Unified board meets for final time

Members of Nebraska Unified District #1 board answered roll call for the final time, May 11, as the board held its last meeting before the three member schools go separate ways.

Clearwater and Orchard will become part of Summerland Public Schools, along with Ewing.

Verdigre will operate on their own next year.

President Peggy Liska called the meeting to order, with four members present.

Marty Konopasek, of Verdigre, was excused.

Superintendent Dale Martin discussed a waiver of Nebraska Department of Education’s Rule 10 attendance policy.

Unified schools last held classes March 16. Since then, instruction has occurred in various online forms, due to COVID-19 restrictions and recommendations per district health officials, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts and Nebraska Department of Education commissioner Matt Blomstedt.

Per Rule 10, online classes are not counted in a typical school year.

“We need to waiver to be within Rule 10 guidelines. They’re inviting us to send in an affidavit saying we closed, in our case, as of March 16 and moving forward through the end of this year, we haven’t been in session as far as what a typical in session would be.”

Officials suggested the waiver should be signed at the end of the school year, but since the Unified board will not meet again, the board could approve the motion for a waiver and submit it at the end of the year.

The motion passed 5-0, following a motion by Teri Hergert and a second by Tom Thiele.

Martin shared plans for graduation at the three facilities, dependent on directed health measures in place.

Clearwater Schools plan to hold graduation June 20, with July 25 as a backup date.

Orchard Schools set June 6 for the ceremony, with a second date scheduled for July 26.

Liska said Verdigre’s board of education would make a decision at Wednesday’s scheduled meeting.

According to Martin, NDE officials have told schools to have a plan in place in case the start of a normal school year is not possible.

“They’ve said, ‘Have plans in place for using virtual education if you need to,’” Martin said. “We’ll have some preliminary plans in case we’re in the same boat at the start of the year.”

Before the meeting adjourned, Martin said, “I think we’ve all gotten something very positive out of this experience. We’ve been able to do a lot of different types of things.”

He thanked all board members for the part they played.

“Thank you for your service to the kids, especially the kids,” he said.