Highlights of the December 10, 2024 Lincoln Board of Education regular meeting

December 10, 2024

The Lincoln Board of Education met for its regular meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 6:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Public Schools Steve Joel District Leadership Center, 5905 O Street. 

Special reports, presentations and celebrations of success

Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools update

James Walbridge is the chair for the Foundation for LPS board and provided an update during the meeting.

The mission of the Foundation is to secure resources through gifts, grants, and other avenues that will enhance LPS programs, fulfill classroom teacher requests and to provide support to students and staff in ways that are not otherwise possible. 

Since the start of their fiscal year on Sept. 1, the Foundation has raised just under one million dollars to support LPS students and families. Of that, $97,000 came in through Fund a Need requests to support teacher requests for learning opportunities benefiting over 18,000 LPS students.

In November, the Foundation received two large gifts. Lincoln High School and Irving Middle School theater, debate and speech programs were given $250,000 in honor of the late Judge Donald Grant. In addition, Google announced a $100,000 grant to support the Foundation’s Spark Summer Program. 

The Foundation’s Scholarship Portal opened on Dec. 2 for high school seniors. The Foundation awards approximately $157,000 annually in over 100 scholarships to LPS students attending post-secondary institutions. 

Walbridge closed with, “All this is accomplished through the generosity of the Lincoln community, LPS alumni, and other committed benefactors working with the Foundation for the benefit of LPS’s students and staff. We look forward to strengthening our relationships to help us more closely tie our efforts to those of the district.”

Unified athletics and activities and Special Olympics

Special Education Supervisor Carrie Foster provided an overview of the Unified Sports and Activities program at LPS. Unified Sports & Activities are inclusive programs that join students with intellectual disabilities and students without intellectual disabilities to participate alongside one another, each as a meaningful and integral participant.

“I have seen firsthand how authentic friendships and shared experiences can be transformative for students with and without disabilities,” added Foster. “It’s about fostering a sense of belonging, understanding, and connection for everyone involved.”

As part of the presentation, Foster showed a video from recent Unified bowling contests where students shared their experiences. 

As part of the consent agenda later in the meeting, the Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding that will formalize a partnership with Special Olympics of Nebraska. This agreement will assist schools in developing and growing Unified programming. 

First reading

Newly annexed property - school attendance areas

The Board of Education assigns school attendance areas to property newly annexed to the City of Lincoln. This action establishes school attendance areas prior to the sale of residential lots, allowing purchasers to know what schools their children will attend.
 
The proposal assigns the newly annexed area east of North 84th Street and south of Highway 6 to Norwood Park Elementary School, Dawes Middle School, and Northeast High School.

The Board will hold a second reading and vote at the next meeting in January.

Informational items and reports

The Career Academy

Board member Annie Mumgaard provided an update from The Career Academy board meeting last week.

Spring semester 2025 enrollment is at 660 students, compared to 608 last year. TCA will be working on recruitment and retention. TCA is also working on strategies to support students who have Individualized Education Plans or need behavior supports. 

Superintendent update

Superintendent Paul Gausman provided his last Superintendent’s Update before his retirement. 

He started off sharing information about a special event held on Monday night in partnership with the Nebraska University System. Five LPS students received a perfect ACT score and will receive the Presidential Scholarship. 

Gausman congratulated Lincoln East High School’s Nicholas Li and Sarah Cai, Northeast High School’s Brayden Thelander, Southwest High School’s Ripley Becker and Northwest High School’s first perfect ACT score Timofei Prakapchuk.

Gausman closed his report speaking about his upcoming retirement, his 30 years total as a public schools superintendent and by thanking those at Lincoln Public Schools and his family.

“Public schools are the backbone of America and are so important to our future success, and our Lincoln Public Schools are very special,” said Gausman “I would like to take a moment and focus on the people. I am so proud of our work together during my time here. I was a small part, but I celebrate with the team.”

Board Chair Bob Rauner responded by thanking Gausman for his service.

“Dr. Gausman took over the leadership of LPS during a time when we as a district were recovering from a global pandemic,” said Rauner. “On behalf of the Board, we would like to thank Dr. Gausman for his service to Lincoln Public Schools and wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”

Rauner also spoke to next steps saying the board will follow the established line of authority policy and Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs Liz Standish will temporarily serve in the position beginning Dec. 28. The Board is working to identify an interim superintendent and expects to have an announcement sometime in January. 

Rauner added, “We are fortunate to have Dr. Gausman available to consult as needed. We have a highly experienced team of associate superintendents, directors, administrators and staff to keep us progressing and limiting the disruption until we consider next steps at future board meetings.”

Public comment

There was one individual that addressed the Board during public comment. You can view public comment as part of the meeting video here.

Glimpses of LPS

We open every Board meeting with a video that highlights LPS. Tuesday’s Glimpses featured a new device that helps students learn more about anatomy at the Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program at Northwest High School. 

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