Lincoln Public Schools students will make winning connections across the city this year thanks to an expanded fiber-optic broadband internet program.

LPS and ALLO Fiber announced the official launch of the Smart Schools connectivity program Friday afternoon. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird, LPS Superintendent John Skretta, ALLO President Brad Moline and Lincoln Board of Education members were among those who came to the celebration event at Lincoln High.

Approximately 2,000 LPS high school students piloted the program during summer school. LPS will expand the service by offering it to all students in grades 6-12 who wish to opt in.

Students who are interested in utilizing the free service should go to their student portal and submit a StuHelp ticket. When they are submitting a ticket, they will select “other,” then “Allo SmartTown for Education,” then write “I would like to access to Allo SmartTown for Education” in the comments before hitting the submit button.

Once the student submits the help ticket, an email will be sent to the student’s parent/guardian for approval. After LPS students are approved for the free service, they will download and install the SmartTown for Education app. From the app they will be able to securely connect their school-issued Chromebooks to ALLO’s fiber-optic broadband services throughout Lincoln and other ALLO communities.

LPS Chief Technology Officer Kirk Langer said Smart Schools reflects a shared commitment to digital equity in Lincoln by both LPS and ALLO. By utilizing nearly 100,000 business and residential access points in Lincoln, they are expanding the classroom boundaries and eliminating broadband barriers that disproportionally affect underserved students.

“This is truly a community approach that leverages beacons of network access dispersed throughout the neighborhoods served by our schools,” Langer said. “Just as roads are critical infrastructure for economic development, Smart Schools is critical infrastructure for the education development of Lincoln Public Schools learners. ALLO has deployed thousands of high-speed connection points to advance digital learning opportunities.”

LPS Superintendent John Skretta said the school district was looking forward to the opportunity to extend the classroom into neighborhoods, community centers and dining room tables. He said the initiative is a direct, measurable commitment to the 2024-29 LPS Strategic Plan by increasing student wellbeing and outcomes. He also said it is a bright example of how LPS is enhancing family and community engagement experiences across the city.

“This partnership shines a light on how public schools and private businesses can work together to support students and families,” Skretta said. “Together, we are building a stronger, more connected Lincoln.”

Pillen and Gaylor Baird both said they were excited about the new educational opportunities that the Smart Schools platform will provide. They said it would benefit LPS students for many years to come.

“Today, we see that promise being fulfilled,” Gaylor Baird said. “This new public-private partnership between ALLO and Lincoln Public Schools is going to equip LPS students with that free, reliable, accessible high-speed internet connection that they need.”

“The one thing we all agree on, right?,” Pillen said. “Our kids are our future, we’re never going to give up on our kids, and we sure as heck got to have them in the 21st Century so they can have connectivity everywhere.”

ALLO President Brad Moline said Smart Schools is the result of five years of planning, research and development. The company began envisioning Smart Schools during the coronavirus pandemic, which revealed low-quality Wi-Fi hotspots that caused learning limitations. ALLO built Smart Schools on its SmartTown Wi-Fi infrastructure system.

“We’re thrilled to work alongside Lincoln Public Schools to enhance learning opportunities,” Moline said. “Smart Schools is more than just connectivity; it’s about empowering students, supporting educators and helping close the learning gap across Lancaster County.”

Moline said Smart Schools will be available to approximately 23,000 students in grades 6-12. They will be able to connect their Chromebooks to high-speed internet services from virtually anywhere in Lincoln. Thousands of Smart School access points will let them connect from local businesses, community venues or their homes.

Smart Schools will provide protection from viruses, malware and hackers. LPS and ALLO will also be able to manage access with content controls through ProtectIQ and ExperienceIQ applications.

A representative of ALLO Fiber shakes hands with Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird during a presentation on Lincoln High's front entrance. From left, an ALLO representative shakes hands with Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen outside the front entrance of Lincoln High School. LPS Superintendent John Skretta shakes hands with a representative of ALLO Fiber during a presentation outside the front entrance of Lincoln High.

LPS, ALLO Fiber team up for Smart Schools broadband program