BEATRICE – Beatrice Public Schools has approved an agreement with the City of Beatrice to help finance improvements to Lincoln Street and 33rd Street at the site of the new Pre-K-to-Fifth Grade school being built.  The estimated $4.3 million of improvements will have the city cover 60% of the cost, with school district 15 handling the remaining 40%....paid over 20 years at monthly payments of about $3,000, at no interest cost.


School Board President Eric Trusty said the district had JEO Consulting firm do a traffic study prior to the agreement.  "The improvements will include reconstructing asphalt to concrete, obviously. Add storm sewers, add right-turn lanes to Lincoln Street...add a center turn lane on Lincoln Street...add right-turn lane on 33rd Street...add a center turn lane on 33rd Street...and add a roundabout at 33rd and Lincoln Street."


Superintendent Jason Alexander said establishing the guaranteed maximum price of the school project and how the site would be laid out, were reasons why it took the length of time to reach the agreement. The school’s share of the cost will total about $1.72 million. The city would acquire the four old elementary and preschool buildings that would no longer be used by the district.


Trust said, "If there is sale of those properties, that is above and beyond the credit for that...then that sale, the profits would also be credited back to the school district, which would lower our total cost."


Any transportation grants received toward the street improvements would also lower the total cost to the city and school district. School Board member Eric Book said the agreement is a good one for both parties.  "It's a very fair deal on both sides, and the city and BPS can take a step in the right direction. I'm very excited about this, and I think the mayor said by doing this, we're doing it the right way, the first time. We're not doing it here or there....we're working together on this and I think it's a great thing for the community."


The agreement does not include any tax increases or bond issues for the street work.


The District 15 Board viewed a drone video of the school project and the progress that has been made on the entrance, classroom areas, kitchen, commons area, gymnasium and geothermal system, among other components. Superintendent Jason Alexander talked about some of the construction targets.


"The structural steel is supposed to be done by the end of May...the first week of June, I know the steel contractor has a job that he needs to be to, in the first week of June...so he's very motivated to get it done. There will be a topping out beam ceremony that we will be in contact with you, about. We will sign the last beam to go up, and that will be up there forever. We will be inviting our board of education, ESU-5 board, our partners that helped us get this done. Depending on when that falls, we will be inviting staff and possibly some students to come to that, as well."


The geothermal work is expected to be completed by the end of June. Officials are working toward opening the new school for the start of the 2024 school year. Alexander says the district has been fortunate not to have any supply chain issues with the arrival of materials for the project.


Contracts with various staff members of Beatrice Public Schools gained formal approval, Monday night. The district’s board of education approved an agreement with classified staff for the coming year, that grants a 5.41% increase in compensation package. Superintendent Alexander says changes included increasing the starting pay for positions plus the maximum pay level to which an employee can reach.


The school board also approved an agreement with other contracted staff members, covering about six positions…granting a compensation increase of 3.73%....and an agreement with administrators that has a 4.13% overall increase.


The District 15 Board also approved the bus transportation fee for the coming year. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jackie Nielsen says the fee will stay at $160.
The transportation fee to ride the bus is for students who do not qualify for free or reduced lunch, rural bus rides, preschool or special education transportation.
The school board also approved annual agreements with Educational Service Unit Number Five, for technology and alternative education program services….along with agreements for speech and occupational therapy staff members.