Support Our Schools looks ahead to July deadline

NORFOLK, Neb. -- Nebraska voters had a chance to give signatures to get the so-called “school choice” bill or LB 1402 on the ballot. 

Organizers with Support Our Schools had 10 signature gathering events Tuesday evening across the state. 

Last year, the organization gathered 117,000 signatures to put LB-753 on the ballot. 

In the past legislative session, LB-1402 repealed the bill and the issue never made it to the ballot. 

Under the bill, $10 million will be given to the state treasurer’s office to fund scholarships for low-income students to attend private schools. 

Vice President of Support Our Schools and Nebraska State Education Association (NSEA) Paul Schulte said a focus for the group is in the small communities. 

“Every community has a small school and we know that small school is the heart of those communities," Schulte said. "We have 93 counties and 60 of those counties have no private school options. When you look at that and, out of Nebraska, 90% of all students are in public schools.” 

Schulte said the organization’s target is around 63,000 signatures and to have the signatures turned in by July 15. 

The group has until July 17 to turn the petitions in with 5% of registered voters in 38 of the 93 counties. 

If they receive all required signatures, the issue will be on the November ballot.