Lincoln Public Schools
Schoo Middle School dedicated
Originally published on: September 23, 2009
 One of Phil Schoo's favorite quotes ... "Criticism is easy. Achievement is difficult." - Winston Churchill |
Entering the new Schoo Middle School on Sunday, September 20, the public was greeted by a rainbow of blue and silver balloons (school colors) and the unmistakable sound of a Pep Band (from Lincoln North Star High School).
Greeting in the atrium entry were Phil Schoo and his wife, Nancy Fuchs. The audience for the official dedication included families, students and staff of the new middle school, Schoo family, friends and colleagues, as well as community members. The multi-purpose room was full (450+).
The program, which ran just over an hour, included music, speeches, presentations and a finale performance by the Lincoln North Star High School Drum Line. Refreshments and tours concluded the special event, which began at 2:00 p.m. and ended at 4:00 p.m.
Superintendent Susan Gourley and Board of Education President Don Mayhew both thanked the community for supporting the 2006 bond election that funded the construction of three new schools – Adams Elementary School (opened 2008), Schoo Middle School and Kooser Elementary School (opened 2009) – and the new Arnold Elementary School (opened 2009), which replaces the old Arnold built in 1959 as the school for the Lincoln Air Force Base.
The middle school, with a capacity of 850, is a collaborative project with the new Fallbrook YMCA. This facility marks the first such collaboration between a YMCA and a middle school in the state of Nebraska.
Barb Bettin, YMCA CEO, said the facility “honors an outstanding educator” who understood community and how education interacts with the community. “It’s a great partnership.”
Just before Schoo stepped to the podium, the sixth grade chorus sang “I Am But a Small Voice.”
“I am but a small voice
I am but a small dream
To smile upon the sun
Be free to dance and sing
Be free to sing my song to everyone
Come young citizens of the world
We are one, we are one
Peace, prosperity
And love for all mankind”
To a standing ovation, Schoo stood at the podium to present his “Personal Reflections,” as noted in the program. But first, he acknowledged those sixth graders and their teacher saying, “Throughout my career, it’s always been my misfortune to follow a student chorus. That’s a hard act to follow!”
In 20 minutes, Schoo reflected on his career, which took him from California to Michigan to Colorado – and then to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1985. When he retired in 2004, Schoo was the second longest serving Superintendent for Lincoln Public Schools.
Remarking on the new middle school, Schoo congratulated Principal Linda Hix, Associate Principal Bill Schulenberg and staff who “have done a great job since day one.” He continued, “While this building is named after me, one person represents all of us.”
Adding his thanks to the citizens of Lincoln, Schoo acknowledged that such a facility “happens because we have a community that expects and supports excellence.” He also acknowledged “as important as professional educators are … a good Board of Education is equally important.”
In closing, Schoo addressed the students and staff with a quote from a book entitled “A Higher Standard of Leadership: Lessons from the Life of Gandhi.”
“We are all leaders. Each one of us is setting an example for someone else, and each one of us has a responsibility to shape the future as we wish it to be.”
The official dedication of the Philip H. Schoo Middle School was discussed with Schoo and coordinated with his schedule. But there was one surprise. Dr. Tim Waters, President and CEO of McREL (Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning Organization, presented Schoo with a proclamation from the State of Missouri Senate Education Committee.
Schoo served on the McREL Board of Directors, which held an organizational meeting in Lincoln in conjunction with the official dedication of Schoo Middle School. In speaking of Schoo’s leadership and contributions to education, Waters noted that Lincoln Public Schools is well known as a “shining star.”
In closing, Hix thanked Schoo is setting “sky high” expectations, “putting the needs of students first” and having “faith in others to do good work.” She closed with a quote from Schoo …
“A quality education must be available to all children. Such an education stresses the basics of reading, writing and mathematics. It also includes instruction, as appropriate, in the fine and practical arts, science, health and physical education, foreign language, vocational training and modern technology.”
“The essence of quality education is to enable each student to develop the ability to reason, to solve problems, to deal with a rapidly changing world, to understand that learning is a life-long process not limited to schools, and to ultimately accept the responsibility for one’s own education.”
