School board approves staff hires

Two new paraprofessionals hires were approved Monday by the Summerland Public School Board of Education during its regular meeting.

Superintendent Molly Aschoff told the board that administration had posted a job notice for a special education/Title 1 para position, with a van route to the Central Learning Center in Clearwater. During that period, a late para resignation was received.

Elementary principal Cathy Cooper said four or five applications were received and three individuals were interviewed.

Kaylee Hauf submitted a letter of resignation, read by board president Steven Thiele. Hauf indicated she would like to be considered as a para substitute in the future.

The board approved hiring Tabatha Kerkman as a para and van route driver. Brittany Horstmann will fill a para position.

A kitchen and/or custodial position is still open, according to Aschoff. Ads have been placed in local newspapers and shared on social media.

The board received a single sealed bid for a 2013 BlueBird 59-passenger bus.

Mike Klabenes, of Neligh, submitted a $1,075 bid.

Board member Nate Schwager said he had spoken with local fire chiefs to see if they were interested in the vehicle for training exercises. None of the volunteer fire departments submitted a bid.

Business manager Sally Finch said, "This bid is more than what we've sold (a vehicle) for in the past."

The board accepted the bid by unanimous vote. Board member Ed Nordby was absent.

In other business, the board:

• Adopted a resolution increasing the school district's base growth percentage used to determine the school district's property tax request authority by up to 7%.

Aschoff said she met with the Finance Committee last week. By approving the resolution, and not using the increase, the district will not have to take part in the pink postcard hearing, established in State Statute 77-1633.

Aschoff said she and Finch worked to "get the budget the best it can be."

"There are a lot of unknowns in the Legislature," she said. "We're in good shape."

Finch said approving the resolution opens up an additional $527,952.

"We'll probably use zero of that. The reason to do it is that becomes part of the formula for next year. If you don't, you subsequently lose all the ability to use the money. If you approve it and don't use it, it 100% rolls forward. If you approve it and use it, 103% rolls forward. It's huge deal to not approve it," Finch said.

• Declared textbooks and custodial items as obsolete.

• Learned Summerland will host three conference events for the Greater Nebraska Activities Conference, including the volleyball tournament final, vocal music clinic and boys' golf tournament.

• Talked about the possibility of adding a Hudl camera in the auxiliary gym. Athletic director Jacob Birch said a Hudl rep visited the school.

"We're making sure we have the internet capability and a place to put it in that size of gym."