July 13, 2026 at 12:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting
| Regular Board | |
| Attendance Taken on 7/13/2026 at 12:00 PM | |
| Lisa Brass | Present |
| Matt Dalrymple | Present |
| Kyle Fornoff | Present |
| Becky Jobman | Present |
| Ryan Sukraw | Present |
| Kelly Terrell | Present |
| Present: 6, Absent: 0 | |
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Comments:
Dr. Allison Jonas, Superintendent Seth Ryker, Jr/Sr High Principal Tomye McKenna, SPED Director & Assistant Elementary Principal Maggie Tiller, Director of Teaching & Learning Becky Vang, Business Manager |
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| Minutes | |
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1. Call to Order & Pledge of Allegiance
Rationale:
Mission Statement: A copy of the open meetings law is posted on the wall of the Board Room and is available to the public. |
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2. Approve the Agenda
Rationale:
The Board reserves the right to rearrange the order of items as needed.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
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3. Recognition of Visitors
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3.1. Celebration of Excellence
Rationale:
State Track Gold Medalists
Jax Rickertsen - Pole Vault Bryson Neels - 800 Meter Run Strategy 3 Update Mrs. Maggie Tiller & Mr. Marc Mroczek
Discussion:
Mr. Mroczek introduced Jax Rickertsen and Bryson Neels, state track champions and went over their accomplishments.
Mrs. Tiller and Mr. Mroczek presented an update on Stratagy 3. |
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3.2. Public Participation
Rationale:
Board Policy 2009 - Opportunity for Public Expression. 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.
Discussion:
No public participation.
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4. Action Items
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4.1. Consent Agenda
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
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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4.2. Discuss, consider, and take all necessary action to adopt resolution increasing the school district’s base growth percentage used to determine the school district’s property tax request authority by up to six percent (6%).
Rationale:
To ensure we have complied with the publication requirements of this particular statute, we have re-posted this same agenda item from June. The notice for this agenda item ran on July 2nd, 2026. A motion to approve this increase would increase the base growth percentage used to determine Gothenburg Public School's property tax request authority for the 2026-2027 budget by an amount of up to 6%.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas presented the resolution, clarifying that this item was brought back before the board due to a publication notice error from the previous month. The required publication notice ran in the newspaper on July 2, meeting the statutory requirement of running seven full days prior to the meeting. Dr. Jonas noted the following key points:
Board President Mr. Fornoff called for questions from the board. Seeing none, the item proceeded to a vote. Signed Resolution
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4.3. Set substitute salaries for the 2026-2027 school year.
Rationale:
Substitute salaries were $175 and $210 for ten consecutive days or after 30 cumulative days last year.
We averaged 5.2 substitutes per day (not including school coverage) and 866 total days covered. These numbers include long-term coverage. Our substitutes are critical to ensuring we can maintain daily operations and we're blessed with an incredible group. We would like to give a huge thank you to Dan Scherer, Sarah Anderson, Cindy Moore, Barb Hicken, Karissa Blecha, Vickie Keiser, and Monica Rivera. who were here over 50 days each! I'd like to recommend we increase our daily rate to remain competitive with nearby districts.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas presented the recommendation for substitute teacher wages for the upcoming school year, emphasizing the district's need to remain competitive with regional options like Lexington to retain its local substitute pool. Reviewing the previous year, the district averaged 5.2 substitutes per day, totaling 866 days covered across activities, illnesses, and appointments. Dr. Jonas recognized the district's most frequent substitutes—those who worked more than 50 days last year: Dan Scherer, Sarah Anderson, Cindy Moore, Barb Hicken, Karissa Blecha, Vickie Keiser, and Monica Rivera. Dr. Jonas recommended the following rate adjustments for the 2026-2027 school year:
During board discussion:
Board President Mr. Fornoff asked for any other questions. Hearing none, the item moved to a vote. |
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4.4. Discuss and consider approval of membership with NRCSA for the 2026-2027 school year.
Rationale:
District #20 has been a Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association member for many years. NRCSA provides many services for rural schools.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas presented the annual membership approval, noting that it is brought before the board for transparency and that Gothenburg Public Schools has been a long-standing member of the association. Dr. Jonas highlighted the following benefits of maintaining membership with NRCSA:
In response to a question from Board President Mr. Fornoff, Dr. Jonas confirmed that NRCSA is based in Lincoln within the Nebraska Council of School Administrators office, and noted that they will soon be transitioning to a new executive director. Dr. Jonas recommended continuing the district's membership. Mr. Fornoff asked if there were any further questions from the board. Hearing none, the item proceeded to a vote.
Attachments:
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5. Policy & Procedure
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5.1. First Reading of the 2026-2027 Activity Handbook
Rationale:
This is the first reading of our activity handbook. They have been aligned with new board policies. No formal motion is needed at this time. These will return in August for consideration of approval. Please provide any feedback before that meeting.
Discussion:
Activities Director Marc Mroczek presented the first reading of the 2026-2027 Activity Handbook. He noted that there are no major policy updates or language changes from the previous school year, with the exception of reflecting the updated activity card fee—which was increased from $40 to $50 following prior board approval. Board President Mr. Fornoff asked if there were any questions for Mr. Mroczek. Seeing none, the item concluded as a first reading.
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5.2. First Reading of the 2026-2027 Staff Handbook
Rationale:
This is the first reading of our staff handbook. It has been aligned with new board policies. No formal motion is needed at this time. These will return in August for consideration of approval. Please provide any feedback before that meeting.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas presented the first reading of the 2026-2027 Staff Handbook. She stated that there were no substantive operational changes to the handbook, only minor updates to align the language with policies previously adopted by the board. Board President Mr. Fornoff asked if the board had any questions for Dr. Jonas. Seeing none, Dr. Jonas noted that both the Activity Handbook and Staff Handbook will return to the board for formal approval at next month's meeting.
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5.3. Discuss and consider approval of the 26-27 Student Handbook.
Rationale:
We did not receive any feedback on the handbook changes presented at the June meeting.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas presented the 2026-2027 Student Handbook for approval. She noted that Principal Mrs. Floyd was unable to attend the meeting, and highlighted that the majority of the proposed updates primarily impact the elementary school building. Key changes and updates detailed by Dr. Jonas included:
Board President Mr. Fornoff asked if there were any questions from the board regarding the updates. Hearing none, the item proceeded to a vote.
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5.4. Discuss and consider adoption of proposed new policies.
Rationale:
After reviewing existing policy, the following proposals for new policy were presented here for consideration of the Board at the June meeting.
There was no feedback provided to Dr. Jonas between the June and July meetings.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas presented three new proposed policies for final adoption, noting that they were introduced as a first reading last month and received no additional feedback or revisions:
Board President Mr. Fornoff asked if there were any questions from the board or the policy committee regarding the three policies. Hearing none, the item moved to a vote.
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5.5. Review, consider, and approve the required staff trainings, as presented, as reasonable in length of time.
Rationale:
The School District acknowledges its obligation under state and federal laws to provide comprehensive training to its staff on various subjects. With the recent enactment of LB 1329 during the 2024 legislative session, the Legislature has entrusted each Board of Education with the discretion to set appropriate durations for specific staff training mandates. In light of this, the Board of Education is taking proactive steps to align the District's planned training agenda for the upcoming school year with the provisions outlined in LB 1329. This resolution serves as a formal affirmation of the Board's determination that the proposed training requirements are reasonable in both scope and duration. Additionally, it ensures that the Board is fully informed of and grants approval for other essential staff training initiatives slated for the same academic year.
The adopted calendar includes one full day for staff to work on training sessions that are provided online. This is done in recognition of the time it takes to complete these trainings.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas presented the annual schedule of required staff trainings. Pursuant to state law (LB 1329), the board must formally review and approve the list and confirm that the duration of these mandatory trainings is reasonable. Dr. Jonas and the administration highlighted the following regarding training management and compliance:
Dr. Jonas asked Mrs. Tiller if there were any notable adjustments to call out this year, to which Mrs. Tiller confirmed that the list has remained consistent with few changes. Board member Mr. Sukraw inquired about local requirements listed as "district training locally required," and Dr. Jonas confirmed those are established in board policy. Board President Mr. Fornoff asked if there were any further questions for Dr. Jonas or Mrs. Tiller. Hearing none, the item moved to a vote. Signed Resolution
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5.6. Discuss and consider approval of teacher and administrator evaluation documents.
Rationale:
Each year we ask the board of education to consider approval of our certified staff evaluation tools. This year, we do not have any changes to these documents.
1. Teacher Evaluation Document 2. School Psychologist Evaluation Document 3. Counselor Evaluation 4. Director of Teaching & Learning Evaluation Document 5. Administrator Evaluation Document
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas presented the district's evaluation tools for certified staff and administrators, noting that this is an annual July agenda item required for state compliance. Dr. Jonas provided the following background on the evaluation tools:
Board President Mr. Fornoff asked if there were any questions for Dr. Jonas or any of the administrators. Seeing none, the item proceeded to a vote. |
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5.7. Discuss and consider a resolution on school district standards for acceptance or rejection of option enrollment applications for the 2026-2028 school years.
Rationale:
Legislation requires that we establish standards for option enrollment before October 1st of the preceding school year. While this can be very difficult to guess a full year in advance, there are some generally accepted standards we can adhere to. The recommended capacity limitations will ensure we can remain committed to providing a high quality education to District 20 students in an economically efficient manner.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas presented the option enrollment resolution. She explained that recent state statutory changes now make this a two-year resolution and automatically grant acceptance to siblings of students optioning into the district. The proposed resolution aligns district enrollment resolution standards with board policy updates adopted last month. Dr. Jonas detailed the key components of the capacity resolution:
Dr. Jonas reiterated that these standards apply strictly to option enrollment; all resident students moving into the Gothenburg School District are guaranteed enrollment. During board discussion:
Board President Mr. Fornoff asked if there were any further questions for Dr. Jonas or Mrs. McKenna. Hearing none, the item proceeded to a vote. (30) Option Enrollment Resolution 7-13-26 | 2026-2028 (Signed)
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6. Informational Items
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6.1. Annual disclosure of administrative conflict of interest in accordance with Board Policy 4053
Rationale:
Board Policy 4053 requires administrators of the district to make known the existence of any conflict of interest in any contract in which the employee has an interest.
As an informational item, there is no action required. The conflict of interest forms are attached here for public record.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas presented the annual administrative conflict of interest disclosures, noting that state law and Board Policy 4053 require signed conflict of interest forms to be kept on file for each administrator every year. Dr. Jonas reported that there are no substantial conflicts of interest to disclose across the administrative team. She noted that these completed forms are available for public record and reaffirmed that should any situation arise where an administrator could personally benefit from a contract, that individual would abstain from decision-making or delegate authority to another party. Board President Mr. Fornoff asked if there were any questions from the board. Hearing none, the item concluded as an informational review.
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6.2. Gothenburg Public Schools Meeting Notice Policy 2008.
Rationale:
POLICY 2008: MEETINGS LB 596 eliminates the requirement to publish notice of meetings in a newspaper. Instead, the board selects the method. Four times per year, in a newspaper of general circulation in the district, you must publish (1) your regular meeting schedule, (2) the location of regular meetings, and (3) your method of publishing meeting notices (website). Gothenburg Public Schools generally schedules regular board meetings for the second Monday of each month. Regular meetings are typically held in the High School Media Center. Official meeting notices for each regular and special meeting, including the date, time, and location, will be posted on the school district’s website. Please check our website for all meeting notices as the date, time, or location may change.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas presented updates to Policy 2008 concerning newspaper notice requirements for regular board meetings. She explained that state statute allows districts to publish a designated meeting notice four times per year in the official newspaper, rather than publishing individual monthly notices for every regular meeting. This statutory update will take effect beginning in August. During board discussion:
Board President Mr. Fornoff asked if there were any further questions for Dr. Jonas. Hearing none, the item concluded.
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7. Reports
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7.1. Board of Education Reports
Rationale:
Committee Reports (Chair in bold)
Discussion:
Personnel Committee:
Transportation and Facilities Committee:
Finance Committee:
Committee on American Civics:
Policy Review Committee:
Attachments:
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7.2. Administrative Reports
Rationale:
Administrative Reports
a. Elementary (Mrs. Floyd) b. High School (Mr. Ryker) c. Activities (Mr. Mroczek) d. Special Populations (Mrs. McKenna) e. Teaching and Learning (Mrs. Tiller) f. Superintendent (Dr. Jonas)
Discussion:
See attached reports.
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8. Next Meeting
Rationale:
Monday, August 10th
Swede Activities: none
Discussion:
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 10th at 5:00 PM.
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9. Adjournment
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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