Beatrice school board approves teacher contract, calendar, van purchase and NASB dues
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Summary
At its Feb. 9 meeting the Beatrice Public Schools Board approved the consent agenda, purchased a used ADA-accessible van for student transportation, adopted the 2026–27 school calendar, approved a negotiated teacher agreement raising the base salary and adding paid parental leave, and paid annual NASB dues.
Beatrice Public Schools’ Board of Education approved a slate of routine and substantive items at its Feb. 9 meeting, including a negotiated agreement with the Beatrice Education Association, the district’s 2026–27 school calendar and the purchase of an ADA‑accessible van for specialized student transportation.
The consent agenda passed first and included minutes from the Jan. 12 regular meeting, Committee of the Whole minutes (Jan. 26), January budget receipts and expenditures, approval of option students, a third reading of a travel/reimbursement policy cited in the meeting, and several staff resignations (Jill Juergens, Jenny Farick, Jody Fakler and Paula Hines). The chair called the vote and the motion passed.
On transportation, the board approved purchasing a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan for $19,800 to expand wheelchair‑accessible routes. District staff said new wheelchair‑accessible vans run “like 80 to $90,000,” but the used vehicle located in Columbus is ADA compliant and has about 66,000 miles. Staff said the purchase will be submitted for NDE approval and that SPED funding should reimburse about 80% of the cost.
The board approved the 2026–27 school calendar after revisions based on Committee of the Whole feedback. District administrators described changes including moving the end date to May 18 to align with neighboring districts, adding March 11 to lengthen spring break, and keeping a Nov. 30 professional development day rather than a staggered “flex day” model, which administrators said posed retirement‑reporting complications for staff.
The negotiated agreement with the Beatrice Education Association was approved. The board’s offer included a $525 increase to the base salary (raising the base to $40,000) while retaining a $1,200 insurance deductible. The district estimated the total budget impact at about 3.41%, roughly $492,000. The agreement also adds a combined 10 days of paid maternity/paternity/adoption leave when both parents are district teachers; the BEA’s negotiating committee recommended the contract.
Finally, the board approved payment of the Nebraska Association of School Boards (NASB) annual membership invoice of $7,252; administrators noted the organization’s advocacy, training and development services.
No roll‑call tallies were recorded in the public transcript; each motion was moved, seconded and announced by the chair as passing. The board set its next regular meeting for March 9, 2026, and a Committee of the Whole meeting on Feb. 26, 2026.