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Beatrice Public Schools board approves facilities purchases, staff contracts and 10-cent meal price increase
Summary
On June 9, 2025, the Beatrice Public Schools Board of Education approved replacement of a middle-school walk-in cooler, renewed contracts for speech-language pathologists and an occupational therapist, and raised student breakfast and lunch prices by $0.10 for 2025-26.
Beatrice Public Schools Board of Education members on Monday approved a series of operational measures including a $24,322.52 purchase for a Beatrice Middle School walk-in cooler, renewal of several special-education contracts and a $0.10 increase in student meal prices for the 2025-26 school year.
The board moved, seconded and approved the consent and action items during its June 9 regular meeting. The walk-in cooler and freezer replacement will be done under a Tech Masters quote of $24,322.52; district staff said new condensing units and evaporators are needed so the unit functions reliably by August.
The board also approved renewal contracts for speech-language pathologists Renee Lammers, Logan Spilker, Claire Pfeiffer and Chelsea Yokel for 2025-26. According to the district's special-education coordinator (filling in for Corcoran Hookster), Logan is 0.8 full-time equivalent (FTE) working with birth-to-pre-K, Claire is 1.0 FTE at lower elementary, Chelsea will reduce from 0.6 FTE to 0.4 FTE to focus on preschool, and Renee is 1.0 FTE serving middle and high school.
The board approved a contract for occupational therapist Emily Zarbonycki (0.8 FTE), who will continue to focus on the elementary level and provide some birth-to-3 services.
On nutrition, district nutrition staff (Jackie) said the U.S. Department of Agriculture's paid lunch equity (PLE) tool indicates a current average price paid of $4.01. To keep the nutrition services fund in the black and avoid larger price jumps in future years, the board approved a $0.10 across-the-board increase for breakfasts and lunches for 2025-26; free and reduced-price meals and milk prices will remain unchanged.
Jackie told the board the lunch program had received about $3,200 in donations and that the full-year projection showed a $10,000 shortfall; after donations the remaining gap was roughly $6,800. Board members asked whether donations could be expanded to help cover the gap. Jason, presenting as acting SPED coordinator in part of the meeting, reiterated the district's long-standing practice that students are not denied meals for lack of funds.
Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda (agenda, minutes, accounts, receipts/expenditures, resignation of Diana McClure, staff contracts): motion moved (SEG 019), seconded by Eric, approved. - Walk-in cooler and freezer (Tech Masters): motion moved (SEG 171), seconded by Eric, approved; amount $24,322.52. - Speech-language pathologist contract renewals (R. Lammers, L. Spilker, C. Pfeiffer, C. Yokel): motion moved (SEG 199), seconded, approved. - Occupational therapist contract (Emily Zarbonycki): motion moved (SEG 242), seconded, approved. - Breakfast and lunch price increase: motion moved (SEG 269), seconded (SEG 275), approved; $0.10 increase across the board; free/reduced and milk unchanged.
The board did not record roll-call tallies in the public discussion; motions were announced and the chair called for votes that passed during the meeting. The board also encouraged community donation efforts to reduce pressure on the nutrition fund.
