Happy Holidays

Happy holidays everyone! It doesn’t seem possible that we’re already at the end of the first semester. For our elementary and middle school families, I hope it has been a productive and enjoyable first term. For our high school families, best of luck as you complete your final exams and prepare for second semester.

The holidays are a special time in the Rikli home. My wife Amy loves to decorate our home with holiday trimmings, and the Christmas tree is usually up by the time the Thanksgiving leftovers are eaten. We have two very naughty elves, Holly and Jolly, who create mischief and mayhem every night, much to the delight of our youngest son Sam. Holiday music is a staple, of course, and we love reading “The Night Before Christmas” to our kids before waking up on Christmas morning and unwrapping gifts. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

Across the District, our students and families are creating their own holiday traditions and growing the #BeKind initiative in the process. This year we have demonstrated a commitment to #BeKind through a variety of projects and initiatives. As we entered the holiday season the acts of kindness flourished throughout PLCS.  Over 90 families were supported with holiday gifts. Over $11,000 was raised for charities. Over 1,000 toys were donated.  Over 7,500 diapers were donated and over 8,500 food items and supplies were given to those in need. It is truly amazing to be a part of this school district where students, staff and families are so very quick to open their hearts and demonstrate kindness.

We are so blessed, all of us, to live in this great country and this great community. I hope all of you are able to spend time with loved ones, take a break from work and school, and reflect on 2018. It was a very good year in so many ways, and the coming year promises to be even better. So, from the Rikli family to yours, here’s wishing everyone a happy, safe, and relaxing winter break and holiday season. See you in 2019!

First Taste of Winter

Now that we’ve gotten our first taste of winter, I thought it might be helpful to discuss snow days and the process behind the decision-making.

We will always make decisions with student safety as our top priority. I have three school-age children, and my wife and I both work outside the home. I certainly understand getting kids to school on bad weather days can be stressful. If you don’t feel safe sending your children to school because of inclement weather, please keep them home. Every day, parents drop off their children late and/or pick them up early for reasons ranging from athletic contests to dental appointments. We want to see regular school attendance, of course, but we also trust parents to make good decisions for their children.

I understand many families get upset when we don’t cancel school after snow or ice. We live in Nebraska where bad weather is a weekly — If not daily! — occurrence, but we don’t cancel school every time it snows. I suspect most parents understand this, but it bears repeating. Snow days create challenges for many families. Many students live in single parent households or in homes where both parents work. Cancelling school can create hardships for families who need daycare for their children. Some parents are forced to leave young children at home with little or no supervision because they can’t miss work. This too is a safety issue.
When bad weather is anticipated, I typically communicate with area superintendents throughout the evening and early morning. We will always make a decision that is best for Papillion La Vista Community Schools, but if one school district in the metro cancels, generally all public schools in the metro cancel. There are exceptions, but since weather patterns don’t stop at school district boundaries, it makes sense that area school leaders discuss closings. Yes, I do wake up at the crack of dawn to drive our streets and check on snow removal. No, I don’t drive a monster truck! (haha).

It is my goal to communicate the decision as soon as possible, but in most cases, I prefer waiting until the morning. Snowfall projections are notoriously fickle, and we are blessed with outstanding snow removal crews, so we don’t want to cancel too early. We will always communicate on the District website, Facebook, and television. If you want to get a jump on the announcement, please follow me on Twitter @AndrewRikli. I typically post snow day cancellations there first. Students, a bit of good-natured complaining on social media is expected and occasionally funny, but please don’t be mean to my family or use profanity. We are better than that. Above all, #BeKind!

Veterans Day

We formally celebrated Veterans Day on Sunday, November 11. However, many of our schools held celebrations in honor of our nation’s veterans last week and this week. Veterans Day is important for all of us to remember. We truly live in the world’s greatest country. As Americans, we have rights and privileges that citizens in other countries can only dream of. These rights and privileges have been purchased in a large part by the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices of the men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform.

Veterans Day is particularly important for this community given our proximity to Offutt Air Base and the number of servicemen and women who live and work in our school district. I personally attended Veterans Day celebrations at several of our schools. At each event, we asked students and community members to stand if they served in our armed forces or have family members who have served. It was incredible to see the huge number of people who were recognized. It made me very proud as a school leader and community member.

Veterans Day holds special meaning to my family. My stepfather was active duty in the U.S. Army and served oversees in Germany. An uncle was active duty Air Force. A nephew is currently a crypto-linguist in the Air Force. One of my grandparents was a B-26 bomber pilot who was killed during World War II. Another grandparent was a Marine who served in the South Pacific. Upon returning home after the war, my grandfather brought back a Japanese katana blade. When my grandfather passed, the sword was given to me and it hangs with great pride in my office at home. I have deep respect and admiration for all who have served.

We have so many families who live and work in our District who are veterans themselves, as well as those who are currently serving. To all our residents who have served in our armed forces in any capacity, thank you for your service and thank you for helping make Papillion La Vista Community Schools such a special place.

PLCS Be Known for Engagement

It doesn’t seem possible it’s already time for Parent-Teacher Conferences. The fall term always passes by so quickly and Parent-Teacher Conferences serve as an important signpost as the midway point of the semester. As a parent, I certainly understand the importance of Parent-Teacher Conferences. We have so many ways to communicate with students and parents: emails, phone calls, school newsletters, robo-calls, and the District App to name just a few. But in my opinion, there is no substitute for a good, old-fashioned face-to-face meeting with your students’ teachers.

This is my first year as the parent of a high schooler. The freshman year represents so many “first experiences.” From the first open house to the first Homecoming dance, everything is new and exciting. And a little bit frightening! My wife Amy and I are so proud of our daughter, but we’re also very protective of her. We want her high school experience to be happy and productive. Parent-Teacher Conferences are a good first step to make sure that happens. If there is one thing I know, it is that it truly takes a village to raise a teenager and we want our teachers and administrators in our village.

As hoped, conferences were a success, and much of the credit goes to my daughter’s teachers. They have done an incredible job communicating her progress, so there were no surprises at her conferences. I sometimes worry my children’s teachers will treat them differently because of the chair that I sit in. I have seen no evidence of that. It can’t be easy having the Superintendent’s kids in class! Our teachers are highly professional, and I am grateful for the work they do everyday with my three children and all children throughout the District.   I truly believe our District is “Known for Greatness” because of the amazing teachers we have.

Communication of course is key. Parents have mentioned to me that our teachers communicate with them so often, there is often little need for them to attend conferences. Of course, no one wants to be accused of being a disengaged parent! So to our teachers who spend so many hours working with our students and parents, I say thank you. And to our parents who take the time to stay involved with their children’s education, please know how much we appreciate your involvement and support. As always, #BeKind!


Updated October 29, 2018

Be Known for Commitment

If you’ve visited Foundation Field recently, you’ve seen progress on the first project of the 2018 school bond. An additional 200 parking stalls will be added to the district stadium and serve visitors to our athletic complex as well as our staff and students as PLSHS continues to grow. We anticipate the parking lot expansion will be completed by the end of November.

In addition to the work at Foundation Field, we have made progress in other key areas. Secondary door locks have been installed at five elementary buildings: Portal, Patriot, Walnut Creek, Hickory Hill, and Bell. These door locks will add an extra layer of security for our students and staff in these buildings. We have also begun planning for the renovation of Anderson Grove. New classrooms and library space, additional parking, an updated kitchen, and a more secure front entryway are included in the design. The building plans are being finalized and we anticipate construction will begin as early as this winter.

We will provide regular communication updates to our community so they can see their tax dollars at work. To that end, we are asking for students to serve on our “Bond Squad.” These student volunteers will serve as key communicators as we record videos and provide bond project updates to our parents and community members. Please contact your building principal if you would like more information.

These bond projects are important to me as both a school leader and a parent. My oldest daughter is a freshman at PLSHS, and I have another daughter and son who attend Bell Elementary. The safety upgrades and building renovations will directly impact the quality of support the District offers my children and yours. I am so proud of our community for prioritizing safety and supporting this bond. I take your trust very seriously, and we will do everything we can to spend your tax dollars responsibly and communicate our progress in a transparent manner. Thank you for your support and as always, Be Kind!

Update October 10, 2018