Let's Prioritize Adequate and Sustainable School Funding and Property Tax Reform

As almost any public school board member or superintendent can tell you, many of our state’s citizens are screaming for property tax reform while also being fully supportive of adequately funding our public schools. According to a poll conducted by “Reform for Nebraska’s Future,” 77% of respondents indicated they were supportive of property tax reform. The vast majority of our elected officials at the state level even campaigned on the promise of property tax reform, and for good reason.

• Nebraska K-12 schools receive 49% of their funding from local property taxes while the national average is 29%. (U.S. Census Bureau, Public Education Finance, 2016 – Based on 2014 Survey Data.)
• Nebraska K-12 schools receive 33% of their funding from state sources while the national average is 47%. (U.S. Census Bureau, Public Education Finance, 2016 – Based on 2014 Survey Data.)
• Nebraska ranks 49th in the country in the percentage of K-12 funding that comes from the state. (U.S. Census Bureau, Public Education Finance Report, June, 2016 https://www2.census.gov/govs/school/14f33pub.pdf)

The school funding formula, TEEOSA, which was implemented back in 1990, has only been fully funded two or three times over the past 15 or 16 years. In most instances, due to increasing needs, the TEEOSA calculation comes out more expensive than the state wants to allocate, so in order for the state to “balance” their budget, they underfund schools and force us to make up the difference with local property taxes. That’s how this current system works.

Some folks like to blame “spending” as the culprit for high property taxes but it’s really a funding issue. Many of the school districts most reliant on local property taxes, like York, have an annual average spending increase of less than 1.6% over the past eight years. York’s state equalization aid has plummeted from $3.7 million to $225,000 in that same span as land valuations increased. We have a school funding problem, folks.

Our state senators must decide soon whether they want to represent their constituents, the 77% of Nebraskans that are calling for property tax reform, or if they will succumb to a few very wealthy and powerful people instead. How our state senators handle various bills down the stretch will show us who they truly care about.

In 25 days it is "See You Later" and NOT "Goodbye"

I was lucky enough to spend all day with our Class of 2017 today as we held our first ever "Real World Boot Camp" for them. They were able to learn tons of things from basic car maintenance to how to build a positive credit rating to how metabolism changes as you consume sugary drinks. It was an enriching day!

As I addressed the kids at the end of the day, I told them to enjoy these next 25 days as that is how long they have until graduation. I challenged them to cherish these few weeks as classmates and friends. We all know that even though you think you will stay connected with your hometown buddies your entire life, that just isn't true. I spent almost every waking minute of my 13th-17th years on this earth with Pat McLaughlin, John Zito, D.R. Repass, and Brian Duffy. We were the best of friends, loyal teammates, and buddies. We graduated on June 8, 1990 and scattered all across the country for various reasons. I can count on one hand how many times I've seen those guys in the past 27 years.

In 25 days, this next group of Dukes will enter the "real world." However, I told them that we don't say "Forever a Duke" lightly. It means something here. When these kids leave us in a few weeks, it's not "goodbye" as it will be "see you later" because we want and need them to stay connected with York as they go out and do great things. After May 14th comes and goes, they will never dominate another biology test, score another goal, make another impressive speech, or play another instrument as an active member of York Public Schools BUT they will ALWAYS be part of the York Duke Family.

The Class of 2017 should be proud of their many accomplishments but their best is yet to come! You wait and see!

Leadership is Tougher than Woodpecker Lips

I'm extremely excited to be a presenter at the NETA Conference in Omaha on April 20th. I will be in Room 215 of the Century Link Center from 11:15-12:00 giving a presentation titled, "Leadership is Tougher than Woodpecker Lips." I will not use any technology but instead just talk about some things I've seen, beliefs I have, and answer questions.

My notes are below.

• Brief background info

• Changes I’ve seen in my 19 years as a school administrator
o Technology Integration (Kathy Ireland and Fun Brian)
o Teaching & Learning
o Curriculum alignment
o Differentiation
o Expectations
o Accountability
o Schools are community service centers
o Needs of students and families -- social-emotional, LEP, poverty, lack of HOPE, etc.
o Public relations and communication -- monthly newsletter vs. hourly newsletter
o Kids today are better than they’ve ever been, more talented, deal with more distractions, maturity level, etc. (so are teachers!)

• My leadership strategies and beliefs
o Transparent and engaging
o Follow-through
o Relentlessness
o Accountability, ownership and pride
o Focus – “the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing”
o Action – “talk doesn’t cook rice”
o Courage - we simply need more difficult and awkward conversations…“All winning organizations have a comfortable level of discomfort”
o Enthusiasm
o Sense of Humor
o Communication – strategic and diverse
o Be an unselfish team player without an ego problem

• Toughness is needed
o Assault on public education...spending, property taxes, choice/privatization…..perceptions of some elected officials
o Social media
o Entitlement and urgency
o Student needs

• Q and A

Appreciation, Appreciation, and More Appreciation

We all hear way too much about all of the things that are “wrong” or upsetting to people. We’re living in an interesting time where emotions are high, accusations are strong, and dissatisfaction seems abundant. I hope the following few paragraphs can change some of that for a minute or two for some of you that read this.

I appreciate STEVE MOSELEY. He likes to play the part of the grumpy ol’ guy but let me tell you something, he’s pretty awesome and has a giving heart the size of Texas. I’ve been lucky to get to know him the past eight years and I get to see how much he enjoys his job and the pride that he pours it into each day. However, what I love the most about him is how he lights up around kids. He is a tremendous TeamMate mentor. You know from reading his column how much he loves his grandkids. He’s a great person and we’re lucky to have him in York!

I appreciate YORK GENERAL HOSPITAL and MEDICAL CLINIC. We are so fortunate to have outstanding facilities and health care providers in town. This is a huge selling point for our entire community and surrounding areas.

I appreciate YORK COLLEGE and what they mean to our community in terms of being good for our local economy and the partnerships of higher education opportunities that can be beneficial for all of us.

I appreciate our POLICE, SHERIFFS, EMT’s, FIRST RESPONDERS, and FIRE DEPARTMENT personnel. These brave men and women help make York a safe place to live. They perform tasks that many of us can’t fathom and they deserve our appreciation.

I appreciate the YORK NEWS-TIMES and KTMX/KOOL RADIO. We are so lucky to have outstanding media coverage in our town. They do a tremendous job of covering school activities and supporting many important initiatives in/around York.

I appreciate the YORK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE and YORK COUNTY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. They are working hard daily to promote the City of York as well as all of York County. They come up with new and exciting ways to celebrate the great things we have and also push to bring new offerings to us.

I appreciate all of the SERVICES and BUSINESSES we are so blessed to have here in York. I’ve lived in smaller towns that didn’t have wonderful grocery stores, a movie theater, chiropractors, gift shops, florists, multiple banks, dentists, auto body shops, electricians, carpenters, furniture stores, pharmacies, financial planners, clothing stores, veterinarians, restaurants, farm supply stores, bowling alleys, etc. Manufacturing is a huge part of our community and it’s awesome we have places like Cyclonaire, Kroy, Agri-Products, UTC Aerospace Systems, York Cold Storage, Champion Homes, and lots of others too. We have a lot to be proud of and support right here in York!

I appreciate NPPD. They have been a tremendous partner for York Public Schools and helped us with many energy efficient initiatives. It’s great for a community of our size to have such an important organization within our boundaries.

I appreciate the importance of AGRONOMY in/around York. To have companies so close by like Pioneer, Monsanto, Mycogen, Syngenta, and others is fantastic. These are globally recognized leaders right here in our midst.

I appreciate YORK ADOPT-A-PET. This a truly special place with lots of dedicated volunteers like Gail Nordlund. We adopted Lilly, our amazing cocker spaniel, from there in May 2010 and our lives have been enriched because of it. What a neat place!

I appreciate the PEOPLE of YORK. Their support of young people makes this an amazing place to live, work, and raise a family. It blows me away each April when our soon-to-be graduating class begins to earn scholarship money that typically approaches $3 million in total, that $350,000 or more of that comes from local donors, foundations, and organizations. That is unreal!

Don’t be afraid to show your YORK PRIDE. This is a special place. Take it from an outsider like me that grew up in Florida, worked for two school districts in Kansas, and now works for his third school district in Nebraska. York is a place to appreciate and admire.