MINUTES OF THE REGULAR 

MEETING OF THE 

BOARD OF EDUCATION OF 

DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL 

DISTRICT 28-0015, 

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

Monday, August 10, 2026 

 

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 10, 2026 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, Foundation One Bank and the Daily Record. 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 7:00 PM.

Cole Groteluschen:Present

Kelly Hinrichs: Present

Luke Janke: Present

Jamie Jorgensen: Present

Elizabeth Mayer: Present

Jim Tomanek: Present

Present: 6. 

 

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. Correspondence addressed to the Board was presented. 

 

The Board received a thank you from the Kelly Ellis and family.

 

3. Approval of Agenda

Motion to approve agenda as presented Passed with a motion by Luke Janke and a second by Jim Tomanek. Cole Groteluschen: Yea, Kelly Hinrichs: Yea, Luke Janke: Yea, Jamie Jorgensen: Yea, Elizabeth Mayer: Yea, Jim Tomanek: Yea 

Yea: 6, Nay: 0

 

4. Administrative Reports

4.1. Superintendent’s Reports 

4.2. Financial Report

 

5.  Consent Agenda

Motion to approve Consent Agenda Passed with a motion by Kelly Hinrichs and a second by Jamie Jorgensen. Cole Groteluschen: Yea, Kelly Hinrichs: Yea, Luke Janke: Yea, Jamie Jorgensen: Yea, Elizabeth Mayer: Yea, Jim Tomanek: Yea 

Yea: 6, 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 

Angie Gaver - hire elem sped para 

Jessica Krist - hire district office 

Kellan Brown - hire elem sped para 

Kim Humphrey - hire preschool para 

Makala Fleharty - hire preschool para 

Patricia Louden - hire elem library para 

Candy Goree - exit elem sped para 

Mia Monaghan - exit preschool

 

6. Old Business

6.1. Building and Grounds Committee of the Whole Agenda:

• Summer AHU replacement project update

Large unit is operational but experiencing control issues (intermittent overnight shut-offs); team working with contractors to resolve. Smaller upstairs unit installation was delayed due to shipping,

• In-house maintenance summer projects update

• Master Planning Update

Master planning projections for BCDM and RSP are moving forward once fall enrollment figures are finalized. District leadership is selecting an early fall date to launch the survey discussed during the previous work session.

 

7. New Business

7.1. Second Reading of Board Policy Updates for 2026

Second reading to approve updated policies 1040, 1100, 3130, 3131, 3132, 3540, 3560, 5004, 5005, 5006, 5008, 5101, 5205, 5209, 5601, 7050, 8130, 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.

 

Motion to approve Board policies 1040,1100, 3130, 3131, 3132, 3540, 3560, 5004, 5005, 5006, 5008, 5101, 5205, 5209, 5601, 7050, 8130, 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 Passed with a motion by Jamie Jorgensen and a second by Kelly Hinrichs.

 

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

Yea: 6, Nay: 0

 

7.2. Approve Vehicle Purchases

The board approved purchasing two 2026 Ford Transit passenger vans with NDE-approved retrofit from Woodhouse Ford in Blair for $59,881 each. The purchase fulfills budgeted replacements for the preschool program, secures available stock, and applies a $4,000 trade-in allowance per existing van. Motion to approve the purchase of two 2026 Ford transit passenger vans with an NDE approved retrofit in the amount of $59,881 each, which includes a $4000 trade-in allowance for the current preschool vans Passed with a motion by Kelly Hinrichs and a second by Luke Janke. 

 

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

Yea: 6, Nay: 0 

 

7.3. Discuss, Consider and Take All Necessary Action with Regard to Approving Educational Cooperative Construction Agreements for the District’s Construction Education Program 

An educational cooperative construction agreement was presented to the Board that had been reviewed and actively revised by our school district attorney and all parties. The administration recommended the agreement be approved by the Board in order to begin the project at the beginning of the school year in our construction education program. 

 

Motion that the Board of Education of this School District should and does hereby approve the two educational cooperative construction agreements, such agreements in the form on file with official School District records and as presented at this meeting or with such changes as are deemed necessary and in the best interest of the School District and approved by the Board President or Superintendent of Schools, relating to the School District’s construction education program, and involving contributions from The Builder Foundation and construction of a house with assistance of a local contractor, and further hereby delegates  authority to and authorizes and directs the Board President, or designee, to sign, execute and deliver the agreements, any agreement amendments, or other documents call for in such agreement, and to take all other action necessary to carry such agreement into effect. Passed with a motion by Jamie Jorgensen and a second by Jim Tomanek. 

 

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

Yea: 6, Nay: 0 

 

7.4. 2026-2027 Preliminary Estimated Budget 

A draft by account groups budget for the 2027 fiscal year was presented to the Board. We have been budgeting with an estimate from March 2026 on our property tax valuation and certified state aid. We will have the certified valuation by approximately 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. 

 

7.5. Approve Change in the Extra Duty Positions for Robotics 

As written in the July Superintendent’s Report, a small committee worked on job expectations for all extra duty positions in the district. Due to enrollment and program development, we are recommending a split of the cunent Robotics extra duty positions into middle school and high school. This will not entail any additional payment, but split the cunent payment in two. Half for middle school and half for high school. These positions could be filled by the same person. The pay change will be reflected as: 

 

Current: 

Robotics 9%, 10%, 11 % 

Assistant Robotics 6%, 7%, 8% 

 

New: 

HS Robotics 5%, 6%, 7% 

Asst HS Robotics 3%, 4%, 5% 

MS Robotics 4%, 4.25%, 4.5% 

Asst MS Robotics 2.5%, 2.75%, 3% 

 

Motion to split the current Robotics and Assistant Robotics into High School Robotics, Assistant High School Robotics and Middle School Robotics and Assistant Middle School Robotics. Passed with a motion by Kelly Hinrichs and a second by Luke Janke. 

 

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

Yea: 6, Nay: 0

 

8. Adjournment

Motion to adjourn meeting @ 7:11 pm Passed with a motion by Elizabeth Mayer and a second by Jim Tomanek. Cole Groteluschen: Yea, Kelly Hinrichs: Yea, Luke Janke: Yea, Jamie Jorgensen: Yea, Elizabeth Mayer: Yea, Jim Tomanek: Yea

Yea: 6, Nay: 0

 

Kristi Trost, Board Secretary

Dr. Melissa Poloncic, Superintendent

 

DOUGLAS COUNTY WEST 

COMMUNITY SCHOOL 

AUGUST 2026 CLAIMS

 

GENERAL FUND

1-800 STRIPER 4,610.30

AMAZON CAPITAL SERVICES, LLC 9,803.24 ASPI SOLUTIONS INC 3,500.00

BERINGER CIACCIO 

DENNEL MABREY 1,698.20

BISHOP BUSINESS 4,615.00

BLICK ART MATERIALS 84.87

BORDER STATES INDUSTRIES INC 713.58

CAMELOT TRANSPORTATION INC 2,125.00

CAPPEL NAPA AUTO SUPPLY - VALLEY       8.49

CASEY’S BUSINESS MASTERCARD 97.32

CDW GOVERNMENT LLC 2,034.39

CITI CARD - COSTCO 2,123.46

CITY OF VALLEY 3,471.90

CITY WIDE FACILITY SOLUTIONS 6,500.00 COX BUSINESS 198.26

CRISIS GO, INC 6,525.00

DAILY RECORD, THE 64.00

DIETZE MUSIC HOUSE 116.40

EAKES OFFICE PLUS 11,055.45

EDUCATIONAL SERVICE UNIT #3 1,035.86

EGAN SUPPLY CO 5,429.95

ELKHORN AUTOMOTIVE, INC 1,600.00

ESU COORDINATING COUNCIL 2,588.50

EVERETTS REPAIR INC 7,627.16

FIBER PLATFORM, LLC 1,396.56

FIRST STUDENT, INC 690.51

FREMONT ELECTRIC INC 1,589.56

GAINES, SERENA 1,595.96

GOPHER SPORT 99.95

HAGGERTY ENTERPRISES, LLC 13,997.00

HALO PRO UNLIMITED, LLC 3,000.75

HEARTLAND PEST CONTROL 560.00

HELM SERVICE 680.00

HOMETOWN LEASING 2,522.27

HUMANEX VENTURES LLC 7,500.00

HY-VEE INC 80.00

JOURNEYED.COM, INC 625.00

JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD 2,044.00

JUST FOR KIDS THERAPY INC 1,721.75

KV CONSTRUCTION INC 992.00

LOWE’S BUSINESS ACCOUNT 193.59

MACKIN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES 3,763.88

MADISON NATIONAL LIFE INS CO IN 3,314.16

MASLO, PAUL 268.21

MATHESON TRI-GAS INC 106.57

MAX I. WALKER 314.80

MCGRAW-HILL EDUCATION INC 8,974.08

MENARDS - ELKHORN 429.71

NEBRASKA RURAL COMMUNITY 

SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION 850.00

OMAHA PUBLIC POWER DISTRICT    25,943.76

ONE SOURCE 702.50

P & H ELECTRIC INC 698.00

PECK, BRITNI 1,281.98

PEREZ, HAILEY 1,372.79

PERRY GUTHERY HAASE 

& GESSFORD 2,584.00

PRAIRIE MECHANICAL CORP 6,263.91

PRIME SECURED 6,959.28

PRO-ED, INC 308.00

PUBLICATION PRINTING 2,959.80

REALITYWORKS, INC 1,722.87

REALLY GREAT  

READING COMPANY, LLC 189.00

RISE VISION 1,399.00

SCHOOL HEALTH CORPORATION 5.21

SCHOOL SPECIALTY INC 2,480.64

SECURITY EQUIPMENT INC. 23,292.60

SIMPLIFASTER 1,500.00

SMART PASS, INC 1,644.49

SOFTWARE UNLIMITED, INC. 13,325.00

SPEECH SQUAD, LLC 2,268.00

STANZEL’S MOW & SNOW LLC         18,300.00

STAPLES ADVANTAGE 22.58

STEMFINITY, LLC 45.98

STUDIES WEEKLY, INC 2,597.45

SUBURBAN SCHOOLS PROGRAM 4,686.31

SUMMIT FIRE PROTECTION 2,084.50

SWEETWATER SOUND, LLC 362.00

TEACHING STRATEGIES LLC 1,768.75

TRU / HOME 2 - BY HILTON 2,899.00

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA KEARNEY      50.00

USBANK 7,494.02

VALLEY ACE HARDWARE 845.52

VERIZON 105.14

WARDS NATURAL SCIENCE EST INC 243.32

WASTE CONNECTIONS OF NEBR, INC   1,593.87

WATER ENGINEERING INC 635.24

WOODRIVER ENERGY LLC 3,669.44

ZTRIP - WHC NE, LLC 966.00

280,206.59

 

DEPRECIATION

AMAZON CAPITAL SERVICES, LLC 39.27

USBANK 1,258.37

1,297.64

 

QCPUF

BERINGER CIACCIO 

DENNEL MABREY 1,968.75

FLUID MECHANICAL LLC 232,938.72

234,907.47

 

9/4 ZNEZ

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