McCook Public Schools adopts new vision statement

McCOOK, Neb. – A new vision statement will guide McCook Public Schools as they look to the future and the goals they strive to accomplish.

“Every McCook Public School graduate will possess the skills to become a responsible, respectful, productive citizen who is engaged in their community and achieves personal success.”

Superintendent Grant Norgaard told the board of education that several drafts were merged to come to the final statement. Teaching staff, administrators and community members all provided input for developing the vision statement.

He said the mission statement drives the present and addresses what students will be doing while in school. On the other hand, a vision statement looks to the future and addresses “what students will look like after they leave us – once we have no power to impact them anymore.”

The presentation of the vision statement was part of Superintendent Norgaard’s School Improvement Committee report. The committee reviewed surveys and demographics from teachers, parents, and students and found areas that could be addressed. The data will also be reviewed at the building level so action plans can be more finely tuned.

Norgaard also discussed the annual report and shared the 2022-2023 “easy-read report card”. He explained that proficiency scores can be analyzed in different ways, which makes it difficult to communicate the findings to the public. The easy-read report card will contain bar graphs that will show a comparison of McCook Public Schools with peer schools of similar size, demographics, and location.

Norgaard said that according to criterion-referenced tests (CRT) which are designed to measure a student’s academic performance against standards, McCook Public School students are 90 percent proficient. He is pleased with that result, particularly because the school year is only three-fourths of the way complete. “The goal is obviously 100 percent, but we’re still working towards that. The year’s not over and we have time.”

A report from the Programs Committee included some proposed modifications to biology classes for students who need more time and support. It also included pre-planning for a preschool program.

McCook Public Schools has applied for a grant to help cover the costs of expanding the current preschool program, but the announcement of the award won’t come until June which is too late for planning for an expansion this Fall. To be proactive and ready to roll in 2024-25, planning will begin now. Even if the grant is not awarded to McCook Public Schools this year, the planning will allow the district to be ready for next year’s application process.

Norgaard cautioned the board that staffing could stand in the way of putting these plans into action. “That can always be a stumbling block, no matter when or whether the grant comes through. But we want to be ready and prepared.”

Staffing has become a challenge for the district. “The teacher shortage is a real thing. And we need to strategize on how we’re going to deal with it. I think one of those solutions is to promote education as a great career,” Norgaard said.

He told the board that the district participated in six recruiting fairs this year, more than they have ever attended in past years. They have branched out, recruiting out of state, as well as in Nebraska, although he pointed out that college students who major in education often begin getting job offers in their Sophomore and Junior years of college. He said the recruiting fairs are very competitive, and the future may require the recruitment of international teachers. The district will be hiring teachers outside of their endorsed area when it is clear no other options are available.

The Programs Committee also discussed the Industrial Arts program, specifically the welding program. A partnership for teaching welding with Mid Plains Community College has presented challenges for several reasons. Norgaard said McCook Public Schools should be prepared to offer the course on the high school campus if MPCC cannot accommodate high school students.

The Programs Committee is also trying to collect personal email addresses from former students to obtain survey information about how the district can better prepare students for life after high school.

Increases coming for activity fees:

Adult activity tickets will be raised from $50 to $65, Junior High and Senior High student tickets will be $45; Elementary - $35; Family pass - $120, and varsity gate tickets will be $6 for adults and $4 for students. Non-varsity contests will be $5 for adults and $3 for students. MPS Business Manager Jeff Gross estimated that it has been 7 or 8 years since activity ticket prices have increased. The new rates will begin in the Fall of 2023.

Gross said the Activities Committee compared ticket prices with other schools in the Southwest Conference and found that most schools are charging $6 or $7 for adult gate tickets and $5 for students. State competitions are between $8 to $9 for adults and $5 for students.

The costs of athletic and other activity programs continue to increase, as is the case with all school expenses. Gross said three years ago, the district was paying $360 for a football officiating team. That price has increased to about $600. “If you don’t pay, you don’t get officials,” Gross said. Another example was the cost of a football helmet which was about $290 ten years ago compared to $595 now.

Superintendent Norgaard also pointed out that some events are free including track meets, tennis matches, and swim meets.

Several activity proposals will be discussed this week at the Nebraska School Activities Association board meeting. One, which Gross believes will pass, is a proposal to require a shot clock for high school basketball. That will require one more shot clock official at every basketball competition. The previous upgrades to the scoreboards at the district will accommodate the additional electronics needed to keep a shot clock, but it will come at a “significant cost”.