We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Nebraska schools reopen after flooding closures

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska students are heading back to class after recent flooding forced almost 200 schools to close, according to state education officials.

The Nebraska Department of Education said the closures affected nearly 34,700 students, the Omaha World-Herald reported.

Logan View Public Schools, Douglas County West Community Schools and Boyd County Schools resumed classes on Monday. North Bend Central Public Schools reopened Wednesday and was the last district to resume classes, the department said.

“Did all students return? I doubt it,” department spokesman David Jespersen said. “But the school is open, and there are classes.”

Academic testing won’t be delayed despite the missed class time. The ACT will be administered to Nebraska juniors on April 2, while state academic testing will be conducted until May 3.

The state will help districts conduct testing if they’re running into issues with resources or testing supplies, Jespersen said.

Districts will also have to evaluate if the closures will cause schools to miss the required instruction hours, Jespersen said. Students in elementary school through eighth grade must receive 1,032 hours of instruction, while high school students are required 1,080 hours.

“I think everybody can now evaluate where they’re at and what’s next,” Jespersen said.

Superintendents can apply for a waiver if they believe their district won’t meet the requirement, though it’s rare for such waivers to be requested, Jespersen said.

The request would first need to be approved by the district’s school board, before going before the state Commissioner of Education Matt Blomstedt, who would then make a recommendation to the state Board of Education.

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File