January 12, 2026 at 7:00 PM - Regular Meeting

Rationale:  Outgoing President Wilkins will announce the adjournment of the 2025 Board of Education and appoint a president pro tempore to begin the reorganization of the Board for 2026.

President Wilkins may appoint himself or a member of the board or the superintendent to act as President. Once the new President for 2026 is elected, that person will assume control of the meeting.

_________________ is appointed President Pro-Tempore.

Rationale:  It is recommended that Board members disclose any possible conflict of interest at the annual reorganization meeting. We should be current with conflict of interest forms, but revisiting the topic each year during the January regular meeting is good practice.

It is not uncommon to have connections that may appear to be a conflict of interest, especially in small rural districts. Board members filling out NADC Form C-2A help to take care of any issues or concerns with the matter.

Once completed, the forms are kept on file in the district office and may be revised or removed as needed.

Rationale:  Board members are encouraged to nominate each other or themselves for any office they are willing to serve.  Those nomination forms received are included here.

Rationale:  President Pro-Tempore will conduct the election for board president.  The newly elected president will conduct the remainder of the elections and chair the remainder of the meeting.

The chair will call for nominations for the office.  Nominations are to be made by any member and seconded by another member.  If more than one name is placed in the nomination, the chair will call for a written ballot to be cast.  The recording secretary will count the votes.

If only one name is placed in the nomination, the chair may entertain a motion to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot.  The motion requires a second, followed by a recall vote.

Rationale:  The chair will call for nominations for the office.  Nominations are to be made by any member and seconded by another member.  If more than one name is placed in the nomination, the chair will call for a written ballot to be cast.  The recording secretary will count the votes.

If only one name is placed in the nomination, the chair may entertain a motion to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot.  The motion requires a second, followed by a recall vote.

Rationale:  The chair will call for nominations for the office.  Nominations are to be made by any member and seconded by another member.  If more than one name is placed in the nomination, the chair will call for a written ballot to be cast.  The recording secretary will count the votes.

If only one name is placed in the nomination, the chair may entertain a motion to close nominations and cast a unanimous ballot.  The motion requires a second, followed by a recall vote.

Rationale:  The Board Member Code of Ethics is outlined in policy 202.01.  Board members are being provided a copy of policy 202.01 for their reference as part of the January Board Reorganizational Meeting.  

It is recommended by NASB for Boards to review the code of ethics policy periodically, which was last completed at the January 2025 regular meeting.

Rationale:  This allows the Board to approve the agenda as published according to policy 204.07.

Rationale:  The president will appoint Dedra Stoner, Bailie Kovarik, and Dale Hafer as Recording Secretary(s) for the Board for 2026.

Rationale:  With Ben Wright leaving the district, it is recommended to appoint Elementary Principal Kelsey Riesen as Title IX Coordinator and maintain Superintendent Dale Hafer as the district Compliance Coordinator/Officer.

Rationale:  Annually, the board approves the date(s) and place for the regular meetings of the board.  Nebraska Statutes Revised §79-554 states that all board of education meetings for Class II districts shall be held on or before the third Monday of every month.

All board meetings shall be subject to open meeting laws as stated in §84-1408 to §84-1414.

The President or any two members may call special meetings, but all members shall be notified.

We have designated all meetings to be held at the District Office unless otherwise noted, advertised, and/or posted.

At the January 2025 meeting, regular meeting times were set for 7:00 p.m. year-round.

The board may change the meeting times at its discretion.

Rationale:  Annually, the board committee assignments are reorganized under the direction of the board president. President Wilkins has provided a document of appointed members to the various board committees for 2026. It is the same committee assignments as for 2025.

The Board may approve the slate of committee assignments as presented or request the newly elected President to revise the assignments if there are members who wish to change committees.

Rationale:  The board shall designate the newspaper of general circulation to be used for the district's legal notices and official publications. Additionally, the board may announce notices of special meetings and all other notices on KBRB radio and may post these notices in public places such as the US Post Office lobby, the Court House lobby, and the front door of Ainsworth High School. Notice will also be available via the public access link on the school district website.

Rationale:  The district provides each bank with a corporate resolution to approve individuals and authorized signatures for district funds and accounts.  The resolution requires two signatures among the three board officers for the Employee Benefit, Building, Depreciation, Hot Lunch, Bond, and General Funds. 

The Superintendent, Board Secretary/Treasurer, and Business Manager are authorized to make short-term intra-fund transfers from one bank to another.

Activity Fund checks may be signed by the superintendent or any two of the high school administrators and secretaries of the secondary school office.

General Fund Clearing Account to be signed by any two of Dale Hafer, Dedra Stoner, and Bailie Kovarik.  It is noted that West Plains Bank will not be reviewing checks for two signatures.

The district maintains a Safe Deposit box at Homestead Bank and the superintendent along with three elected board members have authorized signatures.

Rationale:  To comply with board reorganization procedures and statutory requirements, the board should move to:
1. Authorize Treasurer to pay bills within limits of budget resolution.
2. Authorize Treasurer, per district office personnel, to invest all interim monies and funds as per policy.
3. Authorize Superintendent or designee:
a.  As the purchasing agent for the district.
b. To receive tax monies and/or other receipts from the County Treasurer.
c. To apply for and receive monies, receipts, and funds from all federal and state resources.
d. To serve as custodian of and purchasing agent for Activity Fund accounts.
e. To serve as hearing officer for any student suspensions or expulsions.

Rationale:  A copy of the annual district audit was provided to all board members at the December regular meeting to allow time for review and to ask questions before approval.

Section 79-1089 of Nebraska Revised Statutes requires each school district to have an annual audit of all financial records by a certified public accountant.  Ainsworth School District #10 complies with this requirement each year.

Dana F. Cole & Company from Ainsworth, NE performed the audit and prepared the auditor’s report for 2024-25 for Ainsworth District #10.  

Rationale:  The Board developed the attached list of goals as a result of the Superintendent's evaluation in December, in conjunction with ongoing efforts and initiatives.  

As part of accountability and collaboration, the goals are presented to be recognized/approved by the board.  The Superintendent will provide periodic updates on the goals throughout the upcoming year.

Rationale:  The Board is committed to the ongoing review and maintenance of Board Policy.  Policies will be provided to the Policy Committee in advance and then to the entire Board for review/approval on a regular basis.  

*All Board Policies are available to the public through the Sparq Public Meetings Access site:  

https://meeting.sparqdata.com/Public/Organization/415

*The link to all policies is provided through the school district website.

https://www.ainsworthschools.org/page/schoolboard

The policies in this month's review are 15 policies (801.01 through 801.15) in the 800s Support Services section. A simple review should be sufficient for these policies.  The Board has the option to pull any policy for further review and/or revision if needed.

Rationale:  7-12 Principal Steve Dike has submitted his letter of resignation, effective at the conclusion of the 2025-26 school year and year-end duties.

We thank Mr. Dike for his 8 years of service to Ainsworth Community Schools and wish him the very best in his future endeavors.

Rationale:  It has become routine to discuss and take action on administrator contracts at the January regular meeting.

With Mr. Dike's resignation, Mr. Hafer will discuss with the Board options, strategies, and costs associated with recruiting and hiring the next 7-12 Principal.

Rationale:  The next regular meeting of the Board is scheduled for February 9, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the District Office. Current agendas will be available for public inspection in the office of the superintendent.