Crete Public Schools awarded federal literacy grant; district staff outline rollout and summer facility work

The Crete Public Schools Board of Education on Wednesday accepted an update that the district has been approved for a federal Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) grant and heard staff reports on summer facilities work, professional development and budget timelines.

The district’s Chief Academic Officer told the board that “Crete Public Schools has been approved by the State Board of Education as a recipient of the CLSD grant.” The award places the district in tier 2 (districts serving fewer than 500 students for grant purposes), with funding described in the meeting as $259,000 per year for five years, for a total of $1,295,000.

The CLSD program’s stated lead indicator is raising third-grade English language arts proficiency on the Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS) to 75 percent; the Chief Academic Officer noted the district’s third-grade proficiency in 2024 was 47 percent and said many of the grant activities target early literacy, supports for English learners and students with disabilities, and building district capacity to use evidence-based literacy practices.

District leaders outlined planned first-year uses of the grant: training and ACT support for high school staff and students; Gold assessment and training for preschool; updated K–5 curriculum materials (CKLA); training for K–5 staff; development of a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) and professional learning communities (PLCs); and family literacy programming. The Chief Academic Officer said many of those activities will begin in the 2025–26 school year and emphasized the five-year timeline for meeting the grant’s long-term targets.

Superintendent Doctor McDowell and other administrators also reviewed summer facility and operations work. McDowell said the district paid a final construction-related claim to Mammoth Sports Construction of $420,004.34. He noted progress at the new athletic complex — poured drives, installed lights and electrical work — and that the press box delivery was pending coordination with the contractor. McDowell said the softball field and supporting amenities (sidewalks, restrooms, concessions, bleachers, audio and lights) are usable for the season though “it is not going to be pretty” while surrounding construction continues.

The district’s Chief of Staff and maintenance staff reported summer repairs including pavement patching at several sites, locker-room and storage reconfiguration at the intermediate/middle complex, preschool classroom carpeting and cabinetry, and arboretum tree trimming performed under a grant. A contract change in managed print services was also mentioned: the district moved vendor contracts to EECS after issuing an RFP and said remaining lease-return fees were part of this month’s claims.

Chief Financial Officer remarks included changes to monthly financial reports (added prior-month salaries/benefits and a departmental expenditure chart) and a revenue/expenditure snapshot as of July 31 showing revenues of $38,000,007.71 and expenditures of $38,000,003.26. The CFO described the near-term budget timeline: valuation updates in coming weeks, public budget presentations in August, joint public hearings and the formal tax-request filings in October and November, and auditors on-site September 16–18.

Board members approved a consent agenda, an annual Microsoft licensing agreement and disposal of excess goods at a city auction scheduled for Sept. 6; those votes were taken by roll call. The superintendent announced two community budget meetings tentatively set for Aug. 19 and Aug. 25 at 6:30 p.m., plus staff sessions.

The board’s next regular working meeting was set for Sept. 3, 2025, at the Cardinal Welcome Center.