Beatrice Public Schools board approves hires, pay increases, bus fees and modest meal-price bump

Beatrice, Neb. — The Beatrice Public Schools Board of Education on April 13 approved a package of personnel decisions, modest student-fee increases and a vehicle purchase intended to keep services running as costs rise.

The board voted to hire Craig Stengel as middle school principal and Nicole Justison as middle school assistant principal for the 2026–27 school year after administrative committees selected both candidates unanimously. Stan Alexander, who presented the hires, said the district "had some external candidates" but that Stengel and Justison were the unanimous choices and "we think he'll do a great job" referring to the principal hire.

The board approved pay adjustments across multiple employee groups. Classified staff will receive an approximate 3.52% total package increase for 2026–27, an adjustment Alexander described as totaling about $192,600; the change raises the lowest entry-level hourly rate to $15.56, roughly $0.56 above $15. The board also approved an approximate 3% increase for eight "other contracted" staff positions (roles such as school psychologist and food service director) and an approximate 3% total-package increase for administrators, which Alexander said will cost the district about $18,135.

The board approved a $0.15 increase to student meal prices and a $0.05 increase for milk for the 2026–27 school year after Dr. Nielsen said nutrition services supplies spending has risen markedly and that current supplies expenditures were $635,120.69 as of March 31, 2026. "We are recommending that we increase prices for meals 15¢," Dr. Nielsen said, noting the increase keeps adult meals under $5 and student meals under $4 while avoiding a negative nutrition-services balance.

Board members also approved a 25% increase to paid-to-ride bus transportation fees after Dr. Nielsen outlined rising fuel and labor costs. "We are looking at a recommendation of it to increase transportation payments by 25%," Dr. Nielsen said, adding the district's transportation costs were about $850,000 for 2025–26 and that paid-to-ride fees brought in approximately $25,000 (about 3% of the total). The district will move from monthly to quarterly payments to avoid disrupting student services and said staff will seek ways to assist families who face hardship.

The board approved purchasing a 2014 Dodge Caravan lift van for $20,850 to accommodate two additional students who use wheelchairs. Alexander said the vans are in constant use for transporting students to school, work and extracurricular events and that the purchase is currently about 80% reimbursable by the state.

All motions listed on the agenda passed during the meeting; the transcript records "motion passes" for each item but does not include roll-call tallies.

The board also received updates on staffing shortages, upcoming interviews to replace retiring staff and possible partnerships with Southeast Community College and UNL High School to provide upper-level science courses.

The Board of Education will meet next on May 11, 2026, at 6 p.m. in the Administration Building.