LPS Community High School Task Force continues work

October 26, 2017

LPS Community High School Task Force continues work

Dealing with a growing population of students at Lincoln Public Schools – and particularly a growing population of high school students – the Lincoln Public Schools Community High School Task Force met for the second time Thursday (this time at Lincoln North Star High School).

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 will meet monthly throughout this school year at all six public high schools, and will make recommendations to the superintendent by May, 2018.

“This is valuable, important work – and the timing of this conversation is perfect,” said Steve Joel, superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools.  “I appreciate everyone coming in with an open mind.”

Thursday, the group divided into four subcommittees to begin studying specific issues in more depth.  The subcommittees started their discussion with a variety of questions and will continue their committee work over the next few months.

A sample of questions they are discussing:

• Subcommittee on Focus Programs/Innovative Delivery:

o   Question: What should be the driving purpose for adding new Focus Program opportunities?

o   Question: What percent of high school students do we believe will leave the traditional high school setting for Focus/Innovative Programs?

o   Question: What types of programs need to be developed?  Where should they be housed?

• Subcommittee on Traditional High School/School Size

o   Question: What does a class A high school facility include compared to a Class B high school facility?

o   Question: What features should a high school include?

• Subcommittee on City Growth/Capacity Needs.

o   Question: How much additional capacity will we need? By Quadrant?

• Subcommittee on Community/Student/Diversity

o   Question: How will we define equitable?

o   Question: How will we define diversity?

o   Question: Why is this an important discussion in considering a new high school or focus programs?

o   Question: How can a specialized program be equitable?  What features need to be included?

o   Question: How can a specialized program be diverse?  What features need to be included?

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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