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Nebraska committee hears cleanup bill to let Learning Community hire staff and buy property
Summary
Sen. Bob Anderson told the Education Committee LB 9 24 would preserve a 10% levy cap for administrative staff only, allow the Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy Counties to purchase facilities, and clarify partnership authority; proponents said the changes are administrative and could save about $250,000.
Sen. Bob Anderson introduced LB 9 24 to the Education Committee as a technical cleanup aimed at clarifying statutory language for the Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy Counties and allowing modest operational changes. Anderson described the bill as “a purely administrative measure” intended to let the Learning Community operate “more efficiently while continuing to do its important work for Nebraska students and families.”
The Learning Community’s chief executive officer, Gerald Kuhn, told the committee the organization serves roughly 11,000 students across 11 school districts and that current statutes cap hiring at 10% of the levy. Under LB 9 24, the 10% limit would apply to executive or administrative staff only, enabling the community to directly hire service staff rather than rely on contracts. Kuhn said that change would not increase the organization’s budget and could “realize a cost savings” — he estimated administrative savings of about $250,000 if certain vendors were brought in-house.
Kuhn also asked the committee to allow the learning community to purchase real property rather than only lease. He said the South Omaha center serving Bellevue and South Omaha is “busting at its seams” and that ownership authority would create leverage for expansion and more efficient use of resources; he described the current overall budget as about $13,060,000. Members asked about the origin of the 10% cap and how facility purchases would affect service delivery; Kuhn said some sites already have large capital investments but lack equity in leased buildings and that the changes would help expand services in needy neighborhoods.
No opponents or neutral testifiers appeared in person; the committee recorded one online proponent. The committee closed the hearing and moved on to the next agenda items. The sponsor and witnesses said they are available to supply any follow-up information the committee requests.
The committee will next consider whether to advance the bill, and staff follow-up on budget and facility examples was requested.
