Minutes of the Board of Education #42R - Joint Meeting with Wausa Public Schools - 1/15/2025
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION #42R
JOINT MEETING WITH WAUSA BOARD OF EDUCATION
1/15/2025
The Osmond Board of Education met at 7:04 pm, Wednesday, January 15, 2025, in the gymnasium at Osmond Community Schools, located at 202 W. Prairie St., Osmond, NE.
It was moved by Gansebom, seconded by Rice, that it is hereby determined that this meeting was preceded by publicized notice in the January 8 and 15, 2025 issues of the Osmond Republican, the Jan. 2 issue of the Wausa Gazette, as well as posted to each school’s website, according to policy 2008 and is hereby declared to be duly convened in open session. All members having voted in favor of the motion, the same was declared, passed and adopted and the following proceedings were had and done at said meeting in open session. A copy of the open meetings act was posted in the room.
Yea: 6 Nay: 0
Board member roll call was taken, with all members being present.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
The Agenda was approved as presented.
Dual Principal Report: Mr. Kurt Polt presented the report on the current cooperatives between the schools, noting: 1) the football coop went well for Varsity, JV and Junior High; 2) the pep bands have had the opportunity for performances together; 3) junior high and high school the wrestling coop has been positive, with growing interest from Wausa school; 4) the current Junior High basketball coop is going well; 5) the Osmond FFA sponsor has been happy with the coop program between the schools, with three students from Wausa participating and excited about the opportunities; and 6) shared that transportation between the schools has been smooth.
NRCSA Presentation: Mr. Jack Moles, Executive Director of NRCSA (Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association) hosted a presentation on the recent Feasibility Study completed by NRCSA for Osmond Community Schools and Wausa Public Schools. Mr. Moles covered numerous areas including: 1) current and projected enrollment numbers and maintaining academic levels; 2) comparison of financials and valuations; 3) State Aid arrays; 4) negotiation arrays and comparisons; 5) overall salary comparisons; 6) district area miles; 7) facilities and scenarios to house students at each site; 8) curriculums; 9) more efficient use of staffing; 10) transportation; 11) extracurricular activities; 12) community buy-ins; and 13) opportunities and challenges as a result of combining districts.
Q & A on the Feasibility Study: Mr. Moles addressed questions from community members regarding the study, also offering possible next steps for the school districts to consider. Mr. Moles was asked about long-term sustainability for separate districts, however, NRCSA does not make recommendations on merging. It is a local decision. He also addressed questions about other Nebraska school mergers he has knowledge of or has been a part of. While an exact number was not provided, he mentioned they have been common throughout the State.
Next Steps: It was noted that the complete feasibility study will be available on each of the school’s websites, with hard copies being provided for anyone that requests one, available Monday, Jan. 20 or later. Each board of education will have further discussion on the Feasibility Study at their February board meetings.
Public Comments: Wausa board president, Mike Kumm, noted on the broader picture of why the feasibility study was done. Declining enrollment can drive the two schools to merge or risk closure. He discussed finances and possibly losing state aid and how the legislature can affect how rural schools get finances and money will get tight. The schools want to be prepared and have a plan in place if/when the time comes.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 pm.
Notice is hereby given that the next regular meeting of the Osmond Board of Education will be on Monday, February 10, 2025 at 7:00 pm at the school. An agenda is kept continually current and is available for public inspection in the Superintendent’s office during regular office hours.
I, the undersigned Recording Secretary of the Osmond Board of Education, Osmond, Nebraska, hereby certify, that the attached and foregoing minutes is a true and correct copy of a meeting of the Osmond Board of Education, Osmond, Nebraska, held in open session on the 15th day of January 2025, which meeting was preceded by publicized notice. --Margaret Ryan, Recording Secretary