LINCOLN- Nebraska’s K-12 schools face mandates at the state and federal levels that cost local property taxpayers money and cost teachers time in class, a legislative committee was told. The discussion during an interim study hearing focused mostly on state mandates, including two hours of transportation training and a rule that school libraries subscribe to at least 25 periodicals.

But state lawmakers also heard about another costly problem plaguing teachers and schools: student behavior. Riverside Public Schools Superintendent Stephanie Kaczor told Education Committee members she and teachers in her north-central Nebraska district have seen a sea change in how kids behave. Kaczor said the amount of students acting out is greater than the past two decades.

Multiple testifiers said schools need more flexibility on training requirements to respond more capably and cost-effectively to changes in the student population and local needs. State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont sought the hearing on unfunded mandates in LR166. She said she wants school employees to recommend requirements the state can cut.

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