Welcome to our Board Meeting Bulletin series, where we highlight key takeaways from each board meeting to keep our community informed and engaged with the latest developments in our school district.

School Resource Officer Supervisor: The Board approved a split School Resource Officer (SRO) Supervisor position with the City of Papillion. This cost-sharing agreement will have the district funding 50% of the position, which will provide more robust monitoring, evaluation, and supervision of the front-line SROs. The SRO Supervisor will assist with district-wide safety planning and training, serve as a liaison with other law enforcement agencies, and maintain visibility in all PLCS schools including elementary schools and ancillary programs.

Legislative Update: Tim Gay from Catalyst Public Affairs provided a midpoint report on the 109th Legislature, currently at day 40 of the 90-day session. Priority bill designations are due this week, which will narrow the focus to approximately 114 bills from the 715 introduced. Key education bills being monitored include LB303 (TISA funding), LB140 (mobile devices in schools), and LB692 (which would limit district growth provisions). Current state budget constraints may impact education funding proposals, with the governor's office projecting a $200+ million shortfall.

Summer Facility Projects: The administration presented four major facility improvement projects planned for summer 2025: 1) Foundation Field turf replacement, which has exceeded its 8-10 year lifespan; 2) ADA wheelchair access to Foundation Field to improve accessibility; 3) Golden Hills playground resurfacing; and 4) track replacement at Papillion La Vista High School to address significant surface cracking. The Buildings, Grounds, and Finance Committee will review project designs and bids before bringing recommendations to the full board.

Wireless Network Upgrade: The district has issued an RFP for wireless network system hardware and software to replace the current infrastructure, which supports the district's one-to-one initiative. The proposal would replace wireless controllers, management software, and physical access points while providing needed redundancy. The project aligns with the district's five-year technology cycle and will utilize E-rate funding discounts. The administration anticipates bringing a recommendation for approval at the March 24th board meeting.

District Activities: Dr. Rikli reported on several district activities, including a successful Multicultural Fair at Papillion La Vista High School, a unified basketball event between PLHS and PLSHS, and upcoming state basketball tournament play with Monarchs and Titans facing off at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The superintendent also noted that discussions continue regarding how to make up the three additional snow days beyond what was built into the calendar, with a recommendation forthcoming after consultation with the Department of Education.

These are just a few of the topics discussed during our recent board meeting. For full access to agendas and minutes, please visit our website. Broadcast recordings of the meetings are also available on our YouTube channel.