Facilities to be BBPS board focus next several months
BROKEN BOW - The Broken Bow school board will spend time over the next several months gathering input on what the future should hold for Broken Bow Public Schools.
At Monday evening’s board work session, Jacob Sertich with Wilkins ADP of Kearney presented information on how the board could gather public input to help identify key needs. Key areas that will be explored are Fine Arts, Ag, Career & Tech education, Athletics/activities and Science & Education. A steering committee will be formed by next Monday’s school board meeting. Sub-committees comprised of faculty and public members will be formed to focus on each area.
Sertich did a facilities audit of the Broken Bow school district earlier in the year. The information gathered by this process as well as the results of that audit is intended to help the board develop long range plans. A preliminary schedule shows conclusions from the information gathered by the sub-committees to be presented in June to the school board.
Superintendent Darren Tobey said the board has struggled with planning six to eight years out when it comes to the facilities. “We need to determine priorities,” he said.
Committees will include faculty members, board members and members of the public. Once a steering committee is developed, more information will be available for the public.
In other business, upon the advice of legal council, the board voted to remove the word “discretionary” from an earlier approved side letter in regards to the bonus for the superintendent. “You have to tie it (a bonus) to something performance related,” board President Tom Osmond explained.
The board is discussing terms for Superintendent Tobey’s contract renewal. Proposed is a base increase of $2,000 and a travel stipend. The board received copies of the superintendent’s job evaluation. “The scores increased from last year,” Osmond said and added that they details would be shared publicly at the next board meeting.
The board also reviewed the current state Directed Health Measures (DHMs) as they affect the school and activities. As of Monday, Nebraska was in the “orange” phase which means fan attendance at school activities is limited to household members with six feet of separation between households. The Broken Bow high school gym is limited to 25 percent capacity which is 325 persons. Junior varsity basketball is currently played in the gym at North Park Elementary which allows for more spectators than games played at the Activities Building.
“We’re not making up rules,” Tobey emphasized. “We’re following state guide lines.”
Tobey reiterated that masks are required at all school events and, while acknowledging not everyone agrees with the restrictions, he added,
“We’re doing what we have to do to keep school in session.”
The DHMs for the state of Nebraska are based on hospitalization. Gov Ricketts has said tighter restrictions will be put into place if COVID patients require 25 percent or more of hospital beds across the state. Tuesday morning, 810 hospitalizations were reported. The highest number has been 987 reached Nov. 20. The numbers are based on a 14-day rolling average; 25 percent of hospital beds is approximately 1,000 to 1,025 beds, depending upon how many beds are staffed across the state.
The board discussed CDs and investments for the North Park bond. Tobey anticipates the bond will be paid off in December, 2023, three years early.
Present for the meeting were board members Tom Osmond, Mary Shaw, Tim Chancellor and Pam Holcomb with JB Atkins excused. Gerald Pirnie will be leaving the board at the end of the year. Amy Staples, who was elected to the board in the November general election and will join the board in January, was also present.
The board meets in a regular session at 8:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14th. The public is invited and welcome to attend.