June 9, 2025 at 5:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

Mission Statement:

Gothenburg Public Schools is the cornerstone of a proud, passionate, and progressive community where students and staff thrive in a positive and innovative environment.  We ensure the growth of all individuals by inspiring them to own and maximize their potential.

A copy of the open meetings law is posted on the wall of the Board Room and is available to the public.

Special Note: These are the most recent updates approved with an emergency clause in LB521. A larger copy will be available soon and can be accessed electronically here for easier viewing.  Primary changes include eliminating provisions relating to the Election Act and elections in cities of the metropolitan class and in cities of the primary class.

Rationale: 

The Board reserves the right to rearrange the order of items as needed.

Rationale: 

Board Policy 2009 - Opportunity for Public Expression.  
(A copy of the policy is linked here.)

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO SPEAK: This is the portion of the meeting when members of the public may speak to the board about matters of public concern.  

• Getting Started: Before the meeting begins, anyone wishing to address the board must sign in with their name, address, and any organizations they are representing. When recognized, please stand and state your name. 

• Time Limit:  The board will generally allow a total of 30 minutes for the presentation of all public comments.  Individuals may speak only one time, and must limit comments to 5 minutes.  If there are more than 6 individuals who wish to address the board, the 30 minutes will be divided equally between the number of speakers.   These time limits may be changed by a majority vote of the board members in attendance to extend the time for a specific item or speaker. 

• Personnel or Student Topic:  If you are planning to speak about a personnel or a student matter involving an individual, please understand that the district has a complaint policy and/or procedures to resolve such complaints and concerns.  The Board requests that you follow the policy and procedures before addressing these matters with the Board.  Board members will generally not respond to any questions you ask or comments about individual staff members or students.  

• General Rules: This is a public meeting for the conduct of business.  Comments from the audience while others are speaking will not be tolerated.  Lewd, obscene, profane, slanderous, threatening and hostile conduct or statements and fighting words (words whose mere utterance entails a call to violence) will not be tolerated. 

• No Action by the Board:  The board will not act on any matter unless it is on the published agenda. 

Rationale: 

Nebraska School Districts are required to have annual hearings for each of the following areas:

Budget (September)

Tax Request (September)

Student Fees Policy (June)

Parental Involvement Policy (June)

 

Other Hearings may be scheduled as needed.

Rationale:  Policy 5018 Parental Involvement
Recent legislative changes (LB71 and LB428) have amended sections of Nebraska statutes (§79-530 to §79-533), increasing parental access to educational information and involvement in school practices. These updates require districts to revise their policies to include provisions for parent access to student surveys and the ability to opt their children out. The revised policy must be developed with parental input, adopted following a public hearing, and reviewed annually. It must also be posted on the district’s website by August 1, 2025, with any updates clearly accessible. Adoption is required by July 1, 2025 and will be considered at tonight meeting.

Policy 5057 Title I Parent and Family Engagement
There are no changes to this policy though an annual hearing for public input is required.
 

Rationale:  An opportunity for the public to comment on Parental Involvement.

Rationale:  The proposed changes include updated lunch prices and a band fee of $30 to assist with instrument repairs.  No additional changes are proposed at this time.

Rationale: 

1. Approval of Previous Minutes

2. Approval of the Treasurer's Report

3. Approval of the Warrants / Bills

  a.  Petty Cash

  b.  Student Activity

  c.  Hot Lunch

  d.  Bank Statement

  e.  Summary of Accounts and Receipts

  f.  Monthly Expenditure Report

  g. Check Journal

4. Excuse Absent Board Members

 

Rationale:  School districts periodically identify equipment, furniture, and materials that are no longer functional, safe, cost-effective to repair, or aligned with current instructional or operational needs. Surplusing such items allows the district to responsibly dispose of or repurpose outdated or unneeded property, maintain an efficient use of storage space, and ensure that district resources are directed toward items that support student learning and district operations.

This following items the board is asked to consider surplusing:

2000 Blue Bird Bus

• The 2000 Blue Bird Bus has reached the end of its service life and is no longer meeting the district's operational needs. As we work to maintain a reliable and efficient fleet, this vehicle has been removed from regular use. We are seeking a motion to declare the 2000 Blue Bird Bus as surplus and authorize the Superintendent to accept sealed bids for its sale.

Track Pits (2 pole vault, 1 high jump)

• The IPI pits have reached the end of their service life and are no longer meeting the district's operational needs. These pits were damaged last year in a massive windstorm and were recently replaced by insurance. We are seeking a motion to declare the pole vault pits as surplus and authorize the Superintendent to accept sealed bids for their sale.

Manchester 30 Gallon Air Tank

• We have a 30-gallon Manchester air tank that remains unused and appears to have been purchased several years ago. While it is in new condition, it has not been integrated into our operations and is not needed for current or future classroom or maintenance needs. Specifications for the tank can be found here. We are seeking a motion to declare the air tank as surplus and authorize the Superintendent to accept sealed bids for its sale.

Instructional Materials

• These instructional materials are no longer needed due to the adoption of updated resources that align more closely with current standards and instructional goals. While still in usable condition, they have been replaced as part of our regular curriculum review and update process. We are seeking a motion to declare the specified materials as surplus and authorize the Superintendent to offer these materials on social media and through professional networking list-serves at fair market value.

Rationale:  Board Member Mr. Nate Wyatt has submitted his resignation.

The Board of Education would like to extend its sincere appreciation to Mr. Nate Wyatt for his dedicated service as a school board member since 2008. Over his years of service, Mr. Wyatt has been a strong advocate for students and the Gothenburg community. His leadership, thoughtful decision-making, and unwavering commitment to public education have made a meaningful and lasting impact. We thank him for his years of service and wish him all the best in the future.

The Board needs to officially accept this resignation to begin the process of filling the vacancy in accordance with state statute.



 

Rationale:  The vacancy process and applicable state statutes are outlined here.

Appointment Timeline:
June 10th, 2025 - Resignation Effective & Applications Open
June 26th, 2025 - Applications Due
July 14th, 2025 - Appointment Recommendation @ Regular Board Meeting

As an informational item, no action is required.

Rationale:  Policy 5018 Parental Involvement
Recent legislative changes (LB71 and LB428) have amended sections of Nebraska statutes (§79-530 to §79-533), increasing parental access to educational information and involvement in school practices. These updates require districts to revise their policies to include provisions for parent access to student surveys and the ability to opt their children out. The revised policy must be developed with parental input, adopted following a public hearing, and reviewed annually. It must also be posted on the district’s website by August 1, 2025, with any updates clearly accessible. 
 

Rationale:  A Student Fees Hearing is required each year.  If public input was given, take into consideration that input and consider this as a first reading.  If no public input, consider a motion to approve the updated policy.  School lunch prices were already approved at a prior meeting.  This is an approval of the policy itself.

Rationale:  According to state statute, the district's policy on bullying prevention must be reviewed annually.  There are no changes to this policy at this time.  This is a review only.  No action is required.

Rationale:  This designation is done on an annual basis prior to September of each year.

Rationale:  The student handbook is a work in progress over the summer. The changes work to align our updated policies with our student handbook.  We are still working on these but are providing an active link for review prior to the July board meeting.  Timing of approval is important to ensure we can get the handbook to students in August.

Rationale:  Policy 6025 Student Cell Phones

Rationale:  The Board of Education would like to formally recognize and thank Mrs. Angie Richeson for her dedicated service to Gothenburg Public Schools as the Director of Teaching & Learning. Her leadership, commitment to instructional improvement, and passion for student success have had a lasting impact on the district. We are grateful for her contributions and wish her the very best in her next chapter.

Rationale: 

Committee Reports (Chair in bold)

1.  Personnel Committee (Mr. Fornoff, Mrs. Terrell, Mrs. Brass)
2. Transportation and Facilities (Mr. Wyatt, Mr. Dalrymple, Mrs. Jobman)
3. Finance (Mrs. Jobman, Mr. Wyatt, Mrs. Brass)
4. Committee on American Civics (Mrs. Terrell, Mr. Fornoff, Mr. Dalrymple)
5. Policy Review (Mrs. Terrell, Mr. Dalrymple, Mrs. Jobman)
6. Officers (Mr. Fornoff, Mrs. Jobman, Mrs. Terrell)

 

Rationale: 

Rationale:  Monday, July 14th, 2025 @ 6:00 P.M.
(time has already been established due to publication requirements of Mr. Wyatt's resignation)

Swede Activities:
None