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Nebraska Schools Watching Legislature

By Matthew Leaf

02/12/2014

(KTNC) -- Nebraska school districts are keeping a close eye on legislation making its way through the Unicameral this year. Falls City Superintendent Tim Heckenlively addressed a couple bills during his report Monday night.
One bill that Heckenlively says has drawn opposition from many schools is LB-682, the Allied Schools bill. The legislation would require districts with enrollment of less than 650 students to create identical schedules and calendars with three other school districts in the state. The idea is to allow smaller schools to expand course offerings.
While the proposal does not affect the Falls City School District – which has an enrollment of approximately 800 students – Heckenlively does not think it’s a good idea. He says it represents state government intrusion into what should be local decisions regarding school calendars.
Heckenlively also says the bill is unnecessary, as a lot of school districts, including Falls City, already share course offerings and resources when they need to.
The bill has advanced to general file, despite opposition from many school districts, the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association, and the Nebraska Council of School Administrators.
Another bill that Heckenlively views more favorably is LB-725, the school finance bill. The bill would change the school aid formula by decreasing what’s called the “Local Effort Rate” from a-dollar three-cents to one-dollar for the 2014-2015 School fiscal year. Under current law, the local effort rate would be lowered in the 2015-2016 School Year. If the bill is approved, Heckenlively says District 56 would receive approximately $215,000 more in state aid with the lower Local Effort Rate that without.
District 56 will still see less state aid under the new formula, but the decrease wouldn’t be so drastic if the change is approved. LB-725 has advanced out of the Education Committee.

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