Public Meeting Minutes: December 8, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

1. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance

Discussion:

Board President Desh called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
- Please note the change in meeting location to Bennet Elementary School for this meeting:
Board President Desh led the board members and patrons in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Special thanks to our senior students who attended the board meeting in alignment with their class curriculum.

2. Announcement of the Open Meetings Act Posting

Discussion:

Board President Desh identified the location of the Open Meetings Act Poster on the wall in the meeting room.
- Special note: Copies of the updated (2025) Open Meetings Act documents were available at the meeting.

Attachments: (1)

Open Meetings Act Poster. Updated. June 2025

3. Staff and Student Presentations

Discussion:

The following staff presentations occurred at the meeting:
- Elementary Food Service Update:
  - Mrs. Elli Lamprecht: District OR-1 Food Service Director
  - Mrs. Darla Hoffman: Bennet Elementary School Kitchen Manager
    - Food service staff also served a light meal for the board members at the meeting.
- Elementary "Specials" Update:
  - Elementary Art: Mrs. Chrissy Garris (Bennet Elementary Art Teacher) provided information on student activities, projects, and curriculum in elementary art education.
    - The presentation she showed is attached to this agenda item.
- High School Activities Update:
  - Mr. Aaron Hoeft (High School Activities Director) presented information on current activities and student participation numbers.
  - Mr. Hoeft also presented feedback on the items listed below:
    - Baseball and Softball Updates
    - ECNC Conference Affiliation Update

Attachments: (1)

Elementary Art

4. Consent Agenda

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. This motion, made by Dee Moore and seconded by Tim Cheney, Passed.

Busch: Yea
Calfee: Yea
Cheney : Yea
Desh: Yea
Moore: Yea
Penterman: Yea

No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.

Discussion:

No further discussion.

4.1. Approval of Board Agenda

4.2. Approval of minutes of previous meetings

Attachments: (2)

4.3. Approval of Claims/Payment of Bills and Payroll

Attachments: (2)

4.4. Certificated/Classified Hire(s)/Reassignment(s)/Resignation(s)

4.5. Financial Reports

Attachments: (2)

5. Public Comment

Discussion:

No public comment was presented at the meeting.

6. Administrative Reports

6.1. Superintendent's Report

Discussion:
Superintendent Hart presented information on the topics listed below:

Bennet Area "Safe Streets" Update:
Bennet Early Childhood Center Update:
Kudos:
- Staff
- Students:
  - On Friday, November 21st, the PHS Band performed for a very special event at the Leid Center in Lincoln
- Community
- Business Leaders and Local Ag Producers:
  - Special thanks for all you do to support our local schools and communities!
  - Please refer to the latest Voice News edition for more information and pictures celebrating Harvest 2025.
Policy Review
- Artificial Intelligence Policy #6288 Update
- Awards Retention and Disposal Policy #5720 Update
Curriculum Update
Strategic Planning Update
Personnel Update:
- Student Teachers: Spring 2026
- HS English Teacher
Activities:
- Softball Discussion
Rule 10 Report:
- ???????The report will be shared in January.
FCCLA Newsletter: November 2025:
- Please see the attached document.
NDE AQuESST Classification Update:
- Please see the attached documents for more specific information.
  - AQuESTT for Nebraska - Resources.
  - See the attached document for additional student science scores information.
NDE Current Updates for Department of Education:
- Please see the attached document for more information.
Superintendent Evaluation Update:
.2026-2027 District Calendar "Draft" Preview:

Attachments: (7)

6.1.1. Superintendent Evaluation Summary

Discussion:

Board President Desh summarized the NASB Superintendent Evaluation document in alignment with individual board member feedback on identified areas.
- A sample of the NASB document and 2024-2025 Superintendent Goals are attached to this agenda item.

Attachments: (2)

6.1.2. 2026-2027 District Calendar Update

Discussion:

Superintendent Hart shared a "draft" proposal for the 2026-2027 district calendar.
- The calendar will be discussed again in January.

6.1.3. NDE Financial Literacy Report

Discussion:

Superintendent Hart provided information on our district's compliance with Nebraska State Law LB452, the Financial Literacy Act, an annual state requirement.
- District OR-1 Public Schools fully complies with the requirements of the Financial Literacy Act.

6.2. Administrative Team Report

Discussion:

Information was presented on the following topics:
- Bennet Elementary Holiday Music Concert
- First semester ends on 12/19/2025 with a 1:00 p.m. dismissal.
- Staff return for professional development on Monday, January 5th, 2026
- School resumes for all students on Tuesday, January 6th, 2026
- Early Graduation Student Applications
- MAPS, DIBELS, and ACT Testing
- Title 1 Reading
- Quiz Bowl
- Special Education

Attachments: (5)

7. Discussion Items- Committee Reports

Attachments: (1)

2025 Board Committee Assignments_ District OR.1. Updated and Approved. January 13.2025 (3)

7.1. Strategic Planning Update

Discussion:

Our district will begin the next phase of the Strategic Planning process in January 2026.
- The dates and times for our Strategic Planning Meetings are listed below:
  - Monday, January 19th, 2026
  - Monday, February 16th, 2026
  - Monday, March 16th, 2026
Staff, student, and community surveys will be sent out in the near future to collect information relative to strategic planning.

Attachments: (2)

7.2. Technology Committee Update

Discussion:

Superintendent Hart discussed summary results from the recent staff survey about technology.
- The information from the technology survey will be utilized in our upcoming Strategic Planning process.
Policy # 6288: Artificial Intelligence was also discussed.

Attachments: (1)

Policy # 6288. Artificial Intelligence and Student Use of Artificial Intelligence. Updated for Board Approval. 12.8.2025 (1)

7.3. Negotiations Committee Update

Discussion:

Committee members summarized the meetings held on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025, and Wednesday, December 10th, 2025.
The committee will continue to meet as needed until the negotiation process is complete.

8. Budget Committee Update

Discussion:

Our next Budget Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 12th, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at Palmyra Junior/ Senior High School.

Attachments: (3)

9. Policy Review

Discussion:

The Policy Committee reviewed the 5000 Series and 6000 Series.
- The committee will meet again in February 2026.

Attachments: (1)

DISTRICT OR-1 POLICY REVIEW SCHEDULE_ 2025.Updated. January 13.2025 (2)

9.1. 5000 and 6000 Series Policy Review

Discussion:

Policy Committee members summarized the meeting held on Tuesday, November 18th.
No substantive changes were needed to the 5000 or 6000 series policies.

9.2. Review Second Reading: Artificial Intelligence Policy # 6288

Discussion:

Board members reviewed the contents of the policy.

Attachments: (1)

Policy # 6288. Artificial Intelligence and Student Use of Artificial Intelligence. Updated for Board Approval. 12.8.2025

9.3. Review Second Reading: Policy #5720 Awards Retention

Discussion:

Board members reviewed the contents of the policy.

Attachments: (1)

District OR-1 Sample Policy on District Awards and Retention and Removal of Awards (1)

10. Action Items

10.1. Presentation, discussion, and or official action to approve Updated Policy # 6288: Artificial Intelligence and Student Use of Artificial Intelligence

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Motion to approve updates to Policy # 6288. This motion, made by Tim Cheney and seconded by Josh Penterman, Passed.

Busch: Yea
Calfee: Yea
Cheney : Yea
Desh: Yea
Moore: Yea
Penterman: Yea

No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.

Discussion:

No further discussion.

Attachments: (1)

Policy # 6288. Artificial Intelligence and Student Use of Artificial Intelligence. Updated for Board Approval. 12.8.2025

10.2. Presentation, discussion, and or official action to approve Policy # 5720: Retention and Disposal of Awards

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Motion to approve Policy #5720 as discussed. This motion, made by Dean Busch and seconded by Josh Penterman, Passed.

Busch: Yea
Calfee: Yea
Cheney : Yea
Desh: Yea
Moore: Yea
Penterman: Yea

No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.

Discussion:

No further discussion.

Attachments: (1)

District OR-1 Sample Policy on District Awards and Retention and Removal of Awards (1)

10.3. Presentation, discussion, and or official action to approve the addition of Girls Softball.

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Motion to add a school-sponsored girls' softball program at the high school as discussed. This motion, made by Tim Cheney and seconded by Dee Moore, Passed.

Busch: Yea
Calfee: Yea
Cheney : Yea
Desh: Yea
Moore: Yea
Penterman: Yea

No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.

Discussion:

Girls' softball at the high school will begin in the 2026-2027 school year.
Additional discussion centered on coaches, Palmyra Village field usage, budget expenditures, current and future projected student participation numbers, survey results, scheduling, and upgrading of equipment and facilities.

11. Board of Education Development

Discussion:

No further discussion.

Attachments: (2)

12. Closed Session

Discussion:

No closed session occurred during the meeting.

13. Topics for Next Month’s Agenda

Discussion:

No further discussion.

14. Adjournment

Discussion:

Just a reminder that the Monday, January 12th, 2026 Board meeting will be held at Palmyra Junior/ Senior High School in the media center.
- The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

December 8, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

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