June 16, 2025 at 5:30 PM - Regular Meeting

Discussion: 

Chip’s recent nominations

Dr. Kay has recently been nominated to serve as the Vice Chair of Nebraska Council of School Administrators (NCSA). NCSA is an organization with more than 1,300 school administrators who serve in Nebraska schools. NCSA provides services in the areas of professional development, publications, partners with EHA in establishing rates, and influencing legislation. Dr. Kay was nominated by the executive board to serve as a vice chair and will help lead the governing body and carry out the mission of NCSA. 

 

Dr. Kay served as the president of Nebraska Association of School Business Officials for the 2024-24 school year and was the business official of the year in 2023-2024. 

Schoolmasters Organization

Nebraska Schoolmasters Club was founded in 1898 and is the longest running school administrator organization in the state. Schoolmasters is composed of administrators to become a mentor network to other administrators, recognized as a leader in education, and has made an impact for education and students in the state. To become a member, a person must be an administrator for at least 3 years and be nominated by other members/colleagues. A person must then get two character references/vogue for the person as a person of high-standing around the state. The organization has members from both rural and metro-sized schools. 

 

Discussion:  Jason Schapmann, Director of  Human Resources and Fiscal Support, gave a brief overview of all financial funds. This included all the information shown in the reports.

Discussion: 

Chip Kay, Superintendent, said the Foundation Report shares information on the cleaning up at the end of the school year transactions.

Dr. Kay spoke about the safeguards that exist when umbrella organizations supporting schools (i.e. Booster Clubs or PTOs have accounts run through the Foundation.
Totals for the end of the month $42,995.93: year to date $164,478.07.

Discussion:  Teresa Hausmann, Director of Teaching and Learning, gave an update which included the mid-cycle review from Cognia. She also shared that 11 science courses have been updated.

Discussion: 

Mr. Schapmann talked about the quarterly report, the balances of each account. He said we needed to get through the month of August. He gave some explanations of the meanings of the column titles in the report. 

Discussion:  Leonard Kwapnioski, Director of Operations, updated the Board on elementary schools’ projects, and they are to be finished by August. The installation of the new fire alarms at Emerson and North Park has started.
He said there is work being done on the sound system at Nantkes Auditorium. The landscaping work at CHS is being completed, and then they will begin at CMS.  
As part of the safety and security projects, Mr. Kwapnioski said the new phone system is being put in each building along with cameras where needed. A new door phone system is set up at the new Kramer offices.
Mr. Kwapnioski said the old administration building is empty. The demo company will begin on Thursday. They will be installing a fence for safety.

Discussion: 

Chip Kay, Superintendent, presented a plan to initiate a Bond referendum for an Intermediate Building. He shared next steps, key people that would be needed, and the objective of this proposed project. Dr. Kay said a trip to Brooking, SD, to look at an intermediate building would give some insight as to what a project could look like. Dr. Kay talked about the traffic study and the information that would be gained from that report. The board question would be called in August, which gives the time needed to campaign. A special election vote with a mail-in ballot would take place in November. 

Dr. Kay shared some images of the footprint of the building on different sites on the CMS campus.

Discussion: 

Dr. Kay asked the board to take action to authorize the superintendent or designee to pursue the necessary steps for a bond referendum to construct a new Intermediate School Building for Grades 4 and 5.

Discussion: 

Mrs. Hausmann spoke about Policy 606.01 Instructional Materials Selection and Adoption. The piloting of resources had been free. She said the upcoming math pilot will cost about $30,000.00. Company representatives are becoming very demanding. She is asking the board to consider amending the policy. Mrs. Hausmann is proposing going back to the old way by contacting other districts, gather information from districts using the resources. All of our materials have to meet the criteria required by NDE. 

Discussion: 

Mr. Kwapnioski discussed the radio additions for district-wide use. These radios are still being manufactured and will be supported for at least 7 years. These radios are currently used on our buses as well as CHS and CMS have been using them in their buildings. 

Discussion: 

Mr. Schapmann shared the meal prices and gave an explanation of the equation (PLE) that is used to get the proposed costs. 

Discussion: 

Dr. Kay gave information on the legislative bill that was passed requiring the policy. The discussion included parents knowing that there could be a ban on cell phones. There will be challenges with this policy. CHS and CMS are already facilitating what the policy says. A hearing on the proposed policy will take place on July 14^th.

Discussion:  This is a new policy. It deals with students that are eligible to participate  in activities.

Discussion:  This is the policy that CPS has been following.

Discussion: 

CPS already has policy. There will be a few changes for us to make. 

 

Discussion: 

Dr. Kay shared Policy 507.05 Student Online Policy, along with a regulation that will also be adopted. This includes approving a list that is COPPA verified. This policy also restricts some online resources by law. CPS uses Google 99% of the time; parents are aware that we are using Google. Every August the board will approve the list. 

Discussion:  Dr. Kay said this a new policy. It requires a catalog of all the books and verification of who is checking out a book. The policy states a parent will need to opt in to be notified.

Discussion: 

Dr. Kay led the discussion on Policy 1005.03. He shares that it is very different from before. The policy was tabled at this time. This will need to be approved with an adopted regulation that details guidelines. 

Discussion:  Dr. Kay said this policy covers a lot of information. It will need to be pared down. He said there isn’t anything that will change what we do. This policy is for concerns about respecting individuality, along with religious and tribal attire and practices.

Discussion:  Dr. Kay said we are doing all the things listed in the policy.

Discussion: 

Dr. Kay asked Dave Hiebner if there was any special information needed besides what was on the forms. These are the usual requests for out-of-state travel for the CHS Marching Band.

Discussion: 

Mr. Kwapnioski said the contract covers a long-term plan with them. Typically, we do not use the entire contract. Those unused funds can be used to upgrade some of the current equipment. All very well documented. 

Discussion:  Mr. Hiebner gave the overview of changes in the CHS Student Handbook for 2025-2026.

Discussion:  Paula Lawrence, West Park Elementary Principal, gave an overview of the changes made in the Elementary Student Handbook.

Discussion:  Mr. Schapmann gave an overview of the items changed or updated in the staff handbooks, including the Substitute Handbook.

Discussion: 

Dr. Kay talked about the Engineering and Architecture Consulting Service Agreement with Clark and Enerson for pre-bond services.

Discussion: 

Dr. Kay reminded the board about the Columbus Leasing Corporation annual meeting. It will be held on July 21, 15 minutes prior to the Board Retreat. He said officers will need to be addressed. 

Discussion:  Collaboratively, the board said they love the job that Dr. Kay is doing.

Discussion:  The board did not go into Executive Session.

Discussion:  The meeting adjourned at 8:48 pm.