LPS addresses overcrowding concerns
Posted by: Channel 8 Eyewitness News
8@klkntv.com
LINCOLN–The LPS Board of Education says it’s seeing growth in its school district.
And they say North Star High School is filling up fast.
“We are seeing an increasing student population, so we’re balancing what we think the facility needs are and the staffing needs are at the school with the longstanding choice tradition in Lincoln,” said Liz Standish, with Lincoln Public Schools.
With open enrollment, only about 2/3 of high school students choose to go to school in their assigned district.
Staff are recommending North Star deny all transfer requests that are filed after the January 31st deadline this year.
In the past, the district has been accommodating of late applications.
Staff think a strict deadline might help.
“Once that process is complete at the end of January, we can settle in North Star’s number and we can process the choices that are made through high school selection,” said Standish.
“But we will need to do something to limit the growth in the coming months for North Star so that we can plan for the facility for the fall,” she added.
No decisions were made on Wednesday. The board will revisit it in February.
Another noteworthy agenda item was the 2017–2018 student calendar.
The calendar committee and student learning committee went before the school board with its recommendations.
They proposed school start on august 14th—two days later than last year —and be let out May 24th.
The committees also proposed a 2–day fall break, and the traditional 3–day Thanksgiving break.
This proposal will officially go before the board during next month’s meeting for consideration.
