[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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],{"_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",6456088,"mediaKeyId","5701949-de4da58eba89233f336844db08ba0ce8","parentId",5701949,"title","Teachers support 'smart casual' staff dress policy; parent urges adding at-large board seat","audioSeconds",460,"startMs",733000,"endMs",1193000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5701949-de4da58eba89233f336844db08ba0ce8&start=733&end=1193","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5701949-de4da58eba89233f336844db08ba0ce8/thumbnail_733000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6456088/Nebraska/Teachers-support-smart-casual-staff-dress-policy-parent-urges-adding-at-large-board-seat","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6456088-738e477bbe065bd4f3565d90d2d89139/orig.mp4?Expires=1770398291&Signature=MeXGPAGcVgQGvqg4oJvgNxUL5RSoijO2NXU50k3Nc~YzfN8yKfVjNLf4FHVMkaHCfBIe-OeYNBJHWwXh4L94EBbd4MxqgNygrvq5lvVXd2E1MOd9u0tEdoTpD3g4WfNg7nhdUEjKNqg52qUVaVG972Iz9iQCcgByTjbqPQG2KtJFxCEN9i3tMyBXhijpZPMTsbQRU4B3hkwZEMvDR0O0AA7HN~K7orhY30LnxXum41cp4s-5kxVmzf8H9yzNgZinClOFvhdTwKbIv94nxmB1v8eL3pnmwA4lThNKHGJfFNFAmqcUJgecByTIv6xpnyGTUW6mpt2stqyvyom6ppHSzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Platte Public Schools, NE","date","2025-08-30T04:32:35.887Z","article","Two public commentators addressed the board during the Aug. 28 Committee of the Whole meeting.

Kenzie Lohmer, speaking as president of the North Platte Education Association, asked the board to maintain the district's current staff dress policy, Core Policy 4041, which the association characterizes as \"smart casual\" and said has allowed staff to wear jeans. \"The current dress code is making a positive difference in morale,\" Lohmer said, summarizing a 2024 membership survey she said showed strong support among certified staff for the policy change. She told trustees the change cost the district nothing and helped teachers connect with students, especially in early-childhood classrooms where being able to sit on the floor matters.

Shreya Aggarwal, who identified herself as a North Platte parent, said the first weeks of the school year had been positive for her children and thanked administrators and staff for preserving services despite federal funding uncertainty. Aggarwal urged trustees to consider adding an at-large board seat so the board would have an odd number of members and avoid tie votes. \"A flip of a coin should not be the decider for some of the most challenging and important decisions,\" she said, referencing Nebraska statutory process and noting that adding an at-large position would require a board recommendation and must be done in an odd calendar year to appear on the next statewide general-election ballot.

Board members thanked both speakers and said they would follow up on the policy and the parent's suggestion about board composition.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","NPPS BoE Committee of the Whole (8-28-25)","oneSentenceSummary","Members of the public urged the North Platte Public Schools board on Aug. 28 to retain the district's current \"smart casual\" staff dress code and to consider adding an at-large board seat to avoid tie votes.","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},6456092,"Board discusses tailoring superintendent evaluation; weighs NASB customization vs. attorney's tool",1010,1977000,2987000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5701949-de4da58eba89233f336844db08ba0ce8&start=1977&end=2987","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5701949-de4da58eba89233f336844db08ba0ce8/thumbnail_1977000.jpg","/articles/6456092/Nebraska/Board-discusses-tailoring-superintendent-evaluation-weighs-NASB-customization-vs-attorneys-tool","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6456092-46a81878a70818d26230b92818a89c96/orig.mp4?Expires=1770398291&Signature=R-jAA7PLpESBkafgvz6wZv2rv-i6STblmAAyIO3kTCzqW-JZd4ICYdc2h5wftKCI3n5H~6XLJe97dLhXMxL8UOmhUGafBoWmgac9AMyHSFvK5GDVanO3ngQj5D69UQdrgR2VIIjlNRT48vN4mepCeLDVx3TVSOsksGB2GBK1HYL0TO33RZ6WwB8NdpEMQzoTeT6~RQkQF4~zLHrFG~50P5WL9KzC67M9TVSi48q47cFOXolSwqEy3SKpQ7uOzc3wnRzSptUjyAwj4BYlZ3MrLnOKnMyREehUB69Es8Vkg7iMm1oMbyu9X7V9Nx4xf1l5MMuIkSnUcan4wghLAoKZLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Aug. 28 Committee of the Whole, the North Platte Public Schools board discussed revising the superintendent-evaluation process to better align annual reviews with the district's five-year strategic plan.

Board members said they would like the evaluation rubric to reflect the district's strategic priorities so that the superintendent's goals and performance feedback are directly tied to the plan. The board heard three options presented: continue using the standard NASB evaluation, customize NASB's tool through a one-time $600 development fee (with a lower annual renewal), or adopt the KSB (district legal counsel) annual evaluation tool, which was described as shorter and simpler but carries a higher annual fee ($1,300'$1,500 range was cited).

\"When we're implementing a strategic plan, our evaluation process should align with that strategic plan,\" Superintendent Dr. Rhodes told trustees. He said NASB's existing system allows for superintendent self-evaluation and an aggregated board report and that NASB indicated the rubric can be customized. \"Anything that you put in place for goals or expectations has to be aligned to the vision of the district,\" Dr. Rhodes said.

Trustees discussed specific features they liked and disliked in each option: NASB offers a four-point scale (which some trustees said forces clearer judgments than an odd-numbered scale), pre-populated comment text tied to rating levels, and an existing process for anonymous aggregation. KSB's product was described as more concise and including a place for artifacts tied to evaluation domains; one trustee said the pre-generated comments could be helpful for board members unsure how to phrase feedback. Some trustees recommended involving Dr. Rhodes and a small board working group in any customization work.

Board members asked staff to gather more detail on what NASB customization would actually look like, the expected one-time and recurring costs, and whether artifacts and other features could be included. NASB and KSB were discussed as both already being accepted by the Nebraska Department of Education for filing, which matters for any formal evaluation instrument the board adopts.

The board did not adopt a new evaluation tool at this meeting and directed staff to return with additional options and cost comparisons.

","Trustees reviewed options to align the superintendent evaluation with the district's five-year strategic plan, including customizing the Nebraska Association of School Boards (NASB) rubric for a one-time $600 fee or using the school attorney's (KSB) tool for a higher annual cost; board requested more information and involvement from Dr. Rhodes.",{"_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},6456097,"Board tables decision on increasing property-tax authority after lengthy budget briefing",4442,3787000,8229000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5701949-de4da58eba89233f336844db08ba0ce8&start=3787&end=8229","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5701949-de4da58eba89233f336844db08ba0ce8/thumbnail_3787000.jpg","/articles/6456097/Nebraska/Board-tables-decision-on-increasing-property-tax-authority-after-lengthy-budget-briefing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6456097-bc87e92dab2f2c971fa45573b7e6b07a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770398291&Signature=Oc~uiIFIq8yC7eLKuB~8pp8N41UFCc7bDW~NRBw0FokdmqaOQKS7aSaC8mNq9WBhzOujUbTrLTC0XQ6Ru~C9Y2oe2dgUiGYDo3S8K0cRn5eahUeD6Ht9iKrz5lZvTLhFjBgGkmy6a1jLxM6K3fcnIXhX2axOKfhNfYVH-PXTkPUDdqB3A1ofxgUuVgHp80vK6MAGhvS7nNI6cjj38Z9ro2FfF-RyJyDefkQo9SQC3GF1roA2iQYks0rHjTFmTZjwe518ttv6iEc1cS508MOxqUVjwit02r20IUXPBzNOt0olu7hPEWlBbZmPyqS-6sxsmaeMvFBJVtuX4aztajlSfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The North Platte Public Schools Board of Education heard an updated 2025–26 budget presentation from district finance staff and tabled a resolution that would have raised the district's base growth percentage for property-tax request authority by up to 5%.

The board received a detailed budget briefing from Dr. McDonald, who walked trustees through a 10-year history of taxable valuations, state aid, general-fund disbursements and proposed transfers. \"I have gone through, went back to a couple years worth of line items ... and developed some spreadsheets on current staffing,\" Dr. McDonald said, summarizing the work that produced the draft 2025–26 budget. He told the board the draft projects a 3.5% decrease in estimated receipts and that, if approved as recommended, the district would move toward a more positive beginning cash balance for the next fiscal year.

The presentation included comparisons with similar-size Nebraska districts, a review of depreciation and special-building funds, and an explanation of the Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund (QCPUF) and how it can be used for life-safety building needs. Dr. McDonald reiterated that the district's current position leaves limited operating margin: \"We don't start the year right now ... In essence, we're banking on the county treasury balance for September to cover that and get it started.\"

Board members asked questions about the district's past practice of transferring funds into the depreciation account and whether those transfers had been reversed to shore up the general fund. Dr. McDonald acknowledged transfers had been reduced this year to preserve operating liquidity and said future transfers would be presented to the board for explicit approval. A board member said the change in practice had been \"a shock\" because earlier budgets had shown transfers to depreciation earmarked for projects such as the track.

The meeting moved from discussion to a formal resolution. The proposed resolution would have increased the district's base growth percentage used to compute the property-tax request authority by up to 5% to provide the district broader tax-request flexibility in future years. A motion to adopt the resolution failed for lack of a second. Board members then made and seconded a motion to table the resolution; the board voted to table the item and directed staff to bring the matter back at the next meeting with follow-up information.

Votes at the meeting included routine procedural approvals earlier in the evening (approval of the Committee of the Whole publication and approval of the agenda). The tax-authority item was the substantive action on the agenda: a motion to adopt the resolution died for lack of a second; a subsequent motion to table passed by roll call and will be considered again at the board's next meeting.

Board members and staff said they will continue work on the budget and on clarifying the impact of potential tax-authority changes. Dr. McDonald said he will provide follow-up materials requested during the meeting, including a clearer explanation of the cash-reserve versus disbursement accounting treatment and comparisons of district state-aid drivers with peer districts.

The board adjourned after tabling the resolution.","At the North Platte Public Schools committee of the whole on Aug. 28, staff presented the 2025–26 budget and proposed increasing the district's base growth percentage for property-tax authority by up to 5%. A motion to adopt the resolution failed for lack of a second; the board then voted to table the item until the next meeting.",{"_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},6456082,"Washington Elementary reports higher proficiency and lower behavior incidents after MTSS and attendance focus",129,1354000,1483000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5701949-de4da58eba89233f336844db08ba0ce8&start=1354&end=1483","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5701949-de4da58eba89233f336844db08ba0ce8/thumbnail_1354000.jpg","/articles/6456082/Nebraska/Washington-Elementary-reports-higher-proficiency-and-lower-behavior-incidents-after-MTSS-and-attendance-focus","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6456082-e936390e24378ee16890056fe7516374/orig.mp4?Expires=1770398291&Signature=QloprJhWVJfmX2Dxm0NNbmJZDAqQhPDxouWt1D4HCz~A3vxPSkBPyVdVi73vG9gSK5-TiuvaFA8Pw34CNQSJEpSUlBTJOsSMMXGLmShJmfVhIJoEOz~ZF5GpVSElpB~KPygawPv-v33~SWRyIjvLvJMn0N5b4HhbxL5YfWpPXUuGk4eZl3XONJ2~BIqPpC279hjnSM-IH7hq45jo0Xf-NLeaSzbLkPO~tJltSA29vWz44nE1FpiHms0BB9~h5b-ppHGiaWeLKRBiSjGoUYZlLi6-H3XRU4TN6KUo~XQwvjzIyH3u7dIA5gpxb09xeMgvk~8OFru3c56ZEfMppMr-mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Washington Elementary staff presented their site plan and building results to the North Platte Public Schools board during the Aug. 28 Committee of the Whole.

The presenter reported that the school exceeded last year's proficiency goals: \"As you can see ... 72 percent of our students actually did score at or above proficiency level,\" the presenter said, describing progress in ELA, math and science and crediting the school's organization of intervention and enrichment time and frequent data monitoring. Staff said they prioritized essential standards and used frequent formative and summative assessment to guide intervention groups.

On student behavior, the school reported a reduction in major office referrals from a previous year's 73% major incidents to 46% major incidents after adopting targeted strategies, including a \"regulation station\" in classrooms and updated flowcharts for discipline response. \"It took a lot of time and a lot of work, but we focused on voice count, just explicitly teaching those strategies to the kids,\" the presenter said.

Washington also reported an overall attendance rate of 96.3% for 2024'025, exceeding a 96% goal. Staff said they used recognition programs, grade-level shout-outs and a quarterly \"Level Up\" award focused on improving chronic absenteeism.

Goals for the coming year include: returning to MAPS as an interim assessment to improve NSCAS results, refining intervention/enrichment implementation, vetting daily \"mindful moments\" and a rest block for kindergarten and first grade to address physical aggression and transition fatigue, and maintaining strategies to improve attendance.

Board members complimented the staff for their data-driven work and asked to receive updates on the kindergarten/first-grade rest-time pilot.","School staff presented Washington Elementary's 2024'025 site-plan outcomes to the board, reporting surpassing proficiency goals in math and reading, a decline in major behavior incidents and improved attendance, and outlined building goals for 2025'026 including expanded intervention/enrichment time and rest/mindful practices for early grades.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Teachers support 'smart casual' staff dress policy; parent urges adding at-large board seat

Board discusses tailoring superintendent evaluation; weighs NASB customization vs. attorney's tool

Board tables decision on increasing property-tax authority after lengthy budget briefing

Washington Elementary reports higher proficiency and lower behavior incidents after MTSS and attendance focus