Kearney school board candidates highlight safety, staffing and clearer levy messaging at student forum

Kearney — School board candidates at a student-moderated forum at Kearney High School on issues ranging from district growth to school safety and a failed levy emphasized staffing and clearer communication as top priorities ahead of the April election.

Student moderators Jacob Dillon and Emmy Gates opened the forum and asked candidates to deliver three-minute introductions followed by timed questions. In his opening, Mr. Cook, a candidate whose family includes district employees, said improving schools is crucial to town growth and called for community engagement to find practical solutions for the district.

A recurring focus was school safety. One candidate pointed to what he described as a gap between staffing and need, saying the district has "7 schools, 3,000 plus students" and "2 SROs" and called that "embarrassing," arguing the board must prioritize funding or support a city proposition to increase officer coverage. Christina Lindsey, another candidate, praised local law enforcement support but urged the board to expand drills, staff training and building-level procedures so staff and students know how to respond in emergencies.

Candidates proposed several approaches to safety funding and planning. Mr. Cook recommended a line-by-line budget review to find funds for additional SROs and security upgrades such as secured entrances and cameras. Another candidate urged integrating security needs into ongoing construction and renovation plans, creating a facility-by-facility job plan that lists security work and training needs to determine the number of SROs required.

The failed August 2023 levy surfaced repeatedly. Several candidates said voters were confused by the ballot language and that future efforts should separate distinct requests, explain line items clearly and run a full informational campaign well before voting. "If we as a district ... would work a little harder to set up some more maybe town hall style question answer sessions," Mr. Cook said, arguing that outreach and plain language are essential to passage. Candidates also noted timing and targeted outreach to seniors as factors to address.

On budget priorities, candidates ranked safety and teacher compensation at the top, followed by classroom impacts such as supplies and training. Several called for structural planning to anticipate enrollment changes tied to residential development near the 19th Street interchange; one candidate cited demographer data noting many incoming residents are retirees and said the district must coordinate with builders and permits to time school investments.

Facility needs—deferred maintenance and long-term planning—also drew attention. One candidate questioned the logic of maintaining five elementary campuses while the district owns property that could host a larger, more easily secured central campus. Others recommended safety audits and targeted deferred-maintenance spending to preserve new amenities.

Mental health and inclusion were part of the discussion. Candidates said the board should promote a culture where students feel safe to raise concerns, expand staff training to spot at-risk students and increase avenues for two-way communication with families. Several also urged boosting the district's public profile by promoting student successes on social media and increasing board visibility at school events.

Student moderators closed the forum by reminding voters that election day is April 8. Candidates offered varied backgrounds — including experience on boundary and strategic planning committees, service on a state board of pharmacy and ties to local businesses — and said they would prioritize safety, teacher retention and fiscal transparency if elected.