December Regular Board Meeting Minutes

Board of Education Regular Meeting

Monday, December 11, 2023 7:00 PM

Elementary Media Center in Diller
315 Smith St
Diller, NE 68342

1. Open Meeting

1.1. Roll Call

1.2. Recognize the Open Meetings Act information
Public comment was received from Matt Duis and Kayla Schnuelle on trying to establish more collaboration between youth sports and the school for the betterment of our school's students.

1.3. Approve minutes of last meeting
Motion to approve minutes of last meeting Passed with a motion by Angie Clifford and a second by Adam Engelman.
Angie Clifford: Yea, Dusty Duis: Yea, Adam Engelman: Yea, Paul Kostal: Yea, Kolin Kotas: Yea, Kasey Murphy: Yea
Yea: 6, Nay: 0
Superintendent Meyerle noted a correction from the November minutes.

2. Instruction and Related Items

2.1. Principal Report
Principal Mezger provided an update on MAPS testing, Special Programs, the NASB Conference and the State Principal Conference.

2.2. Student Report
Ashley Duis provided a report on student activities.  Congratulations to all athletes earning post-season honors in Fall sports, students in One Act that placed third in districts, those students with success in Ag contests and especially to Dave Parde who participated in the National FFA Band last month.

2.3. Review and take possible action on grade scale for grades 7-12 which would revise policy 5078 and 5080
Motion to revise grade scales for grades 7-12 Passed with a motion by Kolin Kotas and a second by Kasey Murphy.
Angie Clifford: Yea, Dusty Duis: Yea, Adam Engelman: Yea, Paul Kostal: Yea, Kolin Kotas: Yea, Kasey Murphy: Yea
Yea: 6, Nay: 0
After researching other area schools' grade scales, the Board wanted to adapt the grade scale to be more comparable.  The change will be as follows for grades 7-12.
93-100 A
90-92 B+
86-89 B
84-85 C+
78-83 C
76-77 D+
70-75 D
Below 69.5 F

The change will go into effect at semester and will change current student GPA's at that time.  GPA would be calculated as:
4.0 A
3.5 B+
3.0 B
2.5 C+
2.0 C
1.5 D+
1.0 D
0 F

2.4. Approve Art Club Trip to Chicago
Motion to approve Art trip to Chicago Passed with a motion by Angie Clifford and a second by Adam Engelman.
Angie Clifford: Yea, Dusty Duis: Yea, Adam Engelman: Yea, Paul Kostal: Yea, Kolin Kotas: Yea, Kasey Murphy: Yea
Yea: 6, Nay: 0
Superintendent Meyerle thanks Mrs. Klaus for her willingness to take students on the trip to experience downtown Chicago.

2.5. Discuss ending boys golf cooperative with Southern HS after the spring of 2024 to pursue a cooperative with Beatrice HS in baseball for the spring of 2025.
The Board plans to direct Superintendent Meyerle to write a letter to the NSAA Board to request that the Boys 2 year golf coop with Southern Public Schools be dissolved after the 2024 season.  Dr. Prososki of Southern will also provide a letter to the NSAA.  The NSAA Board would then need to approve of the dissolution of the program after the 2024 season.  The existence of the golf program at Southern is not dependent on the cooperative, as golf can be offered with very few participants. The Board appreciates the opportunity of participating in the golf coop with Southern over the years, but now more students would be interested in playing baseball.  Beatrice is receptive to the cooperative in baseball beginning in the spring of 2025.  Superintendent Meyerle noted that if a cooperative was signed with Beatrice, that Diller-Odell would be joining the Beatrice baseball team.  There would not be a new team name, new mascot etc.

3. Personnel Items
Superintendent Meyerle reported on a planned staff reassignment for 2024-2025.  Mr. Hinrichs will move from the position of 6th grade teacher to PK-6 Principal.  In times that see an increase in concerns with student behavior and school safety, the Board, Mr. Mezger and Superintendent Meyerle agree that we need more eyes on student behavioral issues in each building.  This change will see Mr. Hinrichs at the elementary full time as PK-6 Principal, and Mr. Mezger at the junior-senior high school full time as the grade 7-12 Principal.  This change will allow Mr. Hinrichs and Mr. Mezger to deal with discipline and student behavioral issues at the respective buildings in a timely manner.  

Superintendent Meyerle, Principal Mezger and the Board firmly believe this change will make our school stronger.  Diller-Odell Public Schools began the merger in 2000-2001 with three administrators, and cut back to two when on a levy over-ride.  Most systems that have a two-site situation as Diller-Odell, have three administrators.  Diller-Odell has done it with two for seventeen years.

The Board, Principal Mezger, and Superintendent Meyerle all recognize that life has changed in many ways over the years when dealing with student discipline and safety.  In the need to address issues in a prudent manner, the reassigning of duties has been endorsed.

4. Support Service

4.1. Technology Update

4.2. Facility Update

5. Superintendent Items

5.1. Superintendent Report
Superintendent Meyerle noted that the 2022-2023 Annual Report would be available next week.

He reported that he had advertised for a 6th grade teaching position/Assistant Football Coach.  With Mr. Hinrichs moving to a Principal position, he would no longer be an Assistant Football Coach.  He would continue as Head Boys Basketball Coach.

Superintendent Meyerle reported on a recent meeting at the ESU with Senators Brandt and Dorn.  Kasey Murphy also attended the meeting.  School Finance was a topic of discussion at the meeting.  Some schools in the state did not drop their tax request as many in the legislature had hoped for 2023-2024.  Superintendent Meyerle noted that all schools are different and are in different situations.  Thankfully, Diller-Odell was able to reduce the tax request for 2023-2024 and drop the levy by 7 cents in large part due to more of a financial commitment from the state.

Superintendent Meyerle always has concerns over how the state legislature views local control.  Meaning, he believes the legislature likes local control (Boards), as long as Boards do what the legislature wants.  When Boards don't do what the legislature wants, the legislature then attempts to create legislation to control local Boards.  Again, all schools are different, and local Boards know best how to run the schools in their respective districts.

6. Financial Items

6.1. Pay bills as presented
Motion to approve bills as presented. Passed with a motion by Dusty Duis and a second by Kasey Murphy.
Angie Clifford: Yea, Dusty Duis: Yea, Adam Engelman: Yea, Paul Kostal: Yea, Kolin Kotas: Yea, Kasey Murphy: Yea
Yea: 6, Nay: 0
There was no discussion.

7. Board of Education Items

7.1. Review of Superintendent contract
The Board reviewed Superintendent Meyerle's contract.  The contract will roll over until June 30, 2026.

7.2. Adopt Policy 3055 School Resource Officer
Motion to approve Policy 3055 School Resource Officer Passed with a motion by Kasey Murphy and a second by Adam Engelman.
Angie Clifford: Yea, Dusty Duis: Yea, Adam Engelman: Yea, Paul Kostal: Yea, Kolin Kotas: Yea, Kasey Murphy: Yea
Yea: 6, Nay: 0
The School Resource Officer will serve Diller-Odell, Freeman and Southern Public Schools.  The officer will begin serving the schools sometime in early 2024.  The cost is totally paid for by Gage County in year one.  The officer will also serve our elementary school even though it is in Jefferson County.  The officer's schedule is to be determined.  The goal of this program is to build positive relationships with students and be a contact when such service is necessary with negative behavior (bullying etc) or attendance.

7.3. Committee Reports
Superintendent Meyerle provided his Board Committe recommendations for 2024.  The Board will review and approve the assignments at the January meeting.

7.4. Executive Session

8. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn Passed with a motion by Adam Engelman and a second by Dusty Duis.
Angie Clifford: Yea, Dusty Duis: Yea, Adam Engelman: Yea, Paul Kostal: Yea, Kolin Kotas: Yea, Kasey Murphy: Yea
Yea: 6, Nay: 0
President Kostal adjourned the meeting at 8:15 pm.  The next regular Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 7pm at the elementary school in Diller.  Wednesday is the best fit that week due to MUDECAS basketball.