Welcome

We would like to welcome the following new Cardinals to the nest starting in 2022-23 school year.

Rick Barry as Activities Director.

Emma Hageman as Primary SPED teacher.

Heather Pearson as Middle School SPED teacher.

Katherine Burrows as Para.

Brenda Vogl as Activiies Administrative Assisitant

Rachel Gifford as High School English Teacher.

Katarina Rischling as Primary Kindergarten Teacher.

Lauren Collins as Primary Kindergarten Teacher.

Joshua Digmann as Middle School PE Teachers.

Staff changing positions within the district:

Kristi Dunbar to Middle School Teacher.

Bill Cogdill to Middle School Teacher.

Jenn Cattnach to Intermediate Counselor and Adaptive PE.

Mikel Landreth to Primary Counselor.

Mandy Brice to Para.

LB 890 & 891

 

LB 890 & 891

Chadron Public Schools shares a unique story.  We are a rural district with a current enrollment of 925 kids K-12.  Our district is at the $1.05 lid. Forty percent of our land is in public, state, or federal lands.  Meaning not all of this land is taxable. Taxpayers are levied to the max to provide a top-notch education.  Our district does receive state-aid that we are grateful for.  We are a frugal district.  Two of our buildings turned 100 this year.  With enrollment growing, we need more teaching staff that we will be hard pressed to hire under current budgets. It is difficult to hire teachers in our part of the State. We are going to have to keep current and competitive to get educators to Chadron. Current revenue restrictions, over reliance on property taxes, and the burden of providing the necessary resources for our students and we are capped out at the $1.05 and even if we could squeeze another penny it would fall on the back of our limited tax base.  LB 890 would be that lifeline for our school and for our taxpayers.  LB 890 as currently written would significantly reduce our general fund levy.  With this model both our school and are taxpayers benefit greatly.  

(All of the below are estimates based on the latest #s from NDE models as of 1/15/22)

Current General Fund Levy $1.00

New General Fund Levy $0.64

 

Levy Reduction $0.36

Levy Reduction 36%

 

Current State Aid $4,611,004

New State Aid $6,747,479

 

Increase in State Aid $2,136,475 

New Max General Fund Levy $0.95

Our education community and other have joined together to support this bill.  It helps or holds harmless all Nebraska Schools.

I want to talk about some data points

● Nebraska currently finances over seventy percent of the costs of operating its public school system from the property tax and other local sources while nationally only forty-three percent of the costs are supported by property taxes and other local sources.

● The overreliance on property tax for or the support of the public school system has resulted in great disparities in local property tax rates.

● The overreliance on the property tax for the support of the public school system has created inequitable educational fiscal resources for students.

● Funding public schools in the state of Nebraska is no easy task.  One size does not fit all when trying to fund 244 separate school districts, each with their own unique needs.  

● The intention of this bill is to be simple, transparent, and equitable. There are two valuable outcomes: 1) a structurally sound and sustainable school funding model and 2) a substantial reduction in the reliance on property taxes to fund public schools. The introduced LB890 with LB891 has an estimated 50/50 split statewide between local property taxes and state funding.

Sincerely,

Ginger Meyer, Ed.S

Superintendent, Chadron Public Schools

Digital Citizenship -- December 15, 2021

Digital Citizenship -- December 15, 2021

Chadron Public Schools is pleased to offer Digital Citizenship to students and parents.  On December 15, 2021 Karen Haase from KSB Law Firm will present the ins and outs of digital citizenship.  There will be a session for Middle School and High School during the school day.  We will also have a parent session.  Do you want to know about the Apps and Social Media that your kids are using?  Do you want to know about laws that govern social media use.  Do you want to know how schools respond to these problems?   We warn kids about the problems that crop up, but we cannot stress enough how technology keeps changing.

Karen Haase has a background as an educator.  She and her firm are cutting edge in the practices of school law.  KSB believes passionately that schools should use technology to increase engagement and student achievement.  As a result, we work tirelessly to be a leading authority at how digital citizenship intersects with education.  Sadly, all too often we see the negative side of digital communication when students as well as adults misuse technology.  A digital citizen is a person who utilizes information technology in order to engage in society, politics, and government and who uses the internet regularly and effectively.

Parent Session will be held in the Auditorium at 5:15 on December 15, 2021

CoVid and Flu Shot Clinic

CoVid and Flu Shot Clinic

On November 15, 2021 there will be a CoVid and Flu shot clinic at Chadron High School. This will be in the high school library beginning at 5:00pm, with an end time of 7:00pm. This clinic is for ages 5 and up. A parent or guardian must be present. Please enter the school through the main entrance, by the high school office. WNC will be providing this clinic.

Yesterday, the CoVid Vaccination was approved for use in 5 year olds and up.

Free Meals

August 9, 2021

To:  Students, Parents, & Guardians

Re:  Free Meals

Greetings Chadron Public Schools Parents, Patrons, and Students:

We are excited to send out some great news: for the 2021-2022 school year, All students regardless of economic status will receive free meals at Chadron Public Schools.  Money is provided by the CARES Act..  The USDA has given guidance that schools may extend the Meal Program in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic.  Meals will include both breakfast and lunch served through our school food program.  Seconds and ala carte items will be charged to your child’s account.

This guidance came Summer 2021 and our application was filed.  Thus allowing us to continue this great benefit.  I encourage you to have your students eat at school.  Please continue to fill out free and reduced lunch forms as normal.  These numbers allow us to apply for and reap other benefits. 

Chadron Public Schools hopes that this news comes as a pleasant surprise and helps each family financially through these unprecedented times.

Regards,

Ginger L. Meyer, Superintendent

2021-22 School Year

Ramping Up on the Cardinal Facility Fund