BENNINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

DOUGLAS COUNTY

SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 59

BOARD OF EDUCATION

SPECIAL BOARD MEETING

MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2025, 5:00 PM

BENNINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

BOARD ROOM

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Monday, August 25, 2025, a special board meeting of the Bennington Board of Education will be held at Bennington Public Schools Board Room.  The agenda for the meeting will be kept continually current and available for public inspection at the office of the Superintendent of Schools.

 

Allyson Slobotski, 

President, Bennington Board of Education

 

8/22            ZNEZ

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BENNINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL

DISTRICT NO. 59

BOARD OF EDUCATION

BOARD RETREAT

MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2025, 5:15 PM

BENNINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

BOARD ROOM

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Monday, August 25, 2025, a retreat of the Bennington Board of Education will be held at Bennington Public Schools Board Room.  The agenda for the meeting will be kept continually current and available for public inspection at the office of the Superintendent of Schools.

 

Allyson Slobotski, 

President, Bennington Board of Education

 

8/22            ZNEZ

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BENNINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL

DISTRICT NO. 59

BOARD OF EDUCATION/

CITY COUNCIL JOINT MEETING

MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 2025 5:00 PM

BENNINGTON DISTRICT BOARD ROOM

 

Posting Information: Notice published in the Daily Record on 08/10/2025. Notice of meeting posted on the District website. Agendas posted at all Bennington Public School buildings three days prior to the meeting date.

 

Attendance Taken at 5:00 PM. Jeremy Dick: Present, Tim Dreessen: Present, Kara Neuverth: Present, Joe Pick: Present, Steve Shannon: Present, Allyson Slobotski: Present. City Council members in attendance were: Kaye Bridgeford, Rob Hamilton, Adam Lee, Shane Pekny and Mayor Clint Adams.

 

I.     Call Meeting to Order- Board President Allyson Slobotski called the meeting to order at 5:10 PM, noting the meeting is governed by the Open Meetings Act, which is available on the south end of the room.

 

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

 

III. Board of Education/City of Bennington Discussion Topics: (Note: Informal meeting for discussion of mutual issues between the Bennington Board of Education and the Bennington City Council. No formal action to be taken)

 

III.A.  Future Facilities, Site Map, Growth Projections- The district shared with city representatives, a map of the district. The district also provided a quick snapshot of the enrollment trends of the school system.

 

III.B.  City Economic Development Plan- City representatives shared with the school district their plan for future commercial and industrial development in and around the City of Bennington.

 

III.C.   City Infrastructure Projects- City representatives shared some insight and information on both current and potential infrastructure projects that may impact the school in the future.

 

 

III.D.  New City of Bennington Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Developments- City representatives shared some insight and information on both current and potential residential developments within the city’s jurisdiction that are in various phases of development.

 

III.E.   Park/Green Space Development Plans – Update and Review of Plan- BPS asked the City of Bennington to share an update on the new park and athletic complex on 156th and Bennington Road, also known as Neumeyer Farm or Onestaff Athletic Complex.

 

III.F.   School Resource Officers- The District thanked the City Council for being a great partner throughout the last year, including the addition of the SRO through Bennington Police Department and various other discussions on potential development.

 

III.G.  Other- Discussions were held regarding City limits, City comprehensive plan and maintenance of the 168th and Bennington Road intersection.

 

IV.  Adjournment- Motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:41 PM made by Allyson Slobotski, all in favor.

 

Jodi McCoy- Board of Education

Recording Secretary

 

8/22            ZNEZ

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BENNINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL

DISTRICT NO. 59

BOARD OF EDUCATION

REGULAR MEETING

MONDAY, AUGUST 11, 2025 6:00 P.M.

BENNINGTON DISTRICT BOARD ROOM

 

Posting Information: Notice published in the Daily Record on 08/08/2025. Notice of meeting posted on the District website. Agendas posted at all Bennington Public School buildings three days prior to the meeting date.

 

Attendance Taken at 6:00 PM. Jeremy Dick: Present, Tim Dreessen: Present, Kara Neuverth: Present, Joe Pick: Present, Steve Shannon: Present, Allyson Slobotski: Present.

 

I.     Call Meeting to Order- Board President Allyson Slobotski called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. noting the meeting is governed by the Open Meetings Act, which is available on the south end of the room.

 

II.   Public Forum- One person from the public was 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, July 14, 2025 - Regular Meeting, Monday, July 14, 2025 -Special Hearing, July 16, 2025 - Board Retreat, Presentation of August 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 Allyson Slobotski and a second by Jeremy Dick. Jeremy Dick: Yea, Tim Dreessen: Yea, Kara Neuverth: Yea, Joe Pick: Yea, Steve Shannon: Yea, Allyson Slobotski: Yea

 

August 2025 Personnel Notes: Certified Staff Hire: None. Classified Staff Hire: Rhonda Nelson- 6.5 hour cook at Pine Creek, Keely Yates- 6.5 hour cook at Heritage, Caroline Hunzeker- paraprofessional at Pine Creek Elementary, Bryan Gonzalez- ELL paraprofessional, Janet Bricko- part time library paraprofessional at Pine Creek, Paige Pipal- cook at Stratford Elementary, Cole Rininger- life skills paraprofessional at Bennington South, Kayle Morris- paraprofessional at Bennington Middle School, Sarah Moudry- paraprofessional at Anchor Pointe, Ashley Neel- paraprofessional at Heritage Elementary, Heather Sliva- paraprofessional Young Adult Program, Jessica Joppa- paraprofessional for pre-school, McKenzie Limbach- paraprofessional at Bennington Elementary, Michelle Green- paraprofessional at Bennington Middle School, Anne Carson- paraprofessional at Bennington South Middle School, Frishta Qadiri- paraprofessional at Anchor Pointe, Soraya Durrani- paraprofessional at Anchor Pointe, Valerie Barners- paraprofessional at Pine Creek, Amy Poggendorf-Bakhit- paraprofessional at Heritage Elementary. Certified Staff Resignations: None. Classified Staff Resignations: Chantelle Aubry, Natalie Salt, Archana Pesarekalaya, Jack Johnson.

 

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

 

V.    Reports- Elementary - Alison Dellwo, Middle School - No Report - MS Open House Night, High School - Laura McGrew (Dean of Students), Student Services - Dan Bombeck, CIA Report - Jimmy Feeney, Operations - Matt Blomenkamp, Superintendent - Aaron Plas, Committee Report: Building/Finance, Curriculum, Policy. Coordinator - Transportation - Jeremy Edens. Spotlight - Summer School - Alison Dellwo, Andrew Miner, Larissa Horvath, Erin Holt, Laura McGrew. Lobbyist – None.

 

VI.  Unfinished Business

VI.A. Review Progress on Previously Approved Summer Maintenance/Transportation Purchases- Progress on Previously Approved Summer Maintenance/Transportation Purchases was reviewed.

 

VII.   New Business

VII.A.    Discuss, Consider, and Take Action on District Purchases- A 20-year-old district mower that is used throughout all of our fields broke down in June. After review, it was determined the best path forward was to purchase a new one. Total Costs: $26,167. Multiple bids were acquired on this item. This bid was reviewed by the Building/Finance committee and unanimously recommended the approval of this purchase.

 

MOTION PASSED: Motion to approve the purchase of a mower as presented, passed with a motion by Allyson Slobotski and a second by Tim Dreessen. Jeremy Dick: Yea, Tim Dreessen: Yea, Kara Neuverth: Yea, Joe Pick: Yea, Steve Shannon: Yea, Allyson Slobotski: Yea

 

VII.B.  Discussion on 2024-25 Budget- The District’s fiscal year ends on August 31st. The Board was updated on where the District expects to end the school year within the General Fund.

 

VII.C.  Review 2025-26 Enrollment Projections- This was an informational item for the Board.

 

VII.D.  Discuss, Consider, and Take Action on Student Information System for 2026-27- The Board of Education approved the agreement for BPS to switch to a new student information system (SIS). BPS will be transitioning to Synergy by Edupoint, beginning with the 2026–2027 school year. This transition marks a significant step forward in how we manage student data and how families and staff interact with the systems that support learning.

 

MOTION PASSED: Motion to approve Synergy as the Student Information System vendor for Bennington Public Schools beginning with the 2026-27 school year, passed with a motion by Steve Shannon and a second by Jeremy Dick. Jeremy Dick: Yea, Tim Dreessen: Yea, Kara Neuverth: Yea, Joe Pick: Yea, Steve Shannon: Yea, Allyson Slobotski: Yea

 

VIII. Time and Date of Next Regular Meeting- September 8th – Regular Board Meeting following Budget Hearing – Bennington District Office.

 

IX.  Adjournment- Motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:12 P.M., passed with a motion by Allyson Slobotski and a second by Joe Pick. Jeremy Dick: Yea, Tim Dreessen: Yea, Kara Neuverth: Yea, Joe Pick: Yea, Steve Shannon: Yea, Allyson Slobotski: Yea

 

Jodi McCoy- Board of Education

Recording Secretary

 

8/22            ZNEZ

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