This special public hearing focused exclusively on the proposed student fees for the 2026-27 school year rather than the district's broader operations. The board reviewed its required student fee policy along with proposed fee schedules covering elementary, intermediate, middle, and high school students.
Nebraska law requires school districts to periodically review student fee policies and conduct a public hearing before adopting or continuing student fee schedules. During this meeting, district administrators reviewed Policy 5900, the related fee waiver regulation, and building-specific fee regulations for each grade level. The hearing served as the public review process before future board action on student fees.
The meeting was brief, lasting approximately four minutes from 6:02 p.m. until adjournment at 6:06 p.m. No members of the public offered comments during the hearing, and no votes were taken on the fee schedules themselves during this hearing. The only formal action was approval of a motion to adjourn.
Although the packet references updated fee schedules and regulations for multiple school levels, the extracted materials do not include the detailed fee amounts themselves. As a result, the packet supports that the board reviewed proposed fees but does not provide sufficient information to describe individual charges or specific changes.
Major Discussion and Action Items
Review of Student Fees Policy 5900
District administrators reviewed Student Fees Policy 5900 as required by Nebraska statute. The policy establishes the district's framework for charging student fees and identifies how fees are administered. The packet also references the associated Fee Waiver Application regulation, indicating that the district maintains procedures for families who may qualify for fee assistance. The hearing provided the required opportunity for public review before continued implementation of the policy.
Review of Proposed 2026-27 Student Fees
Administrators presented proposed student fees for the upcoming 2026-27 school year. Rather than discussing only one grade level, the review covered fee regulations for:
- Elementary schools
- Intermediate school
- Middle school
- High school
Separate regulations were prepared for each educational level, suggesting that required materials and applicable fees differ by school level. However, the packet available for review does not include the underlying fee schedules or the specific proposed charges.
Annual Regulatory Review
The hearing demonstrates the district's annual governance process for reviewing student fees before the beginning of the school year. Rather than creating an entirely new policy, administrators reviewed existing policies and updated regulations for the coming academic year. This annual review helps ensure compliance with state requirements while informing families about expected school-related costs.
Opportunity for Public Participation
Public comment was scheduled immediately after the meeting opened, allowing community members to address the board regarding student fees or related policies. According to the minutes, no public comments were received. The absence of comments indicates that no concerns or recommendations from attendees were formally entered into the meeting record.
Meeting Conclusion
Because this meeting functioned primarily as a statutory public hearing, discussion remained limited to the fee policy review. Following completion of the agenda, the board unanimously approved a motion to adjourn. Board members Rhonda Burbach, Jim Devine, Craig Gana, Gary Kubicek, Stephanie Meese, and Aaron Wubbels all voted in favor of adjournment.
Financial Matters
The hearing concerned student fees rather than the district's operating budget.
The packet supports the following financial topics:
- Review of proposed student fees for the 2026-27 school year.
- Review of fee regulations covering elementary, intermediate, middle, and high school students.
- Review of the district's student fee policy.
- Review of the district's fee waiver regulation for eligible families.
The extracted packet does not include:
- Individual fee amounts.
- Total expected fee revenue.
- Budget impacts.
- Vendor contracts.
- Grants.
- Capital expenditures.
- Funding sources.
Accordingly, no specific dollar figures can be reported from the available source materials.
Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance
The primary governance topic was Policy 5900 governing student fees.
Administrators reviewed:
- Policy 5900 (Student Fees).
- Regulation 5903 (Fee Waiver Application).
- Building-specific fee regulations for elementary, intermediate, middle, and high school students.
The hearing appears to satisfy the public review process required before implementation of the district's fee structure for the upcoming school year. No policy amendments or formal policy adoption votes are documented within the hearing minutes themselves.
The meeting consisted primarily of two informational presentations.
First, Mr. Molloy reviewed Policy 5900 and explained the district's student fee policy.
Second, Mr. Molloy reviewed the proposed student fees for the 2026-27 school year alongside Dr. Joel. The review covered every instructional level within the district. The extracted packet does not include presentation slides or narrative summaries describing proposed fee changes beyond noting that the review occurred.
Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters
No personnel actions were included in this hearing.
The packet contains no documented discussion of:
- Hiring.
- Resignations.
- Retirements.
- Employment contracts.
- Organizational restructuring.
- Appointments.
- Board vacancies.
The only individuals specifically identified in the meeting record are President Devine, who presided over the meeting, and administrators Mr. Molloy and Dr. Joel, who presented the policy and fee reviews.
Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations
No construction, facilities, transportation, technology, maintenance, or capital improvement projects were discussed during this hearing.
Operational discussion was limited to administration of student fees for the upcoming academic year. The hearing took place at the district's Central Office located at 25211 S. 68th Street in Firth.
The meeting itself served as the public hearing regarding proposed student fees for the 2026-27 school year.
Community participation opportunities included:
- Attendance at the hearing.
- Public comment before board discussion.
- Review of proposed student fee policies and regulations.
According to the official minutes, no members of the public addressed the board during the designated public comment period. The hearing began shortly after 6:00 p.m. on July 8, 2026, at the Central Office in Firth.
For students and families, the hearing represents the district's annual review of fees that may apply during the 2026-27 school year. Although the specific charges are not included in the extracted packet, the discussion signals that fee schedules are being prepared before school begins.
Families who may qualify for financial assistance should note that the packet includes a Fee Waiver Application regulation, indicating that a formal process exists for requesting fee relief.
For taxpayers and residents, the hearing demonstrates compliance with statutory requirements governing student fee policies and public transparency.
For district staff and school administrators, the reviewed regulations provide the framework for administering student fees consistently across multiple school levels during the coming academic year.
- What specific fee changes are proposed for the 2026-27 school year compared with the previous year?
- Which student activities or instructional materials require mandatory fees?
- Which fees are optional and which are required?
- How can families apply for a student fee waiver?
- What eligibility standards apply to fee waiver requests?
- Were any fees increased, reduced, or eliminated for 2026-27?
- How were the proposed fee amounts determined?
- When will the board formally adopt the fee schedules?
- How will families receive the finalized fee information before school begins?
- Are additional financial assistance resources available beyond the fee waiver process?
Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps
- June 23, 2026: Student Fees Policy 5900 and the Fee Waiver Application regulation were included in the meeting materials.
- June 26, 2026: Updated high school fee regulation prepared for the 2026-27 school year.
- July 6-7, 2026: Elementary, intermediate, and middle school fee regulations were updated for board review.
- July 8, 2026, 6:00 p.m.: Public Student Fees Hearing held at the Central Office.
- Following the hearing: The reviewed policies and proposed fee schedules would ordinarily proceed through the district's governance process before implementation for the 2026-27 school year, although no subsequent action is documented in this packet.
Key Takeaways
- The meeting focused exclusively on student fees for the 2026-27 school year.
- Policy 5900 governing student fees was reviewed.
- The district reviewed its Fee Waiver Application regulation.
- Proposed fee schedules were reviewed for elementary, intermediate, middle, and high school students.
- The extracted packet does not include the actual fee amounts.
- The hearing fulfilled the public review process required before implementation.
- Public comment was offered but no one spoke.
- Administrators Mr. Molloy and Dr. Joel presented the fee review.
- The meeting lasted approximately four minutes.
- The only recorded vote was unanimous approval to adjourn.
- All board members present voted in favor of adjournment.
Official Sources
About the Public Body
- Name: Norris School District 160
- Organization type: school-district
- Government body: school-boards
- Location: Firth, nebraska
- County: Lancaster County
- Provider: sparq
Keywords
Norris School District 160, Norris Board of Education, 2026-27 Student Fees Hearing, Student Fees Policy 5900, Fee Waiver Application, Regulation 5903, elementary school fees, intermediate school fees, middle school fees, high school fees, 2026-27 school year, public hearing, board meeting, Firth Nebraska, Lancaster County, Central Office, student materials, board governance, public comment, education policy, school regulations, fee review, statutory hearing, Mr. Molloy, Dr. Joel, President Devine, school board, Nebraska schools
