Wilber‑Clatonia board elects officers, approves banks and legal counsel at organizational meeting

The Wilber‑Clatonia Public Schools Board of Education held a special organizational meeting on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the district board room and elected its officers for the coming year, approved official bank depositories and retained a law firm as primary legal counsel.

President Tim Riechers called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and the board first approved routine consent items, including acknowledgement of the meeting notice and the agenda. The board then proceeded through the Action Agenda under Policy 8130 (Annual Organizational Meeting).

In roll-call votes, the board elected Tim Riechers as president to serve a one‑year term or until a successor is qualified; the motion was made by Chris Woerner and seconded by Tim Riechers and passed with five yes votes and one abstention (Riechers abstained with a conflict). The board elected Chris Woerner as vice president (motion by Russ Schuerman, seconded by Laura Niles) with one abstention recorded by Woerner (with conflict) and the remaining members voting yes. Bradley (Brad) Kalkwarf was elected treasurer (motion by Tim Riechers, seconded by Barry Young) with Kalkwarf recorded as abstaining (with conflict); Russ Schuerman was elected secretary (motion by Bradley Kalkwarf, seconded by Laura Niles) with Schuerman recorded as abstaining (with conflict). President Riechers also appointed Justin Petersen as ex officio secretary, a role noted in the minutes.

The board approved adoption of Policy 9320 as the guide for preparation of future agendas and meeting conduct, approving the motion made by Chris Woerner and seconded by Barry Young by unanimous vote. Board members also reviewed temporary committee assignments and received the Code of Ethics (Policy 8272) and the district's conflict-of-interest policies and disclosure forms (Policies 8260, 8270, 8271, 8272 and NADC Forms C‑2A, C‑3, C‑4).

On financial and legal housekeeping, the board approved Security First Bank, First State Bank‑Nebraska and Farmers and Merchants Bank as official depositories of school funds (motion by Bradley Kalkwarf, seconded by Russ Schuerman; unanimous). The board also approved Perry, Guthery, Haase & Gessford as primary legal counsel for the district (motion by Russ Schuerman, seconded by Chris Woerner; unanimous).

Finally, the board voted to designate the superintendent as the district’s official designee for state and federal programs (motion by Laura Niles, seconded by Bradley Kalkwarf; unanimous). The minutes do not name the superintendent. Board members checked contact information and confirmed upcoming meetings, including a regular board meeting later that evening at 7:00 p.m. and a board retreat on Jan. 30, 2026, at NASB offices in Lincoln. President Riechers adjourned the meeting at 6:15 p.m.

Votes at a glance: - Consent items: Passed (motion: Russ Schuerman; second: Laura Niles) — Kalkwarf Yea; Niles Yea; Schuerman Yea; Woerner Yea; Young Yea; Riechers Yea. - President (Tim Riechers): Passed (motion: Chris Woerner; second: Tim Riechers) — Kalkwarf Yea; Niles Yea; Schuerman Yea; Woerner Yea; Young Yea; Riechers Abstain (With Conflict). Outcome: approved. - Vice President (Chris Woerner): Passed (motion: Russ Schuerman; second: Laura Niles) — Kalkwarf Yea; Niles Yea; Schuerman Yea; Woerner Abstain (With Conflict); Young Yea; Riechers Yea. Outcome: approved. - Treasurer (Bradley Kalkwarf): Passed (motion: Tim Riechers; second: Barry Young) — Kalkwarf Abstain (With Conflict); Niles Yea; Schuerman Yea; Woerner Yea; Young Yea; Riechers Yea. Outcome: approved. - Secretary (Russ Schuerman): Passed (motion: Bradley Kalkwarf; second: Laura Niles) — Kalkwarf Yea; Niles Yea; Schuerman Abstain (With Conflict); Woerner Yea; Young Yea; Riechers Yea. Outcome: approved. - Adopt Policy 9320: Passed (motion: Chris Woerner; second: Barry Young) — unanimous. Outcome: approved. - Official depositories (Security First Bank; First State Bank‑Nebraska; Farmers and Merchants Bank): Passed (motion: Bradley Kalkwarf; second: Russ Schuerman) — unanimous. Outcome: approved. - Legal counsel (Perry, Guthery, Haase & Gessford): Passed (motion: Russ Schuerman; second: Chris Woerner) — unanimous. Outcome: approved. - Superintendent designated as official designee for state and federal programs: Passed (motion: Laura Niles; second: Bradley Kalkwarf) — unanimous. Outcome: approved.

The meeting lasted approximately 15 minutes and concluded at 6:15 p.m. The minutes record routine organizational housekeeping; no public comments or contentious disputes were recorded.