Minutes of the Banner County School District
Board of Education Meeting
Monday, January 12, 2026
Notice of the Monday, January 12, 2026, Board of Education Regular Meeting was posted at Harrisburg
U.S. Post Office, Banner Capital Bank, Banner County Courthouse, and Banner County School.
Laura Baker: Present
John-Robert Faden: Present
Ronald Johnson: Present
Jake Knaub: Present
Douglas Olsen: Present
Ryan Olsen: Present
Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 7:00 PM
Roll Call/Welcome
Pledge of Allegiance
Approval of Agenda
Approve agenda for the January 12th, 2026 Banner County Regular Board of Education meeting. 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
Comments from the Audience
Presentations
Students of the Month
Annual Reorganization of BOE
Election of Board Officers
Nominate Laura Baker for board vice-president Passed with a motion by Ronald Johnson 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
Nominate Jake Knaub for treasurer Passed with a motion by Ronald Johnson and a second by Laura Baker.
Jake Knaub: Abstain (With Conflict), Laura Baker: Yea, John-Robert Faden: Yea, Ronald Johnson: Yea,
Douglas Olsen: Yea, Ryan Olsen: Yea
Nominate Douglas Olsen for board president Passed with a motion by Ronald Johnson 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
Appointment of Committee Members
Move to approve the appointment of the following BOE committee members: Transportation and Grounds:
Douglas Olsen (Chair), Jake Knaub, Ryan Olsen; Personnel and Negotiations: Douglas Olsen (Chair), Ron
Johnson, Laura Baker; American Civics, Curriculum, and Technology: Jake Knaub (Chair), Ryan Olsen, and
John-Robert Faden; Policy Review: Ron Johnson (Chair), Laura Baker, John-Robert Faden 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
Re-adopt Policies, Regulations, and Handbooks for Governance of the District
Motion to re-adopt all existing policies, regulations, and handbooks for the governance of the district. Passed
with a motion by Jake Knaub 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
Adopt Annual Board Meeting Schedule for 2026-27
Adopt Board Meeting Schedule for 2026-2027 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
Authorization to Sign Checks
Authorize Douglas Olsen (President), Laura Baker (Vice-President), Jake Knaub (Treasurer), and Chris
Lecher (Secretary) as signers for all accounts held at Banner Capital Bank. Authorize Troy Holmberg and
Wittni Boettcher as additional signers on General Fund 2, Activity, and Nutrition accounts. Two signatures are
required on all checks. 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
Appoint the Non-discrimination Compliance Coordinator for 2026.
Appoint Mr. Chris Lecher as the Non-discrimination Compliance Coordinator for 2026. Passed with a motion
by Jake Knaub 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
Appoint District Title IX Coordinator for 2026.
Appoint Troy Holmberg as the district Title IX Coordinator for 2026. 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
Reports
Superintendent
I am working on the Annual Report. Coming in February
Survey on Fridays. It needs to go out beginning of next week.
Which leads to calendar creation
Starting to think about staffing for next year
New line of credit interest is now 4.75% down from 5.25%
Principal
Enrollment Numbers
PreK: 8 Life Links: 1
K-5: 62
6-8: 24 Total: 128
9-12: 33
Student of the Month Nominees
Ellie Groves Judd Stauffer Bexlie Groves
Gannon Scheer Raelynn Felkins Kinlee Olsen
Tipton Dittbenner Mesa Faden Paycen West
Makynna Boettcher Shawnie Mason Weston Scott
Abigayle Jones
Honor Rolls: Grades 6-12
A Honor Roll
Trenton Knaub George Teeple Leeigh McGowan
Knox Hottell Shawnie Mason
A/B Honor Roll
Aili Cooper Kambrie Loutzenhiser Karlye Dittbenner
Tacey Cross Ethan Valverde Jackson Onstott
Gabe Olsen Luke Olsen Gianni Green
Lily Payton Tate Olsen
Dylan Perez Makynna Boettcher
Winter Testing
Students in grades K-8 will be completing winter growth testing during January.
K-2: MAP Math and English
K-5: DIBELS (English and Math)
3-8: MAP Math, English, Science
In the spring, the summative NSCAS testing for Math, English, and Science is done. Those
results are used to determine AQuESTT status.
Speech Season Starts
The first Speech team competition was held on Saturday, January 11 th . We were represented by
Kesmera Palu who medaled in three events.
IPG and Data Workshops
Mrs. Knaub and I attended the Instructional Practice Guide workshop on January 7 th . As part of
the state literacy program and CLSD grant, we are required to conduct literacy walkthroughs in
the 2026-2027 school year.
Mrs. Armstrong and I attended the “Show Me the Data” Conference. The focus was on
considering the types of data that should be obtained and analyzed.
Coming Up
1/14: NSAA District Meeting (Voting on Proposals-Mrs. Boettcher attends)
1/15: Winter Sports Pictures
1/19-1/24: MAC Basketball Tourney
1/26: MAC Band
Board of Education
Committee Reports
Transportation and Grounds
American Civics, Curriculum, and Technology
Policy Review
Personnel and Negotiations
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 December 8th, 2025 regular meeting.
Approve the payment of bills and salaries totaling $334,254.45 for the January
12th, 2026 regular meeting.
Approve mileage reimbursement rate at $.725 effective January 1, 2026
Next Meeting
Winter Retreat: February 10, 2026 at 9:00 AM in the School Library.
Regular Meeting: February 9th, 2026, 7:00 PM
Meeting Adjourned
Adjourn the meeting at 7:51 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
WITTNI BOETTCHER $2,472.00; CENTURY LINK $230.99; CONNECTING POINT
$594.42; DAS STATE ACCTG $317.87; DOANE UNIVERSITY $40.00; ESU #13 $11,049.86;
FLOYD'S $1,694.35; FRANK PARTS $128.68; GRAINGER $188.07; GREATAMERICA
LEASING CORP $240.99; HARRISBURG WATER SYSTEM $556.32; HD SUPPLY
FACILITIES MAINTENANCE LTD $111.58; HIGH WEST ENERGY INC $2,655.50; HOME
DEPOT $93.14; JOSTENS INC $57.69; KIMBALL AUTO PARTS LLC $606.62;
MATHESON TRI-GAS INC $362.99; MENARDS $33.10; MIDWEST BUS PARTS INC
$135.05; MOTOR FUELS DIVISION $814.00; NEBRASKA ESU COORDINATING
COUNCIL $147.60; NKC TIRE/MCWHORTER'S TIRE $1,118.19; PACK RAT DISPOSAL$430.00; JACOB PARSONS $40.00; PDQ.COM $1,402.50; PEETZ FARMERS COOP
$6,638.04; PINE BLUFFS SINCLAIR LLC $6,351.27; QUILL LLC $131.19; RETIEMENT
PLAN CONSULTANTS LLC $400.00; SNELL SERVICES INC $917.84; SOAR PEDIATRIC
THERAPY LLC $1,171.83; SPARQDATA SOLUTIONS $4,100.00; STAPLES ADVANTAGE
$392.24; TEAM AUTO CENTER $112.15; UNIVERSITY OF NE at KEARNEY $125.00;
VERIZON $119.82; DANIELLE VILLAGRANA $80.00; WELLS FARGO CARD SERVICES
$263.78; WELLS FARGO CARD SERVICES $48.00; WESTERN NE OBSERVER $163.67;
WIZNERD DEVELOPMENT GROUP LLC $105.00; 125 CLEARING ACCOUNT $460.00;
AFLAC $503.80; AFLAC $1,050.87; BANNER COUNTY SCHOOL $1,125.00; BANNER
COUNTY SCHOOL BLDG FUND $1,960.00; BCBS OF NE $57,882.42; COLONIAL LIFE
$45.14; COLONIAL LIFE $99.04; FEDERAL TAX $41,864.08; LEGALSHIELD $57.80; MG
TRUST COMPANY $6,653.97; NE DEPT OF REVENUE $5,336.94; NPERS $30,281.35;
PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES LLC $492.13; PRINCIPAL $927.86; VSP $658.16;
PAYROLL $138,214.55
Complete Minutes of the January 12 th , 2026 BOE Meeting at:
