New school board members to be sworn in Monday

McCOOK, Neb. -- The McCook Board of Education will be asked to approve two teacher resignations, one new teaching contract and bids for equipment at the junior high cafeteria, at the regular meeting Monday, 6:30 p.m. at the junior high conference room.

Meeting for the first time in 2015, the board will swear-in the newly-elected Bob Elder and Brian Esch and incumbent Loretta Hauxwell, as well as recognize outgoing board members Sandy Krysl and Shane Messersmith for years of service. The board will also nominate and elect members for the offices of president, vice president and secretary.

Resignations the board will be asked to approve come from Laura Blomstedt, a teacher at the Developmental Learning Center, effective Jan. 16 and from Tori Peters at the junior high, effective for the 2015-16 school year. The board will be asked to approve a teaching contract for JoDee Walbridge, as a special education teacher at McCook Elementary and at the Developmental Learning center. Walbridge, originally of Arapahoe, Nebraska, has been a special education teacher since 2007 in Wyoming.

Bids the board will be asked to approve Monday night are for new equipment at the junior high cafeteria and include those for updated cabinetry and a stainless steel table.

School district business manager Rick Haney told the board at the December meeting that there are three companies who placed bids.

Other items the board will be asked to approve Monday night include anonymous donations for the FFA group totaling $1,370 and another anonymous $1,000 donation for the men's golf program.

The board will also review four school policies concerning: powers and responsibilities of the board, student member of board of education, board member conflict of interest and school closings and cancellations.

After the regular meeting, the board will meet in closed session to discuss the negotiated agreement for 2015-16 between the school district and McCook Education Association, the union that represents teachers/certified staff.

After the closed session, the board will re-convene in open session and vote on the agreement.

This updated agreement includes base salary, sick leave/vacation days and other benefits, as well as procedures concerning teachers evaluations and grievance procedures.