The next regular Board of Education meeting will be on April 13, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., at the District Office. All meetings are open to the public. Regular meetings are streamed live through YouTube and viewable on the District website. Special meetings, where there are action items on the agenda, will also be streamed live. Agendas for Board of Education meetings are posted on the district website the Friday before each meeting. Click here to view agendas and minutes.

Throughout the meeting, building and district administrators presented reports and updates to the Board of Education. Click here to view the agenda with each presentation attached.

Reports included:

During each regular board meeting, Dr. Plas provides an update to the Board on various topics. You can view the full report online as an attachment to the meeting agenda. Click here to view the agenda.

This month's report included an update on:

Dr. Thoendel and Mr. Feeney provided an update on the curriculum and personnel proposals for the 2026-27 school year. The Curriculum Committee met on February 16th to continue the process of determining which curriculum and personnel proposals to recommend for the 2026-27 school year. There were 50 proposals this year for consideration.

At the previous meetings, the BOE approved seven of the 50 proposals while utilizing fund reallocations and special education reimbursements. The Curriculum Committee has continued to review proposals that were highly prioritized by both the Curriculum/Proposal Committee and the Administrative/BOE Committee, including those with offsetting costs. The table below shows the proposals approved.

Each year, the district continues to invest in the technology necessary to operate the school in the current digital age. Below is the technology purchase approved for the 2026-27 school year. The funds were included in the 2025-26 budget approved at the start of the school year. Mr. Uchtman has a five-year plan for technology purchases that is continually under review to ensure it meets the needs of our growing student population.

The hardware budget for this fiscal year was set at $500,000, with the BOE previously approving $314,880 during the December meeting. The current proposed upfront expenditures total is $158,762, but after factoring in an e-rate reimbursement of $24,808, the district’s net out-of-pocket cost is $133,954. This creates a total technology hardware purchase of $448,834 for the 2025-26 school year, which is $51,166

under budget.

On February 26, 2026, Bennington Public Schools received bids for the Omaha Public Works (OPW) Off-Site Storm Sewer and Paving project associated with the second high school project. This work will be completed with DLR Group providing construction administration, under the supervision of the City of Omaha, and in coordination with Bennington Public Schools. The Board approved the bid from Valley Corporation for $1,618,655, which is $99,949 under the preconstruction estimate for this item. This represents the second of three bid packages for the public infrastructure work on the project. The final package will be for improvements to Military Road and 180th Street, which is anticipated to be under construction during the Summers of 2027 and 2028.

Bennington Public Schools is collecting feedback from parents across the district through the Parent Communication Survey. The purpose of this survey is to gather input about communication practices within BPS and provide helpful feedback for the district, principals, and staff.

Your responses will help guide future communication decisions and improvements across the district. The survey should take about five minutes to complete.

Please complete the survey by Monday, April 6. We appreciate you taking a few minutes to share your perspective.

In the event that Bennington Public Schools has a fourth or fifth inclement weather closure day, those days will be designated as remote learning days. These would be the next two inclement weather closure days if they occur.

Elementary students received take home packets earlier this year for the first and second remote learning days. Materials for a third remote learning day will be sent home by March 20. The packet includes expectations and directions for completing the work. Teachers will be available by email throughout the Remote Education Day to answer questions and provide support.

For middle school and high school students, lessons will be posted in Google Classroom or shared through email. Teachers will also be available by email during the Remote Education Day to answer questions and assist students as needed.

On Tuesday, our schools were filled with Badger pride as staff across the district wore their Bennington spirit shirts and celebrated the community that makes BPS such a special place.

From classrooms to offices and everywhere in between, it was great to see so many staff members showing their love for Bennington Public Schools.

Thank you to our incredible staff, students, and families who make BPS a place where people truly care for and support one another. We loved hearing your stories and the many reasons you love BPS.

Preschool students recently wrapped up an exciting Road Study where they learned about road features, different types of roads, and how roads are maintained.

As part of the study, students welcomed Matthew White from the Douglas County Roads Department as a guest speaker. He shared information about the important work his department does, the different jobs involved in maintaining roads, and the specialized trucks they use. He brought a snowplow for the students to see up close. Students had the chance to explore the truck and learn how it helps keep roads clear and safe during the winter.

The visit provided a fun, hands on learning experience and helped students connect what they had been studying in the classroom to real work happening in their community. #WeAreBPS

The Community Resources page on the BPS website shares information about local programs available to help families with food sustainability and other essential needs. From food pantries and meal assistance to community outreach efforts, these resources are here to help families have access to what they need.

The Bennington Public School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, disability, race, color, religion, veteran status, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, or other protected status in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Students: Mr. Dan Bombeck, Director of Student Services, 11620 North 156th Street, P.O. Box 309, Bennington, NE 68007 (402) 238-3044 (dbombeck@bennps.org). Employees and Others: Dr. Matt Blomenkamp, Assistant Superintendent 11620 North 156th Street, P.O. Box 309, Bennington, NE 68007 (402) 238-3044 (mblomenkamp@bennps.org). Complaints or concerns involving discrimination or needs for accommodation or access should be addressed to the appropriate Coordinator. For further information about anti-discrimination laws and regulations, or to file a complaint of discrimination with the Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education (OCR), please contact the OCR at 601 East 12th Street, Room 353, Kansas City, MO 64106, (800) 368-1019 (voice), Fax (816) 426-3686, (800) 537-7697 (telecommunications device for the deaf), or ocr.kansascity@ed.gov.

The Bennington Public School District is committed to offering employment and educational opportunity to its employees and students in a climate free of discrimination. Accordingly, unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation of any kind by District employees, including, co-workers, non-employees (such as volunteers), third parties and others is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated.