March 2026 District Newsletter - Please Click Here
Dear Panther Families and Community,
March is here! We are looking forward to warmer weather and the signs of spring.
On Tuesday, March 2, we celebrate Nebraska Teacher Recognition Day. This is a special time to honor the outstanding teachers at Hershey Public Schools. Our teachers do much more than teach lessons. They inspire, guide, encourage, and support our students every day. The impact they have often lasts a lifetime. We are very thankful for their dedication and the difference they make in the lives of our Panthers.
We are proud to share that on February 20, 2026, the Hershey High School Cheer Team won the Class C2 State Championship in Traditional Tumbling and Stunting at the NCA Cheer & Dance State Championships in Grand Island. Led by coaches Andrea Wilson and Missy Thompson, the team competed against other top C2 schools across Nebraska. After months of early morning and Sunday practices, their hard work paid off with an exciting first-place finish. Congratulations to our Panthers on an outstanding accomplishment!
We would also like to congratulate Mr. Jordan Cudney on his promotion to Waverly for the 2026–2027 school year. While we are sad to see him leave Hershey Public Schools, we are incredibly proud of him and this well-deserved opportunity. Mr. Cudney has been a strong leader for our students and staff, and his positive impact will be felt for years to come. We wish him and his family the very best as they begin this exciting new chapter.
We also want to recognize Mr. Madison as he prepares for retirement. We are thankful for the time, dedication, and care he has given to our students and school community. His commitment to education has made a lasting difference. We wish Mr. Madison all the best in his retirement and hope he enjoys this next season of life.
The third nine weeks of the 2024–2025 school year ends on March 11 with an 11:30 a.m. dismissal for all students. It is hard to believe how quickly the school year is moving! Students will soon begin spring assessments, including the ACT for our juniors. We are excited to welcome Chad Cargill to Hershey on March 16 to speak to our sophomores and juniors about the ACT. We appreciate the Hershey Public Schools Educational Foundation for covering half the cost of this assembly.
Spring Break will be March 12–13, and there will be no school on those days.
Elementary Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held Thursday, March 19, from 4:00–8:00 p.m. and Friday, March 20, from 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Students in PreK through 6th grade will not have school on Friday, March 20. On Thursday, March 19, all PreK–12 students will be dismissed at 2:45 p.m. so teachers can prepare for conferences.
We are also excited to announce that the Hershey Fire Department’s annual Spaghetti Feed will take place on Sunday, March 29, in the Activities Center. We hope to see many of you there supporting our local fire department.
The Nebraska Unicameral is currently in session. Lawmakers are discussing bills related to agricultural land valuations, government spending, and school funding guidelines. Due to increased agricultural land values, our district is no longer considered equalized under the TEOSSA formula. Currently, the only state aid we receive is for net option students and a small portion of income tax funds. In the past, TEOSSA funding was supported equally by property taxes, income taxes, and sales taxes. Because of changes in state funding, that balance no longer exists. If you have questions about our district budget, TEOSSA, or pending legislation, please feel free to call or stop by my office.
As we move through the remainder of winter, please remember to check your phone messages for weather-related school announcements. If your contact information changes, contact your school office so we can update our records. We do our best to make weather decisions the night before, but sometimes conditions change quickly. Student safety is always our top priority. Please remember that parents always have the final decision about sending their child to school during winter weather.
If I can ever assist you, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Have a wonderful month!
Educationally,
Mrs. Jane Davis