The East Butler "Board Brief" is a monthly online publication that focuses on sharing the important highlights of the East Butler Public School's Board of Education meeting.

Public Meeting Agenda

Annually at the August School Board Meeting, new staff members to the school district attend the regular board meeting to meet the school board.

Macy Due - K-6 Special Education

Danielle Hlavac - 3rd Grade - Brainard

Jeremy Hlavac - K-6 Physical Education

Jody Meister - PreSchool - Brainard

On July 31st, 2023, the School Board and leadership team participated in a work session with Dr. Mike Lucas, Superintendent of WestSide School District, and established board goals for the 2023-2024 school year. Below is a rough draft of the board goals:

1) Academic Opportunities and Well-Being For All.
2) Facility Planning to Address Long-Term and Short-Term Needs.
3) Prioritize Responsible Budgeting and Tax Request Protocols.
4) Enhance Communication and Engagement.

Prior to October 15, the school board must set capacity numbers for their classrooms and programs. This information must then be submitted to the Nebraska Department of Education.

The school board discussed possible program and classroom capacities. The board will continue to discuss and act on this topic at their September 13th meeting.

Superintendent Eldridge shared with the school board the work that has been done to prepare for the new budget and tax asking. The following information and attachments were shared with the school board:

East Butler Projected Land Valuations (County Assessor has until August 20th to certify)

Butler County - $584,757,504 (+14.19%)

Saunders County - $353,294,460 (+6.7%)

Seward County - $89,344,744 (+7.92%)

TOTAL - $1,027,918,433 (+10.95%)

BUDGET PROJECTIONS 2023-2024

The school board will meet at a special board meeting on August 27th at 6:00 pm to consider utilizing additional taxing authority as outlined in Section 5 of 2023 Nebraska Laws 243.

The Timeline for setting the Budget & Tax Asking is as follows:

August 20

• Assessed Valuations and real growth percentages certified by Counties

September 5

• Deadline to notify and submit information to the County Assessor if Joint Public Hearing is required.

September 14-23

• Joint Public Hearing is scheduled during this time if required.

September 30

• Filing deadline for Budget and LC-2 to NDE, APA, and County Clerk

November 5

• Tax requests become final

The East Butler Public School Districts Budget Hearing & Tax Asking hearing takes place prior to the September regular board of education meeting.

The School Board discussed the possibility of purchasing a new school suburban as well as an additional school car. The need was expressed by Superintendent Eldridge, in the fact that the school's current fleet of vehicles is aging and that plans to replace need to be done.

Superintendent Eldridge was unable to gather approximate costs for a new vehicle from dealerships. Mr. Eldridge will continue to work with dealerships to gather costs for the school board.

NO ACTION TAKEN

The East Butler Public School's Board of Education meets on the second Wednesday of every month in the library at the Brainard school building. Each meeting starts at 6:30 pm.

Email: meldridge@ebutler.esu7.org
Website: www.ebutlertigers.org
Location: 212 South Madison Street, Brainard, NE, USA
Phone: 402-545-2081
Facebook: www.facebook.com/eastbutlertigers
Twitter: @EBTigers