OSMOND — The District 42R Board of Education met Monday, Sept. 8, for its regular monthly meeting.
K-6 Principal Report
Elementary Principal Paige Parsons reported that the reading benchmarking and placement tests have been completed and thanked Amanda Koehler and Jenny von Rentzell for helping complete all the assessment data. She also announced that the students have currently received 400 PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) tickets — the most she has ever seen in the beginning of a school year. Her goal for the first quarter is 650.
Ms. Parsons then went over the Acadience reading benchmarking re- sults which show reading proficiency in each of the grades. She explained the results and the implications for the numbers, which are used to identify students for interventions. She asked for a no-school day for elementary students on Sept. 26, to launch pushin co-teach models with elementary teachers.
The principal also reported on UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institute) training which was held Sept. 2 with teachers to be trained Sept. 10 during in-service day, the Security Bank Tiger Branch which started Sept. 3, and a Soybean Board presentation for fourth graders held on Sept. 4. She also advised that a list of instructional materials required for accreditation has been sent to the Nebraska Department of Education as a working draft.
Ms. Parsons also shared a list of upcoming events: Sept. 8, 7-12 MTSS date meeting; Sept. 9, K-3 MTSS date meeting; Sept. 10, in-service for UFLI training; Sept. 12, ESU 8 strategic partners meeting; Sept. 16, 4-6 MTSS date meeting; Oct. 3, K-2 public library visit.
K-12 Principal Report
Principal Kurt Polt reported that the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing would be held Sept. 9 and 11 for students in grades 9-11. This test measures knowledge in reading and math.
Polt also reported that, on Sept. 11, school will be dismissed for a teacher in-service; on Sept. 18, all juniors and seniors will attend the Norfolk Area College Fair at Northeast Community College, and on Sept. 19, Diane Martin with the Kim Foundation will be here to talk about suicide prevention.
Mr. Polt said that tornado, fire and bus evacuation drills have been practices since the first day of school, as required for all students in grades K-12. Also, the senior banners have arrived and would be going up on Tuesday.
Polt stated that the new cell phone restrictions went as well as could be hoped, and he noticed, sitting in the lunch room, that kids are talking and laughing with each other instead of looking down at their phones. He said that “data shows there are less down slips at school when cell phones are restricted, and it’s true!”
The principal reported on upcoming dates in October, which includes parent-teacher conferences on Oct. 7 from 3 to 8 p.m, with school dismissed at 2:06 p.m., and the end of the first quarter on Oct. 10, with report cards to be mailed the following week.
Polt advised that Homecoming Spirit Week will begin on Monday, Sept. 22, with a different format from previous homecoming weeks.
Coronation will be held at 12 noon on Monday with a pep rally at 1 p.m.,
both on the football field, and then the dance will be held after the volleyball game on Thursday. The theme this year is “Game Night.”
Split the Pot Thursday
Principal Polt reported that business instructor Kaylen Tunink has been diagnosed with cancer, and he has been working with the school in Randolph, where she is from, to have a split the pot during the volleyball games on Thursday night here, with the money going to Mrs. Tunink. It was also suggested that anyone wishing to make a donation toward the funds should contact Mr. Polt.
Superintendent Report
Superintendent Skip Bremer had a list of board policies for board members to review, including: 5046, Secret Organizations; 5048, Emergency Response to Life Threatening Asthma or Systemic Allergic Reactions; 5050, Reporting Related to Exempt (Home) Schools; 5053, Self Management of Diabetes or Asthma; 5054, Student Bullying; 5055, Enrollment in Kindergarten; 5056, Free Expression by Students; 5056, District Title I and Family Engagement Policy; 5059, Emergency Medical Treatment; 5062, Lice and Nits; 5064, Supplement, Not Supplant. No changes were suggested for any of the policies, which are all posted on the school website.
Supt. Bremer reported that the sum- mer office remodeling is complete; also, that he and Mr. Polt had attended an education fair on Sept. 3 at Wayne State College.
He advised that in seeking the best value for transit vans, he and maintenance supervisor Dwight Kahny had added towing capabilities and safety add-ons, and will be buying local through Courtesy Ford, for a total price of $61,000.
Bremer informed the board that he had hired Shelby Andersen as a paraeducator. He had also hired April Lorenz, who had since decided to not SCHOOL BOARD HEARS REPORTS ON READING, ETC.
continue.
Bremer reported that the Rule 10 safety visit with Craig Frerichs will be done Sept. 18 at 9 a.m. He also reminded board members that the NASB State Education Conference will be held in Omaha Nov. 19-21 and asked that they let him know who will be attending.
The superintendent then gave a budget presentation, going over revenue sources, valuation and levy amounts, and reminded the board about the school tax credit which is counted as income. He then reported that the postcard meeting will be held at the Plainview Public Library on Tuesday, Sept. 16, and the budget hearing will be held here on Thursday, Sept. 18.
Committee Reports
The sharing committee met recently with Plainview and members Tyler Gansebom and Michelle Reikofski shared the good news that, in addition to working toward co-oping football starting in 2026-27, the Plainview committee brought up sharing girls’ and boys’ basketball as well.
Junior high sports, which are already all shared with Plainview, have been going very well, so the two said it all looks very positive. The committees see it as a long-term solution for both districts.
There will be a joint board meeting in Plainvew on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 6:30 p.m. for board members and patrons, and then the matter will be voted on in October.
Gansebom commented that they didn’t feel they needed to have more committee meetings, just regular board meetings, because Plainview wants to focus on their bond issue.
It was briefly reported that Paige Kumm is not in the “yellow” building yet with the daycare as she ran into an issue with the preschool license. They are looking at putting in a lower sink and, rather that putting in windows, having doors with windows to let in more natural light.
