HITCHCOCK COUNTY SCHOOLS BOARD  OF EDUCATION MEETING APRIL 13, 2026

 The Board of Education of the Hitchcock County Schools met April 13, 2026 at 7:00 pm at the Hitchcock County Jr/Sr High School. Present were board members Scott, Webb, Cook, Melchert, Hagan, and Marks.

 President Scott called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Notice of the board’s adherence to the Nebraska Open Meeting Law posted on the north wall of the meeting room was given. The meeting was properly advertised in the Hitchcock County News on Thursday, April 2, 2026. Also present were Superintendent Sattler, Assistant Principal/ Counselor McCarter, K-12 Assistant Principal Erickson, Elementary Principal Wallace, L. Lashley, S. Pollmann, E. O’Byrne, L. Caddick, C. Rippen, and C. Hrnchir.

 Moved by Cook; seconded by Hagan to approve the April 2026 Regular Meeting Agenda as presented. Aye votes Hagan, Marks, Melchert, Webb, Scott, and Cook; nay votes none.

 President Scott recognized and welcomed visitors. Emily O’Byrne addressed the board about her concerns for classroom teacher assignments, credentials for more recently hired teaching staff and efforts to fill open teaching positions. Lyndsay Lashley asked the board for ideas for how to encourage teachers to come to our area. President Scott addressed the challenges of the current teacher shortage across the state of Nebraska.

 The consent agenda consisted of the following items: (1) Minutes of the March 9, 2026 Regular Board Meeting. (2) The Activity Fund. (3) The bill roster with general fund bills totaling $457,290.94 and lunch fund bills totaling $23,311.70. (4) Other funds.

 Moved by Hagan; seconded by Marks to approve the consent agenda as presented. Aye votes by Marks, Melchert, Webb, Scott, Cook, and Hagan; nay votes none.

 Student FFA members Noah Caddick, Madysen Carlson, Solomon Hare, Karson Hubl, Aubrey Melchert, Brayden Schermerhorn, Dakota Vrbas, and Issaac Vrbas and FFA sponsor, Farris Vrbas presented an overview of the 2025-26 Hitchcock County FFA chapter’s program successes, fundraising efforts, school and community outreach, FFA Ag week activities, competition results & awards, and State FFA Convention highlights. FFA student members receiving their State Degree award at FFA State convention were Karson Hubl, Jaret Neben, Dakota Vrbas, and Jayda Wood.

 Moved by Cook; seconded by Hagan to accept the resignation of Lesa Tines effective the end of the 2025-26 school year. Aye votes by Melchert, Webb, Scott, Cook, Hagan, and Marks; nay votes none.

 Moved by Cook; seconded by Webb to hire Kailee Kolbet as an elementary teacher for the 2026-2027 school year. Aye votes Webb, Scott, Cook, Hagan, Marks and Melchert; nay votes none.

 Moved by Webb; seconded by Cook to hire James Mockry as the high school business teacher for the 2026-2027 school year. Aye votes Webb, Scott, Cook, Hagan, and Melchert; nay vote Marks.

 K-12 Assistant Principal Erickson presented the board with the proposal from HMH Into Math for the 6 year curriculum for K-6. Moved by Hagan; seconded by Marks to purchase the HMH Into Math K-6 for $39,839.16 for the 2026-2027 school year. Aye votes Cook, Hagan, Marks, Melchert, Webb, and Scott; nay votes none.

 Moved by Cook; seconded by Melchert to accept the revised School Wellness Policy #5050 and the triennial assessment results. Aye votes Hagan, Marks, Melchert, Webb, Scott, and Cook; nay votes none.  The policy will be displayed for the public on the school’s web page.

 Personnel needs for the 2026-2027 were discussed with a few additional coaching assignments still to be determined.

 There were no committee reports.

 Principal Wallace report as follows: (1) NSCAS testing started 04/07 and will continue throughout the month of April. (2) 04/16 – Coding Class (3) 04/27 – Spring Music Program @ HCE 6:30pm (4) 03/20 – Kindergarten Round-Up and Preschool Orientation with 17 Kindergarten and 9 Pre-K students enrolled. (5) 03/27 – Angie Dickey from ESU15 came in to give a presentation to elem. teachers on the ELA & Foundational Instructional Practice Guides (IPG). She also gave an update on the LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) training that our teachers will be starting the 2026-27 school year. (6) 03/17 – 04/10 – Hoops for Hearts initiative. Mrs. Springer was in charge and did an amazing job. Emma, a presenter from the American Heart Association visited on March 17 to address the entire school during a special assembly. Our school has demonstrated outstanding performance: 74 students registered, 14 participated in Finn’s Mission to aid life-saving efforts. The overall target was set at $6,000.00 with the students greatly exceeding their goal with a total of $8,049.82! Mrs. Springer is planning on rewarding all the students with root beer floats and an additional recess on April 24th.

 Assistant Principal/School Counselor McCarter’s report as follows: (1) 03/18 – NHS Induction -7 new members were inducted. (2) 03/24 – RPAC Instrumental Music. (3) 04/07 – Junior’s ACT testing – 14 students. (4) 04/11 – Jr High Speech at Maxwell. All participants medaled. (5) 04/20 – NHS going to Kearney. (6) 04/24 – District Music Contest. (7) 04/25 Jr. High Speech @ Hershey & FFA Banquet. (7) RPAC ACT 2025-26 – total of 7 medal awards – 2 Gold, 1 Silver and 4 Bronze. Hitchcock County received the most medal in the conference. (8) Ms. McCarter reported that she will no longer be teaching Drivers Education.

 Superintendent Sattler report as follows: (1) 05/15 – No classes for 7-12 Jr/Sr High School. Teachers will report to work at the school or assist at the Elem. Track meet. (2) Due to the use of minimal snow days, the last day of school for students will be on May 20th with dismissal at 2:15pm @ Elem. & 2:45pm @ Jr/Sr High. Teachers last day will be on May 22nd.

 President Scott adjourned the meeting at 7:49pm. The next board meeting will be held May 11, 2026 at 7:00 PM. The agenda kept continuously current is available to the public for items of an emergency nature.  The meeting is open to the public.

Craig Scott – President Larry Marks – Secretary

 General Fund bills

20/20 Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . .contracted services . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,837.14

McCook Ace Hardware . . . . . . . . . bldg./grounds supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85.86

Aflac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .payroll deductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .934.41

American Family Ins. Co . . . . . . . . .payroll deductions . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,064.04

Blue Cross Blue Shield . . . . . . . . . . . health insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . .64,833.59

Bosselman Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .building/bus fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,121.99

Community Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DOT physical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114.50

Crowne Plaza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .admin lodging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .289.90

Dans R Us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .trash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .222.38

Eakes Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . copier printing/ bldg. supply . . . . . . . . .7,136.58

Employee Benefit Fund . . . . . . . . . .payroll deductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .287.32

ESU 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .contracted services . . . . . . . . . . . .30,560.10

ESU 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .contracted services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147.65

Farmers Coop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .bus fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .488.42

Fastenal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .bldg. supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .157.72

Follett Content Solutions . . . . . . . . . . .library books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .815.34

Great Plains Communications . . . . . phone/internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,820.91

HCHS Petty Cash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .reimbursement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .438.76

HCS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . payroll deductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.52

HCS Flex Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,762.51

Henderson State Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FICA/taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54,214.67

Hometown Leasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . copier lease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .515.03

Hot Lunch Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,179.15

Ideal Linen & Uniform . . . . . . . . . . . .custodial supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .347.99

JourneyEd.com, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . .web-based software . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,477.56

Legal Shield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .payroll deduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214.73

Medical Transport Solutions . . . . .payroll deductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98.00

Matheson Tri-Gas Inc . . . . . . . . . . . .classroom supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .379.12

MCI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .phone long distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53.50

Mead Lumber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .classroom/bldg. supply . . . . . . . . . . . .1,072.44

Menards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .classroom supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59.36

Matrix Trust Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . .annuities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5,070.62

Midwest Alarm Services . . . . . . . . . .bldg. pro services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .720.00

HCS Retirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .retirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40,688.63

Ne Dept of Revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .state taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6,798.12

Novus Glass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .bus part/repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .418.10

New York Life Insurance . . . . . . . . . .payroll deduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103.36

Optum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FSA fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150.00

Principal Life Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . .disability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,238.49

Quality Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .bus part/labor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35.58

Quill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .office supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,669.96

Rippen Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . .bus parts/fuel/labor-grounds fuel . . . . . . .2,828.25

Ruggles Truck & Trailer . . . . . . . . . . .bus repair/parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85.00

SCN Worldwide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .classroom supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .402.74

Scoop Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ad printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .210.00

Southwest Public Power District . . . . . . .utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,397.88

Special Bldg. Fund . . . . . . . .payroll deduction/rent correction . . . . . . . .520.00

Brian Springer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .bus repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120.00

Student Assurance Services . . . .student castastophic ins . . . . . . . . . . . . .537.00

TKO Pest Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pest control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .200.00

Trafera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .REAP chromebooks . . . . . . . . . . . .23,926.00

Trails West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .sped fuel/ bus fuel/supply . . . . . . . . . .3,189.83

Unifirst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .custodial supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142.77

US Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .credit card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,117.35

Veteran Heating & Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . .bldg. parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .724.47

Village of Culbertson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216.82

Village of Trenton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,007.41

Vision Service Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . .payroll deductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .494.04

Wagner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .bus parts/ maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . .285.01

Cherie Wallace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pre-k/ classroom supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67.95

Payroll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .net (gross $259,869.50) . . . . . . . . .179,188.37

Lunch Fund Bills

Cash-Wa Distributing . . . . . . . . .food/ lunchroom supply . . . . . . . . . .11,769.05

Fresh Foods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29.67

HCHS Petty Cash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .reimbursement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5.00

Henderson State Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FICA/taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,583.77

Credit Management Services . . . . .payroll deductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .344.52

Ideal Linen & Uniform . . . . . . . . . . . .kitchen supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126.50

HCS Retirement Acct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .retirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,276.95

Ne Dept of Revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .state taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .157.20

Red Willow County Court . . . . . . . .payroll deductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .334.13

US Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .credit card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.28

US Foods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,462.52

Payroll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .net (gross $8,612.20). . . . . . . . . . . . .6,216.11

PUBLISHED: APRIL 23, 2026; SMN:ZNEZ