MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF DOUGLAS COUNTY

SCHOOL DISTRICТ 28-0015,

a/k/a, DOUGLAS COUNTY WEST COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Monday, August 11, 2025

 

The regular meeting of the Board of Education, District #15, in the County of Douglas, in the State of Nebraska, was convened in open and public session on Monday, August 11, 2025 at the Central Office Board Room, 401 South Pine Street, Valley, NE 68064-0378.

 

Following public notification procedures approved by the Board of Education, February 14, 2011, in adherence to 84-1411, notice of the meeting was given in advance thereof by posting such Notice on the exterior front door of the high school, elementary school, middle school, Valley City Hall, First Nebraska Bank, and Foundation One Bank. Notice of the meeting was simultaneously given to all members of the Board of Education. Availability of the agenda was communicated in advance notice and in the notice to the Board of Education of the meeting. All proceedings hereafter shown were taken while the convened meeting was open to the attendance of the public.

 

Attendance Taken at 4:30 PM.

Cole Groteluschen:         Present

Kelly Hinrichs:                Absent

Luke Janke:                   Present

Jamie Jorgensen:           Present

Elizabeth Mayer:            Present

Jim Tomanek:                Present

Present: 5, Absent: 1.

 

1.  Call to Order

The agenda, listing items for consideration by the Board, is on file in the Superintendent’s office. Other matters may come before the Board and the Board has the right to modify the agenda before the meeting.

 

President - “As I call the meeting to order I wish to inform everyone present that a current copy of the Open Meetings Act is posted on the back wall of the Board Room for your review at any time.”

 

2.  Public Communications and Correspondence

Comments from the audience were accepted at this time. No correspondence addressed to the Board presented.

 

3.  Approval of Agenda

Motion to approve agenda as presented Passed with a motion by Jamie Jorgensen and a second by Cole Groteluschen.

 

Cole Groteluschen: Yea, Luke Janke: Yea, Jamie Jorgensen: Yea, Elizabeth Mayer: Yea, Jim Tomanek: Yea

Yea: 5, Nay: 0

 

4. Administrative Reports

4.1.        Superintendent’s Report

4.2.        Financial Report

 

5. Consent Agenda

Motion to approve Consent Agenda Passed with a motion by Jim Tomanek and a second by Luke Janke.

 

Cole Groteluschen: Yea, Luke Janke: Yea, Jamie Jorgensen: Yea, Elizabeth Mayer: Yea, Jim Tomanek: Yea

Yea: 5, Nay: 0

 

5.1.        Approve Minutes

              Regular Meeting Date:

              Special Meeting Date:

5.2.        Approve Claims for Payment

5.3.        Approve Financial Report

5.4.        Approve Classified Staff

New Hires for 2025-2026:

Megan Hays-Lavender-Elem Sped Para

Rachel Higginson-HS Health Para

Autumn Burnmeister-MS Health Para

Louis Gornick-Food Service Director

Paige Peterson-Elem Sped Para

Jane Sullivan-Food Service

Deb Teneyck-Elem Sped Para

Miranda Menking-Preschool Para

Izabella Bryson-Preschool Para

 

6. Old Business

6.1.        Building and Grounds Update

•      A summary report of Summer Projects 2025 was presented

•      Alex Henry from RPG updated the Board on the Athletic Complex Owner’s Budget

•      Athletic Complex Progress and Opening Update as well as the details on the Athletic Complex Ribbon Cutting were discussed

 

6.2.        Committee Updates

There were no committee meetings this past month.

 

7. New Business

7.1.        2025-2026 Preliminary Estimated Budget

The Board reviewed the draft by category budget for the 2026 fiscal year. We have been budgeting with the estimate from March 2025 on our property tax valuation and state aid. We will have the certified valuation by Tuesday, August 19th. After that time, we will meet with the finance committee to finalize the budget and levy. The Board publication, hearing and approval of the budget will be conducted in September.

 

7.2.        Second Reading and Approval of 2025 Policy Updates

Second reading to approve updated Policies 1200, 4003, 3131, 3410, 4009, 5001, 5101, 5004, 5103, 5201, 5202z, 5301, 5414, 5507, 6113, 6400, 6931, 3132, 4133, 5204, 5206, 5401,5401z, 8342 as presented and to repeal and rescind all existing Board policies that pertain to the same matters or that are otherwise conflicting, including without limitation existing policies and rescind

policy 5001 forms, 6410, 8342.

 

Motion to approve updated Policies 1200, 4003, 3131, 3410, 4009, 5001, 5101, 5004, 5103, 5201, 5202z, 5301, 5414, 5507, 6113, 6400, 6931, 3132, 4133, 5204, 5206, 5401,5401z, 8342 as presented and to repeal and rescind all existing Board policies that pertain to the same matters or that are otherwise conflicting, including without limitation existing policies and rescind policy 5001 forms, 6410, 8342 Passed with a motion by Luke Janke and a second by Jamie Jorgensen.

 

Cole Groteluschen: Yea, Luke Janke: Yea, Jamie Jorgensen: Yea, Elizabeth Mayer: Yea, Jim Tomanek: Yea

Yea: 5, Nay: 0

 

7.3.        Approve Vehicle Purchases

The two following vehicles were budgeted for replacements in 2025:

 

•   One vehicle for multi-student activity travel (such as a Suburban or Passenger Van that meets new Federal guidelines)

•   One minivan for transportation of special education students

 

Five dealerships were contacted in search of the vehicles. There is limited inventory of the type and qualifying vehicle needed in order to purchase by cash at fiscal year-end. The following vehicles are presented and recommended for approval by the administration:

 

•   Recommended 2025 Ram ProMaster Cargo Van from H & H in the amount of $69,342.00

•   Recommended 2025 Honda Odyssey from Superior Honda in the amount of $43,749.00

•   Presented Option 2025 Kia Carnival from H & H in the amount of $40,699.00

 

Motion to approve the recommended 2025 Ram ProMaster Cargo Van from H & H in the amount of $69,342.00 and the recommended 2025 Honda Odyssey from Superior Honda in the amount of $43,749.00 Passed with a motion by Jim Tomanek and a second by Jamie Jorgensen.

 

Cole Groteluschen: Yea, Luke Janke: Yea, Jamie Jorgensen: Yea, Elizabeth Mayer: Yea, Jim Tomanek: Yea

Yea: 5, Nay: 0

 

7.4.        Long Term Facility Planning

Dr. Poloncic had a discussion with the Board regarding the next steps in utilizing QCPUF Bonds for long term maintenance planning.

 

She also discussed initiating conversations with professional partners to begin a new long term facilities planning process which will be multi-year focused much like the study done in 2014.

 

8. Adjournment

Motion to adjourn meeting @ 5:11 Passed with a motion by Jamie Jorgensen and a second by Jim Tomanek.

 

Cole Groteluschen: Yea, Luke Janke: Yea, Jamie Jorgensen: Yea, Elizabeth Mayer: Yea, Jim Tomanek: Yea

Yea: 5, Nay: 0

 

Kristi Trost, Board Secretary

Dr. Melissa Poloncic, Superintendent

 

DOUGLAS COUNTY WEST SCHOOLS AUGUST 2025 CLAIMS

 

GENERAL FUND                   

ACH BANK FEE               51.25

ALCOVE ROOFING          1,250.00

AMAZON CAPITAL SERVICES, LLC      4,792.35

AWARDS UNLIMITED INC                 40.23

BORDER STATES INDUSTRIES INC    75.60

BROWN & BOTT INDUSTRIES  28,741.90

BSN SPORTS LLC           184.14

CAPPEL NAPA AUTO SUPPLY -

VALLEY       198.86

CASEY’S BUSINESS MASTERCARD     421.10

CENGAGE LEARNING               2,383.50

CINTAS CORP                453.15

COX, HEATHER              239.99

DAILY RECORD, THE               326.66

DIETZE MUSIC HOUSE            7.20

EGAN SUPPLY CO           36.73

ESU COORDINATING COUNCIL 1,275.00

FIBER PLATFORM, LLC             1,396.56

FREMONT ELECTRIC INC         2,047.45

GRIMM, THOMAS           1,750.00

HEARTLAND PEST CONTROL    260.00

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS           2,659.05

HOMETOWN LEASING             2,522.27

HUDL          11,000.00

HWI CUSTOM INTERIORS        1,676.06

JOHNSON FITNESS        

& WELLNESS        29,535.00

JOURNEYED.COM, INC            500.00

JUST FOR KIDS THERAPY INC  927.50

LEISURE CRAFT HOLDINGS, LLC       4,995.05

LOVE’S TRAVEL STOPS  

& COUNTRY STORE                 1,159.12

MACKIN EDUCATIONAL 

RESOURCES         429.88

MAGIC WRIGHTER, INC.          12.75

MARKING REFRIGERATION, INC       903.75

MATHESON TRI-GAS INC                  43.05

MENARDS - ELKHORN             521.99

MICROFILM IMAGING    

SYSTEMS, INC.              512.56

MIDWEST MOVEMENT             255.00

NE COUNCIL OF SCHOOL ADM 2,115.00

OMAHA WORLD-HERALD         2,799.00

ONE SOURCE                 596.00

PERRY GUTHERY HAASE

& GESSFORD                 216.00

PITNEY BOWES BANK, INC     

PURCHASE POWER                  1,016.00

PRAIRIE MECHANICAL CORP    6,607.00

PUBLICATION PRINTING          1,249.70

RISE VISION                  999.00

SCHOLASTIC INC           5,128.81

SECURITY EQUIPMENT INC.    11,470.06

SELECT-YOUR-GIFT, INC         1,053.44

SPEECH SQUAD, LLC               648.00

STANZEL’S MOW & SNOW LLC 9,265.00

SUBURBAN SCHOOLS PROGRAM       2,821.29

TAESE/USU          600.00

VALLEY ACE HARDWARE         491.86

WASTE CONNECTIONS  

OF NEBR, INC                1,208.82

WATER ENGINEERING INC      385.36

WAYNE STATE COLLEGE          50.00

WINSUPPLY COMMERCIAL CHARGE   445.20

                  152,750.24

 

DEPRECIATION                   

HWI CUSTOM INTERIORS        11,345.00

LEISURE CRAFT   

HOLDINGS, LLC    13,754.04

                  25,099.04

 

NUTRITION FUND                        

CINTAS CORP                422.35

EGAN SUPPLY CO           659.76

                  1,082.11

 

SPECIAL BUILIDING FUND                   

MILLER & SONS   

GOLF CART, LLC   13,724.00

 

QCPUF                        

SECURITY EQUIPMENT INC.    31,976.92

 

8/29            ZNEZ

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