February: LPS Community High School Task Force at Southwest

The Lincoln Public Schools Community High School Task Force held its monthly meeting on Thursday at Lincoln Southwest High School, continued committee work to study high school enrollment, priorities and facilities – and heard an update on school security.  

The Task Force’s final recommendations will be presented at the April 24 Lincoln Board of Education meeting, according to Liz Standish, associate superintendent for Business Affairs, who is facilitating the Task Force. Going forward after that, the Board and superintendent will take those recommendations and could take a variety of steps such as: Community quadrant meetings for a high school conversation, presentations to community groups, and eventually a community group to examine not just the need for high school facilities but for all LPS facilities. 

The Task Force – made up of about 70 community citizens and LPS educators – was formed to investigate community options and priorities for serving high school students.  They are meeting monthly throughout this school year at all six public high schools.

Before the Task Force divided into committee work, they heard an update about LPS safety and security from Joe Wright, director of Security at LPS.

Wright directed them to a wealth of information about LPS security at the website on the LPS site: http://home.lps.org/security – where community members can find information about frequently asked questions and the general LPS safety and security protocol. 

Wright pointed out several of the major LPS security measures:

• Regular drills to prepare for a wide range of emergencies, including active shooters.
• A solid Threat Assessment/Management Program at LPS. For more information: http://home.lps.org/threat/ (See something of concern, tell the school district.)
• Standard Response Protocol established throughout the district (plain language protocol for emergency situations). For more information: http://iloveuguys.org/srp.html
• Partnering with local law enforcement and safety experts.

On Thursday, the Task Force also continued to work in four subcommittees.

• ·      Subcommittee on Focus Programs/Innovative Delivery: “Great conversation, increased understanding of challenges....in order to focus on career ready and college ready…and what tools are needed.”
• ·      Subcommittee on Traditional High School/School Size: “We are getting close to our working statements and will be ready to move ahead.”
• ·      Subcommittee on City Growth/Capacity Needs.  “We realize the amount of growth we’re seeing in Lincoln…with a lot of facts and figures presented, and we will base our recommendations on those numbers.”
• ·      Subcommittee on Community/Student/Diversity: “Our subcommittee plays a unique role in that we impact all the other subcommittees. We will be asking for feedback from all of the other groups.” 

Last year, LPS served 11,677 high school students, and by 2021, LPS is expected to have 13,344 high school students.  Last year three high schools had enrollments of more than 2,000 students: Lincoln North Star High School, Lincoln Southeast High School and Lincoln High School – and this year Lincoln East High School joined that list.

Task Force Co-Chairs:

• ·      Gloria Eddins
• ·      Bob Rauner

Task Force meetings: 

Date	Location	Time
September 28th, 2017	East High School 1000 S. 70th Street	Meeting 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Optional Tour at 3:30 p.m.
October 26th, 2017	North Star High School 5801 N. 33rd Street	Meeting 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Optional Tour at 3:30 p.m.
November 30th, 2017	Southeast High School 2930 S. 37th Street	Meeting 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Optional Tour at 3:30 p.m.
January 25th, 2018	Lincoln High School 2229 J Street	Meeting 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Optional Tour at 3:30 p.m.
February 22nd, 2018	Southwest High School 7001 S. 14th Street	Meeting 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Optional Tour at 3:30 p.m.
March 22, 2018	Northeast High School 2635 N. 63rd Street	Meeting 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Optional Tour at 3:30 p.m.

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