History of Tri County

Three Communities as One

January 28, 1966, is the birth date of Tri County Schools, District #300.  The people of the DeWitt School District #6; the Plymouth School District #98; and the Swanton School District #113; and the many rural schools found in Gage, Jefferson, and Saline County districts developed a reorganization plan to consolidate their junior/senior high schools.  On October 4, 1966, by an overwhelming majority, voters passed a special bond issue for the building and equipping of a new junior-senior high school.

Construction of the new facility began in April of 1967.  Plans for the school included a junior high wing, a senior high wing, music and vocational areas, cafeteria, gymnasium, auditorium, library, and counseling and administrative offices.

On September 9, 1967, the doors of the new school were opened to the students and the school year was underway.

Under the original reorganization plan, the communities of DeWitt, Plymouth, and Swanton were to maintain their elementary schools.

A New Elementary School

Beginning in 1978, efforts were made to gain approval to build a new elementary school.  There bond issues: January 19, 1978; October 3, 1978; and November 13, 1979; went down to defeat.

On November 17, 1981, another special bond election was held.  Approval for the issuance of bonds to build an elementary school on the Tri County site passed by a margin of 57% to 43%.

On April, 1982, construction began on the elementary classrooms, library, activity center, multi-purpose room, and an administrative area.

In August, 1983, the elementary wing was ready for occupancy, and for the first time, the students of the Tri County District were housed under one roof.

Expanding the District

On December 21, 1992, the Tri County Schools signed an affiliation agreement with the Western Public School District #163, a Class I school district offering grades K-8.  This agreement includes approximately 46% of the total property valuation of District #163, and for taxation purposes, the affiliated property valuation will always remain with the Tri County District regardless of whether District #163 remains open or merges in the future.  From December 21, 1992, forward, District #163 students in grades 9-12 have the same rights and privileges as are available to students residing in the Tri County Schools, District #300.

The District Today

Today, Tri County services 434 students.  The district covers an area of approximately 270 square miles; the maximum east-west distance across the district 22 miles; the maximum north-south distance across the district is also 22 miles.

Tri County Schools is located on Nebraska Highway 103 about 40 miles south-southwest of Lincoln, Nebraska, and among the municipalities of Beatrice, Fairbury, and Wilber.  The three villages included in the Tri County School Community--DeWitt, Plymouth, and Swanton--are positioned in a triangular pattern and separated by an approximate distance of seven miles.  The actual school site is in Jefferson county.  One mile to the north is the Saline County line, and just across Highway 103 is the Gage County line; hence the name Tri County.

Excellence in Education

Within the brief time span of Tri County's existence much has been accomplished.  Most notable are the Excellence In Education Award granted to the Junior/Senior High in 1984 by the U.S. Department of Education (the only Class C school in the state to be recognized) and the Certificate of Recognition from the Nebraska Department of Education presented to the elementary school recognizing them as one of five finalists in the state during 1985-86 in the national Elementary School Recognition Program.

School Improvement

Tri County Schools became involved in the school improvement process in January, 1991, when seven, K- 12 staff members began to receive McREL A+ training.  The Tri County School District was awarded a $5,000 State Lottery Grant for additional training and planning purposes during the 1994-95 school year.  March 1, 1996, a consortium consisting of the Tri County Schools, the Tecumseh Public Schools, and the Palmyra-Bennet Schools (S.E.N.E.T.I.C.) was jointly awarded a major State Lottery Grant in the amount of $329,132 to obtain technology, materials, and training to enhance K-12 critical thinking skills.  In July, 1997, the Tri County Schools were part of the Southeast Nebraska Distance Learning Consortium of approximately twenty-four school districts, four educational service units, four Southeast Community college campuses, and one state college, that received a State Lottery Grant in the amount of $1,694,049 to aid in funding the distance learning project for both training and equipment (grants did not include funding to the ESU’s or colleges).  In the fall of 1998, the distance learning consortium expanded to approximately fifty, K- 12 school districts, with other area colleges exploring future involvement.  Through expended course offerings, the distance learning consortium should provide much greater educational opportunities and increase educational equity for the students of the member schools.

Latest Expansion

On March 14, 1995, the Tri County School District passed a district-wide bond election that added new 7- 12 facilities and renovated certain existing elementary and secondary facilities, including a new 7-12 media/technology center; a new computer classroom; a new computer laboratory; a distance learning room; a 7-12 art room; a fitness room; four classrooms currently housing business education, language arts, and Level I-UI special education programs; and an enlarged, renovated 7-12 girls locker room area.  The new jr.-sr. high facilities created additional renovation space for pre-school and school age, special education programs; elementary Title I math and language arts programs; an elementary computer laboratory; and space for a K-6 guidance program. Fifteen rooftop heating/air conditioning units were installed for the 7-12 facility providing the first ever, air conditioning for 7-12 classrooms.  The elementary building addition in 1982 was built with a heat pump/air conditioning system.  Occupancy and use of the new facilities began in the fall of 1996 and provided much needed relief to some overcrowding of facilities to meet program needs.  The last project to become operational was the distance learning room.  Through local and state funds and Federal grants, five senior high students received the first distance learning class (offered by Southeast Community at Beatrice) over the new network beginning in late fall of 1997.