Niobrara Public Schools Logo

Upcoming Community Hearing/Open House

February 17, 2023

Niobrara Public Schools

OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

P.O Box 310

Niobrara, NE 68760

Phone (402)857-3323 - Fax (402)857-3716

TO:  Niobrara Community

FROM: Niobrara Public Schools

DATE: February 17, 2023

SUBJECT: Playground Renovations and Financing

2018-2019 SCHOOL YEAR SWOT ANALYSIS

During the 2018-2019 school year Niobrara Public Schools took the future of the district to its students, teachers, parents, and patrons.  Through four community meetings, the stakeholder group was able to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the district in order to develop a vision and plan for moving the school and community forward. Goals were identified in the following areas: Technology, Transportation, School Pride and Community Connections, and Facilities. The goals and progress are outlined below.  

Technology: 

Goal(s): Advertise and hire a full time Technology Coordinator, determine needs and provide professional development for the staff, and take inventory of existing hardware and software and continually update.  

Progress: Currently, Niobrara has a full time Technology Coordinator, fourteen professional development days for staff. The district has an updated IT network including the server, hardware and software and has developed a long-range plan for updating technology.

Transportation: 

Goal(s): Recruit drivers with CDL licenses and update the existing transportation fleet to ensure reliable vehicles for transporting students. 

Progress: The school has four new buses and employs full-time and substitute drivers with appropriate licenses to to support the daily route traffic our district needs.  Four vans have been ordered and are in production.

School Pride and Community Connections: 

Goal(s): Build stronger connections with the community and create a culture of belonging within the school for all.

Progress: In 2019 Niobrara was the recipient of a Climate Transformation Grant.  The grant provides financial support for academic achievement goals addressing the foundation of MTSS.  The grant funds provide additional staff to ensure that students are developing personalized learning plans and exploring careers and college opportunities. The PBiS system in the school has partnered with community businesses to support the program and recognize positive student behavior.

Facilities:

Goal(s): Create a career center, reutilize the bus barn, update the playground, and replace the old football field with a track complex.

Progress: The school is in the process of creating a career center/makerspace for students to explore areas of interest. The school, through the use of grant funding, has been able to purchase a wide variety of career technology for this space. Of the remaining items identified in the goal, the playground became the next priority of the district due to the necessary repairs and condition of the existing playground equipment that is over 30 years old.

2022 -2023 PLAYGROUND PROPOSAL

Upon request of the Board of Education, a committee was formed to determine playground needs and propose a plan for development.  A plan has been drafted by the committee that meets ADA requirements along with replacement of equipment. At this time, the district would like to provide information to the community regarding the proposed plan and funding for the playground. The community will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide input and feedback into the proposal.  A community hearing and open house has been scheduled for February 28th from 7:00 - 8:00 at the school cafeteria. The hope is that the playground will not only serve the school, but the community as a whole.