Fairbury Jr-Sr High School Conducts Apply2College Campaign

On October 19th, seniors at Fairbury Jr-Sr High School took part in the Apply2College Campaign which was created by EducationQuest.  All seniors were asked to apply to at least 1 college of their choice with the assistance from Mrs. Biehl and a rep from UNO.  Thirty seniors were present for the campaign and 36 college applications were submitted.  The philosophy behind this campaign is to promote the college going rate by having seniors who otherwise might think they would not get accepted to college, be able to see that they can.  This also allows students to receive guidance during the application process as it can be overwhelming at times.  In addition to applying to the different colleges, seniors promoted which college they had applied to as well as decorated a cupcake with the college school colors.  Students and staff were also encouraged to wear college apparel from either the college they had attended, a sibling has attended or one they most interested in attending.  All in all, this was a great event for students and staff!

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:

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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.
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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.

Digital Citizenship Week

Students at Fairbury Public Schools participated in Digital Citizenship Week, and with it came the first annual Digital Citizenship Decorate Your Door Contest. Faculty and students were invited to decorate their doors with the theme “Don’t Be Mean Behind the Screen”.

There were several other events at the Jr. Sr. High School throughout the week. They kicked it off with Wordy Wednesday where the students were invited to create a word collage using words and phrases associated with a positive digital presence.  On Throw Back Thursday, students were to create an image with a good digital citizenship tip.  Photo Friday was a day where they could take a  photo of themselves, their friends, or teachers at school which represented themselves or their school in a positive way.  On Motivational Monday students were to tweet an inspirational quote, and on Twitter Tuesday they were to send a school spirit/positive tweet.  The students were to use the hashtag jeffpride in their tweet for a $10 gift card drawing each day.

Fairbury Public Schools is teaching and promoting positive digital citizenship in many ways.  Please take some time to see all of the great door decorations below.

Quiz Bowl Competition

Jefferson Intermediate’s Soaring Jeffs Quiz Bowl Club members have been busy practicing their Quiz Bowl Skills!  The club has 26 members that consists of 5th and 6th grade students.  A 5 person team from each grade level recently traveled to Thayer Central to compete in the Club’s first Quiz Bowl.  Both teams represented Fairbury Public schools well and did an outstanding job!  Our 5th grade team earned 3rd place honors and each member received a medal.  There were 7 to 8 teams participating in each division (5th/6th) from regional schools.  There will be additional competition opportunities for members of the Quiz Bowl Club throughout the school year!

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.
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First Quarter Family NIght

On Thursday, September 29 Central and Jefferson Intermediate School hosted a family movie night.  Families were able to enjoy an outdoor viewing of the movie “Zootopia” on a big inflatable screen.  This event took place at the Jefferson Intermediate track.  “Zootopia” fruit snacks, animal crackers, M & M’s along with a bottle of water were given to each member of the family by staff.   The Jefferson Student Council handed out Glow Sticks for the evening fun.  It was a great night.

Author, Julia Cook Will Visit FPS On Monday, October 17, 2016

Julia Cook is a former teacher and school guidance counselor.  She has become one of America’s most recognized authors of guidance storybooks for children.  She writes practical, easy to use stories that not only make a positive difference, but are fun to read.  Julia has the innate ability to enter the world view of a child through storybooks, giving both children the “what to say” and the “how to say it.”  Cook’s ultimate goal:  make a positive difference in the lives of people both young and old by teaching lifelong problem-solving skills.

Visit her website @ http://www.juliacookonline.com

Book order forms will be sent home the week prior to her visit and will be due Wednesday, October 26th. Please make checks payable to JULIA COOK.

FPS Students and Staff Attend Digital Citizenship Symposium

Several teachers, students and administrators attended the Digital Citizenship Symposium in Kearney on Tuesday.

Featured Speakers were Karen Haase, Education Attorney, KSB School Law, Lincoln, Nebraska, Craig Badura, Technology Integration Specialist, Aurora Public Schools, Stephanie Bernthal, Instructional Technology Trainer, Educational Service Unit #17, and Hunter Radenslaben, @AthleteNationCo, Waverly High School, Waverly, Nebraska.

The purpose of the symposium titled “Be The Key” was to share information and educational resources on the topic of digital citizenship.

School personnel and students created a poster of the “Key” takeaways of the day.

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