September 28, 2026 at 5:30 PM - GIPS BOE Special Meeting

Rationale: 

It is 5:____p.m. and I now call to order the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education Speical Meeting.  This is the September 28, 2026 meeting.  Notice of this meeting has been advertised in the Grand Island Independent, which is the District's designated method of giving notice of these meetings.

We want those in attendance to know that copies of the Open Meetings Act are available at the entrance to the Board Room.  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 so that you may be recognized during the Requests to Address the Board part of our meeting.  If you have not already completed the form, please see the staff person outside the entrance to this room.  Public comment is welcome. We do ask that no signs be brought into the boardroom.

Mrs. Dibbert, will you please call the roll?

Rationale:  Roll Call.

Rationale: 

• Each person addressing the board will be allowed 5 minutes. The Board of Education has the prerogative to limit speaking to 3 minutes when there are three or more patrons to allow speakers an opportunity to address the Board in a timely manner.
• We allocate up to 30 minutes for addressing the board at each regular board meeting.
• Please face the Board, not the audience when you speak
• We want to hear what is being said so we ask the audience to refrain from making comments or sounds that make it hard to hear the speaker. 
• No signs are allowed in the boardroom.
• We will not engage in dialogue with patrons presenting to the Board, the purpose of the requests to address the board is to listen to patrons.
• The Board president and superintendent will identify staff to follow-up on information requested from patrons when necessary.
• At regular business meetings any school district-related matter can be presented to the Board, but only agenda items can be acted upon during a given meeting. At special meetings, comments will be limited to the subject of action items of the meeting's agenda. 
• Speakers will not be permitted to make defamatory comments, or use abusive or vulgar language. 
• Expressions of personal complaints about staff or students are discouraged at public meetings. Concerns about individuals should be brought to the attention of the appropriate administrative authority. Specific building or program concerns should be brought to the attention of the building principal or program supervisor.

Rationale:  On or before September 30th, all Nebraska school districts are required to hold a public hearing and adopt a budget for the ensuing school year.  A public hearing was held on September 21, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., seeking public comment on the proposed 2026-2027 school year budget.  The Board must officially adopt the budget as an action item.  Grand Island Public Schools' Chief Financial Officer, Virgil Harden, is requesting that the Board approve the budget as proposed. 

Rationale: 

All Nebraska school districts must hold a public hearing and adopt a tax levy resolution setting the ensuing school year levy rate.   A tax levy hearing was held on September 21, 2026, to obtain public input and comments on the proposed tax levy for the 2025-2026 school year. The attached tax levy resolution outlines the proposed fiscal year 2026-2027 tax levy necessary to operate the District.  Mr. Virgil Harden, Chief Financial Officer for GIPS, is requesting that the board approve the resolution to set the tax request for the 2026-2027 FY as presented.

Rationale:  Regular Board of Education Meeting - Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.