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About the District
The District
The School District of Grand Island (Hall
County School District #2) is a comprehensive school system offering
education to students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.
Students identified with special needs are served through a
three-county comprehensive special education cooperative, Central
Nebraska Special Services Program (CNSSP).
The district includes
fourteen elementary schools, three middle schools, an alternative
middle school, one senior high school, and an alternative high school.
Combined, these buildings house over 7,000 students.
Quality
education begins with a quality staff. The School District of Grand
Island is proud of the energy, creativity, commitment, caring, and high
standards for professionalism displayed by its staff. The district
employs approximately 1,000 staff members. Hiring procedures and annual
evaluations maintain quality standards for personnel selection and
continuing employment.
Board of Education
The nine members of
the Board of Education for the School District of Grand Island are
elected in three wards (three board members per ward) by registered
voters of the school district. Elections are held every two years.
Board of Education members serve four-year terms and receive no
compensation for their work. The board is responsible for establishing
the policies under which the school system operates. They must also act
within the framework of rules set forth by the Nebraska State Board of
Education and Nebraska and federal laws. Board members must represent
the unique needs of their ward and the community. Current members of
the Board of Education include:
Ms. Lynn Cronk, President
Mr. Roger Harms, Vice President
Mr. Terry Brown
Ms. Susan Bullington
Ms. Bonnie Hinkle
Ms. Jane Meidlinger
Mr. Clay Schutz
Ms. Heidi Vahle
Ms. Jennifer Worthington
The Community
Grand
Island is located in the south central region of Nebraska's Platte
River Valley eight miles north of the intersection of Interstate 80
(east/west) and US Highway 281 (north/south). In addtion to US Highway
281, Nebraska Highway 34, US Highway 30, and US Highway 2 all travel
through Grand Island.
A city of approximately 43,000, Grand
Island is the economic growth area and the major retail trade area for
south central Nebraska. Agriculture and manufacturing lie at the heart
of Grand Island's economy. Two major agricultural industries, ConAgra
Meat Packing (which ranks first in numbers of employees) and Case New
Holland Farm Equipment Manufacturing, serve as anchors. St. Francis
Medical Center, third in number of employees, is a regional medical
center. Chief Industries and Grand Island Accessories employ area
residents in manufacturing industries. Principal Financial Group has a
major branch office in Grand Island. The community also provides a wide
range of medical, mental health, and nursing home services.
Grand
Island has experienced growth in its property tax base. In the past two
years 182 single-family homes and 38 multiple units have been
constructed. The total valuation increase in those years was
$29,670,428.
In addition to the public school system, Grand
Island is the home of several parochial schools including Grand Island
Central Catholic High School, Heartland Lutheran High School, Trinity
Lutheran School, the Seventh Day Adventist School, and Grand Island
Christian Elementary School (K-8). Northwest High School, a Class VI
facility, is located in the northwest portion of Grand Island. It is
affiliated with surrounding Class I districts.
Although
Northwest High School is not a part of the School District of Grand
Island, it does serve as the attendance center for a large percentage
of Westridge Middle School students as they leave the middle school to
begin their high school education. As per the terms of an annexation
agreement, the District pays tuition for those students who choose to
attend Northwest. The agreement began with the 1984-1985 school year
and will expire in the 2003-2004 school year.
The community's
higher education needs are provided by Central Community and College
Park. Hastings College is located 24 miles south of Grand Island and
the University of Nebraska at Kearney is located 47 miles west of the
city.
In 1993 the community passed a $28,600,000 bond issue
which funded construction of a new elementary school and provided for
additions and renovations to six other school buildings. In 1996 the
community passed a $3,400,000 bond issue to build a replacement for an
elementary school. Of note is the fact that community funding for a
civic center was rejected in 1989 and again in 1995. A sales tax
increase was defeated in 2000.
A number of mentoring programs
are operated and funded outside of the school district. These include
Teammates, Youth Leadership Tomorrow, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and a
Guest Teacher Program.
The Chamber of Commerce promotes Business/Education Partnerships with
the school district, sponsoring Adopt-A-School, a New Teachers'
Breakfast, and a welcoming event for staff in the fall.
Among
the many services offered in Grand Island are churches, Grand Island
Little Theater, Stuhr Museum, Fonner Park Race Track, St. Francis
Medical Center, the YMCA, the YWCA, Island Oasis Water Park, parks, and
recreational areas. Community members find golf, fishing,
walking/hiking, swimming, skating, tennis, bowling, and movie theaters
also available for leisure time activities.
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