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District highlights extracurricular participation, facility upgrades and participation goals
Summary
Activities directors and building leaders briefed the board on student participation rates, facility upgrades at Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson high schools, and district efforts to grow extracurricular access through 20 First Century clubs and community partnerships.
Tim Hamilton introduced the evening’s activities and facilities update, framing the work under district Goal 4: “to ensure each student is supported and connected.” He said the district’s target is for 75% of high school students to participate in at least one extracurricular activity and described a network of sanctioned athletics, co-curriculars and 20 First Century Clubs offered in every building.
Jeff Novotny, activities director at Abraham Lincoln High School, and Luke Peterson, activities director at Thomas Jefferson High School, summarized participation and culture initiatives. Novotny said Abraham Lincoln had 828 student participants (about 70% participation) with nearly half participating in multiple activities. He described "culture rings"—a framework the school uses to guide decisions and expectations—and highlighted increases in participation, success in CTSO competitions (including a state champion in cabinet making), and attention to reaching the 30% of students who are not engaged in activities.
Peterson described Thomas Jefferson’s "PRIDE" program (Participation, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, Effort) and said TJ’s participation rate was about 68% (701 students). He also reported team and individual successes—state qualifiers in multiple activities, robotics reaching the Worlds tournament, and trips that build student experience and community partnerships. Both activities directors emphasized outreach to feeder elementary and middle schools (youth programs, camp visits, graduation walks) and partnerships with community businesses to support clubs and rewards.
Tim Hamilton reviewed district facility investments and planned projects: Abraham Lincoln updates (entrance wraps, refinished practice track and auxiliary gym, tennis court upgrades, planned Field House floor refinishing), Thomas Jefferson upgrades (expanded concession/ticket flow, new gym painting, auditorium renovation), a new large video board, and expansion of the Innovation and Sports Center to include multimedia and e-sports programming.
The board asked multiple operational questions about club sponsorship, community donations and summer participation trends. Novotny and Peterson explained the district’s site-facilitator model for clubs, the role of community partners in funding and sponsoring clubs, and factors behind seasonal participation dips (graduation, club sports drawing athletes, specialization, work commitments). Novotny said the district runs a strong summer strength & conditioning program with several hundred participants and is expanding year-round offerings.
Administrators confirmed that when a student or group requests a club and cannot find a sponsor, building site facilitators and district administrators assist in locating staff or community sponsors; community members and the district’s activities staff are points of contact for donations and partnerships.
Hamilton summarized: strong participation rates across the district’s high schools, continued emphasis on outreach to unengaged students and feeder programs, continued facility investments and an ongoing effort to recruit community partners to sponsor clubs and activities.
