Highlights of 7/31 Lincoln Board of Education Meeting

 

Highlights of 7/31 Lincoln Board of Education Meeting

 

The Lincoln Board of Education held a regular meeting on Tuesday, July 31, at Lincoln Public Schools District Office, 5905 O St.  The Board will hold its next regular meeting on Tuesday, August 14.

Highlights of Board meeting

Grant application approved

The Lincoln Board of Education Tuesday approved a demonstration grant application to the U.S. Department of Education for the Indian Children Program.   

LPS will apply for a demonstration grant to significantly enhance services to Native American students through the introduction or enhancement of evidence-based strategies, including mental health services at school, supplemental academic support during and after the school day, an additional Native American advocate, and programs and activities to encourage participation in The Career Academy or focus programs.  LPS is exploring potential partnerships with tribes in Nebraska that will most benefit our proposal.  The director of the Santee Sioux Nation Society of Care has agreed to partner in our grant proposal. 

The purpose of this demonstration grant is to develop, test and demonstrate the effectiveness of services and programs to improve the educational opportunities and achievement of Native American students in preschool, elementary and secondary schools.  The Department wants to support community-led, comprehensive projects that help Native American children to become college- and career-ready. This grant is designed to help communities improve educational outcomes, specifically college- and career-readiness, through strategies tailored to address the specific challenges and build upon the specific opportunities and culture within a community.

Superintendent/Board of Education goals approved

The Board approved the Lincoln Public Schools Superintendent and Board of Education official goals and priorities for the 2018-19 school year:

  1. By February 1, 2019, establish the Superintendent Facilities Advisory Committee to review needs, options and priorities. 
  2. Evaluate the effectiveness of existing focus programs and explore options for alternative instructional delivery methods, and provide a report by April 1, 2019.
  3. Implement a 21st Century Human Resources and Business System, with a status update by April 1, 2019.

Purchase near Huntington Elementary

The Board considered purchase of real estate located at 48th and Adams near the northeast corner of the Huntington Elementary School site:  Providing the benefit of enhancing the otherwise land-locked Huntington site.  The Board will vote final approval August 14.

Superintendent update

“We’re getting close,” said LPS Superintendent Steve Joel.  “It seems like we just said good bye to retiring educators – and yesterday we greeted more than 400 new teachers from Lincoln and from around the country…We are close to having kids again at LPS.”

He noted that on Monday, August 6, LPS is bringing together all LPS employees for a Welcome-Back rally at Pinnacle Bank Arena.  “Every two or three years, we believe it is very important that we as a district – a district that is getting bigger every year – try to do something that connects us.”

Staff Celebration
The Board of Education recognized the LPS Communications team for receiving eight national awards from the National School Public Relations Association.

Public comment 
One person offered public comment.  To see any comments, please go to the tape of the meeting: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLh7jdO-78RyqrWXjLsDXAy3T6BqfKjGB

 

To view the entire Board meeting…
Go to:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLh7jdO-78RyqrWXjLsDXAy3T6BqfKjGB

Published: July 31, 2018, Updated: July 31, 2018