Board unanimously approves consent agenda, personnel contract and 2025–26 handbooks

The Norfolk Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously on a series of routine approvals at its meeting, including the consent agenda, a personnel contract and the district’s set of 2025–26 handbooks.

Motions and outcomes (all votes recorded as motion carried 6–0): the consent agenda (which included minutes, claims and personnel/contracts); the certified staff handbook; the classified staff handbook; the substitute teacher handbook; the Little Panthers Preschool handbook; the elementary handbook (K–4); the Norfolk Middle School handbook; the Norfolk Junior High handbook; and the Norfolk High School handbook.

Consent agenda and contract: the consent agenda, moved by Patty and seconded by Tom Stanton, included a personnel contract for Brielle Zedeker as a special education teacher (listed as vocational coordinator/adult transition on the contract). District staff said Zedeker holds a bachelor of arts and qualifies for an alternative certificate; she has two years to complete certification required by the district. The consent agenda also included the claims Wilson detailed earlier (general fund $780,429.58; nutrition fund $27,442.16; subsidiary $14,340.05; senior high activity $30,975.87; junior high activity $13,397.24; student fee fund $9,021.55).

Handbooks — key notes from discussion and changes: board members and staff noted the following specifics during handbook review. - Certified and classified staff handbooks: described as having only minor changes; the certified staff handbook reflects the rescission of a Title I parental‑involvement policy the board previously rescinded. - Substitute teacher handbook: revised to reflect a change in the Nebraska Department of Education local substitute certificate requirement from 60 credit hours to 48 credit hours (language updated in the handbook). - Little Panthers Preschool and other handbooks: multiple updates were made to align with changes in law. During discussion the board considered language establishing that an appeal of a suspension may be heard by a three‑member board committee or by the full board; board members debated timing and notice issues before approving the handbooks, and accepted language that allows either the committee or full board to hear appeals when necessary. - Elementary and higher‑grade handbooks: board members asked for clarifications including how vaccination exemptions are processed and for a consistent electronic‑device loss statement across buildings. - High school handbook: several board members and a public commenter raised concerns about the district’s target‑based grade conversion chart (noting a conversion that maps a 3.5 to 99, 3 to 98 and then a drop to an 89 at 2.5). The board directed staff to review the conversion and suggested starting the conversation with the curriculum committee. - Middle school handbook: staff clarified the district’s use of GoGuardian “penalty box” controls for Chromebook misuse and said the penalty box restricts student access to only required instructional sites rather than full web access.

Procedural and personnel notes: board members discussed whether suspension appeals should be expedited via a committee when timelines for events (for example athletic or FFA trips) would make waiting for a regularly scheduled board meeting impractical. Some members argued for full‑board hearings as a matter of deference; others favored a committee process to allow timelier review. The board approved the handbook language as presented; board members said they expect to bring any future procedural refinements back to the board for policy consideration.

Votes at a glance (each motion recorded in the meeting minutes): - Consent agenda (includes claims and personnel/contracts): motion by Patty, second by Tom Stanton — approved 6–0. - Certified staff handbook: motion by Tom Stanton, second by Steve McNally — approved 6–0. - Classified staff handbook: motion by Patty, second by Steve McNally — approved 6–0. - Substitute teacher handbook: motion by Tom Stanton, second by Patty — approved 6–0. - Little Panthers Preschool handbook: motion by Patty, second by Tom Stanton — approved 6–0. - Elementary (K–4) handbook: motion by Patty, second by Terry — approved 6–0. - Middle school handbook: motion by Patty, second by Tom Stanton — approved 6–0. - Junior High handbook: motion by Patty, second by Terry — approved 6–0. - High School handbook: motion by Tom Stanton, second by Patty — approved 6–0.

Board members said they will follow up on grading‑conversion concerns with the curriculum committee, clarify consistent language about electronic devices across buildings and provide further information on how specific penalties apply in PE and other classes. The approved contract and handbooks take effect for the 2025–26 school year unless otherwise noted.