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PARENT ADVOCATE, Vol. 9, No. 1-December 2001; Vol. 9. Vol. 8, No. 4-July 2001; Vol. 8, No. 3-May 2001; Vol. 8, No. 2-Feb. 2001;
Nebraska Catholic Schools Thrive
Catholic education in Nebraska heralded new beginnings and celebrated milestones with the beginning of the 2001-2002 school year. The number of Catholic elementary schools in Nebraska increased by two this year, with new schools starting in Seward and Holdrege. In addition, Pope John XXIII High School in Elgin celebrated 35 years of operation, and Sacred Heart School in Lawrence has been offering a Catholic education for an impressive 100 years.
St. Vincent de Paul School in Seward opened its doors this fall with 35 students enrolled in Kindergarten through third grade. Plans are for the school to add grades in the future, eventually expanding to K-8. The new St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School is the first Catholic school to open in Seward County. It draws most of its students from the local area, but also enrolled six students from Milford, 13 miles to the south.
In Holdrege, All Saints School welcomed nine students in Kindergarten and another 19 in its preschool. Located in the church hall CCD classrooms in this south central Nebraska town, the new All Saints Catholic School fills a Catholic-school void between Hastings and McCook. All Saints intends to expand and eventually enroll students in grades K-4. All Saints school administrators were impressed by the enthusiasm and generosity of parish members, who donated many toys and craft items to the school, and are pleased with their progress considering that planning for the school began only nine months before this school year.
In celebrating 35 years of offering Catholic education, Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School in Elgin proved wrong the nay-sayers who predicted the school would not last ten years. During the celebratory events, principal Dennis Cannon noted that not only has the school survived, it has thrived and grown over the years. Six parishes make up the legal corporation of Pope John XXIII, including St. John the Baptist in Petersburg, St. Bonaventure in Raeville, St. Francis in Neligh, St. Theresa in Clearwater, St. John the Baptist in rural Clearwater, and St. Boniface in Elgin. Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School was established when it became apparent that the local parishes in the surrounding area could no longer maintain individual schools.
Pope John XXIII enrolled 129 students in grades 7 through 12 this year, roughly equivalent to the number of students enrolled in Elgin’s public school.
The rural community of Lawrence, population 323, has been blessed with the presence of Sacred Heart School for 100 years. Sacred Heart Parish was organized in 1893, and within five years, the parish had started a small school in the rectory. A school building/convent was completed in 1901, and the present school building was built in 1917. More than 60 students fill the First Grade through Eighth Grade classrooms.
Budget Cuts Affects Textbooks and Teachers |
In response to a projected revenue shortfall of $220 million over the next two years, the recently completed special session of the Nebraska Legislature resulted in most state funded agencies and programs incurring a 4% reduction in funding for 2001-02 and a 5% reduction for 2002-03. These reductions were applied to the textbook loan program as well. Thus, the proposed budget revisions will reduce the annual appropriation of $424,225 by about $17,000 in 01-02 and by about $21,000 in 02-03.
Also affected was the Attracting Excellence to Teaching Program, a recently adopted student loan forgiveness program for prospective teachers majoring in subject matter shortage areas. The Governor proposed funding this program from lottery funds rather than General Fund dollars. Before the session ended, the budget bill was amended by a vote of 35 –10 to not only alter the funding source, but also delay implementation of this program until July 2003. In the interim, the funds that would have been appropriated for student loans will instead be used to shore up funding for special education.
As now financed, the number of loan recipients may fluctuate depending upon lottery revenues. According to the amended bill, the first 70% of lottery funds allocated to educational programs is dedicated to programs other than the Attracting Excellence to Teaching Program. The Attracting Excellence to Teaching Program is then entitled to the next 20%. Based upon the current lottery revenues, the program would receive about $1.6 million per year under this revised scheme, whereas under the Governor’s original proposal, it was to be funded with $2.7 million per year.
The budget cuts made during the special session address approximately 75% of the expected shortfall in state revenues. The remaining adjustments necessary will be taken up during the regular session beginning in January when revised revenue forecast figures are available. Considering how difficult it was for legislators to find ways to reduce state expenditures by $170 million over two years, our legislators should appreciate the fact that parents choosing private and parochial schools for their children relieve the state and local school districts of about $250 million in educational costs each year.
Now Showing....
An informational/ motivational videotape about the Federation, its purposes and goals, and suggestions for citizen involvement in the public policy process is now available for showing at home/school meetings, school board meetings, or other events. The 13 minute video includes interviews with Federation leaders and members, Catholic school administrators, and even Governor Johanns, all discussing the school choice movement, grass roots advocacy, and the need for parents to get more involved in advocating for their school choice rights.
The video has received enthusiastic "thumbs up" reviews from those who have already seen it. Archbishop Curtiss, Bishop Bruskewitz, and Bishop McNamara highly recommend that all Catholic school parents see this video. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of the video for a meeting at your school, just give us a call at (888) 818-6998.
 | Described by one school choice advocate as the most important educational-opportunity case since Brown v. Board of Education, the United States Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether tax-funded tuition vouchers used in religiously-affiliated private schools are constitutional. The Court will resolve the case arising out of the 6-year old Cleveland, Ohio program that provides tuition vouchers worth up to $2,250 a year for 4,000 low-income students. Education Week, October 3, 2001. |
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"Public education is a concept; it is not a structure. And what it really means is that students should be able to receive a free and appropriate education, one at the expense of the public. There are multiple delivery systems that can achieve that goal, and I think as we go forward into this new century, we are going to see a proliferation of new delivery systems. There are going to be cyber schools, home schooling, parochial schools, private schools, public schools -- all kinds of delivery systems. And I think that's going to be good, because that expands choices for parents." Education Secretary Rod Paige, Sept. 5, 2001 |
What is the Textbook Loan Program?
Under Nebraska law, local school districts are required to purchase and loan non-religious textbooks upon request to parents of children attending private K-12 schools located within the district. With the deadline for requesting textbooks for the 2002-03 school year fast approaching, a basic reminder of how the program works should be helpful.
Nebraska Department of Education Rule 4 establishes the administrative parameters for this program. According to Rule 4, public school districts must make available by December 1 a list of textbooks designated for use in the public schools of the district during the current school year, a list of any new textbooks that the school district has determined by December 1 will be used during the next school year, and a list showing by title (including edition and copyright), the numbers of all textbooks previously purchased for the textbook loan program and still available for loan.
The deadline for parents to request the loan of textbooks on the school district’s list is January 15. Textbooks designated for use in the public schools of the school district in which the child resides or of the school district in which the private school attended by the child is located may be requested for loan. The copyright edition of such texts loaned shall be at the discretion of the parents if multiple versions are available from the publisher.
Upon receipt of all textbook loan applications, the public schools evaluate how many loan requests can be accommodated from current textbook inventory and how many additional textbooks must be purchased to satisfy all loan requests. The public schools then apply to the state Department of Education for funds to purchase the additional textbooks needed.
If the amount needed to accommodate textbook loan requests for any given year exceeds the amount appropriated by the Legislature, the state Department of Education reduces the amount disbursed to all requesting school districts on a pro-rata basis. If, after the distribution of funds, the local school districts are unable to provide all of the textbooks for which applications have been made due to a pro-rata reduction by the Department of Education, then the school districts are obligated to "use their best judgment" in selecting the textbooks to be purchased.
The appropriation for this program for textbooks requested for the 2002-03 school year is $407,256. The NFCSP’s goal for this program is an annual appropriation sufficient to enable the purchase of one new textbook per child per year. With more than 40,000 children receiving their K-12 education in private and parochial schools in Nebraska, and assuming an average textbook cost of $40, this goal would require an annual appropriation of approximately $1,600,000. The NFCSP is dedicated to achieving this goal as part of its ongoing efforts to achieve economic justice for taxpaying parents who satisfy the state’s compulsory education requirements by educating their children in private/parochial schools.
NOTABLES
Two students from Saint Gerald School in Ralston were chosen as winners in the Omaha Bar Association’s annual Law Day poster contest. Danny Treinen won first place for his poster depicting the theme: Celebrate Your Freedom. Chris Haug won third place. This was the first time in the history of the Law Day poster contest that there were two winners from the same school.
| On Thursday November 8th, 90
high schools and 1,300 students participated in UNL's Math Day. Top
categories awarded to Catholic Schools and students include:
Math Bowl: Class B, Grand Island Central Catholic (Benjamin Bialas, Tyler Huismann, Dusty Sorahan), 1st. P.R.O.B.E I: Class A, Omaha Creighton Prep, 2nd; Class B, Omaha Skutt 1st, Grand Island Central Catholic, 4th; Class C, Kearney Catholic 1st and Elkhorn Mt. Michael, 3rd; Class D, Elgin Pope John XXIII, 4th. P.R.O.B.E I Top 3 Individuals: Male: Nate Sorensen, Kearney Catholic 1st and Michael Bogacz, Omaha Creighton Prep, 2nd. P.R.O.B.E II Scholarship Competition: Nate Sorensen, Kearney Catholic 3rd; Michael Bogacz, Omaha Creighton Prep, 7th. |
| Several teachers and administrators were recently honored at the annual Archbishop’s Dinner for Educational Development. Elizabeth Kish, principal of Omaha’s Marian High School, received the Metro Administrator of the Year award, and Lynette Hamernik, head teacher at St. Leonard School in Madison was named the Rural Administrator of the Year. | Teacher of the year awards went to: William
Schlueter, Omaha Roncalli High School, Joseph
Wojtkiewicz, Archbishop Bergan High School in Fremont, Linda
Coates, St. Margaret Mary School in Omaha, Joyce
Meridith, Holy Family School in Lindsay, Diane
Flynn, Omaha’s Sacred Heart School, and John
Palladino, All Saints School, Omaha.
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Carl Tessmer, teacher/coach at Hastings St. Cecilia reached a milestone in his coaching career on October 5th with 200 wins as a head coach. One hundred seven of those wins came in his 15 years as coach at Grand Island Central Catholic. The remaining 93 wins were racked up over an 11-year career at Hastings, and included a state championship last year.
New Education Provisions Could Save You Thousands of Dollars
By Craig Reager and Jason Clark, First Union Securities
In the July edition of the Parent Advocate there was an article referring to changes occurring to the Education IRA (now known as the Education Savings Account, ESA) as of January 1st, 2002 due to the recent passage of the Tax Relief Act of 2001. In this article we would like to further highlight and expand upon the various educational provisions contained within the Tax Relief Act of 2001.
The major provisions that will go into effect on January 1st are as follows; |
First: Qualified withdrawals (withdrawals which may be taken tax-free) from an Education Savings Account (ESA) will now include tuition and expenses at elementary and/or secondary private schools. |
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Second: The total aggregate contribution limit per beneficiary in an ESA has increased from $500 to $2000 per year. |
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Third: Income limits which determine who may or may not contribute to an ESA have been modified to eliminate the "marriage penalty". Married couples with an income up to $190,000 may now contribute with a phase out range up to $220,000. |
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Fourth: Contributions may be made in the same year to both an ESA and a 529 College Savings Plan for the same beneficiary without penalties or excise taxes being imposed. |
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Fifth: Qualified withdrawals from 529 College Savings Plans (The College Savings Plan of Nebraska) will change from tax-deferred to TAX-FREE. |
The term 529 College Savings Program is still quite new and in fact most families are not even aware that these programs exist. The term 529 is derived from the Internal Revenue Code Section 529. It allows for states to sponsor their own qualified tuition programs (The College Savings Plan of Nebraska) which will now appreciate both state and federally tax-free. The programs contain no income, age or time restrictions and the assets always remain under the control of the plan owner, never the beneficiary (child). The plans contain very low minimum and very high maximum contribution limits and the assets may be used at over 8,000 colleges and universities throughout our nation.
The cost of providing our children with the best education possible is imposing an ever increasing burden upon the American family, and now finally the United States Congress and the President have given us the tools to plan and save tax-free.
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PLAN |
COLLEGE SAVINGS PLAN OF NEBRASKA (529 PLAN) |
COVERDELL EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS (ESA) |
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Are contributions tax deductible? |
YES. Nebraska residents can receive a State income tax deduction of up to $1,000 per return for contributions to the Plan. |
NO |
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Is there a contribution limit per beneficiary? |
Currently $250,000 |
$2,000 per individual per year beginning January 1, 2002. |
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How are distributions for qualified higher education expenses taxed? |
Withdrawals for qualified higher education expenses are tax-free beginning January 1, 2002. |
Withdrawals for qualified higher education expenses are tax-free. |
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Can you change the beneficiary of the account? |
Yes. A transfer to another member of the beneficiary’s family is allowed. |
Yes. A transfer to another member of the beneficiary’s family is allowed. |
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Are there any income limits restricting who is eligible to contribute? |
NO |
Yes. Eligibility begins to phase out at $190,000 AGI ($220,000 AGI for taxpayers filing jointly) beginning January 1, 2002. |
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How can funds be used? |
Funds can be used at eligible public and private post-secondary schools nationwide. Withdrawals for qualified expenses receive favorable tax treatment. Non-qualified withdrawals may be subject to penalties and taxation. |
Funds can be used at eligible public and private schools nationwide, including K-12 expenses starting January 1, 2002. Withdrawals for qualified expenses receive favorable tax treatment. Non-qualified withdrawals may be subject to penalties and taxation. |
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How do I set one up? |
Contact the College Savings Plan of Nebraska at 1-888-993-3746 or log onto www.PlanForCollegeNow.com |
Contact your local financial institution. |
For more information, contact Mitch or Jim at NFCSP: 1-888-818-6998.
Parental Choice in Education
NFCSP Position Statement
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Nebraska Parents who educate their children in non-government schools for religious or other reasons should be able to: |
| Exercise, without economic penalty, their parental rights and responsibilities to choose the education they deem best for their children; |
| Obtain economic recognition for the substantial cost savings they provide the State and its governmental subdivisions by educating their children in non-governmental schools; |
| Freely exercise their religious preferences in educating their children, regardless of their financial situation; |
| Exercise choice and promote competition, thereby strengthening the State’s government and non-government schools. |
Parents are not being treated fairly under the present educational finance system. All parents are subject to the State’s mandate to educate their children, but are provided free instruction only in government schools. This creates an economic burden on parents who choose to meet the State’s mandate by providing their children with education in non-government schools. The inequitable treatment of parents choosing non-government schools fails to recognize the cost savings they provide the State of Nebraska, and fails to promote their freedom in fulfilling their responsibility to provide the instruction they deem best for their children. Moreover, in those many instances where the parents are financially unable to assume the added financial burden, their choice is effectively denied. Accordingly, the present system needs to be modified in order to meet the above objectives and provide a fair and equitable system for the education of Nebraska children.
PARENT ADVOCATE, Vol. 8, No. 4-July 2001; Vol. 9, No. 1-Dec. 2001; Vol. 8, No. 3-May 2001; Vol. 8, No. 2-Feb. 2001
NEBRASKA FEDERATION OF CATHOLIC SCHOOL PARENTS
K-12 Education Savings Accounts Become Law - Cape Update
The $1.35 billion tax package approved by Congress and signed by President Bush on June 7 includes an expansion of tax-advantaged education savings accounts (ESAs) to cover expenses connected with kindergarten through college in public and private schools. Here, in Q & A format, is an overview of the ESA provision.
How do the accounts work?
Parents and other taxpayers, including corporations and tax-exempt organizations, can contribute in aggregate up to $2,000 each year to an education savings account (also known as an education individual retirement account or education IRA) established for a particular beneficiary. The buildup of interest within the account is tax free, and neither the principal nor interest is taxable upon withdrawal if used for a qualified educational expense.
What is a qualified educational expense?
As defined in the new tax legislation, the term includes certain expenses associated with higher education that are specified in current law, and also includes expenses for elementary and secondary education, including "tuition, fees, academic tutoring, special needs services in the case of a special needs beneficiary, books, supplies, and other equipment which are incurred in connection with the enrollment or attendance of the designated beneficiary of the trust as an elementary or secondary school student at a public, private, or religious school." Allowable K-12 expenses also include "room and board, uniforms, transporta-tion, and supplementary items and services (including extended day programs)," as well as "computer technology or equipment (as defined in section 170(e)(6)(F)(i)) or Internet access and related services, if such technology, equipment, or services are to be used by the beneficiary and the beneficiary's family during any of the years the beneficiary is in school." Computer expenses, however, cannot include "expenses for computer software designed for sports, games, or hobbies unless the software is predominantly educational in nature."
What taxpayers are eligible to make contributions to an ESA?
Individual taxpayers with modified adjusted gross incomes under $95,000 and married taxpayers filing a joint return with incomes under $190,000 may make the maximum allowable annual contribution to an ESA. The contribution level is phased out for individual taxpayers with annual incomes between $95,000 and $110,000, and for married taxpayers with incomes between $190,000 and $220,000. Individuals and married couples with incomes above the respective phase-out levels are not allowed to make contributions to an ESA.
Corporations and other entities (including tax-exempt organizations) are also permitted to contribute to an ESA, regardless of the annual income of the corporation or entity.
What is the cut-off date for contributions to an ESA?
In general, individual taxpayers can make contributions for a given year up to April 15 of the following year.
How does the new ESA law differ from current law?
There are two main differences. Under current law the annual contribution limit to an ESA is $500; under the new law it is $2,000. Under current law withdrawals can be used only for higher education expenses; under the new law withdrawals can also be used for K-12 expenses.
When do the changes to the ESA law take effect?
The new provisions are effective for taxable years beginning January 1, 2002.
| Textbook
Loan Program Funding Increased
Under Nebraska law, local school districts are required to purchase and loan non-religious textbooks upon request to children attending private K-12 schools located within the district, but only to the extent that funds are appropriated in advance by the Legislature. If the amount needed to accommodate textbook loan requests for any given year exceeds the amount pre-determined by the Legislature, the number of textbook loan requests fulfilled is reduced accordingly. Thanks to letter writing efforts by NFCSP liaisons, and with the strong backing of several legislators, a 21.5% increase in funding for the textbook loan program was secured for the next two years. Funding for the program will increase from $349,225 per year to $424,225 for 2001-02 and 2002-03. Members of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee who voted in support of Lincoln Senator Mike Foley’s motion to increase funding were Senators John Hilgert of Omaha, Pat Engel of South Sioux City, Nancy Thompson of Papillion, Chris Beutler of Lincoln, and Lowen Kruse of Omaha. In addition, the NFCSP Governing Board met with Governor Johanns to obtain his support for the increased funding. On May 14, the Governor signed the budget bill into law with the increased funding intact. The textbook loan program, which has been declared constitutional in all respects by the Nebraska Supreme Court, effectively helps taxpaying-parents educate their children in math, science, and other state-mandated subjects in the schools of their choice. |
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The Florida legislature has passed a bill that provides a tax credit to corporations for donations to scholarship organizations that provide assistance to low-income students who wish to attend private schools. The law, which will take effect in 2002, extends eligibility for the scholarships to students currently attending public schools only. Parent Power, Volume 7 Issue 2, Spring 2001. |
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The state legislature in Pennsylvania passed a law which grants a 75 percent tax credit to businesses making a one-time contribution to a scholarship organization, or a 90 percent tax credit to businesses that commit to a two-year contribution. Businesses can receive a maximum tax credit on an annual basis of $100,000. Scholarships are available to students attending private or public schools. The legislature also passed a law creating tutoring vouchers for students who do not perform well on standardized tests. The maximum voucher per student is $500 and can be used for services provided by nonprofit and for-profit entities, including religious schools. Parent Power, Volume 7 Issue 2, Spring 2001. |
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Wisconsin Senate Democrats eviscerated the Milwaukee school choice program, slashing the program that allows poor students to attend private and charter schools. Their vote would cut the maximum value of the school vouchers in half, and more than 4,000 students in Milwaukee's choice program would not have classrooms to return to in the fall if the plan prevails. The vote was strongly backed by the Wisconsin Education Association Council, which spent $1 million on Senate campaigns over the last two years. The Senate majority, ignoring the fact that education is supposed to be about kids and not the system, will force the children receiving vouchers to move back into the traditional public schools their parents felt were inadequate in the first place. And they will do so at a higher price: The Milwaukee choice budget is about five percent of the total district budget, but educates about 10 percent of the district enrollment. Governor Scott McCallum and State Assembly Republicans are expected to fight against the changes. Center for Education Reform Newswire, June 19, 2001. |
Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program Moves Forward
Despite repeated attempts by several senators to block funding for the program, the Attracting Excellence to Teaching Program passed by the Legislature last year is finally in a position to be implemented. The program will provide state-funded student loans through Nebraska colleges and universities offering teacher-training programs. Students who receive these loans can have their loans forgiven if they subsequently teach in a Nebraska elementary or secondary school. The program is targeted at students preparing to teach in subject matter shortage areas as determined by the Nebraska Department of Education.
The NFCSP concentrated significant attention on this program this year because it allows for participation by teachers regardless of whether they choose to work in a public or private school. This aspect of the program motivated Senator Ron Raikes, chairman of the Legislature’s Education Committee, to introduce two bills to eliminate private school teacher participation. When those efforts failed, he joined Senator Ernie Chambers and Senator Bob Wickersham in their attempts to derail funding for the program.
Senator Nancy Thompson of Papillion, who introduced the loan forgiveness bill last session and guided it to passage, worked diligently to obtain funding for the program in this legislative session. Her efforts paid off as the legislature appropriated $2.7 million for the program for each of the next two years. The NFCSP is grateful to Senator Thompson for her perseverance and her efforts to ensure that her teacher recruitment and retention incentive legislation will result in benefits for all children in Nebraska, including those educated in non-government schools.
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Coming AttractionsAn informational/motivational videotape about the Federation, its purposes and goals, and suggestions for citizen involvement in the public policy process is currently in pre-production by NFCSP member Brian Kreikemeier of B & B Video Productions. The video is short (about 13 minutes) documentary-style look at the Federation and its activities. It includes interviews with Federation leaders and members, Catholic school administrators, and even Governor Johanns, all discussing the school choice movement, grass roots advocacy, and the need for parents to become more involved in advocating for their school choice rights.
The final, edited version is awaiting final approval. Copies of the video will be available to loan for home/school association meetings, school board meetings, or any other get-together. Printed materials also will be available summarizing some of the key information so parents will have something to take with them after viewing the video. The video and accompanying materials are intended to help answer questions some members may have about the Federation and about their school choice rights.
Teacher Salary Bill Stalls in Final Days of Session
After eight hours of debate on Select File, the sponsors of the bill to increase public school teacher salaries attempted to end the debate and advance the bill to final reading, but failed to garner enough support. As amended, LB 305 would have provided a $2,000 per year salary subsidy for all beginning public-school teachers (those within the first four years of their teaching careers) paid through the public school districts. In subsequent years, the state would provide additional state-aid to public schools, calculated at $100 per student; with such state aid to be used to enhance teacher pay. The bill also proposed to raise the Nebraska sales tax rate by .0025 to generate the funds needed to fund these proposals.
During the debate, Senator Chip Maxwell of Omaha promoted an alternative to the across-the-board salary subsidies contained in LB 305. Senator Maxwell’s proposed amendment would have revised LB 305 into a more narrowly targeted approach to addressing teacher shortages. The Maxwell amendment would have provided for direct incentive payments of $1,500 per year for three years to new teachers in subject matter shortage areas, and it also funded the Master Teacher program, which was adopted but not funded last session. Both of these proposals included participation by teachers employed in private and parochial schools in addition to those employed in public schools.Unlike the across-the-board public school salary subsidy proposal, which Governor Johanns promised to veto in light of the tax increase it required, the Maxwell proposal met with favorable review from the Governor’s office. The proposal was not a "one size fits all" approach, it did not require a tax increase, and it included private and parochial school teachers; three criteria the Governor indicated in his State of the State address last January as components of any bill to address teacher shortages likely to win his approval. Unfortunately, Senator Maxwell’s proposed amendment was not adopted, falling seven votes short of the 25 needed to substitute it for the original provisions of LB 305.
LB 305 will carry over to the next legislative session. As it also failed to garner enough votes to advance in its current form, proponents of the legislation will need to consider ways to generate more support. The NFCSP will be monitoring activity in this area over the summer, and will continue to press for equitable inclusion of private and parochial school teachers in any recruitment/retention proposals that surface in January.
NOTABLES
Katherine Balak, Kellie Johnson, Natasha Scholz, Lauren Schumacher and Stephani Spies of St. Isadore School in Columbus won third place at the National History Day contest by performing a dramatic performance called "Children’s Perspective of a Changing Land." Entries were judged on quality of research, presentation and adaptation to the contest theme.
Elizabeth Greer, Omaha Marian High School, and Ryan Lynch, Omaha Creighton Prep, were named to the All State Academic Team by the Omaha World Herald. Elizabeth was ranked first in her class of 173, and achieved a perfect score of 36 on the ACT college entrance exam. Ryan ranked first in his class of 264 and achieved a score of 35 on the ACT. Also named to regional academic teams were Chris Guhin, Omaha Creighton Prep, Andrea Johnson, Norfolk Catholic, Leslie Anne Maul, Columbus Scotus, and Robert D. Powers, Grand Island Central Catholic.
Darlene Sheridan, a teacher at St. Gerald Catholic School in Ralston is retiring after 29 years of service. Mrs. Sheridan was one of four Nebraska teachers honored by the World-Herald’s My Favorite Teacher Essay Contest this year, and last year was named by the Omaha Archdiocese as one of five teachers of the year.
Extracurricular Team Excellence 2000-2001
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Columbus Scotus State Champion: Class B Boys Soccer State Champion: Class B Girls Soccer State Champion: Class C Girls Cross Country State Runner-up: Class C1 Volleyball |
Lincoln Pius X State Champion: Class B Boys Tennis State Runner-up: Class B Girls Tennis State Runner-up: Class B Girls Cross Country
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David City Aquinas State Champion: Class C Wrestling |
Lindsey Holy Family State Champion: Class D2 Football |
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Elkhorn Mt. Michael State Champion: Class C Boys Cross Country |
Norfolk Catholic State Runner-up: Class C Wrestling |
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Falls City Sacred Heart State Champion: Class D1 Boys Basketball State Champion: Class D Girls Track
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Omaha Creighton Prep State Champion: Boys Baseball State Champion: Class A Boys Swimming State Runner-up: Class A Football State Runner-up: Class A Boys Tennis |
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Grand Island Central Catholic State Champion: Class B Girls Tennis State Champion: Class C Girls Golf
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Omaha Daniel J. Gross State Champion: Class B Journalism Sweepstakes Omaha Marian State Champion: Class A Girls Swimming State Champion: Class A Girls Basketball State Champion: Class A Girls Soccer State Runner-up: Class A Girls Cross Country |
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Hartington Cedar Catholic State Runner-up: Class C2 Girls Basketball |
Omaha Skutt State Champion: Class B Wrestling |
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Hastings St. Cecilia State Champion: Class C1 Football State Champion: Class C Boys Track |
Wahoo Neumann State Runner-up: Class C1 Football State Runner-up: Class C1 Boys Basketball |
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Humphrey St. Francis State Champion: Class D1 Volleyball State Runner-up: Class D1 Girls Basketbal l |
CONGRATULATIONS!! |
FEDERATION TURNS NINE...
As one school year ends, and the next is just around the corner, the Nebraska Federation of Catholic School Parents (NFCSP) is preparing to launch its ninth annual membership campaign in conjunction with the 2001-02 school term. From a first-term membership of 4,075 in 1993-94, the statewide Catholic-school parents’ organization grew to 17,302 in 2000-01! More growth and development is anticipated for the upcoming year.
The 2001-02 membership campaign once again emphasizes the themes and purposes upon which the Federation was established in 1993. Those themes are: IDENTITY as an organization of parents with children enrolled in Catholic schools; UNITY among Catholic-school parents statewide; COLLABORATION on the part of Catholic-school parents in interacting with the public-policy process; and EMPOWERMENT for Catholic-school parents in developing greater awareness of, and responding effectively to, public-policy issues which affect their education rights, the schools they choose, and their children as students in those schools.
The purposes of the Federation are set forth in its by-laws:
- to INFORM the statewide Catholic-school community about public-policy decisions which affect Catholic schools, Catholic-school students and their parents;
- to ADVOCATE for parental choice in education without economic penalty as a just and viable means of assuring well-educated citizens;
- to MOBILIZE the statewide Catholic-school community as an effective grassroots constituency, one which communicates with legislators and other public officials regarding education rights and public policy; and
- to ENHANCE the advocacy efforts of NFCSP’s parent organization, the Nebraska Catholic (Bishops’) Conference with a well-informed, active Catholic-education constituency.
NFCSP’s by-laws state that individual membership is open to parents of Catholic-school students and to all others who are interested in promoting the purposes of the Federation, including grandparents of Catholic-school students and alumni of Catholic schools. The NFCSP membership fee for 2001-02 remains at only $3 per individual or family. For members who have children in school, renewal information will be available at your school in August. For those members who no longer have children in school, please use the sample form above. Just clip, complete, and mail with your dues to NFCSP, P.O. Box 94872, Lincoln, NE 68509-4872. Thank you for your continued support and efforts on behalf of parental empowerment in Nebraska.
PARENT ADVOCATE, Vol. 8, No. 3-May 2001; Vol. 9, No. 1-Dec. 2001; Vol. 8, No. 4-July 2001; Vol. 8, No. 2-Feb. 2001
NEBRASKA FEDERATION OF CATHOLIC SCHOOL PARENTS
EDUCATION COMMITTEE HEARS TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF SCHOLARSHIP TAX CREDITS
On March 13, seven bold private and parochial school supporters testified before the Legislature’s Education Committee in support of LB 271, the Elementary and Secondary Scholarship Assistance Act. All seven provided compelling reasons for the Education Committee to support a modest tax credit intended to encourage greater giving to scholarship funds to help low-income families defray the cost of nonpublic schools for their children. Those testifying were supported in the hearing room by more than 50 NFCSP members who traveled to Lincoln for the hearing, some coming from as far away as Elgin and Ogallala.
Stepping first into the foray was Michael Smith, board president for Skutt Catholic High School in Omaha. Mr. Smith noted that the state would have to find about $1.5 billion in additional revenues to tax to provide the tax revenue necessary to educate the children currently enrolled in private schools. Mr. Smith concluded by confronting a traditional argument against school choice measures, that public funds should not be used for private education. Mr. Smith noted that the state has set precedent for, and continually offers tax relief incentives to private enterprises when, in the state’s collective wisdom, such incentives benefit the state. Clearly Nebraska’s private and parochial schools benefit the state.
Colleen Mayo testified in a dual capacity. First, she appeared as a member of the NFCSP governing board representing the Federation’s 17,300 members. Mrs. Mayo pointed out that many low-income families must rely upon the generosity of their fellow parish members to help subsidize their children’s state-mandated non-religious education in the school that the parents believe to be in the best interest of their children; and in those many instances where the resources are simply unavailable, their parental right to choose the education they deem best for their children may be denied. LB 271 would help remedy this by providing a dollar for dollar income tax credit for contributions made to private K-12 scholarship funds.
Mrs. Mayo then read a letter from Alberto Gonzales, Gang Intervention/ Prevention Counselor (Chicano Awareness Center), Drug and Alcohol Counselor, and Boys Town National Hotline Crisis Counselor. Mr. Gonzales wrote that he works extensively with troubled kids, and "it is my observation that the vast majority of these kids are ‘spiritually bankrupt’. These kids need spiritual direction and would benefit greatly from a religious based education, which, as you well know, cannot be provided in any public school setting. True, parents do have the right to send their children to a private school if they wish, but the private school option is generally limited to those parents who have the financial resources to pay tuition. Almost all of the kids I work with come from low-income homes where private school is not an option."
Also testifying about the need for, and benefits of, true school choice were A’Jamal Byndon of Omaha, noting the importance of competition to keep the public schools accountable; Fani Barajas, parent of a child attending Our Lady of Guadalupe - St. Agnes Catholic School in south Omaha; Rhonda Stuberg, a long-time proponent of school choice and currently the director of her own private school in north Omaha; Pam Maxwell, a parent of children attending and director of Our Lady of Guadalupe - St. Agnes Catholic school in Omaha; and Ed Fitzgerald, a CPA, again reminding the Committee of the tax savings Catholic schools provide the state.
Testifying in opposition to LB 271 were representatives of the Nebraska League of Women Voters ["the bill could hurt public schools"], and the Nebraska Chapter of the ACLU ["the bill raises constitutional concerns"]. The positions asserted by these opponents met with significant skepticism from Senators Chip Maxwell and Kermit Brashear, who effectively pointed out the weakness of the opponents’ arguments. At the conclusion of the hearing, Senator Curt Bromm, sponsor of LB 271, stated that the hearing on LB 271 was one of the best hearings he had attended in his years in the Legislature.
The Committee has taken no immediate action on the bill. NFCSP members are encouraged to contact members of the Education Committee and ask them to advance LB 271 to General File. Committee members (and their legislative district numbers) are Senators Ron Raikes (25), Bob Wickersham (49), George Coordsen (32), Deb Suttle (10), Elaine Stuhr (24), Marian Price (26), Kermit Brashear (4), and Chip Maxwell (9). They can be written to at the following address: Senator _____________, District #___, State Capitol, P. O. Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509-4604.
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Nebraska Catholic Schools' Significant Role Nebraska K-12 Student Enrollment: 331,360 Government Operated School Enrollment: 288,231 Non-Government-Operated School Enrollment: 43,129 Nebraska Catholic School Enrollment: 31,522 Archdiocese of Omaha 62 Elementary Schools: 16,385 17 Secondary Schools: 5,997 Diocese of Lincoln 24 Elementary Schools: 5,683 6 Secondary Schools: 1,778 Diocese of Grand Island 7 Elementary Schools: 871 4 Secondary Schools: 808 |
Speaker Disparages Private Education
On April 21, during a rally staged in Lincoln by the public school teachers’ union to demand higher pay from state legislators, a guest speaker from the National Education Association (NEA) took the opportunity to insult those educated in private schools. Regarding opponents of the proposed pay plan, Denise Rockwell, was quoted in the Omaha World Herald: "It’s clear to us that many in the Capitol went to private school. If they had gone to public school, their critical thinking skills would be better."
Based upon the extensive debate surrounding state-funded teacher pay proposals it is clear that many people are wrestling with the myriad of questions surrounding the teacher pay issue. Just because state policy makers have not whole-heartedly endorsed the union’s party line on this issue, the NEA executive apparently felt compelled to insult private-school systems and the intelligence of those who hold differing viewpoints. These types of insulting comments have no place in any rational debate about any legislative proposal.
| On February 8, an Illinois Appellate Court unanimously upheld the constitutionality of the state’s law providing a tax credit for K-12 educational expenses. In writing the opinion of the court in Toney v. Bower, Justice Rita Garman observed: "By creating the Credit, the legislature has recognized that parents who send their children to private schools often do so at considerable expense to themselves and that they provide a benefit to the State treasury by relieving the State and local taxpayers of the expense of educating their children." |
(Source: School Reform News, April 2001)
| As reported in the April CAPE Outlook, a poll commissioned by the NEA and conducted in February 2001 found that 82 percent of likely voters favor education savings accounts (tax-advantaged savings accounts that can be used to pay education expenses such as tuition, fees, books and tutoring). Asked about providing parents of children in low-performing schools that fail to maintain certain standards a tuition voucher worth $1,500 a year that they could use to send their child to any public, private, or charter school, 63 percent of respondents said they supported the idea. q |
(Source: CAPE Outlook, April 2001)
Education Chairman Compares Private/Parochial Schools to Country Clubs
In an April 1 article in the Lincoln Journal Star, Education Committee Chairman, Senator Ron Raikes, expressed views that private/parochial schools are to public schools what country clubs are to public parks. Senator Raikes was responding to an argument raised by a Lincoln Catholic school teacher that teachers employed in private/parochial schools should be included in state level recruitment incentives because private schools are regulated by the state, their teachers must meet state certification, and their educational product is at least equal to that of the public schools.
In the article, Senator Raikes was quoted as saying: "There is a rough parallel between public parks and private country clubs." Nebraska has public parks open to everyone, and paid for with public funds, and private country clubs open to members who pay dues. But if the country club houses a restaurant, it must meet state regulations. The fact that the state regulates the restaurant, however, does not obligate the state to pay someone's dues to the country club.
Senator Raikes’ analogy fails to recognize several important differences. 1. There is no law compelling anyone to utilize either the public park or a country club. There is a state law that requires parents to provide for the education of their children. 2. Regulating restaurants for health purposes is a far cry from the regulations imposed on private schools. These regulations dictate everything from staffing requirements to curriculum offerings.
Senator Raikes’ analogy would be applicable only if the state regulation of the country club restaurant required all the waiters to have 4-year college degrees in nutrition science, required the restaurant to offer fourteen different state-prescribed seven-course dinners, and mandated customer satisfaction surveys of every patron. 3. Public parks are not built with the country club membership in mind and the size of the park reduced accordingly. Conversely, most public schools ARE built, staffed and operated by school district administrators who rely upon the existence of the private schools in their area to continue to educate a certain percentage of the children within the district.
School choice opponents are fond of saying that the public schools would be able to meet their obligation to educate all children if the private schools closed. However, most public schools do not have the physical capacity or the teaching staff ready and waiting to absorb such children if such a situation were to arise. And if such closures occurred, there would surely be a huge outcry from school district administrators for additional tax funds to build additional classrooms and hire additional staff.
Opponents of private education say that sending children to a private school and teaching in a private school are choices, and that "the rest of the state’s taxpayers should not be expected to pay for those choices." This argument overlooks the fact that the taxpaying parents who choose private schools have been providing "the rest of the state’s taxpayers" tax relief for generations by exercising that choice. It is time for the state’s elected leaders to recognize that the cost of educating ALL Nebraska children should be spread among all Nebraska taxpayers while also respecting the fundamental and constitutionally protected rights of parents to educate their children in the schools that they believe are in their children’s best interest. Including private school teachers in state-level teaching incentive programs is a first step; enacting some form of tuition expense tax relief for parents would be an even better step in the direction of equalizing the financial burdens involved in providing all Nebraska children with a quality education.
Senator Raikes stated in the news article that he respects the private school systems in the state. However, actions speak louder than words and based upon his attempts to preclude private school teachers from participating in the student loans forgiveness program and the Master Teacher program (LB 745/LB 799), it is apparent that he is not interested in policies that benefit (or even treat even-handedly) the 43,000 children being educated by 2,500 state certificated teachers in Nebraska’s private and parochial schools. If he truly respects private education, he should use his position as chairman of the Education Committee to promote policies that enable all parents, regardless of their income level, to exercise their right to have their children educated in the school of their choice.
NOTABLES
For the second year in a row, Rocky
Czaplewski of Grand Island Central Catholic won the Class B state
speech
gold medal in extemporaneous speaking.
Four Nebraska Catholic-school juniors were selected as Nebraska Young Artists Award winners. The four were Erica Irwin, Omaha Marian; Jessica Lavelle, Omaha Mercy; Rachel Randall, Hastings St. Cecilia; and Ashley Braun, O’Neill St. Mary’s Catholic High School.
Guillermo Huerta of St. Vincent De Paul School in Omaha won a spot on the Nebraska MATHCOUNTS team and will be competing in the national competition in Washington D. C. in May. Guillermo was one of the top four individual winners in the state MATHCOUNTS competition, which is open to sixth, seventh and eighth graders. A team from St. Margaret Mary Elementary School in Omaha took third in the state team competition. Team members included Katie Hildreth, Steven Ducey, Tom Muelleman, Ellen Stryker, and Daniel Gorski.
Update on Teacher Salary/Recruitment Proposals
On May 2, the Legislature voted to invoke cloture and then to advance LB 305 from General File after eight hours of debate. This bill, when originally introduced, contained the recommendations of the Legislature’s Teacher Salary Task Force. It was subsequently amended to reflect recommended proposals from the Education Committee as the best means to address an anticipated teacher shortage.
LB 305 as amended, contains several components:
The bill also contains a proposal to raise the Nebraska sales tax rate by .25% to generate the funds needed to pay for the proposals (roughly $49 million the first two years, $70+ million in future years). The Governor has repeatedly stated he will veto any tax increase, and even though the bill advanced to second round debate, there may not be enough votes to pass the increase, let alone override a veto.
One member of the Education Committee, Senator Chip Maxwell of Omaha, is promoting an alternative compensation proposal. The Maxwell plan would provide a one-year boost to beginning teacher salaries, relax the state-imposed spending limits in certain circumstances on an ongoing basis, and fund the Master Teacher program, which was adopted but not funded last session. It also would allow school districts to increase teacher pay using their existing resources and result in some increased state-aid in future years due to the higher local spending. This potentially could be done without a tax increase, because the projected costs to date would only be approximately $19 million dollars the first year.
One other important development occurred as the Education Committee considered how to craft LB 305. As the Committee was debating various components to be included in the Committee amendment, Senator Raikes proposed that the student loan forgiveness proposal adopted last session should be eliminated. The loan forgiveness program targeted for elimination allowed for participation by teachers who opt to work in private and parochial schools.
The NFCSP initiated an Action Alert on the proposed elimination of the student loan forgiveness program. When the Committee ultimately voted on its final package of recommenda-tions, the vote to keep the student loan forgiveness program was six in favor, one opposed (Sen. Raikes) and one absent. NFCSP liaisons and members who responded to the Action Alert demonstrated how effective grass roots lobbying can be when it comes to influencing the outcome on important legislative issues.
Additional efforts to eliminate funding for this program from the state's budget were also mounted by Senators Chambers, Raikes and Wickersham, and were also defeated by significant margins.
Other teacher incentive proposals introduced this session and the status of those proposals include:
| LB 613 - Teacher mentoring program expansion; held by the Education Committee. |
| LB 708 - College tuition reimbursement for public school teachers; held by Education Committee. |
| LB 710 - State income tax credit ranging from $300 to $900 for public school teachers. Killed by the Revenue Committee. |
| LB 715 - Direct incentive payment of $1,500 per year for three years to new teachers in subject matter shortage areas; held by Education Committee. |
LB 745/LB 799 - Senator Raikes’ proposals to eliminate private school teachers from the Attracting Excellence to Teaching program and the Master Teacher Program: LB 745 held by the Education Committee. LB 799 killed by the Education Committee..
Revenue Committee Kills Activities Tax Credit
For the second year in a row, the Legislature’s Revenue Committee voted thumbs down on a proposal to provide Nebraska taxpayers a $200 per year tax credit for amounts spent supporting extracurricular activities in Nebraska’s elementary and secondary schools. LB 115, sponsored by Senator Mark Quandahl of Omaha, defined extracurricular activities as school-sponsored activities that require a fee to participate, and extended the tax credit to such expenses as fees for band uniforms, athletic equipment or uniforms, and lab materials. As originally introduced, the tax credit would have applied only to expenses incurred in public schools. However, in response to requests from the NFCSP, Senator Quandahl sponsored an amendment to expand the proposal to private school constituents and to expand the list of expenses eligible for the tax credit to include textbooks and transportation. Voting to kill LB 115 were Senators Bob Wickersham, George Coordsen, Ray Janssen, Ron Raikes, Paul Hartnett, and Pam Redfield. Voting against the kill motion was Senator Cap Dierks. Senator Dave Landis was absent when the vote was taken.
National Survey Encourages New Debate on School Choice
CAPE Update, April 4, 2001Washington, D.C., April 3, 2001 -- According to the results of a new national survey that cuts across racial, economic and geographic boundaries, almost 82 percent of all Americans believe that parents -- not the government -- should be in charge of their children's education, and nearly three-quarters of those surveyed believe that competition would improve education in America.
The study was released today by Parents In Charge, a national non-profit organization that encourages a new debate on the real problems and possibilities of American education. Spearheading the new initiative is Ted Forstmann, businessman, philanthropist, and co-founder of the Children's Scholarship Fund (CSF).
The new study, "American Attitudes on Education," conducted by a joint bipartisan polling group, found widespread dissatisfaction with K through 12 education among Americans of all economic, racial and religious backgrounds. The study also showed that:
| 82% believe parents should be able to choose which school their children attend. |
| 69% believe parents -- not the government -- should set the standards of education performance. |
| 72% believe our educational system would be improved if there were a multitude of providers instead of a government monopoly. |
| 72% believe schools should be selected for children based on their educational needs, not where they live. |
| 76% believe that if parents could choose which school their child attends, it would help the child's education. |
Parents In Charge was established by Mr. Forstmann who, in 1998, co-founded the Children's Scholarship Fund with John Walton. CSF has provided more than $170 million for 40,000 nationwide scholarships for low-income families.
More than 1.25 million applications poured in from across the country for these 40,000 slots. In some urban areas, close to 40% of the qualifying population submitted applications. Mr. Forstmann said the demand for these scholarships and today's survey results show parents want options in education.
FRIENDS...
Catholic School parents save local and state taxpayers in excess of $190 million each year! That's real tax relief!
NEBRASKA PARENTS WHO SATISFY THE STATE'S COMPULSORY EDUCATION MANDATE BY EXERCISING THEIR PARENTAL RIGHT TO ENROLL THEIR CHILDREN IN NON-GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS ARE AMONG THE BEST FRIENDS NEBRASKA TAXPAYERS HAVE.
Despite the tax benefit these parents provide, current public policy subjects them to tax inequity by denying them relief from their burden of paying twice for education.
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Average Per-Pupil Cost for Nebraska Public Schools - Elementary: $5,929* (X times) Number of Students Enrolled in Catholic Elementary Schools: 22,939**
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Average Per-Pupil Cost for Nebraska Public Schools - Secondary: $6,531* (X times)Number of Students Enrolled in Catholic Secondary Schools: 8,583**
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TOTAL COST SAVINGS: $192,060,904 |
*Source: Nebraska Department of Education; most recent figures for 1999-00.
**Source: NDE; most recent figures for 1999-00 school term.
PARENT ADVOCATE, Vol. 8, No. 2-Feb. 2001; Vol. 9, No. 1-Dec. 2001; Vol. 8, No. 4-July 2001; Vol. 8, No. 3-May 2001
NEBRASKA FEDERATION OF CATHOLIC SCHOOL PARENTS
LEGISLATURE ADDRESSES ISSUES IMPACTING CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
The 2001 session of the Nebraska Unicameral is well underway and Nebraska’s 49 state senators are addressing a number of issues impacting Nebraska’s Catholic school communities. Two bills introduced, if enacted, would provide education expense tax relief for private school constituents.
The Elementary and Secondary Scholarship Assistance Act, LB 271, was introduced by Senator Curt Bromm of Wahoo. Senator Bromm sponsored the same proposal last session, but the Revenue Committee took no action on it. The legislation is modeled after a law enacted in Arizona in 1997. It would provide a state income-tax credit for contributions made to organizations that provide scholarships for private K-12 tuition charges. The tax credit is limited to $500 per year per taxpayer. A tax credit results in a dollar-for-dollar reduction from a taxpayer’s state income tax liability. The goal of this bill is to provide a tax incentive to encourage greater giving to scholarship funds resulting in increased scholarship resources being available to help families defray the cost of private school tuition.
The Nebraska Federation of Catholic School Parents is sponsoring a Luncheon and Rally on March 13, the day LB 271 has its public hearing before the Education Committee (see enclosed flyer). This will provide Catholic school supporters from across the state an opportunity to gather and discuss school choice legislation and other legislative issues affecting Catholic schools. Then, those in attendance can attend the public hearing on LB 271 and show support for education expense tax relief. If you are interested in attending, let your school NFCSP liaison know, or call the Nebraska Catholic Conference at 1-888-818-6998.
LB 271 currently has ten co-sponsors. The co-sponsors are Senators Tom Baker, Merton "Cap" Dierks, Mike Foley, Paul Hartnett, Bob Kremer, Dwite Pedersen, Don Priester, Pam Redfield, Gene Tyson and Ray Aguilar. If your senator is listed as a co-sponsor, please consider sending him or her a note of thanks.
LB 115, introduced by Senator Mark Quandahl of Omaha, would provide a $200 tax credit for individuals who contribute to extracurricular activities sponsored by public schools. An amendment offered by Senator Quandahl would extend the credit for similar contributions to private schools, and expand the list of items eligible for the tax credit to include textbooks and transportation expenses. The Revenue Committee heard testimony on this bill on January 24. The NFCSP was represented at the hearing by two parents from Lincoln, Mary Helen Elliot and Rick Rashilla, who each have children at St. Peter School.
Mr. Rashilla reminded the Revenue Committee members that private-school parents save taxpayers more than $249 million each year by educating their children in state-approved and accredited private schools. Mrs. Elliot’s testimony concluded with the following statement, which succinctly summarizes the NFCSP position on school choice legislation:
"I am still a member of the public, even though my children are not enrolled at the local public school. I do not believe that I should be forced to choose between my right to exercise my religious beliefs, my right as a parent to direct the education of my children, and my right as a taxpaying citizen to receive free education for my children. Enacting some form of education expense tax credit legislation would help ensure that all three of these rights can be accommodated. As Article 1, Section 4 of the Nebraska Constitution provides, "Religion, morality, and knowledge, however, being essential to good government, it shall be the duty of the Legislature to pass suitable laws to protect every religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship, and to encourage schools and the means of instruction." LB 115, if amended to include private school constituents, is a small step in the direction of fulfilling this duty."
NFCSP members are encouraged to contact the members of the Revenue Committee and urge them to amend LB 115 to include private school constituents and to advance LB 115 to the floor for further debate. Members of the Revenue Committee are Senator Bob Wickersham, chairman, and Senators Coordsen, Landis, Raikes, Janssen, Redfield, Dierks, and Hartnett.
Governor Supports Private Education, Though Education Chair Does Not
On January 11, Governor Mike Johanns delivered his 2001 State of the State address, and one of the major themes was increased spending on K-12 education. State spending on K-12 education will exceed $846 million dollars per year by the end of the next budget cycle, an increase of 19% over the current-year appropriation of $708 million. However, the Governor’s proposed budget did not include any funds for the public-school teacher pay raises proposed by the Teacher Salary Task Force
(Nov. 2000 Parent Advocate).In rejecting the idea of across-the-board teacher salary supplements, the Governor suggested the following parameters for future discussions on the issue of teacher recruitment and retention incentives:
| One size fits all is not the solution; |
| Any solution must respect local decision-making; |
| Cooperation must exist between local and state government; |
| Equalization between districts is an important goal that should not be abandoned; |
| The solution must fit within current resources – He will not support a tax increase; and |
Where possible, within constitutional parameters, private school teachers should be able to participate in any state level programs.
During his speech, the Governor also committed to funding the Attracting Excellence to Teaching Program (forgivable student loans), and the Master Teacher Program (bonuses for achieving national certification), both of which were passed, but not funded, during the 2000 legislative session. The Governor emphasized that the benefits of both programs extend to teachers employed in public and private schools.
In direct contrast to the Governor’s support, the Chairman of the Legislature’s Education Committee, Sen. Ron Raikes of rural Lancaster County, introduced two bills, LB 745 and LB 799, which would eliminate private school teacher participation in the Master Teacher Program and the Attracting Excellence to Teaching Program. (LB 799 also addresses other unrelated issues.) NFCSP directors met with Sen. Raikes on January 24 to discuss his introductions of LB 745 and LB 799. Sen. Raikes indicated that, in his view,the only obligation of the state is to provide a free public school opportunity and that is where he wants to focus state resources. NFCSP directors expressed disappointment at his attempt to eliminate private school teachers from two extremely modest teacher recruitment and retention measures intended to ensure that every child has access to a competent teacher regardless of school attended.
Catholic-school administrators, teachers, and NFCSP members testified against LB 745 and LB 799.
Special thanks goes to Tom Seib, principal at Lincoln Pius X; Jon Fago, NFCSP director; Marsha Kalkowski, English/Journalism teacher at Marian High School in Omaha; and Nick Kimball, Social Studies/History teacher from St. Robert School in Omaha for testifying against these two bills.
The only testimony in support of these discriminating bills came from lobbyists representing Omaha Public Schools (LB 799) and Lincoln Public Schools (LB 745).
The NFCSP initiated an "Action Alert" to liaisons to urge that these two bills be amended or killed. The NFCSP will monitor these bills and follow-up with additional Action Alerts if the bills advance further.
| Following the U. S. Supreme Court’s Mitchell v. Helms decision in June 2000, which upheld the distribution of federal funds to private schools for instructional materials, city officials in Joliet, IL are preparing to provide educational equipment to parochial schools, based on the number of students served. The total value of the educational materials provided would be about $125,000-$150,000 according to city officials. (School Reform News, Jan. 2001) |
NOTABLES
Linda
Coates, math teacher at St. Margaret
Mary Catholic School in Omaha, has been selected by the National Catholic
Educational Association to receive the Distinguished Teacher Award. Mrs. Coates
is one of only twelve teachers in the nation to win the award, and the only
teacher from a four-state area that includes Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and
Missouri. Mrs. Coates is a 29-year employee of St. Margaret Mary Catholic
School, and also serves on the archdiocesan math and computer committees.
Congratulations!!
On January 17th, the following Catholic-school students participated in a proclamation signing ceremony with Governor Mike Johanns in honor of Catholic Schools Week, 2001: Devin Gross and Katie Keiter, 3rd Graders at Blessed Sacrament, Lincoln; Kristan Feldhaus, Senior, Roncalli High School, Omaha; Zac Baer, 8th Grade, Christ the King School, Omaha; Brian Hendrickson, Senior, and David Hitchler, 8th Grade, Spalding Academy, Spalding. Also participating were Father Tom Ryan, Superintendent of Schools, Grand Island Diocese, Sister Michelle Faltus, Superintendent of Schools, Archdiocese of Omaha, and Father John Perkinton, Superintendent of Schools, Lincoln Diocese.
EDUCATION COMMITTEE HEARS TEACHER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION PROPOSALS
A potential teacher shortage in Nebraska elicited 15 different legislative proposals to address teacher recruitment, retention and compensation. Among the ideas advanced by individual senators were proposals to provide state income-tax credits to public-school teachers, partial college tuition reimbursement for public-school teachers, and additional state aid to public schools to provide salary increases.
The NFCSP weighed in on many of the proposals, advocating for equitable inclusion of teachers employed in Nebraska’s approved and accredited private schools. The NFCSP recognizes that private schools cannot receive any direct support for teacher salaries through the state equalization formula. However, many of the proposals involve direct incentives to teachers, which should not discriminate against teachers in private schools.
The NFCSP position is that it is appropriate to include private-school teachers in state-level recruitment and retention programs because the entire state benefits from the education provided by private-school teachers no less than from the education provided by the public-schools teachers. In effect, private-school teachers are performing a public function for one out of every eight of the school-age children in Nebraska, while their tuition-paying parents save Nebraska taxpayers $249 million dollars each year by not enrolling their children in the government-operated school system [43,000 children x $5,800 average annual public-school per-pupil costs = $249,400,000].
In the event a broad-based teacher incentive program is adopted that does not include private-school teachers, the detrimental impact on private school teacher recruitment and retention efforts will be significant, and tuition increases would likely be needed to remain competitive. Thus, once again, parents of children in private schools will likely have to pay both increased taxes to support the public school teacher incentives and increased tuition to match the incentive for their teachers. At the end of this article is a listing of the various teacher incentive bills and the senator who introduced each bill. NFCSP members should contact their senators and encourage them to include teachers employed in Nebraska’s approved and accredited private schools in any state-level teacher recruitment and retention proposals that are advanced.
Teacher Incentive and Compensation Proposals
The NFCSP position is that teachers employed in private-sector K-12 schools should participate equally in all of the following state-level teacher recruitment and retention incentives:
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LB 305 – Introduced by the members of the Education Committee. |
Adopts recommendations of Teacher Salary Task Force; across-the-board salary supplement ranging from $2,000 to $5,100 per public-school teacher based upon education/experience, funds Master Teacher program and forgivable student loan program adopted last year, expands teacher mentoring program, establishes a pilot pay-for-performance program.
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LB 613 – Sen. Redfield at Request of the Governor |
Amends the mentor teacher program. Every first year public-school teacher provided with a mentor, every second and third year public school teacher may participate in the program. Appropriates funds for distribution to school districts for distribution to mentor teachers and program support.
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