The Lincoln Board of Education is asking the community to help our school district name two new schools – one elementary and one middle school – as well as one renovated facility at Lincoln Public Schools. Please submit your suggested names – by Friday, Sept. 19.

Two New Schools

The new elementary and middle school will both be located in southeast Lincoln and are funded by the $153 million bond issue approved by our community early in 2014. The elementary school will open in the fall of 2016; the middle school will open in the fall of 2017. LPS policy suggests that elementary and middle schools be named after individuals (living or dead) who have contributed to education or the Lincoln community.

A Renovated Facility

The renovated facility – at 1801 S. 40th St. and previous home to the Bryan Focus Program – will soon provide a home for middle school students who need additional behavior, emotional and social support. Currently, the Donald D. Sherrill Building (56th and R Streets) houses a program for students in grades K-8, who need additional support, but the renovation of the South 40th Street site will enable LPS to separate these students by grade and age: Sherrill will house students in preschool through grade 4, and the South 40th Street facility will house students in grades 5-8. That site will also provide space for the middle school and high school expelled student programs, as well as for parent, student and community training events.

The Process

All nominations for names will be passed onto a committee of community citizens – called together by the Lincoln Board of Education. That committee will develop recommended names for all three facilities and submit them to the Lincoln Board of Education for final approval.

Please send us your suggested names for:

• New elementary school at South 61st Street and Blanchard Blvd.
• New middle school at southeast corner near 84th Street and Yankee Hill Road
• Renovated facility at 1801 S. 40th St.