HPS District Office Introduces New Policies

Hastings Public Schools experienced a few policy changes at the start of the 2025-2026 school year to meet new government regulations and fulfill those previously unmet.

On June 6, bill LB306 was approved, which will allow students from non-resident private, denominational, exempt, and parochial schools outside a public school’s district boundaries to enroll in extracurricular activities at the nearest public school, such as HPS. These students must be enrolled part-time, with a minimum of five credit-hours at an HPS school, to be able to participate in activities.

“I am not in favor of [the policy] because students are not held to the same academic standards in terms of classes that a student needs to enroll in, and also, the number of classes a student can fail and still be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities,” Superintendent Christopher Prososki said.

New students typically have to enroll by May 1 to participate in school activities without delay. Otherwise they will have to sit out the season for 90 days. Details about how the policy will be implemented have yet to be discussed and will be brought up in an upcoming meeting with the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA).

“I don’t know if [the penalty] is going to apply or not. I think we’re all kind of up in the air… hopefully we’ll get more insight [at the meeting]” Prososki said.

Another change in Nebraska is that all public schools are now required to have a phone policy following the legislative bill passed on May 21. However, not much will differ in Hastings because HPS had already included the usage of phone caddies since the 2023-2024 school year.

“I get where [legislation] is coming from, but there probably should be more latitude with the seniors. I always say that’s kind of your transition year,” Prososki said. 

Students at HHS can still use their phones during passing and lunch periods. Prososki currently has no plans to change the existing phone policy.

“One thing I do like here is [students] have an open campus… It helps you with time management… especially if kiddos are going out next year to see the workforce or they’re going to college,” Prososki said. “Those are vital skills to have, no different [for] a phone.”

Since February 2019, a regulation has required teachers to complete a two-hour training course before driving a bus or small vehicle with students, which was not upheld.

“I just think it was something that got missed here unfortunately,” Prososki said, “[Safe driving] is a big thing too… especially with kids in the vehicles.”

When it comes to future policies, the district does not find out what they need to do until they have an accreditation visit this November to evaluate what needs to be done. Approximately ninety-five percent of policies at HPS are sent down from the state or federal level, so there will be a board meeting in January to discuss future policies.

“I think it’s about time the board goes through and makes sure we update all our policies so we have the required state and federal ones,” Prososki said. “I think after our visit [in January] it would be a good conversation to have.”

To help keep up with government regulations, Prososki keeps a fifteen to twenty-page checklist of what he has to do by law each month.

“It’s kind of my North Star I always check. It’s sitting on the right-hand side of my desk,” Prososki said. “We’ve been very fortunate to work with different attorneys over the year, and they do a good job of making sure I’m updated on what I have to do.”

In July, the district was notified that its allotted $400,000 in title funding from the U.S. Department of Education was not going to be allocated due to issues with the district boundaries, which would have affected the funding of programs such as English Learners. Now, the notice was rescinded and has confirmed the funding will be sent.

“Unfortunately, I felt that the current [federal] administration was using students as political pawns. When outsiders come in and do not understand educational funding, these hiccups always seem to happen,” Prososki said.

Outside of policy, staff at the district office has changed. Director of Learning Lawrence Tunks is now Director of Technology and Operations, Kristen Slechta became the new Director of Learning, and Tonya Evans becomes Director of Special Education.

“The biggest thing that has stressed our team is, ‘Let’s just get to know each other and try to find our lanes and help each other out. But, who’s in what lane?’” Prososki said.

Prososki was formerly the superintendent of about 400 students at Southern Public Schools in Blue Spring since 2017. He now manages about 3,500 students in the HPS district.

“It’s one-hundred times easier [at HPS]… I think it’s easier than going to a Class D because you wear so many hats. You have to be an expert in so many different areas. It makes it hard,” Prososki said.

As he waits for more news from the state and federal government, Prososki aims to get more involved in the schools.

“My goal every other week is to get to all the elementary schools or the middle school and high school, and try to converse,” Prososki said. “It’s good to just stop somebody and ask how their day is going or if they have suggestions, but I’m a superintendent, not Superman, I tell them.”