Sidney School Board receives financial opdate from Superintendent

Sidney Public Schools Superintendent Andrew Farber provided a financial update during the recent Sidney Public Schools Board of Education meeting, sharing positive news about the district’s current financial position.

Farber reported that the district saw strong financial gains in January due to additional tax collections and State Aid funding.

“There were some nice additions to the month of January with additional tax collections and State Aid,” Farber said. “We have collected $6.5 million and spent $6.3 million, so we have made the shift to where our revenue is higher than our expenditures. It has been four to five years since the district has been ahead this early.”

He added that the district’s financial position has improved significantly compared to last year.

Farber also commended the district’s building principals for their responsible budget management. He noted that while staff members are receiving the resources they need to provide quality education, principals have collectively used about 15% less than their allocated budgets.

“Staff gets what they need, but principals are underutilizing their budgets by 15%,” he said. “They are getting what they need to make a great education happen while returning a portion back to the district.”

Farber also discussed ongoing negotiations with staff, explaining that the negotiations committee is considering a 5.1% compensation increase by adjusting insurance deductibles. He expressed appreciation for the Sidney Education Association (SEA) and Mrs. McKay, who was present during negotiations, for their patience throughout the process.

He noted that the district’s average teacher salary is approximately $40,400, consistent with the regional average of about $40,500.

School Board Takes Action on Policies, Contracts, and District Updates

The Sidney Public Schools Board of Education discussed and took action on District policies 5020–5032 during its recent meeting. Superintendent Andrew Farber explained that several of these policies have been superseded and incorporated into other district policies, effectively replacing them. All district policies are available on the Sidney Public Schools website at www.sidneyraiders.org.

The board also reviewed plans for the 2026–27 district calendar, which will be considered for approval at the March board meeting and released publicly following that meeting. Farber explained that the district works to align its calendar with Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) events and college schedules, particularly because Sidney High School offers a number of dual-credit courses.

Board President Mike Palmer asked why the school year typically begins mid-week rather than on a Monday. Farber explained that the mid-week start helps students transition back into their school routine more gradually.

“We have found the mid-week start helps students experience less fatigue when getting back into a schedule,” Farber said. “Students in grades K–6 especially show more fatigue when starting with a full week. This feedback comes directly from our teachers.”

The board also approved a one-year extension of administrative contracts for several district leaders, including Ryan Plummer (High School Principal), Michael Collett (High School Assistant Principal), Brandon Ross (Director of Safety and Middle School Principal), Bryan Schoening (Grades 2–6 Principal), Karson Roach (Grades 2–6 Assistant Principal), Jennifer Mey (PreK–1 Principal), Tess Plummer (District Curriculum and Assessment Director), and Whitney Hurt (Director of Student Services).

Additionally, Palmer proposed extending Farber’s contract through the 2027–28 school year.

“We would like to add an additional year to Mr. Farber’s contract extension,” Palmer said. “I think for him and for us, it would be good to move forward with this contract extension through the 2027–28 school year.”
The motion passed 4–0.

The board also accepted the resignations of Regan Hinton, Matthew McKay, and Mandy McKay. Palmer and Farber thanked the McKays, who were present at the meeting, for their 17 years of service to Sidney Public Schools. The motion passed 4–0.

During board member reports, members shared observations and recognized student and staff accomplishments across the district. Board member Mr. Kennedy congratulated the district, noting the many positive activities taking place throughout Sidney Public Schools.

“There is a lot going on, and I’ve visited several schools where great things are happening at the building level,” Kennedy said.

Mr. Gulbranson echoed those comments, expressing appreciation for the opportunity to recognize the district’s successes during board meetings.

Mr. Challburg commended the Sidney Education Association for productive discussions during negotiations and recognized several student achievements. He congratulated FBLA students for their strong performance in Chadron, students who participated in the High Plains Music Festival, and the Sidney Speech team for finishing second out of 27 teams at a competition in Grant. He also praised the FFA presentation given earlier in the meeting by Josette McConnell, describing Sidney students as “all around, just great kids.”

Board President Mike Palmer emphasized the board’s commitment to recognizing student success. “We really want to highlight our students’ achievements,” Palmer said, encouraging staff and community members to share accomplishments from across the district.