Money issues, bond issue among school board topics

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook school board gave itself routine permission to raise its budget as much as 6% if needed and laid out guidelines for the design and management of the construction of new junior high facilities.

Meeting Monday, the board of education also set limits on option enrollment for various grades, based on available capacity, with the exception of special education students, which are on a case-by-case basis as determined by the director of the program.

The additional 6% increase in “tax authority” was a new variation on an old system that previously was in place, Superintendent Grant Norgaard said.

Business Manager Jeff Gross was optimistic that next year’s budget can actually be held below the 2% increase that would require dreaded mailing out the “pink postcards” required for a special budget hearing.

In preparation for a bond issue for a new junior high school, the board set a policy of using a “manager at risk” system which brings architects and financial planners into the process sooner to help create a design more likely to meet the school’s needs at an affordable cost, avoiding expensive “change orders” in the process.

Following public hearings — unattended by any members of the public — on parental involvement, student fees, student discipline and attendance policies, Gross and members of the facilities and finance committees reviewed a number of major expenditures, including new Chromebooks, a roof on McCook Elementary and a bus for special education students, and a parking lot project with the YMCA. He said one major project, $360,000 for the repair of the Senior High roof, won’t be spent until next year’s budget.

Special federal funding will run out next year, so an extended school day program for certain students will have to be funded from the local budget, Gross said.

Norgaard reported on a school improvement staff training session by Ken Williams, which he said was well received and well attended by staff members. A number of other area schools were represented at the meeting, which was held at the Evangelical Free Church in McCook.

During the positive comments portion at the end of the meeting, officials noted a positive, optimistic atmosphere among teachers and staff, improvements made around the facilities and general excitement. Chairman Brad Hayes noted that two teachers brought to McCook from the Philippines happened to run into each other in the Tokyo airport on their way here. Others noted that they had been welcomed with open arms by the community.

The board will also consider moving meeting times from the current 6:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at next month’s meeting.