LPS will no longer offer summer school at every elementary school

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A group of Lincoln parents is stepping up after learning that summer classes are no longer available at their kids’ school.

This year, Lincoln Public Schools will not offer summer classes at all of its elementary schools.

It will offer the program only at Title I schools, like it was before COVID-19.

During the pandemic, schools received extra money, which LPS used to expand summer school at all elementary buildings.

But the pandemic relief money is now drying up.

“It was money related to COVID and was intended to be brought into school districts to provide support so that we could make up in a way for that lost time that we had after school shut down,” LPS Superintendent Paul Gausman said.

The Parent Teacher Organization at Roper Elementary School said a summer program is needed there.

“We didn’t even realize until a few weeks ago and then it’s like, ‘We have to think about what we’re going to do and then starting to put a plan together,’” said Adam Rhoads, a member of the PTO board.

So parents jumped into action and will be providing educational activities and food.

Rhoads said the PTO secured a grant from the organization We Can Do This to feed kids breakfast and lunch during the summer.

“As the PTO, we realized there is going to be a lot of kids that use those programs and are going to be missing out on the meal service that it provided,” Rhoads said.

The group is hoping this sets an example for other schools in Lincoln.

“We do welcome other children,” said Erin Branch, the co-president of the PTO. “We have friends all across town, and we welcome them, and hopefully this will be a good example for other elementary schools.”