EXETER-MILLIGAN-FRIEND REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 AT 7:35PM FRIEND SITE LIBRARY. President Erdkamp declared the regular meeting open. All board members were present: A. Erdkamp, J. Tuttle, T. Bartels, T. Shonerd, K. Jansky, and E. Milton. Superintendent Anderson, Principal Stutzman, and Principal Kroll were also present, along with 5 visitors. The Open Meetings Act was posted. It was verified that all board members were notified as the time and place of the meeting pursuant of Board policy and practice. Motioned carried 6-0. Motion by Bartels and 2nd by Milton to approve consensus agenda consisting of treasurer’s report, the minutes of the last board meeting, and the expenditures from the Account Summary and EM Financials. Motioned by Shonerd and 2nd by Bartels. Motion carried 6-0. Although a presentation about the potential of a baseball coop was on the public comment agenda, no one participated in the public comment. Committee reports were presented. The Building and Ground Committee met on August 13 in Friend to discuss what the five year plan looks like for major and short term projects. Immediate projects include some HVAC in Exeter that needs work, specifically the room off the cafeteria; Old HS is a summer project due to compliance; HVAC in old HS in Friend is a big project. The committee is hoping that Facility Advocates will come to present options. Additionally, the Friend site pressbox needs some work and will need to make the bleachers ADA compliant as the ramp is too steep; FCS room in Friend is dated, but there has been a lot of improvements; Shop space is limited; Music room space with the growing band in MS and HS is also a potential project. There is consideration to grow or move that room; Friend site locker room is at capacity for athletes; There is also a small weight room in Friend and there is talks about expanding. The committee met to spitball some ideas on how to utilize the space with the growing district. Decisions will be made based on priorities. Other projects: roofing assessment, small vehicle fleet, and older workout equipment. The committee will get a 5 year plan together and reprioritize items. The Area Committee met August 27th in Friend and discussed: Conference affiliation, nothing is resolved. Freeman is interested in joining the Southern Nebraska Conference, but would want to wait 2-3 years - 2027-2028 school year. Superintendent Anderson has a phone call scheduled for September 9 to put feelers out. Members would love to do this as soon as possible. A major concern is that the SNC does not have honor bands as the band director who spearheaded it left, but it’s not out of the realm to get added back. Baseball is also an opportunity to coop with Centennial, hoping there would hae been a presentation tonight. If the boys are interested, they must come in and explain what they are thinking and why. The board wants to give kids the opportunity if it makes sense. If the district moves forward with baseball, softball must be added back in, due to Title IX. The Trump Administration has gone back to the old way of handling Title IX to balance offerings. Transportation was a concern if the teams didn't need a coach from the EMF district. Discussion on where activities were currently being held. Some people have expressed questions about JHVB games being in Exeter. Adjustments may be made down the road. The Policy Committee met on August 4th and discussed how the board might update the community about the consolidation and about Policy 7000 about new construction. They did want to change Policy 7021 regarding some formatting and verbiage. The administration gave their monthly updates. Principal Kroll discussed points of interest at the elementary site. Teachers attended an inservice day hosted by the Blue River Cohort, in partnership with Educational Service Unit 6. Dr. Rob Bell was this year’s speaker and spoke on mental toughness and how to keep going through adversity. The preschool in Friend will be having their Rule 11 visit the week of October 6. The elementary site is also starting “Painfully Positives,” in remembrance of Sara Pella, to strengthen positive actions at school. Upcoming events at the elementary site include: Next Generation Bank with 5th grade tellers and Parent Teacher Conferences on October 2. Principal Kroll wanted to give a shoutout to the paras and the special services team for all their hard work for all students in the building. Principal Stutzman gave her report from the secondary site, noting the first day of EMF, staff training days, Bobcat Buddies, and that fall sports have begun. Principal Stutzman spent most of her time going over the Master Secondary Schedule. One reason for the consolidation was to offer more classes to students. These new classes include: Culinary, Electric Car, Accounting, Culinary, Skills for the Future, Marketing and Entr., Critical Issues, SENCAP Welding, Explore Lit, Family Impact, Floriculture, Sociology, Psychology, Spanish III, Explore FCS, Explore Business Tech, Explore Spanish, Reading Explore, Child Development, Construction, Astronomy/Meteorology, Instrument Exploration, Woods, Advanced Biology, Music Appreciation. The students did a good job at trying new things. The secondary staff are balancing new requirements and catching kids up from the previous Exeter-Milligan and Friend districts. It was also highlighted that many students are taking advantage of the dual credit offerings at EMF. The following teachers teach a dual credit class in-person: Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Neimeier, Mrs. Segner, Mrs. Kohtz, and Mrs. Gregory. Upcoming items for secondary include: MAP testing, Homecoming Week which is scheduled for September 22-26, teacher evaluations, and Parent Teacher Conferences. Superintendent Anderson gave an update on the Strategic Plan, specifically Strategy 2.2 and 2.3 which involve the Work Based Learning Program.Miranda Segner has been reaching out to community businesses to see what they expect of the students in WBL. Miranda Segner will present next month. Some dates for board members to keep in mind are the State Education Conference and the NRCSA Spring Conference. The Building and Grounds Committee will meet in September and will focus on HVAC and some other items. According to Superintendent Anderson, the district is still looking to hire another part-time position for the Friend site kitchen, as well as getting someone to help with building and grounds at the Exeter site. Within facility and finance items, it was noted that one project is still not done in the elementary. The new Fitness Center is scheduled to be done mid-October. Working on Building and Grounds Five Year Plan with rough estimates of pricing. Axline’s has been swamped, but will be getting a stump removed as soon as they can. Most of the old signage has been taken down and stored to be sold. Past championship, runner-up, and third place boards for Exeter, Milligan, Exeter-Milligan, and Friend have been designed. There were no discussion items. Action Items: Approve 2025-26 Property Tax Resolution. Motioned by Milton, Seconded by Jansky. Carried 6-0. Approve 2025-26 Budget. Motioned by Bartels and seconded by Shonerd. Carried 6-0. Approve 2025-26 Tax Levy Request. Motion by Tuttle and seconded by Milton. Carried 6-0. Consideration and Possible Action and Review of Policies 7000-7052. Motioned by Bartels and seconded by Tuttle. Carried 6-0. Shonerd motioned to adjourn the meeting and Jansky seconded. Carried 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:42pm.
