BEATRICE – With a new prekindergarten to fifth grade elementary school still on schedule to open next August….Beatrice Public School officials plan to adjust the end of this school year, to allow teachers time to move to the new building.


The plan was discussed at a committee-level meeting of the Beatrice School Board Tuesday night. Superintendent Jason Alexander says it involves moving the end of school for elementary grades to a slightly earlier date.


"So what we're talking about, is time to pack and organize at the end of the school year, by the elementary staff. It makes the most sense for us to simply say, that we're going to dismiss the PreK-Five on Friday, May 17th. If we're going to do that, we need to get that information out to parents, as soon as possible."


The change would allow for two to four days for teachers to move materials, depending on the number of snow days the district uses. Alexander said, "The rational is that it gives the appropriate time for teachers to get their rooms ready, to be packed up and moved out to the new school. It prevents having extra added expense to bring certified staff back, to move. Classified staff will be optional, to help, if they are available."


The scheduled last day of school for prekindergarten was May 21st with the final day for other grades, May 23rd.


Alexander says the general contractor, Hausmann Construction says the elementary project is on schedule….and the superintendent says it may be actually slightly ahead of schedule. Framing and drywall inside the building is around 50-to-80 percent complete on the two levels of the building….and 75-percent of the outside paving is done.


Alexander says the board of education will soon be asked to authorize the purchase of furniture for the new building for up to $1 million. "Our capital campaign right now, is at approximately $350,000. We're starting to gain ground now, we've had some successful donations come in. We're hoping to generate $1.3 million....that's our target goal."  The district received two proposals from companies to supply furnishings and equipment….and the board will be asked in December at their regular meeting, to authorize administrators and a committee to work with the company chosen.


Residents who live in the Beatrice Public School District will be able to get a first-hand look at how the district performed in state assessment scores released this past week.  The district has scheduled two sessions the public can attend. One of them is this Thursday, November 30th, at 9 a.m. at the Beatrice School Administration Building board room. A second chance for the public to hear the results will be December 18th, at 6 p.m., at the Beatrice High School Library.


The percentage of students considered deficient in subject areas measured, dropped significantly….from just over 56% in 2022….down to just under 45% in 2023. Overall proficiency of students in study areas tested went up nearly 12%. The district saw its four-year graduation rate improve.  High school ACT scores in English Language Arts, Math and Science were all above the state average. Although the State of Nebraska still uses ACT scores as a measuring tool, many colleges and universities no longer condition acceptance at their schools based on ACT scores.