McCook Public Schools to Seek Second Bond

McCook, Neb.– The McCook School Board is moving forward with a second attempt to pass a bond issue, aiming to secure up to $42 million for significant renovations and new construction at the junior high and high school. This unanimous decision was made at Monday night’s board meeting, setting the stage for a special election on August 12, 2025. This comes after a similar $43.5 million bond was turned down by voters in November 2024.

Superintendent Grant Norgaard emphasized the necessity of these projects, highlighting the limited lifespan of the current junior high building and the district's commitment to providing up-to-date facilities for career and technical education.

What's Included in the New Bond Proposal?

The new $42 million bond addresses some of the concerns raised in the previous election by reducing costs while still focusing on core needs.

Key components of the proposal include:

• New Junior High Building: The plan involves largely tearing down the current junior high, with only the gymnasium and office area remaining due to their structural integrity. The new construction is designed to last 100 years.

• Enhanced Career and Technical Education (CTE) Space: The bond prioritizes modernizing and expanding areas for hands-on learning in fields like industrial arts, agriculture, small engines, woods, construction, and CAD design. These areas are crucial for preparing students for high-paying, high-quality jobs.

• New Auditorium: A new auditorium will be built to replace the current facility, which is deemed unusable for modern performances and competitions due to its small size, disrepair, and failing lighting and sound systems. The size of the new auditorium has been reduced from the previous plan to cut costs.

Connected Facilities for Safety:

A major safety improvement involves constructing a new common space that will connect the new junior high building to the existing high school. This eliminates the need for students to walk outside between buildings for classes, addressing a significant security concern and ensuring all buildings remain locked during passing periods.

High School Impact:

While primarily a junior high project, the bond will also significantly impact the high school, particularly in areas of career and technical education, agriculture, the new commons area, and performing arts spaces.

To achieve the $2.7 million reduction from the original proposal, the new plan removes renovations to the high school's performing arts areas (auditorium, band, choir, and drama classrooms). Additionally, a centrally located library was removed, with a specific junior high library now incorporated into the junior high building by modifying a large study hall classroom. While these changes brought down the initial project cost, Norgaard noted that inflation has somewhat offset these savings, leading to the $42 million price tag.

Community Engagement and Tours

The McCook School Board, along with the "McCook on the Move Committee," is launching an immediate campaign to inform the community about the bond and encourage its passage. Public tours of the junior high facility are scheduled to give residents a firsthand look at the current conditions and the need for the proposed improvements.

Upcoming Tour Dates (Noon and 6 PM sessions):

• Thursday, July 10

• Wednesday, July 16

• Monday, July 21

• Tuesday, July 29

Information about the bond will also be available at community events, including Cruising on the Bricks on June 28 and the Red Willow County Fair from July 23 to 27. Residents who cannot attend scheduled tours are encouraged to contact the school to arrange a separate visit.

Summer Projects and Preparations for the New School Year

In other district news, summer projects are well underway to prepare buildings for the upcoming academic year. Business Director Jeff Gross reported that custodial staff are performing extensive updates, maintenance, and repairs across all facilities.

Current projects include:

• Upgrades to the Senior High hallway and commons area.

• Concrete and fence repairs on the west side of Weiland Field, in partnership with the college.

• Re-asphalting the playground at Central Elementary.

• Repainting ten classrooms and remodeling one with new cabinets and paint at Central Elementary.

• Scheduled summer painting and carpet cleaning in all buildings.

• Relocation of milk coolers and other equipment at Central Elementary to improve the central kitchen storage area and de-clutter the food service hallway.

The district is also working with Old West Realty & Auction to inventory surplus items for an upcoming online auction, which will include items like a small tractor and well-used school vans.

Staffing and Curriculum Updates

Superintendent Norgaard shared that new teacher orientation is scheduled for August 5-8, preparing new staff for the academic year. To address nationwide staffing shortages, teacher recruitment efforts for the 2026-2027 school year will begin early, in September. Administrator evaluations have been completed, and the board approved a 3.9% increase per administrator, allowing for a total salary increase of $38,500 to be distributed among all administrators based on performance.

The board also reviewed and approved student handbooks for all McCook Elementary, Central Elementary, Junior High, and Senior High for the 2025-2026 school year.

In a report from the Committee on American Civics, Norgaard demonstrated how the district's curriculum already meets state statute requirements for teaching the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Nebraska history, civics, citizenry, history, geography, economics, and financial literacy. He noted that students perform well on these assessments, with high school juniors achieving high percentages on the naturalized citizen test. Interestingly, the most missed questions on the naturalized citizen test among juniors were "Who is the current Speaker of the House?" and "Who is the current Governor of Nebraska?", suggesting a stronger grasp of historical figures than current political officeholders.

Financial and Other Approvals

The district accepted a generous donation of $1,236.05 from MNB Bison Debit Cards, which will be used to supplement curriculum and provide additional learning opportunities for students. The board also approved a payment to Sampson Construction, Inc. for pre-construction management and marketing consulting services related to the junior high bond project, utilizing special building funds.

The meeting concluded with positive remarks from board members, celebrating the success of the Girls' Tennis team and Coach Matt Wiemers, and commending the collaborative efforts of staff in the successful summer school program.

The next school board meeting is set for July 14. With the bond election on the horizon and recruitment efforts already underway, McCook Public Schools is actively preparing for the opportunities and challenges of the upcoming academic year.