February 12, 2025 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Monthly Meeting

Discussion:  President Lutkemeier opened the meeting at 7 pm.  The meeting notice was advertised in the February 6th publication of the Webster County Sun.  "The Open Meetings Act" poster was displayed in the meeting room.

Discussion:  N/A - as all members were in attendance.

Discussion:  No guests were in attendance and public comment was not utilized.

Discussion: 

1. NRCSA Spring Conference is March 20th and 21st in Kearney. Let Gail or myself know if you would like to attend and if you are planning to stay or not.

2. NASB Finance Workshop in Kearney on March 4th.

3. I need to apologize to the building committee. I forgot that Mr. Bonifas was going to be gone to Arizona last week. It didn’t work to get a meeting scheduled. What does next week look like for you to have a meeting in Bladen? Guessing about an hour and a half. Mr. Drake and myself need to get some guidance before we jump into action.

4. E-Funds for online card lunch payments has been working well.

5. Calendar will be ready for approval at the March BOE meeting.

6. Legislative Bill Updates that are important to our district.

7. Mr. Sluka and Mr. Jones will begin working through extra duty assignments for the 2025-26 school year. If you have comments or concerns, please contact them ahead of time.

8. NRCSA Legislative Forum will be held in Lincoln on Thursday, February 20th.

9. Accreditation visit will be February 18th. First visit since 2002.... There will be things that we will need to get corrected, most of which will be productive and beneficial to the district. Some things that we will have to get done simply to check a box for the state.

Discussion: 

Mr. Drake reported:

Enrollment as of 2/12/2025
Total Enrollment: 134

PreK- 26 (17 all day, 9 half day) Kindergarten - 9
1st Grade - 17
2nd Grade - 14
3rd Grade - 16
4th Grade - 23
5th Grade - 16
6th Grade - 13

Completed Events:
January 21st: Webster County Spelling Bee in Blue Hill
January 24th: 100th Day of School
January 28th: Elementary Quiz Bowl at Kenesaw (3-0)
January 30th: Lions Club Vision/Hearing rechecks
February 4th: ESU 9 Quiz Bowl (6th Place)
February 11th: Teacher In-Service (Data and Curriculum Mapping) February 12th: P/T Conferences/Title I Meeting

Upcoming Events:
February 18th: Edgerton on the Move at Silver Lake Elementary
February 24th: Preschool Roundup
February 24th: Kindergarten Roundup
March 2-6: Dr. Seuss Week
March 6: Parent Breakfast
March 7 and March 14: No School

Information:
Teacher Evaluations are complete

Discussion: 

Professional Development

January 28th - CTE Collaboration Day
January 29th - TVC Executive Meeting
February 11th - Staff In-Service
February 24th - ESU Planning Meeting
February 26th - TVC Executive Meeting
February 26th - Region 4 Meeting
March 5th - NCSA Meeting - Lincoln
March 19th - TVC Executive Meeting
March 19th - School Masters Meeting - Kearney

JH/HS Academics

January 21st - Webster County Spelling Bee
  Amielia Gomez - 7th Grade
  Emily Hemberger - 7th Grade
  Graham Karr - 8th Grade
  Araya Gomez - 8th Grade

February 3rd - Chad Cargill ACT Prep
February 10th - Canned Food Day
February 12th - PT Conferences
February 14th - ASVAB Testing
February 17th - Local Science Fair
March 6th - End of Quarter 3rd
March 12th - JH Science Fair @ North Platte
March 17th - MAPs Testing - ELA
March 18th - MAPs Testing - Math
March 19th - CCC Actions Day
March 20th - MAPs Testing - Science
March 21st - MAPs Testing - Reading
Other
  25-26 Schedule Will Be Created Soon
  Lions Club Vision and Hearing Completed
  Drivers Education to Starting Soon

JH/HS Safety Drills

February Fire Drill - TBA
Lock Down Drill - 2/14/25

JH/HS Sports / Activities

February 1st - HS BB @ TVC 1st Round
February 3rd - JH MathCounts @ Kearney
February 3rd - JH BBB @ Red Cloud
February 3rd - TVC BBB
February 4th - TVC GBB
February 5th - FFA @ State Degree Interviews
  Lane Conway
  Casey Conway

February 5th - HS Quiz Bowl @ ESU 9
February 5th - JH BBB vs Wil-Hil
February 6th - JH Quiz Bowl @ ESU 9
February 6th - TVC BBB
February 7th - TVC GBB
February 8th - TVC BB - Finals
  Boys TVC BB Champions
  Girls TVC BB Runner-Ups

February 11th - JH BBB vs Blue Hill
February 11th - HS GBB @ Shelton
February 13th - HS BB @ Giltner
February 14th - HS BB vs Meridian - Senior Night (Cheer, BB, Dance)
February 15th - Speech @ Superior
February 15th - Power Lifting @ Peru State
February 17-21 - National FFA Week
February 18th - HS GBB - Sub-Districts
February 19th - FFA Officer Interviews
February 20th - HS GBB - Sub-Districts
February 21st - HS BBB @ Shelton
February 22nd - Speech @ Elm Creek
February 25th - HS BBB - Sub-Districts
February 25th - FFA @ CDEs
February 26th - FFA Plant Sales Begin
February 26th - Speech @ TVC Speech (Deshler)
February 27th - HS BBB - Sub-Districts
February 28th - HS GBB - District Finals
March 1st - HS BBB - District Finals
March 1st - Powerlifting @ Verdigre
March 1st - Speech @ Voice of the Plains
March 3rd - Start of Spring Practices
March 3rd - HS Quiz Bowl @ Red Cloud
March 4th - Activity Pictures
March 5th - JH Quiz Bowl @ Lawrence-Nelson
March 6th-8th - GBB @ State
March 10th - FFA Banquet
March 12th - HS Quiz Bowl @ Lawrence-Nelson
March 12th - HS Spring Sport Pictures
March 13th - JH Spring Sport Pictures
March 13th-15th - BBB @ State
Other
  25-26 Holiday Tournament Update
  Weight Room Floor Update
  Prom - April 25th

Other:

JAG Update
Night Custodian Update
Track Shed Update

Discussion:  Each year we are asked to pay dues as members of the NASB.  With this comes an opportunity for discount rates on some training and conference opportunities as well as the support they provide throughout the school year.  

If paid by April 1, 2025, the amount is $3,859.

Discussion:  Dale would like to purchase a 31" vacuum to use on the hallways.  Egan has one that we would like to purchase. If it works as well as we think it will, I would then want to purchase one for Bladen too.

This would extend the life of our smaller vacuums greatly.  It would also be much more efficient for the halls. 

Discussion:  After months of looking around we have settled on the trailer we would like to purchase.  The specifications are attached.  

Trailer is $4,595
Delivery is $200
Total : $4,795

Coming from Wakefield.  

Discussion:  Hi-Line Motors LLC 
I feel like $5,000 is a great deal on the current 2004 trade in.  Kris is already bidding this at $3,900 under the current list value. I think this is a great deal.  We will move the mower from Bladen to Roseland.  After further discussion with board members, a high lift collector option was proposed.  Mr. Bauer will check into a quote with this option.

Discussion:  We have received notice that Mr. Shaun Fisher would like to resign from his position on the Silver Lake Board of Education.  

Attached you will find the resignation. 

Discussion:  Shaun Fisher's resignation from the board has created a vacancy in the Treasurer position on the board.  I will open the floor for nominations for the Silver Lake Board of Education Treasurer.  Brant Karr nominated Alan Bonifas for Treasurer.  No subsequent nominations were made.  Motion was made and carried to close nominations. Alan Bonifas will serve as Board Treasurer for the rest of the 2025 term.

Discussion:  We need to advertise the board vacancy.  Mr. Bauer will take care of the advertising of the vacancy.  

Discussion: 

Manner of Selecting a New Member. The statutes governing the replacement of board members give the board considerable discretion. Essentially, the board may proceed in the manner that the board members think will be in the district's best interest. Many boards simply pick a replacement they think would be a good member and appoint them. Others solicit applications and then interview the applicants about their knowledge and interests in order to determine which of them would be the best addition to the board.

Obligation to Appoint a New Member within 45 Days. As outlined in section 32-570(3), noted in full above, requires the board of education to appoint a new board member to fill a board vacancy. Though section 32- 570(3) does not specify any particular time within which the board must fill the vacancy, section 32-574 requires "all vacancies" to be filled within 45 days unless there is good cause to take longer or filling the vacancy within 45 days would pose an undue burden.

You should declare the vacancy at the February meeting and fill the vacancy within 45 days. If you declared the vacancy to the county and posted notice of it after your February board meeting, then appointed the new member in March, this would satisfy the requirements of the appointment statutes.

Open Meetings Act - No Executive Session. Be mindful that section 84-1410(1)(f) of the Open Meetings Act prohibits the board from going into executive session to discuss this topic. It states:

Nothing in this section shall permit a closed meeting for discussion of the appointment or election of a new member to a public body.

Board members discussed forming a committee of 3 board members to recommend a potential board candidate.  A potential candidate needs to be a voting resident of the district.  Mr. Bauer will develop a short 4-5 question application.  Board members volunteering to be on the committee are Leon Lutkemeier, Daren Niemeyer and Brant Karr.  Board members discussed an application deadline of March 1st.

Discussion:  The next regular school board meeting is set for Tuesday, March 11th, 7 pm at the Elementary in Bladen.  Future agenda items will include board member replacement and lawn mower quote.