SUMMER PROJECTS UPDATE

Information was shared with the school board that summer projects have begun and are continuing to take steps towards completion. Renovations of the Kindergarten and 1st Grade classrooms in Brainard, and the flooring replacements in Dwight have been finished. 

Summer Projects

2026-2027 BUDGET INFORMATION

Superintendent Eldridge shared with the school board preliminary budget numbers that he has been working through. The main fund of the school is the general fund, this is used for the operations of the district (salaries, utility costs, etc). Below is information that was shared regarding estimated assessed valuations and what the current preliminary general fund budget is showing.

Projected land valuations for 2026–2027

Butler - $771,739,583 (+4.04%)
Saunders - $473,275,430 (+5.16%)
Seward - $117,915,844 (+ 6.25%)

TOTAL - $1,362,930,857 (+4.62%)

Projected General Fund Budget — $8,298,375 (-3.27%)

PAY APPLICATION NO. 2 - BOYD JONES

It was presented to the board information regarding the second payment towards the facility project. This first amount includes work that has been done on the east campus as well as west of the building in Brainard.

Pay Application No. 2  --  $260,525.67

MOTION PASSED: 5-1 (Jisa - Aye, Kozisek - Aye, Pekarek - Aye, Smaus - Aye, Spatz - Nay, Strizek - Aye)

ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS

Superintendent Eldridge presented to the board two separate invoices for payment. The first of the two invoices is to be paid to the Village of Brainard. This invoice is for installation of the new three-phase that is required to support the new addition. The second invoice is for Spark Electric for the work that has been completed on east campus.

Village of Brainard - $63,141

Spark Electric - $43,947

MOTION PASSED: 6-0 (Jisa - Aye, Kozisek - Aye, Pekarek - Aye, Smaus - Aye, Spatz - Aye, Strizek - Aye)

BASKETBALL COURT FENCING

Superintendent Eldridge presented to the board a possible change order to the scope of the project on east campus in Brainard. The original scope did not include fencing around the outdoor basketball court. The change order presented options for fencing the outdoor basketball court.

Option 1: $42,200 (440' of 10 foot tall, black vinyl chain link fence)

Option 2: $34,400 (440' of 8 foot tall, black vinyl chain link fence)

Option 3: $31,000 (440' of 10 foot tall, galvanized chain link fence)

Option 4: $30,150 (440' of 8 foot tall, galvanized chain link fence)

The school board moved to approve option 2 for $34,400 (440' of 8 foot tall, black vinyl chain link fence).

MOTION PASSED: 5-1 (Jisa - Nay, Kozisek - Aye, Pekarek - Aye, Smaus - Aye, Spatz - Aye, Strizek - Aye)

POLICY UPDATES

Annually the school district's attorney provides updates to policies that are required due to legislative changes. The policies that require update are to the right.

The school board moved to adopt the policy updates that were presented by KSB School Law.

MOTION PASSED: 6-0 (Jisa - Aye, Kozisek - Aye, Pekarek - Aye, Smaus - Aye, Spatz - Aye, Strizek - Aye)

POLICY REVISIONS

The school board is currently conducting policy review and each of their monthly board meetings. Policies under review for this month are as follows:

5001 - Compulsory Attendance and Excessive Absenteeism
5002 - Admission of Students
5002.1 - Admission of Students who Reside Out of the State of Nebraska
5003 - Admission of Part-Time Students
5004 - Option Enrollment
5005 - Transportation of Option Students
5007 - Enrollment of Expelled Students
5008 - Pregnant or Parenting Students
5009 - Adult Education
5010 - Immunizations

No action was taken on these policies, as no changes were made.

2026-2027 STAFF HANDBOOK

The administrative team presented the updated 2026-2027 staff handbook to the school board for their consideration and approval. There were no major changes to the staff handbook.

The school board moved to approve the 2026-2027 staff handbook as presented by the administrative team.

MOTION PASSED: 6-0 (Jisa - Aye, Kozisek - Aye, Pekarek - Aye, Smaus - Aye, Spatz - Aye, Strizek - Aye)

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN (EOP)

The administrative team presented the update 2026-2027 Emergency Operations Plan to the school board for their consideration and approval. Several school board members had questions about different portions of the plan. The EOP is the plan that the district uses in the event that there is an incident (fire, tornado, intruder, evacuation, etc.)

The school board moved to approve the 2026-2027 Emergency Operations Plan (EOP as presented by the administrative team.

MOTION PASSED: 6-0 (Jisa - Aye, Kozisek - Aye, Pekarek - Aye, Smaus - Aye, Spatz - Aye, Strizek - Aye)

EARLY GRADUATION POLICY (Policy 5066)

Discussion took place about the districts early graduation policy (5066), and the expectations for students that are wanting to apply for early graduation. Discussions included what is required for application, as well as whether the student would have the opportunity to participate in the commencement ceremony.

No action was taken on this item, as the school board would like the administrative team to revise the policy so that the student handbook and the board policy are aligned. This item will be revisited at the board's July 27th work session.

BREAKFAST & LUNCH PRICES

Superintendent Eldridge presented comparison data to the school board on where the districts sits with their current breakfast and lunch prices. As demonstrated in the table to the left, East Butler is comparatively low in their pricing. 

It was recommended that the district increase their breakfast and lunch prices in the following way:

Breakfast (Pk-12) — $2.00
Breakfast (Adult) — $3.00
Lunch (Pk-5) — $2.50
Lunch (6-12) — $3.00
Lunch (Adult) — $4.00
Extra Milk — $0.60
Seconds — $1.25

The school board moved to approve the increase in breakfast and lunch prices as recommended.

MOTION PASSED: 6-0 (Jisa - Aye, Kozisek - Aye, Pekarek - Aye, Smaus - Aye, Spatz - Aye, Strizek - Aye)

2026-2027 PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK

The administrative team presented the updated Parent/Student Handbook to the school board for their consideration and approval. Updates to the handbook are as follows:

-  Pk-2 Discipline Guidelines (as approved by the state legislature)

-  Medication Guidelines

-  Honor Graduate Requirements

-  Fundraising Guidelines

-  School Dances

-  Extra-Curricular Alcohol & Drug Policy

The school board moved to approve the 2026-2027 Parent/Student Handbook as presented by the administrative team.

MOTION PASSED: 6-0 (Jisa - Aye, Kozisek - Aye, Pekarek - Aye, Smaus - Aye, Spatz - Aye, Strizek - Aye)