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Cozad board approves personnel and contract moves, ratifies tentative teacher deal pending union vote
Summary
At its Dec. 15 meeting the Cozad Community Schools Board approved interim special‑education contracts and a one‑year coordinator appointment, contracted one custodial position with ServiceMaster, tabled the 2026–27 calendar for revision, and ratified a teacher agreement contingent on CEA membership approval.
The Cozad Community Schools Board of Education on Dec. 15 approved a string of personnel and contract actions and advanced a tentative teacher agreement that still requires union ratification.
The board unanimously approved contracts keeping Jackie Anderson and Teresa Schnieder as interim Special Education Directors for 90 days each in 2026–27 and extended Ethan Haarberg’s teaching contract by 20 days while appointing him as a one‑year Special Education Coordinator. Superintendent Dr. Dan Endorf told the board "the interim Special Education Directors approach is working very well," and recommended the coordinator position to take on duties previously covered by the interim directors.
Also on routine motions, the board approved the consent agenda and accepted general, lunch, activities and bond financial reports reflecting monthly expenditures. The board voted to send the district’s response to the Nebraska Department of Education in compliance with a recent audit.
The board voted to contract with ServiceMaster for one evening custodial position, an approach Superintendent Endorf recommended as a trial for the open custodial vacancy, citing Lexington Public Schools as an example. The motion passed unanimously.
On the 2026–27 school calendar, the board tabled final approval and directed Superintendent Endorf to produce an alternative calendar that adds an in‑service day and reduces the number of early‑out days.
The board also ratified the 2026–27 negotiated agreement with the CEA as presented, but the ratification is contingent on approval by the CEA membership. Key items negotiated and approved by the board include a $250 increase to base salary, limiting parent‑teacher conferences to eight hours each semester, adding an assistant FFA position at Level 2, removal of Safety Team language in favor of Board policy, restrictions on PTO use during conferences unless approved by a building principal, and a grievance procedure that allows the superintendent to consider appointing a building principal when a formal grievance is filed.
During committee reports, Mrs. Jenner reported AQuESTT results and said Cozad Community Schools received an "Excellent" district rating. The Haymaker Highlight presentation for Cozad Middle School noted new programs such as a vocabulary bowl, MAP testing results and, Mr. Asche said, that "all students are passing their classes this semester," crediting after‑school supports.
The board entered closed session at 8:44 p.m. for the superintendent's evaluation and, after returning to open session, accepted the evaluation and voted to roll over Dr. Dan Endorf’s contract for an additional year. President Kiley Goff thanked Dr. Endorf for his service to the district.
Votes at a glance: the agenda, consent agenda, general and bond financial reports, audit response letter, ServiceMaster custodial contract, interim special education contracts and Haarberg appointment, and the CEA agreement ratification (contingent on CEA membership) all passed on recorded unanimous votes. The 2026–27 calendar was tabled pending an alternative option from the superintendent.
The board set its next monthly meeting for Jan. 12, 2026, and adjourned at 9:29 p.m.
