October 14, 2024 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

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

• Board President Desh identified the location of the Open Meetings Act Poster on the wall in the meeting room.
  • The changes are reflected in the currently posted materials: revised April 2024.

• Construction Manager At Risk (CMAR) representatives from BIC provided a progress report on the current building expansion and improvement projects. 
  • FYI: The CMAR summary report for October 14th, 2024 was a verbal report focusing on the final "punch list" items at both buildings relative to the development of the "substantial completion" document for the project.
• The BIC summary from the September 9th, 2024 board meeting is attached to this agenda item.

The following presentations were given at the meeting:

• Superintendent Hart discussed high school leadership and community engagement examples, including guided tours for the recent Open Houses and patron letters of communication touting examples of student citizenship within the community.
• On behalf of the high school Career Technical Education (CTE) teachers, Mrs. Liz Beach discussed curriculum, activities, and future ideas for the utilization of the new CTE shop areas at the high school.
  • Mrs. Beach also expressed her appreciation (on behalf of all the teachers) for the school board and community support for these programs. 
• Mr. Johnson provided information on the current Seniors and Civics board meeting attendance project.
  • More specific information regarding this project is contained in the document attached to this agenda item. 
• Mr. Johnson provided an update and summary on the enhancement of "Dual Credit" opportunities for students at the high school. 
  • Please see the attached document for more information.

• School Spending Review
• Veterans Day Review
• Elementary Presentation

• No further discussion. 

• No public comment was presented at the meeting.
  • Special note: Several high school seniors were in attendance at the meeting as part of a social studies project and the group of students introduced themselves to the board members. 

Superintendent Hart Discussed information on the following topics: 

• Panther Families: 
  • This is an elementary program designed to increase positive connections between students and different grade levels.
  • Please see the attached document. 
• Statewide General Election: 
  • The next election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 5th, 2024.
  • A sample ballot is attached to this agenda item for review. 
  • Local school board candidates on the ballot on November 5th include the following individuals:
    • Jaimi Calfee - Mrs. Calfee is a current board member. 
    • Tim Cheney - Mr. Cheney is a current board member.
    • Brandon Desh - Mr. Desh is a current board member and the current board president.
    • Vicki Hillman - Mts. Hillman is currently running for election to the school board. 
    • Jim Tate: - Mr. Tate is currently running for election to the school board. 
    • Good luck to all of our candidates, and we thank them for their commitment and desire to serve our community!
• Self-Care Stations at Bennet:
  • Please see the attached picture. 
• Activities Kudos:
  • Student Council
  • FFA/ FCCLA 
  • Cross Country Boys and Girls
  • Volleyball: ECNC Tournament
  • Music Programs
  • Quiz Bowl
  • Football 
  • Golf
  • One Act
• Open House Summary Feedback:
  • Bennet: Wednesday, October 2nd, 2024
  • PHS: Friday, October 4th, 2024
  • Student and Staff Tour Kudos
  • Areas of Interest Document: see attached. 
• NDE School Safety Handout:
  • Please see the attached document.
• Why Rural Matters: A State-by-State Summary of Schools:
  • Please see the attached document. 
  • Superintendent Hart shared additional information relative to this document at the meeting. 
• Option Enrollment 2025-2026 Appendix:
  • Superintendent Hart shared additional information relative to this document at the meeting. 
  • Please see the attached document.
• Community Unity Area Update:
  • Superintendent Hart shared additional information relative to this document at the meeting. 
• School Spending Review:
  • Representatives from the Nebraska Association of School Boards (NASB) will be in attendance at our Regular Board Meeting on Monday, November 11th to discuss school and state spending in more detail.
• School Finance and School Budgets Update:
  • Superintendent Hart shared additional information relative to this topic at the meeting. 
• Kempkes Plaque Relocation:
  • More information is contained in the attached pictures and documents. 
• Education Quest:
  • Education Quest representatives will be at the high school on Wednesday, October 16th at 6:00 p.m. to do a financial aid presentation for seniors/parents.
• Business Leader Meeting Summary: 
  • This event was held on Monday, September 30th at PHS.
  • Please see the attached documents. 
  • Superintendent Hart shared additional information relative to this topic at the meeting. 
• Annual Safety Audit Summary:
  • Our annual safety audit as required by the Nebraska Department of Education occurred on Monday, October 7, 2024.
  • Mr. Johnson and Mr. Haag will share some highlights of the audit in the administrative reports at the November 11th regular board meeting. 
  • Examples of window coverings at the high school were shown to the board members by Mr. Johnson at the meeting. 
• NDE School Safety Newsletter:
  • Emergency Response Mapping Grant Opportunity
  • Please see the attached document. 
• Student Enrollment Update:
  • Superintendent Hart shared additional information relative to this topic at the meeting. 
• Parent-Teacher Conferences: 
  • Feedback from Conferences
  • Mr. Haag shared feedback from the elementary school. 
  • Mr. Johnson shared feedback from the elementary school. 
• Staff Spotlights:
  • Please see the attached documents. 
  • Superintendent Hart shared additional information relative to this topic at the meeting. 
• Superintendent Evaluation Timeline:
  • Listed below is the process for the upcoming superintendent evaluation process.
• Friday. November 1^st - Thursday. November 7^th
  • Superintendent completes the self-evaluation
• Monday. November. 11^th
  • NASB sends board self-evaluation results
• Monday. November 11^th - Wednesday. November 20^th
  •  Board members complete their evaluations
• Monday, December. 2^nd
  • Final Report & Executive Summary will be emailed and mailed to the board president.

• Graduation has been set for May 10th, 2025 at 2:00 PM
• "Safety Week" was October 7th-11th. Elementary and high school ran through multiple drills including fire, lockdown, shelter, and bus evacuation.
• Staff work day is scheduled for October 17th.
• The first quarter will end on October 11th. Report cards will be going home the week of October 14th.
• October is National Bullying Prevention Month and Red Ribbon Week. District OR 1 takes an active stance against bullying to create a climate that prevents bullying before it begins. Elementary students will participate in an activity with the Purple Hand Pledge which will be reviewed throughout the year. Students will participate in Red Ribbon Week activities to promote positive choices.
• The week of October 7th is Fire Safety Week across the Country. The Bennet Fire and Rescue Department presented an assembly on fire safety to the Elementary students on Wednesday, October 9th.
• Mr. Haag, Mrs. Linke, Mr. Lahmon, Mrs. Vodicka, and Mr. Johnson all attended an MTSS conference in Kearney on September 25-27.
• All teachers are in their rooms minus Mr. Linke. We are awaiting the final touch-ups of that room. Crews continue to hit punch list items.
• The Bluez Festival went very well and was well attended. Special thanks to Mr. Hoeft and Mr.Furrow.
• Homecoming week was a success with student and staff participation in various dress-up days culminating with building pep rallies at both schools. The Kindergarten students participated in a commemorative coin ceremony with the senior class

• NSCAS reports were sent home with 4th, 5th, and 6th graders.
• 7th, 8th, and 9th graders will get their report with their report card. This information cannot be shared to the public until after the State releases it in November.
• 5th and 6th grade HAL students went to Gifford Farms in Bellevue for an enrichment opportunity focusing on Science Olympiad.  We will be hosting a 5th and 6th grade Quiz Bowl in November.  
• A plan for 7th and 8th students is still being finalized for the second semester. They will be participating in a field trip in December.
• The Reading Curriculum (Journeys) will expire at the end of this school year. Committees have been formed and will be meeting at the October Professional Development Day.
• Branching Minds update: This is a program that will more fully integrate student data so that we can begin using the data for interventions in alignment with our MTSS processes.
• Designated staff attended a Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) conference in Kearney on September 25-27.

• Committee members and Superintendent Hart discussed recommendations on the possible addition of extracurricular activities.

• Superintendent Hart shared additional information relative to this document at the meeting. 

  • Discussion centered around participation opportunities for all students, the timing of adding or removing activity programs, availability and quality of coaches, overall costs to develop and maintain additional activities and facilities, transportation, facility usage, the pros and cons of collaborating and combining teams between districts, and the impact of club leagues around the area.

  • Further discussion involved player preparation and camps, scheduling, level of competition, Title IX, program philosophy, and long-term viability of activity programs.

• A recommendation from the committee is listed below:

  • With Board of Education approval, we recommend a proposal to add baseball as a school sport beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
  • In alignment with current Title IX requirements and consultation with district legal counsel, we recommend adding girls' softball as a school sport pending viable student participation numbers (through continued school-based student surveys) beginning with the 2027-2028 school year.
• Please note: This recommendation is listed as an action item later in tonight's agenda. 

• The next meeting of this committee is scheduled for Wednesday, October 30th, 2024 at noon at Palmyra High School. 

  • Please note that this will be a public meeting as required by NDE and public notice of this meeting has been posted and will be advertised in the Voice News.   

• A summary of the meeting that was held on Wednesday, September 11th, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. at Palmyra High School in the west conference room was discussed and summarized by Superintendent Hart and committee members.
• The next Transportation and Facilities Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 23rd, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at PHS in the west conference room. 

• The Strategic Planning Committee will meet sometime in the spring or during the summer board retreat to discuss looking at enhancing the district Strategic Plan with the assistance of representatives from the Nebraska Association of School Boards (NASB).
  • This revision will be completed at no additional cost to the district as this is a service of the original agreement. 
• Please note: I have also attached a Prioritization Summary of our most recent discussions on this topic. 

• The Negotiations Committee met last year to finalize the certified Negotiated Agreement for 2024-2025 and 2025-2026. 
  • We are now in Year One of the current two-year contract.
• Negotiations Committee members met on Monday, October 14th to discuss the possibility of adjusting some contract language in the Salary Schedule Advancement section of the current Negotiated Agreement. 
  • The Negotiations Committee will meet again before the next board meeting to further discuss this issue and more information will be shared at the Monday, November 11th regular board meeting. 
• Superintendent Hart shared additional information relative to this topic at the meeting. 

• Superintendent Hart explained that Policy # 3241 would be a new policy and tonight would be the first reading of the document.
• The second and final reading will be conducted on Monday, November 11th, at the regular board meeting.
• LB 1329 allows (but does not require) school boards to adopt a policy on emergency response mapping.
  • There are funding opportunities available for schools that adopt such a policy.
• It was recommended that the board consider adding this policy as it would allow our district to apply for grant resources to have emergency maps created.
• These detailed building maps would expedite EMS responses and help facilitate on-site actions in a more proactive, efficient, and accessible manner.
• These digital maps would subsequently be shared with public safety agencies and updated at consistent intervals.
  • Additional note: If District OR-1 does not receive current grant funding and assistance with this project, the policy may be rescinded.

• Board President Brandon Desh was selected to represent District OR-1 at the Delegate Assembly at the State Education Conference in Omaha in late November.  

• The appendix and policy update was approved as discussed. 

• Board members approved the following recommendation:
  • With Board of Education approval, we recommend a proposal to add baseball as a school sport beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
  • In alignment with current Title IX requirements and consultation with district legal counsel, we recommend adding girls' softball as a school sport pending viable student participation numbers (through continued school-based student surveys) beginning with the 2027-2028 school year.

• No further discussion. 

• No closed session occurred during the meeting. 

• No further discussion. 

• The meeting was adjourned at 8:29 p.m.