July 13, 2026 at 8:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

1.  Review monthly bills using the EMeetings Software.

2.  Review all credit card transactions for the month

3.  Finance Committee Members Sign-off on the review of monthly bills, credit card transactions, and district fund balances.

4.  Approve superintendent's expenses

5.  Lunch Fund Review-Monthly Lunch Fund Balance Worksheet Attached

6.  General Fund Review-Monthly General Fund Balance Worksheet Attached

7.  Payroll Ledger Review

8.  Insurance Billing Review

9.  ACH Payroll Review

10.  Operating Line of Credit with Town & Country for General Fund

11.  Vote to Increase the Property Tax Request Authority by up to 7%

12.  2026-27 Budget Draft (Attached) - The draft will look a lot more clear after the August 10th Board Meeting, and after we know what our county treasurer's balances look like in August.

13.  Budget Draft - Do you want me to present at the 1st August board meeting or the 2nd August Board Meeting?

14.  We are going to be a party to the "pink postcard meeting," so one board member will need to tag along to the event.

 

Rationale:  Mr. Huryta has been cleaning out things this summer and has a good number of items to be declared as surplus.  Most of these items will be recycled, rather than sold to the public.  A list of the items and photos of some of the items are attached to this agenda item.

Rationale:  Mrs. Gross has a couple of rock samples that are no longer used in her curriculum.  She is recommending that they be surplussed.  Photos of the collection are attached.

Rationale:  Mr. Cyboron is suggesting that a desk be declared as surplus.  A photo of the desk is attached.

Rationale:  Mr. Ellis was awarded the "BEST Award" by NDE.  NDE explains that, "This award is given to a teacher who's professional activities influence business education through their involvement in professional associations, professional leadership and development, community and school activities and engagement and service to industry partnerships and the education profession. The BEST award exemplifies superior qualities including dedication to students, community outreach, and continuous classroom improvement efforts."

A copy of the certificate he was presented with is attached to this email.
 

Rationale: 

Members of the Public, 

This is the portion of the board meeting when we invite anyone in attendance to address the board of education. If you would like to speak to the board regarding any of the items on tonight's agenda or a public concern, now is your opportunity to do so.  Please review the orange sheet (found on the visitors' chairs) of paper that contains the guidelines for public participation.  If you wish to speak to the board at this time, please let me know.  "Would anyone like to address the board at this time?"

 

AFTER THE PERSON(S) INDICATE(S) THEY WISH TO SPEAK

1.  Please stand and state your name?

2.  What topic will you be speaking on?

3.  Are there others in the room who wish to speak to the same topic? (If so, ask that they be recognized so that 30 minutes of time for public comment can be apportioned as per the policy-5 minutes per person).

4.  Optional-"Please understand that public comment is your opportunity to speak to the board and present your concerns, thoughts, feelings, ideas, and observations.  Members of the board are happy to hear from members of the public, but the board will not engage in conversation or dialogue with you during public comment."

4.  "You'll have approximately 5 minutes to address the board, as we allow 5 minutes per person and a total of 30 minutes for public comment.  You may begin when you are ready?"

 

 

 

Rationale:  The Finance Committee discussed using NLAF for the school district's General Fund Cash reserves and working balance to capitalize on the higher interest rates earned with NLAF.  The superintendent has the capacity and the authority to create the account.  He is simply seeking the approval of the board for the creation and use of the account.

Rationale:  In preparing for the 2026-27 School District Budget, the board has discussed opening an operating line of credit with Town & Country Bank for the 2026-27 Budget Cycle.  This operating line of credit can be used for months when cash reserves are not adequate.  A copy of the agreement is attached to this agenda item for review and consideration by the board.

Rationale:  Each school district is certified an allowable base property tax request.  With 70% board approval, the board can increase the allowable base property tax request by up to 7%.  Although the school district does not need all the additional property tax authority for the 2026-27 budget cycle, the board is encouraged to vote to approve the allowable property tax request to be set up to 7% higher than the "base property tax authority" amount by the superintendent in order to help protect future property tax authority for future budget cycles.

This resolution will increase the amount of property tax authority of the school district by $568,140.  Approval of the resolution simply allows the board for greater property tax authority this year and in future years.

If this resolution is passed.  The total tax request authority for the school district could be $7,881,648 rather than $7,313,508.

Rationale:  By statute, the school district is to adopt a resolution each year specifying the enrollment capacity, by grade level, for the school district, prior to October.  That resolution for this school year is attached to this agenda item for the board's consideration.

Rationale:  1. Floating Shelf Color Question- What color should the floating shelf finish in the main high school corridor be.  Email from Teresa Wells on 7-13.  We need to discuss and decide.

2. The most current Master Schedule and 6-Week Construction Schedule are attached to this agenda item.  The construction schedule for the week of 7-13-26 appears below.  This month's COA (Contractor, Owner, Architect) Meeting is taking place on Tuesday, July 14th.  If anything substantial results from that meeting, the board will be made aware of it via email by the superintendent.

Schedule for Week of 7-13-26:

• Masonry remaining items:
  • 3 doors in middle school entry
  • Rub down locker room
  • Finish CMU at Life Skills link
  • Finish Brick at life skills link
  • Overhead door lintle, CMU and brick work
  • Walk through door in shop, lintle, CMU and brick work.
• Schroeder Steel remaining work.
  • Finish Front main entry
  • Finish Middle school entry
  • Finish Life Skills link
• Heartland Concrete Remaining work
  • Stoops
  • Sidewalks
  • Site concrete
• J&H remaining work in the remodel
  • Finish framing in all areas including front entrance ceiling and locker room ceiling.
  • Hang rock in all areas
  • Finish rock in all areas
  • ACP ceilings can be started in many areas.
• Still waiting on 3 door frames for the shop area.
• Continue to paint where available.

Rationale:  Generally, this has been a "lunch meeting" that takes about an hour.  The superintendent will buy you lunch and try to get you in and out in an hour.  We can meet in the high school library, or I could see if we could meet at the public library downtown, if you want to do that.  

Possible dates include August 25, 26, or 27 at 12:00 (noon).

Rationale:  This budget work session generally coincides with the "Second August Board Meeting Date."  So, it could be August 25, 26, or 27.  We usually do our final bills and our final transfers, and then I present the draft of the budget document for review by the board members.

I can do this budget workshop at another time (an evening meeting) if that's what the board wants.  Otherwise, we would have it on the same day as the "Second August Board Meeting Date."

Rationale:  Each year, the board must have a budget hearing so that members of the public can offer their input on the budget, prior to the budget being adopted by the board of education.

Generally, the board has chosen to have the budget hearing and the property tax hearing on the same night as the September Board Meeting.  

The budget hearing is held first, followed by the property tax request hearing.  Then, the regular September Board meeting is held.  During the regular September board meeting, the budget is adopted.

The current date for the September Board Meeting is September 14th.  Does the board want to have all three meetings (budget hearing, property tax request hearing, & Regular September Board Meeting) all on the same night or do something different?

Please keep in mind that if the tax levy requires us to attend the "Pink Post Card Hearing" that we are not required to conduct a property tax request hearing and may be able to forgo the property tax request hearing meeting.

Rationale:  Each year, the board must have a budget hearing so that members of the public can offer their input on the budget, prior to the budget being adopted by the board of education.

Generally, the board has chosen to have the budget hearing and the property tax hearing on the same night as the September Board Meeting.  

The budget hearing is held first, followed by the property tax request hearing. Then, the regular September Board meeting is held.  During the regular September board meeting, the budget is formally adopted.  If the school district is required to be a party to the "pink postcard hearing", then the school board is not required to have a property tax request hearing.

The current date for the September Board Meeting is September 14th.  Does the board want to have all three meetings (budget hearing, property tax request hearing (if required), & Regular September Board Meeting) all on the same night?

Rationale:  If the Ravenna Public Schools 2026-27 Budget requires the school district to participate in the Joint Public Hearing, one board member will need to attend with the superintendent.  The board should designate who that board member will be.

Buffalo County has not set the date for the "Joint Public Hearing" for.   The Hearing will be held at the Buffalo County Extension Office located at 1400 E 34^th St., Kearney.  

At this point, the superintendent does believe that the school district will need to participate in the meeting.  

Rationale:  Attached is the CURRENT DRAFT of the 2026-27 Budget document.  Taxable valuations are not due from the county assessors until August 20th.  So, this is a DRAFT document.  Another draft of the budget document will be shared at the final board meeting for the 2025-26 budget cycle in late August.
 

Rationale:  1.  Summer Project List

This Summer:

• Elementary Office Cabinets -  $26,895 (including $3,800 installation by Ed Panowicz) - Done
• Concession Stand Cabinets - $10,499 - Dan Cyboron will make the time to install these. 
• Exterior Signage For Construction Project- $39,862.88 
• Irrigation Line for Football Field - $11,922.44 - Done
• Walk-In Cooler Repair—$2,310 (Hand Machine will provide the materials and Dan Cyboron will install the metal, which will be about 1/2 the cost of the other bidder.).  - Materials have been delivered as of 6/8/26.
• Painting Hallways in JH/SR-$3,757 (Randall's Painting - Pleasanton)
• Ceiling Tile Replacement- $49,684 ($33,500 + $7,000 for removing fire devices and reinstalling them by Midwest Alarm + $9,184 for cabling trays) - Done
• Bus Barn/FFA/Welding Lab Roof Replacement-$35,500 (Insurance will pay for this.)
• Pre-School Concrete 15' x 45' Playground Pad-$4,725
• Football & Track Stadium Handrails - (Randall's Painting - Pleasanton.)-$1,464
• LED Lighting Replacement in Elementary (Lower Elementary & Elementary Music Room)-$5,000
• Tiny Toilet-$11,600
• Veteran's Memorial (Metal Cap, Mortar Replacement, Concrete, Vases, & Flag Holders) - $7,000 (RPS Foundation will pay for this).
• Total Estimate:  $210,219.32;  District's Responsibility: $167,719.32