Education
Thibodeau: Keep Nebraska Board of Education elected, accountable
OMAHA — Former State Sen. Theresa Thibodeau of Omaha, a Republican running for governor, said last week that she wants Nebraska to keep its elected state Board of Education. Thibodeau criticized a proposed state constitutional amendment that would eliminate the state Board of Education and move the state Department of Education under the governor’s control. […]
Lawmaker seeks to ban cell phones from classrooms
Smartphones in the hands of students in classrooms can be dangerous, as well as a learning barrier, an educator told a Nebraska legislative committee Tuesday. Diane Wigert relayed a personal experience in which she said she was “secretly recorded” as she was teaching. A version of the recording that she said was intentionally edited to […]
Proposal would give Nebraska schools funds to switch out Native American mascots
The mascots of 22 Nebraska schools offend Jacqelle Lane. They come, she said, in the form of a chief, a brave, two chieftains, seven Indians and 11 warriors. Native-themed caricatures — often in warlike or demeaning poses — on gym walls, sports jerseys and megaphones mock a culture and do nothing to advance the attainment […]
Help coming: $2.2 million in federal funds to help extinguish nurse burnout
As a sleep researcher and nursing instructor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Alyson Hanish saw plenty of colleagues and students burn out during the pandemic. So when she saw an invite from the Biden administration, she seized the grant opportunity — and now will lead a $2.2 million project to promote resilience and […]
Medical school proposed at Kearney to help address rural health care staffing ‘crisis’
LINCOLN — If you want to increase the number of doctors, nurses and other health professionals in rural areas, you need to educate them in a rural area. That was the message delivered Thursday by several advocates of a plan to create a rural medical school on the campus of the University of Nebraska at […]
Lawmaker wants Holocaust discussion in schools
Eleanor Dunning said she was shocked when she saw a fellow college student throw up a Nazi signal, and doubly so when the student escaped repercussion from school officials. State Sen. Jen Day of the Gretna area said she was stunned to learn via recent email that an Omaha area school had tried to teach […]
NU system said to grow the state economy by $5.8 billion
NU system said to grow state by $5.8 billion annually
NU Regents agree to end dry spell at university athletic events — with caveats
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents voted Friday to end a longtime ban on booze sales and consumption at Husker sporting venues — but there are caveats. President Ted Carter said that any change related to alcohol at a particular NU campus first would need to be approved by the respective chancellor and then […]
Herbster and Pillen spar over critical race theory
Hog farmer Jim Pillen’s latest television ad takes aim at critical race theory. He says he knows slop when he sees it. Charles Herbster, Pillen’s top opponent in Nebraska’s Republican primary for governor, questioned Pillen’s sincerity. He said he should have done more to protect university students from critical race theory. Herbster pointed to Pillen’s […]
Filibuster blocks bill to limit property tax increases by K-12 schools
LINCOLN — A multi-day filibuster has blocked a bill that would have imposed new taxing limitations on K-12 schools. On a 28-21 vote, Legislative Bill 986 fell five votes short of halting the filibuster Tuesday and allowing a vote to advance the proposal from first-round debate. The bill, entitled the “School District Property Tax Limitation […]
Booze at Big Red? NU Regents to discuss next week
LINCOLN — The long-standing ban on alcohol at University of Nebraska athletic events is to be reconsidered Feb. 11 by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. Under a proposed policy change, the university president and chancellors would be allowed to authorize the sale and consumption of alcohol at athletic events at their respective campuses. […]
Helping pay off college debts touted in reducing teacher burnout, staff shortages
LINCOLN — Early retirements, teacher burnout and fewer students entering teachers colleges: All are combining to create an unprecedented shortage of educators in Nebraska schools, a state legislative committee was told Tuesday. “I have never seen the level of teacher shortages that schools are now facing,” said Carri Collins, who supervises principals in the Omaha […]