Highlights of Feb. 26 Safe and Successful Kids Interlocal Meeting

February 26, 2026

The Safe and Successful Kids (SSK) Interlocal Board held its regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 26, in the City Council Chambers located at 555 South 10th St. The group includes members from both the Lincoln Board of Education and the City of Lincoln. A major purpose of the meeting was to review the Community Learning Centers (CLC) initiative. You can watch the full meeting video here. 

There are currently 31 CLC sites operated in collaboration with nine community partners. CLC Director Nola Derby-Bennett provided an overview of the programs and gave updates towards progress on the strategic plan.

Staff continue to strengthen partnerships with neighborhood associations in order to build on each other’s assets and benefit the community. They are also working to grow parent groups through School Neighborhood Advisory Committees. 

CLC staff have compiled a set of consistent expectations for lead agencies that helps expand the role of the School Community Coordinator position beyond only managing before- and after-school programs. In addition, they are developing and standardizing the site-based assessment process. 

The team believes it is important that CLCs diversify funding sources that build upon  existing 21st Century Grant funding. However, staff members do not want to solely rely on these grants to sustain and start new programs. As part of this work, there are plans to develop guidelines for expansion that use an equitable approach for adding more school CLC sites. Currently, 14.8% of the approximately $7.9 million budget is from the 21st Century Grant, and 22.1% is from other grant opportunities. In addition, 28.8% of the funding comes from community partnerships, 9.8% is from the City of Lincoln, 5.8% is from the Lincoln Public Schools general fund, 9% is from the interlocal agreement, 8.1% is from in-kind contributions and 1.5% comes from Title I funds. 

Derby-Bennett also highlighted successes in the past year that included being recognized by the Community Health Endowment with the inaugural Place Matters Pioneer Award. All 22 elementary school CLC sites now offer sports programming to help students remain healthy. Staff also just finished moving into their new location next to the Arts and Humanities Focus Program located at 643 South 25th Street.

Board member John Goodwin said CLC programming has made a big difference for thousands of LPS students. He commended Derby-Bennett for the efforts that take place across the city.

“I see the benefit of our kids and our families that are a part of the CLCs, in how it has changed their lives,” Goodwin said.

A full video of the SSKI meeting can be found here.

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