2013-14 Report to the Community

Included with the January District Newsletter is this year’s report to the community, the State-of-The-District Report. This report details basic information about the district as well as highlights the successes and challenges of the past year. I hope you find the report instructive, informative and most of all a springboard for discussions to facilitate the continuous improvement that is our top priority. The report can be accessed at the Loup City district website: http://blog.loupcity.k12.ne.us/ or at the link below:

http://blog.loupcity.k12.ne.us/thinrichs/files/2010/08/2013-14-State-of-the-District-Report.pdf

LCPS Board Members Recognized During Nebraska School Board Member Week

By

Tom Hinrichs

LCPS Superintendent

January 2014 is School Board Recognition Month

As citizens who serve children and represent their communities, school board members face complex and demanding challenges. All LCPS Patrons should recognize the vital contributions these elected public officials play in the education of our children. They are extraordinary people who voluntarily tackle the enormous job of governing school districts.

January 2014 is School Board Recognition Month—a great time to focus on the crucial role board members play in our communities and schools. 

School board members come from all walks of life. While they wear many hats in the workday world, school board members put on a collective hat when they get down to the business of leading our school districts. Board members must pull together as a team toward a common goal—helping students achieve. While they may individually disagree on certain issues, their role as a board is to consistently strive toward that goal.

The time spent in board meetings represents just a small fraction of the hours school board members devote to leading the LCPS District. They also work hard at seminars and training sessions to keep abreast of the latest trends in educational leadership, are deeply involved in community activities, and spend many hours in the schools and at extracurricular events.

We hope you’ll take this opportunity to help acknowledge the men and women who make the time to share their leadership and voice about the future of Loup City children. 

The men and women serving on the Loup City Public Schools Board of Education, their tenure and terms of office are:

Mike Rademacher: Board President (1991- 2014)

Jerry Kowalski: Board Vice President (2013-2016)

Cindy Ericson: Board Secretary (2011-2014)

Loraine Panowicz: Board Treasurer (1999-2014)

Jim Jaeschke: (1999-2016)

Joe Jerabek (2013-14)

Kelly Griffith: (2005-2016)

Cindy Ference: (2013-2016)

Jill Young: (2013-2016)

Arcadia- Loup City Co-op Extended

The Arcadia and Loup City schools have agreed to extend their co-operative activities agreement for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 school years. The new two-year co-op cycle will encompass junior and senior high NSAA sponsored athletics, including:

·       Football

·       Cross County

·       Golf (girls and boys)

·       Cross Country

·       Basketball

·       Wrestling

·       Track & Field

During this two-year cycle, high school football was added to the Rebel co-op. The Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) sets football classification (Classes A, B, C1, C2, and D1 & D2) and compiles football schedules every two years. Classification is determined by the combined enrollment of the co-opting schools. The combined Arcadia-Loup City enrollments will most likely result in the Rebels playing in the class C-2 classification in all co-op activities.

By offering a comprehensive co-operative sports program, the Arcadia and Loup City Schools continue their commitment of providing maximum opportunities for our students of all interests and abilities.

LCPS Security Upgrades Up and Running

Starting on Monday October 7, 2013, the new state-of-the-art security system at LCPS became fully functional.  The improvements: A-phones, security cameras and a keyless entry system provide enhanced building security and an interface with law enforcement to make our campus as secure as possible.

A-phones (air phones) have been installed at the entry doors to the Junior-senior high wing and the elementary wing of the 4-12 building as well as the kitchen door. An A-phone is a combination camera and intercom system, which allows school personnel to monitor visitors and control access to the building. Anyone wishing to enter the school, during school hours is required to ring a buzzer on the A-phone and be, “buzzed in,” by school personnel.  Visitors can then sign in and be escorted to the area they wish to visit. All other doors will be locked and inaccessible during school yours.

Security Cameras have been installed inside and outside of the 4- 12 building and outside of the Primary School. Each  of the 68 cameras is connected to a digital video recorder (DVR), which records images from each camera 24 hours per. day- seven days per. week. Cameras are monitored from a big-screen high definition television in the conference room. Images from security cameras may also be viewed online from administrator’s computers, ipads or smart phones.

The video freed from the LCPS system is being made available to the Sherman County Sheriff’s Department, which will be able to monitor building security cameras remotely.

Our new keyless entry system will access control for staff members and patrons who use the LCPS facilities. All LCPS staff members have been issues electronic key cards -Proxy Cards- which allow entrance to any of the six doors, which are controlled by the electronic locks.  Keys will no longer work in any outside door at the 4-12 building.

Groups who use our facilities will be granted access in one of two ways:

•     By having doors automatically unlocked for patron access at pre-determined times, or
•     By being issued an electronic key card, which will grant access at pre-set times.

Building access is set daily according to this Schedule

                 

• 7:15: Main doors are unlocked. All students who arrive before 7:45 are directed to the commons
• 7:45: Doors are opened for student access
• 8:15: Building secured- All access via A-phones and wireless entry cards
• 3:20: Main doors opened for dismissal
• 3:45: Building secured

While security cameras monitor the outside of the Primary School, there is no need for A-phones or wireless entry at the K-3 building. All of the doors at the primary school are locked from the inside- and access is controlled by staff members- making the K-3 building a very secure facility.

By implementing this state-of-the art security system, the Loup City Board of Education is demonstrating a strong and positive commitment to the goal of maintaining safe and orderly schools.  

Public Meeting to Discuss H.S. Football Options

The Loup City Public Schools Board of Education will be holding a public forum on Monday October 7, 2013 at 8 pm in the Junior-Senior High School commons to discuss options for the future configuration of high school football at Loup City and Arcadia High Schools

The Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) sets football classification (Classes A,B,C1,C2,and D1 & D2) and compiles football schedules every two years. The next NSAA cycle for classification and scheduling includes the 2014 & 2015 seasons.  Before the start of the two-year cycle, schools featuring co-operative programs must notify the NSAA of their intent to combine and field a single team.

A decision must be made prior to the November 1st, 2013 (the NSAA deadline) for declaring whether Loup City High School will remain alone in high school football for the next two years or co-op with Arcadia High School for high school football.  Both schools are in a co-op for all other junior high and high school sports this year.  High school football is not part of this co-op yet.  Schools/Co-ops in excess of 83 students (both boys and girls) in grades 9-11 are not eligible for 8-man state high school football playoffs.  Recently, we sent out surveys to the families of boys in grades 5-11 to best determine the course of action for LCPS regarding high school football.  Those options are:

·       Co-op football with Arcadia but opt to play 8-man football and not be eligible for the playoffs due to having enrollment (grades 9-11) in excess of the 83 student cutoff.

·       Co-op football with Arcadia and play either 8 or 11-man football as our enrollment dictates.

·       Do not coop with Arcadia and stay in the 8-man classification for the foreseeable future and be eligible for the playoffs

These options will be discussed at the Oct. 7th public forum, where patrons will have the opportunity to ask questions and have their opinions heard by the LCPS Board. Please plan to join us for this discussion on the future of high school football at Loup City and Arcadia.

LCPS Board Approves Building Security Upgrades

After nearly two years of planning, the Loup City School Board approved significant building security upgrades at their June meeting.  The improvements, scheduled to be completed by the start of school in August, include the installation of A-phones, security cameras and wiring for a keyless entry system.

Workers from Telephone Systems of Nebraska installing

wiring for new security cameras

The A-phones will be installed at the entry doors to the Junior-senior high wing and the elementary wing of the 4-12 building as well as the kitchen door. An A-phone is a combination camera and intercom system, which will allow school personnel to monitor visitors and control access to the building. Anyone wishing to enter the school, during school hours, will be required to ring a buzzer on the A-phone and be, “buzzed in,” by school personnel.  Visitors can then sign in and be escorted to the area they wish to visit. All other doors will be locked and inaccessible during school yours.

Security Cameras will be installed inside and outside of the 4- 12 building and outside of the Primary School. Each camera will be connected to a digital video recorder (DVR), which will record images from each camera 24 hours per. day- seven days per. week. Cameras may be monitored from a big-screen high definition television in the conference room. Images from security cameras may also be viewed online from administrator’s computers, ipads or smart phones.

The new security cameras will play an important role in the anti-bullying efforts of the district as well as our new Positive Behavior Supports Program.

The images from security cameras will be made available to law enforcement officials if needed.

The LCPS system will be available to the Sherman County Sheriff’s Department, which will be able to monitor building security cameras remotely- as well as utilize the present alarm system.

The Board also approved wiring for a keyless entry system to provide access control for staff members and patrons who use the LCPS facilities. The security upgrades have been contracted Telephone Systems of Nebraska, which has installed similar systems in several area schools such as St. Paul, Ord, and Centura, and Grand Island Northwest, among others.

By approving this state-of-the art security system, the Loup City Board of Education is demonstrating a strong and positive commitment to the goal of maintaining safe and orderly schools.  We plan to demonstrate these new building security features to patrons at back-to-school night in August. Get ready to smile for the camera when you visit LCPS.

Loup City Public Schools Mobile App now Available

A mobile application (or mobile app) is a software application designed to run on smartphones, tablet computers (such as ipads) and other mobile devices. LCPS students, parents, patrons, and Red Raiders everywhere can now download and install the LCPS app on their mobile devices to instantly and conveniently keep up with all things LCPS.  At the tap of a screen, the LCPS app will allow users to access:

• The school calendar
• The district website
• The LCPS Facebook page
• Lunch menus
• Power School
• Phone numbers for district offices
• Email addresses for district staff
• CNCS Pre-school

The LCPS app is available free from the district website 

(http://blog.loupcity.k12.ne.us/) and the district Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Loup-City-Public-Schools/144655882253701). 

To download the LCPS app, users need only to scan the QR code (smartphones) or click on the LCPS banner (tablets) and the download process will begin. 

It is now easier than ever to keep up with all of the great things happening at the Loup City Public Schools by using the free LCPS app.