August 14, 2025 at 6:30 PM - Board of Education Regular Monthly Meeting

Discussion:  President Lutkemeier opened the meeting at 6:30 pm.  The meeting notice was advertised in the July 31st publication of the Webster County Sun.  "The Open Meetings Act" poster was displayed in the meeting room.

Discussion:  Public comment time was not used by anyone in attendance.

Discussion:  Mr. Bauer reported:

1. Attended school finance and budget meeting.

2. Waiting on valuations to finish putting the budget and tax requests completely together. We will obviously be diving deep into a few things during the budget presentation later. I have been working diligently on two different paths that we can take. One will require a pink post card meeting, the other would avoid it. I am going to lean heavily on our 9-member board to choose the appropriate path.

3. The administrative team attended Administrators Days in Kearney.

4. CEP information in response to the email you all received.

5. Both back-to-school nights that the Principals held were very well-attended and successful.

6. 10 passenger (12 passenger chasis) vans update. Not good news.....

7. We need to be sure to set a date for the tax request and budget hearings. Can be our September BOE meeting if we are not going to pink postcard meeting. Would need to be later in September if we are having pink postcard meeting.

8. Playground and bus barn are progressing well. The rain did not help. The parking lot in Roseland is near complete.

2024-2025 School Year total I forgot to attach in July - Sorry: Worked 265 of 240 contracted days
Used 14.5 vacation days of 25
Used 10 sick leave days of 30

I would ask the board if they truly feel my attendance is something that I need to track. I feel as though yearly I am going to do what it takes to get my work completed. If there is a year you feel like I am gone more than I should be; I think it would be more than fair to ask that I begin to track. With my wife’s medical issues - this past year is the most school I have missed in my time as an administrator, and I was still able to more than fulfill the contractual expectations.  

Discussion: 

Mr. Drake reported :

Enrollment: As of August 13th at 3:50 PM
PreK-6: 130

PreK: 24
K: 19
1st: 7
2nd: 16
3rd: 13
4th: 13
5th: 22
6th: 16

Completed Events:

Webster County Fair
Jump Start
Preschool Summer School
Back to School Night
Preschool Open House
Teacher In-Service
First Day of School

Upcoming Events:

August 20th: Preschool First Day
August 27th: Picture Day
September 5th: Grandparents Day Lunch

Updates:

The playground and concrete are in much better shape now.
Next focus is grass area surfacing
Gym Doors

Informational:

This is a math curriculum review year

PD:

Attended administrator days July 23-25

Discussion:  Mr. Jones reported:

Professional Development / Meetings
  August 4th - Yearly Bus Drivers Meeting
  August 6th - TVC Fall Meetings
  August 8th - New Staff Orientation
  August 11th-13th - Teacher In-Service
  Bus/Small Vehicle Training
  Safety/Health Trainings
  QPR Training
  IXL Training

JH/HS Academics
  August 4th - Drop and Add Classes
  August 5th - Drop and Add Classes
  August 5th - Back 2 School Night
  August 7th - Drop and Add Classes
  August 11th - Staff Reports

JH/HS Sports / Activities
  August 4th-7th - Fall Sports Conditioning
  August 11th - Start of Fall Sports Practices
  August 15th - FBLA / FFA Back 2 School Bash
  August 22nd - FB Scrimmage
  August 22nd - VB Scrimmage
  August 26th - FFA Parent / Student Meeting
  August 28th - VB vs McCool Junction

Other:
  Handbook Change - Eligibility
  HOSA - Future Health Professionals group
  Middle Area of the Building
  Canvas Training
  SL 6 Review
  CIP Meetings
  Vertical Content Conversations
  August 14th - Students Start School
  August 27th - Staff / Student Pictures

Other:
  MAPs Testing - Week of Sept. 8th
  August 28th - FB @ Shelton
  August 28th - XC @ Hastings High Invite
  August 30th - VB @ Axtell Tournament

Other:
  HS Volleyball - 15 Girls
  HS Cross Country - 5 Boys, 1 Girl
  HS Football - 16 Boys

Discussion:  We need to take action to approve the Alicap Insurance Premium for the 2025-26 school year in the amount of $90,200.  Dividend Credit was $2,183 this year, Contribution Due was $92,383

Discussion: 

Each year the board needs to take action to approve expenses from the Special Building Fund.  We try to specify when we approve bids. This is just a great way of making sure that we have our bases covered; $19,160 - Rutt's Heating and AC (Elementary Project) $766.06 - Webster County Property Taxes (Bladen Rental) $49,240 - Rutt's Heating and AC (Elementary Project) $3,000 - Kort and Associates (Bus Barn Services) $1,232 - Square Deal (Storage Shed Roseland) $1,500 - Big Al's Bins (Storage Shed Roseland) $1,092.61 - Big Al's Bins (Storage Shed Roseland)   $90,000 - Big Al's Bins (Bus Barn) $150,000 - Big Al's Bins (Bus Barn) $24,620 - Rooster Rubber (Elementary Playground) $22,615 - Square Deal (Elementary Gym Doors) $1,839.20 - E & S Trucking (White Rock Delivery $7,586.80 - Kerford Limestone Company (New Parking Lot Roseland) $500,000 - Transferred to CD's

Discussion:  Each year the board of education needs to take action on expenses from the depreciation fund. 
$101,500 - NE Central Equipment (Micro Bus - 14 Passenger)
$146,235 - NE Central Equipment (Propane Bus)

Discussion:  Mr. Bauer updated the board on some options for updating the fleet with the new guidance coming down from the feds and NDE.  Board members discussed their preferences for a couple of high-rise vans and a mini bus.

Discussion:  The next regular board of education meeting will take place 7 am, at the Elementary in Bladen on September 15th.