Joe Dejka
Omaha World-Herald
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Past articles by Joe:
Hy-Vee aims to open Gretna store this summer; Culver's eyeing site, too
Hy-Vee aims for a summer opening of its new Gretna grocery store, and other businesses are coming nearby. → Read More
La Vista biotech firm Streck acquired by Chicago-based company
Chicago-based Madison Industries has acquired La Vista-based biotech company Streck, which was founded in 1971. → Read More
Opponents renew effort to ax basic-skills test for Nebraska teachers
The teacher shortage has given new life to the effort to junk basic-skills testing for Nebraska teachers. → Read More
Survey gives public some input on selecting Nebraska's next education commissioner
A short survey gives members of the public some input on selecting Nebraska's next education commissioner. → Read More
Nebraska State Board of Education casts wide net for commissioner applicants
Job description and qualifications are posted for Nebraska education commissioner applicants. → Read More
Ralston's newly selected superintendent says No. 1 priority will be academic achievement
The Ralston school board selects Jason Buckingham as the district's next superintendent → Read More
Board wants honest, experienced visionary for next Nebraska education commissioner
Honesty, vision and experience top the state board's wish list for the next Nebraska education commissioner. → Read More
Papillion La Vista plans to open high schools to students from outside the district
Officials say recent classroom additions as well as a dip in enrollment during COVID-19 created room for transfers. → Read More
Five firms seek to lead search for next Nebraska commissioner of education
A committee tasked with helping find a replacement for outgoing Commissioner of Education Matt Blomstedt received submissions from five firms seeking to assist in the search process. → Read More
Petition to give Nebraska governor more authority over education fails
A petition drive that sought to give the Nebraska governor substantial oversight of K-12 education failed Thursday. → Read More
Update: Nebraska girl out of Scripps National Spelling Bee
Elkhorn student Ananya Rao Prassanna advanced to the quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee after surviving Tuesday, but she was bounced Wednesday. → Read More
Surge in sick students may trigger return of masks at some Papillion La Vista schools
Papillion La Vista Community Schools has reported a surge in COVID cases. If the percentage remains high Wednesday, it will trip the district's predetermined trigger for masks at impacted schools. → Read More
Authorities identify two killed in Saunders County crash
The deceased were identified as Hector Martinez Mezquita, 46, of Fremont, and Francisco Alfaro, 26. → Read More
Coming soon in Gretna: Clashes between Griffins and Dragons
Gretna school board members Monday night selected a griffin as the mascot for the new Gretna East High School, so both of the district's high schools will have mythical creatures → Read More
Why were Nebraska's sex-ed standards halted? Emails offer behind-the-scenes look
After relentless opposition, the state board of education halted the standards' development Sept. 3. The only consensus is that the process failed to produce standards acceptable to all Nebraskans. → Read More
Omaha girl reaches quarterfinals of Scripps bee, but vocabulary question spells trouble
Hannah Fernandes of Omaha made a good showing in the quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. But her stumble on a vocabulary question ended her quest to make spelling → Read More
$16.8 million school bond issue winning by wide margin in Douglas County West
The $16.8 million school bond issue in the Douglas County West Community Schools appears to have passed handily. → Read More
Ralston schools will return to five-day in-person learning
The transition plan calls for students in prekindergarten through eighth grade to return Feb. 22. High schoolers will return March 1. → Read More
Former OPS teachers elected president, vice president of school board
Shavonna Holman, who served as vice president in 2020, was nominated by outgoing President Marque Snow for the top spot on the board. The board voted 9-0 by secret ballot → Read More
OPS, Nebraska high school graduation rates drop amid coronavirus pandemic
OPS's graduation rate declined more than 3 percentage points, the biggest one-year decline since at least 2003. → Read More