July 8, 2026 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

The formation of public policy is public business and may not be conducted in secret.  Every meeting of the Norris Board shall be open to the public and abide by the Nebraska Open Meetings Act, a copy of which is available for inspection at our meeting site.

Rationale: 

The Norris School District, in collaboration with our communities and families, provides a safe, positive environment that empowers students to grow, explore, and engage into lifelong learners and responsible, productive citizens.

Rationale:  Reports from administrators on items of interest to the Board.

Rationale:  The regular board meeting agenda provides for citizens to present information or to express opinions to the board through public comment.

Rationale: 

Rationale:  The Superintendent reports on matters of interest to the Board.

Rationale: 

• July 9th - ALICAP Summer Workshop 

• August 12th - Regular Board of Education Meeting

• August 24th - Board of Education Budget Workshop 

• August 25th - NASB Area Membership Meeting (Nebraska City)

Rationale:  A massive shoutout and THANK YOU to our incredible custodial, grounds and transportation crews! While everyone else was recharging this summer, this team was working behind the scenes to crush campus projects, polish the hallways, clean and inspect our vehicle fleet and keep our district looking its absolute best. We see your hard work, and we appreciate everything you do to get us ready for a great school year.

Rationale:  Certified
Hire
Sabbatical
Change of Assignment
Resignation
Retire

Extra Duty
Hire
Resignation
Retire

Support Staff
Hire

• Milad Abuzaho - 9-Month Night Custodian (High School)
• Andrew Burrows - 9-Month Night Custodian (Middle School)

Change of Assignment
Resignation
Retire

Rationale:  Consent items are considered routine and will be passed with a vote; however, any Board member can ask to remove an item from the consent list for separate action.  Normally included in the consent items are the agenda, minutes, approval of the claims, financial reports, and any personnel matters or other reports identified in the Superintendent's Report.  The order of the agenda items may be rearranged according to the Board's preference.

Rationale:  2026 Legislative Updates & Changes
Required Updates (Second Read) 

• Policy 1110 (Bulletin Boards): LB 429 added new requirements for "equal access" to teachers by professional organizations and teacher associations. Policy 1110 has been updated to ensure that qualifying organizations and associations are granted such access under the new law. 
• Policy 3560 (Records Management and Disposition): LB 596 updated references in the record retention laws to better reflect current technology and electronic storage capabilities. Policy 3560 has been updated to reflect these changes. 
• Policy 5004 (Full-time and Part-time Enrollment): LB 937 refined the part-time enrollment statutes to provide greater flexibility for students participating in national and state activities such as FFA.
• Policy 5005 (Student Residence, Admission and Contracting for Educational Services): LB 937 imposes a new requirement that school districts may not disenroll a student who is the subject of a DHHS investigation. Under this new law, if DHHS notifies a school district that a student may be the victim of abuse or neglect, the district cannot facilitate a student's withdrawal or transfer to a different school. If a parent or guardian attempts to withdraw or transfer the student during this period, the district must notify DHHS. 
• Policy 5006 (Option Enrollment): LB 653 amended the option enrollment statutes by requiring the "automatic" acceptance of siblings of option students currently enrolled in a district. Policy 5006 has been updated to reflect this new requirement.
• Appendix to Policy 5006 (Option Resolution): Similar to the changes made in Policy 5006, the Option Resolution has been updated to reflect the change in LB 653 that removes capacity limitations for option siblings. 
• Policy 5008 (Attendance): LB 937 amended the student attendance laws to provide that a documented absence from a credentialed health professional shall excuse a student's absence for that day and not count toward a student's truancy accumulation. 
• Policy 5101 (Student Discipline): LB 653 amended the Student Discipline Act and requires two changes to board policy. First, LB 653 created an exception to the prohibition on suspending young students. Previously, PK-2 students could only be suspended for bringing a firearm or deadly weapon to school. Now, a PK-2 student can be suspended for violent behavior. In addition, LB 653 amends the notice requirements for student discipline letters.
• Policy 5209 (School Library Materials and Parent Access): Under the new law, before the 2026-27 school year begins, every public school district must adopt a Board Policy that: 
  • Requires a "catalog" of all books in the school district's library. The "catalog" must be categorized by school building and accessible for viewing by a student's educational decision maker; and 
  • Allows educational decision makers to be notified when their student checks out a book from the school library, including the book's name, author, and due date. 
• Policy 5671 (Graduation): Last year, LB 296 amended Nebraska's graduation statute to provide an exception for students who, at some point during their high school career, were under the supervision of a juvenile court. 
• Policy 7001 (Annual Organizational Meeting): LB 596 allows each board to designate the method by which they will give advanced public notice of board meetings. The method must be noted in the meeting minutes. At the annual organizational meeting, each board should approve (and note in the minutes) the designated method of giving notice, such as on the district's website or posting in conspicuous places within the district. 
• Policy 7021 (Designated Method of Giving Notice of Meetings): LB 596 amends the Open Meetings Act's notice requirements. Previously, notices of board meetings were required to be published in the newspaper, with several exceptions. Now, notices of regular meetings only need to be published four times per year. Schools that wish to continue publishing monthly notices in the newspaper are free to continue doing so.

Recommended Updates (Second Read) 

• Policy 3130 (Purchasing Policy): The Purchasing Policy is important to ensure that Boards have oversight of large purchases in the District, while affording the administration the flexibility to make smaller purchases when needed. However, Policy 3130 does not delineate between purchasing products and expending district funds for ongoing service or renewals previously approved (such as utility bills, insurance renewals, and so forth). To better address the distinctions between these scenarios, each Board may consider updating Policy 3130.

Rationale:  Updates on commercial and residential development within the Norris District including annexations.

Rationale:  2025-2026
1-10 Days $170.00
11-30 Days $180.00
31 Days and beyond $211.00

Proposed 2026-2027
1-10 Days $175.00
11-30 Days $185.00
31 Days and beyond $216.00

Rationale:   

Rationale:  Board member updates on matters of interest to the Board.

Rationale:  Monthly correspondence of interest to the Board.

Rationale:  The next regular scheduled Board Meeting is Wednesday August 12, 2026