Lincoln Public Schools presents early progress report on 2024–29 strategic plan

Lincoln — Lincoln Public Schools leaders presented a progress report to the Board of Education on April 8 that reviewed the district’s 2024–29 strategic plan and the action steps now under way to implement it.

The report, led by members of the district executive team, said the district has already exceeded the strategic plan’s stated graduation‑rate goal of 87 percent and described measurable targets for early literacy, behavior supports, attendance and staff diversity and retention.

The presentation matter‑of‑factly framed the report as an early check‑in on a five‑year effort that district leaders said will require continued work through 2029 to realize the plan’s outcomes. "The mission of Lincoln Public Schools is to prepare all students for successful careers, lifelong learning, and civic engagement," said Dr. Salem, an executive team member leading the student‑wellbeing portion of the report. "We are anchored in that ‘all means all’ core value."

District officials laid out the strategic plan’s four major quadrants: student well‑being and outcomes; staff well‑being and outcomes; family and community engagement; and district systems and operations. On student outcomes, presenters emphasized early‑literacy interventions and multiple pathways to graduation, noting specific efforts such as CKLA implementation and partnerships with the Nebraska Department of Education and the University of Nebraska for professional learning.

On behavior and school climate, the presenters described the first‑year rollout of the LPS PAR (positive behavior) framework and listed four priority action steps, including bully‑prevention work and annual updates to the Board’s student‑learning committee. On attendance, leaders said they are focusing on reducing barriers to regular attendance and improving supports for students who experience mobility.

Dr. Price, speaking about staff goals, said the district has surpassed an objective to increase staff diversity: "We have already surpassed 8.5% of our total staff being from a diverse racial and ethnic background," he said, adding that the district aims to increase retention and the percentage of staff who report a sense of belonging. Strategies listed included grow‑your‑own programs, alternative certification pathways and changes to compensation and onboarding.

On family and community engagement, leaders highlighted the district’s "get involved" initiative, sports‑equity clinics run with community partners and a district perception survey open through April 15. The presentation noted partnerships and governance ties with community groups including United Way and the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools, plus board representation on shared governance for Educare and Lincoln Littles.

District systems and operations coverage described efforts to align staffing formulas and resources with student needs, improvements to public budget engagement (including videos and a live Q&A), and an updated 10‑year facilities and infrastructure plan in development.

Board members praised the presentation but asked for continued transparency and public engagement. Barb Beyer, a board member, asked whether the district could host a running Q&A on the strategic plan similar to the system used for the budget; executive team members said they would explore the request and noted the district’s existing Let’s Talk platform.

The report did not include any board action; presenters indicated regular updates and committee‑level briefings would follow. The district described the presentation as a "mile marker" in year one of implementation, with summer school‑improvement workshops and committee briefings planned to translate strategy into school‑level plans.