KEARNEY — The Kearney school board selected a construction manager at risk for the Central Elementary and Kearney High School south addition during their meeting on Monday, Nov. 11.
Superintendent Jason Mundorf said the district had received five proposals from different companies and the buildings committee, made up of school board and community members, narrowed it down to three.
Each company met with the building committee for an hour-long presentation and then the committee weighed each proposal through a rubric.
Steve Gaasch, board president, said each of the three were qualified, but they ultimately decided to name BD Construction as the construction manager at risk.
A construction manager at risk is a construction project delivery method where a construction manager is hired early in the design phase to oversee the project and is financially responsible for any costs that exceed a guaranteed maximum price.
The projects include a $10.3 million, 28,704-square-foot KHS flex space addition that will be constructed on the south end of Kearney High School and $2.23 million renovation of a new south entrance for Central Elementary.
To help fund the KHS south construction project, the board also considered a lease purchase agreement in the amount of $12,000,000.
Mundorf said the district received 10 different proposals for a seven-year lease agreement and they looked at the lowest annual percentage rate.
NebraskaLand Bank offered a percentage rate of 3.74 percent, which Mundorf said was, “very competitive.”
The board approved the lease purchase agreement with NebraskaLand Bank.
The board members also conducted an open performance evaluation of Superintendent Mundorf.
Gaasch listed many of the accomplishments the district had made this year under Mundorf, including the addition to the JROTC program, JAG Center, updating the district’s buildings and infrastructure, etc.
Gaasch said the board would rate Mundorf between proficient and accomplished.
Drew Blessing, board member, noted that while part of the performance evaluation is conducted publicly for transparency, Mundorf is still an employee of the district and is entitled to privacy on certain topics, just as every other employee is.
John Icenogle, board member, said during his two years on the board, Mundorf has had an audacious plan for the district. He noted that the ongoing construction projects will ensure that Kearney has some of the best education infrastructure in the state.
Kathy Gifford, board member, said she appreciates how visible Mundorf is at different district activities and throughout the elementary, middle schools and the high school.
Amy Barth, board member, said she appreciates the consistent communication from Mundorf and said he has a great vision for where he wants to take the district.
Mundorf offered his own thoughts and said that everything the district has accomplished has been due to the work of the board and the staff all across the district.
He did note he often moves quickly from one project or idea to another and said there is value in slowing the pace at times.
Mundorf closed by saying they have a robust strategic plan in place for the Kearney district and that he ultimately works for and answers to the board of education.
Another item the board considered was a five-year contract with Centegix for school safety rapid notification, emergency mapping and visitor management systems in all KPS schools at the cost of $143,700 per year.
Blessing said that he is consistently impressed by the measures that are being put in place to keep KPS students safe. He said this system will allow for the district to respond to situations, should they arise, quickly and that it will be money well spent.
The board approved the contract with Centegix.
There were several resignations and retirements the board approved including Kelly Melson, school librarian at Northeast Elementary School, and Sidney Enochs, 3rd grade teacher at Northeast Elementary School; Cami Drozd, 6th grade language arts teacher at Horizon Middle School, effective the end of the 2024-2025 school year; and the retirement resignations of Melisa Dobish, special education director for Kearney Public Schools; Shelly Whittaker, 4th grade teacher at Northeast Elementary School; Lynn Lebsack, 4th grade teacher at Northeast Elementary School; Tracy Schall, director of library services and principal at Glenwood Elementary School; Janice Polk, title I teacher at Kenwood Elementary School; Paige Garringer, adaptive PE teacher at Bryant, Central and Emerson Elementary Schools; Chris Preble, 5th grade teacher at Buffalo Hills Elementary School; Karen Fusby, kindergarten teacher at Meadowlark Elementary School, Kandi Stelling, vocal music teacher at Bryant and Central Elementary Schools, and Cathy Gundersen, principal at Northeast Elementary School, effective the end of the 2024-2025 school year, and the resignation of Londyn Rupprecht, 18-21 program teacher at Kearney High School, effective Nov. 8, 2024.
The approval of employment of certificated staff included Wendy Castillo, placement to be determined; Courtney Feeney, kindergarten teacher at Meadowlark Elementary School, for the 2025-2026 school year; Emily Abed, 4th grade teacher at Kenwood Elementary School, pending certification, for the 2025-2026 school year.
Employment of administrative staff included approving Amber Taylor as principal at Northeast Elementary School for the 2025-2026 school year.
There were several closed sessions held, including negotiation and strategy discussion with respect to the 2025-2026 collective bargaining and a closed session to discuss the performance evaluation and contract negotiations with Superintendent Mundorf.
The next regular meeting of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education will be held on Dec. 9, 2024, at 5:30 p.m.
