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

Dr. Jonas stated that there was one item for the Board’s consideration for surplus: the district’s older Grasshopper mower. She explained that the plan would be to dispose of the mower via auction, and that the district would contact an auction service to arrange for its inclusion in an upcoming sale.

Dr. Jonas noted that efforts were made to keep the mower operational over the summer. Rick, with assistance from Mr. Koehler, attempted several repairs; however, the mower required ongoing maintenance throughout the season. Due to its continued mechanical issues, Rick requested that the mower be surplused, and expressed his appreciation for the Board’s consideration.

Mr. Fornoff asked if there were any questions from the Board. Mr. Dalrymple inquired whether the district had recently acquired a new Grasshopper mower. Dr. Jonas confirmed that a newer model was purchased last summer, and that the one being considered for surplus is the older of the two.

Dr. Jonas confirmed that, as this is a resolution, it would be read into the record. She noted that a Conflict of Interest Statement had been submitted by Mrs. Jobman, and as such, she would abstain from voting on this resolution.

Dr. Jonas then read the resolution as follows:

"Be it resolved that the official depositories of school funds for this school district are hereby designated to be Dayspring Bank and Flatwater Bank. Furthermore, the designation of any other institutions as depositories of school funds is hereby withdrawn."

She stated that once the Board has completed its discussion and vote, the resolution would be marked as read in its entirety.

The resolution, having been read and presented, was consented to and approved by a majority of the Board members. This action formally designates Dayspring Bank and Flatwater Bank as the sole official depositories for district funds.

Mr. Fornoff asked if there were any questions from the Board and noted that this has historically been the district’s standard practice. No questions were raised.

Signed Official Depositories Resolution

Dr. Jonas stated that, per legislation passed two years ago, school districts are now required to establish option enrollment capacity standards one year in advance of the school year to which they apply. She noted that the standards for the current school year (2025-2026) were adopted at this time last year, and the discussion now pertains to the 2026-2027 school year.

Dr. Jonas confirmed that there are no changes to the existing standards. The district’s numeric capacity remains set at 70 students per grade level, kindergarten through 12th grade.

Regarding programmatic capacity, Dr. Jonas explained that decisions will continue to defer to the Special Education Director, as required by state statute.

She also reviewed the district’s standards for denial of option enrollment applications, which state that the district will not accept an option student if any of the following conditions apply:

• The enrollment would increase operating costs for the district, such as requiring the hiring of additional staff or contracting with outside entities.

• The enrollment would necessitate the procurement of new equipment, technology, or furnishings.

• The enrollment would require the rearrangement of existing staff caseloads.

• The student is reasonably deemed by appropriate staff to pose a potential risk to the health or safety of students or staff.

• The enrollment may adversely affect the quality of educational services provided to resident students, as determined by appropriate staff.

Mr. Fornoff asked if there were any questions for Dr. Jonas. No questions were raised.

Dr. Jonas confirmed that District 20 has been a member of STANCE (Schools Taking Action for Nebraska Children’s Education) since the organization’s inception. She noted that Dr. Teahon was one of the founding members. The mission of STANCE is to address legislative issues from the perspective of school superintendents rather than lobbyists.

Dr. Jonas shared that STANCE has been a highly effective organization, both in terms of her professional involvement and in its broader impact engaging with state legislators. The group frequently serves as a reference point for other organizations when evaluating their positions on proposed legislation.

She explained that STANCE membership is particularly valuable because it consists of superintendents from districts similar in size to District 20—some slightly larger, others slightly smaller. This creates a productive "think tank" environment. Participation does involve occasional travel to Lincoln, particularly during the legislative session, where Dr. Jonas attends approximately every other week. She emphasized that the group provides meaningful opportunities to advocate for public education and to build relationships that prove beneficial in addressing various district matters throughout the year.

Mr. Fornoff inquired about the number of participating districts. Dr. Jonas estimated that there are approximately 13 member districts, though she would need to consult the official roster to confirm that figure.

She also confirmed that the cost of membership is relatively low. However, because it is a district membership, it is brought before the Board for approval in the interest of transparency.

Mr. Fornoff asked if there were any further questions. None were raised.

Dr. Jonas reported that Joseph Hewgley & Associates, the full-service architectural firm the district has worked with over the past several years, is approaching the conclusion of its contractual engagement with the district. She and Jesse met with Joseph and Ryan from the firm the previous Friday to discuss the process for closing out ongoing projects and bringing the overall partnership to a close by December.

Phase 2 / Area B - Elementary School Renovation

Dr. Jonas explained that "Phase 2" (referred to internally as Area B) pertains to the elementary building renovation completed during the summer prior to last. The total project management fee for this phase was $60,000. The payment currently proposed is $57,000, which represents 95% of the total fee, corresponding to the portion of the project completed to date.

While the majority of work has been finalized, Dr. Jonas noted that there are still some HVAC-related issues being addressed. Although there is now a clear resolution plan in place, the district has opted to retain the remaining 5% of the project fee until it is fully satisfied with the outcome.

To provide context, she shared that roughly six months ago, Jesse was receiving approximately 200 HVAC error notifications per week, requiring continual troubleshooting and resets. Following a rewiring effort by the contractor this past July, the number of weekly notifications has decreased significantly to 2 to 4 per week. Despite the improvement, Dr. Jonas emphasized the importance of reaching either a complete resolution or full understanding of the root issue before releasing the final payment.

Phase 3 / Areas C & D - Preliminary Design Work

Dr. Jonas also discussed Phase 3, encompassing Areas C and D, which include the CTE hallway, the high school main entrance, and the academic wing. The district engaged Joseph Hewgley & Associates for preliminary design work related to the development of a secure entryway, including conceptual drawings and a preliminary cost estimate. Additional work included construction documents for a few smaller projects in that area, which were ultimately deferred.

The total invoice for services rendered in Phase 3 is $41,990. Dr. Jonas confirmed that this amount reflects all design services completed to date. Joseph Hewgley & Associates has verified that, aside from the 5% retainage on Phase 2 (Area B), this payment will fulfill all outstanding obligations.

Mr. Fornoff asked if any members of the Facilities Committee had additional comments. Mr. Dalrymple expressed appreciation for the administration’s diligence, thanking Dr. Jonas and staff for "watching the numbers" and "holding their feet to the fire" to ensure accountability and satisfactory resolution.

Dr. Jonas informed the Board that the district’s current band uniforms are over 20 years old and have far exceeded their intended lifespan. While replacement discussions began last spring, the finalization of the design and ordering process took additional time to complete.

The original project estimate was $120,000, but Dr. Jonas noted that the scope has been significantly scaled back. The reduction was achieved by minimizing the number of extra uniforms ordered, with a guarantee from the vendor that additional uniforms in matching styles and sizes can be manufactured in the future as needed. She identified this as a key improvement in both cost-efficiency and sustainability.

The proposed purchase includes:

• 60 full uniforms, complete with all necessary components

• An updated band banner

• Total cost: $56,777.33

Because the purchase exceeds the district’s $40,000 policy threshold, it is presented for Board approval.

Dr. Jonas expressed enthusiasm about the updated design, noting that renderings of the uniforms look excellent. While she deferred to the music staff on the technical components of the uniform, she shared excitement about the visual upgrade and the opportunity to modernize after two decades. She acknowledged that while the uniforms likely won’t arrive in time for the current marching band season, Mr. Johnson is exploring other opportunities for students to showcase the new look—possibly at events like Dudley Drumlines for state competitions where students frequently participate.

In response to a question from Mr. Fornoff regarding delivery timelines, Dr. Jonas confirmed that the company indicated a 60-day production window, following student measurements and final specifications.

Mr. Dalrymple asked whether the band would wear the new uniforms during halftime performances at football games, as they had in the past. Dr. Jonas confirmed that this has been discussed with Mr. Johnson and could be a possibility in the future.

Mrs. Brass expressed appreciation for the administration’s diligence in managing the project and acknowledged that while 20 years is a long time for any uniform, the investment makes more sense when considered over such a long lifespan. She also commended the band program’s fundraising efforts in support of the purchase.

Mr. Fornoff echoed those sentiments, offering a shout-out to Mr. Johnson and sharing that he has heard consistently positive feedback about the music and band program. He recognized the strong momentum and leadership being shown within that department.

Dr. Jonas confirmed that the item pertains to the 2026-2027 school year not the 2025-2026 school year.

Mr. Fornoff noted that the Gothenburg Education Association was officially certified as the exclusive collective bargaining agent for Gothenburg Public Schools by the Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations on February 8, 2016. He clarified that this agenda item is strictly procedural, serving as formal recognition ahead of the upcoming negotiations.

The district’s initial bargaining meeting is scheduled for next month. Mr. Fornoff acknowledged the presence of Mrs. Meisinger, a member of the negotiation team, and commented that the Board looks forward to those early-morning sessions.

Mr. Fornoff asked if there were any questions from the Board. No questions were raised, and the meeting moved on with no action taken.

Dr. Jonas stated that the district is required to annually review its policy regarding Board of Education members’ participation in the district’s health and life insurance plans. She explained that Board members may choose to participate in these insurance programs, which are offered to district employees.

Dr. Jonas clarified that any Board member electing to participate must pay both the employee and employer portions of the insurance premiums directly to the district, in advance of any payments being made to the insurance carrier.

She noted that currently, no Board members participate in this insurance program. Therefore, as this is an annual review, no action is required at this time.

Mr. Fornoff asked if there were any questions from the Board. There were none, and the meeting proceeded with no action taken.

Personnel Committee (Mr. Fornoff, Mrs. Terrell, Mrs. Brass)
Mr. Fornoff confirmed that negotiations meetings will begin in October. He added that the committee will also meet later this week to follow up on Dr. Jonas’s introduction to the negotiations process.

Transportation and Facilities Committee (Mr. Dalrymple, Mr. Sukraw, Mrs. Jobman)
Mr. Dalrymple reported that the committee has not yet met. However, he has spoken with Mr. Sukraw several times regarding mechanical and facilities matters. They plan to conduct a walkthrough together at a later date to familiarize Mr. Sukraw with these areas.

Finance Committee (Mrs. Jobman, Mr. Dalrymple, Mrs. Brass)
Mrs. Jobman shared that the committee recently held a budget workshop last month, with the final budget scheduled for adoption at the end of this month. Additionally, a budget Q&A session was held just prior to the board meeting. She noted that preparations for the new fiscal year are progressing normally, with nothing out of the ordinary to report.

Committee on American Civics (Mrs. Terrell, Mr. Fornoff, Mr. Sukraw)
Mrs. Terrell reported that this committee has not met.

Policy Review Committee (Mrs. Brass, Mr. Dalrymple, Mrs. Jobman)
Mrs. Brass stated that this committee has not met.