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Board holds first reading of student-interview policy; approves freezer repair and $50,000 repayment
Summary
On first reading the board considered revising Policy 54-13 to allow district employees to monitor—but not be required to sit in on—child abuse or neglect interviews at law enforcement request; the board also approved a freezer replacement estimate and a $50,000 repayment on an interfund loan.
The Beatrice Public Schools Board of Education on Sept. 8 took a first reading of changes to Policy 54-13 governing student interviews in cases of alleged child abuse or neglect and approved operational items including a walk-in freezer replacement and a $50,000 interfund repayment.
Policy change: Superintendent Jason Alexander said the proposed revision was requested by Chief Jay Murphy and County Attorney Roger Harris to allow district employees (typically a principal or counselor) to monitor interviews in real time rather than be mandated to sit in. Alexander said the change aims to reduce the risk that administrators will be subpoenaed later and to make it easier for students to speak candidly when the interviewer is someone external to the school. The change remained at first reading and did not receive a vote Sept. 8.
Operational approvals: The board approved an estimate to replace the outdoor walk-in freezer at Beatrice High School after Dr. Nielsen described hail-related damage and the unit’s age; a vendor quote presented was approximately $27,450. The board also approved a $50,000 repayment from the building fund to the general fund under the interfund-borrowing resolution adopted June 10, 2024. Alexander told the board the general fund previously lent just over $2 million to the building fund to close out the elementary school construction project and that the $50,000 payment starts the repayment process.
What’s next: The policy will return for continued review in a future meeting; administration will schedule the freezer replacement and complete the accounting steps for the interfund repayment.
