October 19, 2026 at 5:30 PM - Regular Board of Education Meeting
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1. Call the Meeting to Order
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
LEADERSHIP • SERVICE • SUPPORT Notice of this meeting was given in advance according to State Law 84-1411, by giving notice of the meeting to the public on ESU 7 website www.esu7.org and posted at location of meeting. Notice of this meeting was also given in advance to all members of the Board of Education of Educational Service Unit 7. Availability of the agenda and purpose of the hearing was communicated in the advance notice of the meeting and in the notice to the members of this hearing. All proceedings of the Board of Education of Educational Service Unit 7 were taken while the convened hearing was open to the attendance of the public.
Discussion:
Board President Dawn Lindsley called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm.
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1.1. Notification of Open Meetings Law
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
This meeting has been preceded by reasonable advance notice and is hereby declared to be in open session. A copy of the Open Meetings Act is posted in the meeting room. |
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1.2. Roll Call
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
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1.3. Absent Board Members
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
Board Members Amy Blaser, Marni Danhauer, Stephanie Bell and Richard Stephens will be absent. They notified of their absences prior to the meeting.
Recommended Motion(s):
Discuss, consider and take all necessary action to approve Board member absences as presented Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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1.4. Pledge of Allegiance
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
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2. Approval of Agenda
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
The sequence of agenda topics is subject to change at the discretion of the Board.
Recommended Motion(s):
Discuss, consider and take all necessary action to approve the agenda as presented Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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3. Virtual Conferencing Option
Rationale:
Nebraska Revised Statute § 84-1411 authorizes virtual meetings for educational service units if the requirements of subdivision (2)(b) are met.
ESUs are only allowed to designate up to 50% of their meetings as videoconferencing. Last November, the board voted to have December 2025, January 2026, February 2026, and March 2026 designated as virtual conferencing meetings. At any meeting, the board could propose to have additional future meetings designated as videoconferencing as long as we are under the 50% threshold for the year. When we do our advertising of the meeting, we have to specify if it is a videoconferencing option meeting. To be below the 50% threshold for 2026, November 2026 and December 2026 could be offered as a videoconference. Also proposing January 2027, February 2027 and March 2027 be offered as videoconferencing option.
Discussion:
November 2026 and December 2026 meetings will have a virtual conferencing option. Board Vice President Beth Kabes suggested and encouraged the board to use all virtual conferencing options due to rising fuel costs.
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4. Welcome Visitors
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
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5. Public Comment
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
The Board has the discretion to limit the amount of time set aside for public participation.
Citizens wishing to address the Board on a certain agenda item must complete the Request to be Heard Document prior to the start of the board meeting. Citizens wishing to present petitions to the Board may do so at this time. However, the Board will only receive the petitions and not act upon them or their contents. |
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6. Consent Agenda
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
Unless removed from the consent agenda, items identified within the consent agenda will be acted on at one time. If any Board member wishes to discuss an item, it must be removed from the consent agenda at which time the remaining items will be acted upon. Consent Agenda Includes:
Administrator Recommendation: Discuss, consider and take all necessary action to approve the consent agenda as presented.
Recommended Motion(s):
Discuss, consider and take all necessary action to approve the consent agenda as presented Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Board Member Bob Arp asked a clarifying question regarding disorderly attendees in Article II, Section 9, B Attend. Board Vice President Beth Kabes asked if she should vote "abstain" because she was absent from the previous meeting. Board President Dawn Lindsley stated that Board Member Kabes should use her discretion.
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6.1. Minutes
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
This is a consent item. |
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6.2. Presentation of Bills #82593 through #82781 totaling $1,153,083.12
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
The summary of bills for the current month total: $1,153,083.12 - Bills #82593 through #82781 General Activity Fund total: $4.83
This is a consent item. |
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6.3. Reading of Article I, Section 2, C Chief Administrator Evaluation
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
This is a consent item. |
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6.4. Reading of Article II, Section 9, A Open Meetings Act Poster
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
This is a consent item. |
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6.5. Reading of Article II, Section 9, B Attend
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
This is a consent item. |
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6.6. Reading of Article II, Section 9, C Hear
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
This is a consent item. |
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6.7. Reading of Article II, Section 9, D Record
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
This is a consent item. |
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6.8. Excess Lodging & Meals
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
Excess Lodging:
This is a consent item. |
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7. Treasurer's Report
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
Review the breakdown of the Treasurer's Report.
Administrator Recommendation: Discuss, consider and take all necessary action to accept the Treasurer's Report as presented.
Recommended Motion(s):
Discuss, consider and take all necessary action to accept the Treasurer's Report as presented Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
The names on the FNBO cards, i.e. FNBO - Lola, are the gas cards for the ESU 7 fleet vehicles.
Board Vice President Beth Kabes - Are they prepaid cards? Administrator Ostmeyer - No, they have a reduced credit limit but can be increased if necessary. Board President Dawn Lindsley - Last month there were numerous outstanding payments to ESU 7, have they been paid yet? Administrator Ostmeyer - No, they have not been paid. The amount of outstanding payments due to ESU 7 has increased from last month to this month. |
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8. Board Spotlight - Negotiations
Rationale:
Administrator Marci Ostmeyer will present the spotlight on Negotiations.
Understanding ESU 7 Negotiations
Discussion:
Historically, monthly spotlights have been presented by ESU 7 staff members. Moving forward, spotlight presentations will alternate between the Administrator and ESU 7 staff so the Board has an opportunity to receive board-specific education. In November, an ESU 7 staff member will present the spotlight.
Administrator Ostmeyer reviewed the Understanding ESU 7 Negotiations Slides. The Negotiated Group and the Administrator must be completed following legal timelines. All other staff salaries must be set before the budget process can begin for the next year. |
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9. Goal Update
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
Goal 1: By December 2026, the ESU 7 board will formalize a process to mentor and onboard new board members.
Discussion:
The training approved last month will be scheduled later in the spring. Board President Dawn Lindsley asked the board to review the Board Orientation Book and the Mentoring Program Document and suggest changes by November 11th.
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10. Administrator's Report General
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
Discussion:
Director Ellsworth - At the All Staff meeting in October, staff members were divided into 12 different teams. Each team had a scenario and was instructed to look through the flipbook and answer three questions. Staff members brought their answers back to the group and identified what went right, what could be improved, and areas of potential concern.
Director Clay - Attended a goal-focused training and is now working with her coordinators this year to be more goal-oriented within their departments along with their personal goals. Employee evaluations have also begun. This is a good time to help remind staff of the things they do well and how to develop for the next year. The Learning Academy has opened the 4th classroom for primary students. Administrator Ostmeyer reviewed the ESUCC Updates slide for October and is planning to attend the Federal Legislative Visit next year in Washington D.C. |
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10.1. Services Update
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
Discussion:
Administrator Ostmeyer presented the attached documents to district Superintendents during her semiannual visits.
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10.2. Facilities Update
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
The Administrator will provide a facilities update during this item
Discussion:
Administrator Ostmeyer reviewed the October Facilities Update slide. The variance request with the Zoning Commission has been delayed a month. According to RVW's Mike Kennedy, this variance is a one-time request.
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10.3. Legislative Update
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
During this item, the Administrator will provide a Legislative Update to members of the Board.
Discussion:
Administrator Ostmeyer noted that the Interim studies take place when the legislature is not in session.
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11. Committee Reports
Speaker(s):
Committee Chair
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11.1. Budget Committee Report
Speaker(s):
Budget Committee Chair
Rationale:
Reports of Budget Committee activities and discussion will take place during this item.
Committee Recommendation:
Discussion:
Committee Chair Dawn Lindsley reported that the Budget Committee met in collaboration with the Negotiations Committee to review budget amounts moving forward.
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11.2. Negotiations Committee Report
Speaker(s):
Negotiations Committee Chair
Rationale:
Reports of activities and discussions from the Negotiations Committee will take place during this item.
Committee Recommendation:
Discussion:
Negotiations Committee Chair Don Graff reported that the Negotiations Committee met with the ESUEA. Will meet again in November to discuss 2027-2028 packages.
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11.3. Administrator Evaluation Committee Report
Speaker(s):
Administrator Evaluation Committee Chair
Rationale:
A report of activities from the Administrator Evaluation Committee will be given during this item.
Evaluation Timeline: - August: Full Evaluation Committee and Administrator review Evaluation Tool and Evaluation Policy/Procedures. - September: Full Board is provided a paper copy of the evaluation questions. - October: Administrator sends digital evaluation, evaluation resources and completed self-assessment to the Evaluation Committee Chair no later than 5 days prior to the October Board Meeting. The chair then forwards documents on to the full Board for completion by October 31st. - November: The Evaluation Committee compiles results of the full Board completed evaluations prior to the November Board Meeting. No formal report will be given at that time, just an update that the timeline is being followed. - December: The Evaluation Committee meets prior to the December Board Meeting to review with the Administrator the results of the evaluation. Report to the full Board in December Board Meeting following Closed Session requirements with the Administrator present. - January: Confirm Evaluation Committee members. The Administrator provides the Evaluation Committee with goals and shares with the Board at the January Board Meeting. Committee Recommendation:
Discussion:
Previously, the Chief Administrator's self-evaluation was not submitted as evidence for the board to complete evaluations of the Chief Administrator. Chief Administrator Evaluations are open and available to be completed by board members until October 31st.
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12. Conference Report
Speaker(s):
Conference Attendees
Rationale:
Conference Attendees will report on their learnings.
Goals:
Discussion:
Board Members discussed sessions they attended at the NASB Area Membership Meetings, which included sessions on handbooks, controlling the narrative and budgeting information.
Board Member April Emeigh - attended a handbook session — feels we are doing a really good job, following schedules. Ai had a lot of positive things to say about Nebraska schools. Board Member Bob Arp - attended a session on controlling the narrative - not responding but being proactive and sending out the message about what's really happening. Board Vice President Beth Kabes - Colby Coash shared the slides with her. Board President Dawn Lindsley - attended a session with John Spatz. Looking at data differently and shared findings over the last 10 years on where budget percentages are spent in the state and legislature. |
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13. Board Announcements
Rationale:
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14. Adjournment
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Discussion:
Board President Dawn Lindsley adjourned the meeting at 6:56 pm.
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