March 16, 2026 at 5:30 PM - Regular Board of Education Meeting
| Agenda |
|---|
|
1. Call the Meeting to Order
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
LEADERSHIP • SERVICE • SUPPORT Notice of this meeting was given in advance according to State Law 84-1411, by giving notice of the meeting to the public on ESU 7 website www.esu7.org and posted at location of meeting. Notice of this meeting was also given in advance to all members of the Board of Education of Educational Service Unit 7. Availability of the agenda and purpose of the hearing was communicated in the advance notice of the meeting and in the notice to the members of this hearing. All proceedings of the Board of Education of Educational Service Unit 7 were taken while the convened hearing was open to the attendance of the public. |
|
1.1. Notification of Open Meetings Law
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
This meeting has been preceded by reasonable advance notice and is hereby declared to be in open session. A copy of the Open Meetings Act is posted in the meeting room.
Attachments:
()
|
|
1.2. Roll Call
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
|
|
1.3. Absent Board Members
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
Administrator Recommendation: Discuss, consider and take all necessary action to approve Board member absences.
Recommended Motion(s):
Discuss, consider and take all necessary action to approve Board member absences as presented Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
|
|
1.4. Pledge of Allegiance
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
|
|
2. Approval of Agenda
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
The sequence of agenda topics is subject to change at the discretion of the Board.
Recommended Motion(s):
Discuss, consider and take all necessary action to approve the agenda as presented Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
|
|
3. Virtual Conferencing for December 2025-March 2026
Speaker(s):
Board President or designee
Rationale:
Nebraska Revised Statute § 84-1411 authorizes virtual meetings for educational service units if the requirements of subdivision (2)(b) are met.
The Board voted to have a virtual conferencing option for the following board meetings: December 2025, January 2026, February 2026, and March 2026. |
|
4. Welcome Visitors
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
|
|
5. Public Comment
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
The Board has the discretion to limit the amount of time set aside for public participation.
Citizens wishing to address the Board on a certain agenda item must complete the Request to be Heard Document prior to the start of the board meeting. Citizens wishing to present petitions to the Board may do so at this time. However, the Board will only receive the petitions and not act upon them or their contents. |
|
6. Consent Agenda
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
Unless removed from the consent agenda, items identified within the consent agenda will be acted on at one time. If any Board member wishes to discuss an item, it must be removed from the consent agenda at which time the remaining items will be acted upon. Consent Agenda Includes:
Administrator Recommendation: Discuss, consider and take all necessary action to approve the consent agenda as presented.
Recommended Motion(s):
Discuss, consider and take all necessary action to approve the consent agenda as presented Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
|
|
6.1. Minutes
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
This is a consent item.
Attachments:
()
|
|
6.2. Presentation of Bills #81346 through #81514 totaling $1,023,844.89
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
The summary of bills for the current month total: $1,023,844.89 - Bills #81346 through #81514 General Activity Fund total: $15.00
Attachments:
()
|
|
6.3. Reading of Article I, Section 2, A Board's Name and Role
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
This is a consent item.
Attachments:
()
|
|
6.4. Reading of Article I, Section 3, A Election Districts
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
This is a consent item.
Attachments:
()
|
|
6.5. Reading of Article I, Section 7, A Consultants
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
This is a consent item.
Attachments:
()
|
|
6.6. Reading of Article I, Section 7, B Legal Counsel
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
This is a consent item.
Attachments:
()
|
|
6.7. Reading of Article I, Section 8, A Membership in Association
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
This is a consent item.
Attachments:
()
|
|
6.8. Reading of Article II, Section 1, A Location of Meetings
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
This is a consent item.
Attachments:
()
|
|
6.9. Reading of Article II, Section 2, A Regular Meetings
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
This is a consent item.
Attachments:
()
|
|
6.10. Resignations
Speaker(s):
Board President or designee
Rationale:
Olivia Bell - Speech Language Pathologist. Last day will be May 20, 2026.
This is a consent item.
Attachments:
()
|
|
7. Board Spotlight - Learning Academy (LA)
Rationale:
Level III Programs Principal, Cara Neesen, will present the Learning Academy Spotlight.
Attachments:
()
|
|
8. Treasurer's Report
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
Review the breakdown of the Treasurer's Report.
Administrator Recommendation: Discuss, consider and take all necessary action to accept the Treasurer's Report as presented.
Recommended Motion(s):
Discuss, consider and take all necessary action to accept the Treasurer's Report as presented Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
()
|
|
9. Facilities Update
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
The Administrator will provide a facilities update during this item
Attachments:
()
|
|
10. HVAC Learning Academy
Rationale:
After a review from an independent engineer (Engineered Technologies), 2 proposals have been received from Tim Warren and Engineered Controls. This is in addition to an earlier proposal from Rutt's, which was based on their engineer's (Strategic Design) assessment.
Recommended Motion(s):
Discuss, consider, and take all action necessary to approve the proposal from ______ in the amount of $______. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
()
|
|
11. New Hire: Tracie Chochon, School Psychologist for 2026-2027 school year
Rationale:
Tracie Chochon, School Psychologist for 2026-2027 school year.
Administrator Recommendation: Discuss, consider, and take any necessary action to approve the contract for Tracie Chochon, School Psychologist for 2026-2027school year as presented.
Recommended Motion(s):
Discuss, consider, and take any necessary action to approve the contract for Tracie Chochon, School Psychologist for 2026-2027 school year as presented Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
()
|
|
12. Article I, Section 3, C Role of Individual Board Members
Rationale:
Based on discussion during the February board meeting, and following consultation with ESU 7 Board Attorney, Justin Knight, the following sentence from this policy is being moved to Article I, Section 2, B Duties and Function of the Board
The Board of ESU 7 functions only when it takes official action at a duly called meeting of the Board.
Recommended Motion(s):
Discuss, consider and take all necessary action to approve Article I, Section 3, C Role of Individual Board Members as presented. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
()
|
|
13. Article I, Section 2, B Duties and Function of the Board
Rationale:
Based on discussion during the February board meeting, and following consultation with ESU 7 Board Attorney, Justin Knight, the following sentence from this policy is being moved from this policy to Article I, Section 3, C Role of Individual Board Members
The Board of ESU 7 functions only when it takes official action at a duly called meeting of the Board.
Recommended Motion(s):
Discuss, consider and take all necessary action to approve Article I, Section 2, B Duties and Function of the Board as presented. Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
()
|
|
14. Reading of Article I, Section 6, D Line of Responsibility
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
On Matters Involving Special Education (non-
Recommended Motion(s):
Discuss, consider and take all necessary action to approve Article 1, Section 6, D as presented Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
()
|
|
15. ESU 7 Administrator Contract Amendment
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
Rationale:
The Board Negotiations Committee has proposed the salary amount for the ESU 7 Administrator for the 2026-2028 term as detailed in the attached contract.
Recommended Motion(s):
Discuss, consider and take all necessary action to approve the amended ESU 7 Administrator Contract as presented Passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Attachments:
()
|
|
16. Board Vacancy - District 8
Speaker(s):
Board President
Rationale:
Applications have not been received for the board vacancy in District 8. NEB. REV. STAT. § Section 32-574 states, "Unless otherwise provided by law, all vacancies shall be filled within forty-five days after the vacancy occurs unless good cause is shown that the requirement imposes an undue burden."
District 8 includes the following school districts, Clarkson, Columbus, David City, Lakeview, Schuyler. The term will expire December 31, 2028.
Attachments:
()
|
|
17. Administrator's Report General
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
Attachments:
()
|
|
17.1. Goal Update
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
Goals - Attached for your Review
Goal 2: By July 2026, the ESU 7 board will attend at least two professional/personal learning events annually.
Attachments:
()
|
|
17.2. Services Update
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
Attachments:
()
|
|
17.3. Legislative Update
Speaker(s):
Administrator or Designee
Rationale:
During this item, the Administrator will provide a Legislative Update to members of the Board.
Attachments:
()
|
|
18. Conference Report
Speaker(s):
Conference Attendees
Rationale:
Conference Attendees will report on their learnings.
|
|
20. Adjournment
Speaker(s):
Board President or Designee
|
