Public Meeting Minutes: March 14, 2022 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

1. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance

Discussion:

Board President Desh called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Board President Desh led the board and the patrons in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance.

2. Announcement of the Open Meetings Act Posting

Discussion:

Board President Desh identified the location of the Open Meetings Act Poster on the wall in the meeting room.

3. Staff and Student Presentations

Discussion: The recipients of the "Excellence in Education" Award (names are listed below) were presented with a plaque at the meeting:

Rebecca Dvorak: Bennet Elementary Kindergarten Teacher
Taytum Stutzman: Special Education Teacher at Palmyra High School
Linde Walter: Bennet Elementary Principal

Congratulations to these staff members for their outstanding contributions to our district!

Attachments: (1)

_Excellence in Education_ Award Summary.District OR1. Updated. March 2022

4. Consent Agenda

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. Passed with a motion by Josh Penterman and a second by Lisa Wilen.

Busch: Yea
Calfee: Yea
Desh: Yea
Maahs: Yea
Penterman: Yea
Wilen: Yea

No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.

Discussion:

No further discussion.

4.1. Approval of Board Agenda

4.2. Approval of minutes of previous meetings

Attachments: (2)

4.3. Approval of Claims/Payment of Bills and Payroll

Attachments: (2)

4.4. Certificated/Classified Hire(s)/Reassignment(s)/Resignation(s)

4.5. Financial Report

Attachments: (1)

Financial Report. District OR.1March 14.2022

5. Public Comment

Discussion:

Public Comment was presented by Susan Royal of Palmyra.
Public Comment was presented by Todd Calfee of Bennet.

6. Administrative Reports

Discussion:

6.1. Superintendent's Report

Discussion:

Highlights of the report focused on the following topics:
- Staff and student recognition, legislative update, upcoming community engagement opportunities, and a grade reconfiguration update.

Attachments: (5)

6.2. Administrative Team Report

Discussion:

Highlights presented by Ms. Walter and Mr. Johnson included assessment updates, 5th and 6th-grade orientation information, field trips, and spring activities at the high school.
The public is invited to attend our upcoming home track meets on Friday, March 25th, and Saturday, April 30th, 2022.

Attachments: (3)

7. Discussion Items- Committee Reports

Attachments: (1)

2022 Board Committee Assignments_ District OR.1. Updated January 10. 2022

7.1. Negotiations Committee Update

Discussion:

Board member Penterman summarized the Negotiations Committee meetings regarding classified staff, substitutes, and bus drivers.

7.2. Curriculum: Committee on American Civics Update

Discussion:

Board members Wilen and Busch provided an update on the committee meeting held at the high school on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
The next committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at Palmyra High School from 12:00 -1:00 pm in the conference room. In accordance with state statutes, this will be a public meeting.
No further discussion.

Attachments: (1)

Curriculum_ Committee on American Civics. March 9.2022.Summay of agenda

7.3. Facility Audit Update

Discussion:

Board President Desh summarized the facilities update.
- Highlights of the summary included setting up a Facilities Committee meeting to discuss ideas for moving forward with possible building improvement plans. This committee meeting will take place on Monday, March 21st.
- Highlights of the summary also included a discussion about possible costs related to updating buildings and the difference between a special and a general bond election.

Attachments: (3)

7.4. Strategic Planning Update

Discussion:

Superintendent Hart summarized the Strategic Planning update.
- Highlights of the discussion included looking at the summary of needs identified by various stakeholder groups in surveys conducted in the fall of 2021.
- Important strategic outcomes were identified by various stakeholder groups and these outcomes will be prioritized by the administrative team and then shared with board members and the community.
- This discussion was a follow-up to the information presented at the March 1st Special Meeting.

Attachments: (3)

7.5. Olson Complex Update

Discussion:

Superintendent Hart provided a summary to the board regarding information about upcoming activities and events at the Olson Complex.
- Highlights included the return of Panther Club Baseball, updates on the west lot near the complex (adding a shot put and batting cage to the area), and an update on the timing system that will be used for our upcoming track meets.
- Our first home track meet is scheduled for Friday, March 25th, beginning at 3:00 p.m.
- The ECNC Conference track meet is scheduled for Saturday, April 30th at the Olson Complex.

8. Policy Review

8.1. Policy # 5007: Foreign Exchange Students

Discussion:

No further discussion

Attachments: (1)

Foreign Exchange Student Policy.5007. for review. March 14.2022

8.2. Discuss Memorials "Draft" Policy # 1320

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Motion to approve the first reading of Memorials Policy #1320. Passed with a motion by Lisa Wilen and a second by Jaimi Calfee.

Busch: Yea
Calfee: Yea
Desh: Yea
Maahs: Yea
Penterman: Yea
Wilen: Yea

No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.

Discussion:

Board members voted to approve the first reading of this policy.
The policy will be up for "second reading" at the April 11th Regular Board Meeting.

Attachments: (1)

Memorials Policy Draft. Policy No 1320. District OR1.March 14.2022

9. Action Items

9.1. Presentation, discussion, and or official action to approve the purchase of a new diesel school bus in alignment with the required specifications of the Nebraska Clean Energy bus rebate program.

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Motion to approve the submission of bids for the purchase of a new diesel school bus. Passed with a motion by Jaimi Calfee and a second by Dean Busch.

Busch: Yea
Calfee: Yea
Desh: Yea
Maahs: Yea
Penterman: Yea
Wilen: Yea

No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.

Discussion:

Superintendent Hart provided information on the Nebraska Clean Energy bus rebate program and the development of a request for bids for a new diesel bus.
No further discussion.

Attachments: (1)

Palmyra Diesel RFP. Due Date.March 17.2022

9.2. Presentation, discussion, and or official action to approve compensation increases for classified staff members.

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Motion to approve compensation increases for the classified staff. Passed with a motion by Dean Busch and a second by Josh Penterman.

Busch: Yea
Calfee: Abstain
Desh: Yea
Maahs: Yea
Penterman: Yea
Wilen: Yea

No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.

Discussion:

Increases were discussed and approved for drivers and classified hourly support staff
No further discussion

9.3. Presentation, discussion, and or official action to add an additional teacher to Bennet Elementary.

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Motion to approve the hiring of an additional elementary teacher at Bennet. Passed with a motion by Jaimi Calfee and a second by Lisa Wilen.

Busch: Yea
Calfee: Yea
Desh: Yea
Maahs: Yea
Penterman: Yea
Wilen: Yea

No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.

Discussion:

Superintendent Hart provided information regarding the need for an additional classroom teacher at the elementary school. Specifically, the current student numbers in 3rd grade and the need to add an additional teacher for 4th grade in 2022-2023 were discussed.
No further discussion.

9.4. Presentation, discussion, and or official action to approve the Superintendent's Contract.

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Motion to approve the Superintendent contract. Passed with a motion by Jaimi Calfee and a second by Clayton Maahs.

Busch: Yea
Calfee: Yea
Desh: Yea
Maahs: Yea
Penterman: Yea
Wilen: Yea

No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.

Discussion:

Board President Desh provided a review of the 2-year superintendent agreement.
No further discussion.

Attachments: (2)

10. Board of Education Development

Discussion:

Superintendent Hart and board members discussed items related to option enrollment, board self-assessment, safety issues associated with local highways, board election information, possible summer board retreat date and location, and upcoming professional development and board leadership opportunities.

Attachments: (1)

Nebraska Legislative Calendar for 2022

11. Closed Session

Discussion:

No closed session.

12. Topics for Next Month’s Agenda

Discussion:

The next regular board meeting is Monday, April 11th, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. at Palmyra High School in the media center.

13. Adjournment

Discussion:

The meeting was adjourned at 9:33 p.m.

March 14, 2022 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

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