May 2023

Minutes of the Banner County School District 

Board of Education Meeting

Monday, May 8, 2023

Notice of the Monday, May 8, 2023, Board of Education Regular Meeting was posted at Harrisburg U.S. Post Office, Banner Capital Bank, Banner County Courthouse, Banner County School, the school website, and in the Western Nebraska Observer.

Call to Order

The regular May meeting of the Banner County School District Board of Education was called to order at 7:00 PM in the School Cafeteria, 200 School Street, Harrisburg, Nebraska.

The Nebraska Open Meetings Act is posted on the wall.

Roll Call/Welcome

Present: Megan Allen, Laura Baker, Bret Jeffries, Ronald Johnson, Jake Knaub, and Douglas Olsen. Also present: Evelyn Browne, Superintendent/BOE Secretary and Principal Charles Jones.

Pledge of Allegiance

President Ron Johnson invited members and guests to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Approval of Agenda

Approve the agenda for the May 8th, 2023 Regular Meeting of the Banner County Board of Education. Passed with a motion by Douglas Olsen and a second by Bret Jeffries.

Megan Allen: Yea, Laura Baker: Yea, Bret Jeffries: Yea, Ronald Johnson: Yea, Jake Knaub: Yea, Douglas Olsen: Yea

Awards and Recognition

President Ron Johnson commended the following students and staff:

Students who competed in the MAC Music at Creek Valley on April 12th and at District Music at WNCC on April 20th:

Isaac Olsen, Trombone Solo - Excellent, Superior Wyatt Onstott, Sax Solo - Excellent, Superior

Abbie Jones and Grace Fankhauser, Sax Duet - Excellent, Superior

T.J. Onstott, Jozlynn Randall, and Wyatt Onstott, Ensemble - Excellent, Superior Conrad Kaminski, Piano Solo - Excellent, Superior

Keira Bolander, Vocal Solo - 3rd place, Excellent

T.J. Onstott, Trumpet Solo - 2nd place, Superior Grace Fankhauser, Alto Sax solo - 1st place, Superior Jaelyn Yetter, Tenor Sax Solo - Excellent (District only)

Band - Superior rating and 3rd place, Plaque (Superior rating by all 3 judges)

Students of the Month - FEB: JJ Bennett, Grade 1; Lydia Grant, Grade 8; MAR: Charlee Vrbas, Grade 1; Makynna Boettcher, Grade 7; APR: Amiah Cooper, Grade K; Tate Olsen, Grade 6

National Junior Honor Society Inductee: Shawnie Mason

Best of the West Track & Field Qualifiers

Junior High Girls 4x100 relay: Leeigh McGowan, Kassie Loutzenhiser, Karlye Dittbenner, Kyrie Roldan, Makynna Boettcher

Junior High Girls 1600 M Run: Hayden Mathiason High School Girls High Jump: Riley Jones

Presentations

Dr. Browne presented Student of the Month certificates to attendees.

Comments from the Audience

There was no public comment.

Reports 

Superintendent 

Community

• Breakfast with Supt took place on May 6th. Three parents joined me and we had excellent conversations about current and future programs, school safety and wellness, and our grading policy. I will be sending out a report to all parents to get feedback on proposed changes to our grading policy.

• I have been invited to sit on a "Radio" committee with other county leadership to determine a solution to rising costs of radio communication system.

  Facilities & Transportation-Three Zoom meetings with AMERESCO: NEO application nearly ready, asbestos report needed for ceiling tile adhesive, CO2 monitors collecting data in the elementary wing, revised project agreement in the works. Great news - asbestos report on the ceiling tile adhesive is negative! In order to comply to the NEO terms for the 1% financing, we have established an Energy Star Portfolio Manager account.

• Track project to begin on Tuesday, May 9th. Pat Parsons, Tom Neal, Tod Wenger, and county road workers will make it happen!
• Facilities report attached.

• Technology report attached.

  Student Programs & Enrollment

  -Current 2022-2023 Enrollment - 150 PK = 11; K-5= 68; 6-8= 29; 9-12=39, LL=1, VALTS=2

  Option IN: 52 Option OUT: 16

  -National Honor Society Induction on May 9th at 6pm in the Small Gym

• PK Program Review completed on May 1st.
• Completed Future Ready Technology Plan and submitted to NDE.
• Completed Wellness Triennial Review

• Completed and submitted two Perkins Grant applications: greenhouse tables and welder.

  Personnel

  -Brittney Vella will move from full-time custodian to paraprofessional. She will complete Project Para training over the summer.

  -Ron Vella will move from part-time to full-time custodian Sept. 1.

  -Kindra Olsen will be our new School Secretary. She has started to train with Sharon Lease.

• Mark Steer has accepted the position of Kindergarten teacher. He is on the agenda for approval.

Principal

1. MAC Music was held at Creek Valley on April 12.
2. Dental Day was held on April 13 for K-5 students.
3. A Marine Rep was here on April 17.
4. WNCC Rep was here on April 19 to talk with Juniors and Seniors.
5. Kindergarten students attended the Trip Through Time at the Legacy of the Plains Museum on April 19.
6. Second grade students attended the Agsplosion put on by UNL Extension in Bridgeport on April 19.
7. District Music was held at WNCC on April 20.
8. NSCAS Testing for students in grades 3-8 was administered the week of April 24.
9. The FFA Banquet and Auction was held on April 27 and was well attended.
10. PK/Kindergarten Round Up was on April 28.
11. We held a reception for the four staff members who are retiring on April 30.
12. NWEA MAP testing for grades K-2 was administered the week of May 1.
13. We had junior high and high school students participate in the Best of the West track meet on May 2. The junior high members were Karlye Dittbenner, Leeigh McGowan, Kyrie Roldan, Kassie Loutzenhiser, Makynna Boettcher and Hayden Mathiason. Riley Jones was the high school student who participated.
14. On Monday May 1 members of the Student Council performed a community service project for a local resident.
15. NHS sponsored and organized the highway cleanup on May 3.
16. The PK-12 Spring Concert was held on May 4 and was well attended.
17. We had a teacher appreciation breakfast on May 5.
18. Spring Sports are winding down, JH track is complete, HS will have districts on Wednesday.
19. Here are the upcoming events over the next couple of weeks:
    1. NHS Induction May 9 at 6:00 PM
    2. HS District Track
    3. PK/K Graduation May 11 at 1:00 and 2:30 PM
    4. High School Activities Banquet May 11 at 6:00 PM
    5. High School Graduation May 13 at 3:00 PM
    6. Patrons Day - Elementary Awards - Title 1 Meeting - May 15 at 8:15 AM
    7. Last Day of School - May 18
    8. Teachers Last Day - May 19
    9. State Track May 19-20

Board of Education

President Johnson reported on the President's Circle meeting.

Consent Agenda

Motion to approve the consent agenda Passed with a motion by Bret Jeffries and a second by Laura Baker.

Megan Allen: Yea, Laura Baker: Yea, Bret Jeffries: Yea, Ronald Johnson: Yea, Jake Knaub: Yea, Douglas Olsen: Yea

-Approve the Minutes of the April 10th, 2023 regular meeting.

-Approve the payment of bills and salaries totaling $329,755.17 for the May 8th, 2023, regular meeting.

-Continue Membership in MAC Conference

Committee Reports

Transportation and Grounds: No report

American Civics, Curriculum, and Technology: Bret Jeffries reported on the May 8th meeting. Ms. Bohac presented information on the 6th grade Social Studies curriculum and some programs under consideration.

Policy Review: Three policies were reviewed: Review Policy 201.01 Powers and Responsibilities of the Board, Policy 204.08 Quorum, and Policy 508.13 School Wellness.

Personnel and Negotiations: No report

Approve Certified Personnel Contract

Approve teaching contract for Mark Steer, at MA Step 10. Passed with a motion by Bret Jeffries and a second by Douglas Olsen.

Megan Allen: Yea, Laura Baker: Yea, Bret Jeffries: Yea, Ronald Johnson: Yea, Jake Knaub: Yea, Douglas Olsen: Yea

Approve Interlocal Agreement

Approve an Interlocal Agreement with Kimball County School District for DL Spanish Courses for the 2023-2024 school year. Passed with a motion by Laura Baker and a second by Bret Jeffries. Megan Allen: Yea, Laura Baker: Yea, Bret Jeffries: Yea, Ronald Johnson: Yea, Jake Knaub: Yea, Douglas Olsen: Yea

Approve policy revision, 2nd Reading

Approve 2nd reading revisions for Policy 415.01 Support Staff Vacations, Holidays, Personal, and Sick Leave Passed with a motion by Jake Knaub and a second by Bret Jeffries.

Megan Allen: Yea, Laura Baker: Yea, Bret Jeffries: Yea, Ronald Johnson: Yea, Jake Knaub: Yea, Douglas Olsen: Yea

Approve new policy on 2nd reading

Approved Policy 801.09 Transportation of Nonschool Groups or Individuals on 2nd Reading Passed with a motion by Jake Knaub and a second by Bret Jeffries.

Megan Allen: Yea, Laura Baker: Yea, Bret Jeffries: Yea, Ronald Johnson: Yea, Jake Knaub: Yea, Douglas Olsen: Yea

Next Meeting

Regular Meeting: June 12th, 2023, 7:00 PM

Meeting Adjourned

Adjourn the meeting at 7:47 PM. Passed with a motion by Jake Knaub and a second by Bret Jeffries.

Megan Allen: Yea, Laura Baker: Yea, Bret Jeffries: Yea, Ronald Johnson: Yea, Jake Knaub: Yea, Douglas Olsen: Yea

Banner County School Schedule of Bills/Claims

AgEdNet.com 24 Months Subscription $885.00; Ahlers Baking, Inc. PreK Graduation $39.27; School Nutrition Fund Supplies $38.76; Blick Art Materials Supplies $646.20; CDW Government, Inc. Supplies $305.89; Connecting Point Copies $511.98; DAS State Acctg Network Service Charges $238.13; Discount School Supply Supplies $106.04; Educational Service Unit #13 Services for April $10,718.85; Floyd's Bus #2 Repairs $444.82; Frank Parts Supplies $568.53; GF#2 Account Reimbursement $515.20; Grainger Supplies $281.14; GreatAmerica Leasing Corp. Copier Leases $250.00; Harrisburg Water System Water Usage $530.17; High West Energy, Inc. Utilities $3,458.57; Home Depot Pro Supplies $1,776.03; WESTCO Ground Maintenance Supplies $1,389.76; Juice Plus Co LLC Supplies $101.00; KSB School Law PC LLO Legal Services

$97.50; Lakeshore Learning Materials Supplies $271.05; Menards Supplies $175.84; Mystery Science Yearly Subscription $395.00; NCSA Membership Renewal $125.00; NKC Tire Tire Repair

$37.45; Ne Safety Center Level II Training $125.00; Pack Rat Enterprises, Inc. Trash Removal

$350.00; Panhandle Cooperative Assoc Supplies & Flowers $155.31; Panhandle Cooperative Association Gas & Diesel for April $4,765.45; Paper101 Annual Paper Buy $1,935.60; Peetz Farmers Coop Propane $11,781.99; J.W. Pepper & Son Inc. Spring Concert Music $99.99; Quill.com Supplies $377.71; Really Good Stuff LLC Supplies $168.07; Renaissance Learning, Inc. Accelerated Reader Subscription $3,011.50; RION Annual Machine Inspection $375.00; School Specialty, LLC Supplies $905.26; Scottsbluff Screenprinting & Emb, LLC Patrons Day Ribbons

$319.00; Soar Pediatric Therapy LLC PT Services for March $1,536.82; Staples Advantage Supplies $1,064.50; Scottsbluff Star-Herald Annual Subscription $132.60; Tod Wenger Reimbursement - Supplies $112.27; Western Nebraska Observer Legal Ads & Notices $131.24; Wells Fargo Card Services Supplies $447.37; Wells Fargo Card Services Time Clock System

$33.75; Wells Fargo Card Services Website Fees $270.70; Winsupply LED Board Kit $234.00; Wiznerd Development Group LLC 1st Half Website Project & IT Support $4,156.25; W.P.C.I. Drug Testing $62.00; 125 Clearing Account May 2023 Payroll $1,725.00; AFLAC May 2023 Payroll $476.76; AFLAC May 2023 Payroll $1,345.38; Banner Capital Bank May 2023 Payroll

$39,728.26; Banner Capital Bank May 2023 Payroll $6,899.79; Banner County School May 2023 Payroll $2,595.00; BCBS May 2023 Payroll $50,054.51; Colonial Life May 2023 Payroll $160.34;

Colonial Life May 2023 Payroll $328.94; Banner County School May 2023 Payroll $35,915.15; Horace Mann May 2023 Payroll $273.87; LegalShield May 2023 Payroll $174.40; MG Trust Company May 2023 Payroll $8,210.96; State of Nebraska May 2023 Payroll $5,900.51; Principal May 2023 Payroll $836.97; VSP May 2023 Payroll $537.12; May 2023 Payroll $118,133.65