Omaha Public Schools continue to do a great job providing more opportunities and activities for children every year. While OPS has also felt the impact of students moving out of the district, there is still much work to be done over the next few years. KETV sat down with Deondre Jones, activities director for Benson High School, and John Krogstrand, activities director for all of OPS, to discuss next steps moving forward. “You can pretty easily find numbers that show declines of 10, 15, 20 percent in the past. “In terms of participation numbers across the country or regionally, it's only been a few years,” Krogstrand said. Not every school is comparable to the situation of the others, at Benson High School they are dealing with a unique situation where many students are playing sports for the first time Jones: “We see that growth is taking place especially in our females. We’re missing our guys, but we’re doing our best to get these guys involved,” Jones said. As the conversation continues around public schools, as Benson is one of the OPS schools, we could benefit from a reclassification. “Classification began in the 1920s. It was always true: a child is a child, a child,” said Krogstrand. “There aren't many things we've done the same for over 100 years when you talk about schools and education, so it's really refreshing that we're having a conversation there.” Sports and activities so they have camaraderie, “Being able to bring a group of friends together, going from elementary school to middle school to Benson High School and supporting our athletics and what we’re trying to do,” Jones said. This work is not only done in Benson Parish, but also countywide. “Across the district, we're doing some of the things we're already doing in elementary school, engaging kids because they don't have access to programs or to facilities. “We're working with community partners to build those relationships and try to to overcome those challenges or provide that access,” Krogstrand said. Over the past few months, the district has been on site, conducting focus groups and meeting with families, students and coaches “If you're talking about 10 years, that's exactly what we're working on now and what we're offering, and we're going to have one soon Real action plan or strategic plan for Omaha Public Schools athletics and activities to address some of these issues.” To address concerns and do some things that are “Long term to really develop it, but in the same breath also not Wait 10 years,” Krogstrand said. With changes on the horizon, the message to families and future OPS students is simple: “Believe in our community, believe in where you invested in purchasing” home or where you live. “The convenience of being able to walk or drop your child off at school and get home in less than 5 minutes is priceless,” Jones said. NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | News programs on demand |
Omaha Public Schools continue to do a great job providing more opportunities and activities for children every year.
While OPS has also felt the impact of students moving out of the district, there is still much work to be done over the next few years. KETV sat down with Deondre Jones, Benson High School activities director, and John Krogstrand, activities director for all of OPS, to discuss next steps moving forward.
“It's pretty easy to find numbers that show participation numbers are down 10, 15, 20 percent nationally or regionally in the last few years,” Krogstrand said.
The situation at every school is not the same as the other. At Benson High School, Jones said they are dealing with a unique situation where many students are playing sports for the first time.
“We see that our females in particular are growing. We’re missing our guys, but we’re doing our best to get these guys involved,” Jones said.
As the conversation continues around public schools, as Benson is one of the OPS schools, we could benefit from a reclassification.
“Classification began in the 1920s. It was always true: a child is a child, a child,” said Krogstrand. “There aren't many things we've done the same for over 100 years when you talk about schools.” Education, so it's really refreshing that we're having a conversation there.
The work for OPS to retain students in the district is done at the community level.
“The first thing it starts with is getting to elementary school. We introduce these sports and activities so they can have some camaraderie, get a group of friends together, go from elementary school to middle school to Benson High School and support us athletics and what we do,” Jones said.
This work is being done not only in Benson Parish, but throughout the county.
“Across the district, we're doing some of the things we already do in elementary school to engage kids because they don't have access to programs or to facilities. We work with community partners to build those relationships to try to negate those challenges or provide that access,” Krogstrand said.
In recent months, the district has been on site to conduct focus groups and meet with families, students and coaches.
“If you're talking about 10 years, that's exactly what we're working on now and what we're offering, and we're going to be coming up with a real action plan or strategic plan for Omaha Public Schools athletics and activities soon to address some of those concerns and some doing long-term things to really develop it, but at the same time not waiting 10 years,” Krogstrand said.
Given the changes ahead, the message to families and future OPS students is simple.
“Believe in our community, believe in what you invested in buying your home or where you live. The convenience of being able to walk or drop your child off at school and get home in less than 5 minutes is something that is invaluable,” Jones said.
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