MINUTES BOARD OF EDUCATION REPORT APRIL 10, 2023
The regular meeting of the Board of Education was held on April 10th. This meeting was advertised in the April 5th edition of the Battle Creek Enterprise. President Jeremy Pochop called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. Members present were Toby Thompson, Tammy Bierman, Sean Lindgren, Paul Kuchar, and Tom Leathers. Also, present were Superintendent Jake Luhr and Principals Jeff Heimes and Curtis Childers, 9 seniors, and one visitor. The new open meeting law poster was discussed and posted and will be followed at every Board meeting. To start the Board meeting, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Toby Thompson made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, which included the April general fund bills that totaled $91,704.12. Sean Lindgren seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with six ayes.
Mr. Luhr updated the Board on the construction project which has now started at the elementary and the high school. He also let them know that they will have construction meetings every two weeks.
Mr. Luhr updated the board on the Certificates of Deposit that we have Midwest Bank and Elkhorn Valley Bank. The money in the existing Certificates of Deposit at Elkhorn Valley Bank will be moved into a business money market account. Midwest Bank will cash the existing Certificates of Deposit and combine them with our current ICS account. All will have higher interest rates than our current Certificates of Deposit.
Mr. Luhr discussed with the Board the legislative updates, and that LB 583 is a bill that could positively affect our state aid if it passes. More information will be available at the May Board meeting.
Tom Leathers made a motion to approve the resignation letter of Laura Krueger, elementary teacher, with regrets and appreciation of Laura’s 17 years of service to Battle Creek Public Schools. Paul Kuchar seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with six ayes.
Tammy Bierman made a motion to approve the option request of Ryder Hemenway, 8th grader for the 2023-24 school year. This request is based on available room in the class at this time. Toby Thompson seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with six ayes.
Tom Leathers made a motion to approve the option request of Abigail Eckert, 9th grader for the 2023-24 school year. This request is based on available room in the class at this time. Tammy Bierman seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with six ayes.
Toby Thompson made a motion to approve the option request of Tristan Ray, 9th grader for the 2023-24 school year. This request is based on available room in the class at this time. Tom Leathers seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with six ayes.
Paul Kuchar made a motion to approve the option request of Kinsley Brugman, kindergartner, for the 2023-24 school year. This request is based on available room in the class at this time. Tom Leathers seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with six ayes.
Toby Thompson made a motion to approve the option request of Hayden Lowry, kindergartner, for the 2023-24 school year. This request is based on available room in the class at this time. Sean Lindgren seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with six ayes.
Paul Kuchar made a motion to approve the option request of Wyatt Scott, kindergartner, for the 2023-24 school year. This request is based on available room in the class at this time. Toby Thompson seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with six ayes.
Tom Leathers made a motion to approve the option request of Kooper Uecker, kindergartner, for the 2023-24 school year. This request is based on available room in the class at this time. Toby Thompson seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with six ayes.
Paul Kuchar made a motion to approve the option request of Brecken Wells, kindergartner, for the 2023-24 school year. This request is based on available room in the class at this time. Sean Lindgren seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with six ayes.
Sean Lindgren made a motion to deny the option request of Avalia Arlt, 1st grader, for the 2023-24 school year. This request was denied due to being at program capacity. Paul Kuchar seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with six ayes.
Toby Thompson made a motion to approve a change in the elementary calendar for no school for the elementary students on April 17th and April 24th to accommodate for LETRS training for the elementary teachers. Sean Lindgren seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with six ayes.
Mr. Luhr advised the Board that he has been in contact with Nick Onnen of St. John’s Lutheran School regarding our food service and providing lunches to St. John’s K-8 students. More information will be available on this topic at future Board meetings.
Mr. Luhr presented to the Board the 2023-24 Appendix 1 to our Option Enrollment Policy 5006 which includes projected enrollment numbers, grade level capacities, and special programs capacities. Paul Kuchar made a motion to approve the 2023-24 Appendix 1 to our Option Enrollment Policy 5006 as presented. Tom Leathers seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with six ayes.
Mr. Heimes presented two cell phone policies that he discussed with the Board. He would like to add one to the student handbook for the 2023-24 school year. More discussion to come at later Board meetings.
Mr. Luhr discussed with the Board that he has been searching for vehicle replacements for some of the school’s older vehicles. They no longer make 10 passenger vans, and the 8 passenger vehicles are very expensive. Future adjustments to the vehicle replacement schedule will be made.
Comments were heard from the Board, Principals, and Superintendent.
With no further business, Board President Jeremy Pochop adjourned the meeting at 7:27 P.M.
Submitted by,
Jake Luhr, Secretary Board of Education