KSD Board of Education Meeting Recap: Sept. 23, 2026

The Kearney School District Board of Education met Wednesday, Sept. 23, with much of the evening focused on student service, district finances and operations, academic planning, and connections between KSD and the broader Kearney community. Visit the KSD YouTube channel to view a livestream of this meeting.

KHS Day of Service

Kearney High School students and staff put service to the community in the School Spotlight as they shared the impact of the annual KHS Day of Service.

Last year, 408 Bulldogs participated in 27 service projects throughout the community. Those projects included everything from assisting senior citizens to working with the City of Kearney, including repainting fire hydrants to improve their visibility for emergency responders.

The presentation also looked ahead to this year's Day of Service on Nov. 3. Many successful projects from last year will return, along with new efforts that include assembling Thanksgiving meal kits for the Kearney Food Pantry, helping senior citizens with lawn cleanup and cleaning portions of Clear Creek. The ongoing Race to Fill the Pantry campaign during Homecoming Week will help provide food for some of that work.

Annual Tax Rate Hearing

The Board held KSD's annual public tax rate hearing and reviewed the district's 2026 assessed valuation and property tax levy.

KSD's total assessed valuation increased 1.97% to approximately $630.4 million. The 2026-2027 levy presented during the hearing totals $4.4222 per $100 of assessed valuation, including $3.2320 for operations and $1.1902 for debt service.

District officials also provided examples to help explain the impact on individual taxpayers. For a residential property with a market value of $350,000 that did not change in value, the district's presentation calculated a $2.86 increase in the KSD portion of the annual property tax bill.

City of Kearney Proposition P

Kearney Police Chief Brian Allen joined the meeting to provide information about Proposition P, a City of Kearney ballot measure that will go before voters in the Nov. 3 general election.

Proposition P asks Kearney voters whether to approve a one-half-cent citywide sales tax dedicated to public safety. According to information provided by the City, the revenue would be used for purposes that include recruiting and retaining police officers, maintaining adequate staffing on patrol shifts, providing officer backup and reducing reliance on overtime. If approved by voters, the tax would take effect April 1, 2027, and expire after 25 years. The presentation was an informational item for the Board; Proposition P is a City of Kearney measure.

Visit the City of Kearney's website to learn more about Proposition P.

Reviewing How KSD Programs Are Performing

The Board also received several regular program evaluations designed to measure results, identify areas for improvement and establish priorities for the year ahead.

Nutrition Services reported continued growth in meal participation during 2025-2026. Student lunches served increased 7.2%, breakfasts increased 3.3% and a la carte sales increased 9.6%. The program's revenue-to-expenditure difference also improved by $65,370 from the previous year. Priorities for 2026-2027 include increasing participation, using student feedback and taste tests to guide menus, and continuing to evaluate service based on participation data.

Transportation recorded a 99.2% on-time performance rate, exceeding KSD's 98% goal, while maintaining full staffing and beginning this year with four standby drivers. Bus discipline remains an area of focus after 519 referrals were recorded last year, 52 more than the previous year. Plans include stronger behavior supports and driver training, more consistent responses to referrals, and work to improve afternoon dismissal, bus loading and traffic flow.

Board members also reviewed KSD's grant-funded programs. Grant dollars support work across academics, student wellness, safety and security, and career readiness. Among the programs highlighted were the Clay County Children's Services Fund, which supports counseling, behavioral services, case management and other student supports; Career Ladder, which provides supplemental compensation for eligible teachers taking on additional responsibilities; and cybersecurity initiatives. KSD will continue seeking grant opportunities that align with the district's Strategic Plan.

Literacy and Student Assessment

The meeting also included a review of KSD's updated Comprehensive Literacy Plan. The plan brings together standards-based curriculum, evidence-based literacy instruction, intervention and enrichment, assessment, family and community partnerships, and professional learning to support literacy development across the district.

The Board also considered the district's 2026-2027 Assessment Plan, which outlines how KSD uses multiple measures to understand student progress and guide improvements in curriculum and instruction. The updated plan includes Amplify mCLASS DIBELS as a state-approved foundational reading assessment.

Thank you to our students, staff, community partners and Board members for the work represented throughout Wednesday night's meeting. Each of these updates helps KSD remain focused on serving students well today while planning responsibly for the future.