Our Schools »

Popular Pages »

Contact »

Partner Organizations

Construction Update

Decade of growth and renovation for District schools

When the first public school in Lancaster County was started in 1865, it was in the dugout home of John Cadman.  No one could have imagined what the Lincoln Public Schools District would look like in the year 2000.

In just the past decade (2000-2010), the growth and renovation has been substantial.

Lincoln Southwest High School opens for the 2002-2003 school year; Lincoln North Star High School opens for the 2003-2004 school year.  Both schools were built with funding from the 1999 bond election.

When Lincoln approved a $250 million bond in 2006, the District built three new schools (Adams Elementary Schoo: 2009 – Kooser Elementary School: 2010 – Schoo Middle School: 2010), replaced Arnold Elementary School: 2010 and renovated 24 other school facilities (elementary, middle level and high school).

In process now are 11 more school facilities, with funding from bond savings and investment income.  The most expensive and extensive is Goodrich Middle School, which opened in 1969.

In keeping with Lincoln’s long tradition of investing in public schools, four high schools renovated auditoriums with funding from the 2006 bond election.

Lincoln High School was built in 1915

Retaining the art deco decor in the Lincoln High School auditorium was a primary consideration in the restoration. The auditorium was named the Ted Sorensen Theatre for the LHS alumnus who graduated in 1945, and served as speechwriter and political advisor to President Kennedy.

Lincoln Northeast High School was built in 1941.

The auditorium at Lincoln Northeast High School was completely renovated, now seating 650.

Lincoln Southeast High School was built in 1955.

The auditorium at Lincoln Southeast High School was renovated to two levels, now seating 619.  The auditorium was named the Jennifer L. Dorsey-Howley Performing Arts Center for the 1985 graduate who died September 11, 2001 on the 92nd floor in the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

Lincoln East High School was built in 1967.

The major renovation of the auditorium at Lincoln East High School now seats 843.

The Auditoriums

Surprisingly, the four auditoriums require similar renovations:

• Air/Heating
• Acoustics
• Seating
• Handicap Accessibility
• Audio/Lighting

However, since the facilities were built in different decades, there were some unique improvements as well.

• Lincoln High School: Preservation of art deco structure
• Lincoln Northeast High School: Vestibule between hallway and auditorium
• Lincoln Southeast High School: Ticket office
• Lincoln East High School: Modular classrooms that opened up to auditorium for more seating renovated into classrooms permanently closed off from auditorium

Video

View more photos of all four high school auditoriums on TV21 educational access.

Lincoln Public Schools: Construction Update

• Tuesdays @ 6:30 PM
• Fridays @ 6:30 PM
• Sundays @ 3:30 PM

The program is also online: lps.org/video