January 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Work Session and Annual Board Reorganization Meeting

Rationale: 

As required by Nebraska law, the public is advised that the Open Meetings Act is posted and copies of the Open Meetings Act are available for the public. 

Rationale:  Per Board Policy 201.4, Superintendent Jeff Schneider will administer the Oath of Office to the following new and incumbent Board members:

Jim Boeve, Sharon Brooks, Erick Espinoza, Tamisha Rose Osgood, and Chris Shade

Do you solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Nebraska against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that you take this obligation freely and without mental reservation or for purpose of evasion; and that you will faithfully and impartially perform the duties of the office of Hastings Public Schools Board of Education according to the law and to the best of your ability?  And, do you further swear that you do not advocate, nor are you a member of, any political party or organization that advocates the overthrow of the government of the United States or of this state by force or violence and that, during such time as you are in this position, you will not advocate, nor become a member of, any political party or organization that advocates the overthrow of the government of the United States or of this state by force or violence?  So help you God?  Please answer by saying I will.
 

Rationale:  Per Board Policy 203.1, Superintendent Jeff Schneider shall assume chairmanship of the meeting for the purpose of electing a Board President.

Rationale:  Consistent with Board Policies 203.1, 203.2, and 203.3, the Board of Education shall elect a president, a vice-president, and a secretary/treasurer by secret ballot, from the membership of the Board at the Annual Meeting.

Rationale: 
1.   Nomination of one or more candidates.
2.   Closing of nominations.
3.   Election by secret ballot.
4.   Announcement of new President for 2025.
5.   Gavel is presented to the new Board President.

Rationale: 
1.   Nomination of one or more candidates.
2.   Closing of nominations.
3.   Election by secret ballot.
4.   Announcement of new Vice President for 2025.

Rationale: 
1.   Nomination of one or more candidates.
2.   Closing of nominations.
3.   Election by secret ballot.
4.   Announcement of new Secretary/Treasurer for 2025.

Rationale:  Consistent with Board policies 203.4 and 203.8, and upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board shall appoint/reappoint the following officers and advisors:

Dr. Thomas Szlanda......Assistant Secretary
Denise Behrends...........Recording Secretary
Shelly Julian..................Assistant Treasurer
Perry Law Firm..............Counsel (fees based upon services rendered)
Curtis Reimer, M.D........School Physician ($500/year)
 

Rationale:  The Superintendent of Schools recommends that the Board of Education appoint Dr. Tom Szlanda, as the District's officer for federal programs.  These federal programs include, but are not limited to, Vocational Education, Title I, Title II, Title III, IDEA, Homeless, and the school lunch program.

Rationale:  The Superintendent of Schools recommends that the Board of Education designate the depositories for all school funds by approving the following Hastings banks as depositories for Adams County School District #18: Five Points Bank, Nebraska School District Liquid Asset Fund, Pinnacle Bank, US Bank.

Rationale:  Consistent with Board Policies 701 and 704.1, the Board of Education will be asked to approve the following two financial resolutions.

Rationale:  That, under the authority of Section 77-2338, Reissue Revised Statutes, Nebraska, 1943, the County Treasurer of Adams County, Nebraska, is hereby ordered and directed by the Board of Education of Adams County School District No. 18, in the State of Nebraska, to invest any of the sinking funds, bonds, or otherwise of said District in, and to take up any warrant of said District when signed by the President and Secretary of the Board of Education of said District, the interest earned on such warrant to be credited to the sinking funds of the District from which the invested funds were drawn with this order and direction become effective the sixteenth (16th) day of January, 2025, and continuing in full force and effect and binding upon said Treasurer and only until the fifteenth (15th) day of January, 2026.

Rationale:  That, under the authority of Section 72-202 72-1246, 77-2341, 79-520, 79-1308.01, Reissued Revised Statutes, Nebraska, 1943, the President and the Secretary of the Board of Education of Adams County School District No. 18, in the State of Nebraska, are hereby authorized, ordered, and directed by said Board of Education whenever required in order to obtain monies for the General Fund of the District, and such monies cannot be obtained under authority of Section 77-2338, reissue Revised Statutes, Nebraska, 1943, to borrow such money from other funds of the District, including without limitation, the Sites and Building Fund or the Construction Fund, or in other words, to invest such Sites and Building or Construction Funds in the notes, warrants, or other written evidences of indebtedness or obligations of the District, provided such written evidences of indebtedness are duly signed by the President and Secretary of said Board on behalf of the District and are permanently registered and recorded in a book used for that purpose by the Secretary, provided any such written evidence of indebtedness bears a reasonable rate of interest with the interest earned thereon to be credited to the fund from which the monies were drawn, and provided further the earnings available for debt service have, for a five-year period, immediately preceding the date of purchase, averaged not less than two times such debt service requirements, with this authorization, order and direction becoming effective the sixteenth (16th) day of January, 2025, and continuing in full force and effect and binding upon said Board each succeeding day thereafter not indefintely, but only until the fifteenth (15th) day of January, 2026.

Rationale:  The Superintendent recommends that the Board of Education designate an official newspaper each year and that the Hastings Tribune be designated as the District's official newspaper for 2025.

Rationale:  The 2024 GNSA representative was Sharon Brooks.

The President appoints a Board member to be the GNSA Representative.

Rationale:  The 2024 HPS Foundation representative was Sharon Brooks.

The President appoints Board member to be the HPS Foundation Representative.

Rationale:  Per Board Policy 203.06, "The Board shall have no standing committees other than the Standing Committee on American Civics, which is required by law".  Per Board Policy 203.01, "At the annual meeting, the Board shall appoint all necessary Board officers and committees."

The Standing Committee on American Civics shall consist of three members appointment by the President of the Board of Education.  Responsibilities of the Committee will be to:
1.  Examine recommended social studies textbooks and report findings based on this examination to other members of the Board of Education. 
2.  The Committee shall take all other steps to ensure compliance with Nebraska law.
3.  Review all major proposals prepared by the Superintendent and instructional staff for adoption of new textbooks, development of new instructional programs, revision of existing instructional programs, modification of established graduation requirements, and other related matters.
4.  After the review is completed, the Committee will make a recommendation to the full Board of Education about approval or adoption of the matter under consideration.

2024 members were Brent Gollner, Chris Shade, and Stacie Widhelm.

The President appoints Board members to the Standing Committee on American Civics.

Rationale:  In addition to the Board President and Vice President, the 2024 members were Brent Gollner, and Laura Schneider.

The President appoints Board members to the Superintendent's succession planning committee.

Rationale:  In addition to the Board President, the 2024 members were Jim Boeve, Laura Schneider and Jodi Graves.

The President appoints Board members to the negotiations committee.

Rationale: 

Rationale:  This month's Spotlight on Learning will feature Longfellow Elementary.

Rationale:  Consider purchase of computers to replace student and teacher machines. 

Rationale:  Any resident or employee of Hastings Public Schools District #18 is welcome to address the Board of Education at this time on items pertaining to education and/or the operation of the District.  Any person wishing to address the Board is requested to raise their hand and, on being recognized, give his/her name and address. Questions relating to employees of the District will not be permitted; such questions should be referred to the Superintendent at another time.  It is requested that comments be limited to five (5) minutes.  Citizens who wish to present petitions to the Board may do so at this time; however, the Board will only receive the petitions and will not act upon them or their contents.

Rationale:  Continue work with McPherson and Jacobson on Superintendent Search. 

Rationale:  Regular Board Meeting - Monday, January 20, 2025 - 6:30 p.m. - Board Room at HPS District Offices