Papillion‑La Vista board approves $1.06 million student‑device purchase, amends 2025‑26 calendar

The Papillion La Vista Community Schools Board of Education on April 28 approved a $1,062,738 purchase agreement with CDW Government for 3,400 student devices and voted to amend the district’s 2025‑26 calendar to add potential makeup days for inclement weather.

In a roll‑call vote on the technology purchase, the board voted unanimously, 6–0, to approve the agreement. Mr. Madler moved the motion and Mr. Lotus seconded. Mr. Moore, the district technology director, told the board the purchase would support the elementary refresh to maintain the district’s 1:1 device program and recommended each device be configured with 8 gigabytes of RAM. "We've narrowed down the amount of devices that we want to do for the elementary refresh and then to maintain the 1 to 1 program," Moore said. He recommended buying 3,400 units and provided the total cost as $1,062,738.

The board approved the amended 2025‑26 academic calendar, also by a unanimous roll call, 6–0 (motion by Mr. Lotus, second by Ms. Butler). Superintendent Dr. Rickley told the board he supported the change and said attendance on the recent Monday makeup day had been "great. It was pretty typical to a regular Monday," and that experience informed the recommendation to add alternate makeup dates earlier in the year. The amendment lists potential makeup days that would replace staff development days if needed, including Feb. 16, April 3 and April 6, and also identifies dates involving senior schedules (May 7–8) as last‑resort options.

The consent agenda, which included routine approvals, passed by unanimous roll call earlier in the meeting (motion by Mr. Madler; second by Mr. Bailey).

In discussion items, financial advisors from D.A. Davidson outlined plans for a proposed $55,000,000 general‑obligation bond issue. The advisors said they were modeling 20‑year interest rates in the mid‑4 percent range (approximately 4.34–4.40 percent) and recommended leaving $10,000,000 available as a bank‑qualified tranche in 2026 if market conditions favored that approach. Paul Grieger of D.A. Davidson told the board Moody’s affirmed the district’s AA2 rating and that the firm expected strong market demand when the district goes to market in mid May.

Board members also heard a legislative update from district staff summarizing matters under consideration at the Nebraska Legislature. The staff member reported an updated state economic forecast showing a roughly $300 million shortfall for the next two years and discussed bills affecting retirement contribution rates and special‑education option enrollment; the speaker said a retirement bill under consideration could lower employee contribution rates next year if enacted, and that other proposals could increase state costs for transportation and create administrative complications if districts are required to accept more out‑of‑district special‑education students.

No board action accompanied the bond or legislative discussions at the April 28 meeting; the board asked staff to return with final bond‑sale paperwork and to track legislative developments.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: Approved. Motion by Mr. Madler; second by Mr. Bailey. Roll call: Butler yes; Madler yes; Witt yes; Lotus yes; Wood yes; Bailey yes. - Student technology purchase (purchase agreement with CDWG, total cost $1,062,738 for 3,400 devices): Approved. Motion by Mr. Madler; second by Mr. Lotus. Roll call: Butler yes; Madler yes; Witt yes; Lotus yes; Wood yes; Bailey yes. - Amended 2025‑26 school calendar (adds potential makeup days Feb.16, April 3, April 6; seniors’ dates May 7–8 as last resort): Approved. Motion by Mr. Lotus; second by Ms. Butler. Roll call: Butler yes; Madler yes; Witt yes; Lotus yes; Wood yes; Bailey yes.