[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6057185,"mediaKeyId","3307717-9d64a6798c1592978684ce840aa4571f","parentId",3307717,"title","Board hears legislative update as session nears close; ACT and NSCAS funding uncertain","audioSeconds",355,"startMs",2834000,"endMs",3189000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3307717-9d64a6798c1592978684ce840aa4571f&start=2834&end=3189","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3307717-9d64a6798c1592978684ce840aa4571f/thumbnail_2834000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6057185/Nebraska/Board-hears-legislative-update-as-session-nears-close-ACT-and-NSCAS-funding-uncertain","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057185-801c3c58b38e3e4c47132ab383c8a35b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773353392&Signature=d5uNynrVj4aVVpDn36P2YOlmT19x9r9Ddfj1mM182l1X5oBOI01wSaUOCRodeKgsigeWOfutHcZps~5D8t3pJcOw2LTiXDKlsp0rEJk~WUJgbnZve4ocqZay3~ZuOyW38ouaFfdN6y6PM~5liAyZwydtr8trUuNc1GumiPXY1u2W0i6Nq872In7yuMcDJM0Hf~6QB9-RMK32mLMCkI0lzgkWXAZtgXffycjO3F0L-dC8urOk~vKsv4n2OmtYJsr9qvN-UBbzeQfSvw1kthL~2cO8ColjNvddM6qCpH6yuIe68TRekJd4~QvjA2WJVBXZdocOMvXL2t5-3LlZszOG~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Platte Public Schools, NE","date","2025-05-13T11:44:16Z","article","Skip Baltic, a North Platte Public Schools board member, briefed the board on the Nebraska Legislature’s progress on May 12 and warned of near-term uncertainty for several education funding streams.

Baltic said the Legislature was on day 77 of 90 and spending much of its remaining calendar on the biennial budget. He told the board the budget must be passed by day 80 (Thursday) and that the Legislature has presented a two-year budget. He said the Legislature has pulled state funding for the ACT and for the NSCAS statewide assessments and that the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) indicated it would seek funds to cover the current year’s costs. “They have to find money to put in to make this year because in our constitution, we have to be equal,” Baltic said.

Board members asked how those changes might affect district costs. Meeting presenters said the per-student ACT cost is roughly in the range of the mid-$60s, while the NSCAS cost was less clear and could become an unfunded mandate the district would have to cover if the state does not identify replacement funding.

Baltic and other speakers said that, beyond the budget, other priorities such as medical cannabis implementation and a backlog of priority bills could affect how much legislative time remains for education bills. He said the situation is unusually uncertain for observers: “In all the years that I’ve paid attention to the legislature, this is probably the most question mark thing that I have ever seen of what might happen with education.”

The briefing was informational; the board took no formal action on the update.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","NPPS BoE Meeting (5-12-25)","oneSentenceSummary","A board member summarized the Nebraska Legislature’s late-session focus on the budget and said state funding for the ACT and NSCAS assessments has been cut; the district was told the Nebraska Department of Education expects to find funding this year but future funding is uncertain.","taxTitle","North Platte Public Schools, School Districts, Nebraska","taxId",77578,"location","Nebraska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6057189,"District budget report: state payment improves cash flow; depreciation transfer planned",377,2625000,3002000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3307717-9d64a6798c1592978684ce840aa4571f&start=2625&end=3002","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3307717-9d64a6798c1592978684ce840aa4571f/thumbnail_2625000.jpg","/articles/6057189/Nebraska/District-budget-report-state-payment-improves-cash-flow-depreciation-transfer-planned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057189-4efe600d8661f6cd2665db55fdd36ada/orig.mp4?Expires=1773353392&Signature=UCTyVgEi4yBhDAoy8k9y94JlQoV-ZpfiJRj5pg1d1knj0YLqxdTsYFCmNEpU3ZZETGUFa4Jq5NneYq8HEUZMH2Nln34~CCAOSsZH7AJFU5liER3CWC---PrkHEuYTzlktR3pDBswtJdHFj4M~NzHlpQPX8V9XElje0j5l986tAcZemBQrXGIusS6oO7jz7RzBJE0gNLRqCf1Q8NtCpLwlKvzHmPmh4KNVcbiuI2yVYBkHTwdhTTwhSLWq0CW5aw1z8Nce7Z8gYTkvCuUIdAxctJylkcY8YZv4A7AdkuCAAWMEdxPv7ZttXeKfqNfS~URxf01SXuq0fR5Skxv6agsrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District finance staff told the North Platte Public Schools Board of Education on May 12 that a recent state payment improved the district’s cash flow and balance sheet and that a planned transfer to the depreciation fund will occur at the end of the week.

A finance presenter (Stewart) said the district received $3,500,000 from the state last month, which materially changed the district’s assets. “With our 3,500,000.0 that we got from the state last month has really changed the dynamics of where our assets are,” Stewart said. He said the district’s fund balance increased to approximately $2,300,000 compared with being in the red by about $500,000 the previous year.

Stewart also reported that general fund expenditures excluding payroll were down about $200,000 for the month and that cash-flow metrics are “way better than we have been in the last four years.” He reviewed the district’s depreciation fund, explaining the practice of setting aside money annually to smooth large equipment or capital replacements such as buses, tracks or turf. Stewart said he plans to transfer the scheduled depreciation amount from the general fund at the end of the week.

The presenter reminded the board that the district fiscal year runs Sept. 1 through Aug. 31 and pointed to pages in the monthly packet showing the general fund summary, cash-flow chart and depreciation accounts. No budget action was taken at the meeting; the report was informational.

Board members thanked staff and had no revisions to recommend following the report.","District finance staff reported a $3.5 million state payment improved the district’s cash position, moving the fund balance from a prior-year deficit toward a $2.3 million positive balance and signaled an upcoming transfer to the depreciation fund.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6057195,"Board adopts 2024 Nebraska State science standards",180,3625000,3805000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3307717-9d64a6798c1592978684ce840aa4571f&start=3625&end=3805","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3307717-9d64a6798c1592978684ce840aa4571f/thumbnail_3625000.jpg","/articles/6057195/Nebraska/Board-adopts-2024-Nebraska-State-science-standards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057195-98aa3ec67692504b4c72e6f6c8dbb3e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773353392&Signature=D8R1ajO-FWu4lSd1epDW8wPLMMlfDpEIIvt8Lw9JR5zlY0T19Uu4Jc3me5Yxp8w6TX5Fs1VgOQmK1YCzL~XcA6OfF8udzEXyJnHt5HrbmPbOeSXHGXTyJKwQMiuvdNlrhPiSYleo1Mpgy6sLlqFLGDQ6G1NCrhWRcTgdFQKZc9HH6Nk3Hmc0jdKbHXqzaS7RRx~BxEBypvTUZMbal1qVxaER59m5vbpyxqbtTyuAonqgtX4H2B283TFQczAdm1vlmBcscESIy9HtnumdkWS1Blvqb5mj1Oz-oVqnlFSanU-jsu1GQ9j6bxGWBGGfRZqj-tQ0FcPV8MWCf9sMvh3O8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The North Platte Public Schools Board of Education voted May 12 to adopt the 2024 Nebraska State science standards and directed teaching-and-learning staff to proceed with selection of aligned instructional materials.

The motion to adopt the state standards carried on a roll-call vote with all members present voting yes. Board presenters noted district policy calls for adoption of state standards and described the next step: staff and teachers will spend the coming school year reviewing and selecting high-quality instructional materials aligned to the new standards, with any purchases targeted for the 2026–27 school year.

Presenters and board members said the updated state standards increase rigor and emphasize higher-order application and synthesis of content. The board received a summary of three principal shifts in the 2024 standards and referenced a prior fall update that had introduced the standards to the board.

No immediate curricular purchases were approved at the meeting; the curriculum-selection process will include teacher input and a recommendation to the board after review. The board’s adoption formalizes district alignment with the statewide expectations and begins the district’s multi-step materials selection and implementation timeline.","North Platte Public Schools voted to adopt the Nebraska State science standards; district curriculum staff will select high-quality instructional materials aligned to the standards for future purchase.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6057199,"Board approves revisions to claims-audit, gifts, closing and Wednesday-night policies",400,3208000,3608000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3307717-9d64a6798c1592978684ce840aa4571f&start=3208&end=3608","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3307717-9d64a6798c1592978684ce840aa4571f/thumbnail_3208000.jpg","/articles/6057199/Nebraska/Board-approves-revisions-to-claims-audit-gifts-closing-and-Wednesday-night-policies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057199-d85ab2728f8c34276eaf5136ec55b662/orig.mp4?Expires=1773353392&Signature=OrVApnUvzygvPVNbMIWVb4zYEpQhEIefhhVdcOaD5xwgTOcLoKebnLnTUYrAr~vUDRJjOhVHIfVXY78EQjPim~psJk5zzZUenTqeLDO8x0FVgxq20uZw4s2Ai78SzGYzw-~pMCmDJ1w9R3w6ZcSG~a0xxWtOVaxwMi0WuEJC9cVielvwLn8wLQv621Wju9BOibVDtX5rEwXAt7Zk6HIeTWJeK8y2us-56PuvYQbmHRIsyMh2xc0c4spYVRRllmKwdF9kUtDOtfrXLFYf0StjUgXDXQ9zFu5OZABQvg5qMbT92ckzO1w222Dj3koFPscIXuWqwiebOh~rdRV043Kmcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The North Platte Public Schools Board of Education voted May 12 to approve revisions to four district policies addressing claims audits, acceptance of gifts, school closing procedures and Wednesday evening activity limits.

Board President Emily Garrick led the meeting through the routine action items and asked for motions to approve the policy revisions. The board adopted the changes on roll-call votes with all members present voting in favor.

The policy updates clarify existing practice and set explicit thresholds. One revision formalizes the district’s month-to-month claims audit process by identifying that two board members review monthly bills and report back to the full board before the board votes. Another revision adds a dollar threshold for routine gift acceptance: the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee may accept gifts of personal property the superintendent reasonably believes have a fair market value of $10,000 or less; gifts above that amount are reserved for board consideration.

Administrators said the $10,000 threshold restores language that had been omitted in a prior conversion between policy services and reflects the superintendent’s preference that high-dollar gifts come before the board. The change reads, in part, that “the superintendent or his or her designee is authorized to accept on behalf of the school district gifts of personal property that are consistent with the district’s mission and objectives in which the superintendent reasonably believes has a fair market value of $10,000 or less. In its sole discretion, the board of education may accept all other donations.”

A separate clarification points readers to the student handbook and the district website for detailed closing procedures and protocols rather than embedding operational specifics in the policy text. The board also approved tightened language on family-night scheduling; the revised policy requires that scheduled functions, practices or games conclude by 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday evenings, with exceptions for tournament reschedules.

Each policy change was presented as consistent with prior committee discussions and characterized by presenters as codifying current practice rather than creating new operational rules. The board approved the revisions by roll call with unanimous yes votes from Emily Garrick, Cindy O’Connor, Skip Baltic, Angela Blasey, Justin Thompson and Joanne Lynn Green.","The North Platte Board of Education voted to approve revisions to four district policies, clarifying claims-audit procedures, setting a $10,000 board-approval threshold for gifts, referencing student closing procedures, and limiting Wednesday practices to end by 6:30 p.m.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6057205,"North Platte board hears English learner program growth, staffing plans",1516,573000,2089000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3307717-9d64a6798c1592978684ce840aa4571f&start=573&end=2089","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3307717-9d64a6798c1592978684ce840aa4571f/thumbnail_573000.jpg","/articles/6057205/Nebraska/North-Platte-board-hears-English-learner-program-growth-staffing-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057205-43dcfb94a8990397bb744cb4036f9a6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1773353392&Signature=WAVf2ydNPzVsUoL8rzyAfHRZv-Y4qOttVWw9M7BGptGdhe-ddRApo2QsAaC2Q1PLlKYfH7SQVU89bu2sWBlNUhakOaK5nfXeQPk91xQiIjjlIxoovuoWJFxGtliBb22ZrVbzS-4HsXC-I0QSl~WSOeWrtK5oW9Fn6hCYpvKUO4PMCdSHokgCGPquCv~a~8IUtagoWtpmD4w7nuuhx6u6~zVGwPtohHs2ZEMrdkjMqjtTjfB78qCWvy~anRAtJTtOJFPkgix4rHeFTnWdF9oCPVHhuh45z5fWSFt~~eTffuUMEMNmNxuAsL029jeAQZMNWEwSHqVe5O-f6G0FF5ifhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kelly Sheets, English Learner coordinator and teacher for North Platte Public Schools, told the board on May 12 that the district’s English learner (EL) program grew during the 2024–25 school year and that staffing and program changes are planned for next year.

Sheets said the district now serves students who speak 23 languages, including Zulu, Ugandan languages and Hausa, and that EL enrollment stood at 63 active students and 31 monitored students for a total of 194. “We currently have 23 languages represented in our district,” Sheets said. She described program groupings, explaining that “active students” have not demonstrated proficiency on the ELPA21 assessment and receive targeted support, while “monitor” students have shown proficiency in the last four years and are tracked for continued success.

The board was told administrators will add certificated EL capacity next year. Board members and administrators said the district has offered and filled at least one EL position and expects two additional certificated FTEs next year; the hires were described as administrative staffing actions rather than formal board votes. A district speaker also said the hires are intended to address caseloads and placement logistics across buildings.

Sheets outlined classroom practice and curriculum. She said the district uses the EL Achieve curriculum to teach the four language domains — reading, writing, speaking and listening — with explicit language instruction and grade-level alignment. She described instructional supports including visuals, color coding for parts of speech, sentence frames, structured talk routines and accommodated assessments. “The goal with the curriculum that we use is for students to do at least 50% of the time talking,” she said.

On screening and placement, Sheets said the district uses the Infinite Campus registration questions and the ELPA screener. If a student’s registration indicates a language other than English, state-required screening follows; students who score proficient on the screener are placed in general education without EL supports. “If they get any kind of progressing or emerging score on any one of those four areas, then they stay with us in the program until they’re proficient in all four,” she said.

Sheets described family engagement work — two family nights for elementary and secondary, gallery walks and take-home literacy activities — and said secondary family attendance is lower than elementary, often because older students work after school. Board members asked about mentoring by recently exited students; Sheets said monitor students informally help beginners, especially at the high school level, where her classroom serves as a drop-in support space.

Board members also asked about where EL staff will be assigned. Administrators said teaching-and-learning staff are finalizing programming and building assignments and noted that next year’s placements should reduce current student transport during the school day.

Clarifying details discussed during the presentation included counts by proficiency level (78 beginning/level 1; 35 level 2; 36 level 3; 14 level 4; 31 advanced/monitors), 23 newly registered EL students to be screened next year, and an end-of-year active count of 63 students. Sheets said many supports allow EL students to meet grade-level standards while also learning English.

The board did not take formal action on EL program funding or staffing during the meeting; the staffing additions were presented as administrative actions already underway.","North Platte Public Schools reported rising English learner enrollment, 23 languages represented and plans for two additional certificated EL positions next year; staff described curriculum, assessment and family engagement strategies.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board hears legislative update as session nears close; ACT and NSCAS funding uncertain

District budget report: state payment improves cash flow; depreciation transfer planned

Board adopts 2024 Nebraska State science standards

Board approves revisions to claims-audit, gifts, closing and Wednesday-night policies

North Platte board hears English learner program growth, staffing plans