Superintendent's District Update

The Falls City Public Schools held its regular monthly board meeting on Monday, August 12, 2024. Here are the highlights of the meeting.

 School Year Start Update: FCPS will begin the 2024-2025 school year with students on August 16. Enrollment figures as of August 13 show a decrease from the 2023-2024 school year. Current enrollment numbers show 817 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, which is down 5 students from a year ago. The largest class is 1st grade with 70 students, and the smallest classes are kindergarten, 6th and 7th grades classes with 51 students. FCPS begins the 2024 fall sports season with high school practices for football, volleyball, cross country, and softball on August 12. Additionally, FCPS is excited to welcome 15 new staff to begin the new school year. The new educator orientation day was held August 9, and all staff participated in pre-service events August 12-15, prior to the student’s first day on August 16. The 2024-2025 school year will start strong with the following initiatives:

  • Formalized new partnerships with Southeast Community College and local businesses. 

  • Added career pathways of study, and certification programs in conjunction with SCC.  

  • Added faculty adjunct certifications, increasing dual-credit options for our students this year.

  • Website updates and increased social media presence

  • Continue our work in elementary literacy with the WORDs grant to provide additional training and support to the teachers of our youngest readers.

  • Increase in ACT scores for 2024.

  • A new Math Curriculum K-12 beginning in the 2024-2025 school year.

  • Updated school guidance curriculum in grades K-5.

  • Investing in Safety and Security – Implemented access control security upgrades to each building.

  • Secured NDE Safety Grant for installation of new classroom door locks at the elementary sites.

Annual CQI Reports for Sixpence and Child Care Partnership - Susan Johnson, Director of Sixpence and the Child Care Partnership (CCP), reported on the release of the annual Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) reports for both programs. The reports, which detail the progress and advancements made over the past year, highlight the commitment to enhancing early childhood education and care through rigorous evaluation and innovative practices. The Sixpence program, dedicated to providing high-quality early childhood services, and the Child Care Partnership, which focuses on building effective collaborations and supporting child care providers, have both seen significant achievements. Johnson’s reports underscore the impact of their initiatives on child development outcomes and the overall quality of services provided to families and children in Falls City. The annual CQI reports are now available on the FCPS Sixpence and CCP websites for public review. Additionally, through Susan Johnson’s membership on the Early Childhood Buffet Foundation Board, the opportunity to start a “Diaper Depot” in Falls City will become the latest initiative to support young families in our community

The District 56 Board of Education acted on several items before concluding the regular meeting.

1.     Approved the final reading on Policy Reviews and Revisions: 1) 5313 Design-Build Contracts; 2) 5314 Construction Management at Risk Contracts; 3) 5315 Bidding for Construction, Remodeling, Repair or Site Improvement.

2.     Approved the UNL Extension Assistant Funding Commitment: (12% commitment of $9,716)

3.     Set Annual Planning Workshop for September 25, 2024 at 6PM.

 The next regular monthly Board of Education meeting is scheduled for September 9, 2024 at 7:00 P.M. in the Central Office in Falls City Middle School. Regular and special meeting agendas are kept in the Office of the Superintendent, Tim Heckenlively.

 

District policy is that no person shall be subject to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or handicap in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.