Preschool Students Learn About Police Transportation

The preschoolers in Miss Talbot’s class have been learning about transportation, and today was police car. Chief of Police Chad Sprunk was able to come to our school today to show the preschoolers the ins and outs of his transportation vehicle-a police car! We learned about the kinds of gear and equipment that he carries in his police car and how he uses it to keep all of us safe. At the end of his visit, the preschoolers even got to hear the sirens and see the flashing lights.​

PTA Sponsors Aesop’s Fables

On February 13th, the students attended Aesop’s Fables a program sponsored by the Fairbury PTA.  The program featured large tabletop puppets that the students really enjoyed watching and learning about. Aesop’s Fables was an original, rhymed version of the classic tales. Some of the fables included in the program were The Lion and the Mouse, The Tortoise and the Hare, The Owl and the Grasshopper, The Fox and the Crow, The Crow and the Pitcher and The Fox and the Crow. The performance was colorful and fun, and the students enjoyed interacting at times throughout the program.  For some of our students it was a great introduction to fables, but for others, it was a good review of the concepts of fables.  Thank you to the Fairbury PTA for sponsoring this wonderful program and many others throughout this school year for our students.

TeamMates Welcome Tom Osborne

In honor of the 25th anniversary of the TeamMates Mentoring Program & National Mentoring Month, the Fairbury TeamMates Chapter invites you to attend a celebration with a special appearance by Dr. Tom Osborne.   He will be the keynote speaker on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at 4 p.m. at the Burkley Fine Arts Center, Fairbury High School.

Two Schools One Cause

Two schools came together for one cause. The cause, to raise awareness and support our students that deal with the chronic, lifelong disease of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). On December 6th, Fairbury Public Schools and Superior Public Schools participated in the Gray Out to raise awareness for the students with T1D during the girls and boys basketball games at Fairbury High School.

This was the 3rd annual Gray Out sponsored by The IN Group and the Fairbury FCCLA. The IN Group, is a type 1 diabetic support group, that works to support families of students with T1D, while raising awareness of the disease, raising money to help the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation find a cure and support kids with camp scholarships.

This was the first Gray Out for Derek Anderson, Assistant Principal/AD for FHS, “I was impressed with the support of individuals and businesses from both communities as we united to find a cure,” he stated. “It was great to see gray shirts filling the gym and a great environment to play basketball games.”

There are currently six students at Fairbury Public Schools and one student at Superior Public School with T1D. They range in age from 3rd grade to 11th grade. One of the students was diagnosed at the age of three.  

Between the girls and boys varsity games The IN Group and Superior Public Schools presented checks to Laura Eberly, Development Coordinator for JDRF in Lincoln, to further research to hopefully one day find a cure.  

“We are grateful for the community of Fairbury to support such a wonderful cause that hits so close to home,” Eberly said. “With having 6 students living with Type 1 Diabetes, the IN Group has made tremendous achievements in funding T1D research and spreading awareness of the disease.”

The students and their families were overwhelmed with all of the support. Over $2000 were raised through business sponsors, t-shirt sales, 50/50 raffle, and the halftime shoot for a buck games.

Type 1 Diabetes happens when the body destroys its own cells that make insulin. Insulin is a hormone that everyone needs in order to get energy from the food they eat. Our bodies need insulin to survive.

T1D usually starts in childhood; however, adults can get it too. No one knows what causes T1D to happen or how to prevent it from happening.

Insulin is NOT a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. It is the person’s life support.

There Are Ghouls in the School

Central Elementary & Step Ahead students celebrated Halloween with lots of ghosts and goblins last Monday. There was a parade through the building for all to see, followed by treats and activities in the classrooms. Here are some pictures of the event!

Fairbury PTA Sponsors Author Julia Cook

Guidance Storybooks for Children

Children’s author, Julia Cook visited Fairbury Public Schools on Monday, October 17th.  Staff and students in grades kindergarten through sixth grade enjoyed listening to her presentation.  Julia has become one of America’s most recognized authors of guidance storybooks for children.  Julia continues to visit schools across the country and presents at national and international conferences as a keynote speaker.  

A special thank you to the Fairbury PTA for sponsoring and supporting this worthwhile and educational experience for children.

School District Budgets, State Aid and Property Taxes

As you come to know me, you probably have come to know that I am pretty “low key”. I do not look for the limelight and prefer to “stay under the radar.” Well, as you might guess, sometimes, as the superintendent of one of the greatest districts in the state it is sometimes difficult to “stay under the radar.” As I grow as an administrator, I also have become increasingly more involved in state issues. Over the last couple of years, I have been watching the legislature very closely and have tried to be a resource for our local representatives. I have reached out to state senators personally, I have testified at hearings and I also have helped to lead the dialogue through various education associations that I am involved with.

I wanted to take a moment and share with you my thoughts about the current financial landscape of our state. As the state’s financial (tax) landscape continues to become more and more lopsided, it is becoming increasingly difficult for myself and other school superintendents to “stay low.”   I have been a superintendent since 2009. In the past 8 years, the landscape has changed dramatically. Jefferson County is a fairly typical example of this. Below is a table illustrating the changes that I refer to for Fairbury Public Schools:

screen-shot-2016-10-20-at-7-56-32-am

As you can see, our property valuation has nearly doubled in the last 8 years. On the flip side, our State Aid has withered away to nothing. These two items are definitely “linked”. As a district’s valuation increases, this tells the state that it has the ability to fund itself and therefore must not need state aid. In the current times, this is a true statement. However, we all realize this also puts the burden of funding public education squarely on the shoulders of property owners.

In a conversation I had with an area farmer this past month, this frustration was apparent. As valuations continue to rise, we are also facing commodity prices that are declining. This is a “perfect storm” for area farmers. During last year’s legislative session, the rhetoric was pretty harsh, with schools being pitted in the middle. At times, districts were painted as being wasteful or unwilling to control costs. I believe the Governor was heard saying, “We have a spending problem…” and said, “…the average district’s spending increases over 6% per year.”

I can only speak for our district, but we do not fit that stereotype… Our adopted budget for last year, for the 2015-16-budget year, it was for an anticipated increase of 4.1%. But when you look at the final general fund spending numbers for this past year (2015-16 Budget year) you see the actual spending increased only 1.8%. Typically, that has been my experience, actual spending increases usually go up between 2-4% each year, not 6% as the governor stated.
screen-shot-2016-10-20-at-7-51-45-am

When we consider the budget that was adopted at the September 12, 2016 board meeting for the current 2016-17 Budget Year, you will note that the budget is projected to increase 4.8% in General Fund spending and a 1.9% increase in General Fund revenue. Just like last year, we anticipate the actual numbers to be lower than the adopted numbers.

Speaking from a local perspective and knowing several districts across the state, I do not believe school spending is the lone issue affecting our current state tax system situation. I believe the true struggle is to find balance for our state’s tax receipts. Nebraska’s tax system (to fund public services) is based on a “three-legged stool.”   Sales Tax. Income Tax. Property Tax. Upon its inception, these “legs” were relatively balanced and provided the resources needed to fund our state’s needs. What we have seen in the last 8 years is that the “Property Tax leg” of this system is becoming longer and longer, until now, we are balancing our resources primarily on this leg. We cannot achieve a tax balance by focusing on spending alone. As a legislature, they have to figure out a way to bring more balance to our tax system.

As the new legislative session begins in January, I expect that property taxes will be high on everyone’s list of things to change. I, too, hope we can have meaningful change that balances out the “three legged stool.” I was at a meeting last month in York where Senator Kolterman stated that he believes change was going to happen this next session. He believes that enough senators want to “get something” done. Perhaps this will be the year…I just hope we achieve balance and take the burden off of our property owners.

A New Playhouse!

The preschool received a new addition to the playground last week…a new playhouse! The preschoolers have been busy cooking and serving food, opening and closing the windows, and ringing the doorbell.

 

 

Sometimes You’re the Sculptor, Sometimes You’re the Clay

K-5 Classroom Guidance Lessons this week have had students practicing how to effectively communicate with others.  Communicating passively often keeps people from being heard or taken seriously.  Communicating aggressively often makes others mad, starts fights, or keeps people from liking you because it’s disrespectful.
Although it’s not always easy, assertive communication is the best way to communicate what you want or need at school.  Assertive communication is when you hold your head up and shoulders back, you look at the person you are talking to, you use a calm, firm voice and respectful words to say what you want or need.

Pictures – students in Mrs. Ruhnke’s 5th grade guidance classes partnered up to show one of the communication styles.  One student was the “sculptor” while the other was the “clay”.  Students sculpted their clay into a pose to demonstrate one of the styles of communication.
dscn0183 dscn0181
Translate »
strivorTicket-removebg-preview