Kearney School District 7

This document serves as a comprehensive guidebook for the Hanny Arram Center for Success, outlining its mission to personalize learning and enable student success through tailored curriculum and support. It details the center's vision for high levels of learning, engaging opportunities, and trust among stakeholders. The guidebook provides information on various academic programs, attendance policies, a tiered student privilege system (Gold, Silver, Bronze Levels), behavior support mechanisms, and general operational procedures, all designed to foster a safe, caring, and supportive learning environment.

The Board of Education meeting included the election of officers for 2026, naming Paul Hazard as President, Amanda Smallcomb as Vice President, and Niki Deeds as Secretary. Recognitions were given to Kearney High School students selected for the 2025 Nebraska All-State Band, Choir and Orchestra, and to Alison Klein for achieving National Board Certification in Science (Chemistry). The meeting also announced Nebraska School Board Member Week, scheduled for January 25-31, 2026. Presentations covered the Oregon Trail Unit by 4th-grade teachers and a mid-year update on the JAG Program. The Board heard a construction update and provided final reading approval for revisions to the 3000 section of Board Policies and for Board Policy 5204 (Student Graduation). Approval was also granted for the 2026 check signing authority. Resignations from several staff members effective at the end of the 2025-2026 school year were accepted, and new staff members joining the district were announced. Miscellaneous items approved included naming the Kearney High School Track as "Mathiesen Track" and authorizing the Superintendent to develop a naming rights agreement.

The Board of Education meeting included recognitions, presentations, and a district construction update. The board discussed and approved items such as attendance at the NASB Legislative Advocacy Conference, changes to Kearney High School graduation requirements to increase personal finance credits, and granting high school credits for Algebra 1 and Spanish 1 courses taken in middle school. Additionally, the board reviewed the superintendent's contract and held a closed session for negotiations regarding the 2026-2027 school year.

The Board of Education meeting included recognitions of Park Elementary School for being named a Blue Ribbon School and Deb Schauer for receiving the Champion for Disability Employment Award. There was a presentation on the partnership between Kenwood Elementary School and Brookestone Gardens, and an announcement of American Education Week. The board received a district construction update and accepted the annual self-audit reports from the Meadowlark, Northeast, and Bryant Elementary Schools Parent Advisory Committees. Travel was approved for the Kearney High School FCCLA trip to the National Leadership Conference. The board also discussed revised board policies, resignations and retirements of several teachers, and the Kearney High School Choral Department Performance Tour of Austria, Slovenia, and Italy. Additionally, there was a first reading approval of revised board policies and Board Policy 5410 Wand Detectors, as well as approval of the 2026-2027 School Calendar. A closed session was required for the performance evaluation of the Superintendent and superintendent contract negotiations.

The board meeting included recognitions of Kearney High School's production of Seussical. There was a district construction update. The board approved multiple travel requests for Kearney High School, including trips for welding, FFA National Convention, DECA Power Trip, College & Career Readiness, DECA International Career and Development Conference, and a band trip. Other items included the second and final reading approval of revised board policy 3290 Internal Controls, approval of Paul Hazard as the NASB Voting Delegate, and approval of the Kearney Public Schools Substitute Handbook for the 2025-2026 school year. The board accepted the resignation of Madison Felt and the retirement resignation of Stacy Bean. The board discussed and approved the Sunrise Middle School Traffic Flow and Parking Lot Renovation Project, the 2025-2026 Transportation Request Proposal, the Solar Array Installation at Kearney High School, and the Purchase Agreement for the Sale of the Construction Technology Class House Project. The board also discussed the first reading approval of revised and rescinded board policies, adoption of the Kearney Public Schools Option Enrollment Resolution for the 2026-2027 School Year, approval of rezoning Kenwood Elementary Students from Horizon Middle School to Sunrise Middle School, and approval of rezoning Emerson Elementary Students from Sunrise Middle School to Horizon Middle School. There was a closed session required for negotiation and strategy discussion with respect to the 2026-2027 Collective Bargaining.