Board approves insurance renewal, accepts diesel rebate for new bus and passes consent agenda
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Summary
At its meeting, the Norfolk Public Schools Board of Education approved renewing property/liability and errors-and-omissions insurance with ALICAP for 2025–26, accepted a $33,000 Nebraska clean diesel rebate and authorized purchase of a replacement route bus, and approved the consent agenda of claims. One board member declared a potential conflict,,
The Norfolk Public Schools Board of Education voted Tuesday to renew its property, liability, boiler and machinery and errors-and-omissions insurance with ALICAP, approved acceptance of a $33,000 Nebraska clean diesel rebate to replace an older diesel route bus, and approved the consent agenda of claims.
The insurance renewal covers the 2025–26 policy year. Board members were told the district's workers'compensation modifier dropped from 1.03 to 1.00 and the district will receive an owner dividend credit of $3,459. The total premium for 2025–26 was reported as $533,278. A motion to renew the ALICAP policy passed on a voice vote recorded as 6-0.
The board also accepted a Nebraska clean diesel rebate award of $33,000 and authorized purchase of a 2026 fuel-efficient, 65-passenger gas route bus to replace an older 2005 diesel vehicle. The purchase price for the new bus was presented as $137,292; after the rebate the net cost to the district was listed as $104,292. The district said it will fund the purchase from an identified depreciation fund and that the program requires the district to permanently disable the replaced bus (the district said it will "put a hole in the block" to render the engine unusable and then recycle the vehicle).
On the consent agenda, the board approved minutes and claims as presented. Claims totals listed in the meeting packet included: General Fund $249,687.96; Nutrition Fund $11,328.70; Subsidiary Fund $6,797.05; Depreciation Fund $439,871.43; QCPUF $17,730; Senior High Activity Fund $16,126.77; Junior High Activity Fund $431.92; Student Fee Fund $710.73. A board member declared a potential conflict and said they would abstain from voting on a specific claim (identified in the meeting as "claim 3 22"); the board then recorded the motion as carried (6-0).
Why it matters: Insurance premiums and vehicle purchases affect the district's budget and operations. The bus purchase replaces an older diesel vehicle with a more fuel-efficient model while using a state rebate and district depreciation funds to reduce the net cost.
Votes at a glance: - Renew ALICAP property/liability and E&O insurance for 2025'26: motion passed (voice vote recorded as 6-0). Reported total premium $533,278; owner dividend credit $3,459. - Accept Nebraska clean diesel rebate and purchase route bus: motion passed (voice vote recorded as 6-0). Rebate $33,000; new bus cost $137,292; net district cost $104,292; recycled old bus per program rules. - Approve consent agenda (claims/minutes): motion passed (voice vote recorded as 6-0). One board member declared a potential conflict and abstained from voting on a specific claim; motion carried.
The board discussed the ALICAP dividend structure and the diesel rebate program's recycling requirement during deliberations. No motions failed or were tabled. The board scheduled future meetings and adjourned.
