Board approves transferring funds

McCOOK, Neb. — With barely a quorum — two of the five McCook School Board members were absent —the rest of the board approved a new teaching contract and transferring $40,000 to the activity account.

Board members Mike Langan and Dennis Berry absences were excused. Board president Tom Bredvick said sometimes conflict can occur when board members are active in the community.

No one spoke at the public hearing for the American Civics Committee. A new law from the Nebraska Legislature and enacted in 2019 updated state social studies standards in public schools. It changed the name of the school board committee, Americanism, to American Civics, requires the committee to have two public meetings annually and that the social studies curriculum is accessible to the public. It also adds to the list historical figures which teachers are to acknowledge/celebrate, such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday and Native American Heritage Day. It requires schools districts to implement one of three options: take a written test identical to the civics portion of the naturalization test used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services prior to the completion of eighth grade and 12th grade; attend a meeting of a public body between eighth and 12th grade followed by the completion of a project or paper where the student demonstrates personal learning experience, or complete a project or paper and class presentation between eighth and 12th grade on a person or an event.

Students at the McCook School District take the naturalization test twice, once in eighth grade and again in high school, said Superintendent Grant Norgaard.

Brad Hays and Loretta Hauxwell are board members on the American Civics committee, along with administrators and teachers.

With the new standards, social studies teachers in each grade must also provide evidence of what they’re teaching. Superintendent Grant Norgaard said teachers will be given a template of what is needed, “to make sure we’re in compliance,” he said. “I feel good where McCook Public Schools is at, but there’s still room for improvement.”

Hauxwell agreed but noted it will take time. “It will get there, it’s a process,” she said.

Norgaard also told the board that he will be meeting with three architectural firms in July, for projects four to six years in the future, including one at the junior high. The three firms will present their qualifications for school design and experience in bond issues, Norgaard said, and what each firm can offer in terms of promoting a project. The firms will then give their presentations to either the full board or an ad hoc committee, he said.

The selected firm will also do other projects in the district besides the junior high, he said, from a list of projects on the district facility plan.

The board also unanimously approved transferring $40,000 from the general fund to the Activities account. Jeff Gross, who will take over as business manager with John Brazell’s retirement, said although gate receipts plunged due to COVID-19, expenses remained the same. Revenue loss, based on an average of revenue the past four years, was $6,710 in host events, $4,901 in activity tickets and $27,726 in gate receipts/entry fees.

A contract for Lori Barger for first grade was approved by the board, at BA+18, Step 9, or $54,452. Starting pay at McCook Public Schools for 2020-21 is $36,450, for a teacher with no years of experience or education beyond a bachelor’s degree. Salaries can increase incrementally, or by steps, based on years of experience and additional certified college credit hours.

Barger has been teaching in North Platte, Neb., and began her teaching career in Ohio in 1999.

McCook Elementary principal Greg Borland told the board that she has an impressive background in reading literacy and was highly recommended.

Norgaard said the vacancy was created in the first grade as a current teacher was moved to the expanded day program, which will be implemented in January 2021. That program would take place after school and include hands-on activities for students as well as a teaching curriculum. The program will be funded with ESSER funds the district received.