Public Meeting Minutes: November 17, 2025 at 4:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

1. Milford Public Schools Board of Education Information

More Information: Mission Statement - Milford Public Schools will prepare all students to be successful citizens: Our Mission is fulfilled when all students read with comprehension, speak and write clearly, compute accurately, reason logically, understand and appreciate the fine arts, apply suitable strategies and habits of mind to solve problems, utilize technology to communicate and to understand information and behave morally.

This agenda contains a list of subjects known at the time of its distribution. A copy of the agenda reflecting any changes will be available for public inspection during normal business hours in the District Office. Except for items of an emergency nature, the agenda shall not be altered later than twenty-four hours before the meeting. The Board reserves the right to alter the order of items, as it deems necessary.

1.1. Meeting was advertised in the November 13th Milford Times

2. Opening Procedures

2.1. Call to Order, Roll Call

2.2. Excuse Absent Board Member(s)

2.3. Open Meeting Law - Information concerning the Open Meeting Law, Chapter 84, Article 14 of Nebraska State Statutes, is posted on the bulletin board in the back of the meeting room

More Information:

Information concerning the Open Meeting Law, Chapter 84, Article 14 of Nebraska State Statutes, is posted on the bulletin board in the back of the meeting room.

2.4. Changes to Agenda

Discussion: Move 7.1 - Review, consider, and take all necessary action to approve a contract for the HVAC renovation project at the secondary building to follow 7.6 - Discuss the evaluation of the superintendent.

2.5. Welcome and Introduction of Visitors

Discussion: Adam Kent, Clark & Enersen Architect

2.6. Community Input

More Information:

This is the public’s opportunity to speak to items on the agenda. This is also the public’s opportunity to speak to other non-agenda topics concerning the school district - since it is not an agenda item the board cannot discuss or take action on the matter at this time. To be recognized, all participants must complete the Request to Address the Milford Board of Education Form. The District has established separate complaint procedures for any complaints, including complaints and concerns against individual employees. As such, the Board requests that this complaint process be followed before discussion with the Board takes place. Thank you for your participation.

3. Consent Agenda

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented Passed with a motion by Ned Pauley and a second by Tony Roth.

Carraher: Yea
Dickinson: Yea
Dunlap: Yea
Pauley: Yea
Roth: Yea
Welsch: Yea

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

3.1. Review, Consider, and Take All Necessary Action on the Minutes of Previous Meeting

3.2. Review, Consider, and Take All Necessary Action to Approve Payment of Claims

More Information:

General Fund for $127,053
Payroll for $824,286
Total $951,338

Building Fund for $12,196 was for window coverings for the new elementary windows and for new bathroom partition replacement in the men's bathroom in the common's area at the high school.

QCPUF for $16,882 was to Clark & Enersen for HVAC design and bidding process work.

Other bills to point out:

$1292 to Alfred Benesch and Co. was for our three-year asbestos inspection.
$8311 to Farmers Cooperative was for two months of fuel bills and for a new set of tires.
$7666 to Implementation Consulting Group (ICG) is for consulting fees for literacy support and coaching at the high school. The fees for ICG will be submitted for reimbursement through the CLSD literacy grant through NDE.

4. Reports

4.1. Review/Discuss Administrative Reports

Discussion: Elementary Principal: Mrs. Hartman discussed the Veteran's Day Program; after school tutoring; and the Turkey Trot. She thanked the Strategic Plan Action team. She thanked the Eat Out Local Restaurants for supporting PTO.

Secondary Principal: Dr. Mowinkel congratulated the volleyball team on their state championship. He congratulated all teams and activities on their accomplishments. He discussed the Community Pantry food collection; Career and College Access Day; college visits; Winter Sports Media Day; Doane University Art Day; and SNC and District One Act.

Director of Learning: Mr. Carlson discussed the ELA materials selection and the external visit.

Superintendent: Dr. Kubicek discussed the partnership with Southeast Community College. He shared the SNC Board of Directors approved the application of Freeman and EMF. He gave an update on buildings and grounds. He pointed out upcoming NASB trainings and future meetings.

4.2. Review/Discuss Student Enrollment Report

More Information: K-6: 393
7-12: 382
K-12: 775
w/ Preschool: 815

Last monthK-12 enrollment was 774.

Discussion: K-6: 393
7-12: 382
K-12: 775
w/ Preschool: 815

Last monthK-12 enrollment was 774.

4.3. Review/discuss the Student Demographics & Assessment Data Report

More Information: Mr. Carlson will present information at the meeting. The presentation is attached.

Discussion: Dr. Kubicek and Mr. Carlson discussed the student demographics and assessment data.

4.4. Review/discuss Strategic Planning updates and the External Visit process and report

More Information: The administrative team will provide a brief update regarding the work that has been started to support the goals of the strategic plan. We will also plan to share the results from the external visit.

4.5. Review/Discuss Facility Master Planning

More Information: Attached is a proposed timeline for the facility planning process. I will plan to provide additional information at the board meeting about each month's proposed activities.

4.6. Review/Discuss State Funding for Public Education

More Information:

Open discussion as needed.

Discussion: President Welsch discussed what is happening with state funding at the legislature.

5. Board Commentary

6. Unfinished Business

7. New Business

7.1. Review, consider, and take all necessary action to approve a contract for the HVAC renovation project in the secondary building.

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Motion to authorize the superintendent to execute a contract with NIFCO Mechanical Systems for the HVAC project at the secondary building with the base bid of $1,088, 235 and the voluntary alternate deduction of $51,078 for a contract amount of $1,037,175 Passed with a motion by Ned Pauley and a second by Jessica Dunlap.

Carraher: Yea
Dickinson: Yea
Dunlap: Yea
Pauley: Yea
Roth: Yea
Welsch: Yea

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

7.2. Review, consider, and take all necessary action to approve a contract with Bosn for HVAC unit replacement for the elementary school building

More Information: One of the rooftop units at the elementary school has failed. This unit was installed in 2001, so is nearly 25 years old. To replace the unit we need to rent a crane. Since we needed to rent a crane, we asked to get an estimate to replace three other units on the roof that are also 25+ years old while we have the crane here. I will add this as an agenda item for consideration Monday. The three other units are units that were already on our priority list for replacement.

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Motion to authorize the superintendent to execute a contract with Bosn for the replacement of 4 units at the elementary building for an amount not to exceed $59,960. Passed with a motion by David Dickinson and a second by Sydnie Carraher.

Carraher: Yea
Dickinson: Yea
Dunlap: Yea
Pauley: Yea
Roth: Yea
Welsch: Yea

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

7.3. Discuss before/after school programming models

More Information:

Shawn, Cory, and I met with Jennifer Durow, who coordinates the before and after school program at Norris Public Schools, to learn about her model.

Jennifer’s program at Norris:

Staffing: Uses a mix of high school students and paraprofessionals.
Billing: Families are charged only for the hours their child uses. Payments are billed weekly (charged Monday for the previous week).
Space: Norris rents a room from the school. For Milford, the cafeteria could serve as a suitable location.
Schedule: 7:00 a.m. until the start of school and 3:20-6:00 p.m. Students can come/go as it works in the families daily schedule.
Structure: Includes snack time, homework (with high school tutors), and playtime (playground or gym when available, alternate activities otherwise).
Licensing: Only serves school-age children (preschoolers excluded).
Payment: Accepts state-subsidized payments and helps families navigate the process.
Operations: Uses an app to track attendance and time in care.
Support: Jennifer is willing to help set up and train staff on her model, though she likely would not run it herself due to distance.

Other Information:

Approximately 30-40 students are at the elementary school prior to 7:45 and are in the front entry with a need to supervise.

Next Steps:

Board feedback on exploring the idea of third-party interest to run the program.
Consider a parent interest survey.
Based on interest, advertise for a Request for Proposals (RFP) for potential program operators, with Jennifer serving as a consultant/support system.

7.4. Recognize the Milford Education Association as the bargaining agent for the Certified Staff

More Information:

This is an annual item and is required by law. The attached letter is a request from the MEA to be recognized as the negotiating body for the certificated staff for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years. We are already settled for 2026-2027 unless a decision is made to reopen in the spring after state aid to schools is determined.

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Motion to recognize the Milford Education Association as the bargaining unit for the Milford Certified Staff Passed with a motion by Ned Pauley and a second by Jessica Dunlap.

Carraher: Yea
Dickinson: Yea
Dunlap: Yea
Pauley: Yea
Roth: Yea
Welsch: Yea

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

7.5. Review, consider, and take all necessary action on the 2024-25 Independent Audit Report (if available)

More Information: Our auditor is still completing the audit documents. If they are not available we will move this agenda item to the December board meeting.

Discussion: No discussion or action taken. Moved to the December meeting.

7.6. Discuss the evaluation of the superintendent

More Information: The evaluation has been shared with all board members and with Dr. Kubicek. There is no action required for this agenda item.

I will place the contract on the December board meeting agenda, as outlined in the current superintendent contract. Below is the language from the current contract.

Section 1. Term of Contract. The Superintendent shall be employed for a period of two (2) year(s) beginning on July 1, 2025, and expiring on June 30, 2027. References to "contract year" shall mean the period from July 1st through June 30th and shall consist of all days except those on which: there are scheduled school holidays and when school is not in session and teachers and/or staff are not required to be at school; school is canceled; the Superintendent's illness makes attendance impossible or impracticable; the Superintendent's presence is not necessary to fulfill his contractual duties; or the Board otherwise excuses the Superintendent. The Superintendent agrees to work sufficient hours and days to satisfactorily complete the duties of this contract. The Superintendent shall keep complete and accurate records of his working days and shall provide the Board of Education with a report of his accumulated working days at least quarterly.

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 board meeting, in the final year of this contract, of the Board’s intention to consider the nonrenewal 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 year in which the contract is set to renew, and the Superintendent shall make the renewal of this employment contract an agenda item for the regular December Board meeting during each year of this contract in which it is set to renew. At the time of each contract renewal and/or amendment, the Superintendent shall be responsible for taking all necessary steps to ensure that the District has complied with the Superintendent Pay Transparency Act.

Discussion: Moved to the December meeting.

8. Executive Session

More Information:

The Board of Education reserves the right to enter into Closed/Executive Session for 1) the protection of the public interest, or 2) the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual, and/or the individual has not requested a public meeting. When making a motion to enter into Closed/Executive Session, the member making the motion should be as specific as possible as to the reason(s) for executive session.

The Board President will restate the reason for Closed/Executive Session after the motion has been acted on.

Discussion: President Welsch declared Executive Session at 6:00 p.m. after the motion carried.
President Welsch declared open session at 6:45 p.m.

8.1. Executive Session (if requested)

Action(s):

Motion Passed:

Motion to enter closed session to discuss the school district's legal options in responding to these bids and to receive legal advice concerning the same because closed session is clearly necessary to protect the public interest and to protect the attorney-client privilege. Passed with a motion by David Dickinson and a second by Sydnie Carraher.

Carraher: Yea
Dickinson: Yea
Dunlap: Yea
Pauley: Yea
Roth: Yea
Welsch: Yea

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

9. Adjourn

Discussion: President Welsch adjourned the meeting at 6:48 p.m.

November 17, 2025 at 4:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

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