The Spanish Fork/Salem Chamber of Commerce voted Nebo School District as Business of the Year for 2017
r
By Lauren Bush
r
r
“We are so grateful for this honor,” Community Relations Administrator Lana Hiskey said. “To be Business of the Year means so much to us. We live in an amazing community that is so generous with their time, talent and treasure. I have personally worked with the chamber board for the past 16 years and am truly amazed at all the good the Spanish Fork/Salem chamber does for our communities and promoting businesses here.”
r
r
Nebo School District employs approximately 4,000 employees and is the sixth-largest district in the state as well as the fifth-largest employer in Utah County. Nebo has over 33,000 students with 42 schools. Eighteen of those school are in Spanish Fork/Salem Communities.
r
r
r
Ms. Hiskey emphasized the importance of community involvement in the district.
r
r
r
r
r
“The chamber and businesses have been involved and generous in donating basic necessities for Nebo students in need. It may be a backpack of food for the weekend or a warm coat or shoes. Thank you to all those who continue to give to the Nebo Pantry.”
r
r
Nebo School District is known for emphasizing technology with over 19,000 devices that include computers, wireless Chromebooks, and iPads. The businesses in the community and generous individuals have donated over $200,000 to the Nebo Education Foundation and these donations helped fund this technology as well as musical instruments, books, calculators, and other classroom needs.
r
r
Additionally, Nebo School District’s graduation rate of 90 percent is one of the highest in the state. Nebo also saved parents and students over $5.6 million in this past year by providing college concurrent enrollment classes and AP classes for college credit. 96 percent of Nebo graduates took at least one of these college classes.
r
r
“National research is clear, consistent, and convincing,” Superintendent Rick Nielsen said. “Parents, family, communities, and businesses involvement in education correlates with higher academic performance and school betterment. Students tend to earn higher grades, attend school regularly, stay in school, and enroll in higher level courses.”
r
r
Nebo continues to partner with the community and parents to do what is best for students. Spanish Fork/Salem Chamber is an amazing partner in education. This award means the world to Nebo educators.
