called to order at 6:01 p.m. by board president, Greg Trautman.
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2.2. Roll Call
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2.3. Pledge of Allegiance
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2.4. Open Meetings Act
More Information:
Pursuant to Section 84-1412 of the Nebraska Statutes, the public is hereby informed that a current copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act is posted in the Board meeting room on the north wall.
Notice of this meeting was published in the Star Herald on Thursday, April 10th, 2025. |
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3. Consent Agenda
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At this time, any Board member may request that any item in the consent agenda be removed from the consent agenda and be considered and voted on separately.
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3.1. Minutes from the previous month's board meeting(s)
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3.2. Approval of Claims/Bills
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Fund Amount
01 General Fund $653,589.90 03 Employee Benefit $269.50 05 Activity Fund $70,883.32 06 Nutrition Fund $105,053.18 Fund Totals: $829,795.90
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3.3. Board Policy Adoption
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3.3.i. First Reading of Board Policies
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3.3.ii. Second Reading of Board Policies
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3.4. Personnel Items
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3.4.i. Certified Staff Contract(s)
Jennifer Green - GHS, Art Teacher
Neil Baker - GHS, Social Studies Teacher, Head Boys Basketball Coach Chris Palomo - GHS, Science Teacher Keisa Gardner - GMS, ELA Teacher Kelly Tofflemire - Education Technology Specialist Richard Evans - Director of Technology Chelsea Smith - Geil Elementary, Kindergarten Teacher Sheridan Widhelm - Occupational Therapist Kelsey Sylvester - Northfield Elementary, Preschool Teacher Kristen Skavdahl - GHS, LMHP Alexandra Clear - Northfield Elementary, SPED Teacher |
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3.4.ii. Certified Staff Resignation(s)
Vanessa Hernandez - Lincoln Elementary, Preschool Teacher
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4. Celebration of Excellence
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4.1. Building Report - Lincoln Elementary
Discussion:
Jesse Neugebauer presented to the board about Lincoln Elementary. He talked about their "Great" school rating and what their theme was for the year. Lincoln's theme is all about giving back to the community! They have done this through family engagements, community service, and many fundraisers. Then, several 5th grade students presented on what it means to them to give back in our community.
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4.2. Student Success -
Speech State Medalists HOSA State Medalists DECA State Qualifiers and Medalist Panhandle Middle School Honor Band Gering FFA State Qualifiers NFHS Speech Educator of the Year Swimming State Qualifiers
Discussion:
Jennifer Sibal presented to the board all the awards and accomplishments our students have received over the last month.
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5. Reports & Discussions
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5.1. Board Committee Report: Curriculum & Personnel
Discussion:
John Maser presented to the board. He talked about how almost all our open positions are filled and how our Middle School Improvement Committee are continuing to meet with Jack Baker. He gave an update on the school calendar and that some of the school start/end times are changing for next school year. He also discussed the new business curriculum.
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5.2. Board Committee Report: Business & Facilities
Discussion:
Josh Lacy presented to the board. He talked about how we have only used 59% of the budget so far, we have had less expenses being able to do things in-house. He gave an auditorium update and said that all cameras are up and running. He discussed our new IT hire and how the construction house is going well. We currently have five vendors bidding on our food service. He also mentioned that our state aid is going to decrease by about $500,000.
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5.3. Superintendent's Report
Discussion:
20 ish days left of school—on the home stretch of a smooth, impactful year and we are finishing strong and what I love most about our board evenings is celebrating and highlighting all the phenomenal achievements of our students. Highlight the vision we casted in January 2024 with our 5 year strategic priorities: Academic Excellence, Modernizing infrastructure, Inspired Community Engagement, Investing in Staff and Operational Excellence. We are celebrating another year of a responsible, stable budget, we have demonstrated academic gains by achieving assessment milestones in all grades, we have invested in our staff with a record 4.6% salary increase, and have expanded our high quality learning environments with a new preschool facility at Northfield Elementary that was built under budget—we are experiencing enrollment growth. When a community invests in their future—we all win. For the 2025-26 school year, we are adding our 10th preschool classroom. I may be redundant in highlighting the extraordinary leadership of our Board, our sheer passion to the vision of our district leaders, and our unwavering commitment of our teachers and staff everyday...it is a testament to making Gering Great. Making GPS the destination district. Second to parents, public education is the gateway to advancing our students, and the future of our community. So, thank you, for celebrating with us every day the incredible achievements. Together we are building a better tomorrow. The GHS Musical is April 24-26 The Little Mermaid—tickets are available YMCA Summer Camp -Camp Passport with the YMCA-it will be a summer of adventure-check out the travel itinerary on our website -tropical getaway, disney adventureland, hollywood week, carnival week. |
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6. Public Comments: 204.12
Discussion:
Kim Soule addressed the board.
Robert Rahmig addressed the board.
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7. Action Items
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7.1. Discuss, consider, and take action regarding a new business curriculum (7-year adoption), from Stukent, for the 2025-2032 school years in the amount of $35,995.
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7.2. Discuss, consider, and take action regarding a new business curriculum (6-year adoption), from National Geographic Learning, for the 2025-2031 school years in the amount of $20,670.
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8. Board Comments
Discussion:
Brian Copsey - Good to see a full house tonight for all our student recognitions. Excited about graduation!
Tracy Wiese - Good to hear the 5th graders from Lincoln present. Good to see HOSA members have increased over the years. We have been under budget the last two years. Josh Lacy - Appreciates the public comments. Great to see a packed house! John Maser - Love to see all the kids and it was good to celebrate so many. Thanks for the public comments. Matt Kautz - Shout out to Mrs. Prokop for what she has done at the Middle School for Band. Glad for the public comments. Greg Trautman - Full room was awesome to see. Lincoln did a great job presenting. Shout out to Mrs. Prokop on Band. Appreciates the public comments. Thankful for D'Angelo's leadership in maintenance. There are good things happening in Gering. |
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8.1. Tentative Upcoming Board Meeting/Event Dates
More Information:
Future Board MeetingsSpecial Meeting: Tues, April 29th, 2025 @ 12:00 p.m. (Central Office)Regular Meeting: Mon, May 12th, 2025 @ 6:00 p.m. (Freshmen Academy) Special Meeting: Tues, May 27th, 2025 @ 12:00 p.m. (Central Office) Tentative Committee Meeting Dates:Personnel & Curriculum Committee: Tues, May 6th, 2025 @ 7:00 a.m. (Central Office)Finance & Facilities Committee: Thurs, May 1st, 2025 @ 4:30 p.m. (Central Office) Middle School Improvement Committee: Wed, May 7th, 2025 @ 4:30 p.m. (Central Office) Upcoming Event Highlights:NASBO Conference - April 24th-25th, Lincoln, NE |
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9. Adjourn
Discussion:
The meeting was adjourned at 7:19 p.m.
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