March 4, 2026 at 5:30 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting
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1. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance
Discussion:
Vice President Heyen called the Regular Meeting to order at 5:30 PM and the Pledge of Allegiance was said.
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2. Nebraska Open Meetings Law
Discussion:
The audience was reminded that Open Meeting Laws would be followed.
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3. Motion to Excuse Board Member's Absence
Discussion:
Motion by Lange, second by Benes to excuse the absence of Cathy Burklund. RCV 5-0. Motion carried.
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4. District Mission Statement
The Raymond Central community is committed to providing a positive, challenging learning environment which prepares each individual to be a responsible citizen in an ever-changing society. |
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5. Consent Agenda
Discussion:
Motion by Matulka, second by Lange to approve the consent agenda as presented including the regular meeting minutes of February 11, 2026; and updated Board Policies 4100-Qualifications for Appointment as Teacher and 4101-Qualifications for Appointment to Administrative and Supervisory Positions. Financial statement and monthly bills were unavailable due to the Board Meeting being a week early. RCV 5-0. Motion carried.
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5.1. Minutes of February 11, 2026 Meeting
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5.2. Financial Statement/Report
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5.3. Monthly Bills
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5.4. Policy Review
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6. Correspondence/Recognition
Discussion:
FBLA award winners from the Midland Business Competition were: 1st Place-Raymond Liu-Intro to Info Tech; 2nd Place-Marissa Jensen-Business Communication; and 4th Place-Grace Schulte-Agribusiness.
Tony Kobza and our staff ran an incredible District Championship Basketball Event. Unfortunately the outcome wasn’t what we had hoped for. The Fine Arts students put on a wonderful Pops Concert on February 26. |
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6.1. Staff Device and Computer Lab Purchasing Plan
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Discussion:
Student Chromebooks will be updated at grades 6 and 10. Devices are slowing down due to AI features included included in Chrome browser, etc. and we had to upgrade to 8GB of RAM. We are also looking at going with 11.6" (instead of 12.2") models due to availability and pricing.
Lab Computers are due to be updated. We have two computer labs with 24 computers each. It is yet to be determined if we buy ¼ of needed computers which spreads out the cost but would require purchasing every 1-2 years or if we buy ½ of needed computers which would complete one lab at once and purchase every 3-4 years. Staff Computers - we are giving staff the option of using a Windows Device (15" Lenovo) which we have been using for the past 5 years or a 15" Macbook Air. Macbooks would be easier to manage but some staff will need to stay on Windows for the type of software they run and our labs will stay Windows based. Macbooks are slightly more expensive so we will run Macs on a 5-6 year rotation while Lenovos will stay on a 4 year rotation. |
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6.2. CTE Expansion Report
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Discussion:
Career Technical Education (CTE) is undergoing significant growth, driven by a need for a more skilled workforce and increased student demand for hands-on learning.
The AQuESTT Classification System includes a Postsecondary Readiness Indicator measuring high school and district success through a combination of student attainment (rates) and year-to-year improvement. It focuses on preparing students for life after high school through five key menu items: AP/IB/Dual Credit completion, Seal of Biliteracy, CTE cluster completion, work-based learning, or ACT benchmarks. Work-based learning in Nebraska’s AQuESTT system connects students with employers to develop technical, academic, and career-readiness skills through paid or unpaid experiences like internships and apprenticeships. This update aligns with efforts to measure student readiness for college, career, and military pathways, moving beyond just proficiency to ensure students are prepared for life after high school. |
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7. Public Forum
Discussion:
Leo Hain and Maelyn Hain addressed the Board in favor of adding a boys and girls Bowling Program at Raymond Central.
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8. Reports
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8.1. Administrative Reports
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Discussion:
Submitted by Troy Lurz, Jr-Sr High School Principal
Professional Development/Resource Adoption: Our next professional development day is scheduled for March 6, and will continue our focus on new learning. The Science Department continues to narrow its instructional resource options and we met Monday of this week to determine the direction we were planning to go. The team hopes to have a recommendation for consideration after this week. Once selected and agreed to, additional time will be provided for collaborative work as the teachers work to properly induct the materials and their selection. Walkthroughs vs. Observations: Understanding the Difference in Purpose, Process, and Impact As part of our commitment to instructional improvement, I have conducted nearly 270 walkthroughs this year. It is important to clarify that walkthroughs are not observations, even though both involve visiting classrooms.
We use a program called TeachBoost to collect and warehouse our observation/ walkthrough data. Observations are part of the formal teacher evaluation process. They are structured, longer in duration (a full period by policy), and aligned to Nebraska and Raymond Central School district Professional Educator Standards. During an observation, Raymond Central administrators evaluate one teacher’s performance against established standards such as lesson planning, instructional delivery, classroom management, and assessment practices. The data collected is specific to that educator and is followed by an individual post-observation conference focused on strengths, growth areas, and overall job performance. Walkthroughs, on the other hand, are short, frequent classroom visits designed to gather instructional data across multiple classrooms. They are not evaluative in nature. Instead, they provide a snapshot of instructional practices (such as our 6-Phase Model), student engagement (such as 100% engagement principles previously targeted at Raymond Central), implementation of professional development, and overall school culture. The data collected during walkthroughs is aggregated, allowing leadership teams and sometimes PLCs to identify trends and patterns rather than focusing on individual teachers. For example, if the instructional focus for a given week is formative assessment which we have targeted the last two years, walkthrough data can be pooled to determine how consistently those strategies are being implemented and where additional support may be needed. The key distinction is this: observations measure individual educator effectiveness, while walkthroughs measure instructional system effectiveness. Observations ensure accountability within the evaluation framework. Walkthroughs provide real-time feedback on how well initiatives, strategies, and professional learning are being implemented across the school. Both are important, but they serve fundamentally different purposes. The nearly 270 walkthroughs conducted this year reflect an intentional effort to monitor implementation, strengthen instructional alignment, and support continuous improvement at the systems level not to evaluate individual teachers outside of the formal observation process. Social Media Presence: Our staff and school community continue to do an excellent job sharing the positive stories happening at RCHS. The use of social media as a strategic communication tool continues to grow, helping us proactively tell our story to the broader public. Staff members regularly highlight student accomplishments, program successes, and classroom experiences, reinforcing the many strengths of our school. There is much to celebrate, and our increased digital presence reflects that pride. Go Mustangs. #RCNation @RCMustangs ACT Day: This year’s PreACT and ACT assessments will take place on March 24. Students participating in testing will complete their required assessments, while those not testing will engage in structured off-campus educational and career exploration experiences. Tasha and Celia have coordinated field trips to a variety of institutions and businesses to provide meaningful, real-world learning opportunities. This will be a full and important day for students and staff, supporting both academic accountability and career readiness at RCHS. Prom: Prom will be held on March 28 at The Cornhusker. The theme for this year is A Night in Paradise. Doors will open at 7:00 PM. We look forward to providing a safe, memorable experience for our students as they celebrate this important milestone. Counseling: Tasha and Celia
The blood drive will take place on Wednesday, April 1 from 9:30am-1:00pm. with the Bloodmobile located in the RCHS parking lot. The Student Council invites all eligible community members to come out and support this important cause. This year’s drive ties into the "Green Flag" theme, symbolizing care, responsibility, and doing the right thing for others. Donating blood is truly a green flag moment; one simple action that can save lives and make a meaningful difference. We appreciate the continued support of our school and community as our students lead by example and give back in a powerful way. JH Student Council: The Middle School dance has been rescheduled for Friday, April 24 from 7:00-9:00pm. Students are excited for THE middle school event of the year! A portion of our proceeds will go toward the Nebraska Make-A-Wish Foundation. Submitted by Tony Kobza, Asst Jr-Sr High School Principal/Athletic Director Activities FBLA - Looking ahead, the next RC FBLA Craft Fair is scheduled for March 21, 2026. FBLA is also launching a business clothes closet to provide members and RC students with professional clothing for competitions and the workforce. More details will be shared soon. One Act - The Drama Program is gearing up for the Drama Showcase and the Spring Musical (to be announced), as well as our two planned show experiences coming up during the spring semester: Hadestown (based on Greek Mythology) and Capital City (based on Mari Sandoz's novel), both at the Lied Center. Beyond being a great deal of fun, experiences like this are invaluable to the students' learning because they can observe the "best of the best" in the performing arts and take inspiration for their own art, strengthening skills they use in and out of rehearsal. Quiz Bowl - The school qualified a team to attend the National Academic Quiz Bowl Tournament in Chicago in April. Students who will be attending are: Drew Tice, Sophia Burt, Deacon Christensen, and Marissa Tvrdy. Facilities/MTAF Created parking area on the well field that can be used for overflow parking attached to current and future parking areas. MTAF is over $1 million raised through donations, sponsorships, fundraising, grants and in-kind commitments. The driveway is paved and close to being usable. This will affect traffic flow in a positive way. We are working on fundraising and grants that will help us continue to show progress. Driveway is a major step. Next steps are: Site Drainage, Fence and perimeter curb for playing surface, Final Grading for field, Rock and perimeter drain for sub base, and Turf Installation. Submitted by Abby Horbach, Asst Jr-Sr High School Principal February has been all about consistency and continued progress within our Advisory and Intervention framework. While there are no major updates to report, the steady implementation of our systems is producing meaningful results. We are seeing a significant increase in missing assignments being completed, overall grade improvement, and stronger student accountability for their work completion and most importantly, their learning. Students are becoming more proactive in monitoring their academic progress and taking responsibility for meeting expectations. The development of executive functioning skills (e.g., organization, communication, follow-through, and time management) continues to be a central focus, and we are confident these skills will have a lasting impact on students both educationally and professionally. This progress is a direct reflection of our teachers’ dedication and flexibility. Second semester brought meaningful changes to our structures, and our staff have embraced those adjustments with professionalism and a student-centered mindset. I would like to personally thank our teachers for the hard work and intentional effort they continue to invest in supporting student success. Good things are happening, and we look forward to continuing this positive momentum as we move through the remainder of the semester. Submitted by Elementary Principals Steve Rose and Deb Kruse 2026-2027 Elementary Classroom Staff
Kindergarten - Lillian Gansebom Lillian is currently student teaching in Gretna while completing her Reading Specialist degree. We are excited to welcome her to our kindergarten team. 1st Grade - Karlie Hanson Karlie brings several years of experience working in LPS and is currently teaching in David City. She holds degrees in special education and administration, and we look forward to the knowledge and experiences she will bring to first grade. 2nd Grade - Molly Barnett Molly has several years of teaching experience in LPS. She has also served as an instructional coach and special education coordinator, providing her with a strong background in both instruction and support services. 3rd Grade -Rachael Mika Rachael has a few years experience teaching at Blessed Sacrament in Lincoln. She lives in Ceresco. 3rd Grade - Sarah Millet Sarah has many years experience teaching elementary. She has a Master’s Degree and has been subbing for us this year. She is the long term substitute for Makenna Jones. PLC Data Meetings Last week we had our PLC Data Meetings. Each grade level looked at weekly data as well as the progress monitoring data of students in intervention. Some adjustments were made. Kindergarten: Teachers have found more time in the day to pull students who aren’t making adequate progress with nonsense word fluency. 1st: Teachers have included fluency work as part of their morning routine to increase automaticity. 2nd: Data shows what they are doing is working. They will continue to have students apply concepts throughout curricular areas. 3rd: Students need more practice with automaticity. They will add fluency slides to the start of WIN groups for all groups and continue with reading Morph passages. 4th: Data shows that students need practice in automaticity. Teachers will model fluent reading and continue evidence based fluency practices. 5th: Data shows that some students are accurate but not automatic. These students will receive fluency interventions. Students will set goals and monitor their progress. Professional Learning The Professional Learning Team met on February 26 to plan for our upcoming March 6 professional learning session focused on our Instructional Model. As we continue progressing through the model, we are now entering Phase 4: Make Sense of Learning. This phase emphasizes helping students process, solidify, and internalize their learning through structured support and collaboration. During our March 6 session, we will focus on two key strategies:
RC Instructional Model Submitted by Amanda Coufal, Director of Special Education Indicator 13 Corrective Action Plan (CAP) Training: Indicator 13 training was held on February 12, for IEP case managers who work with students with transition plans included in their IEPs. The training was well received and will strengthen our ability to develop compliant, high-quality transition plans moving forward. As a reminder, our recent review identified only two minor documentation errors related to inviting outside agencies and completing the four-year course plan within the IEP. Both issues have been corrected and the revisions have been submitted to NDE. NASES Legislative Conference: Caitlin Roussan and I attended the first day of the Legislative Conference in Lincoln on February 19. (The second day was canceled due to inclement weather.) The sessions included:
The Special Education Policies and Procedures document has been reviewed and updated to reflect current transition requirements. The following has been added: XX. Transition Part B: Percent of youth with IEPs in Nebraska, aged 14 and above with an IEP that includes appropriate measurable postsecondary goals that are annually updated and based upon an age-appropriate transition assessment, transition services, including courses of study, that will reasonably enable the student to meet those postsecondary goals, and annual IEP goals related to the student’s transition services needs. There also must be evidence that the student was invited to the IEP Team meeting where transition services are to be discussed and evidence that, if appropriate, a representative of any participating agency that is likely to be responsible for providing or paying for transition services, including, if appropriate, pre-employment transition services, was invited to the IEP Team meeting with the prior consent of the parent or student who has reached the age of majority. (20 U.S.C. 1416(a)(3)(B)).
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8.2. Student Board Member Report
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8.3. Superintendent's Report
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Discussion:
Results from the Federal Food Service Audit in Ceresco on February 18 were shared with the Board.
Superintendent Hanson gave an update on Legislative Bills in Congress. There will be a Vision Committee Meeting on March 19. The Raymond Central District Strategic Plan will need to be updated. The old one was from 2019-2025. An attendance update was given: HS 93.61%, MS 94.87%, 3-5 95.1%, K-2 95.58%. |
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8.3.1. Classified Staff Hire(s)/Reassignment(s)/Resignation(s)
Discussion:
Resignations have been received from Jennifer Hoffschneider, HS Head Cook and Patty Hudson, Food Service Coordinator.
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8.3.2. NASB Monthly Update
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8.3.3. NRCSA Monthly Report
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8.3.4. Update on Superintendent Goals
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8.3.5. Safety Report
Discussion:
New driveway lighting will be installed later this spring.
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8.3.6. Facilities Report
Discussion:
Gravel is down in the south parking lot.
Roof inspection has been completed. |
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8.3.7. Important Upcoming Dates
Discussion:
April 8 - Board Workshop
April 15 - Board Meeting at 5:30 PM |
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8.4. Board Committee Reports
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8.4.1. Curriculum & American Civics Committee (Burklund-chair, Lange, Matulka)
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8.4.2. Facilities & Transportation Committee (Matulka-chair, Burklund, Lange)
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8.4.3. Finance Committee (Burklund-chair, Heyen, Lange)
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8.4.4. Negotiations Committee (Benes-chair, Heyen, Matulka)
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8.4.5. Policy Committee (Benes-chair, Brase, Heyen)
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9. Old Business
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10. New Business
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10.1. Discuss, Consider, and Take Necessary Action to Approve Certificated Staff Hire(s)/Reassignment(s)/Resignation(s)
Discussion:
Motion by Matulka, second by Lange to approve new hires Rachel Mika-3rd Grade, Sarah Millet-3rd Grade, Cindy Klepper-HS Counselor, and Abby Pelster-PK & 6-12 Speech Pathologist; resignations from Ashlyn Lukasiewicz-3rd Grade, Josh Karel-Spanish, and Michael Lucas-Elementary PE; and substitute teacher Samuel Carman. RCV 5-0. Motion carried.
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10.2. Discuss, Consider, and Take Necessary Action to Approve Activities Director/Assistant Principal Contract for Thomas Brinkman
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Discussion:
Motion by Matulka, second by Benes to approve Thomas Brinkman as Activities Director/Assistant Principal. RCV 5-0. Motion carried.
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10.3. Discuss, Consider, and Approve the Addition of New Classes at Raymond Central High School
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Discussion:
Motion by Benes, second by Brase to approve the addition of new classes at Raymond Central: Dual Credit Medical Terminology and Raymond Central Work Based Learning. RCV 5-0. Motion carried.
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10.4. Discuss, Consider and Take Necessary Action to Approve the Annual Audit
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Discussion:
Motion by Lange, second by Brase to approve the annual audit for the year ending August 31, 2025 completed by Shaw, Hull & Navarrette Certified Public Accountants. RCV 5-0. Motion carried.
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10.5. Discuss, Consider and Take Necessary Action to Approve the addition of a Boys and Girls Bowling Program.
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Discussion:
Motion by Matulka, second by Brase to approve the addition of a boys and girls Bowling Program as a winter sport. RCV 5-0. Motion carried.
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10.6. Discuss, Consider, and Take Necessary Action to Approve the process for selecting a design firm for a potential construction project.
Discussion:
Discussion was held regarding the process of selecting a design firm for a potential construction project. Mr. Hanson will interview firms. A Board Meeting will be held for top three firms to submit their proposals. The final firm will be selected by the Board.
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11. Next Regular Board Meeting
Discussion:
The next regular Board of Education Meeting will be held Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
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12. Adjournment
Discussion:
Motion by Brase, second by Benes to adjourn the meeting at 6:52 PM. RCV 5-0. Motion carried.
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