Board approves textbooks, principal hire, co‑op fund amendment and preschool playground purchase

At its March 11 meeting the Beatrice Public Schools Board of Education approved several action items after presentations and limited discussion.

Textbooks: The board voted to purchase Envision Mathematics (SABIS) for K–8. The elementary package was quoted at $164,599.96 and will be paid with ESSER III funds; the grades 6–8 package was quoted at $66,855.20 and will be covered from the district curriculum and instruction budget, according to the presenter.

Principal hire: Trustees approved the hiring of James Ford as elementary principal for the 2024–25 school year. A board member raised a concern that the contract lists two bereavement days and asked that the final contract mirror the negotiated agreement; Mr. Alexander said that the signed contract form is separate from the negotiated agreement and would be adjusted in final negotiations.

Co‑op fund amendment: The board approved a budget amendment to increase the co‑op fund expenditures (used for a county/district juvenile diversion program) to a historical spending level of roughly $100,000. Alexander explained the change does not affect the tax levy and that the county reimburses part of the program expenses.

Preschool playground: Trustees approved purchasing a new preschool playground at the new site, with a vendor quote of $182,000 for new inclusive surfacing and equipment. Funding plan presented included IDEA/special education funds, $59,000 from PTOs (Lincoln and Stoddart), roughly $50,000 from principal accounts across preschool buildings, a conditional 15–20K commitment from Blue Valley Community Action Head Start, and the remaining $20–27,000 from depreciation funds.

Votes and formal actions recorded in the meeting transcript indicate motions were made, seconded and passed for each item; the transcript did not include a roll‑call vote tally for individual board members.