LINCOLN, Neb.-Governor Pete Ricketts announced that a Test Nebraska mobile site will be open in Lincoln on Friday and Saturday. Test Nebraska mobile locations have been operating in Grand Island and Omaha since Monday.
At this afternoon’s press event, the Governor also proclaimed this week as Teacher Appreciation Week in Nebraska. Nebraska Department of Education Commissioner Matthew Blomstedt joined the Governor to accept the proclamation on behalf of the state’s teachers. He also unveiled a new website, www.launchne.com, that will serve as a central resource for the state’s education system as it looks to the future. The website features protocols and best practices to aid local decision-makers as they ensure continuity of education in their schools.
Gov. Ricketts: Test Nebraska
· 129,462 Nebraskans have taken about 165,000 total assessments at TestNebraska.com as of this morning.
· Test Nebraska completed 526 tests yesterday in Grand Island and Omaha (combined).
· We are excited to announce that Test Nebraska will start in Lincoln tomorrow.
o The testing site will be open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm on Friday and Saturday at the Lancaster County Events Center.
· Right now, anyone who takes the assessment (initially or follow up) at TestNebraska.com will be selected to be tested if they choose the response “yes, I have symptoms.”
· Anyone who selects health care worker, first responder, or meat packing as their occupation will also be tested, even if they do not report any symptoms of illness on the assessment.
o Anyone who meets these criteria can schedule a time to get tested at one of our Test Nebraska locations.
· Everyone who signed up at TestNebraska.com received a follow up email asking them to update their assessment on Sunday night.
o If you haven’t done so already, please update your assessment.
o Symptoms can develop quickly, and we will ask people to update their assessment from time to time as needed.
o Nebraskans can expect to see the domain name “qemailserver.com” on communications they receive about their Test Nebraska assessments.
Gov. Ricketts: Teacher Appreciation Week
· This week is Teacher Appreciation Week.
· While education is being delivered differently for many kids right now, teachers continue to play a critical role in helping our kids achieve their dreams.
· Whether you teach in a public school, private school, or home school, each and every teacher and parent has a responsibility to instill great character and raise up the next generation of citizens.
Commissioner Blomstedt: Launch Nebraska
· We’re proud of teachers across Nebraska for the way they’ve adjusted to the change in learning environment.
· This situation has given us the opportunity to think differently and innovate.
· Today, we’re announcing our Launch Nebraska initiative. You can learn about it at www.launchne.com.
· On the website, you’ll find protocols and examples on how we plan to move forward as a state education system.
· This summer, we have the opportunity to learn about some of the best procedures, policies, and practices that might take place in our buildings next fall.
· The website has resources to guide local decision-makers as they think about the conditions for learning. This includes wellness and well-being at facilities, as well as health monitoring in the surrounding community.
· The website also has helpful resources in the areas of leadership, planning, governance, operations, and technology usage.
· Starting soon, we’ll host webinars on how teachers can be effective in the online learning environment.
· I’ll engage with education and public health leaders from all over the state to find best practices and to develop resources for the website to aid decision-makers as they plan for the future.
Full video of today’s press briefing is available by clicking here.