UPDATE: Lefler Middle School evacuated due to gas leak

Press conference at 3:30 p.m. with LPS Superintendent Paul Gausman

SENT AT 2:45 P.M. ON APRIL 27, 2023

SUBJECT: Update information for Lefler families

Lefler families,
Here is updated information and instructions for you.

We continue to release students when parents either call or come to Holmes Elementary School. For students who ride the StarTran bus, if they are still here our staff will walk the students to the bus stop so they can ride the bus.

If your child has personal items at Lefler Middle School, you can come to Lefler tomorrow (Friday) between 10am and noon to pick up those items. Students can come to door 1 at Lefler and staff will let them into their lockers or the classroom where their items are.

Unfortunately the play for tonight is canceled. We will look into rescheduling it for another time.

I want to thank you all for your patience and understanding as we worked through this event. I am so proud of our students for remaining safe, respectful and responsible. They did a great job following staff instructions. 

I also want to give a huge shout out to the Lefler staff who calmly helped our students evacuate the building and get them to our relocation site. They did an amazing job making sure our students stayed safe. Also thank you to the Holmes Elementary staff for their assistance and giving up their classroom space.

Finally, I want to thank Lincoln Fire and Rescue, Lincoln Police and Black Hills Energy for their help in keeping us all safe. 

A contractor damaged a gas line outside of our school during construction and out of an abundance of caution Lincoln Fire and Rescue evacuated our school. Black Hills Energy and Lincoln Public Schools Operations are working to repair the service line. We have been told that the building will be available for us to return safely when classes resume on Monday.

Thank you again,

Allison Meister
Lefler Principal

 AT 12:55 P.M. ON APRIL 27, 2023

SUBJECT: Update for Lefler families

Lefler families,
We appreciate your patience as we work through this incident. Your child is safe at Holmes Elementary School. Students will be allowed to leave with parent permission any time between now and the end of the school day. Please know this process will take time, and we appreciate your patience as we work to dismiss approximately 600 students safely.

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Your child can stay at Holmes Elementary until the end of the school day.
• There will not be any CLC after school services. Our staff will stay with students at Holmes until you either call the office at (402)436-1143 to allow them to walk home, or you can come to Holmes Elementary to pick up your child.
• If your child is walking home from school, you can call the Holmes office at (402)436-1143 and notify the staff. Your child will then be released to walk home. They may not have their personal items.
• If you plan to pick your child, you can come to Holmes Elementary at 5230 Sumner Street and we will release your child to you.
• If your child left their items at Lefler, we will have staff at Lefler tomorrow so that your child can retrieve their items from school. We will message you more information about those times later this afternoon.

Our staff is busy handling the situation and are not immediately available to answer your calls. We appreciate your patience and understanding while we manage this unique event.

Lefler Middle School

 

SENT AT 11:57 A.M. ON APRIL 27, 2023

SUBJECT: Lefler Middle School evacuated due to gas leak

Lefler families,

Your child is safe. Below are important instructions.

A contractor hit a gas line outside of our school and out of an abundance of caution Lincoln Fire and Rescue have evacuated our school. We are not allowed to return to the building at this time. We are moving all of the Lefler students over to Holmes Elementary School (located 5230 Sumner Street.) We will offer lunch to all students and make sure they have a meal. Once all students are checked in, we can begin dismissing at approximately 12:30 if students have parent permission.

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

• DO NOT GO TO LEFLER as we are not there.
• Your child can stay at Holmes Elementary until the end of the school day.
• If your child is walking home from school, you can call the Holmes office at (402)436-1143 after 12:30 and notify the staff. Your child will then be released to walk home. They may not have their personal items. 
• If you plan to pick your child, you can come to Holmes Elementary at 5230 Sumner Street and we will release your child to you. 

Our staff is busy handling the situation and are not immediately available to answer your calls now. Please contact us after 12:30.

Lefler Middle School

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