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NBC Board discusses Prague consolidationby Mary Le Arneal The Panthers are coming. Possibly. Maybe. Well, just wait and see. At the Oct. 12 North Bend Central Public Schools board meeting, superintendant Jim Havelka gave an update on his discussions with school officials in Prague about that school’s future. Ray Collins, superintendent of the Prague Public Schools, has contacted NBCPS (as wells as David City, East Butler and Wahoo) about the possibility of consolidating districts for the 2010-2011 school year. Collins also called Havelka about the possibility of co-oping high school football for the next school year. Havelka has spoken with football coach Tony Allgood, who said he was open to the additional players from Prague. The Nebraska Schools Activities Association has a Nov. 6 deadline for submitting any plans for co-ops between schools. Since the Prague board has not decided for sure what to do about its options, the NBC board gave Havelka approval to work with Prague on developing a cooperative football arrangement if they vote to do such. Collins referred to a 2002 letter that listed the Prague Board’s main concerns concerning consolidation. The main item on the list was being able to maintain an attendance center in Prague at least through the 2015-2016 school year, which is the life of the bonded indebtedness of the Prague building. Havelka said that with the enrollment surge at North Bend Elementary, an additional attendance center for elementary students would be necessary. There would be no problem absorbing 100 or more additional students in the junior and high school. With option enrollment that is available to students, Havelka said NBCPS would probably get additional students no matter which district Prague chooses to consolidate with. The NBCPS Board also discussed insurance options for the district. For the first time in more than 30 years, NBCPS has a new insurance carrier. UNICO Group represented Indiana Insurance in submitting a bid $25,000 less that the bid submitted by Employers Mutual Companies, represented by North Bend Insurance Agency. Insurance bids are let every three years by the North Bend Public Schools Board of Education. Tom Champoux of UNICO in Lincoln presented his groups proposal at last week’s NBCPS Board of Education meeting. The biggest difference in his proposal was the cost of property coverage (almost $12,000 less) and workman’s compensation ($11,800 less) with the same coverage offered by EMC. Champoux said that UNICO is able to offer a 40 percent discount in some areas as it is backed by a larger company, Liberty Mutual Group. “It’s the market. It is what it is,” Grueber said. “EMC is not willing to gamble to take the 40 percent discount that Indiana is offering.” The board voted unanimously to accept the UNICO bid with the understanding that the premium is good for one year and at the end of the year either party can back out with 60 days notice. The board heard next heard from Alan Katzberg of KALL School Management, LLC, about the search for a new NBCPS superintendent pending the retirement of James Havelka at the end of the school year. A timeline was suggested that would have a new superintendent hired in March to make for a smooth transition. Water damage was done to two of the classrooms in the middle school at North Bend Elementary. A sprinkler pipe burst on a Sunday. Rick Hobza, maintenance person at NBE was available, and through his efforts, with the help of his wife, Jan Hobza, damage was held to a minimum. Insurance, adjustors and restoration personnel have been called in and restoration was begun with the class moving to the library. There were two concerns with the restoration: the extent of the water damage and the possibility of mold formation in two classrooms. Both of those issues have been address and the classes hope to be back in their rooms by the end of October. Insurance will cover all damage and restoration. In other business the board: <<Back to the archives page
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