[{"_1":2,"_95":-5,"_96":-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",[32,75,85],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6052576,"mediaKeyId","3395409-ef3f59c9388565dd3285db3a3ee5d799","parentId",3395409,"title","Millard board approves districtwide PK–12 English language-arts field study; modest material cost noted","audioSeconds",530,"startMs",3116000,"endMs",3646000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3395409-ef3f59c9388565dd3285db3a3ee5d799&start=3116&end=3646","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6052576/Nebraska/Millard-board-approves-districtwide-PK12-English-language-arts-field-study-modest-material-cost-noted","mediaUrl","author","Millard Public Schools, NE","date","2025-05-05T00:00:00Z","article","The Millard Public Schools Board of Education on May 12 approved a districtwide PK–12 English language-arts field study that will pilot several publisher programs and collect teacher and student data to inform a possible future adoption.

Administrators said the field study will include classroom pilots of materials from McGraw Hill, Amplify and Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) across elementary classrooms and relevant middle- and high-school alignments. District staff told trustees 75 classroom teachers from the elementary buildings will participate, with two to three classroom sections represented at each grade level; the goal is broad representation so peer teachers can share experiences in future implementation years.

District staff reported a small budget impact: $13,767.90 to cover Montessori materials and other minimal costs for the pilot. Assistant superintendent-level staff and curriculum facilitators said publishers commonly support field studies and that most costs are nominal; the district expects training needs and rollout planning if the district later recommends adoption.

Timeline and process: the field study will run during the upcoming semester; staff will reconvene the field-study group at the semester’s end to review data and teacher feedback. The district intends to present a recommendation to the curriculum planning committee in the spring following the pilot, and to bring proposed frameworks back to the board next April so, if adopted, new materials can be implemented the following school year.

District curriculum staff emphasized the pilots are aligned to the district’s broader work on the science of reading and to current professional development already under way. One staff member said, “There’s a lot of rigor built into the programs and there’s really strong supports for all of our learners,” and added the selected materials offer assessment-aligned intervention pathways.

The board approved the field study on a roll-call vote. Trustees asked that staff ensure training and support resources are factored into any later adoption timeline so teachers are prepared for classroom implementation.

","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","Millard Public Schools Board of Education Meeting May 5, 2025 ","oneSentenceSummary","Trustees authorized a districtwide PK–12 English language arts field study that will test several curricula, involve dozens of teachers from every elementary building, and carry a small one-time materials cost for Montessori resources.","taxTitle","Millard Public Schools, School Districts, Nebraska","taxId",76464,"location","Nebraska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":50,"_51":82,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6052582,"Millard board adopts parental-access rule; administration says language mirrors state statute",1866,1042000,2908000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3395409-ef3f59c9388565dd3285db3a3ee5d799&start=1042&end=2908","/articles/6052582/Nebraska/Millard-board-adopts-parental-access-rule-administration-says-language-mirrors-state-statute","The Millard Public Schools Board of Education voted May 12 to adopt Rule 6-800.1, the district rule on parental access to specific instruction and activities.

The rule implements statutory language enacted by the Nebraska Legislature; the board heard no public speakers on the rule during the hearing. A district official told trustees the rule is “prescribed word for word in state statute based on a law passed last year,” and that adopting it simply brings the district’s paperwork into alignment with state law.

During discussion, the board asked whether the rule would change day-to-day practice. District staff said it would not. Administrators described a long-standing practice of working with families and teachers when parents request exclusion from specific lessons or activities and noted that opt-outs are rare — most commonly associated with specific health-education lessons.

Board member Mike Kennedy asked how often the district receives opt-out requests for curriculum content more broadly. A district staffer answered, “Almost none,” and explained that when parents ask questions, teachers frequently show the specific lessons, books and standards in use; that transparency typically resolves concerns without needing a formal exclusion.

Trustees and staff also discussed how the district ensures students who are excluded from material still meet course standards. Staff said that when an exclusion would prevent a student from meaningfully completing a course, the family and school discuss alternate ways to meet the required standards and indicators.

After discussion the board moved and passed a motion to approve Rule 6-800.1. The motion passed on a roll-call vote by the members present.

What this means: The rule adopts the state-prescribed language and documents the district’s opt-out process. District officials emphasized that existing processes — teacher communication about lessons, principal-managed accommodations and work-arounds when exclusions would block course completion — will continue.

","The Millard Board adopted Rule 6-800.1, the district’s parental-access rule, which the administration said follows statutory language and preserves long-standing opt-out practices; board members and staff discussed how opt-outs are handled in practice.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":50,"_51":92,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":93,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":94,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6052586,"Millard board affirms student-fee policy and adopts rule after public concern over waiver awareness and equity",1532,828000,2360000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3395409-ef3f59c9388565dd3285db3a3ee5d799&start=828&end=2360","/articles/6052586/Nebraska/Millard-board-affirms-student-fee-policy-and-adopts-rule-after-public-concern-over-waiver-awareness-and-equity","The Millard Public Schools Board of Education on May 12 reaffirmed its student-fee policy and approved the district rule that sets out fee types, waiver availability and administrative procedures after a public hearing and extended board discussion.

Parent Allison Kinney Walker told the board she appreciated that a waiver exists for families on free or reduced-price lunch but said she did not know about it until reading the rule that day. “I’m unsure if all parents and guardians know about this waiver,” Walker said during the hearing, and urged clearer outreach so families would “feel comfortable asking for help and that there’s no stigma attached to that waiver process.”

The board’s discussion that followed focused on how waiver information is communicated and on the broader accumulation of optional and requested contributions that families face during the school year. Board member Stacy Jolley said she shared Walker’s concerns and described conversations with district staff about how waivers are used and how the district supports families. “There might be families who wouldn’t qualify for that waiver of free and reduced lunch, but are still nonetheless experiencing hardship,” Jolley said.

District staff told the board waivers exist for students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch and that practices for notifying families vary by school. Counselors, social workers and bookkeepers commonly follow up with families when a need is identified, and administrators said many extracurricular sponsors and coaches notify families at pre-season or program meetings about fees and the process for assistance. A staff member described the process: families who qualify are directed to a bookkeeper or the school’s activity secretary and staff will work with them.

Board members praised existing informal supports — including the Millard Foundation and school-level outreach — but said transparency could improve so families can distinguish between required fees and optional fundraisers or supply requests. Trustees also noted the board set no district-wide fee increases this year.

After the hearing and debate, the board moved to reaffirm Policy 67-50 (Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment — Student Fees) and to adopt the accompanying rule (Rule 67-50.1 as listed on the agenda). The motions carried on a roll-call vote; the rule was approved and will govern fee collection and waiver procedures going forward.

What the actions mean: The rule and policy set the district’s formal framework for fees and waivers but do not create new waiver categories; district staff said the rule codifies existing practice and that school-based staff will continue to handle individual requests. Board members asked administration to review outreach methods so families learn about available assistance earlier and with less stigma.

Board President Linda Poole opened the public hearing by citing state requirements that govern annual student-fee hearings: “Section 79-2134 of the Public Elementary and Secondary Student Fee Authorization Act requires that annually, each school board hold a public hearing ... for the purpose of addressing the proposed student fees policy,” she said.

Next steps: Administration will implement the rule and staff said they will share information internally about standardizing how waiver information is presented at school activity meetings and in parent communications.

","After a public hearing, the Millard Public Schools Board of Education reaffirmed its student-fee policy and approved the accompanying administrative rule, while trustees and staff discussed waiver outreach and equity concerns raised by a parent.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Millard board approves districtwide PK–12 English language-arts field study; modest material cost noted

Millard board adopts parental-access rule; administration says language mirrors state statute

Millard board affirms student-fee policy and adopts rule after public concern over waiver awareness and equity