Body
During the Arapahoe School Board monthly meeting on June 12, Supt. Bob Drews reported on laws passed during the 2023 legislative session that will impact education. He had participated in a zoom meeting with the Council of School Administrators earlier in the day. The Legislature passed and the Governor signed into law the Education Future Fund (LB 583) that changes state aid formulas. The intent of the measure is to offer property tax relief. The state will use $1 billion from state reserves for education funding in year one, and $250,000 the next year. Supt. Drews shared concerns that are echoed by administrators throughout Nebraska that state aid may be in jeopardy down the road if or when receipts are down. Drews also reported that the state will provide $1,500 for each student in every district and provide 80% (up from 42%) reimbursements for special education. He also shared that with the passage of LB 243, there was a “soft” cap placed on K-12 school district spending at 3% of the “total revenue growth.” There are exceptions for districts that experience a rapid growth in population. There is also a provision that allows the districts to exceed the cap with 70% of the elected school board members or 60% of voters. The board acted on several items including approving a contract with Elevate K-12 for first semester online, synchronous courses for Chemistry for the 2023-2024 year. They also approved classified pay rates increases and substitute teacher rates for the 2023-2024 year. Because of the increase in food prices, the board approved an increase in lunches for the upcoming school year as well. In other business, the board accepted a quote from D & N to replace the heat/AC unit servicing the Ag classroom.
