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

6. Jr. High Bond Survey Results

• The survey indicated that there was sufficient support to proceed with a bond campaign.
• The top three concerns in the community were:

  • Student Safety

  • Occupational training via career and technical education (CTE)

  • Structural stability of the school building

• Key demographic group
  • We need to make sure that we provide our 65 and older community with information and are prepared to address their concerns.
  • Lowering the cost of the bond was important for those concerned with the tax burden under these economic conditions.

Jr. High Building Meeting

• District level administration met with Sampson Construction and W Design to discuss changes to the Jr. High Building project. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss changes to the project that would reduce the cost of the project if another bond election is pursued.
• Due to the increases in costs, cuts to the project to reduce the overall project cost have been difficult. According to the information provided during the meeting, the bond we put in front of the community in November for a price of $43,500,000 would now cost approximately $45,000,000. The increase in cost has made it more difficult to make cuts that would result in a lower overall bond request.

Washington D.C. Trip

• The trip to D.C. enabled Brad, Mike and myself access to important educational decision makers.
  • We were able to visit with the congressional legislative aid on education.
  • Members from the Department of Education, including the acting deputy undersecretary.
  • The education policy director
  • I was also able to visit directly with Representative Smith.
• The focus of our discussion with them was on local control and the creation of a framework that emphasized curriculum that all students should master.

The future of the Department of Education:

• Shrinking in size and scope.

• Most recent layoffs affected temporary staff.

• Special education should remain intact.

• A full shutdown is unlikely due to the rules governing government departments.

• Trends to look for:

  • School choice movements

  • Local control

  • Assessment modifications

School Improvement

• The team reviewed the external team's exit report, and we discussed its contents.
  • As a quick reminder the external report was very complimentary of McCook Public Schools operations, staff, and student outcomes.
• The team also discussed our goals for next year:

  • Review mission and vision statements.

  • Select a school improvement framework.

  • Select a perceptual survey platform.

  • Collect and analyze important content area assessment data.

  • Deliberate and set the district's next 5-year goal.
  • Begin the development of a 5-year action plan.

• Next meeting: August 15 at 7:00 a.m. in the Jr. High Boardroom.

Destination Imagination

• Teams from McCook competed in the state Destination Imagination competition.
• Our teams represented well!

• Approve the purchase of new ELA materials
• In addition-approve an additional $2240 to UFLI foundational piece, there is no quote at this time - will have to order through a website once approved. Any questions can be directed to Joel Bednar