FPS

Fremont Public Schools Honors Friends of Education

Fremont, Neb. – (Aug. 16, 2022) Fremont Public Schools recently started the school year with the annual Opening Session. This year a special performance of the school song was performed by FHS Band and the Cheer and Dance teams. FPS staff said the pledge of allegiance and were led in singing the Star Spangled Banner by Mark Harman, FHS vocal music teacher.

FPS honored the 2021 and 2022 Friends of Education. The Friend of Education award is the highest recognition of supporters of Fremont Public Schools. District 15 Senator Lynne Walz, Education Committee Chair is the honoree for 2021. The honorees for 2022 are Chuck and Caryl Johannsen and Brett and Heidi Richmond. 

During her first two years in the Nebraska Legislature, Senator Walz served on the Education and the Natural Resources Committee. For the 2019-20 biennium, Senator Walz served as the Vice-Chair of the Education Committee and a member of the Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee. Following her re-election to the Legislature in 2020, Senator Walz was elected by her peers to serve as the Chairwoman of the Education Committee, an honor that she has embraced wholeheartedly to support students and educators across the state! She continues to also serve as a member of the HHS Committee. Senator Lynne Walz will term limit out in 2024, her willingness to serve and her leadership will be greatly missed in the Unicameral.

“We like to say ‘Senator Walz is our very own Senator.’ I make it a point of personal privilege to remind colleagues in various professional organizations across the State, when asked to introduce her. I am proud to call Lynne our Senator and know that at every opportunity she represents District 15 and Fremont, ensuring that our interests are heard and considered,” said Mark Shepard, superintendent of schools. 

The Johannsens and Richmonds were nominated and awarded this prestigious award because of their recent service to the community and school district as co-chairs of the successful $123 million bond campaign. Over the late spring and early summer of 2021 these two couples led a process that included over 60 citizens, to study the facility needs of the school district, prioritize our needs and establish a strategy for communicating the plan to the community. The process engaged architects, engineers and financial consultants to complete a thorough review of the facilities, identify priorities and options for funding the much needed improvements.

The campaign titled The 3 R’s – Repair, Renovate and Renew placed an emphasis on 1) Improved Learning Environments, 2) Increased Safety and Security and 3) Creating Operational and Energy Efficiencies. A total of 10 projects were identified and brought forward to the community for consideration.

On September 14, 2021 the voters of Fremont approved the bond issue with a vote of 65% in favor of the proposal. Not only was this the largest bond issue ever considered by three fold by the voters in our school district’s history, it was approved by the greatest margin of victory!

“The Johannsens and the Richmonds are being recognized as this year’s Friends of Education award recipients based on their willingness to serve and lead our community through this effort which resulted in a change which will impact our community for generations to come,” stated Sandi Prokovec, Board of Education President. “We truly appreciate their commitment to our community and school district. They represent all that is embodied in what a Friend of Education is – they are true friends of education,” she concluded.

Years of Service for employees were also recognized. 33 employees were recognized for 5 years of service to Fremont Public Schools. 22 employees were recognized for 10 years of service. 19 employees were recognized for 15 years of service. Four employees were recognized for 20 years of service. 11 employees were recognized for 25 years of service. Denny Harmel was recognized for 30 years of service, Kathy Nelson was recognized for 35 years of service and Lloyd Emmons was recognized for 50 years of service to Fremont Public Schools. “50 years is a long time for anyone to work for one entity – Lloyd has been a tremendous asset to Fremont Public Schools,” commented Kevin Eairleywine, Executive Director of Human Resources.

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The mission statement of the Fremont Public Schools is to produce creative, adaptable, productive citizens committed to lifelong learning.