February 23, 2026 at 12:00 PM - Board of Education 2nd Monthly Meeting

Rationale:  The Norfolk Public School District's Board of Education meeting is called to order.
 

Rationale:  If any board member is absent, there will need to be a motion to excuse the absence.

Rationale:  This is a legal meeting of the board of education, as advertised by the means specified in board policy. A complete copy of the Open Meetings Act is posted in the board room for your review. A copy of the agenda is available at the desk of the recording secretary.

Rationale:  Please stand and join us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Rationale:  This is the time during the meeting when the public may request to address the Board. According to state law, if you wish to comment, you must identify yourself, including your address, the name of the organization you represent and the topic that you wish to address. "Public Comment" cards are located at the media table, in the back of the room.  Please pick up a card and provide the required information if you plan to speak.  Each individual’s comments will be limited to three minutes and the total cumulative time for all public comments will be limited to 30 minutes.

Please note that the Board cannot discuss or act upon matters that are not listed on the agenda. Therefore, Board members will not respond to your comments or questions. If you wish to request that an item be placed on a future Board agenda, you may contact the Superintendent or his assistant during normal business hours.

Also, note that concerns related to school personnel need to be addressed to the Superintendent using the approved district protocol. Individuals who make false, defamatory, or slanderous statements during public comments may be held legally liable. Slanderous comments are not protected just because they are made at Board meetings.

Additional procedural guidelines are available at the media table.

Rationale:  Policy Committee met on February 17th. Minutes attached. 

Rationale:  Minutes from the meeting on February 9th, 2026 are attached for review. 

Rationale:  Jaixen, Allison

• 2026 - 2027 Junior High Guidance Counselor
• Wayne State College, Bachelor of Arts - Human Services
• Wayne State College, Master of Science - PK - 12 Counseling
• 02/2025 - 05/2025: Practicum Student, Wakefield Community Schools

Martz, Kimberly

• 2026 - 2027 Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
• University of Nebraska at Kearney, Bachelor of Arts - Early Childhood Education
• 8/2021 - present: Little Panthers Preschool Paraprofessional (NPS)

Rationale:  McKenna Bender - 3/4 Teacher, Lincoln Montessori - resigning at the end of the 2025-2026 school year

Jessica Horsley - 5th Grade Band & 4th Grade Orchestra Teacher - resigning at the end of the 2025-2026 school year

Nancy Probasco - PK-4 Instructional Leader - resigning at the end of the 2025-2026 school year

Ryan Surber - Art Teacher, Norfolk Senior High - resigning at the end of the 2025-2026 school year

Pat Zach - STS Woodworking/Construction Teacher, Norfolk Senior High - resigning at the end of the 2025-2026 school year

Rationale:  For our substitute teachers positions, we have added $5 to the daily rate. Our long-term substitute teacher rate is tied to the daily rate of our base salary. Those increases are shown in the document attached. I have reviewed this with HR and we feel these are competitive rates that will help us fill substitute positions.

Rationale:  We have struggled to fill classified hourly positions for the past few years. Each school year we go with unfilled positions. Our current starting salary for a Para 1 position is $17 and for a CDL Route Bus Driver $23.18. In an effort to be more competitive and help fill open positions, I am recommending a $2/hour increase for existing positions and adding $1.75/hour to the posted starting wages for classified hourly positions. That starting hourly schedule is attached.

Rationale:  There was also not an increase to the base for classified salaried positions last year. Therefore, for the 26/27 school year, I recommend adding $3,500 to the base. This would be an increased cost of 4.07% to the district and would apply to existing employees. The salary schedule is attached.

Rationale:  Nurses have a similar salary structure to the teachers. I am recommending a 4.5% increase to the base of that salary schedule or $1,850. This makes the starting salary $41,840

Rationale:  Through negotiations, our certified staff base increased to $44,045, I recommend that we use that same base for the School Psychologist salary schedule. That would be an increased cost of 4.5% to the district. That salary schedule is attached.

Rationale:  There was no change to the base salary schedule last year. With that in mind, I am recommending a 3% increase to the base for the 26/27 school year. This would be a $4,000 increase to the base and would apply to existing employees.

Rationale:  There have been no changes to this policy. The policy committee recommends it be reaffirmed. 

Rationale:  The policy committee recommends the adoption of two new AI policies. 

Rationale:  The policy committee recommends the revisions as presented. 

Rationale:  The policy committee recommends the revisions as presented. 

Rationale:  The policy committee recommends the revisions as presented. 

Rationale: 

The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Monday, March 9th, 2026 at 5:30 PM. 

The 2nd monthly regular meeting of the Board of Education is scheduled for Monday, March 23rd, 2026 at Noon.

All components of these meetings will be held at the NPS Central Administration Offices and will be open to the public unless a Closed Session is needed in order to protect the interest of the district or the reputation of an individual.