Several school classifications eliminated

Three of the state’s six public school classifications were eliminated by a bill given final
approval Feb. 8.

Introduced by the Education Committee last session, LB377 eliminates Class I, II and VI districts, with the remaining Class II districts becoming Class III districts. All districts now will be classified as either Class III, IV or V.

Under LB377, Class III districts will have fewer than 150,000 inhabitants and maintain elementary and high school grades under a single school board.

Class IV districts are those with a population of 100,000 or more that maintain elementary and high school grades. Class V districts have a metropolitan-class city, and their employees participate in a separate retirement system. Lincoln Public Schools will be the only remaining Class IV district, and Omaha Public Schools will be the only remaining Class V district.

The bill takes effect Jan. 1, 2019 and passed on a 47-0 vote.