Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Despite hearing research supporting early childhood education programs and discussing ways to identify learning and behavioral needs earlier, Summerland Board of Education members voted 6-0 on June 17 not to accept a $50,000 Nebraska Department of Education grant that would have expanded preschool services to three-year-olds. The board spent significant time discussing the proposal before board member Jeremy Wagner made a motion to accept the grant. The motion ultimately failed on a 6-0 vote,...
Summerland Elementary students spent the final weeks of the school year working toward a memorable reward, and on May 19, their efforts paid off as approximately 200 students gathered outside to watch Principal Cathy Cooper get duct-taped to a school bus. The school's "Level-Up Challenge," created by the Multi-Tiered System of Supports team, was designed to keep students engaged and focused on positive behavior during the final three weeks of school. "This was the culmination of our last three...
On a 4-2 vote, Summerland's board of education approved a full-time Multi-Tiers System of Supports coordinator for the junior-senior high during its Feb. 11 meeting. Board members Chelsi McLain and Scott Thiele voted against the recommendation. MTSS is a comprehensive framework that offers targeted academic, behavioral, and social-emotional interventions for students. The process creates small-group and individualized support that focuses on prevention. In some instances, intervention through th...
PROCEEDINGS SUMMERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION FEBRUARY 11, 2026 Summerland Public School Board of Education met in regular session, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, at 7 p.m., in the school board meeting room. President Nate Schwager called the meeting, which was advertised in the Feb. 4, 2026, newspapers, to order at 7 p.m. Schwager noted the Open Meetings Act posted in the boardroom. Roll call was taken, with all board members present: Ryan Ahlers, Chelsi McLain, Schwager, Scott Thiele,...
PROCEEDINGS HOLT COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OCTOBER 31, 2025 Board meetings are held on the first working day after the 15th and the last working day of the month. Meetings are held at the Holt County Courthouse meeting room. Board of Equalization at 9:30 a.m., and Board of Supervisors at 9:45 a.m. Notice of meeting given in advance thereof by publication in paper as shown by Affidavit of Publication on Oct. 22, 2025, in the Summerland Advocate. The agenda for all meetings are kept continuously current and is...
Holt County Supervisors received frightening news on Halloween when they learned health insurance premium costs for county employees are projected to increase 24.1%, effective Jan. 1. During Friday's scheduled meeting, Anson Insurance Agency representative Steve Anson told supervisors that current-year losses have been more than expected. According to Anson, Meritain Health expected $1.3 million in claims. "We already have $1.3 million," he said. Typically, three to five individuals on the plan...
As bus doors swung open on Thursday, Aug. 14, several students made a mad dash for the doors of Summerland Public Schools before the first beel rang. Others adjusted their backpacks, stuffed with fresh school supplies, and stopped to take traditional first-day photos. Guided by this year's theme, Together ,we..., staff and students are set to focus on teamwork, connection and shared success throughout the months ahead. During an opening assembly, all students viewed a video featuring school...
Summerland board of education members learned the district needs bus drivers. Superintendent Molly Aschoff said the two substitute drivers are covering a route, following the resignation of a full-time driver at the end of March. She asked the board for guidance to find drivers. Discussion centered on route times and driver requirements. Several board members said it would be a good fit for a retired individual. Principal Cathy Cooper suggested advertising in local newspapers since that...
Funeral service for Donna Davis, 85, of Inman, will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 17, at First United Methodist Church in O'Neill, with Pastor Bob Wynn officiating. Burial will be in the Inman Cemetery in Inman. Visitation will be Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. until time of service at the church. Snider Memorial Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Donna died Saturday, May 10, 2025, at Arbor Care Center in Neligh. Condolences may be directed to the family at www.snide...
After warming up with a brain dance during Monday Morning Motivation, Summerland elementary students received news that warmed their hearts. They finished third in a national kindness contest. Elementary guidance counselor Denise Meyer said she received an email earlier this year from the host company, Values in Action, about joining a kindness challenge known as The Kindness Games. "We're trying to promote kindness here, so why not," she said. Meyer admitted she was unsure if the school would...
The Summerland Board of Education learned several staff members will depart at the end of the school year. Board president Nate Schwager read a resignation letter from Lisa Cook, a mathematics teacher. Superintendent Molly Aschoff said Ashley Koenig, a Ewing graduate, will fill the vacancy. Koenig currently teaches business at Creighton Community Schools. “She will be teaching junior high math and will take the Praxis test to get that certification,” Aschoff said. “With a strong math depar...
PROCEEDINGS SUMMERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION March 10, 2025 Summerland Public School Board of Education met in regular session, Monday, March 10, 2025, at 7 p.m., in the school board meeting room. President Nate Schwager called the meeting, which was advertised in the March 5, 2025, newspapers, to order at 7 p.m. Schwager noted the Open Meeting Act posted in the boardroom. Roll call was taken. Board members present: Ryan Ahlers, Chelsi McLain, Schwager, Scott Thiele, Austin Twibell, Jeremy Wagner. Motion by Twibell, seconded by...
After more than 35 minutes of discussion, the Summerland Board of Education failed to approve hiring a full-time Multi-Tiered System of Supports/instructional coach for junior and senior high grade levels, for the 2025-2026 school year. Ryan Ahlers, Nate Schwager and Jeremy Wagner voted in favor, while Chelsi McLain, Scott Thiele and Austin Twibell dissented. The vote took place at Monday's board meeting. The motion, made by Ahlers, was dependent on finding a suitable replacement for the...
Locally-grown beef may soon be what's for dinner at Summerland Public Schools. During the Feb. 12 board of education meeting, FFA Advisor Jacob Goldfuss outlined programs at Sandy Creek and Thayer Central and suggested a similar setup could work here. "Parents who were interested or passionate about having locally-raised beef in their school lunches got together and agreed to seek donations," Goldfuss said. Each family in the district received a letter giving an overview of the program....
PROCEEDINGS SUMMERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION Feb. 12, 2025 Summerland Public School Board of Education met in regular session, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in the school board meeting room. President Nate Schwager called the meeting, which was advertised in the Feb. 5, 2025, newspapers to order at 7 p.m. Schwager noted the Open Meetings Act posted in the boardroom. Roll call: Ryan Ahlers, Chelsi McLain, Nate Schwager, Scott Thiele, Austin Twibell, Jeremy Wagner. All board members present. Motion by Wagner, seconded by Thiele, to...
PROCEEDINGS SUMMERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION Jan. 15, 2025 Summerland Public School Board of Education met in regular session, Wednesday, Jan. 15, in the school board room. Vice president Nate Schwager called the meeting, which was advertised in the Jan. 8, 2025, newspapers, to order at 7 p.m. The board recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The board members took the oath of office. At this time, vice president Schwager designated authority to the superintendent to lead the meeting and take nominations for president. Discuss, consider...
On Dec. 5, Cathy Cooper, elementary principal at Summerland Public Schools, was honored with the Nebraska Distinguished Principal's Award at the Nebraska Association of Elementary School Principals' annual convention in Lincoln. This esteemed recognition celebrates her unwavering dedication to education and her transformative impact on the Summerland community. The award comes as no surprise to those who know Cooper's work. In a letter of recommendation, Summerland Superintendent Molly Aschoff...
Summerland students will notice one new change when they return to classes following the holiday break. "From bell to bell, students will not be on cell phones," high school principal Jacob Birch told board of education members during the Dec. 11 meeting. Students will be allowed to have phones during passing periods, lunch, before and after school and at activities. "We're not opposed to other things, but we think this is the first step to tell students, 'Show us you can be off them during...
PROCEEDINGS SUMMERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION DEC. 11, 2024 Summerland Public School Board of Education met in regular session, Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. President Steven Thiele called the meeting, which was advertised in the Dec. 4, 2024, newspapers, to order at 7 p.m. Pres. Thiele noted the Open Meetings Act posted in the boardroom. Roll call was taken, with all board members present: Ed Nordby, Nate Schwager, Scott Thiele, Steven Thiele, Austin Twibell and Jeremy Wagner. Motion by Wagner, seconded by Twibell, to approve the...
Additional parking may come to fruition at Summerland Schools. During the Nov. 13 board of education meeting, the school approved an agreement for engineering services with Advanced Consulting Engineering Services, Inc., of West Point, for $10,000, contingent on a review by school legal counsel. Superintendent Molly Aschoff said when the building and grounds committee met, questions about lighting in the area under consideration, the grass area adjacent to the current south parking lot. She...
PROCEEDINGS SUMMERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION Nov. 13, 2024 Summerland Public School Board of Education met in regular session, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024 in the board meeting room. President Steve Thiele called the regular meeting, which was advertised in the Nov. 6, 2024, newspapers, to order at 7:01 p.m. President Thiele noted the Open Meetings Act posted in the boardroom. Roll call was taken, with all board members present: Ed Nordby, Nate Schwager, Scott Thiele, Steve Thiele, Austin Twibell, Jeremy Wagner. Motion by Schwager,...
PROCEEDINGS SUMMERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION Oct. 16, 2024 Summerland Public School Board of Education met in regular session, Wednesday, Oct. 16, in the school board meeting room. President Steve Thiele called the meting, which was advertised in the Oct. 9, 2024, newspapers, to order at 7 p.m. Thiele noted the Open Meetings Act posted in the board room. Roll call was taken at 7 p.m. All board members were present: Ed Nordby, Nate Schwager, Scott Thiele, Steve Thiele, Austin Twibell, Jeremy Wagner. Motion by Wagner, seconded by...
The importance of teamwork throughout the school year was a loud and clear mantra mentioned Aug. 14, when Summerland Public School students returned for the oening day of the 2023-2024 school year. Superintendent Molly Aschoff told the K-12 assembly she was happy to see "their smiling faces." "It's what I've been waiting for, to see you at school," she said. Aschoff introduced her theme for the upcoming school year: Be the village, it's the Bobcat way," a twist on the African proverb. "It's all...
Two new paraprofessionals hires were approved Monday by the Summerland Public School Board of Education during its regular meeting. Superintendent Molly Aschoff told the board that administration had posted a job notice for a special education/Title 1 para position, with a van route to the Central Learning Center in Clearwater. During that period, a late para resignation was received. Elementary principal Cathy Cooper said four or five applications were received and three individuals were...
APPROVED BILLS SUMMERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL Ubetcha Auto Sales, 2023 Ford Transit Van - ESSER III, 49,900.00; Amazon Capital services, Inc., sup/annual Prime membership, 9.486.43; Antelope Memorial Hospital, bus driver physicals, 585.00; B.E. Publishing, textbooks, 4,892.25; Black Hills Energy, nat gas, 187.15; Blain Pumping & Plumbing, pumping septic tanks, 840.00; Blick Art Materials, sup, 1,805.33; Bluum of Minnesota, LLC, sup, 44.16; Bomgaars, sup, 4.85; Broadberry, server, 7,675.00; Capital One Bk(USA), NA, sup/postage, 4,308.90; Cathy...
