July 19, 2021 at 7:30 PM - Regular Board of Education Meeting

The following statement was read on behalf of the Boone Central Board of Education and entire school district: In light of all the recent developments in the political realm and the attention that education in our country and specifically in our state has received, I would like to make a general statement on behalf of the Boone Central Schools Board of Education. Our way of life and the values of the communities that comprise our school district are important to all of us here at Boone Central. We generally think of ourselves as being from Albion, Petersburg, or the surrounding area. We think of ourselves as Nebraskans. While these thoughts are all accurate, if we look a little deeper, we find that we are also much more diverse than we at first realize. In our immediate communities we find that we are Black, White, Native American, Hispanic, and Asian. These descriptors are also true, and yet we don’t see ourselves that way and more importantly, we refuse to be categorized or defined by our differences.
Instead, we ascribe to Midwestern values that were reflected in Dr. King’s 1963 speech where we actually value the content of character. We see ourselves as Midwesterners, and we take pride in our shared values and beliefs. We celebrate our individual and community successes together. We also come together as communities, families, and friends, and we look out for each other in our times of need and suffering. We are hard-working, compassionate, and accountable. Sometimes we disagree, but that’s ok. We watch over each other’s children and consider them to be our own. When people say, "It takes a village..." we are the very kind of communities that those people are thinking about. We embody that noble and positive idea. These are the reasons that we choose to live here and the reasons that we are proud to call this our home. These beliefs and values are not lost on our school district. They are reflected in our policies and instruction. We will continue to strive to maintain what is important to our communities within the buildings in our district. We feel that it is important for our patrons to know that the school board, the administration, and the staff will continue to work together and ensure that the values of our communities are reflected in the curriculum and the instruction of our children, and that all people will be treated with dignity and respect.