School board makes bond resolution official

At Monday’s meeting, the Sidney school board officially approved a resolution for a $16.95 million bond election for a new elementary school to be held during the May 13 primary.

In a special bond election held Sept. 10 of last year, a school bond set at nearly $16 million was voted down by a narrow margin of 105 votes.

The bond would finance a new K-4 school, consolidating three of the system’s current schools, the oldest of which was originally constructed in 1929. The school board cited difficulty with installing new technology in the older buildings, the newer of which were built in the 1950s, as one of the reasons students needed a new structure.

Because the bond would be paid through a tax levy, those voting against it seemed mostly concerned with higher property taxes as well at the proposed location in the east Sidney development. The school board is sticking to its goal to have a new school in the next three to five years.

Advertisements including questions and answers with Sidney Superintendent Jay Ehler about the proposed school will be featured in the paper every Monday and Thursday.

At Monday’s meeting, Ehler mentioned the recent upswing in enrollment. Sidney added 54 students in the past year and a half, and four students in the past month.

“At the start of next year, when we ad our pre-K, every room in the district will be full,” Ehler said.

Ehler clarified that this meant every classroom will have a class in it.

“The only way we can grow from that point forward is in ratios, so more students per teacher,” he added.

The accreditation process for the middle and high school, which takes place every five years, will occur in the end of March. This process includes an external review performed by administrators from other parts of this region. The reviewers will conduct interviews and complete classroom observations.

All accredited schools must demonstrate a school improvement goal for the students and teachers. Sidney’s goals include improvements in math and reading.

“Most of our math and reading data is above the state average,” said Sheri Ehler, West Elementary principal and curriculum and assessment director. “So ours is just looking at improving what our students have worked really hard on already.”

The external reviewers will be in Sidney for three days to accredit the school.

“They’ll stop and talk to kids in the hallway, they’ll talk to teachers,” Ehler said.