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Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Pictures from the B-R Christams Program
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Monday, December 16, 2013
Bancroft-Rosalie Title I Parents Meeting before Christmas Concert
Bancroft-Rosalie Elementary Parents-
It is required that the school hold a Title I meeting annually. The short meeting will be held before the Christmas Program. Please sign the attendance form when you enter the gym.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Chuck Hassebrook informational meeting
I attended an informational meeting last night in West Point to hear our local candidate for Governor, Chuck Hassebrook of Lyons, talk about his priorities for the state if he is elected. I am looking for a candidate that has priorities that will support small schools and communities like Bancroft and Bancroft-Rosalie School.
I am attaching a page from the informational brochure.
I am attaching a page from the informational brochure.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Matt Blomstedt named Nebraska Commissioner of Education
Press release from Nebraska Department of Education
The Nebraska State Board of Education today named Matthew Blomstedt of Central City the new Nebraska Commissioner of Education.
Blomstedt was selected from a field of four finalists. Blomstedt currently is executive director of the Nebraska Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council. He received a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Higher Education from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln; a Master of Community and Regional Planning from UN-L; and, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from UN-L.
The State Board of Education voted unanimously today for Blomstedt. The four finalists were interviewed Wednesday by the State Board of Education and also met with Nebraska Department of Education staff, legislative staff and representatives of Nebraska’s education partners and policy makers.
Several State Board of Education members noted Blomstedt’s experience with members of the education community statewide and, specifically, his experience working with rural Nebraska schools and developing statewide education and finance policy.
State Board President Pat Timm said the Board’s goal is to work in partnership with Blomstedt to ensure all students learn at high levels and the achievement gap among groups of students is narrowed. The Board’s focus will include the development of a new state accountability system focused on continuous improvement. The overarching goal, Timm said, is to ensure all Nebraska students graduate college and career ready.
A national search was conducted after former Commissioner of Education Roger Breed announced his retirement in July.
The Nebraska State Board of Education today named Matthew Blomstedt of Central City the new Nebraska Commissioner of Education.
Blomstedt was selected from a field of four finalists. Blomstedt currently is executive director of the Nebraska Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council. He received a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Higher Education from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln; a Master of Community and Regional Planning from UN-L; and, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from UN-L.
The State Board of Education voted unanimously today for Blomstedt. The four finalists were interviewed Wednesday by the State Board of Education and also met with Nebraska Department of Education staff, legislative staff and representatives of Nebraska’s education partners and policy makers.
Several State Board of Education members noted Blomstedt’s experience with members of the education community statewide and, specifically, his experience working with rural Nebraska schools and developing statewide education and finance policy.
State Board President Pat Timm said the Board’s goal is to work in partnership with Blomstedt to ensure all students learn at high levels and the achievement gap among groups of students is narrowed. The Board’s focus will include the development of a new state accountability system focused on continuous improvement. The overarching goal, Timm said, is to ensure all Nebraska students graduate college and career ready.
A national search was conducted after former Commissioner of Education Roger Breed announced his retirement in July.
Tax Modernization Committee Draft Recommendations
The Tax Modernization Committee staff issued a draft of the committee's recommendations. I included my opinion on each.
On Property Tax-
- Increase the state aid commitment to schools to offset property tax use and reduce property taxes as a share of total state and local taxes; (Support)
- Reduce agricultural land value percentages to reduce the rate of tax on this value; (Very Much Support)
- Raise homestead exemption program income guidelines to increase the number of persons who would benefit from this form of relief; (Support)
- Offset the regressivity of the property tax by providing property tax relief to households having a higher burden of property tax on their household income. Consider circuit breaker programs for renters, high property tax burden households, and farm owner operators; (No Opinion)
- Recommend further study and analysis of residential valuation classification. (No Opinion)
Income Taxes-
- The income bands within the income tax brackets should be adjusted annually for inflation; (Support)
- While Nebraska's top marginal rate is high, the effective rate or tax burden is comparable to other states, both regionally and nationally. Accordingly, no adjustment to rates is recommended at this time. This is a policy matter for further analysis and discussion; (Support)
- The provisional income thresholds used to calculate taxable Social Security benefits should be raised to exclude more Social Security income for low income taxpayers. Further study of any additional exemption of retirement income is recommended before proceeding any further; (Support)
Corporate Income Tax.
- The first bracket should be indexed from $100,000 to $250,000 of taxable income at the rate of 5.58 percent. The top bracket rate of 7.81 percent would apply to the excess over $250,000. A threshold of $5 million net Nebraska taxable income should be established to recapture the benefit of the lower rate on the first $250,000 of taxable income. (Support)
Sales and Use Taxes
Repair and replacement parts for agricultural machinery and equipment should be exempt from sales and use tax. This recommendation was originally made by the Syracuse Study and should be implemented to make Nebraska more competitive with its surrounding states; (Support)
- Further review and analysis should be conducted to determine the appropriate consumer services to be added to the sales tax base. No business to business services should be taxed; (Support- some services should be taxed)
- Nebraska is the only one of the surrounding states that taxes residential utilities. It is recommended that refundable credit be implemented through the income tax system to offset the tax paid by low-income households; (Support)
-It is recommended that Nebraska amend its sales and use tax laws as necessary to ensure it is in compliance with all aspects of the Streamlined Agreement and the Main Street Fairness Act. (No opinion)
On Property Tax-
- Increase the state aid commitment to schools to offset property tax use and reduce property taxes as a share of total state and local taxes; (Support)
- Reduce agricultural land value percentages to reduce the rate of tax on this value; (Very Much Support)
- Raise homestead exemption program income guidelines to increase the number of persons who would benefit from this form of relief; (Support)
- Offset the regressivity of the property tax by providing property tax relief to households having a higher burden of property tax on their household income. Consider circuit breaker programs for renters, high property tax burden households, and farm owner operators; (No Opinion)
- Recommend further study and analysis of residential valuation classification. (No Opinion)
Income Taxes-
- The income bands within the income tax brackets should be adjusted annually for inflation; (Support)
- While Nebraska's top marginal rate is high, the effective rate or tax burden is comparable to other states, both regionally and nationally. Accordingly, no adjustment to rates is recommended at this time. This is a policy matter for further analysis and discussion; (Support)
- The provisional income thresholds used to calculate taxable Social Security benefits should be raised to exclude more Social Security income for low income taxpayers. Further study of any additional exemption of retirement income is recommended before proceeding any further; (Support)
Corporate Income Tax.
- The first bracket should be indexed from $100,000 to $250,000 of taxable income at the rate of 5.58 percent. The top bracket rate of 7.81 percent would apply to the excess over $250,000. A threshold of $5 million net Nebraska taxable income should be established to recapture the benefit of the lower rate on the first $250,000 of taxable income. (Support)
Sales and Use Taxes
Repair and replacement parts for agricultural machinery and equipment should be exempt from sales and use tax. This recommendation was originally made by the Syracuse Study and should be implemented to make Nebraska more competitive with its surrounding states; (Support)
- Further review and analysis should be conducted to determine the appropriate consumer services to be added to the sales tax base. No business to business services should be taxed; (Support- some services should be taxed)
- Nebraska is the only one of the surrounding states that taxes residential utilities. It is recommended that refundable credit be implemented through the income tax system to offset the tax paid by low-income households; (Support)
-It is recommended that Nebraska amend its sales and use tax laws as necessary to ensure it is in compliance with all aspects of the Streamlined Agreement and the Main Street Fairness Act. (No opinion)
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Bancroft-Rosalie School Board news
The December meeting of the Bancroft-Rosalie
School Board was held Monday, December 9, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. in the school
library. Dr. Cerny presented the November transportation report and information
on state aid in the East Husker Conference, Blue Cross Blue Shield policy on
same sex marriage, the school Wellness policy, and the legal opinion on use of
surgical masks in school. Superintendent Cerny and board members shared what
they learned at the state school board conference. The board was given
Superintendent evaluations forms.
In new business the board approved the audit and
the annual report. The staff Christmas gathering at Main Street was set for
Friday, December 13. The board approved the 2014-15 negotiated agreement with
teachers and recognized the Bancroft-Rosalie Education Association as the
exclusive bargaining agent for teachers for 2015-16. Approval was given for the
purchase of an audiometer.
In executive session the board discussed personnel.
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