Gretna KIDS

11/05/2020

Residents of the Gretna Public Schools approved a $258 million bond referendum Tuesday, the district’s biggest ever.

The money will build and equip a second high school, a middle school and an elementary school.

The bond issue also will pay to build an indoor competition pool for school and community use, as well as improvements across the district.

Kevin Svec, a member of the Gretna KIDS committee advocating passage, said the margin was similar to prior bond issues.

“Voters of the school district have always supported these bond issues. We were confident that would happen again, but it’s still nice to see the results come out election night that do reflect it,” Svec said.

The high school is expected to open in fall 2023. The new elementary school, the district’s eighth, will open in fall 2024, and the district’s third middle school in fall 2025.

Through a previous bond issue, the district purchased land southwest of 180th Street and Cornhusker Road for the second high school. It would sit on a campus with the existing Aspen Creek Middle School and Aspen Creek Elementary School.

A second high school means exciting times ahead, even though the new high school is still three years out, he said.

“It just takes that long to bring a facility like that out of the ground, and get everything set up for it, but it will be exciting times for Gretna, for sure,” he said.

Opponents had argued that the district’s frequent bond issues were overwhelming taxpayers, making it unaffordable to live in the district.

They argued that the high school was too expensive — $139.5 million — higher than what other school districts had spent recently.

And they felt the district was overstating the need for the new facilities.

https://omaha.com/news/local/education/gretna-voters-approve-bond-issue-for-second-high-school/article_bc85ec1a-0fb2-579a-a9c5-13b7a8f4e95c.html

Schools officials said the bond issue will increase the district’s bond levy by 7.3 cents. The owner of a home valued at $200,000 will pay an additional $145.36 a year in property taxes.

The money will build and equip a second high school, a middle school and an elementary school. The bond issue also will pay to build an indoor competition pool for

10/29/2020

through the years in aerial photos edition.
These aerial photos show how much the Gretna area has grown since 1955.
Gretna Public Schools has a long tradition of excellence and residents will continue to move here because of that tradition. We must be prepared for that growth. Your support for this bond will ensure our kids have a safe environment to learn in.

10/25/2020

Building a new high school takes 2 years.
Building a 2nd high school NOW - that will be ready to support the growing demands of our school district is vital.
We need your support now more then ever.

10/23/2020

**VOTER ALERT**

Friday, October 23 at 6:00 p.m. is the final deadline for anyone to register to vote in Nebraska and the last day a mail ballot can be requested and mailed.

Voters must register in person at our office to register for the first time, or re-register to update their name, address, and/or political party affiliation.

Office hours to register this week are:
Mon, Wed, Fri - 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (6:00 PM this Fri)
Tues, Thurs - 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
We will continue to have early voting in our office through Monday, November 2nd. Office hours are:
Mon, Wed, Fri - 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tues, Thurs - 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Sat - 9:00 a.m. to 2:00p.m.
501 Olson Drive, Papillion

10/22/2020

The population increase in the school district has also shown up at the polls.
Back in 2002 when we approved building Thomas Elementary and the addition onto the middle school to make it into the high school a total of 2,457 residents voted. The bond passed that year by 68.01%.
As of today out of the 14,785 registered voters in the district 5,470 have already placed their votes 12 days prior to the election.
Thank you so much for all of those that continue to support our schools and our kids. We appreciate you!

10/21/2020

Important deadlines are coming up for this Friday.
Please reach out to Sarpy County Election Commission if you have any questions.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3286990948064124&id=227248550705061

10/18/2020

Did you know the projected 7.3-cent bond levy increase is only for one year? The continued growth of the district will help absorb the annual tax requirement. The maximum bond levy increase of 7.3 cents will occur in 2023 and will begin decreasing each year thereafter.

10/16/2020

Share your story with us in the comments. We would love to hear why you moved to .
Was it the small town, community, schools, location? If you have been here your whole life, why have you stayed?

10/15/2020

Go to https://www.nebraska.gov/apps-sos-voter-registration/ to register online TODAY!

10/15/2020

This bus was owned and operated by Jacob Schram for many years. The seats were not padded but were benches along each side of the bus.

There wasn't heat in the bus, and when the roads were dry, there would be dust coming through the wooded floor.

Today, GPS has 19 daily routes with over 2,600 kids signed up for rides to and from school.

10/14/2020

Presentation is scheduled for 7:00 pm Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/9018818311
Please share and plan to join us for more information about the bond referendum.

10/14/2020

Keeping our kids engaged is a priority and through sports/activities/clubs we are able to do that.
Supporting the school bond provides not only appropriate class sizes but small groups to help diversify friend groups and engage more students.