MPS to get more state aid money than last year - maybe

McCOOK, Neb. — The McCook Public School System stands to gain in excess of $700,000 in state aid compared to what it received last year.

McCook Public Schools received $4,149,219 in state aid for 2019-20 and for 2020-21, $5,713,891 is allocated, a $764,672 increase, according to state aid comparisons by the Nebraska Department of Education School Finance and Organization Services.

The additional $700,000 allocated above last years’ amount seems too good to be true to McCook School officials.

“I don’t believe I can fully trust those numbers,” said McCook Public School superintendent Grant Norgaard at the regular school board meeting Monday night. As the Nebraska Legislature doesn’t convene until June 20, those numbers can be altered by the legislature, he said. “I don’t feel comfortable it’s guaranteed…they’ve changed state aid in the past.” Norgaard said he believes that if the extra $700,000 is allocated to the school district, it could negatively impact the district next year, as state receipts will be down.

Because of the possibility of state aid changing during the summer legislative session, school board president Tom Bredvick cited a “compressed window” of time to get the district’s budget finalized. He asked the board to remain flexible as additional meetings may have to be scheduled if state aid changes and the budget must be modified.

Comparison of state aid to area schools from 2019-20 to 2020-21, and the school district’s general fund levy (that excludes additional building fund and other levies) are:

McCook Public Schools:

2019-20: $4,149,219

2020-21: $5,713,891, increase of $764,672

General fund levy: $1.0181

Cambridge Public Schools

2019-20: $974,324

2020-21: $1,099,848, increase of $123,524

General fund levy: $0.9401

Hitchcock County School System:

2019-20: $23,359

2020-21: $27,258, increase of $3,899

General fund levy: $0.8697

Wauneta-Palisade Public Schools

2019-20: $17,094

2020-21: $48,139, increase of $31,045

General fund levy: $0.9200

Dundy County-Stratton Public Schools

2019-20: $31,651

2020-21: $37,126, increase of $5,475

General fund levy: $0.5259

Medicine Valley Public Schools

2019-20: $512,517

2020-21: $765,916, increase of $253,393

General fund levy: $1.0200

Southwest Public Schools

2019-20: $111,994

2020-21: $28,605, decrease of $83,389

General fund levy: $0.6935

Hayes Center Public Schools

2019-20: $7,846

2020-21: $9,017, increase of $1,171

General fund levy: $0.6895