July 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting
| Regular Board | |
| Attendance Taken on 7/14/2025 at 5:57 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 |
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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.
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3. Recognition of Visitors
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3.1. 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. Set substitute salaries for the 2025-2026 school year.
Rationale:
Substitute salaries were $155 and $190 for ten consecutive days or after 30 cumulative days last year.
We averaged 6.4 substitutes per day (not including school coverage) and 1,080 total days covered. This represents an increase of 100 additional days covered. These numbers include long-term coverage three long-term commitments. 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 Monica Rivera, Marley Kennicutt, Dan Sherer, Julie Rickertsen, Rita Foster, Greg Anderson, and Jillian Dowdy who were here over 50 days! 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.
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4.3. Discuss and consider approval of membership with NRCSA for the 2025-2026 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 district’s continued membership in the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association (NRCSA) for board consideration. She noted that the district has been a member for many years and explained that NRCSA offers valuable advocacy and support tailored to rural school districts. Dr. Jonas compared NRCSA to STANCE, a group the district also participates in that primarily supports larger districts. She emphasized that belonging to both provides a balanced range of resources and representation. Among the most frequently used NRCSA benefits is the credit card program, which she highlighted as particularly effective for managing district purchases. Dr. Jonas noted that the program has been efficient under the oversight of Business Manager Becky Vang, and further improvements are being implemented this year to enhance efficiency. When asked by Mr. Dalrymple about the annual membership cost, Dr. Jonas estimated it to be $875, with a commitment to confirm the exact amount. In response to a question from Mrs. Terrell regarding participation, Dr. Jonas stated that of the 245 school districts in Nebraska, she estimates approximately 180 districts are NRCSA members. Mr. Fornoff invited additional questions from board members. No further questions were raised.
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4.4. Appoint New Board Member to fill vacancy.
Rationale:
The vacancy process and applicable state statutes are outlined here.
Appointment Timeline: June 10th, 2025 - Resignation Effective & Applications Opened June 26th, 2025 - Applications Due July 14th, 2025 - Appointment Recommendation @ Regular Board Meeting Each board member has reviewed the submitted applications. Based on this information, the board officers will make a recommendation at the July meeting regarding the candidate who best fits the current needs of the district in alignment with the district goals and priorities outlined in our Strategic Plan.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Mr. Fornoff provided a brief recap of the board vacancy process following Mr. Wyatt’s resignation in June after 18.5 years of service. He expressed deep appreciation for Mr. Wyatt’s long-standing commitment to the district. Dr. Jonas had previously outlined the timeline for applications and interviews. The Executive Committee—comprised of Mrs. Jobman, Mrs. Terrell, and Mr. Fornoff, with input from Mr. Dalrymple and Mrs. Brass—reviewed all submitted applications. Mr. Fornoff thanked all candidates, acknowledging the importance and courage involved in volunteering to serve the community and its schools. Mr. Fornoff introduced Mr. Ryan Sukraw as the recommended appointee to the board and invited committee members to share additional comments. Mrs. Jobman echoed her appreciation for all applicants, noting that the decision was not easy due to the high quality of the candidate pool. She highlighted Mr. Sukraw’s broad experience serving on various boards and his longstanding engagement in the community, stating that his background would offer valuable insight and perspective to board discussions. Mrs. Terrell agreed, emphasizing that the committee was especially focused on selecting someone with experience in education and budgeting, given the timing of the appointment ahead of the upcoming school year and budget season. She expressed gratitude for the applicants and confidence in Mr. Sukraw’s qualifications. |
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5. Policy & Procedure
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5.1. Discuss and consider policy updates for the 2025-2026 school year.
Rationale:
Each year, KSB provides legally required updates to be made in policy and subsequent handbook references. A review of those updates can be found here.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas provided an overview of the district’s annual policy updates, noting that the proposed revisions are primarily based on legal guidance from KSB School Law, which conducts a yearly review of policies and advises districts on required changes. While many updates were minor or technical in nature, Dr. Jonas highlighted a few significant items for board awareness:
Dr. Jonas thanked the board for reviewing the full list of updates in advance and gave special thanks to the Policy Committee for their time and attention to detail during the review process.
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5.2. First reading of proposed new policies.
Rationale:
After reviewing existing policy, the following proposals for new policy are linked here for consideration of the Board.
As these are a first-reading, no action is required. Any feedback should be provided to Dr. Jonas before the next board meeting.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas clarified that unlike routine policy updates, new policies require a review period between the first and second readings to allow for board feedback. She presented three new policies for initial review:
No action was taken on these policies at this time to allow for further review and feedback.
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5.3. Review of Policy 6025 Cell Phones
Rationale:
No community feedback was received regarding the cell phone policy. As a result, the policy from the 2024-2025 school year will remain in effect. We continue to welcome and encourage feedback from parents, students, and staff to support open dialogue. Any input received throughout the upcoming year will be considered as part of the review process next summer.
Due to no changes, this is an information item only. No action is required.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas reported that the district recently opened the cell phone policy for community feedback but received no comments. Therefore, the district will continue to implement last year’s policy without changes. She reviewed the policy details: at the secondary level (grades 7-12), students are required to dock their phones in classroom caddies, a practice consistent with the previous year. At the elementary level, students do not have access to cell phones during the school day; phones are kept in lockers or collected by teachers. Dr. Jonas noted the importance of consistency in making the policy effective and affirmed the district will remain open to future feedback from parents and students. As an additional observation, Dr. Jonas shared that in interviews with graduating seniors planning to enter education, the cell phone policy was frequently cited as a positive change impacting their school experience. No action was taken.
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5.4. Discuss and consider approval of the 25-26 Student Handbook.
Rationale:
We did not receive any feedback on the handbook changes presented at the June meeting. Through discussion with our policy committee, administrators, and school nurse, we have added enhanced language regarding latex balloons. This language has now been added accordingly.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Dr. Jonas reported that no public feedback was received following the presentation of the Student Handbook changes at the June meeting. Following additional internal review by the Policy Committee, along with input from district administration and the school nurse, enhanced language regarding latex balloon restrictions was added to the handbook. This update reflects an existing practice that had not been previously stated clearly in writing. No other changes were made. Dr. Jonas indicated the handbook is now ready for board approval.
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5.5. First Reading of the 2025-2026 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:
Dr. Jonas noted that, for the first time in three years, there are no changes to the Activity Handbook other than updates to calendar dates. No action was taken.
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5.6. First Reading of the 2025-2026 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 reported that the 2025-2026 Staff Handbook contains only minor updates, all of which align with newly adopted board policies. The handbook is currently open for board review. In response to a question from Mr. Fornoff regarding how the handbook compares to other districts, Dr. Jonas explained that most districts working with KSB School Law likely have similarly structured handbooks. Approximately three years ago, the district formally aligned its handbook with KSB policy to maintain consistency. Each summer, KSB provides a "red-line" version of recommended changes, which the district reviews and incorporates as appropriate. No action was taken.
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5.7. 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 explained that, following legislation passed two years ago, the board is required to annually adopt a resolution confirming that staff trainings are conducted and that they are of a reasonable length. While the district cannot modify the duration of most trainings—since they are mandated by law or regulation—this annual approval ensures compliance with the legislation. A comprehensive list of required trainings was presented, including the mandating authority, the estimated time commitment, and the intended staff audience. On average, the total time for completion amounts to approximately one full day, which led the district to implement a flex day last year to give staff time to complete them. Dr. Jonas noted that the training modules are made available early in the summer to allow staff flexibility in completing them either gradually or all at once. All trainings are due by the first day students return, as the information is considered essential for working safely and effectively with students. Mrs. Terrell inquired about new training additions from the current legislative session. Dr. Jonas clarified that while no new requirements were introduced, some items marked in red were not included on the resolution in prior years but are now formally listed. She also referenced a state initiative, "Operation Clean Out the Closets," which aimed to review and potentially reduce training mandates. While the list did not shrink, it also did not grow, which was seen as a positive outcome. Approximately 70% of required trainings are delivered through the Vector platform provided by the district’s insurance provider, ALICAP. Other trainings, such as CPR/AED and specific acknowledgments, are managed separately and tracked by staff including Mrs. Tiller and Mrs. Haas.
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5.8. 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 reported that there are no changes to the district’s evaluation tools for the upcoming year. These documents are reviewed and adopted annually in July and submitted to the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) for official record. She noted that the district completed a comprehensive overhaul of the evaluation tools a few years ago and continues to find them effective and well-aligned with the district’s needs. |
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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 explained that, in compliance with legislation enacted a few years ago, all district administrators annually file Conflict of Interest disclosures related to any potential conflicts involving district contracts. The disclosures were presented for public record. No action was required.
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7. Reports
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7.1. Board of Education Reports
Rationale:
Committee Reports (Chair in bold)
Discussion:
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7.2. Administrative Reports
Rationale:
1. Topic Specific Administrative Reports
2. General 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 11th
Swede Activities: Open House Night - consider a noon meeting
Discussion:
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 11th @ 12 PM.
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9. Adjournment
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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