Citizens for Progress

09/19/2026

Our consultant has advised us that he has seen in several Midwest communities that after a large majority of voters say “Absolutely Not” to proposed high-dollar school buildings, administrators and some school boards will then go "over the top," making repairs and upgrades. He advises us to watch their ’upgrades’ spending proposals closely. And to contact our elected board members and insist they do not let such taxpayer waste occur in Plainview. This truly does set a poor example of money management for Plainview kids, too.

09/18/2026

So why was the Plainview Chief of Police meeting citizens at the door of last night's school board meeting and telling them they had to sign in to attend? This is illegal. If a citizen wants to speak, they must identify themselves, but, again, not to attend.

This is governed by Nebraska’s Open Meetings Act, specifically Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-1412(3):

“No public body shall require members of the public to identify themselves as a condition for admission to the meeting nor shall such body require that the name of any member of the public be placed on the agenda prior to such meeting in order to speak about items on the agenda. The body shall require any member of the public desiring to address the body to identify himself or herself, including an address and the name of any organization represented by such person unless the address requirement is waived to protect the security of the individual.”

09/18/2026

Has the legal counsel for the Plainview Public School provided a written opinion explaining how the school board's rules for speaking at public meetings conform to this U.S. Supreme Court ruling? If so, we think the school should publish it. Meanwhile, if Plainview school officials can't take the "sometimes unpleasantly sharp attacks" on them for the angst they are creating in the community, then maybe they should step down. But don't hide behind any unconstitutional rules designed to suppress free speech.

“Thus, we consider this case against the background of a profound national commitment to the principle that debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust, and wide-open, and that it may well include vehement, caustic, and sometimes unpleasantly sharp attacks on government and public officials.”

New York Times Co. v. Sullivan: To sustain a claim of defamation or libel, the First Amendment requires that the plaintiff show that the defendant knew that a statement was false or was reckless in deciding to publish the information without investigating whether it was accurate.

09/18/2026

The school is going for a $0.064 cent increase in your rax rate per $100 assessed value of your property.

09/15/2026

Why not ask the school board to invite an architect or architects from one of the companies listed at this link that specialize in historic preservation and attractive upgrades to meet with the board? Upgrading critical needs while preserving our cultural heritage at a much lower cost could be a win-win for everyone.

08/31/2026

How to stop a 7% increase in our base-growth percentage for Plainview Public School. This from Chat Gpt.
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The public cannot directly vote down the increase at the “pink-card” hearing. The hearing is legally required, but it is not an election or referendum. Citizens can speak, object, and pressure the board, but the school board makes the final decision afterward. Nebraska law specifically requires the board to adopt the property-tax request by resolution after the hearing. Neb. Rev. Stat. §77-1633

For Plainview’s six-member board, the practical question is how many board members are willing to oppose it:

Increasing the property-tax request above last year generally requires a two-thirds board vote—normally four of six members. §77-1632

If they are also using the special school-budget authority to increase the district’s base-growth percentage, that requires at least 70% of the board—five of six members. Depending on enrollment, a small district can add as much as seven percentage points to its normal base-growth percentage. §79-3405

Anything beyond the amount the board is legally authorized to approve would require an election and 60% voter approval.

Therefore, the increase can effectively be stopped if opponents persuade enough board members before the final vote:

To defeat a measure needing four votes, you need three “no” votes.

To defeat a measure needing five votes, you need two “no” votes.

The pink-card hearing still matters. Every citizen must be allowed a reasonable opportunity to speak, and beginning this year at least one voting board member must attend. But a large crowd saying “no” does not automatically defeat the proposal.

The most important next step is to obtain the actual proposed budget and identify:

The percentage increase in the operating budget.

The dollar and percentage increase in property taxes requested.

Whether the board already voted—or plans to vote—to increase its base-growth percentage.

The date of the separate board meeting where the final tax request will be adopted.

Exactly how much of the increase is related to items voters rejected in the failed bond.

The strongest strategy is not merely filling the hearing. It is getting commitments from two or three named board members, depending on which authority the school is using, to vote no or approve a smaller request. If you send me the pink card or proposed budget when it arrives, I can determine exactly which voting threshold applies and how much the school is attempting to add.

05/13/2026

Citizens for Progress Committee

The Citizens for Progress Committee is pleased that Plainview voters rejected the $32.5 million school bond(s) yesterday!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 13, 2026 CONTACT: Jim Aschcoff 402-649-7822

Plainview, NE - The Plainview Citizens for Progress Committee (CPC) Chairman, Jim Aschoff, commended the voters of Plainview Public School and their active participation in the recent vote to defeat the proposed $26.6 million and $5.95 million school bonds yesterday. The unofficial results for ballot Q. 1 ($26.6 million) were 488 Against and 192 For, a 72% ‘Against’ defeat for the majority of the school board. Q. #2 had a 74% defeat.

Aschcoff commended the proponents for their active participation, but was pleased the majority of voters could see through their exaggerations and half-truths presented by the school board and other proponents. With more common sense, CPC is confident that low-cost solutions are available to address the school's genuine maintenance and upgrade needs!

“We thank CPC’s financial supporters, volunteers, and workers of all kinds, who made last night’s result a reality,” Aschoff added!

We really want to support our school, but Board leaders Rasmussen, Frahm, and Alexander need to understand how far afield they let themselves be pulled by Darron Arlt. 72% of the active voters last night disagreed with you on ballot question #1. Board members M. Doerr and C. Anderson have made it clear they serve on the board to represent ‘we the people’ who elected them, and not Super. Arlt.

Meanwhile, we’ll continue paying close attention to see if they turn to C. Anderson and M. Doerr and any leadership they offer going forward. The board needs to resolve these issues wisely. We're happy to support solutions that involve more local input and expertise.

In the end, to the extent resources are available, the CPC committee will remain organized, reaching out to apathetic voters who didn’t turn out yesterday and to the mild ‘For’ supporters, educating them on why such a proposal would have been so harmful. Our goal – if the school board doesn’t listen and tries to come back with another extravagant proposal - we want to be ready to actively engage in the next campaign and hope to beat them by an even greater margin the next time.

So we challenge the Plainview Public School board to give us some common-sense solutions that really put the children first! Thank you. Citizens for Progress Committee
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05/13/2026

Unofficial final vote results.

05/13/2026

Early voting results.

05/12/2026

The internal struggles among the Plainview School Board appear to go beyond the dollar amount of the bond(s) we are all voting on today. The real issue is whether our school is governed by the majority vote of our elected board members or by Darron. Click on the link below to see these emails between board members Melissa Doerr and Tim Rasmussen.