BENNINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL

DISTRICT NO. 59

BOARD OF EDUCATION

REGULAR MEETING

MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 2024  6:00 PM

BENNINGTON DISTRICT BOARD ROOM

 

Posting Information:  Notice published in the Daily Record on 01/05/2024.  Notice of meeting posted on the District website.  Agendas posted at all Bennington Public School buildings three days prior to the meeting date.

 

I. Call Meeting to Order- Superintendent Plas called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. noting the meeting was governed by the Open Meetings Act and a copy of the Act was located at the back of the room.  

 

I.A. Oath of Office for All Members- Members of the Board of Education took the Oath of Office.  

 

I.B. Board Reorganization/Election of Officers – Tim Dreessen nominated Allyson Slobotski for Board President, Kara Neuverth motioned to cease nominations.  Jeremy Dick: Yea, Tim Dreessen: Yea, Kara Neuverth: Yea, Kristi Ryan: Yea, Steve Shannon: Yea, Allyson Slobotski: Yea.  

 

Jeremy Dick nominated Tim Dreessen for Vice President, Steve Shannon motioned to cease nominations.  Jeremy Dick: Yea, Tim Dreessen: Yea, Kara Neuverth: Yea, Kristi Ryan: Yea, Steve Shannon: Yea, Allyson Slobotski: Yea.  

 

Tim Dreessen nominated Jeremy Dick for Treasurer, Steve Shannon motioned to cease nominations.  Jeremy Dick: Yea, Tim Dreessen: Yea, Kara Neuverth: Yea, Kristi Ryan: Yea, Steve Shannon: Yea, Allyson Slobotski: Yea.  

 

Steve Shannon nominated Kristi Ryan for Secretary, Tim Dreessen motioned to cease nominations.  Jeremy Dick: Yea, Tim Dreessen: Yea, Kara Neuverth: Yea, Kristi Ryan: Yea, Steve Shannon: Yea, Allyson Slobotski: Yea.  

 

Jodi McCoy will remain as Recording Secretary.  Jeremy Dick: Yea, Tim Dreessen: Yea, Kara Neuverth: Yea, Kristi Ryan: Yea, Steve Shannon: Yea, Allyson Slobotski: Yea

 

I.C. Approve Slate of Officers

MOTION PASSED:  Motion to approve the 2024 slate of officers as presented, passed with a motion by Kristi Ryan and a second by Jeremy Dick.  Jeremy Dick: Yea, Tim Dreessen: Yea, Kara Neuverth: Yea, Kristi Ryan: Yea, Steve Shannon: Yea, Allyson Slobotski: Yea

 

I.D. Approve Practice and Procedures

a.  Approval of Current Board Policies and Regulations, and Handbooks (Policy 203.01)

b.  Depository for School District No. 59 Funds: i3 Bank formerly Bank of Bennington- (Policy 704.01)

c.  Newspapers of Record:  Douglas County Post-Gazette, The Daily Record, Omaha World-Herald 

d.  Review of Media Relations Policy (Policy 1004.01)

e.  Review Board Member Code of Ethics (Policy 202.01)

f.   Dissemination of Conflict of Interest Statements to Board Members (Policy 202.02)

g.  Designate Superintendent as Authorized Representative for Bennington Public School for All State and Federal Programs.

h.  Approve Matt Blomenkamp as Non-Discrimination Compliance Coordinator (Policy 203.01)

 

MOTION PASSED:  Motion to approve the 2024 school board practices and procedures as listed and presented, passed with a motion by Kara Neuverth and a second by Jeremy Dick.  Jeremy Dick: Yea, Tim Dreessen: Yea, Kara Neuverth: Yea, Kristi Ryan: Yea, Steve Shannon: Yea, Allyson Slobotski: Yea

 

I.E. Appoint 2024 Committee Members (203.06)- Committee Members were appointed as follows:  Curriculum: Kristi Ryan, Kara Neuverth, Steve Shannon.  Building and Finance: Allyson Slobotski, Jeremy Dick, Tim Dreessen.  Policy: Steve Shannon, Allyson Slobotski, Jeremy Dick.  Kristi Ryan was appointed Bennington Schools Foundation Liaison.    

 

II. Public Forum- No members of the public were present to speak.  

 

III. Consent Agenda - (Note: Items on the consent agenda are considered routine and will be enacted under one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items at the meeting unless a Board Member requests an item removed from the agenda for separate action.)

 

Approval of Agenda, Approval of Minutes of the Monday, December 11, 2023 - Regular Meeting, Presentation of January Bills for Approval and Payment, Personnel:  Resignation(s) and Hiring of Personnel

 

MOTION PASSED: Motion to approve Consent Agenda as presented, passed with a motion by Tim Dreessen and a second by Jeremy Dick.  Jeremy Dick: Yea, Tim Dreessen: Yea, Kara Neuverth: Yea, Kristi Ryan: Yea, Steve Shannon: Yea, Allyson Slobotski: Yea

 

January 2024 Personnel Notes- Certificated Staff Hire: Nathan Bramley has been hired as a social studies teacher at Bennington High School. Taylor Jensby has been hired as a 5th-grade teacher at Heritage Elementary.  Elizabeth Loghry has been hired as a middle school SPED teacher at Bennington North Middle School.  Rylee Reggio has been hired as an Elementary SPED teacher at Bennington Elementary. Support Staff Hire:  Leigha Gebers has been hired as a paraprofessional.  Yondale Thomas has been hired as a bus driver.  Alyssa Secord has been hired as a SPED paraprofessional at Heritage Elementary.  Jake Townsend has been hired as an IT associate.  Curtis Kralicek has been hired as an IT systems administrator.  Certificated Staff Resignations:  Amy Barbe has resigned as a French teacher at Bennington High School.  Classified Staff Resignations:  Lexi Ritterbush has resigned as a preschool paraprofessional at Anchor Pointe Elementary. Baylee Rockefeller has resigned as a paraprofessional at Heritage Elementary School.  

 

IV. Items Removed from the Consent Agenda for Separate Action- No items were removed from the Consent Agenda.  

 

V. Reports- Due to the weather concern, Dr. Plas presented brief highlights of reports to the Board.  

 

VI. Unfinished Business

VI.A. Discuss, Consider, and Take Action to Amend the 2023-2024 School Calendar- Although the 2023-24 calendar indicated 176 student contact days, a subsequent review revealed that there are actually 177 student days scheduled. To address this, we suggest amending the calendar to designate Friday, April 26th, as a day off for students.

 

MOTION PASSED:  Motion to approve the revised 2023-24 school calendar as presented, passed with a motion by Steve Shannon and a second by Kara Neuverth.  Jeremy Dick: Yea, Tim Dreessen: Yea, Kara Neuverth: Yea, Kristi Ryan: Yea, Steve Shannon: Yea, Allyson Slobotski: Yea

 

VII. New Business

VII.A. Discuss and Consider the First Reading to Revise Policy 408.02 Certificated Employee Contract Release- Proposed Policy/Rationale: The new language will remove the exception stating that if a request for release is submitted before May 1st, the release will be accepted by the Board without any conditions. 

 

VII.B. Discuss, Consider, and Take Action on District Purchases

MOTION PASSED:  Motion to approve the purchase of a 10-passenger van not to exceed $60,175, passed with a motion by Tim Dreessen and a second by Jeremy Dick.  Jeremy Dick: Yea, Tim Dreessen: Yea, Kara Neuverth: Yea, Kristi Ryan: Yea, Steve Shannon: Yea, Allyson Slobotski: Yea

 

VII.C. Discuss, Consider, and Take Action on Curriculum and Personnel Proposals

The Curriculum Committee recommended the following proposals for approval:  Add AP Precalculus, Ceramics Course, Leadership Academy Course, AP Government, Unified Music Course, and Therapy Dog.  

 

MOTION PASSED:  Motion to accept the recommendations by the Curriculum Committee for 2024-25 curriculum and personnel proposals #34, #40, #42, #33, #51, #23 as outlined in the December 11th, 2023, Curriculum Committee Report and pending 2024-25 budget approval, passed with a motion by Kara Neuverth and a second by Kristi Ryan.  Jeremy Dick: Yea, Tim Dreessen: Yea, Kara Neuverth: Yea, Kristi Ryan: Yea, Steve Shannon: Yea, Allyson Slobotski: Yea

 

VII.D. Review Draft Options of the 2025-26 School Calendar- There are three draft 2025-26 calendars.  For the past several years the Board of Education has made it a practice of adopting calendars two years ahead of the school year. These drafts will be brought to the staff for suggestions and recommendations before it is finalized. 

 

VII.E. Discuss, Consider, and Take Action on New State Mileage Reimbursement Rate-

MOTION PASSED:  Motion to approve $0.67 as the Bennington Public School mileage reimbursement rate as provided by the Nebraska Department of Education, passed with a motion by Kristi Ryan and a second by Steve Shannon.  Jeremy Dick: Yea, Tim Dreessen: Yea, Kara Neuverth: Yea, Kristi Ryan: Yea, Steve Shannon: Yea, Allyson Slobotski: Yea

 

VII.F. Discuss District Cash Flow Report- Dr. Plas reviewed the District Cash Flow Report with the Board.  

 

VII.G. Discuss District Housing Report- Dr. Plas reviewed the District Housing Report with the Board.   

 

VII.H. Discuss, Consider, and Take Action on a Preauthorization to Proceed with Schematic and Design-Development Contract with DLR

MOTION PASSED:  Motion to authorize the superintendent to enter into an agreement with DLR Group for Schematic Design and Design Development Phases of the High School #2 project, passed with a motion by Jeremy Dick and a second by Tim Dreessen.

 

Jeremy Dick: Yea, Tim Dreessen: Yea, Kara Neuverth: Yea, Kristi Ryan: Yea, Steve Shannon: Yea, Allyson Slobotski: Yea

 

VII.I. EXECUTIVE SESSION to Discuss Support Staff and Administrative Compensation

MOTION PASSED:  Motion to enter into Executive Session at 7:00 p.m. to Discuss Support Staff and Administrative Compensation as an executive session is clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest was made by Kristi Ryan, and a second by Tim Dreessen.  Allyson Slobotski called the meeting back into open session at 7:40 p.m. 

 

VII.J. Discuss, Consider, and Take Action on Support Staff and Administrative Compensation- It was proposed that the support staff would receive an average of a 4.04% total compensation package increase, and administrative staff would receive an average of a 3.28% increase.  The 4.04% percentage increase is comparable to what certificated staff received as part of their negotiated agreement.

 

MOTION PASSED:  Motion to approve the 2024-2025 salary and benefits proposal for support staff and administrators as presented, passed with a motion by Tim Dreessen and a second by Jeremy Dick.  Jeremy Dick: Yea, Tim Dreessen: Yea, Kara Neuverth: Yea, Kristi Ryan: Yea, Steve Shannon: Yea, Allyson Slobotski: Yea

 

VIII. Time and Date of Next Regular Meeting- February 12, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the Bennington District Board Room. 

 

IX. Adjournment- Motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:41 made by Allyson Slobotski, and a second by Tim Dreessen.  All in favor.

 

01/08/24 Bennington Public Schools Claims Board Report

 

Vendor Name     Amount

ACTIVITY FUND     

US BANK     $102.23

     

GENERAL FUND CHECKING

360 COMMUNITY SERVICES                  $6,216.21

A CATERED AFFAIR        $501.00

ACCESS SYSTEMS LEASING                $25,707.05

ACCESS SYSTEMS          $1,216.73

AHMADZAI, WANA         $90.00

AMAZON CAPITAL SERVICES               $12,488.73

Backlund, Kellie              $7.07

Barada, Landon              $138.07

BAUER BUILT INC          $2,035.80

BENNINGTON AUTO INC $393.18

BENNINGTON BASEBALL

CLUB INC    $11,500.00

BLICK ART MATERIALS   $378.61

Bobolz, Cody                  $117.90

Bottorff, Alexandria        $23.84

Bouaphakeo, Ann           $57.64

BOUND TO STAY BOUND BOOKS       $14.54

Boyes, Chad $94.10

BOYS TOWN                  $10,140.00

BPS NUTRITION SERVICES               $263.17

CDW GOVERNMENT       $21,000.00

Coble-Obermeyer, Kristi  $17.88

CONSOLIDATED ELECTRICAL

DISTRIBUTORS              $475.00

CONTROLLED RAIN        $389.00

COX BUSINESS              $1,308.25

CRCC          $5,826.75

CUMMINS SALES AND SERVICE                  $987.91

DAILY RECORD, THE      $293.99

EIDE BAILLY LLP            $25,000.00

ELECTRICITY, LLC          $1,571.69

ELECTRONIC CONTRACTING

COMPANY INC               $1,050.00

ELECTRONIC SOUND INC                 $250.00

Engel, Olivia $15.59

ESU 3          $33,120.17

ESU COORDINATING COUNCIL                       $50.00

FILTER SHOP, INC          $5,484.20

FIRESPRING $569.79

FIRST STUDENT, INC     $25,890.87

Fisher, Molly $9.43

Fitzgerald, Abby             $54.04

FLINN SCIENTIFIC CO.   $399.24

FOLLETT CONTENT

SOLUTIONS, LLC            $714.99

Garton, Jill   $232.65

GENERAL FIRE AND SAFETY                   $3,650.10

GOODWILL INDUSTRIES, INC                   $2,650.00

GRAINGER   $950.64

GREATER OMAHA REFRIGERATION         $189.00

GRIBBEN, KRISTIE         $681.20

Gutz, Stacy  $58.95

HEARTLAND EQUINE THERAPEUTIC

RIDING ACADEMY          $1,680.00

HOME DEPOT PRO, THE $8,510.76

HY-VEE INC $1,463.60

I3 BANK      $80.00

INTERSTATE BATTERY

SYSTEMS OF OMAHA      $113.95

INTERSTATE POWER

SYSTEMS, INC               $7,059.20

JAYMAR BUSINESS FORMS, INC                 $629.65

Johanek, Jay                  $69.43

JOHN DEERE FINANCIAL $175.36

JOSTENS INC                 $866.25

JUST FOR KIDS THERAPY INC              $19,301.00

Kanger, Madisen            $24.15

KAYDEE COMPANY         $1,421.00

Kessell, Christopher        $717.23

Kienbaum, Angela          $23.06

Kiger, Emily $22.53

Knott, Barbara               $36.68

KNUDSEN OIL & FEED    $188.07

Korbel, Alysha                $64.19

Kruse, Megan                 $12.45

Lamberty, Gregory         $573.78

Lampe, Shelley               $567.75

LANG DIESEL INC          $3,617.47

LEONARD, STEPHANIE   $3,701.70

Loptin, Robbie                $54.39

MADONNA SCHOOL        $10,966.42

Mattson, Tara                $26.86

METAL DOORS & HARDWARE CO.          $1,714.00

METROPOLITAN UTILITIES

DISTRICT    $21,896.00

MIDAMERICA BOOKS      $191.60

MILLER, KATE                $50.00

MITCHELL, JASON          $350.03

Mitchell, Millie                $17.03

MMC MECHANICAL

CONTRACTORS, INC       $51,484.32

MOHRMAN, JUSTIN        $65.00

NASCO        $102.95

NATIONAL ART & SCHOOL

SUPPLIES INC                $1,846.66

NEBRASKA NOTARY ASSOCIATION          $163.32

Norton, Megan               $120.15

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

CENTERS OF NE, P.C.     $210.00

OFFICE DEPOT, INC       $10.71

OMAHA CHILDREN’S MUSEUM                    $720.00

OMAHA DOOR & WINDOW CO, INC         $388.00

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD, THE                    $99.00

OPPD          $65,680.00

PAINTIN PLACE CERAMICS                        $110.00

PELLA WINDOW AND DOOR                     $5,005.80

PERRY LAW FIRM           $9,406.04

PITNEY BOWES              $696.03

Plas, Aaron  $142.14

PORT-A-JOHNS INC        $100.00

Powell, Joshua               $567.75

Puck, Julie   $349.47

Rolfe, Bailey $336.60

RTG BUILDING SERVICES, INC              $84,636.00

SCHAEFER ELECTRIC, INC                $868.40

SCHOLASTIC INC           $150.00

SCHOOL SPECIALTY LLC $67.44

Sindelar, Kathryn            $33.80

SPARQ DATA SOLUTIONS                       $6,230.00

Stryker, Jordyn               $18.34

Stryker, Trent                $388.08

TEACHER’S DISCOVERY  $249.99

TK ELEVATOR CORPORATION                $1,110.70

TRANE US INC               $930.00

TRUCK CENTER COMPANIES                     $584.00

TURFWERKS                  $84.10

TYLER TECHNOLOGIES, INC                    $1,260.00

Underwood, Sheryl         $84.63

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA

LINCOLN     $300.00

US BANK     $7,623.34

US POSTMASTER           $310.00

VALA’S PUMPKIN PATCH $1,359.20

VERIZON     $663.52

VISITING NURSE

HEALTH SERVICES         $7,573.15

VOSS, DOUGLAS            $613.08

WAYNE STATE COLLEGE $270.00

WHC NE, LLC DBA ZTRIP                       $3,941.96

WHITE CASTLE ROOFING                         $3,210.00

WM CORPORATE SERVICES, INC         $11,638.79

 

NUTRITION SERVICES

Watsabaugh, Tracy         $103.62

 

SPECIAL BUILDING FUND - CHECKING

OLSSON ASSOCIATES     $1,650.00

RIDDELL ALL AMERICAN

SPORTS CORP                $66.45

SHORT ELLIOTT

HENDRICKSON, INC       $12,636.00

 

UNEMPLOYMENT - SAVINGS

NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF

LABOR UC FUND            $655.75

 

1/19            ZNEZ

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