Wilber-Clatonia school board approves policy updates, $40,000 transfer and multiple facility purchases

The Wilber-Clatonia Public Schools Board of Education on Oct. 20 approved a package of policy updates, a $40,000 transfer to the Activities Fund, and several facilities and equipment purchases during its regular meeting in the district boardroom.

President Tim Riechers called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Board members in attendance included Bradley Kalkwarf, Laura Niles, Russ Schuerman (secretary), Chris Woerner and Barry Young. The board also acknowledged a number of visitors and students in the audience.

On policy matters the board discussed updates prepared with input from Perry Law Firm and voted to adopt the district's 1000 series policies. The board separately considered and approved Policy 2232. Both actions passed on recorded roll-call votes with all members voting yea.

On finance, the board approved consent items that included routine claims and financial reports (General Fund listed at $810,070.36; Depreciation Fund listed at $55,248.89) and personnel items noting the resignation of para Cassandra Burkey and the hiring of Kristina Graves as a local substitute. The board then approved a motion to transfer $40,000 into the Activities Fund after Mr. Petersen presented a history of prior transfers.

The board approved multiple facility and equipment actions: purchase of a replacement minivan from Twin River; acceptance of a fencing quote to complete Area 1 and part of Area 3 south of the Crow's Nest in black fencing if the black material can be obtained at the galvanized price less an 8% deduction; concrete projects from Sykes Construction; purchase of gym wall pads; and quotes for Moore Services to repair the AAON HVAC unit serving the middle/high school gym. Mr. Petersen also provided an update on a possible concessions stand project; the board took no formal action on concessions during the meeting.

The board reviewed the negotiations timeline for the 2026—2027 contract, noted a superintendent report on the Labor Relations Conference in Lincoln (Oct. 1—2), and reviewed a report from the October Rule 10 compliance visit by the Nebraska Department of Education.

The board approved allowing Mr. Petersen to attend the National Superintendent Conference. The board set the next regular meeting for Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. and adjourned at 8:44 p.m.

Votes at a glance: To improve clarity for residents, the minutes record roll-call votes for the principal actions noted below: consent items (motion by Russ Schuerman, seconded by Barry Young): unanimous (Kalkwarf, Niles, Schuerman, Woerner, Young, Riechers). Adoption of 1000 policies (motion by Barry Young, seconded by Laura Niles): unanimous. Adoption of Policy 2232 (motion by Bradley Kalkwarf, seconded by Chris Woerner): unanimous. Transfer $40,000 to Activities Fund (motion by Russ Schuerman, seconded by Chris Woerner): unanimous. Purchase of replacement minivan (motion by Bradley Kalkwarf, seconded by Russ Schuerman): unanimous. Fencing quote (motion by Bradley Kalkwarf, seconded by Barry Young): unanimous. Sykes Construction concrete projects (motion by Bradley Kalkwarf, seconded by Laura Niles): unanimous. Gym pads purchase (motion by Chris Woerner, seconded by Barry Young): unanimous. Moore Services AAON repairs (motion by Russ Schuerman, seconded by Chris Woerner): unanimous. Authorization for Mr. Petersen to attend National Superintendent Conference (motion by Laura Niles, seconded by Barry Young): unanimous.

The board tabled consideration of an agricultural land lease until the November meeting to allow staff to prepare a written agreement for approval.