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Malcolm Public Schools board approves student‑identification policy, amends fitness‑center rules, sets budget hearings and OKs SRO agreement
Summary
At its Aug. 18 meeting the Board of Education approved Policy 5414 on identifying high‑ability learners, amended Policy 1130 for the district’s Community Fitness Center, authorized an interlocal agreement for a School Resource Officer with the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department, and set budget and tax hearings for Sept. 15, 2025.
The Board of Education of School District No. 148 in Lancaster County, Nebraska, met in open session on Aug. 18, 2025, and approved a package of routine and policy actions, set budget‑and‑tax hearings for Sept. 15 and scheduled a budget work session for Aug. 27.
Chairman Tony Nutter presided over the meeting at the District Board Room in Malcolm. The board unanimously approved the consent agenda at the opening of the meeting. Student council member Kamryn Broders reported that the Student Council helped at the Malcolm Auto Show over the weekend and sold raffle tickets.
On unfinished business the board approved Policy 5414, "Identification of Learners with High Ability." The motion, made by board member Tera Heidtbrink and seconded by board member Lucas Mitchell, passed by roll call. Amber Dolliver, Westfall Elementary principal, answered board questions about the district’s current identification process; the administration said it will continue to consider additional methods of identifying high‑ability learners.
The board amended Policy 1130 governing the Malcolm Public Schools Community Fitness Center. The amendment was approved after Superintendent Ryan Terwilliger answered questions about the proposed updates; Amy Spellman moved the amendment and Lucas Mitchell seconded it. The board also voted to deem old cross country uniforms as excess property, a motion moved by Lucas Mitchell and seconded by Tera Heidtbrink.
On school safety, the board approved an interlocal agreement with the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department to provide a School Resource Officer. The motion, moved by Ed Swotek and seconded by Tera Heidtbrink, passed by roll call after Mr. Terwilliger and Jr./Sr. High School Principal Simon Wiedel answered questions about how the agreement will operate.
Financial reports for July 2025 were presented, summarizing General Fund beginning balance, receipts, disbursements and invested balances; detailed account tables were attached to the meeting record. The board set a Budget Hearing for Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, at 7:00 PM followed by the Tax Request Hearing at 7:15 PM in the District Board Room. The board also scheduled a Budget Work Session for Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025 at 6:00 PM. Voting on those scheduling motions was unanimous.
The board received administrative reports from Jr./Sr. High School Principal Simon Wiedel, Westfall Elementary Principal Amber Dolliver and Superintendent Ryan Terwilliger. The board entered executive session at 8:55 PM to discuss a potential real estate purchase, citing protection of the public interest, and returned to open session at 9:20 PM. No public action on a purchase was recorded. The meeting was adjourned at 9:22 PM.
Votes at a glance: Consent agenda — approved (AYES: Heidtbrink, Mitchell, Nutter, Spellman, Swotek, England). Policy 5414 (Identification of Learners with High Ability) — approved (AYES: Mitchell, Nutter, Spellman, Swotek, England, Heidtbrink). Transportation & Facilities Committee report — accepted (AYES: Nutter, Spellman, Swotek, England, Heidtbrink, Mitchell). Cross country uniforms declared excess property — approved (AYES: Spellman, Swotek, England, Heidtbrink, Mitchell, Nutter). Budget Hearing and Tax Request Hearing scheduling — approved (AYES: Swotek, England, Heidtbrink, Mitchell, Nutter, Spellman). Budget Work Session scheduling — approved (AYES: England, Heidtbrink, Mitchell, Nutter, Spellman, Swotek). Policy 1130 amendment (Community Fitness Center) — approved (AYES: Heidtbrink, Mitchell, Nutter, Spellman, Swotek, England). Interlocal agreement for School Resource Officer — approved (AYES: Mitchell, Nutter, Spellman, Swotek, England, Heidtbrink). Executive session entered and exited per minutes; no purchase approval recorded.
The board said the Budget Hearing and Tax Request Hearing will provide a public opportunity for taxpayers to offer testimony regarding the 2025‑2026 budget and tax request. The next regular board meeting will follow those hearings on Sept. 15, 2025.
