SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (KTIV) – The group, “Support Our Schools Nebraska” held a petition drive to support public school students.

This was their last day to get signatures. They have a total of 14 events going on throughout the state.

Last year, more than 117,000 Nebraskans signed a successful referendum petition to put the repeal of a private school voucher system on the ballot. That measure was stopped by State Senator Lou Ann Linehan.

Support Our Schools Nebraska wants public funds going to public schools not private since the majority of students in Nebraska attend a public school.

“Most people want to have a voice, so they want to have a vote and say I want my tax dollars going to the public schools that’s where it’s important where they be because most of the kids in Nebraska go to public schools very few go to the private schools,” said Tracia Blom a Nebraska teacher.

They say they have enough signatures, and this should be on the ballot this November.

“We are confident we’re going to be on the ballot and then in November we’re just going to really make sure people remember that they need to get out and vote and that they are voting for their public schools,” said Vice President Support Our Schools Nebraska Paul Schulte.

For more information on Support Our Schools Nebraska visit the link here.

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LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Over the summer months, many kids are looking for ways to fill their time, and add a little money to their pockets. One popular way to do that is babysitting. After a clinic on Monday, more than two dozen kids in Lincoln and Lancaster County are now better prepared to do the job.

The Building Better Babysitters clinic was hosted by the Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County to teach kids between the ages of 10 to 15 what they need to know to be successful. Participants learned crucial skills like CPR, how to change a diaper and how to create a babysitting kit.

“I have babysat a few times,” said Lucy Pflanz, a babysitting trainee at the clinic. “And I hope that I hope that this class would help improve my skills.”

Pflanz said she aspires to start her own babysitting business, and clinics like this help to better prepare her for any situation that might arise.

“It was nice learning how to like, deal with like a temper tantrum and that kind of stuff,” Pflanz said. “Because I know some kids who can get really big blowouts.”

For others, it’s not their first time attending the clinic. For Josie Branch, it’s about following her passion.

“I’ve told my mom so many times, when I grew up, I want to be, like, I want to teach people how to like babysit,” Branch said.

Hayley Jackson Perez, who taught Monday’s clinic, said with babysitting being a popular summer job, teaching youth how to babysit, and how to keep kids safe is important.

“What we’re seeing is that more adolescents are babysitting, and that more families are utilizing them,” Jackson Perez said. “And so again, we’re just trying to give the adolescent skills, and then really kind of looking at babysitting as a business.”

When those skills are utilized outside of the classroom and continue to grow, Jackson Perez said it can lead to long lasting impacts.

“To give children the opportunity to work with young children to say, this might be an experience that I want to have, especially when we think about the teaching shortage and education,” Perez said. “If we could get more people interested in teaching and working with young learners, it’s going to benefit our entire community.”

Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County will hold it’s next Building Better Babysitters clinic on July 30.

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