Another Lincoln Public Schools Groundbreaking

Today officials and honorees broke ground for a new school in south Lincoln, but this new facility will teach more than your basic reading, writing and arithmetic. 

   The Bill Nuernberger Education Center is set to open in the fall of 2017, and will provide behavioral training for middle school students.

Seventh graders Jonathan Peery and Tanner Neemann are currently enrolled in a school similar to what the Nuernberger center will be. They attend the Don Sherrill Education Center and hope future students have the same success they’ve had.

“At Don Sherrill, I made a lot of improvement from what I used to do at my old school,” said Peery.

Neemann added, “I’m hoping that kids will go here and learn what I’ve learned at my time at Don Sherrill.”

 And Tanner’s father, Craig, says the lessons his son has learned will help him the rest of his life.

“The word ‘no’ was always something we sort of walked on eggshells with him before, and now it’s like he can deal with those things now. So they’ve really done a lot for us at home too,” said Craig.

 The name–sake of the new center, Judge Bill Nuernberger, built his career around working with juveniles, and was the first judge ever to serve on a separate juvenile court in Lancaster County, according to LPS officials.

Now deceased, his wife accepted the honor on his behalf, and spoke towards one of his more memorable accomplishments.

“Yes, he was especially proud of his restitution program that gave youth the ability to earn money to repay their victims, and Lincoln Public Schools helped with that project,” said Mrs. Nuernberger.

 Jenny Fundus, the Director of Special Education with LPS says the goal of this project is simple.

Fundus says, “looking at how to improve behavior, which then in turn helps students meet their academic goals, as well as graduate and become productive citizens.”

This is all a part of the “success schools” program which was first implemented at Don Sherrill last year. It will be brought to Yankee Hill next year. And the following year it’ll be at the Nuernberger center, once it opens.