Kearney Public Schools Administration Office, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — After extensive discussion, the Kearney Public Schools board of education voted, 4-2, to cap dual credit enrollment at 25 hours during their meeting on Monday, April 15.
A vote on dual credit enrollment had been on the March school board meeting agenda but the board members had voted to table the matter until the April meeting to allow for further discussion.
Some of the changes included that “students may not enroll in more than two middle school classes during any one semester. Students may not enroll in more than 25 credit hours in high school per semester.”
During the public comment period, Kelly Rasmussen appeared and said this new limit would restrict those option students who seek to participate in the district.
She asked for the credit hour limit to be set to 34 hours, which was echoed by another speaker, asking for the same number of credit hours.
During the board’s discussion during the meeting, board president John Icenogle said that he felt that there should be a cut off between full time and part time students but noted he wants to ensure all students of the district would have opportunities and would not vote for the 25-hour limit.
Board member Drew Blessing said that he supports part time and homeschooled students, but he felt that there should be a limit on the number of credit hours.
Board members Paul Hazard and Amanda Smallcomb also voiced their support for the 25-hour credit limit.
During the vote, the board approved the 25-hour credit limit in a 4-2 vote, with Icenogle and board member Amy Barth with the two dissenting votes.
During the presentation period, Sunrise Middle School Principal Mark Johnson spoke about the “Intensive Care Unit.”
Johnson said the ICU is designed to address student apathy toward homework assignments. He said staff sat in on a school day in York where they have their own ICU in place to observe how it worked.
The program helps to keep students accountable for their homework and assignments by tracking what have been done and those have yet to be completed.
Sunrise Middle School 7th grade teacher Natalie Madsen also spoke and said they tried to fit the ICU into the school day schedule and make it feel like it was not a punitive measure, such as making students stay after school.
The ICU is presented as an opportunity for students to complete missing work, rather than a punishment.
There is a morning ICU session before school that students who have missing assignments will attend so they can catch up.
Johnson and Madsen also said the teachers reflected on the assignments they were giving out to the students and have made their own changes to ensure more meaningful work is assigned.
There are also unannounced “blitz days,” where students who have all of their work completed can take part in different activities, while students who are missing work will take the time to catch up.
The resignations approved by the school board included Mackenzie Klimek, family and consumer science teacher at Kearney High School; Dax VanLengen, 6th grade ELA teacher at Sunrise Middle School; Cherie Kluender, special education teacher at Kearney High School and Nicole Stoye, 2nd grade teacher at Kenwood Elementary School, effective at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.
The certificated staff hiring that was approved by the board included Shana Orr, special education teacher at Kearney High School, for the 2025-2026 school year.
There were numerous students and groups recognized by the school board during the meeting.
The KHS Dance Catz team and head coach Meggie Rusher won the first ever State Dance Championship and earned the Academic Excellence Award.
“The Dance Catz have made history by bringing home Kearney High School’s first-ever State Dance Championship, capturing the Class A High Kick title at the state competition. They also secured 5th place in the Hip-Hop Division and were honored with the Academic Excellence Award, boasting an impressive, weighted team GPA of 3.83,” according to KPS.
Next the KHS Cheerleading Team and coaches Ashely Bush and Tammy Rehtus were honored for their first-ever state runner up finish.
“The Kearney Bearcat Cheerleading placed second in the Class A Traditional Routine at the Nebraska State Cheer and Dance Championships. Competing against 11 teams in their division, the Bearcats delivered a standout performance, securing Kearney High Cheer’s first-ever state trophy and its top three finish in any event since 2009 – a time before stunting was permitted in Nebraska public high school cheerleading,” KPS stated.
KHS students Kaedun Goodman and head coach Ryan Bauer were recognized after Goodman’s second place finish at the Class A Boys State Wrestling Championships.
“Kaedun Goodman earned an impressive second-place finish at the Class A State Boys Wrestling Championships, completing in the 144-pound weight class. He also entered the top 10 in KHS wrestling history for most career wins, ending with 134 wins, placing him 8th on the All-Time career win list,” per KPS.
The KHS football team and head coach Brandon Cool were honored for receiving the 2024-2025 National Football Foundation National High School Academic Excellence Award.
“The National Football Foundation (NFF) and the College Hall of Fame recognized 63 State Winners of the top academic football teams. Kearney High school stands out as one of only seven schools in Nebraska, spanning all classifications, to receive this distinguished honor. KHS is the only Class A school in the state to be recognized,” per KPS.
The last recognition included the KHS FCCLA State Champions, Ty Royal and Kassidy Clark for placing first in the Chapter Service Project Display, Level 3.
The board also:
- Approved Check Signing Authority for 2025 for Meagan Kershner, Director of Finance.
- Approved of the Seven-Year Contract with OpenSciED for the Purchase of the New 9-12 Science Curriculum and Professional Development, in the amount of $305,437.22, Beginning in the 2025-2026 School Year
- Approved of the Three-Year Contract with Franklin Covey for the Purchase of the New K-8 Social-Emotional Curriculum, “The Leader in Me,” in the amount of $154,610.75 Beginning in the 2025-2026 School Year
The next regular meeting of the Kearney Public Schools Board of Education will be held on May 12, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the Staff Development Room in the Administration Building.
