[{"_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",6529163,"mediaKeyId","3807111-e14e42beaa66a07287dc3f23b4bca3ab","parentId",3807111,"title","Board approves consent agenda, eliminates two obsolete policies","audioSeconds",8551,"startMs",52000,"endMs",8603000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3807111-e14e42beaa66a07287dc3f23b4bca3ab&start=52&end=8603","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3807111-e14e42beaa66a07287dc3f23b4bca3ab/thumbnail_52000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6529163/Nebraska/Board-approves-consent-agenda-eliminates-two-obsolete-policies","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6529163-9b18cc26170a4743964d605827015c75/orig.mp4?Expires=1771057520&Signature=B7n2LBISmMnxMLRoOydHnvIbkciUyZEVTtKW69Og2aibQamS9jO4lXEdwUtOJfjPBdiExweFspr4HJPRA55ZxWKjcElsNp2AOmfURRpsjTfG2zsg3D02hsD12MbpXGDoJApoEjgyA4jHCRTO2SelBJhref-g9Swy8~RPJiGUWAdDsrtzARIXKQ~3NIs8w3gSYDnz-Gzr0nFdJy~6zij3r9fjPnqLGanVG6~GFK4zg2izwjr-WYsiscBX9slsQSZ5Vmiy9srBT7pcxNYV1ZvaXMWxzNdZDR6KEwQ6rFFOcxOAD93T8oVls4cgqKRvehUZC5r0niZ7R1dph4HBGDsEAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ralston Public Schools, NE","date","2025-06-10T13:54:45Z","article","The Ralston Public Schools Board approved its consent agenda and voted to eliminate two policies the district identified as obsolete.

Consent agenda: the board approved minutes and financial items listed on the consent agenda, including May bills for the general fund and special building fund. The consent motion passed on a roll call; all members present voted in the affirmative.

Policy eliminations: the board then approved motions to eliminate Policy 6045 (Pupil Progress — Secondary) and Policy 5034 (Student Handbooks), actions staff said were procedural steps to clear obsolete language before rolling updated handbook language into the policy manual. Both motions passed by recorded roll call votes.

Vote details: for each motion the board recorded unanimous “aye” votes from members present. For Policy 6045 the roll call was recorded as Missus Huff — Aye; Missus Willie — Aye; Missus Richards — Aye; Missus Krauss — Aye; Miss Rorty — Aye; Missus Comerill — Aye. The same six board members recorded aye votes on the motion to eliminate Policy 5034.

Why it matters: staff said the eliminations clear obsolete handbook language so the district policy service can publish updated policies and consolidate handbook content under the appropriate policy numbers. Board members reviewed other policy-language updates in the meeting and were scheduled to consider revised policies and handbook language at a future meeting.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","RPS Board of Education Meeting - June 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Ralston Public Schools Board approved the consent agenda including May bills and moved to eliminate two policies flagged as obsolete after a policy-service review. Roll-call votes were unanimous.","taxTitle","RALSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, School Districts, Nebraska","taxId",76452,"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},6529168,"District reports stronger cash position, bond-project progress and construction timeline risks",863,4240000,5103000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3807111-e14e42beaa66a07287dc3f23b4bca3ab&start=4240&end=5103","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3807111-e14e42beaa66a07287dc3f23b4bca3ab/thumbnail_4240000.jpg","/articles/6529168/Nebraska/District-reports-stronger-cash-position-bond-project-progress-and-construction-timeline-risks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6529168-ab1a4f7e467dd130a0cde363481e0934/orig.mp4?Expires=1771057520&Signature=QVLkaXDXO5wTL4he527bi06ONXtA9HdCJArYoADGuiOFQttv3vr--ewRFao8~ZAfHt6NrFwzS3-dfh8Mt~T97tVNMSvZhBxx6dvsJTn4NXAWytRuB2SjGnF9etwFNQeEZ8Eq1SE~4Kh06JYb3bxBkJ7olkVncbLRYqx74CxQIYJ3lhYMPSugTz2JfLXc5VlTdqRXQCCKHKGkLJwJX-GOxtt6UWpZ9F1Qzbm9RkITNi9WYSXt48c1xxEN~0nyCTBrmxDUJ6m0GzkPxhMaHOfWFDJdHYB7G-Jul3Xu2xoPq5Dt9eaWuSofPY7S4IqcVL5KA6A-iK0k6SvSb-URyjAnLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The district’s business office reported May financials and gave a progress update on construction tied to bond projects.

Financial snapshot: business staff said receipts are ahead of last year and that the district is roughly $4.4 million ahead of where it was this time last year, with cash balances at or above the three-month operating target. The report showed receipts at about 85% of expected budget-to-date and disbursements at roughly 71%. Staff noted local property tax receipts were arriving earlier than in the prior year and that state apportionment timing produced a positive cash surprise.

Special-building and bond funds: the special-building fund balance stood around $27 million with about $10 million already committed to contracts, the business manager said. The bond fund balance was about $6.8 million and scheduled draws were expected in June and December. Staff said they will brief the board later about remaining projects and potential uses of leftover bond proceeds.

Construction status and timing risk: the construction update focused on Ralston High School: crews have completed most interior classroom work, demo concerns (gym ceiling, parking) proved less severe than worst-case, but pavement and parking work depend on dry weather. Staff reported the upper parking lot concrete pours were scheduled in consecutive days and that earlier rain had delayed progress; a successful pour schedule will ease the risk of premium weekend labor but continued wet weather could require extra shifts and contingency spending. The high‑school project retains a contingency fund in the contract of about $470,000, staff said.

Other notes: maintenance-and-operations spending has fallen compared with earlier years, which the business office attributed to bond-funded facility improvements and fewer emergency service calls. Staff also noted a recommendation on depreciation-fund contributions will be brought to the board for August consideration.

","Business staff told the board the district's cash balance is stronger than a year ago, special-building funds remain available for completion of bond projects, and high-school construction is progressing with a near-term concrete and parking schedule that depends on dry weather.",{"_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},6529173,"Special education director outlines district services, option-enrollment impacts and staffing gains",903,5930000,6833000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3807111-e14e42beaa66a07287dc3f23b4bca3ab&start=5930&end=6833","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3807111-e14e42beaa66a07287dc3f23b4bca3ab/thumbnail_5930000.jpg","/articles/6529173/Nebraska/Special-education-director-outlines-district-services-option-enrollment-impacts-and-staffing-gains","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6529173-f49f1ce13e313a56ad90be2552d9eda5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771057520&Signature=VQPp0fTyspAMeqTJwcy0Y1yamIEWqqcmAxn73SJXQdPid8PDSidMFmGVDgDKuVZQtEODFAai9nYP0azfNU9OvNNZx~t~mH-CqquwgHIk6EqUACCBJyvBYiyUEI2N2y6qoO3Pfjo61cP4hC7fpDzCNSQ~DsU5e4F0sHXH9mPeAvnc2Hq89BHBoGdp92Xr3EqWZ8jPRggZ14Ljv72z7e9RsKBR3gXEyWHHAlIsNGVDhb0z3uwnmO0Tu0kE8nHTHNqhqNQvvGIHVQvoHsQFTvs79CpEUvKJlR6tN0nI1uXXoVZtO~88BWksAsovbctzGXAixRZqzJPxUjTeBf55vFRJkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Special education leaders briefed the board on enrollment, service arrays and staffing for the 2024–25 year and discussed option-enrollment and contract arrangements.

Current snapshot: the director reported 687 students who qualify for special education across the birth-to-21 population (October 1 and updated counts). Of those, 568 are district residents and 119 are option-enrolled students from other districts; the director said the option-enrollment counts can include students who opted in at kindergarten and later qualified for services.

Service mix and rules: the director reviewed disability categories used under Nebraska Rule 51 and IDEA, noted that specific learning disabilities (especially reading difficulties) and speech-language impairment are large categories and explained that Nebraska allows verification either through a discrepancy model or through MTSS (multi-tiered system) processes. She said Ralston historically used the discrepancy model because the district’s tier-1 instruction improvements are recent and verification via MTSS requires sustained, high-quality core instruction.

Preschool and contracted services: the district’s early childhood programming is largely housed at Bloomfield; the director said Ralston operates part- and full-time early childhood classrooms and contracts for vision services and some therapy through external providers (for example, ESU 3 and private therapy contractors). She also noted the district provides equitable services to nonpublic schools located inside district boundaries, e.g., students attending St. Gerald’s receive district-provided speech services.

Staffing and capacity: the director said the district has increased special education staffing the past three years and is “fully staffed to walk into next year,” reporting multiple recent hires including two speech-language pathologists after a period of shortages. She added the district contracts only for a limited set of specialized placements and uses metro-area partners when needed.

Board questions and policy context: board members asked whether federal funding uncertainty threatens special education services; staff said IDEA funding remains federally protected and the district is monitoring possible budget effects but has not seen proposals to withhold federal special-education funds. The director also said the district will report dyslexia-screening metrics and option-enrollment acceptance/denial data in required state reports.

","The district’s special education team told the board it serves roughly 687 students across preschool–K‑12, described service breakdowns by disability category, and said the district is fully staffed for the coming year after targeted hires in speech and related services.",{"_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},6529177,"Wildwood principal outlines drops in chronic absenteeism, gains in reading after targeted interventions",605,2078000,2683000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3807111-e14e42beaa66a07287dc3f23b4bca3ab&start=2078&end=2683","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3807111-e14e42beaa66a07287dc3f23b4bca3ab/thumbnail_2078000.jpg","/articles/6529177/Nebraska/Wildwood-principal-outlines-drops-in-chronic-absenteeism-gains-in-reading-after-targeted-interventions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6529177-ef4a4a0e8e580433e4b6c4c204d812e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771057520&Signature=PfcG5P9m1AiW5uyKXqwZyRtLIXciX3BS7heywq8vjAaHo2A27gnqV0B3T6HJm8TuBHIjYWdFq43DF4YmPJ~-toTsXFKA0BQhOcFcyCtlQTjHsx5hPjusPBW25PqcRm~rGu2FylcqfpTCBmzg2x72pNuMkfzAuWwLPnwXtdfo9XvpVO-SMSqCNTeIFx5ddK3e6PRjIMJkDl-crLOKELthnJYOnnI7Hzcv3q2bOQDn7ta22mPId1jVDHbTveVGhZWMT7VDW7RS8kJHsGuFJ5d2ODcHLzVxv7zJkWlrnxgn~iPXDQNKqBO4R1i-12qEofPHiRZF-l09RQArY4GUE7f16g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wildwood Elementary staff summarized a year-long effort to raise attendance, reduce chronic absenteeism and boost reading proficiency.

Principal Ashley presented data showing the school set a goal to maintain 95% average daily attendance and to reduce chronic absenteeism (students missing 10% or more of school days). She told the board Wildwood used an early “strong start” campaign, teacher phone-call follow-ups, attendance mentors, family outreach and small incentives to encourage daily attendance.

Results and context: Ashley said midyear the school reached the 95% target for average daily attendance and cut chronic absenteeism from about 19% the prior year to roughly 10% midyear; by spring the school reported a 4% drop in chronic absenteeism (better than its 3% target). She emphasized that many students who had been chronically absent the prior year returned: “of the 52 students who were chronically absent last year, 47 of them came back. Twenty-five of those 47 kids are not on our list this year.”

Reading gains: Wildwood also described reading interventions. The school expanded co-teaching in every classroom, adopted consistent research-based interventions (FastBridge and, in some grades, IXL), emphasized SIOP strategies for English learners and introduced student goal-setting tied to assessment results. Ashley said kindergarten and first grade showed especially strong growth and intermediate grades made year-over-year proficiency gains.

Barriers and focus areas: presenters said Hispanic students and students identified as having social-emotional challenges missed more days on average, and that extended family travel accounted for several chronic absence cases. The school said it will shift effort to earlier intervention — catching students at 5–7% missed days rather than only when they reach the 10% chronic threshold.

Board reaction and next steps: board members praised the strong use of data, asked for continued attention to root causes for absences and encouraged the school to compile more granular reasons for missed days so the district can assess system-level supports. Wildwood said summer planning will include outreach to families identified as at risk of future chronic absence and professional development tied to reading instruction.

","Wildwood Elementary presented its School Improvement Plan results: focused attendance interventions reduced chronic absenteeism and tiered reading supports drove measurable mid- to end-of-year growth, the principal told the board.",{"_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},6529181,"District lobbyist summarizes session: LB303, LB306 and budget risks top education agenda",880,559000,1439000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3807111-e14e42beaa66a07287dc3f23b4bca3ab&start=559&end=1439","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3807111-e14e42beaa66a07287dc3f23b4bca3ab/thumbnail_559000.jpg","/articles/6529181/Nebraska/District-lobbyist-summarizes-session-LB303-LB306-and-budget-risks-top-education-agenda","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6529181-453986b0ff35bb6217222212874afa1a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771057520&Signature=GrysKGa9X70kBYBjuPnU8XlCURW7hfrKcbDij-m1UCs2NHX0xbSXeZ3gYGEhBgmWQSm12JnXp1ASwVcefHQ1IHrUNGR4ghtFYxgEArKJ02Zr0DqEOwGEdKZgs-1I2hvCjFmrJQ~Cy0qZZoeXvmjOAPg1nUf9R3zTwsGsyb3gkh5XbP25FI7c4VyAfV242m6GCEFEIy4Yi8JmVJ27KwR2ZECRQDAMpfh8iRmR3Cnu1gxKm29EpUqvLsX39RbpWED1oZ9QVE8mM4ZIi2UIXJ~S5f8WFwE7TmOUbzjWq0HWiUn2UxZeStq1MaJgTCPXiPeV1xYlHk0n6JqjdV7UF8l~pQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The district’s retained lobbyist reviewed the recently adjourned legislative session and identified two bills — LB303 and LB306 — as the primary education measures affecting schools.

The lobbyist told the Ralston Public Schools Board that “there were 2 major bills, that were passed which directly, were the focus of education. And, really, at the end of the day, there were there were 2 major bills, that were passed which directly, were the focus of education. Those were LB303 and LB306.” He said LB303 ultimately became a commission to reexamine the state aid formula (TOSA) and carried a Ballard amendment to allow districts to exceed general fund levy limits to cover increased employer retirement commitments.

Why it matters: the lobbyist said fiscal conditions constrained lawmakers. He noted the state forecast worsened during the session by “$190,000,000” plus another “$90,000,000” for FMAP-related costs and that the overall shortfall made the large changes envisioned for LB303 unaffordable as introduced.

Details: the lobbyist summarized LB306 as a late-session package that included governance and transparency provisions for higher education and other items, and said two more controversial components — a teacher leave proposal and an accommodation-for-religion provision that would have allowed aggrieved individuals to sue districts for attorney fees — were not adopted. He also flagged several other passed or pending bills the education committee watched, naming LB89 (scaled-back sports participation bill), LB647 (529 plan changes), and noting bills that did not pass but remain alive for next year such as LB156 (tort claims), LB538 (antisemitism policy), and LB653 (option enrollment changes).

Budget outlook and federal risk: the lobbyist warned the board the state budget remains at risk from possible federal actions. He said the state had assumed $35 million in hospital-provider-tax federal approval and $100 million from an MCO provider tax application; if the federal government disallows those mechanisms, the state could face substantial shortfalls and either cuts or revenue actions. He recommended the board expect continued budget uncertainty and possible pressure on education funding in the months ahead.

Board response: board members asked clarifying questions about likely next steps and whether bills such as those by Senators Lippincott and Spivey would return; the lobbyist said there was no reason to expect sponsors to stop pursuing their priorities and that many low-cost social or administrative bills are likely to reappear.

Ending: the lobbyist distributed a written final report and flagged interim-study items for the board’s review during the summer.

","At the Ralston Public Schools board meeting, the district's lobbyist reviewed the just-ended legislative session, highlighting LB303 and LB306 as the primary education bills, describing fiscal shortfalls that limited changes to school funding, and warning of potential state budget risks tied to federal decisions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves consent agenda, eliminates two obsolete policies

District reports stronger cash position, bond-project progress and construction timeline risks

Special education director outlines district services, option-enrollment impacts and staffing gains

Wildwood principal outlines drops in chronic absenteeism, gains in reading after targeted interventions

District lobbyist summarizes session: LB303, LB306 and budget risks top education agenda