What We did on our Summer Vacation

By Tom Hinrichs LCPS Superintendent

  Traditionally, the first assignment of the new school is an essay titled, What I did on my Summer Vacation. It only seems fair that I start- so here is what members of the LCPS family did over the summer.

While juggling the responsibilities of families, farms and businesses, our dedicated Board Members:

·       Prepared for, attended and followed up on monthly BOE meetings

·       Attended planning meetings for each monthly BOE meeting

·       Met as members of  facilities, transpiration, personnel and negotiations committees

·       Attended workshops in school law, finance, and negotiations

·       Stayed informed of school business through weekly updates by the administrative team

·       Encouraged our work with visits phone, calls and emails.

The summer maintenance staff of Tim Piontkowski, Denise Kuligowski, Elsie Kieborz, Jody Horner, Bonnie Sekutera, Joy Hostetler, Karen Lonowski, and Ramona Kelly:

·       Prepared each classroom by waxing the floors, cleaning the desks and fixtures and making repairs where needed- making the buildings shine!

·       Shampooed carpets in all the buildings

·       Cut back the shrubs around the front of the building to provide an unobstructed view for increased safety

·       Painted hand railings in the school buildings

·       Cleaned the commons area

·       Washed windows

·       Replaced ceiling tiles and lights

·       Cleaned and disinfected restrooms and locker room areas

Our teachers have been busy spending the summer learning new skills, techniques, and methods to make them more effective instructors and to make sure our students receive the best education anywhere. This summer:

·       Several teachers took summer classes in a variety of programs and subjects.

·       Many of our teachers became licensed to drive our 15-passenger Red Raider Bus

·       Sara Paider and Amy Hostetler continued to work on their master's programs in educational administration. Mrs. Paider has been invited to instruct teachers in Texas in our reading program.

·       FACS Instructor, Tammy Nelson, accompanied a student to National FACS conference in California.

·       Music Instructor, Kyle Knaub, lead our annual band camp.

·       Coaches Sara Paider (volleyball), Nick Hodge, (football)  Josh Asche (Girls' basketball) Paul Henry (Boys' Basketball) Lindsay Gappa (cheerleading), Jamie Lewandowski and Lisa Harrington (Dance team) conducted summer camps for Red Raider athletes.

·       Several teachers attended Quantum Learning training in Kearney

·       Numerous staff members got a jump on our new MAP  assessment program by attending summer training.

·       Coaches Nick Hodge, Josh Asche, Lindsay Hartman, Wayne Klein, Paul Henry, and Larry Baker opened the weight room and supervised athletes every morning and evening.

Our office staff has been busy updating technology and getting ready for 24/7 Learning. This summer LCPS business manager Janelle Swanson, technology director Janet Kuscak  secretaries Jamie Lewandowski, Donna Mendyk, and Cathy Placzek :

·       Supervised the installation of new high speed copier/printers in the offices and workroom.

·       Updated the district's ADT mass notification program

·       Took delivery of the new laptops, mobile carts and computer cases.

·       Incorporated the new vans in to the district's fleet of vehicles

·       Received, inventories and distributed classroom supplies and materials

·       Updated student records and laid the ground work for the new school year

·       Completed state reporting and student-management duties

·       Worked with the new Google Applications that will be standard in the district this year.

Other summer projects, which were approved by the LCPS Board of Education, and supervised by Maintenance Director Tim Piontkowski Include:

·       Repainting of the walls, striping, logos, and lettering in the Junior-Senior High

·       Re-carpeting and painting in the band room

·       Removal of two trees, which created safety hazards, at the Primary School

·       Created loading zone at east side of Primary School

·       Upgraded drainage on the east side of the main building

·       Cleaned the exhaust hood in the wood shop

·       Refinished the South and North Gym floors

·       Replaced annex gutters and downspouts

·       Repairing concrete at the Primary School playground

With all of the summer projects, upgrades, and improvements that were completed this summer our Board members, administrative team, teachers, and staff members still managed to spend time with family and friends, attend many ball games, and get rejuvenated and ready for the coming school year.

Through the dedicated efforts and teamwork of members of the LCPS family; the buildings are shining like new facilities, cutting-edge technology is ready to support teaching and learning, and 24/7 learning is ready to launch. It's been quite a summer-all in preparation of a great year at LCPS.