NORFOLK, Neb. -- Gov. Jim Pillen’s State of the State town hall in Norfolk was similar to many of his previous stops.

Property taxes, agricultural values, and spending were all topics Pillen answered questions and talked with northeast Nebraskans about.

A new bill in the legislature was of interest to Pillen which would change the tenure system for colleges in Nebraska.

With the introduction of LB 1064 by Sen. Loren Lippincott, colleges would be forced to eliminate their current tenure systems.

"Higher education has to be responsive to workforce and the people," Pillen said. "We have to be able to have a common sense approach."

Pillen said the original idea behind tenure is one he agrees with.

“Faculty members that are doing research would have the freedom to research and study some crazy ideas without retribution," Pillen said. "I’m 100 percent supportive of that.”

Lippincott’s bill was co-signed by 11 other senators and was introduced in North Dakota, Iowa, Florida, and Texas last year, none of which were passed by the states' legislatures.

In a letter sent to News Channel Nebraska, Lippincott said the concept of teacher tenure has “outlived its usefulness” and said public higher education lacks a serious degree of accountability.

He also said there is a “woke ideology” being pushed on campuses, and does not want students to be “indoctrinated with leftist ideology.”
 

Pillen, a former Nebraska Board of Regent, says the way tenure has changed has him wanting to rework the system.

“All of a sudden, it evolved to where faculty can be tenured even if they don’t have a student and that makes no sense," Pillen said. "I’m a supporter of tenure just not life time tenure.”

Pillen said despite critics saying the bill would not help with recruitment of professors, he believes educators want an environment that is best for the students.

“I think there is a whole lot of extraordinary people that have committed their life to educating our children that believe in working really hard every day and that’s the environment they want to be in," Pillen said. "I would think we would have plenty of those in Nebraska."

Another bill of Pillen’s interest was once introduced by Sen. Lynne Walz which would provide a reimbursement for teachers purchasing school supplies.

The bill would allow a teacher up to $300 of reimbursement for supplies paid for by a teacher, and Pillen hopes it will help address the teacher shortage in Nebraska.

“We have to get the issue solved," Pillen said. "It’s an extraordinary impact having an impact on our young people. Incentives are going to have to help the cause.”

Pillen’s trip to Grand Island earlier on Tuesday was cancelled due to the weather. Pillen also stopped in South Sioux City for another town hall later Tuesday afternoon.