April 14, 2025 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Discussion:  Mr. McMurtry presented the following:

• Easter break is April 18th-21st

• Next board meeting is May 12th

• Last student day is May 21st.

• Teacher flex day is 22nd.  If they worked on January 3rd, they are done.  If they did not, they will need to work on the 22nd of May

• Graduation

  • May 10th

    • Do we want to split between Robyn, Shaun and Casey for diploma handout?

    • Who would like to be on stage?

      • Robyn will hand out the first half and Shaun will hand out the 2nd half of the diplomas

Discussion:  Mr. McMurtry presented the following:

• Easter break is April 18th-21st

• Next board meeting is May 12th

• Last student day is May 21st.

• Teacher flex day is 22nd.  If they worked on January 3rd, they are done.  If they did not, they will need to work on the 22nd of May

• Graduation

  • May 10th

    • Do we want to split between Robyn, Shaun and Casey for diploma handout?

    • Who would like to be on stage?

      • Robyn will hand out the first half and Shaun will hand out the 2nd half of the diplomas

Discussion:  Mrs. Bailey presented the financial report


 

Discussion:  Mrs. Lucas presented the following:

April Board Meeting - Lucas  (April 14)

 

Elementary:

• Working to fill the 1st and 6th Grade Positions

• Preparing for Spring Testing, Scheduled, Tickets Ready, Accommodations Set

• Incoming K Transition Meeting for Special Education/Next Year

• Gearing Up for the Field Trip Season in Elementary

• No School April 18 and 21 - Holiday Break

• April 28 Spring Concert

• Bump Up Day for 6th Grade...Planning with Mr. Feeney/Mrs. Mau

  • Including Transitions/Bell for Special Ed. Student with Mrs. Hammond

 

High School:

• Finished up all testing for PreACT (9th,10th) and ACT (11th). We are excited to share the data with students so they can compare against their scores from the fall. 

• We will finish our second round of NSCAS testing on April 11th, 15th, and 22nd. 

• We will be doing some sort of celebration for those students that have shown growth over the year. 

 

AD:

• Winter Sports are officially wrapped up for the year. 

• In Speech, 11 students qualified in 13 events to compete. 

• Two students, Emmeline Lucas and Makenzie Margritz were recognized as Academic All-Americans through the National Speech and Debate Association. of the 113,000 students who are members of NSDA, fewer than 1% achieve this honor.

• Emmeline Lucas achieved the highest level of Award available for student competitors in the NSDA, Premier Distinction. 

• Diamond Level Coaching was achieved this year, and I will be recognized at the National Convention for achieving this honor. 

• In FFA- Illa Gosnell received a gold and finished in 4th place in Livestock Evaluation. Kaitlyn Pedersen received a silver in Health and Human Services Proficiency and Christina Smith received a bronze in Extemporaneous Speaking

• The FFA banquet will be held on April 26th. 

• Baseball and Track season are currently underway. 

 

HQIM:

• Elementary:  We need to look for Science... unfortunately, there isn’t anything good out there right now.  So we will be utilizing our Science Weekly again next year and the OpenSciEd free version for elementary.,, OpenSciEd for elementary (K-5).  6th will continue to use Inspire Science. 

• Secondary:  Proposing a social studies adoption for next year at this meeting as that is next in line 

 

Discussion:  Mr McMurtry presented on behalf of Maintenance Director Jason Sommer.  The following items were shared:

Building needs for summer 2025

 

Replace #32 Route Van 

 

Elementary

 

• Install black plastic on the walls 1st floor east/west hallway

• Paint walls, Hallways and rooms

• Stairwell handrails cleaned

• Ceiling tile replaced

• 2nd floor carpet issues. Mostly 4th and 5th grade

• New doors and closures going into old gym from hallway Old gym?

• Clean condensers in the mechanical room

 

Old Gym

 

• Fix stage surround that is broken

• Clean bleachers Tighten bolts on seat backs

• Touch up paint both gray and white

• 1 light fixtures not working parts on order already

• New doors and closures from gym to JH locker room area?

 

Commons

 

• Store room shelving

• Hallway paint touchup

• Light the flag

New gym

 

• Refinish gym floor May27-June 15th

 

Wrestling deck

 

• Stairwell touch up paint

• Store room shelving and organized 

Kitchen

 

• Move kitchen ductwork to front area

• White plastic install in kitchen area

• Paint

 

JH & HS

 

• 70’s, 80’s and 2000 bathroom paint walls and stall dividers

• Replace 3 toilets in the 2000 bathrooms along with new sinks

• Replace flooring in the 70’s, 80’s and 2000’s bathrooms

• Estimate $10,000.00 for all three bathrooms.

• Foreign exchange student area removed and painted

• Pantry and 70’s bathroom install doors 

• Touch up paint all classrooms

• Carpet in the Music room is in need of replacement. 

Outside

 

First project I would like to see done. Build a drain box and pour in concrete and add steel cover. Then concrete the entire ditch on the NE side of the building and slope towards the new drain box. To get rid of dirt and mud. My guess is around $7500.00

 

Black plastic would be around $40 00.00for material. 

White plastic my guess is around $2500.00

 

Discussion:  Mr. McMurtry presented the following report:

• Superintendent Report

  • Staffing update

    • 1st grade

    • 6th grade

    • Classified intent to returns have been issued and are coming in

• Accreditation

  • Date is set - February 25-26

  • External Team is Set

    • Lead is Kelli Clapp ESU 10 Teaching and Learning Director

    • Joel Ferguson - Wallace Superintendent

    • Danesa Fleck - Dean of Students at Jefferson and Principal to be at Lake

    • Jennifer Sandberg - Curriculum Director at Sutherland

• Legislative update

  • LB 645 - Contribution Rates for School Employee Plan

  • LB 306 - could have a few education items attached

    • LB 440 - Education Leave and Support Act

    • LB 682 - Superintendent Pay Act

  • LB 170 - taxes on pop and candy

    • Expected to generate $63 million next year

  • LB 653 - Education Committee Package Bill

    • See handout

• Chromebook Purchase

  • We annually purchase chromebooks to keep our 1-1 initiative in tact.  We are asking to purchase 60 Chromebooks this year.  All freshman receive a new one

  • We always have Chromebooks in the carts that need replaced between elementary and junior high

  • We have to purchase 10 to get us through this year as we are through our supply

  • We normally utilize REAP funds to make this purchase

  • We used REAP funds to purchase the interactive tv’s for the classrooms

    • Great purchase!

  • We are asking to earmark $30k for purchase

    • I don’t expect it to be this much

    • Both quotes that we had lined up for proposal were pulled last week because of tariff hikes

    • We are waiting to see what they are going to come in at but will need to purchase once they do

• NDE Strategic Plan 2026

  • Holding focus groups to discuss and get input

    • Kearney May 1st 6:30

    • McCook May 15th 1:00

Discussion:  Mr. McMurtry commended the board as this marks the first time back around on an instructional materials process that began 5 years ago.  He reminded the board that instructional materials will look different going forward.  We can expect to pay a fee every year for access.  Gone are the days of a one time purchase for a textbook.  Mr. Feeney, Mr. Reed and Alison Smith from ESU 16 collaborated on several options and came to a recommendation of Savvas for the social studies adoption over the next 5 years.