The Superintendent's Blog

Ballots are arriving this week for the 2025 Millard Public Schools bond. Before you head to your mailbox, we want to make sure you have the facts about this election because the language you will see on the bond is written to meet legal requirements, and as technical as it is, it can be a bit difficult to decipher. Because of this, our Millard team has tried to reach as many of you as possible. We’ve given more than sixty presentations. While we’ve visited with a lot of people, we also know this is a really big school district and it’s also one of the busiest times of year. That’s why I am sending the community presentation above.

The video includes the slides and graphs that detail what the bond would do and explain how it can touch all 35 schools without increasing the tax rate. I tried to move it along as fast as possible. It clocks in at just under fourteen minutes. If you prefer to read, here’s the key information:

The bond centers on safety and maintenance, and would not increase the bond levy tax rate. In fact, our bond levy has decreased steadily over time, and we have frequently been able to lower the levy more than projected. This is a result of a disciplined, long-term financial and facility planning by the Board of Education and administration. Projects in this proposed bond include:

• Safety and Security Enhancements: Secure entry vestibules would be installed at the 21 schools that do not have one. Click here for more information about secure vestibules. Additional safety measures would include upgraded door systems, security camera upgrades, and additional interior and exterior safety enhancements recommended by local law enforcement.

• Facility Renovations to Older Schools: Eight of our oldest schools that haven’t been renovated yet would be improved. Additionally, our Young Adult Program which serves Special Education students would be renovated.

• Skilled Trades and Multi-Purpose Spaces: Upgrading spaces at Millard North High School to be similar to Millard South and West for STEM, skilled trades, and other multipurpose education and activity programming.

• Critical Facility Infrastructure Maintenance: With the average age of Millard schools being more than 40 years old, and having more than 3 million square feet of facility space, it is necessary to have a plan to address aging infrastructure such as roofs, HVAC, and mechanical systems. Our district works to keep the buildings running as efficiently as possible. Our goal is to replace critical infrastructure at the end of its life, but before it fails to limit costs and maintain environments conducive to learning.

The ballot language is below. As you can see, it is very technical. You may not be aware, but there are legal limitations of what can be included. For example, the ballot doesn’t explain that the main focus is on safety, that every school benefits, or that we are committed to not increasing the bond tax rate.

"Shall Douglas County School District 0017 in the State of Nebraska (a/k/a Millard Public Schools) issue the Bonds of said District in the principal amount of not to exceed One Hundred Fifty Eight Million Dollars ($158,000,000) for the purpose of paying the costs of: improving the safety and security of school building facilities; renovations and repairs to school buildings and other facility maintenance to replace building components at the end of their useful life; as well as facility improvements related to special education programs, skilled trades education, and other educational programs, including constructing capital improvements, additions, making repairs or site improvements of existing district buildings, and providing the necessary equipment and apparatus for such buildings, such bonds to be issued from time to time, to be sold at such price or prices, to bear interest at such rate or rates, to become due at such time or times and to have such other terms and provisions, all as may be fixed and determined by the Board of Education of the District; and "Shall the District cause to be levied and collected annually a special levy of taxes against all the taxable property in the District sufficient in rate and amount to pay the interest, principal and premium on said Bonds as the same become due?"

Also please note that for your ballot to count in this special election, you must complete the voter identification requirement. Directions will be included with your ballot. Most people fulfill this requirement by writing their driver's license or state identification in the designated place on the back of the envelope. Ballots must be turned in by 5 p.m. on February 11th. The Douglas County Election Commission recommends putting ballots in the mail no later than Tuesday, February 4th.

Ballots may also be returned at any open election ballot box. Please be sure to place your ballot in an election box in the county where you live. In Douglas County all election boxes are open. In Sarpy County, two locations are open: the Sarpy County Election Commission at 1102 E 1st Street, Papillion – drive-up and walk-up boxes, and the La Vista Police Department at 7701 S 96th St, La Vista.

If you would like to attend the presentation in person, there is one more opportunity. Please join us at Millard West on Thursday, January 30th, at 6 p.m. More information is available on our website including a list of all open election boxes with addresses. Thank you for your continued engagement and support of Millard Public Schools.

https://www.mpsomaha.org/about/information-about-2025-bond-election

Linda Poole, President; Mike Kennedy, Vice President; Lisa Schoenberger, Secretary; Amanda McGill Johnson, Treasurer; Stacy Jolley, Board Member; Justin Curtis, Board Member

✉️ Email: MPSCommunicates@mpsomaha.org
🌐 Website: www.mpsomaha.org
📞Phone: 402.715-8200

Facebook: facebook.com/millardpublicschools
Twitter: @MillardPS

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