Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Great news. That's how Summerland Schools Superintendent Kyle Finke described the district's statewide assessment results. The results, released prior to Thanksgiving, were presented to school board members in December, as part of the district's annual report. The data, released by the Nebraska Department of Education, assesses a school's proficiency using annual statewide tests taken by students in third to eighth grade, in addition to ACT scores for junior-class members. The accountability...
In the intricate tapestry of education, the threads that weave together to create an inclusive and supportive environment for students with special needs are fraying at the edges. The current crisis of a shortage of special educators threatens to unravel the progress made in ensuring that every child, regardless of their abilities, has equal access to a quality education. Special educators play a pivotal role in nurturing the unique potential of students with diverse learning needs. Their expertise extends far beyond traditional teaching...
Organic certification can be a valuable economic avenue for farmers to pursue, as it allows them to access both new markets and higher price premiums. However, many farmers either are not familiar with the organic certification process and are not able to assess whether it would work for their operation, or are daunted by the scope of change and record-keeping needed to obtain organic certification. New resources are available for farmers and ranchers interested in learning more about organic...
Summerland School patrons will have until Dec. 3 to submit responses to a district-wide survey, which is part of the school's strategic planning process, required per Rule 10 of the Nebraska Department of Education. Superintendent Kyle Finke said he pushed back the deadline since responses have been slower than expected. According to Finke, statements on the survey use a five-point Likert scale to measure opinions. Each respondent will choose an option that best represents how they feel about...
This month, Antelope Memorial Hospital received both a national and state award for excellence. The hospital was first recognized for the 2023 Performance Leadership Award for excellence in quality and patient perspective as part of the National Rural Health Day celebration. Compiled by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, the Performance Leadership Award honors top quartile performance (75th percentile or above) among rural hospitals across the United States in quality, outcome and patient pers...
What's working at Summerland Public School and what improvements can be implemented to benefit students? The answer to those questions will be determined by responses to a district-wide survey, which is part of the school's strategic planning process, that is required per Rule 10 of the Nebraska Department of Education. Superintendent Kyle Finke said strategic planning will assist in identifying goals, developing strategies to accomplish goals and determine how the district will take that step....
There are plenty of distractions. Ukraine vs Russia, Israel vs the Palestinians, Republicans vs other Republicans. The list is endless. But let’s turn our attention to a couple of Nebraska issues about which we can possibly do something. I’m talking about civility and transparency, or the lack thereof. Civility was cited in the recently-released Nebraska Rural Poll. A number of court filings for public records and a pending legislative bill speak to the transparency issue. Most rural Nebraskans see the lack of civil discourse in the pol...
Over the past decade, the farm-to-school movement has reached millions of students in the United States and its territories. From school gardens and farm field trips to local food on cafeteria trays, farm-to-school practices help children learn about nutrition and agriculture while also creating new markets for local and regional farmers. To recognize the connections made between schools and local farmers and their role in promoting well-being among children and building strong local economies, in 2010 Congress designated October as National Fa...
Duane Risinger of Orchard was presented with the Heritage Instructor Award by hunter safety coordinator Hunter Nikolai at a recent class held at the Orchard Community Center. The Heritage Instructor Award is the highest honor given by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, recognizing hunter safety instructors for their service and dedication to the program. Risinger has faithfully taught hunter safety classes for more than 35 years. In addition, he has volunteered his services for many...
Governor Jim Pillen had an epiphany that paying a consultant $10 million over the next four years would save the state money. Pillen has signed the $2.5 million/year contract, renewable three times, with Epiphany Associates of Utah to find ways to save the state money. In the process, he dismantled the seven-year-old Center for Operational Excellence which was doing the same thing. The 26 employees in that little known division of the Department of Administrative Services completed nearly 1,000 process improvement projects and cut costs by...
A Randolph man was recently sentenced to serve one year in the Antelope County Jail and fined $1,000 for his latest conviction of domestic assault Brennon J. Coleman, 39, previously of Neligh, was given credit for 15 days already served and was taxed $204.71 costs of prosecution when he faced the Honorable James Kube on Sept. 27. During the sentencing hearing, Coleman, who had pleaded no contest in July, contended he had not hit the victim. When asked by the judge if he recalled the incident, he answered, “Absolutely.” And, when asked why, he...
Our September State Board of Education public meeting was held at the Leadership Center in Aurora. State Board of Education meetings are typically held on the first Thursday and Friday of most months of the year. Thursday is a workday during which committees meet. The four committees are the Executive, Rules and Regulations, Budget and Finance, and Planning and Evaluation. I serve on the Budget and Finance and Planning and Evaluation committees. Much discussion takes place during the workday to...
Preliminary enrollment numbers show an increase in Summerland Public Schools after the first weeks of classes. Superintendent Kyle Finke said 13 more students are enrolled than last year at this time. According to Finke, 443 students are currently enrolled in preschool through 12th grade. Final enrollment numbers are due to the Nebraska Department of Education by the end of this month. One of the noticeable differences is in the senior class. Thirty students comprised the class of 2023, while...
It’s a case if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it. “And you’ll never get it back,” Summerland Superintendent Kyle Finke said while discussing the board’s decision to raise the district’s tax asking authority by up to 7%. The agenda action item is the result of the recent enactment of LB243, known as the School District Property Tax Limitation Act. For the upcoming fiscal year, the act limits growth at 3%. The act creates a default rule which caps the magnitude of a school district’s prop...
As summer ends, I want to acknowledge the start of the 2023-24 school year. Although I've been retired for five years, I have not forgotten the feelings of anticipation mixed with a few butterflies in the stomach wondering what the school year will hold. What an opportunity school employees have to make a difference in not only the present lives of our children but their future as well. Don't underestimate your influence, and thank you, in advance, for all you are going to do. Yours is a noble...
During the interim, I have talked to many constituents who had questions regarding a bill enacted by the Legislature earlier this year: LB583. LB583 makes adjustments to the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act formula for state aid to Nebraska's public schools. As reported in the Unicameral Update, "Under LB583, introduced by Bellevue Sen. Rita Sanders at the request of Gov. Jim Pillen, the state will pay public school districts $1,500 in foundation aid per student beginning...
Not many students can say that their parents are attending college at the same time they are, and even fewer can say all three are attending the same college. My unique journey started when my father, mother, and I all decided to attend Wayne State College this fall. Three Wildcats is much better than only one. Our Wayne State journey started when my father, Brian, decided to go back to college in August 2019 after his company went through a merger. Job insecurity was a risk and he wanted to...
If you thought that the mostly one-sided filibuster-driven debate on transgender issues and abortion was the thing that dragged the 2023 Nebraska Legislature to a near standstill, steel yourself for what could lie ahead. State Senator Dave Murman of Glenvil, the chair of the Legislature's Education Committee, says he wants to study the use of critical race theory and other controversial subjects in the classroom. Innocently enough, the studies stem from a request to investigate the Nebraska...
Agriculture, broadband connectivity and tax savings were key topics addressed during Gov. Jim Pillen's town hall meeting, June 28, in O'Neill. Pillen opened by telling the crowd of approximately 80 that his team strives to work for "all Nebraskans. "I can't stand politics. I can't stand politicians," the governor said. "The privilege I had in the first six months, it is unbelievable how many incredible public servants we have serving the state of Nebraska." One of Pillen's goals has been to...
Northeast Nebraska teachers visiting the Haskell Agricultural Laboratory this month learned that the 550-acre site is full of learning opportunities for students. Teachers from Summerland Public School participated in the event. The arboretum at the Haskell site, part of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s network of ag research centers around the state, can help children learn identification and biology for trees and plants. The beehives and pollinator gardens illustrate the interactions of insects and plants. The sweeping fields of corn and...
In early July, I will begin my new role as director of the department of economic development for the State of Nebraska. It is an extraordinary honor to serve my home state in this capacity and I will bring with me experiences from my past career. As chief operating officer of Nebraska Community Foundation, I like to think I learned a thing or two about community economic development. Lessons I will undoubtedly carry with me to my new appointment. I don’t have any illusions or preconceived n...
The new governor says, jubilantly, the honeymoon cruise with the Nebraska Legislature was a huge success. Sorry governor, I'm seeing flags. Red flags. The cheering I hear is, "See you in court!" So, let's wait until the lawsuits are filed and the petition drives are all launched before we get too excited. In a "report card" from his office, Governor Jim Pillen said he was elected to office "with a clear mandate to make transformational change in the areas most important to our future: our kids;...
The 108th Legislature, First Session, has adjourned sine die. This past year, lawmakers passed some important bills and failed to agree on other critical issues. Excluding A bills, of the 820 bills and 274 resolutions introduced this year, only 33 bills and one resolution actually received a final vote. However, the bills passed included many expansive Christmas tree packages, meaning the Legislature actually passed 291 bills in total, including A bills. This figure is comparable to the last...
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol removed 65 impaired drivers from the road during the annual Click It or Ticket campaign to begin the summer travel season. “Nebraska roadways have had a busy start to summer,” said Colonel John Bolduc, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Our troopers were also busy over the last three weeks, working to help start the summer travel season safely across Nebraska.” During the campaign, which ran from May 15 through June 4, troopers arrested 65 drivers for driving under the influence. Trooper...
This week saw the Legislature continue to work late into the night to complete its business before adjourning in June. Although only a few bills have advanced thus far, a tremendous amount of work is going on behind the scenes by various legislative divisions such as the clerk’s office, transcribers, bill drafters, information technology, research, and committees to ensure bills are ready for the floor. With all the budget bills sitting on final reading, senators spent several days working to p...
