SAL UTE
Farewell Thoughts… (continued from page 2) laboration with providers and attention to the alignment of efforts to primary grades (K-3) is essential and in most communities will fall to the public school district. Fourth, school districts and systems must have the resources in funding and facilities to do the work. In my opinion, our goal as a state must seek a method and a timeline of funding our school districts that is stable, predictable, and sufficient. TEEOSA, while accomplishing much since 1990 (reduced range of tax levies, reduced property tax burden, and limited school budget growth), is complex and the annual review/tinkering by the Legislature has made it very unpredictable. Also, in my opinion, all of the versions of “state aid” that I have administered under have failed for exactly the same reason – insufficient levels of funding to meet the multiple expectations of reduced property taxes, balance of needs/resources, and equity of educational opportunities. Public school funding is an investment in our future. Stable and predictable funding delivered to school districts in a timely manner for effective budgeting can only be achieved with a mix of revenue sources. As we have witnessed in the past few years, sales tax revenue fluctu-
ated wildly, income tax revenue declined and then flat-lined and property depending on the classification – ag land up, other property down or flat. A diversified tax base to invest in public schools is just as important to the state as a diversified portfolio is to the individual investor. Attention to student learning, teacher and principal effectiveness, early education opportunities and equitable, sufficient funding is a full plate for any generation. But I leave with a sense of optimism, again based on first-hand visits to Nebraska schools border to border. My time as Commissioner has been my highest professional honor, not because of my achievements, but because of yours. Farewell and thanks for all you do for Nebraska schools and students. I
REFLECTIONS… (continued from page 6) school retirement plans). Members received a “call to action” email to contact their respective senator to encourage them to vote to override the veto. On occasion I have heard individuals make comments about whether or not senators read communications sent to them or that senators often do not respond to communications that have been sent. On this particular issue of overriding the veto of LB 553, this retired administrator sent a brief email that encouraged his senator to vote in favor of the override. On May 14 I received a return email from my senator thanking me for the previous communication, indicating that he was presently listening to the debate taking place on the floor related to the override, and that he planned to vote to override the veto. I’m certain the efforts of that alert and the response of many members had an impact on making certain that piece of legislation became law. Whether it be communiqués, lobbying, special workshops/training and events, conferences, networking, partnerships with other education-related
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NCSA TODAY
SUMMER 2013
groups, and the list could go on and on…the NCSA staff is small in number but “mighty” in their efforts to benefit the membership. We should all be proud in being an NCSA member of a “first-class” association!! As my tenure comes to a conclusion at the end of August on both the NARSA and NCSA Executive Boards, I reflect back to that call I received in the fall of 2006 and my affirmative response to serve. Do I have any regrets over these past seven years? “Not a one!” I