2008-2009 Annual Report
by Staff
April 15, 2009
ANNUAL REPORT
2008-2009 Hemingford Public Schools
PO Box 217
(308) 487-3328 Fax: (308) 487-5215
Administration
Mr. Casper Ningen, School Superintendent
Mrs. Peggy Thayer, Secondary Principal
Mr. Ron Foster, Elementary Principal
Mrs. Mandy Plog, Director of Special Education
District Board of
Education
Mrs. April Casey, Board President
Mrs. Trish Schumacher, Vice President
Mr. J.D. Sutphen, Secretary
Mrs. Joyce Klemke, Treasurer
Mr. Bob Haas, Member
Mr. Alan Roland, Member
Mr. Randy Wood, Member
SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS
The Hemingford Public Schools are governed by a six-member board of
education. Each board member's term of office is four years, and
members serve without compensation.
The board of education meets regularly on the second Monday of each
month at 7:00 PM. Meetings are held in the high school library, and
patrons and other visitors are welcome to attend. A continually
current agenda is located in the superintendent’s office for public
view prior to meetings. Time is also reserved each meeting for
"public comment", and allows patrons to ask questions of the board
or to offer comments.
SCHOOL PROGRAM
Hemingford’s K-12 District consists of 1,177 square miles. The
system now instructs 376 students in grades PreK-12.
Forty certified staff members and twenty-six classified staff
members help to meet or exceed requirements set forth by the
Nebraska State Department of Education.
Educational Service Unit 13, headquartered in Scottsbluff, provides
psychological testing, media services, material supply programs,
and staff and school improvement inservices for Hemingford students
and staff, as well as the rest of the panhandle.
TECHNOLOGY
Hemingford has taken an active role in providing the very latest
technology in computer hardware and software for its students and
staff. Computer labs are located in the elementary and secondary
schools, with all stations networked through the Internet. In the
past few years, wireless laptop computer labs have also been added
in the middle school and the high school.
The Bobcat Boosters have donated a $30,000 colored electronic
signboard that is located on the highway in front of the high
school. It has been utilized to congratulate students and to
announce events. The entire community helped to contribute towards
its cost. Mrs. Barb Jespersen spearheaded the drive.
A updated site is now provided on the World Wide Web, at
http://www.hemingfordschools.org The school site features pages by
each faculty member, photographs, and project information, in
addition to activity and calendar information.
Students and staff are also in closer contact than ever before with
the use of a computer-based phone contact system. It has been used
many times this year, mostly for weather related late starts and
snow days.
COMMUNITY
The Hemingford School District is home to a community made up of
those in town as well as many families that live on farms and
ranches. Some teachers also live in nearby communities outside the
district.
Four churches are located in town, along with several community
service organizations and youth groups. Parks, ball fields, and a
nearby lake help to provide leisure time activities as well.
Local 4-H and church activities continue to involve youth and
adults in cooperative ventures that keep the western, small town
atmosphere alive and well. In addition, Hemingford is home to the
annual Box Butte County Fair, an event that draws thousands of
participants and fair goers each summer.
LEARNING CLIMATE ASSESSMENT
Previous surveys in the last several years were taken from
community members, parents, and students.
Hemingford’s teachers were given high marks and commended for
striving to meet student's individual needs, availability, and high
expectations of student achievement.
The school was found to be very clean and well kept, and is
available for public use. There was a sense of renewed pride in
school activity programs, and good community support for the
school.
BUILDING and GROUNDS
Over the past several years, the board of education and
administration has worked together to continually update the state
of the buildings and grounds that comprise the district. A new
locker room /weight room / wrestling room addition in 2002 has
enhanced the school plant greatly. A new addition that houses the
music room, front entrance, and long distance learning lab was
completed prior to that in 2000. Continued efforts in maintenance,
beautification and in up to date vehicles for students and staff
transportation help maintain a safe, friendly atmosphere.
STUDENT ASSESSMENT
Student Assessment 2008-2009
The Hemingford Public Schools administers norm-referenced
achievement tests to all students in grades two through eleven. Our
students have been active in the statewide STARS assessments in
grades three through eleven. District 10 consistently ranks as
proficient in almost every area in all grades tested. In addition,
students in grades four, eight, and eleven have consistently ranked
among the leaders of the state in writing. Hemingford Public
Schools has made AYP (Annual Yearly Progress) in all subjects that
are required by the federal government since its implementation in
2002.
At Hemingford, most juniors and seniors take the Assessment for
College Entrance, or ACT. Our individual composite scores for all
students are listed below for the past five years. (Senior Class
scores for each year)
ACT Test Scores
Year State National Hemingford
2000
22.7
22.0
22.7
2001
22.5
21.9
23.1
2002
22.6
21.8
22.1
2003
21.7
20.8
21.8
2004
21.7
20.9
22.4
2005
21.8
20.9
21.4
2006
21.9
21.1
20.9
2007
22.1
21.2
20.2
2008
22.1
21.1
21.3
In most cases, those students taking a "core-student" class
schedule fare better on the ACT, since their classes are more core
specific in preparation. Even though Hemingford students’
consistently meet or exceed state and national averages in
Core-Student areas, continual effort is made to prepare those
students in non-core areas as well.
SCHOOL FINANCE
The 2008-2009 levy for the general fund has been set at $.0.952878
with an additional request of $0.015621 in the special building
fund. The total is $0.968499 assessed per $100.00 of property
valuation.
Listed below are figures from the last fifteen years, showing
Valuation and levy amounts per $100 of property valuation.
Annual Levy for
Hemingford Public Schools
1994-95
$1.1512
1995-96 $1.0066
1996-97 $1.0384
1997-98 $1.1457
1998-99 $1.0989
1999-00 $1.0849
2000-01 $1.1060
2001-02 $1.0261
2002-03 $1.0321
2003-04 $1.0504
2004-05 $1.0373
2005-06 $0.9984
2006-07 $0.9817
2007-08 $0.9728
2008-09 $0.9685
State Aid History for Hemingford Public Schools
1994-95
$246,083
1995-96
$456,076
1996-97
$482,735
1997-98
$569,676
1998-99
$744,213
1999-00
$891,704
2000-01
$1,050726
2001-02
$1,421,241
2002-03
$1,406,847
2003-04
$1,257,775
2004-05
$1,002,923
2005-06
$1,024,888
2006-07 $
895,890
2007-08
$1,095,088
2008-09 $
987,968
2009-10 TBA
This report is continually updated with new information. Additional
assessment and testing results can be found in detail in the
assessment portion of the district web page, at
www.hemingfordschools.org
