December 8, 2025 at 6:30 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 (mileage & reimbursement). - PO 2526-452 ($350 - State Education Conference Registration)

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



 

Rationale:  Mrs. Maulsby has been busy weeding the stacks of the library and has some books she would like declared as surplus for immediate sale or disposal.  The list of those books is attached ot this agenda item.

Rationale:  Stephanie Yost will be retiring at the end of the 2025-26 school year, as per the attached resignation letter.

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: 


 

Rationale:  The superintendent is to be evaluated each contract year.  This agenda item is to provide the board of education notice of this need to evaluate the superintendent at the regular December Board Meeting.

Also, as per the language of the superintendent's contract below.  The superintendent is to remind the board of the terms of his contract renewal in writing at the November Board Meeting.  That informational reminder appears below:

Section 2. Renewal of Contract.  If a Board representative does not inform the Superintendent in writing on or before the seventh day after the regular December 2024 board meeting (and each December thereafter) of the Board’s intention to consider the non-renewal or amendment of this contract, the contract will automatically renew for a period of one year from and after the expiration date provided in Section 1 of this contract.  The Superintendent shall remind the Board in writing of this provision no later than its regular November meeting of each applicable year in which this contract may renew, starting in November 2024, and shall make the renewal of the Superintendent’s employment contract an agenda item for the regular December board meeting during each applicable contract year.  At the time of each contract renewal and/or amendment, the Superintendent shall be responsible for taking all necessary steps to insure that the School District has complied with the Superintendent Pay Transparency Act.
 

Rationale:  Mr. Ellis will be in to provide the Annual Finanacial Literacy Report to the board of educaiton.
 

Rationale:  Rule 10 requires that an "annual report" be provided to board members and to members of the general public regarding the student performance data and financial data for the school district.

A copy of that report is attached to this agenda item.  It will also be available to the public on the school's website.

Rationale:  This standing agenda item will appear on the board agenda throughout the length of the bond building project to create a touchpoint for board members on the building project.

Attached is the tentative timeframe for the construction project, so that board members can gain a sense of how the project will progress through its various stages.

Summary of Monthly COA (Contractor-Owner-Architect) Meeting

Summary of Meeting Held on 12-2-25:

The discussion focused on the construction project at Ravenna Public School, with Lisa Amen outlining the project schedule, which is set to commence next Monday. Surveyors will be on-site Friday (12-5-25)for staking, and the primary emphasis will be on the Area A addition, with renovations planned to minimize disruption. The goal is to complete renovations in Areas A and B by early August to allow for adjustments before the school year starts.

Budget considerations were addressed, including a change order request for a chemistry fume hood, where costs and specifications were discussed. Joseph Synek provided insights on existing conditions and potential noise levels, while Lisa emphasized the need to evaluate financial implications before making decisions.

The status of submittals was reviewed, with Lisa noting that several items require immediate attention to avoid delays. Joseph confirmed he would expedite the review of critical submissions. They also discussed the timeline for a payment application, with Lisa committing to have it ready by the first Wednesday of the month.

The conversation included a proposal to relocate a ground-mounted HVAC unit to the roof, with considerations for maintenance access and electrical compatibility. Lisa highlighted the importance of site visit documentation and safety protocols, including background checks for contractors. The meeting concluded with a brief discussion about the basketball season and the timeline for the fume hood project.
 

Rationale:  The board approved up to $20,000 for the purchase from the Depreciation Fund of a UTV for use by the school.  The superintendent advertised and requested bids.

The bid was awarded to Kearney PowerSports in the amount of $12,986.  A copy of the bid with the specifications for the HD7 Model that was selected is attached to this agenda item.

The bid tabulation was as follows:

Bid Tabulation:
Kearney Powersports: $12,986
Ag-Land: $15,000
Heartland Motor Sports: $15,184
HFK Honda Powersports #1: $16,500
Bobcat of Central Nebraska: $17,819.46
HFK Honda Powersports #2: $18,132
John Deere: $19,220.14








 

Rationale: 

Board Policy 6037 Your school should have a Book Reconsideration Policy. If a parent wants a book reconsidered, the policy outlines the procedure. In short, it has the parent complete a form stating what is objectionable in the book. This is reviewed by the school librarian and administration. Then a committee of stakeholders meets to discuss the book. There are a variety of things the committee can do about the book. They can keep it, take it off the shelf so it is available only upon request, or decide to remove it from the collection. That might not help you right now. I would recommend that you look at Follett Titlewave to see how they rate the book as far as maturity level goes. I just checked my Titlewave account, and it has to be renewed, which will take a day, so I cannot tell you where exactly that information is in Follett Titlewave, but if you look you will find it. Kearney Public School librarians go by this rating. If a book is rated very mature by Follett, it is given a sticker to identify the maturity level to students. This was demanded by the KPS administration. My thought is it is a way to identify the books with the sexiest content to students. I I hope the Titlewave information helps you out. Feel free to let me know if there is any other information you need. LB 390 By the start of the 2026 school year, we'll need to comply with the rules set forth in LB 390.  Please see the attached article from KSB School Law to understand what those requirements are.  The administration and Mrs. Maulsby are working to ensure the requirements of LB390 are in place.

Rationale:  AQuESTT Board Report

Annual Garage Sale Success
The 5th and 6th grades hosted their annual Garage Sale on November 26, successfully raising $825

Elementary Christmas Program
The Elementary Christmas Program will be tomorrow (Dec 9) at 6:30 pm in the high school gym

Upcoming Assessments
Most of our Winter MAP assessment will be conducted this week.  4-6 grades started last week.

Thanksgiving Appreciation
A huge thank you to the Jr. Jays PTO for providing Thanksgiving desserts again this year. The students look forward to this tradition every year!
 

Rationale:  AQuESTT Board Report
 

Principal Report December Board Meeting

 

Academic

• Junior students took the ASVAB test on Wednesday, November 12th.  

Student Behavior/Mental Health

• Ms. Drahota and Tiffini Lanzer, our school psychologist, started an Expressive Arts group that meets 40 minutes once a week for 8–10 weeks. 

  • Students express themselves through their artwork.

  • 4 High School students.

  • Plan to have a middle school and elementary group after the high school group is completed.

• Region III completed SOS training with the 7th graders on Thursday, December 4th. 

Activities

• The Ravenna One Act team qualified for the state one act contest that will be held on December 11th in Norfolk.

• On Friday, Ravenna hosted the Dom Reicks Invite, which consisted of 19 teams. 

  • Thank you to Mr. Schirmer and the staff for putting together a well-run meet.

 

Rationale:  1.  Summer Project List-Dan and I don't want to commit to a whole lot for summer projects, due to the construction project.  Below, is what we are thinking for the next couple of summers:

This Summer:

• Walk-In Cooler Repair-$4,548 (Health Inspector recommends using diamond plate to go over existing floor and eliminate "sponginess".
• Painting Hallways in JH/SR-$3,757 (Pleasanton)
• Ceiling Tile Replacement-$33,500 (Same company that is doing the building project)
• Maintenance Roof Replacement-$32,000
• Tiny Toilet-Have called multiple plumbers and waiting on a local to get a number.
• Pre-School Concrete-Waiting on dimensions and deciding whether to do this "in-house" or find a contractor.
• Football & Track Stadium Handrails - (Getting a number, but need done, especially the ones at the front of the bleachers.)-$5,000
• LED Lighting Replacement in Elementary (Lower Elementary & Elementary Music Room)-$5,000
• Total Estimate: $83,805

Next Summer:

• Chemistry Vent Hood-$90,461 (As per BD-Attached-Could we do it cheaper?)
• Theater Re-Light-$65,000 (R8 & Yanda's Budget Price)-$65,000
• Music Lockers-$20,000-$30,000
• Clean brick on buildings to match new clean brick from building project-No pricing secured yet.
• Paint metal and roof (elementary) trim on perimeter of the  school-No pricing secured yet. 
• Total Estimate: $185,461 x 5% inflation = $194,734 (Only items secured to date)

Rationale: 

The notice from the Buffalo County Election Commission is attached for review and consideration by the board of education.

The superintendent has completed and submitted the filing for the number of seats to be voted on during the next election by the public with the election commissioner.