[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6078944,"mediaKeyId","2957122-a7026ab617af9676d2560324190d5b81","parentId",2957122,"title","GIPS Foundation reports record scholarship awards and invites community to spring receptions","audioSeconds",488,"startMs",165000,"endMs",653000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2957122-a7026ab617af9676d2560324190d5b81&start=165&end=653","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2957122-a7026ab617af9676d2560324190d5b81/thumbnail_165000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6078944/Nebraska/GIPS-Foundation-reports-record-scholarship-awards-and-invites-community-to-spring-receptions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078944-28afd6ae70b284875100549367ded417/orig.mp4?Expires=1771038168&Signature=S5nNFnbILBBzE3xTxAzMwxZ-K3NSrVmC3zMvdLJEKKyQ~UIwBP9yVj-8-Ii2IlQPPybnwg8vjmCZxHZOSjvXjtGgJlItcQsfVAh04XSz9wE-qO-5JeAyHifApXNsX5PgSr1zXSMf2dto2GhSkqiWCXQ~OEqzO~F9a5uUrX4zUfT9VSgBx~xnYCWI5EVzWNGATDFPL1~qnjVmBoIRyEFZawYsy5aWvD6HE~6-FirTbPEPzFhJB~-r3VnedeEJwJnW2hWHfkmfCj848ouyOtGgWgFwI8JNFt2aCp9YZgsho5~CbIwoX3XRSbnv53AW85GisBdnt9qWunshdtWqgK9frA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Grand Island Public Schools, NE","date","2025-04-11T05:36:38.43Z","article","The Grand Island Public Schools Foundation updated the Board of Education about scholarship and staff giving activity and invited board members to scholarship receptions in April.

\"This year we had 446 students start scholarship applications and 188 successfully completed applications,\" said Carrie Leep, speaking for the foundation. She told the board that 79 graduating students will receive awards this cycle and that the foundation will distribute a record $693,823 in scholarships.

Leep also described the foundation’s staff giving campaign and professional development scholarships. She said the foundation aims for high staff participation and noted the foundation typically achieves at least 85 percent participation among district employees, with the foundation board at 100 percent. The staff giving campaign opens April 1 and professional development grants (three awards of $1,500 each) begin April 15 for certified staff attending Nebraska‑accredited programs.

Leep invited the public to scholarship receptions: a general recipient-donor reception at Grand Island Senior High School west gym on April 23 from 10:30 a.m. to noon, and a Martin Scholarship reception for Martin recipients on April 25 at the Bill Marshall Conference Room from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. She highlighted one recipient present in the meeting, Owen Williams, and said he had signed for a large outside scholarship to Northwestern University.

Board members asked about application trends; Mr. Garcia Mendez asked whether total applicants were down. Leep said some students are taking gap years or entering trades, and while fewer students completed the full application this year, the quality of applications was high. \"We did actually see a lower number of students actually fill out,\" she said, while noting strong outcomes for award amounts.

Leep said the foundation accepts online gifts at GIPSfoundation.org and encouraged board participation in staff giving and attendance at the receptions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 10, 2025 - GIPS Board of Education Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Grand Island Public Schools Foundation presented scholarship totals, staff giving and professional development grant opportunities to the board, reporting $693,823 in scholarships to students this cycle and multiple upcoming donor‑recipient receptions in April.","taxTitle","GRAND ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, School Districts, Nebraska","taxId",13051,"location","Nebraska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6078949,"Grand Island Public Schools reports 348 students identified with unstable housing; district expands support under McKinney‑Vento",939,596000,1535000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2957122-a7026ab617af9676d2560324190d5b81&start=596&end=1535","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2957122-a7026ab617af9676d2560324190d5b81/thumbnail_596000.jpg","/articles/6078949/Nebraska/Grand-Island-Public-Schools-reports-348-students-identified-with-unstable-housing-district-expands-support-under-McKinneyVento","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078949-041bb486eccbfd60f83c62055ffa3aa5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771038168&Signature=aBNlaCmVvb4eoBjRIfC~OvkkY8DT7Br~mwQe870w~uUt81n~d8YinUw3aCUPjL0dfy3u2wZHKo4Cdah5fkkBgUsVWNRAJMXxCQm95nDh-MxX49itY4Bdim9tSnOnUpq6oX0i8WukNdyQ9Jt8r0jjA9xbWqfVz1Hp5y-OhypM~KyqtF478ALbB8voU0nMt3EyhKA93FFOP7QOED2uM3lC~ynak6UWhH8eV5bQcnoVApbXiweI1OdulZfjfnLQA~oFhthbosfjJmeR3w7UKh2HvPuM2fMSwLcFn~9wZ5SVJdtsse8faDBF1J2tzRp-3-5GkzPqZRNWeSFFTbY~bTbnqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Grand Island Public Schools staff briefed the Board of Education on the district’s Families in Transition (FIT) program and its work under the McKinney‑Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

\"So far we have identified 348 unique students that have unstable housing,\" said Christine Ostermeyer, the district’s FIT coordinator. She told the board that 81% of those students were doubled up with family or friends, 27 had resided in a shelter program and 45 did not live with a legal guardian.

Ostermeyer explained the district uses the McKinney‑Vento definition of homelessness — lacking a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence — which includes doubled-up arrangements, motels used as long-term housing and unaccompanied youth. She said district staff provide identification training to all building staff and follow with casework to determine a student’s eligibility and educational best interest.

Ostermeyer described associated supports the district offers, including targeted case management and select transportation assistance to preserve school stability. The program also coordinates with building social workers and counselors and leverages community partners for services. \"Stability for students impacts them as students now and in their future,\" she said, summarizing why the district invests in FIT services.

At the board’s request, Ostermeyer supplied additional program data: 65% of students in the FIT program also receive English‑learner services and 8% have individualized education programs. She also said 58% of FIT students had zero discipline referrals in the period reviewed. When board member Carl Barcinas asked about the program’s biggest barrier, Ostermeyer said, \"Access to affordable housing — and housing large enough for family size — is by far the biggest barrier.\"

Board members asked about data trends and collection under the district’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP); Ostermeyer said the district no longer collects traditional free-and‑reduced lunch applications and that a prior year figure (about 74%) reflected an earlier reporting method, while about 70% of students qualified through direct certification methods (SNAP, Medicaid, foster care). She said district staff will track alternate income-form submissions and year-to-year data to provide better trend information.

Ostermeyer outlined program goals: continue staff education on McKinney‑Vento, identify and support students to improve school stability and expand community partnerships to reduce stigma and increase capacity for services.","District staff updated the board on Families in Transition (FIT) services for students experiencing housing instability under the McKinney‑Vento Act, reporting 348 unique students identified, the most common circumstance being doubled-up housing, and naming access to affordable housing as the program’s largest barrier.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6078956,"Board approves $95,000 pilot to test two K–5 math programs across four schools",2767,1626000,4393000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2957122-a7026ab617af9676d2560324190d5b81&start=1626&end=4393","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2957122-a7026ab617af9676d2560324190d5b81/thumbnail_1626000.jpg","/articles/6078956/Nebraska/Board-approves-95000-pilot-to-test-two-K5-math-programs-across-four-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078956-2a5ead022a7018b40bdfd17235830077/orig.mp4?Expires=1771038168&Signature=LJNkcfPe8vzJeG20dPa35gIfUG5TbJDH0ShVaIiHBhW9zDUHUtYT5gnD66figqXkcUdgyed4qNcaGW6TL3EqO17ybLP43hnnl9ujrnq3EJf40DLBTB6ZEaNTddivGuB9yDWsEA2UNwkEwJ71pxmfYIdLCxyAGNxKKqCCj0qVMgR1NFZ~13trvgcYv8h4pLG0E6w7hHuaaZWXms4Va3voEOqHi7BjjFCRBKy1eTPQKXIs-KIfm8PPPOn6sO0GNYbfCtggCr4B7v5fGLSzc~g6I6J6rGE01rqpVlWZrNAaPhk~18C33oihUHuYuVqYhD7qJ6CJzNlOWgq1UCd6BIK1EA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education voted to approve up to $95,000 to support a year-long pilot of two elementary math resources, district curriculum coordinator Daniel Berman told the board.

Berman said the pilot will place Amplify/Desmos Math in STAR and Sully Park elementary schools and Eureka Squared at Lincoln and Newell elementary schools, and will also include the district’s Skills Academy. About 1,400 students and 66 teachers are expected to take part. \"The proposal is to approve up to $95,000 in L4L funds to support this year long pilot in all 4 buildings,\" Berman said.

The pilot follows a multi-step process mandated by district policy 73-20, Berman said: a resource needs assessment, an implementation plan, a diverse review committee and a field test. Stakeholder teams and a 17-member review committee narrowed an initial list to two finalists after studying district benchmarks, MAP growth and comparisons with similar districts.

Berman and the review committee identified two finalists based on alignment to Nebraska standards, embedded structures for student discourse and supports for teachers. \"Lessons are task based and student driven,\" the committee reported of Amplify/Desmos Math; Eureka Squared showed stronger explicit routines and embedded scaffolds, the presenters said.

The district will use a triangulated evaluation approach during the pilot: district benchmark proficiency by standard, MAP growth, periodic teacher feedback forms (Berman said teachers will be asked to complete a short form every two weeks), classroom observations and qualitative reports from teachers and principals. Berman said the pilot committee and representatives from pilot buildings will monitor data and provide a recommendation for full adoption next year.

Publisher support will reduce upfront professional learning costs, Berman said; both vendors have offered complimentary training to support the field test. The board motion that approved the funding was made by Mr. Barsenas and seconded by Mr. Holly; the vote result was stated as \"Motion passes\" (tally not specified in the record).

Board members asked about evaluation criteria and timeline. Mr. Holly asked whether the district would rely on a single data source; Berman replied that the district will use multiple quantitative and qualitative measures so evaluation is not based on a single data point. A student representative and several teachers who helped select the resources emphasized the importance of family-facing materials; Berman said both finalists include take-home letters and materials, and that translations are available (some Spanish translations are still in progress for the newer product).

Berman said funds were set aside previously in anticipation of a future adoption; the $95,000 includes materials and manipulatives for classrooms and an implementation cushion to respond to teacher needs during the pilot. The district expects to return to the board with a recommendation after the pilot year.

The board’s action authorizes staff to purchase and place pilot materials so teachers can have manuals and kits before summer if vendors can supply them on that timeline.","The Grand Island Public Schools Board approved up to $95,000 in L4L funds to pilot two elementary math resources (Amplify/Desmos Math and Eureka Squared) in four buildings next school year; the pilot will involve about 1,400 students and 66 teachers and use multiple quantitative and qualitative measures for evaluation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

GIPS Foundation reports record scholarship awards and invites community to spring receptions

Grand Island Public Schools reports 348 students identified with unstable housing; district expands support under McKinney‑Vento

Board approves $95,000 pilot to test two K–5 math programs across four schools