## Board of Education Regular Meeting Monday, April 13, 2026 7:00 PM ## Public School Library 506 W. 9th Street ## Dorchester, NE 68343-0007 1. Call to Order and Announce Open Meetings Act Verification ## 2. Roll Call 3. Receive Visitors and Announce Open Forum for Public Comment 4. Request for Change of Agenda 5. Approval of the Minutes of the Last Meeting(s) ## 6. Financial Report 7. Reports ## 7.1. Athletic Director's Report ## 7.2. Principal's Report ## 7.3. Superintendent's Report ## 8. New Business 8.1. Discussion and presentations by Ella Vyhnalek and Sierra Sherwood. ## •FBLA State Conference •2026-2027 proposed study hall schedule 8.2. 8.3. High Ability Learners Program Presentation from Mrs. Brenda Nerud. 8.4. Discuss and take all necessary action to approve 2026–2027 certified teacher contracts. 8.5. Discuss and take all necessary action to approve the update of board policy 6009, Grade Placement of Transfer Students. 8.6. Discuss and take all necessary action to approve the First Student contract for the remainder of the 2025-2026 school year. ## 9. Board Committee Report(s) 10. Closed Session (as necessary per statute) 11. Establish Future Board of Education Meeting Date(s) and Time(s) 12. Adjourn ## Board of Education Regular Meeting Monday, March 9, 2026 5:30 PM ## Public School Library 506 W. 9th Street ## Dorchester, NE 68343-0007 Notice of the time and place of the Dorchester Board of Education meeting was published in a newspaper of general circulation within the district. Newspapers of general circulation in the district include, but are not necessarily limited to, the Crete News, the Lincoln Journal Star, or the Omaha World-Herald. Notice is also posted in at least three prominent places within the school district which may include the following: Dorchester Public Schools, Farmers Coop, First State Bank, and the Village Office. Individual board members received in advance the meeting agenda and meeting materials. Pursuant to Section 84-1412 of the Nebraska Statutes, the public is hereby informed that a current copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act is posted in the Board meeting boardroom. ## Matt Bolton: Present ## Matthew Hansen: Present ## Shelly Lehr: Present ## Carol Schnell: Present ## Matt Smith: Present ## Steve Vyhnalek: Present ## 1. Call to Order and Announce Open Meetings Act Verification The meeting was called to order by President Steve Vyhnalek. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. ## 2. Roll Call Also present were Superintendent Nick Mumm, Principal JJ Wagner, and Jen Bond. ## 3. Receive Visitors and Announce Open Forum for Public Comment Visitors present were Rebecca Steuk, Matt Pracheil, Garrett Smith, Clint Zaptin, Tiffany Bergmeyer, and Jay Carlson. ## Carol Schnell: Absent Carol Schnell needed to leave at 5:55 pm. 4. Approval of the Minutes of the Last Meeting(s) Motion to approve the reading of the last meeting(s) minutes, both the regular board meeting and the American Civics meeting, passed with a motion by Shelly Lehr and a second by Matt Smith. Matt Bolton: Yea, Matthew Hansen: Yea, Shelly Lehr: Yea, Matt Smith: Yea, Steve Vyhnalek: Yea ## 5. Financial Report Motion to approve the financial report passed with a motion by Matthew Hansen and a second by Shelly Lehr. Matt Bolton: Yea, Matthew Hansen: Yea, Shelly Lehr: Yea, Matt Smith: Yea, Steve Vyhnalek: Yea 6. Reports ## 6.1. AD's Report Mr. Zoubek submitted to the board a list of upcoming school events. ## 6.2. Principal's Report Mr. Wagner told the board that all our elementary teachers, including Mrs. Ridpath and Mrs. Barlow, had the opportunity to visit Shickley and EMF to see the reading curriculum they use in action. This will help them make the decision on what is the best option for Dorchester. Mr. Bird and Mrs. Ridpath had the opportunity to see how Seward runs their ELA classes as well as some of their intervention groups. ## 6.3. Superintendent's Report Dr. Mumm discussed the Safety Audit for 2025-2026. ## 7. New Business 7.1. Approve completed spring Superintendent evaluation. Motion to acknowledge the completion of the spring Superintendent evaluation passed with a motion by Matt Bolton and a second by Matthew Hansen. Matt Bolton: Yea, Matthew Hansen: Yea, Shelly Lehr: Yea, Matt Smith: Yea, Steve Vyhnalek: Yea 7.2. Discuss and take all necessary action to approve the 2026 - 2027 Superintendent’s contract. Motion to approve the 2026-2027 Superintendent's contract with the amendment to change the cell phone reimbursement to $100 a month passed with a motion by Matt Bolton and a second by Matt Smith. Matt Bolton: Yea, Matthew Hansen: Yea, Shelly Lehr: Yea, Matt Smith: Yea, Steve Vyhnalek: Yea 7.3. Discuss and take all necessary action to approve the 2026 - 2027 Principal's contract. Motion to approve the 2026-2027 Principal's contract passed with a motion by Matt Smith and a second by Shelly Lehr. Matt Bolton: Yea, Matthew Hansen: Yea, Shelly Lehr: Yea, Matt Smith: Yea, Steve Vyhnalek: Yea 7.4. Discuss and take all necessary action to approve the purchase of property from Ziemann & Sons Construction LLC. Motion to approve the purchase of property from Ziemann & Sons Construction LLC passed with a motion by Matthew Hansen and a second by Matt Smith. Matt Bolton: Yea, Matthew Hansen: Yea, Shelly Lehr: Yea, Matt Smith: Yea, Steve Vyhnalek: Yea 7.5. Discuss and take all necessary action to approve the Speech Language Pathologist contract for the 2026–2027 school year. Motion to approve the speech language pathologist contract for the 2026-2027 school year passed with a motion by Matt Bolton and a second by Shelly Lehr. Matt Bolton: Yea, Matthew Hansen: Yea, Shelly Lehr: Yea, Matt Smith: Yea, Steve Vyhnalek: Yea 7.6. Discuss and take all necessary action to approve the contract for the athletic trainer. Motion to approve the contract for the athletic trainer passed with a motion by Matthew Hansen and a second by Shelly Lehr. Matt Bolton: Yea, Matthew Hansen: Yea, Shelly Lehr: Yea, Matt Smith: Yea, Steve Vyhnalek: Yea 7.7. Discuss and take all necessary action to approve the 2026-2027 school calendar. Motion to approve the 2026-2027 school calendar passed with a motion by Matt Smith and a second by Matthew Hansen. Matt Bolton: Yea, Matthew Hansen: Yea, Shelly Lehr: Yea, Matt Smith: Yea, Steve Vyhnalek: Yea 7.8. Discuss and take all necessary action to approve the 2026-2027 classified staff wage increase of 4%. Motion to approve the 2026-2027 classified staff wage increase of 4% passed with a motion by Shelly Lehr and a second by Matt Smith. Matt Bolton: Abstain (With Conflict), Matthew Hansen: Yea, Shelly Lehr: Yea, Matt Smith: Yea, Steve ## Vyhnalek: Yea 7.9. Discuss and take all necessary action to approve the contract for new copiers from Eakes. Motion to approve the contract for new copiers from Eakes passed with a motion by Matt Bolton and a second by Matthew Hansen. Matt Bolton: Yea, Matthew Hansen: Yea, Shelly Lehr: Yea, Matt Smith: Yea, Steve Vyhnalek: Yea ## 8. Board Committee Report(s) There were no committee reports. 9. Closed Session (as necessary per statute) Motion to go into closed session at 6:33pm passed with a motion by Matthew Hansen and a second by Matt Smith. Matt Bolton: Yea, Matthew Hansen: Yea, Shelly Lehr: Yea, Matt Smith: Yea, Steve Vyhnalek: Yea Motion to come out of closed session at 7:48pm passed with a motion by Matt Bolton and a second by Matthew Hansen. Matt Bolton: Yea, Matthew Hansen: Yea, Shelly Lehr: Yea, Matt Smith: Yea, Steve Vyhnalek: Yea ## 10. Establish Future Board of Education Meeting Date and Time The next scheduled board meeting is Monday, April 13th, at 7:00pm 11. Adjourn Motion to adjourn at 7:50pm passed with a motion by Shelly Lehr and a second by Matthew Hansen. Matt Bolton: Yea, Matthew Hansen: Yea, Shelly Lehr: Yea, Matt Smith: Yea, Steve Vyhnalek: Yea ## Shelly Lehr, Secretary of the Board of Education ## Board Report April 2026 ● Prom was held April 11 ● HS Music Concert April 14 at 7pm ## ● FBLA State Leadership Conference @ Kearney - April 16-18 ● FBLA SLC - April 8-10, 2027 and will not fall on HS Track Meet ## ● HS Track @ Deshler Invite - April 16 ## ● JH Track @ Osceola Invite - April 16 ## ● HS Track @ EMF Invite - April 21 ● JH Track @ Deshler Invite - April 23 - any JH students participating in ## District Music will go to District Music ● District Music @ Milford April 23-24 - Vocal Music - April 23, Instrumental Music - April 24 ## ● HS Track @ McCool Invite - April 27 ## ● JH Track @ Fairbury Invite - April 27 ● State Journalism @ Norfolk - April 27 ● Athletic Banquet - April 28 - 6pm - Catered meal ## ● JH CRC Track @ Cross County - April 30 ● Elementary Music Concert - April 30 - 7pm ## ● HS CRC Track @ Osceola - May 2 ● Rain Dates for CRC HS and JH Track Meets are May 1, May 4, May 5 ● Honors Night - May 6 ● HS & JH Track @ McCool Junction - May 7 ## ● Elementary Community Clean Up - May 8 ● Graduation May 9 ## Principal’s Report April 13th, 2026 ## IPG Training I attended the IPG Training on March 20th in Beatrice. It is a new thing that will be required to provide information to the State of Nebraska when it comes to our Reading classes. ## CLSD Meetings Mr. Bird, Mrs. Ridpath, and I attended the latest CLSD Meeting. It focused a lot on what our Tier I, Tier II, and Tier III should look like moving forward. It will require a change in mindset from the way things are currently done. ## Sports Track Season is off and running, jumping, and throwing. From what I’ve heard we have had some success in both the JH and High School ranks. ## Spring Play The Spring Play was a success. It was very entertaining and our students did a great job. ## Threat Assessment Team Many members of the Threat Assessment Team attended a training via Zoom on March 19th. It focused on how to decide if a threat is credible and what steps to take if a threat is made. The Threat Assessment Team will be having their monthly meeting shortly. ## Mike Donahue Presentation Mike Donahue came and talked to K-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-12, staff, and the public. It was a great message about valuing yourself and others. Each presentation was done at an age appropriate level. ## Upcoming Events 4/14 - JH/HS Spring Program 7 P.M. 4/16 - 4/18 - State FBLA in Kearney 4/16 - JH Track @ Osceola 9 A.M. 4/16 - HS Track @ Deshler 10 A.M. 4/20 - CLSD @ Norris 4/21 - HS Track @ EMF 4/23 & 4/24 - District Music in Milford ## 4/23 - Criminal Justice Day @ Peru State 4/23 - Illustrator - Melissa Iawi - 1 P.M. 4/23 - JH Track @ Deshler 4/27 - State Journalism @ Norfolk 4/27 - HS Track @ McCool Junction 9 A.M. 4/27 - JH Track @ Fairbury ## 4/29 - Middle School Quiz Bowl @ Seward 4/30 - JH Track @ CRC Invite @ Cross County 9 A.M. 4/30 - Elementary Spring Concert 7 P.M. 5/2 - HS Track @ CRC Invite @ Osceola 9 A.M. 5/5 - Honors Night 5/6 - HS Quiz Bowl @ Seward 9 A.M. 5/7 - JH Track @ McCool Junction 9:30 A.M. 5/7 - HS Track @ McCool Junction 9:30 A.M. ## 5/8 - Elementary Community Clean Up 5/9 - Graduation 3:30 P.M. ## Superintendent Report Maintenance/Transportation: We have several facilities projects on our radar and want to share a quick update. One area we’ve been discussing is putting our hallways and classrooms on a schedule for carpet replacement. We are currently gathering bids for flooring in two high school classrooms, an elementary hallway, and a few remaining elementary rooms. While these won’t all happen at once, we’re looking at spreading the work out over the next three summers. We are also talking about the possibility of replacing the concrete in front of the school, including the sidewalk and curb, along with the sidewalk on the west side of the building, possibly as early as this summer. There are some drainage issues under the current concrete, as well as a few areas that have become tripping hazards, so we want to address those concerns. The playground is another place we’re excited to improve. Our goal is to make it an even safer and more enjoyable place for students. Fixing the current drainage issues will be an important first step in that process. We are also considering adding a loft in the back gym above the stage to help with storage. This would give us some much-needed space and help keep the stage area clean and organized. All of these projects will be prioritized over the next few years based on what fits within the budget. Once the district finalizes the purchase of additional property, we’re also exploring the option of adding a temporary storage container to help with current storage needs. Lastly, we have posted a bus driver position for next school year. If you know someone who might be a great fit, we would love your help spreading the word! Finance: Over the past seven months, district spending has increased by an average of 2.9% per month compared to last year. This includes all district expenses, and we are right where we want to be, as our goal is to stay between 3% and 4%. In the coming months, the board will also consider transferring any remaining funds from the bond account—now that the bond has been paid off—into the general fund. This would allow those funds to earn a better interest rate and be used more effectively. Spring Testing: Our junior class completed the ACT this past week—great job to those students! Students in K-8th grades are currently working through NSCAS state assessments or MAP Growth testing. High school freshmen and sophomores have completed MAP Growth testing. Thank you to our students, staff, and families for supporting this important work. We look forward to reviewing the results and celebrating student growth once testing is complete. We also want to give a big thank you to the staff who helped organize Prom. Their time and effort made it a special and memorable night for our students. We truly appreciate the continued support from our families and community who contributed to making it a special event. We hope you all have a safe and enjoyable spring season! As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or feedback—we’re always happy to connect. ## NM ## Dr. Nick Mumm ## Superintendent Dorchester Public School (402) 946-2781 - School (402)768-3311 - Cell 6009 ## Grade Placement of Transfer Students Subject to a determination on grade placement based on the criteria set forth below, a student transferring from an accredited school will generally be placed at the grade level that is comparable to the placement in the school from which the student is transferring. Temporary placement may be made until a student's records are received to verify the placement. ## Elementary Level Students The appropriate level of placement for elementary level students may be determined by, but not limited to, consideration of the following information: •Chronological age. •Previous public school or private school experience. •Diagnostic test data. •Achievement test data. •Criterion referenced test data. ## Secondary Level Students The appropriate level of placement for secondary students may be determined by, but not limited to, consideration of the following information: •Chronological age. •Previous public school or private school experience. •Standardized achievement test data. •Criterion referenced test data. •Final examination test data. •Diagnostic test data. A student transferring into the school district in grades 9-12 will be responsible for meeting all graduation requirements to earn a high school diploma. Credits earned in grades 9-12 at an accredited school will be counted toward high school graduation requirements. Credits from a home school and/or a non-accredited school will not be counted toward high school graduation requirements. The district administration, in conjunction with the building principal, will determine the appropriate grade level/credit status of a student transferring from a foreign country. Adopted on: 2-9-06 Revised on: _________________________ Reviewed on: 5-18-15, 1-11-21