As the 2023-24 school year comes to an end, we find ourselves reflecting and celebrating the challenges, opportunities, and accomplishments of another successful school year at Scottsbluff Public Schools.
A successful school year does not just occur by chance…what makes it happen is a talented and dedicated staff; strong, innovative leadership at all levels of the organization; a culture focused on core values, relationships, continuous improvement, and high expectations; and most importantly, students, families, schools, and the community working together for one common purpose.
In reflecting on the many, many accomplishments of the 2023-24 school year, I wanted to take a moment and touch on a few of the more recent, and noteworthy highlights.
· Earlier this month, Scottsbluff Schools was awarded $520,000 in grants to support preschool expansion and safety and security. These two most recent grants will be used to fund the addition of two preschool classrooms and construct a secure vestibule for Westmoor Elementary. Including this recently received award, Scottsbluff Schools has received over $12M in competitive grant funding over the past six years!
· The Class of 2024 proved to be an incredibly accomplished group of students. As a class, they earned 2,836 college credits (which exceeded the prior year’s total by 151 credits) and completed 878 college courses. Two students received concurrent degrees, their high school diploma and associate’s degree in May of 2024. Ten students graduated with a Certificate of Completion from WNCC. Three seniors signed letters of intent to be future educators and three signed letters of intent to be diesel technicians.
· Forty-four SHS juniors and seniors earned their Basic Nursing Assistant and 26 earned their Medical Aide licensures through the State of Nebraska. Eleven students earned their Biliteracy Seal through the Nebraska Department of Education.
· The District has leveraged ESSER and general budget funds to significantly advance curriculum materials at all levels. Adoptions that have or will occur this summer include new English Language Arts materials at the elementary and middle school levels, new elementary Science and Social Studies programs, and curriculum materials for various high school courses.
· For the second consecutive year, the Nebraska Public School Advantage has highlighted an outstanding Scottsbluff High School program – The Peer Paras of The Panhandle.
· Elementary data, specifically for students in Grades K-3 shows tremendous gains in our efforts to ensure students are reading at or above grade level at the earliest years of their education…the most fundamental element of a student’s academic success.
These remarkable accomplishments, which align with our strategic plan, would not have been possible if it were not for committed students, talented and dedicated educators, supportive parents and guardians, and community and post-secondary partnerships.
Looking ahead to the “summer break,” our Facilities, Technology, and Safety & Security Departments have already begun work on their summer projects as we strive to provide safe, welcoming, and modernized facilities and infrastructure. Interactive Clear Touch panels are scheduled to be installed at Westmoor Elementary and Scottsbluff High School, and Westmoor is receiving new classroom furniture for students as part of the first phase of their elementary
modernization project. The design phase of our new early childhood center is nearing completion. We anticipate the Board of Education will review submitted bids at their August or September meeting, with the goal of opening the doors for the new preschool in August of 2025. These projects would not be possible if not for the responsible work of the Board of Education and district leadership in financially positioning the District to self-fund them, along with a highly skilled facilities and technology team who provide significant savings to the Scottsbluff taxpayer by completing projects in-house.
In closing, THANK YOU to our students, staff, families, Board of Education, and community for embracing the opportunity to work together, knowing we are stronger together, for one common purpose…student success!
For more information regarding Scottsbluff Public Schools, please visit our website at www.sbps.net.
Andrew Dick, Ed.D.
Superintendent
