How have ADA requirements for public schools changed over time?

Since the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, expectations for public schools have expanded significantly. Early compliance focused on physical access—ensuring students could enter buildings and classrooms.

Today, guidance from the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Justice requires schools to ensure students with disabilities can fully participate in all programs, services, and activities, including academics, extracurriculars, transportation, and school safety procedures.

The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 broadened who qualifies for support, and current expectations also include digital accessibility (e.g., websites, instructional materials, and online learning platforms).

In short: ADA requirements have shifted from providing access to buildings to ensuring full, equitable access to the entire educational experience.

What is the preliminary estimate for interest rate on this bond?

Right now, the preliminary rate on a 20 year bond is around 4.0%

Has the school refinanced past bonds?

Yes, the district refinanced its 2004 Middle School bond three times—which saved taxpayers nearly $1 million and paid the bond off one year early. The strategic refinancing also lowered interest to just 0.65% from the initial 4.0% where it started. 

It is true that if the bond passes that Norris will have among the highest bond debt of any Class B school in Nebraska by nearly double?

According to information accessed via the State Auditor, Nebraska Department of Education, EMMA, and news reports of current successful bond issues for Class B schools the district would be around 6^th out of 19 Class B districts counting all current and authorized bond or interlocal debt. Of all Class B districts 7 of the 19 have half or less the bond debt if the Norris bond passes. Of those 7 districts, 4 of them have bond debt ranging from just over $11M to just under $18M. The average bond debt for Class B districts is around $30M. 

Is it true that half of Class B school districts have zero bond debt?

No. Only 3 Class B school districts have zero GO bond or interlocal debt.  One of them is McCook, who has recently failed two bond attempts over $40M to address facility needs. The other two are Northwest (GI) and Lexington. These two districts receive over $10 million and $26 million state aid respectively to assist with operational and facility needs.

Is the state eliminating the property tax credit resulting in a 65% tax increase for homeowners?

A recent mailing quoted former Senator Tom Briese as saying “eliminating the tax credits entirely would amount to roughly a 60-65% property tax increase on Nebraska homeowners”. Former Senator Briese’s actual comments published in the Nebraska Examiner in February 2026, were in reference to the impact of a proposed bill (LB 1038) which would eliminate tax credits and result in a nearly 60% tax increase on the typical ag landowner in his home district in Boone County. The bill Briese was referring to (LB 1038) did not advance out of committee for lack of support.

What is a bond issue?

Bonds are sold or “issued” by a school district to competing investors to raise funds to pay for the costs of a project. Many districts use bonds to finance facility needs because they are unable to address large capital projects within existing budgets. A majority of registered voters residing in the school district must approve a bond issue before a school district can issue bonds.

Once a school secures bond funding it uses these proceeds to pay for construction. The bonds are scheduled to mature after 20 years with principal and interest payments becoming part of the annual budget.

Why is the School District pursuing a bond issue now?

The board is placing this issue in front of the voters in 2026 for the following reasons:

• Addressing school and traffic safety is a growing and urgent priority for the school district.
• Reactive maintenance on HVAC and other critical facility needs is becoming expensive for aging equipment and affecting the District’s ability to manage budget and keep tax impact relatively low.
• Construction costs historically increase 3-4% per year. Addressing needs now can avoid increased costs in five to 10 years.
• The construction bid environment is competitive right now. A competitive bidding environment incentivizes bidders to make the most attractive offer to school districts, often resulting in cost savings or greater value for taxpayer dollars.
• Bond rates (interest rates paid on the bonds) have declined over the past two years. Just like today’s interest rates make now a better time to purchase a home than over the last few years, now is a better time to issue bonds.

What is included in Norris School District’s proposed facility improvement project?

Full Campus: Additional parking and traffic flow improvements

High School: Secure entrance, renovations to add/upgrade classrooms, handicap code upgrades to restrooms, new heating/cooling systems, roof replacement and vocational/industrial arts program improvements.

Middle School: Secured entry and drive loop modifications.

Elementary School: Secured entry and drive loop modifications, roof replacement, new heating/cooling system, and restroom remodel to meet handicap accessibility codes.

The District’s bond amount may not exceed $34,800,000 but may be lower. The exact bond amount will be determined once the project is bid and construction costs are final.

How was the project and bond amount determined?

The project scope was determined by the Norris School District Board of Education through a nearly two-year process that included the following steps:

• Board review/discussion of community feedback to determine final scope and bond amount
• Facility needs assessment conducted by architect/engineer
• District level review/prioritization
• Public steering committee feedback
  • All members of the public invited to participate in a public announcement
  • Reviewed/discussed needs, solutions and financial impact
  • Discussion and survey feedback to Board
• Board review/discussion of community feedback to determine final scope and bond amount

Will this bond issue affect property taxes?

The issuance of bonds can temporarily increase a school district’s annual budget to make bond payments. In Nebraska, public schools are primarily funded by property taxes. Property taxes also help schools make bond payments.

If the bonds were issued today in Norris School District, a $34.8 million bond for 20 years is estimated to raise property taxes by 9.5 cents per $100 of valuation. 

Please visit the Financials page to use the individual tax calculator to estimate your personal impact.

Why hasn’t the current budget been enough to address these facility needs over the last few years?

Norris Public Schools has worked to address the most urgent facility needs within its current budget over the years – including many of the needs identified in 2017 when a different bond issue was considered but did not pass.

However, Nebraska school districts are limited by statute on how much of their operational budgets can be applied to capital projects. A number of needs identified in 2017 remain, and new needs have surfaced.

Also, the School Board has worked to keep budget growth down to keep property tax burden as low as possible.

Why was the Norris Titan Activities Complex able to move forward when other facility needs were not pursued?

The Activities Complex was a critical need identified by student families for the School District in 2017. The project was designed to help address student and family safety concerns related to early morning and off-campus travel to practices.

The Complex is an example of one way the School District has been able to address facilities issues within its current budget. In-kind donations and short-term financing allowed this project to be completed without a 20-year bond issue.

Where can I go to get additional information on the bond?

The District’s goal is to provide information to all registered voters so they can make an informed decision on the bond issue. The district will be providing information in the following ways:

• Informational posts via the district’s social media
• Informational mailer sent to all registered voter households
• Informational booth at home games/events prior to bond issue
• Small group informational meetings throughout our district
• Open houses and tours
• The Norris Public Schools Superintendent or Board of Education members are available for questions. Contact us.