BOARD OF EDUCATION HITCHCOCK COUNTY SCHOOLS MAY 11, 2026

 The Board of Education of the Hitchcock County Schools met May 11, 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 30, 2026. Also present were Superintendent Sattler, Assistant Principal/ Counselor McCarter, K-12 Assistant Principal Erickson, L Caddick, L. Lashley, S. Pollmann, C. Rippen, B. Shuler and C. Hrnchir.

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

 President Scott recognized and welcomed visitors. There was no public comment.

 The consent agenda consisted of the following items: (1) Minutes of the April 13, 2026 Regular Board Meeting.        (2) The Activity Fund. (3) The bill roster with general fund bills totaling $457,362.04 and lunch fund bills totaling $29,818.79. (4) Other funds.

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

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

 K-12 Assistant Principal Erickson presented the board with a proposal for the NEE – Network for Educator Effectiveness Teacher Evaluation On-Line platform developed by the University of Missouri. Benefits of the program include system training for administration, online teaching resources for teachers, real time data of proficiency evaluations to improve teacher engagement and growth. The data created by the system is compatible with our PBIS program and will give valuable information for administration to collaborate reports for school improvement. Moved by Scott; seconded by Cook to approve the new teacher evaluation instrument as presented. Aye votes Webb, Scott, Cook, Hagan, Marks and Melchert; nay votes none.

 Head Boys Wrestling coach, Blake Shuler spoke to the board regarding the addition of a girls’ wrestling program.   Moved by Hagan; seconded by Cook to approve starting girls wrestling program for the 2026-27 school year. Aye votes Scott, Cook, Hagan, Marks, Melchert and Webb; nay vote none.

 Moved by Hagan; seconded by Marks to move into executive session at 7:18 pm to discuss personnel needs for the 2026-2027 school year. Aye votes Cook, Hagan, Marks, Melchert, Webb, and Scott; nay votes none.

 Moved by Cook; seconded by Hagan to move out of executive session at 7:30 pm. Aye votes Hagan, Marks, Melchert, Webb, Scott and Cook; nay votes none.

 There were no committee reports.

 Assistant Principal/School Counselor McCarter’s report as follows: (1) 04/20 – Mrs. Hurtt took National Honor Society members to Kearney for a fun day. (2) 04/24 – Student Council, National Honor Society and a few other students helped with the Trenton citywide cleanup. (3) 04/25 – JH Speech meet in Hershey. FFA Banquet. (4) 04/26 – 6th Grade orientation – 13 students. (5) 05/04 Jr/Sr High Spring Music Concert. (6) 05/07 – School Physicals by Trenton Medical Clinic. All Sports Banquet. (7) 05/08 – HS Academic awards. Seniors last day. (8) 05/14 – Jr High Awards. (9) 05/15 – Elementary Field Day. (10) 05/16 – Graduation @ Hitchcock County Elem. at 10am. (11) 05/18 – Students last day of school.

 Principal Wallace’s report was given by K-12 Assistant Principal Erickson as follows: (1) 04/14 – Mrs. Tines and the 4th grade class went to the Stuhr Museum in Grand Island. The field trip was about “Rural Schools” and learning what education looked like in a rural classroom in 1888. (2) 04/22 and 05/06 – Dawn Spurck our WORDS Project coach came and met with Mrs. Erickson, Mrs. Englot, and Mrs. Wallace about the coaching process for our staff for next year. (3) 04/27 – Mrs. Burnside and the elementary students gave a wonderful Spring Music Program.  (4) 04/29 – 3rd and  4th graders attend an Environmental Education Festival at Swanson Lake. Kim Cook of the Nebraska Extension office did a great job and the student truly enjoyed it.  (5) 05/07 – DARE graduation. (6) 05/07 and 05/08 – STEM mini courses for all K-6 students. (Hands on fun learning activities.) (6) 05/11 – Kindergarten Graduation. (7) 05/13 – PBIS End of the Year Celebration. (8) 05/14 – Coding Class. We are planning to continue this program next year. (9) Preschool Graduation. (10) 05/15 – Elementary Track meet. (11) 05/18 – Falcon Families Lunches.

 K -12 Assistant Principal Erickson report as follows: Mrs. Farr & Mrs. Erickson attended the Nebraska Educational Technology Association (NETA) Conference in Kearney. The conference provided valuable ideas and resources to support the implementation of our new Entrepreneurship and Computer Science courses at both the junior high and high school levels.  As we continue to expand these opportunities for students, planned areas of implementation include: 3-D printers, drones, robotics, laser printer technology, virtual reality (VR) headsets, and appropriate and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). These technologies will help provide students with hands-on, career-focused learning experiences while preparing them for future workforce and postsecondary opportunities. In addition, Mrs. Erickson has been actively pursuing grant opportunities to help secure funding for technology equipment and related program needs. She has been in contact with a representative from the Nebraska Community Foundation regarding the development of career pathways & partnerships with area businesses. The goal of these partnerships is to provide students with exposure to a variety of career opportunities while encouraging them to pursue careers and eventually return to Southwest Nebraska to live and work in our communities.

 Superintendent Sattler report as follows: (1) 05/16 – Graduation – Saturday, May 16th at 10am. (2) 05/18 – Students last day of school. Elementary dismiss at 2:30pm & Jr/Sr High dismiss at 2:45pm.

 President Scott adjourned the meeting at 7:37 pm. The next board meeting will be held June 8, 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 . . .daycare/grounds/cust. bldg. supply . . . . . . . .112.30

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

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

Blick Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . classroom supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,417.54

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

Bosselman Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .building/bus fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,411.19

Cash-Wa Distributing . . . . . . . . . . . . .custodial supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57.80

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

Eakes Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .custodial supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .833.47

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

ESU 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .contracted services . . . . . . . . . . . .29,129.61

ESU 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .contracted services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .227.65

Farmers Coop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .bus fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .318.31

Follett Content Solutions . . . . . . . . . . .library books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .250.78

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

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

Henderson State Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FICA/taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56,782.57

HMH Education . . . . . . . . . . . . .prof services/curriculum . . . . . . . . . .7,588.77

Home 2 Suites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .training/travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .503.85

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

Hot Lunch Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,620.95

Ideal Linen & Uniform . . . . . . . . . . . .custodial supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .668.67

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

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

MCI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .phone long distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53.04

Mead Lumber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .classroom supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .327.16

Menards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .classroom supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57.97

Matrix Trust Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .annuities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5,027.92

Mystery Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .web-based software . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,799.00

HCS Retirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .retirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42,575.01

Ne Dept of Revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .state taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7,132.60

Nippon Sanso Matheson . . . . . . . . . .classroom supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108.30

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

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

Paper 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .office/classroom supply . . . . . . . . . . .5,705.97

Perkins County Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . .grounds lease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,149.66

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

Quill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .classroom/bldg. supply . . . . . . . . . . . . .253.48

Rippen Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .bus parts/fuel/labor sped fuel . . . . . . . . .1,675.51

School Nurse Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .nurse supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .893.58

School Specialty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .office supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71.66

Scoop Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .printing . . . . . . . . . . . . 153.21

Southwest Public Power District . . . . . . .utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,529.76

Special Bldg. Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .payroll deduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220.00

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

Trails West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .sped fuel/ bus fuel/supply . . . . . . . . . .4,481.19

Unifirst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .bldg. supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142.77

Unitech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .bldg. supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,061.50

University of Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . .principal training . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,770.00

US Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .credit card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,101.07

Verified First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .background check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37.80

Village of Culbertson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124.38

Village of Trenton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,609.18

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

Payroll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .net (gross $271,660.69) . . . . . . . .187,600.91

Lunch Fund Bills

Cash-Wa Distributing . . . . . . . . .food/ lunchroom supply . . . . . . . . . .17,146.09

Eakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .lunchroom supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77.88

Fresh Foods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147.01

Henderson State Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FICA/taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,925.41

Credit Management Services . . . . . .payroll deductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400.66

Ideal Linen & Uniform . . . . . . . . . . . . .kitchen supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175.32

HCS Retirement Acct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .retirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,407.53

Ne Dept of Revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . state taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .192.75

School Nutrition Association . . . . . . . . . . . .dues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .244.00

US Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .credit card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35.73

Payroll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .net (gross $10,483.50) . . . . . . . . . .8,066.41

PUBLISHED: MAY 21, 2026; SMN:ZNEZ