Minutes of the Banner County School District
Board of Education Meeting
Monday, February 10, 2025
Notice of the Monday, February 10, 2025, Board of Education Regular Meeting was posted at
Harrisburg U.S. Post Office, Banner Capital Bank, Banner County Courthouse, Banner County
School, at www.bcswildcats.org, and in the Western Nebraska Observer.
Call to Order
The regular February meeting of the Banner County School District Board of Education was
called to order at 7:01 PM in the School Cafeteria, 200 School Street, Harrisburg, Nebraska.
The Nebraska Open Meetings Act was posted on the wall.
Roll Call/Welcome
Present: Laura Baker, John-Robert Faden, Ronald Johnson, Jake Knaub, Douglas Olsen, and Ryan
Olsen.
Also present: Evelyn Browne, Superintendent/BOE Secretary and Troy Holmberg, Principal.
Pledge of Allegiance
President Douglas Olsen invited members and guests to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Agenda
Approve agenda for the February 10th, 2025 Banner County Regular Board of Education meeting.
Passed with a motion by Laura Baker and a second by Ronald Johnson.
Laura Baker: Yea, John-Robert Faden: Yea, Ronald Johnson: Yea, Jake Knaub: Yea, Douglas Olsen:
Yea, Ryan Olsen: Yea
Comments from the Audience
There was public comment on the district finances, the superintendent search, the 4-day school
week and OEF.
Presentation
Dr. Browne presented the Annual Report.
The report will be mailed to patrons with the next Scratching Post and posted to the district
website.
Awards and Recognitions
President Douglas Olsen commended the following students, staff, and patrons:
-Spelling Bee Winners: Congratulations to all the students who participated in the Annual Spelling
Bee on January 30th.
Kindergarten: 1 st - Emersynn Stauffer, 2 nd -Tatum Revelle
1st Grade: 1st - Paycen West, 2nd - Raelyn Peterson
2nd Grade: 1st - Harli Revelle, 2nd - Amiah Cooper
3rd Grade: 1st - Saryah Mason, nd - Riata Peterson
4th Grade: 1st - Ezekiel Flowers, 2nd - Dalton Gilbert
5th Grade: 1st - Gabe Olsen, 2nd - Trenton Knaub
6th Grade: 1st - Railin Mesteth, 2nd - Bronson Smith
7th Grade: 1st - Knox Hottell, 2nd - Josh McGowan
8th Grade: 1st - Luke Olsen, 2nd George Teeple
Winners: 1st place: Luke Olsen (8th grade), 2nd place: George Teeple (8th grade), and 3rd place:
Trenton Knaub (5th grade).
-AD Wittni Boettcher for her role in the successful MAC BB Tournament hosted at Bridgeport on
January 23rd & 25th. A letter of commendation received from Bridgeport Principal Simmons was
submitted to the Board.
-District CDE at Gordon on Wed. Feb. 5th
Ag Mechanics - Team placed 3rd /19 teams and qualified for state competition in April! Blake
Green - Hydraulics 4th white; Micah Dittbenner - electricity 2nd blue; Tobey May - engines 2nd Blue;
Brentsen McGowan - machines 8th
Vet Science - Team placed 14th /21 teams. Karlye Dittbenner - 15th red; Abigayle Jones - 42nd ;
Kambree Hottell - 54th; Leeigh McGowan - 76th
Farm & Ranch Management: Isaac Olsen - 1st overall individual; Logan Mason -37th
-At the Gordon Speech Meet on February 8th, Lydia Wenger and Keira Bolander earned a 4th place
medal in Duet. Kesmera Palu earned a 4th place medal in Poetry and 6th place in Serious. Riley
Allen earned a 6th place medal in Serious.
- Isaac Olsen participated in the High Plains Honor Band at Chadron State on February 3rd & 4th
-Students K-6 sold strawberries for an AR Fundraiser. Their goal was 108 flats. They sold 239 flats!!
That's a $3000 profit!!
-Olivia Terrones & Kaitlin Knaub for coaching little girls BBall.
-Josh Loutzenhiser & Jordan Knaub for coaching little boys BBall.
Reports
Superintendent
COMMUNITY
-3 rd Grade Basketball Triangular on January 25 th was very well attended
Facilities & Transportation
- All Seasons did maintenance on leaking gutter seams
- High West Energy provided a lift bucket to repair broken flag pole cord.
-Tod and Peetz performed a leak test on propane; found and fixed a small leak going into the
water heater room on the west side of the west apartment complex
-Bid on $1400 for the tractor accepted from Torey Armstrong
-Bid of $400 for Bus 7 accepted from Jim Milner
Student Programs & Enrollment
- Current 2024-2025 Enrollment - 127 PK = 8; K-5= 57; 6-8= 24; 9-12=36; LL-1; VALTS-1
- Option IN - 37 Option Out - 20
-ALICAP refund of $755 following Workman’s Compensation Payroll Audit
-United Way sponsoring our year 3 JAG program contribution of $10,000 for the 25-26 school year.
Personnel
-Sue Talkington tendered her retirement letter. Her service to BCS over the past 25 years is much
appreciated.
-Bill Gifford tendered his retirement letter, which is on the agenda for approval. We are grateful
for Bill’s service to BCS as a coach for 25 years and a teacher for 15 years.
- Substitute teachers needed
- Full or Part time custodian needed
Principal
Student of the Month
22 Elementary Nominees,
Dylan Perez, Breklyn Cross, George McGowan, Whitley McNees, Colt Felz, Willow Turner, Saryah
Mason, Paycen West, Harli Revelle, Addison Knaub, Kai Hageman, Amiah Cooper, Tacey Cross,
Erica Davison, Izaveaha Chairez, Trace Olsen, Tatum Revelle, Kinlee Olsen, Trenton Knaub,
Emersynn Stauffer, Kort Boettcher, Bexlie Groves
11 Secondary Nominees
Bronson Smith, Eli Allen, Karleigh Leslie, Bella Young, Mason Vargas, Braedyn Bojorquez, Knox
Hottell, Brianne Woodral, Kesmera Palu, Abigayle Jones
Varsity Girls Basketball
Due to a lack of available players, we are forfeiting the final regular season game and not
participating at the sub-district competition
Lions Club- Vision and Hearing Tests
Scheduled for Feb. 20 th , this involves PK-7 th , 10 th (no hearing test for PK and K)
ESU 13 Winter Conference
Teachers and paras are attending sessions on February 17 th . The CIP team will be working on the
external visitation presentation.
Coming Up
Speech Feb 12 and 14
JH MAC Basketball Feb 13 and 15 (have to win on 13 th to advance to 15 th )
Wrestling Districts Feb. 14 and 15
FFA Week Feb 17-21
NHS Induction Feb 19
Board of Education
Douglas Olsen will attend the NASB Presidents Retreat in Kearney on February 16th. Information
on NASB training opportunities were emailed to all members. Dr. Browne will register members at
their request.
Committee Reports
Transportation and Grounds: No report.
American Civics, Curriculum, and Technology: No report. Next meeting March 10, 2025 at 6:30pm.
Policy Review: No report.
Personnel and Negotiations: No report.
Consent Agenda
Motion to approve the consent agenda. Passed with a motion by Laura Baker and a second by
Ronald Johnson.
Laura Baker: Yea, John-Robert Faden: Yea, Ronald Johnson: Yea, Jake Knaub: Yea, Douglas Olsen:
Yea, Ryan Olsen: Yea
-Approve the Minutes of the January 13th, 2025 regular meeting, January 28th, 2025 Special
Meeting, February 3rd, 2025 Special Meeting, and February 7th, 2025 Board Retreat.
-Approve the payment of bills and salaries totaling $315,508.16 for the February 10th, 2025
regular meeting
-Approve NASB Membership
Approve 2025-2026 School Calendar
Approve the 2025-2026 school calendar - version C as presented. Passed with a motion by Laura
Baker and a second by Jake Knaub.
Ryan Olsen: Nay, Laura Baker: Yea, John-Robert Faden: Yea, Ronald Johnson: Yea, Jake Knaub: Yea,
Douglas Olsen: Yea
Approve1st reading of revised policy
Approve 1st reading of Policies 204. 07, 504.24, 504.24R1, 717.00, 718.00 as presented. Passed
with a motion by Ronald Johnson and a second by Laura Baker.
Laura Baker: Yea, John-Robert Faden: Yea, Ronald Johnson: Yea, Jake Knaub: Yea, Douglas Olsen:
Yea, Ryan Olsen: Yea
Accept certified staff resignation due to retirement.
Accept Bill Gifford’s resignation due to his retirement. Bill’s 15 years as Ag Educator and 25 years
as wrestling coach is appreciated. Passed with a motion by Jake Knaub and a second by Laura
Baker.
Laura Baker: Yea, John-Robert Faden: Yea, Ronald Johnson: Yea, Jake Knaub: Yea, Douglas Olsen:
Yea, Ryan Olsen: Yea
Approve Purchase of K-8 Math Program and Materials
Approve purchase of K-8 Math Program, " Math & You" materials and 6-year digital licensing from
Cengage for $21,947.20. Passed with a motion by Laura Baker and a second by Jake Knaub.
Laura Baker: Yea, John-Robert Faden: Yea, Ronald Johnson: Yea, Jake Knaub: Yea, Douglas Olsen:
Yea, Ryan Olsen: Yea
Approve Certified Personnel Contract
Approve a teaching contract for Mai Lee Thi Olsen for the 2025-2026 school year MA + 18, STEP 5.
Passed with a motion by Jake Knaub and a second by Ryan Olsen.
Laura Baker: Yea, John-Robert Faden: Yea, Ronald Johnson: Yea, Jake Knaub: Yea, Douglas Olsen:
Yea, Ryan Olsen: Yea
Superintendent Search Discussion
The Superintendent search through NASB will continue. Deadline for application is February 23rd,
2025.
Comments from the Audience
There was public comment on the superintendent search and OEF.
Next Meeting
Regular Meeting: March 10th, 2025, 7:00 PM
American Civics Meeting: March 10th, 2025, 6:30 PM
Meeting Adjourned
Adjourn the meeting at 8:20 PM. Passed with a motion by Jake Knaub and a second by Laura
Baker.
Laura Baker: Yea, John-Robert Faden: Yea, Ronald Johnson: Yea, Jake Knaub: Yea, Douglas Olsen:
Yea, Ryan Olsen: Yea
Banner County School Schedule of Bills/Claims
B&C STEEL CORPORATION $561.65; CHRISTINA BOGGESS $749.00; CAROLINA BIOLOGICAL
SUPPLY CO $308.58; CASH-WA DISTIBUTING $685.50; CONNECTING POINT $579.84; DAS STATE
ACCTG $292.87; ESU #13 $11,168.36; ESU #13 $4.24; FRANK PARTS $863.90; GRAINGER $91.62;
GREATAMERICA LEASING CORP $250.00; HARRISBURG WATER SYSTEM $548.12; HD SUPPLY
$295.23; HIGH WEST ENERGY, INC. $2,770.85; HOME DEPOT CREDIT SERVICES $179.98; J.W.
PEPPER & SON INC. $12.75; MATHESON TRI-GAS INC $1,078.71; MENARDS $301.69; MIDWEST
TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS $112.50; NASB $3,762.00; BRENDYN ONSTOTT $40.00; PACK RAT
DISPOSAL $380.00; CASSANDRA PARKER $70.00; MARIE PARKER $168.00; JACOB PARSONS
$80.00; QUICK CARE MEDICAL SERVICES $125.00; RAPID FIRE PROTECTION $401.00; SOFTWARE
UNLIMITED, INC. $707.00; DANIELLE VILLAGRANA $60.00; W.P.C.I. $62.00; WELLS FARGO CARD
SERVICES $46.32; WELLS FARGO CARD SERVICES $36.00; WELLS FARGO CARD SERVICES
$169.49; WESTERN NEBRASKA OBSERVER $52.00; WIZNERD DEVELOPMENT GROUP LLC
$2,660.00; AFLAC $756.12; AFLAC $912.88; FEDERAL TAX PAYMENT $41,816.55; MG TRUST
COMPANY $8,546.57; NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE $5,684.30; NPERS $37,701.11;
VSP INSURANCE CO $630.06; 125 CLEARING ACCOUNT $810.00; BANNER COUNTY SCHOOL
$815.00; BANNER COUNTY SCHOOL $1,465.00; BCBS NE $48,186.71; COLONIAL LIFE $183.93;
COLONIAL LIFE $177.34; HORACE MANN INSURANCE COMPANY $217.78; LEGALSHIELD $57.80;
PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY $854.02; Payroll $137,018.79
