The Norris Public School District believes that all students are capable of learning. Therefore, in partnership with the communities and families of the district, the school shall provide an opportunity for quality educational experiences for all students regardless of needs, interests, and backgrounds so that they may function effectively as responsible citizens, family members, and life-long learners in a diverse, ever-changing world.

Dr. Roy Baker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Superintendent

Larry Grosshans . . . . . . . . . . . . .Assistant Superintendent

Galen Boldt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .High School Principal

Bob Morris . . . . . Asst. H.S. Principal/Activities Director

Barry Stark. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Middle School Principal

David Moorhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Elementary Principal

Mark Hagerman . . . . . . . . . . . Special Education Director

Norris is continuing on its three-year plan to make our school system one of the most technologically sophisticated school districts in the State of Nebraska. Under this plan, efforts will be made to upgrade and expand the technology capabilities of our school in order to:

Grants to the school district totaling almost $350,000 will help offset much of the cost of this endeavor. The Board of Education has also committed funds over the next three-year period.

With this plan, the school district intends to provide the following opportunities and services for all students, staff members, and parents or patrons residing within the district:

11. Distance learning laboratory where students can take classes from other educational institutions which are not available at Norris.

A number of these services are already available. Efforts are continuing to complete some of the other items. Parents or patrons desiring more information should contact the school or stop by and view the efforts to date.

The curricular program in the Elementary School includes instruction in language arts, science, health, mathematics, music, physical education, social studies, art, and computer literacy.

The Middle School curricular program includes instruction in reading, English, mathematics, science, social studies, physical education, vocal and instrumental music, computers and technology, health, speech and drama, art, family and consumer science, industrial arts, business, agriculture, Spanish, and career education.

 The High School instructional program includes course offerings in the following areas: English, mathematics, science, social studies, physical education, vocal and instrumental music, computers and technology, health, speech, drama and theatre, art, family and consumer science, industrial arts and technology, business, agriculture, and Spanish.

Specific information about class offerings, prerequisites, graduation requirements, and course content is available from the building principals or guidance counselors.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

Several projects being conducted this year to provide improved services for students include:

For all resident children from birth to age 21, special education services are available to provide support for learning activities. Psychological and academic assessment is conducted to gather information used by staff to develop modifications of the instructional program to allow students more opportunities for success. Speech, physical, and occupational therapy services support students who need such interventions to succeed in the educational program.

In grades K-12, efforts are made to include students with disabilities in educational and social settings with their classmates whenever possible. Resource teachers consult with classroom teachers to adapt curriculum, provide remedial instruction, enhance social skills, and develop alternative teaching strategies.

The results of the California Achievement Test given in the spring of 1997 are displayed below. A test of mental abilities was also given to each of the four grades. The results of this test indicate how the average student would be expected to score on the CAT in the various sub-areas of the test based on his/her mental ability. The anticipated (Ant.) score of the average student can be compared with the actual (Act.) score.

                        Act Ant Act Ant Act Ant Act Ant

Vocabulary 68.7 61.0 65.4 61.7 61.1 59.0 59.2 58.1

Comprehension 74.3 61.5 64.1 56.3 69.6 57.5 52.8 52.9

Total Reading 72.0 62.3 66.4 60.7 66.3 58.9 59.0 58.6

Language Mechanics 64.0 54.5 78.0 63.3 75.0 57.4 63.4 61.8

Language Expression 68.5 64.5 74.8 55.8 66.8 56.4 55.7 52.4

Total Language 67.4 61.5 75.7 59.5 72.3 56.3 59.4 57.5

Math Computation 67.6 60.6 71.3 49.4 74.0 61.8 58.5 57.7

Math C & A 77.0 65.0 81.8 59.3 77.8 61.7 71.5 71.0

Total Math 75.5 65.3 75.7 55.9 73.5 63.3 65.4 64.6

Composite 72.3 62.8 74.7 59.6 70.0 59.2 64.6 62.5

Word Analysis 52.3 59.5

Spelling 42.0 53.3 59.6 60.0 55.2 51.1 48.3 46.5

Study Skills 73.4 61.6 66.0 60.7 60.2 59.5

Science 76.3 61.0 66.0 54.3 70.0 61.0 63.0 63.7

EXPLORE is a comprehensive assessment program for eighth graders developed by American College Testing (ACT). EXPLORE contains four multiple choice tests in English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science Reasoning. The scale scores for each EXPLORE test range from 1 to 25. Here are the 1996-97 Norris eighth grade average scores compared to the national averages:

English Math Read Science Composite

Norris Average 16.0 17.2 16.5 15.9 16.5

Norris School District #160 is divided into six wards with approximately 850 residents per ward for a total school district population of slightly more than 5000. The residents of each ward elect a representative to the Board of Education to represent the various geographical areas of the district. Each Board member serves a four-year term. The current Board members are: Ward 1 (Jim Peschong), Ward 2 (Patty Bentzinger), Ward 3 (Dale Harlan), Ward 4 (Jim Craig), Ward 5 (Cinda Zimmer), Ward 6 (Norm Wallman)

1996-97 Percent

General Instruction $4,645,311.96 67.87%

Custodial/Maintenance 628,248.35 9.18%

Transportation 456,168.81 6.67%

Building Administration 438,700.62 6.41%

General Administration 183,465.27 2.68%

Instruct/Student Support 398,421.85 5.82%

Pre-School 74,741.02 1.09%

Transfers 19,000.00 0.28%

TOTALS: $6,844,057.88 100.00%

1996-97 Percent

Local Property Tax $3,231,340.42 47.20%

Other Local Receipts 128,127.50 1.87%

State Aid 2,350,394.08 34.33%

Other State Receipts 647,943.09 9.46%

County/ESU Receipts 45,025.17 0.66%

Federal Receipts 147,972.42 2.16%

Special Grants 287,828.11 4.20%

Non Revenue Receipts 7,845.50 0.11%

TOTALS $6,846,476.29 100.00%

The Norris Board of Education believes its fundamental responsibility is to provide District students with those educational opportunities that most effectively promote informed, thoughtful and humane responses to the daily situations confronting citizens in our representative democracy.

Individuals vary widely in their abilities, interests, and needs; thus, a variety of programs, methods, and facilities is necessary to insure equal educational opportunities for all District students. As efforts are made to create such opportunities in an increasing number of areas, the District’s limited resources must be spread across existing programs. When all of these areas are treated as though they are of equal importance, the quality and quantity of opportunities for developing truly fundamental skills is lessened.

The Board of Education is committed to pursuing excellence in creating equal educational opportunities in a limited number of areas it considers of fundamental importance for all citizens. In order to pursue this commitment and help provide direction to the District’s administration and teaching staff when they face difficult decisions about how to allocate scarce resources, the Board hereby establishes the following District curriculum priorities:

1st: Language Arts (written and oral communication skills, reading skills, reference skills)

3rd: All other areas of the curriculum.

The creation of these priorities is not meant to deny the importance of developing positive self-concepts in the students. However, it is the Board’s feeling that positive student self-concepts can be nurtured in tandem with the development of skills in the fundamental curriculum areas listed above.

Nor is this statement meant to deny the importance of preparing students for the world of work, of equipping students to use their leisure time effectively, or of encouraging students to develop healthful living habits. But the Board does not consider the development of apporpriate skills in these areas to be as critical as the development of complete competence in the first two levels of priority listed above.

Approximately 200 parents completed a survey during parent-teacher conferences regarding their opinions about the Norris School System, its programs and activities.

The things parents seemed to like best about the school included the variety of educational opportunities and activities available, the caring attitude of the teaching and support staff, the opportunities for parent involvement, the modern facilities and cleanliness of the buildings, the technological opportunities available, the amount of pride in the school system and its reputation.

The number one concern was the use of alcohol and drugs by students. Other concerns included theft and cheating by students, the way students sometimes treat each other, the behavior of some students on the buses, the lack of opportunity to study a foreign language other than Spanish, and the fact that some parents don’t take an active interest in their children or the school.

Norris offers an extensive athletic and non-athletic program for students.

The non-athletic program includes the following activities: marching band, concert band, jazz band, pep band, 6th grade band, 7th grade band, 8th grade band, choir, show choir, 7th grade choir, 8th grade choir, National Honor Society, musical, fall play, one-act play productions, spring play, Art Club, flag corps, speech team, Student Council, middle school Student Senate, yearbook and newspaper, academic/quiz bowl team, Mock Trial, Math Club, Science Club, Future Farmers of America, Students Against Illegal Drugs and Alcohol, Trap Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Spanish Club, Family and Consumer Science Club, Vocational Industrial Clubs of America, peer mediation and peer helpers.

The athletic program consists of 8th grade volleyball, 9th grade volleyball, junior varsity volleyball, varsity volleyball, 8th grade football, 9th grade football, junior varsity football, varsity football, girls’ softball, girls’ and boys’ cross-country, 8th grade girls’ and boys’ basketball, 9th grade girls’ and boys’ basketball, 10th grade girls’ and boys’ basketball, junior varsity girls’ and boys’ basketball, varsity girls’ and boys’ basketball, 7th and 8th grade wrestling, reserve and varsity wrestling, 7th and 8th grade girls’ and boys’ track, 9th grade girls’ and boys’ track, varsity girls’ and boys’ track, varsity girls’ and boys’ soccer, junior varsity cheerleaders, varsity cheerleaders, junior varsity girls’ and boys’ golf, varsity girls’ and boys’ golf.

During the 1996-97 school year 86% of the student body participated in one or more activities (athletic and non-athletic). 48% of the students participated in one more more sports, 77% participated in one or more non-athletic activities.

The percent of the school district’s budget spent on athletics during the 1996-97 school year was .02%.

Norris is a member of the Eastern Midlands Conference which includes Blair, Elkhorn, Gretna, Nebraska City, Platteview, Plattsmouth, and Waverly. Norris also competes with Crete, Fairbury, Pius X, Seward, Raymond Central, Syracuse, Tri-County, Lincoln Christian, Auburn, Falls City, and Beatrice.