How to Fund Technology Needs, Discussed by Beatrice Board of Education

BEATRICE – Beatrice Public School officials are looking at options for funding technology needs, now that school districts can no longer use a special levy to raise money for that purpose.
Some options were presented to the Beatrice Board of Education, Tuesday night, during a committee session.

Superintendent Jason Alexander says some of the possibilities include a lease-purchase, business sponsorships, grants and a voluntary donation for school services.
Another is instituting a student technology fee. But that prompted direct resistance. Board members Doris Martin, Janet Byars and Board Chairman Jon Zimmerman oppose a tech fee on students.
The former one-cent technology bond generated about $125,000. Superintendent Jason Alexander says there is the potential of developing legislation at the state level to reinstate the technology levy for school districts.

An option available to the district is to attempt a levy override vote to tax for technology over a two-year period…a choice that may backfire or not provide enough financial backing.

Because of the shortage of funds, the district is having to address only the top priorities in the area of the technology. Those have been designated as replacement of student Chromebooks, teacher laptops and replacing worn-out projectors in classrooms.
Other options for funding include partnering with the Educational Service Unit or creating a technology booster club. Tax deductible donations for technology through the Beatrice Educational Foundation could be another method.

Beatrice school officials are also examining a draft school calendar for 2020-2021, that would have the school year starting later than usual, in Beatrice.
Under consideration is a calendar that would set the first day of school as August 18th. The thought is that it would provide more time for families to finish vacations prior to the start of the new year. Under the plan, new teachers in the district would go to work August 6th, with all teachers beginning the new year, August 12th.

At the Christmas break, since the holiday would fall on a Friday…..school officials say the calendar proposes the break would begin around December 22nd.
High School graduation would be May 16th, rather than the 9th.
Beatrice School Board members at a committee-level meeting Tuesday night were receptive to the later start of the school year, along with a shorter Christmas holiday break.

Under the proposal, there would be just over 83 days in the first semester….and just over 93 in the second half of the year.
District officials are in the process of getting input on the proposed calendar from staff members….and the calendar would likely be on the board’s November meeting agenda, for action.