Summerland board rejects preschool expansion grant

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, with Wagner joining fellow board members Nate Schwager, Scott Thiele, Austin Twibell, Chelsi McLain an...