It is Monday of the last week in our temporary digs for Lincoln Public Schools District Offices. Boxes adorn the hallways of the building and the corners of all our offices as we make plans for the final packing. Those of us residing on the third floor of the new building will move into 5905 O St. next Monday – and the first and second floors on subsequent Mondays. The move-in plan has been well calculated right down to the coding of our paper files – and photographs of desks so that our hardware can be easily reassembled. Many thanks to the amazing team of technicians and maintenance workers who are making this happen.
Unlike our move into our temporary locations two years ago, this time we will walk into our new offices with plenty of work “stuff.” I believe this fact characterizes the incredible human spirit of the last two years. We have come from nothing – to a valuable accumulation of educational materials. And we did it without ever looking back. This accomplishment, as the saying goes, took a whole village. Our rise from the ashes can be attributed to the commitment of our employees – and support from the greatest community in America – in making sure that 37.000 students didn’t miss a beat I have great appreciation and respect for everyone who calls Lincoln home and will never be able to say “thank you” appropriately. One small way of expressing our gratitude is to ask that you consider attending our community Open House from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15. You are all officially invited.
Meanwhile, we will be all moved into the new building in three weeks, and plunge immediately into the 2013-14 school year. In addition to preparing for an estimated 1,000 more students than last year, we also will be working on: final plans for the High School Career Academy, a revised ten-year Facility and Infrastructure Plan to accommodate our amazing growth, a technology plan to improve our 21st century teaching and learning classroom, and continued improvement in state and federal assessments. We feel very good about where we are academically, but know there is always much room for improvement.
It is hard to believe the summer break is half over. In a little more than a month the high school bands will start practice, the fall athletic teams will arrive for the fall season, and teachers and administrators will be immersed in preparation for new students.
Right now a successful move and subsequent celebrations are the first order of business, however, and I am feeling gratitude for the opportunity to be part of such a vibrant and accountable educational culture.
steve
