LPS leaders travel to Capitol Hill to speak about educational topics

April 14, 2025

Lincoln Public Schools representatives recently traveled to the nation’s capital to ensure that Nebraska’s educational system will remain at an A-plus level.
 
LPS Interim Superintendent John Skretta and Lincoln Board of Education members Piyush Srivastav and Don Mayhew joined a Nebraska Association of School Boards (NASB) delegation on a trip to Capitol Hill. They spoke with members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives about a wide range of education-based topics.
 
Skretta said he and other NASB representatives were proud to serve as advocates for LPS students, staff, families and community members. NASB Associate Executive Director Colby Coash and Nebraska Department of Education Commissioner Brian Maher were among the representatives on the trip. They joined board members of many Nebraska school districts in face-to-face meetings with federal counterparts.

 
“At Lincoln Public Schools, all students have access to opportunities through the same academic and behavior standards, and we provide the appropriate levels of resources and support that result in measurable outcomes for all students,” Skretta said. “We believe in our educators, that they are highly-qualified professionals, and will support them in the classroom as they deliver high-level instruction and curriculum that aligns with district and state standards.”
 
Srivastav and Mayhew both felt the trip provided a good opportunity to speak with many people in state and federal education circles.
 
“I thought the trip went well,” Srivastav said. “It is always a good idea to get a firsthand view of the situation at hand and stay ahead of the pack in light of the upcoming changes. It is also good to be part of discussions with the colleagues in other school districts in Nebraska to see their views, learn how they are being impacted and what they are doing to prepare for the impacts.”
 
“The D.C. fly-in was time well spent,” Mayhew said. “We had the chance to meet with staffers from the Nebraska delegation as well as policymakers, Department of Education officials, legal counsel and lobbyists. Our group received firsthand briefings, established lines of communication and expressed questions and concerns from school districts all across Nebraska.”

 
Skretta said one of the group’s main purposes was emphasizing the importance of preserving federal commitments that help LPS programs and personnel. LPS receives more than $55 million in federal grants and funds each year.
 
“I wanted to make sure that you know, our LPS team, that we’re very much in the conversation and we’re very much committed to advocating for those continued supports, because we know how important they are for our students, our parents, our families, our school communities,” Skretta said.

 
Approximately $33.7 million of the federal total is distributed to the LPS Federal Programs department, which oversees many important programs for local students.
 
Title I funding is one part of the Federal Programs budget. Title I began in 1965 as part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. It provides extensive supplemental services to schools that serve low-income families.
 
Federal funds are specifically intended to provide additional academic and family engagement activities to students at Title I schools. LPS currently has 23 buildings that receive schoolwide Title I support.
 
Federal Programs staff administer all federal, state and local grants for LPS. The department also supports bilingual liaisons throughout the school district, English Learners (EL) teachers, members of the LPS Youth Development Team, services for homeless students, the Native American Education Team, family literacy services for students and families and the Graduation Pathways program.
 
Federal Programs also oversees the partnership with Lincoln Community Learning Centers. Lincoln CLC – which has earned national recognition for its educational services – receives $968,000 from the U.S. Department of Education 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant. Lincoln CLC team members offer a wide range of after-school programs for LPS students.
 
The LPS Special Education Department receives $10.7 million in federal funds, including $8.1 million for supporting special education services for early childhood students. The Nutrition Services Department receives $10 million and the Early Childhood Department receives approximately $2 million in federal funds.

 
Skretta, Mayhew and Srivastav felt federal representatives had listened to their messages regarding funding for LPS.
 
“The staff of the federal delegation asked us to stay in touch with them and keep them informed about our needs and impacts,” Srivastav said. “We should make sure to keep them in the loop so they can try to help.”
 
“Part of our messaging to the Nebraska delegation was expressing our concern about the possible interruption of funding and services that support special education students and children living in poverty,” Mayhew said. “We will continue to talk with our senators and representatives, and we will continue to advocate for Nebraska’s public schools.”

 
Skretta said LPS was fortunate to have Srivastav and Mayhew on the trip. Both are also members of the NASB’s 23-person board of directors. The NASB board meets at least five times per year to discuss education policy issues and adopt the organization’s annual budget. Its members are from Nebraska school districts of all sizes and locations.
 
Skretta said NASB members told federal officials that they are representing high-quality staff in their school districts. More than 7,500 people work for LPS and help students develop academic, behavioral and social foundations for successful lives.
 
“Every minute of instructional time that we’ve got is a precious opportunity to support students,” Skretta said. “It helps ensure that each and every child in our classroom achieves their unique and fullest potential.”
 
Skretta said he wanted LPS students, staff and families to know that they have many people in their educational corners.
 
“We are here for each and every child, every single individual learner,” Skretta said. “We value the dignity of every student in our classroom every single day, because in LPS, all means all.”
 
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