BROKEN BOW— Broken Bow teachers will be getting a raise after the approval came through on Monday, February 18 at the Broken Bow School Board Meeting. Teacher negotiations have been taking place at the past few work sessions and regular meetings allowing for discussion and input. In the end, the board agreed to a $600 pay increase to the base salary as well as a removing a clause from the contracts in relation to submitting a leave of absence. The teachers were not given a raise last year.
Treasurer JB Atkins gave the treasurers report to the board where the numbers did not come out as even as hoped for. The general fund is still currently sitting at $1.7 million, but the latest report showed revenue down due to December not being as a money making month as previous years. Atkins said its nothing to worry about yet, but something to keep an eye on as the year moves on. Another change that was noted was the insurance payment to Allicap. With the previous insurer, quarterly payments were made, but Allicap only requires a one-time payment.
The board and administrators congratulated the wrestling team on their Class C State Dual Championships and their seven medalists at state wresting as well as placing second as a team. Congratulations were also extended to the Broken Bow Cheer Team on their fourth place finish at the state competition in Grand Island.
Kim Jonas and Nikki Altig discussed with the board the events and the happenings going on in the elementary and pre-school. Jonas told the board that students had made the annual trip to Kearney as part of their curriculum to visit the Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA) and the Donuts with Dad event was well attended by multiple parents.
Nikki Altig noted that an immunization clinic would be at the school on April 5 which would also include radon kits if families are in need of those. Other dates that Altig discussed were the pre-school roundup to take place on March 11 which also coincides with Dr. Seuss week. She also talked with the board that kindergarten teachers were coming into the pre-school to be surprise readers to the kids so that they would have a familiar face when attending kindergarten roundup.
While Rusty Kluender was not in attendance he did leave notes to the board congratulating four Broken Bow Seniors who were admitted into the Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP) and the Kearney Health Opportunities Program (KHOP). These programs guarantee admission to the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) as long as all stated requirements are met for the students pre-professional study of choice.
The four students admitted into the programs are Grayson Garey, attending Wayne State College (RHOP), Sam Schendt, attending Chadron State College (RHOP), Kesha Degroff attending Chadron State College (RHOP), and Weston Walz, attending the University of Nebraska at Kearney (KHOP). The programs pay for the student’s tuition and, in certain situations, partial room and board is also paid for.
Action items from the board include the Administration Contract renewals which also included a 4% raise totaling $13,700 which will be administered by Superintendent Darren Tobey as he sees fit. Also approved was the school calendar, which was briefly discussed on possibly taking community input next year on the placement of breaks. The board also approved the board policy review which is done around every three months.
The Leroy Anderson Estate Funds was the final approval of the meeting where the board approved to submit a proposal to the foundation on allowing approximately $9,000 is used for bills for state wrestling and state cheer and dance. These funds are used by the school in activities that must involve students such as FFA trips, band trips, state travel, and so forth. These funds allow the school to not have to use more of the activities fund. All requests must be approved through the foundation before the money is released to the school.
The next Broken Bow School Board work session meeting has been set for March 11 at 5 P.M. and the regular meeting will take place on March 18 at 5 P.M.
