August 11, 2026 at 7:30 PM - Board of Education Regular Monthly Meeting

Discussion:  President Lutkemeier opened the meeting at 7:30 PM.  The meeting notice was advertised in the July 23rf publication of the Webster County Sun.  "The Open Meetings Act" poster was displayed in the meeting room.

Discussion:  Guests in attendance were: Arlo Thayer, Michelle Magarin, & Jennifer Karr.  Public comment was not utilized.

Discussion: 

Superintendent’s Report
Mr. Bauer plans to make transfers this month to activities ($50,000), nutrition ($50,000) and depreciation ($150,000).
Mr. Drake, Mr. Lovin and myself attended administrator days. 
Waiting on valuations to finish putting the budget and tax requests completely. We will obviously be diving deep into a few things during the budget presentation later. I have been working diligently on two different paths that we can take. There is a world where both of them may require a pink post card meeting. I am going to lean heavily on our 9 member board to choose the appropriate path.
Vans are still in conversion at mobility works. I think they may have overshot the amount of vehicles they could get transitioned and the time it was going to take. Looking at other options for the next wave. I have mobility works scouting for a van for replacement of our handicap van. Looking at the numbers it will benefit us to make that purchase in the next budget cycle to help us with our maintenance of effort.
We need to be sure to set a date for the tax request and budget hearings. In the event that we do a pink postcard meeting. I’m looking at September 23rd in Roseland.
The Pink post card meeting is scheduled for September 16th at 6:01 p.m. in Hastings at the HPS Auditorium. I will need at least one of you to represent the district and we will need to have at least one person sitting at the table out front handing out information on our districts behalf. I did have September 16th down as out monthly meeting so we will need to find an alternate date for the September meeting or consider going in the morning on the same date.

Discussion: 

Elementary Principal Report
Enrollment:
PreK ½ Day: 12
PreK All Day: 11
Kindergarten: 15
1st Grade: 19
2nd Grade: 8
3rd Grade: 17
4th Grade: 15
5th Grade: 15
6th Grade: 23

Completed Events:
Jump Start/PreK Summer School - July 27-August 7
August 10th - Math Curriculum Training
August 11th - ESU 9 In-Service
Elementary Back to School Night/Open House - August 11th

Upcoming Events:
Jump Start/PreK Summer School - July 27-August 7
Elementary Back to School Night/Open House - August 11th
Teacher In-Service - August 12
First Day of School - August 13
Drills, Drills, Drills - August 14th
First Day of Preschool - August 20th

Information: October 27th: We will be presenting on our STEAM class at the Nebraska Fall Ed Tech Conference.

PD/Meetings:June 29-31: Administrator Days

Staffing: We’ll discuss later in the agenda.

Discussion: 

Mr. Lovin talked about
Administrator Days
New Teacher Training
Back to School Night and how they can make improvements/changes for next year
First Two Days of Teacher InService
Getting Ready for Students on Thursday

Up to 94 Students in the High School this year 

Discussion:  Discuss, consider, and take all necessary action to adopt resolution increasing the school district’s base growth percentage used to determine the school district’s property tax request authority by up to seven percent (7%).

Discussion:  Hi-Line Motors - $21,957.98
Woodhouse - $126,330. (If we have them) 

Discussion:  Big Al's Bins - $70,136.11
Kerford Limestone - $954.28
Johnson Trenching - $200
Johnson Trenching - $1,444.73
E&S Trucking - $459.20
Go Turf Nebraska - $30,308.55
Go Turf Nebraska - $30,308.55
Intellicom - $4,158
Webster County Treasurer - $925.18
JVJ Construction - $3,600
Intellicom - $13,357.28
Big Al's Bins - $25,000
Holmes Asphalts Millings - $4,000
Big Al's Bins - $70,000
Smitty's Electric - $50,000
JVJ Construction - $5,759.38
JVJ Construction - $9,631.52
Egan Supply - $30,848.08

Discussion:  24-25 $92,383
25-26 $90,200
26-27 $86,125

Discussion:  As Gail moves into retirement, we need to make sure that we have signers updated with both banks.  
I would like to add Brittany McMahon and Michelle Magarin as signers.

Discussion:  We borrowed from the Bond fund to the General fund in December, we need to move that money back over to the Bond Fund account.

Discussion:  We needed to fill the void left by Michelle Magarin

Discussion:  Rule 10 requires that we have a part time school nurse available.  Jaden Lewis has accepted the position.

Discussion:  We have a new student moving into the district at the 7-12 facility that will require a one on one para.

Discussion:  We need to increase our para availability at the elementary.  We have some classes with growing numbers who happen to have some kids with higher needs.

Discussion:  Last year we filled in with some staff members.  Shirley reached out looking for potential employment cleaning again.  Mr. Drake interviewed and made the recommendation that we welcome her back.

Discussion:  Mr. Bauer will have a couple of budget handouts for the 2026-2027 budget for the Silver Lake Board of Education and any guests present.  Mr. Bauer will discuss the process of preparing the budget and the different funds.  We will also need to discuss the property tax request authority as well as the budget authority.  
* Note - All budget items are subject to change based on conversations at the meeting as well as fluctuations with evaluations, real growth.  Evaluations do not come out until August 20th.

Discussion:  Last meeting I told you I would gather some information regarding the pricing on new buses from Blue Bird.    

59 passenger propane bus (AC, air ride driver seat, overhead storage racks)

• $165,000-$172,500

59 passenger gas bus  (AC, air ride driver seat, overhead storage racks)

• $156,000-$163,000

Micro 14 passenger gas bus (CEW Activity Seating, AC, Cruise Control)

• $110,000-$120,000

65 passenger propane bus (AC, air ride driver seat, under bus cargo storage)

• $166,000-$173,000

65 passenger gas bus. (AC, air ride driver seat, under bus cargo storage)

• $157,000-$164,000

Discussion:  Meeting Adjourned at 8:44 PM