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Board approves superintendent search firm, policy edits, emergency plan and hazard-mitigation plan; several motions pass unanimously
Summary
At its Sept. 8 meeting, the Norfolk Public Schools board approved hiring a superintendent search firm and made first-reading policy edits, approved the emergency operations plan and adopted a FEMA hazard-mitigation plan; the consent agenda passed and one closed-session personnel motion failed.
NORFOLK, Neb. — The Norfolk Public Schools Board of Education on Sept. 8 voted on multiple routine and governance items. The board took the following formal actions during the meeting:
• Superintendent search firm: The board voted to hire the NASB (Nebraska Association of School Boards) search program to conduct the permanent superintendent search. A motion to hire NASB was made and seconded; the board carried the motion 6–0. Supporters cited prior experience with NASB during the interim search and a desire for consistency.
• First reading — policy edits: The board approved first reading of revisions to policies 3132 (internal controls / simplified acquisition threshold wording), 3550 (rebates to school personnel) and 9320 (order of business). The board discussed small wording changes (for example, replacing the phrase “executive session” with “closed session” for consistency) and carried the first-reading motion 6–0.
• Consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda (minutes and claims) after an individual conflict disclosure. A board member declared a potential conflict on claim number 407 and abstained from that individual claim; the board approved the remainder of the consent agenda and recorded the motion as carried 6–0.
• Emergency operations plan (EOP): The board approved the district’s 2025–26 Emergency Operations Plan, which compiles confidential building-level emergency contacts and procedures developed with local law enforcement and emergency management. Because the plan contains confidential material it was not attached to the public packet; the board voted 6–0 to approve it.
• FEMA hazard-mitigation plan: The board approved the district’s participation in the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) FEMA hazard mitigation plan. The plan, required for eligibility for future FEMA hazard-mitigation grant funding, runs through Aug. 11, 2030. The board approved the item 6–0.
• Foreign-exchange policy suspension: A motion to suspend policy 5007 to admit a late-arriving foreign exchange student failed on a 3–3 vote; see separate article for details.
• Closed-session personnel action: After a closed session, the board voted on a personnel item regarding the resignation of Jillian Montoya, effective Aug. 25. That motion failed on a 0–6 roll call; all board members voted no.
Motions were moved and seconded as recorded in the meeting. Several votes were unanimous (6–0) for administrative and governance matters; a tied vote and a unanimous negative vote in closed session closed out the meeting.
