Norfolk school board approves budget reductions, bus purchases and curriculum adoptions; schedules interim superintendent interviews

The Norfolk Public Schools Board of Education voted April 14 to approve recommended budget cuts for the 2025–26 school year and to authorize purchases and curriculum adoptions intended to reduce a projected shortfall and refresh district resources.

The district presented an estimated $1,450,000 shortfall for 2024–25 and proposed a set of reductions and efficiencies. Eric Wilson, director of finance and facilities, summarized proposed cuts and offsets and told the board the package would produce roughly $876,000 in potential cuts; after approved additions of $172,000 the net projected savings were $704,000.

"As we started building the budget for the 24–25 school year, we knew that we were looking at a $1,450,000 budget shortfall," Wilson said. Proposed reductions included smaller legal-services spending after a lawsuit concluded, cuts to student-teacher stipend amounts with a recruitment contingency, suspension of an unfilled behavior specialist position, adjustments to the Presence Learning contract for school psychologists and other staffing realignments.

Board members approved the budget-cuts motion on a 6–0 vote. The motion was moved by Steve McNally and seconded by Dr. Patty Goebbels.

The board also approved procurement items reviewed by the finance committee: - Microbus: Purchased from Thomas Built for $103,875 to serve special-education routes (handicap lift and convertible seats), approved 6–0 (motion by Tom Stanton; second by Dr. Patty Goebbels). The board noted the vehicle qualifies for 80% special-education reimbursement. - Route bus: A 65-passenger route bus from Cornhusker International for $127,940, approved 6–0 (motion by Steve McNally; second by Cindy Booth). Funds were budgeted in the maintenance and vehicle depreciation fund.

Curriculum adoptions cleared the board as presented: - Studies Weekly (K–3 social studies): A six-year purchase for $76,139.40 (approximately $10.57 per student per year) was approved 6–0 (motion by Dr. Patty Goebbels; second by Tom Stanton). Jared Oswald, director of teaching and learning, said grade-level teacher teams reviewed three products and selected Studies Weekly for quality and cost-effectiveness. - McGraw Hill Inspire (Physical and Earth Science): A seven-year purchase for $81,246.34 (classroom sets, online access and professional development) was approved 6–0 (motion by Dr. Patty Goebbels; second by Steve McNally). Oswald noted physical science had not had a new textbook since 2004 and the new selections align with a recent course-sequence change.

Policy readings and other governance items included first-reading approval of business operations policies and second-and-final-reading votes on several policies. The board approved the second and final reading of Policy 8130 (Annual Organizational Meeting) by a 5–1 vote, with Steve McNally voting no. The second and final reading for Board Policy 2320 (Evaluation of Superintendent) carried without recorded opposition. The board also approved the second and final reading of Policy 8157 (Standing Committee on Superintendent Evaluation) by a 5–1 vote, with Cindy Booth voting no.

In executive-session business, a motion to accept a resignation (Megan Lovejoy effective 4/16/2025) failed on a 0–6 vote. Later the board voted 6–0 to interview two candidates (referred to as candidates E and F) for the interim superintendent position and instructed staff to finalize interview questions and schedule the interviews for April 28.

Minutes show the board also discussed policy committee work, capital projects (senior high chiller, middle school construction) and committee reports before adjourning. Key budget numbers from the finance presentation include a $170,000 reduction in legal services, $50,000 reduction in student-teacher stipends (from $4,000 to $2,000 per student-teacher with a recruitment contingency), $10,000 reduction to the Board of Education line, $81,120 tied to a behavior specialist position, $200,000 decrease to Presence Learning contract, and smaller savings from attrition and technology changes. The district also reported a $120,000 five-year desktop replacement savings (about $24,000 per year) and a restored state payment for MAP testing, saving roughly $18,000 for the district next year.

The board made the votes in public session and recorded motions and seconds in the official minutes.