Superintendent of Sidney Public Schools addresses parents in letter

Dear SPS Parent/Guardians and Community Members

We hope this message finds you well. First and foremost, we would like to express our heartfelt appreciation for your ongoing support and commitment to our students and community. Your partnership is vital to the success of Sidney Public Schools, and we truly value your involvement.

Over the past year, the district has been working hard to better understand and address the financial challenges we are facing. As shared in previous communications, Sidney Public Schools has been navigating significant budgetary obstacles.

While SPS appreciates Governor Pillen's and the Nebraska Unicameral’s efforts to reduce the burden of property taxes and address public education funding, it is crucial to recognize the consequences of decisions related to their attempts. With the inception of LB 243 in 2023, Sidney Public Schools has seen a revenue shortfall of over $800,000. This in return has led to reductions in spending of just over $1,000,000 for the 2024-2025 school year.  

The district made the decision to reduce funding by just over $1,000,000 to cover the deficit, address potential unforeseen expenses, and work to maintain financial stability.

Here are the key areas where reductions have occurred for the current school year:

• Loss of valuable staff members

• Reduced busing services

• Closure of the Cool Kids Club

• Cuts to extracurricular activities

• A 10% reduction in the district’s athletic fund

• The closure of North Elementary

It is also important to note, that while property valuations are generally increasing across the state of Nebraska, Sidney has seen a decline in valuations compared to last year. Our local valuations dropped from $775,557,532 in the 2023-2024 school year to $775,437,631 for the current year. This decrease has resulted in reduced access to local tax revenue of over $400,000 for the district. As a result, the district has dropped our General Fund operating budget by over 3% compared to last year.

In addition to decisions made by Governor Pillen and the Unicameral, as well as a drop in property valuations, SPS has experienced a significant decline in student enrollment over the past several years, with a reduction of approximately 240 students. The new funding formula, which allocates resources based on enrollment, means that instead of receiving funding for 1,340 students, the district is now funded for 1,100. The change in per student funding significantly impacts our ability to maintain the financial support and stability we once had and currently need, especially considering that 80% of our budget is allocated to personnel. 

Despite the loss in funding, Sidney Public Schools is diligently working to realign our staff to meet the needs of our students. As a district, we understand that the only effective way to make meaningful budget reductions is, unfortunately, through staffing adjustments.

Looking ahead, we are evaluating further reductions for the 2025-2026 school year. With a possible total reduction of up to $900,000 in the district budget. Our goal is to approach these decisions thoughtfully and methodically, working to protect core courses, as well as Rule 10-related programming to the greatest extent possible. For your information, Nebraska Rule 10 is a set of regulations and procedures for accrediting schools in the state, ensuring they meet the standards required for legal operation under state law. The primary purpose of NE. Rule 10, is to guarantee that all students in public schools have equal educational opportunities.

As we move forward, the Sidney School Board and District leadership will continue to work with our community and stakeholders to ensure that we maintain the high-quality educational experience our students deserve.

Thank you for your continued understanding and support.

Warm Regards, 

Mr. Andrew Farber

Superintendent

Sidney Public Schools