The North Platte public school board held a work session on Feb. 23 at Buffalo Early Learning Center, and they received a report on the learning center.

Buffalo Early Learning Center serves children from Birth-5 with six preschool teachers overseeing seven classes, along with 18 paraprofessionals and a wide range of special staff, including speech-language pathologists, occupational and physical therapists, early childhood special education teachers, and service coordinators.

The collaboration allows the center to meet the diverse developmental needs of young learners in both classroom and natural environments.

The report was given by Principal Kristen Bowmen, Speech Pathologist Niki Rudd, Preschool Teacher Marcia Henline, and Early Development Network Service Coordinator Cherish Lienemann.

They said that early intervention services are a key component of their work. For birth-to-age-3 families, services are provided in the child’s natural environment, using a coaching model that empowers parents and caregivers. For children ages 3-5, supports such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, behavioral supports, and special education instruction are often delivered within preschool or daycare settings whenever possible.

Enrollment and verification numbers have remained steady for several years, with current data showing a continued need for services across both birth-to-3 and preschool ages. Buffalo Preschool enrollment for 2025-26 is 127 students. The center continues to focus on strengthening collaboration among staff and families, improving students’ ability to manage classroom routines independently, and implementing the Pyramid Model practices to promote positive social-emotional development.

Student growth data from Teaching Strategies GOLD shows strong progress from fall to winter checkpoints. In particular, social-emotional skills, early literacy, and foundational math skills such as counting and one-to-one correspondence all demonstrated measurable gains.

The center also prioritizes family and community engagement through partnerships with local organizations and plans to host preschool graduation on May 11 and May 13 in the Buffalo gym.

Superintendent’s report

The board reinstated a superintendent report portion of the meeting, noting it had been removed previously due to Open Meetings Act considerations but was missed by board members.

Acting Superintendent Dr. Damon McDonald shared several updates, including:

• Technology planning: The district is assessing aging security and surveillance equipment and working toward a replacement plan over the next 3-5 years. The district is also reviewing student information systems and whether the current platform meets attendance and reporting needs.
• Facilities: McDonald expects to review proposals from buildings and asked for a facilities report to be presented at the April Committee of the Whole meeting, including long-term planning for projects like roofs and how to fund them.
• Legislative updates: McDonald and board members referenced several bills, including LB 1219 (potentially limiting political subdivision increases), LB 653 (student discipline, with option enrollment language), and LB 1050 and an amendment involving third-grade reading retention and dyslexia-related language.
• Budget planning: McDonald raised the possibility of preliminary budget discussions in March, with the discussion leaning toward making it a main emphasis of a March meeting.
• Activities conference alignment: The district is exploring whether joining an activities conference could improve opportunities and scheduling efficiency, mentioning the Southwest Conference and Central Conference as possibilities.
• Weather decision-making: McDonald described how the district uses National Weather Service webinars and shifting forecasts to make school-day decisions, noting how conditions can change quickly once students are already in buildings.

Hiring update

The Director of Human Resources, Kevin Mills, gave a staffing update and noted recruiting, interviews, and hiring. Mills said seven positions have been filled, with five interviews this week, Feb. 23-27. The district still aims to fill five elementary positions, and Mills noted an unusual number of applicants for an orchestra position.

Mills said elementary applications remain low statewide as well as locally, with special education still a top need across the state. He said teacher contracts were expected to be sent in about three weeks. Mills said the district has 20 retirements/resignations so far compared to 31 at the same point last year.

Other reports

The board reviewed policy 3059 — audio and video recording — after McDonald said that Director of Student Services, Brandy Buscher, noted the existing policy was not aligned with a more recent recommended version from legal counsel. The proposed change provides clearer guidance on what can and cannot be recorded. The board will vote on the proposed change at its March meeting. 

A separate discussion on electronic records access was postponed after the district’s attorney was ill; the board plans a first look at draft language on March 9, with possible action in April.

The board also reviewed instructional policies 6001 through 618 — whether certain policies should be tied to statute, and graduation recognitions, specifically whether current “distinction” criteria appropriately recognize students pursuing non-math-intensive paths.

Board members suggested the issue may be better addressed through a handbook review rather than policy.

Graduation ceremony

Senior Paige Seery proposed adjusting the graduation ceremony diploma presentation, asking that high school administrators, rather than board members, hand diplomas to graduates.

Seery said the change would reflect the daily relationships students build with administrators who greet and support them throughout high school, while still honoring board members as recognized guests.

Board members thanked Seery for the proposal, discussed maintaining board engagement during graduation and avoiding ceremony delays. They talked about a possible receiving line, keeping the ceremony efficient, and ensuring any change becomes a stable tradition rather than shifting year-to-year based on each class’s preferences. The board did not make a decision and said a final decision would be made at a later date by McDonald or Principal Cory Spotanski. 

Future work sessions

The board discussed the Committee of the Whole meeting setting, after rotating meetings through district’s school buildings. While acknowledging some locations make it difficult for the audience to hear, members value meeting in schools and hearing building presentations.

They also discussed improving room setup and adding brief “rationale” lines to agendas for items without attachments.

Board and Supt. evaluations

The board considered conducting a board self-evaluation through the Nebraska Association of School Boards and developing a handbook for the board. Members generally supported the idea of a handbook to provide continuity and guidance for future members, especially given the upcoming turnover on the board after the general election.

Lundgreen questioned the timing and value of a paid board evaluation in an election year, suggesting alternatives such as workshops or facilitated discussions about norms, strengths, and areas to improve.

The board also revisited the idea of aligning superintendent evaluation tools with the district’s strategic plan, discussed costs and timelines, and asked that the current evaluation survey be redistributed for review.

Contract for McDonald

The board entered a 45-minute closed session to discuss collective bargaining and then returned to open session.

In its final action item, the board approved an addendum appointing Dr. Damon McDonald as acting superintendent effective Feb. 28 through June 30.

Garrick noted that McDonald requested two additional discretionary days and declined a payout provision for those days that had been included in an earlier draft.

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