Lincoln Public Schools is holding a special election for a $153 million bond issue. If approved, the money will fund a variety of LPS facility and infrastructure projects — including the construction of two schools.
Chancellor Harvey Perlman has asked registered voters within the LPS district boundaries to pay special attention to the bond proposal, because it is Lincoln's first mail-in election.
"This election is a unique, first-of-a-kind, mail-in ballot only," Perlman said. "Since it involves education, we should have a special interest. I hope you will vote in the election after making a personal assessment of the merits of the proposal."
The proposed bond issue will pay for an elementary school near 63rd Street and Yankee Hill Road, a middle school near 75th Street and Yankee Hill Road, security and technology updates and other additions and renovations at various schools.
The bond issue also includes funding for a joint project with Southeast Community College to offer classes in some career areas, dual credit courses and internships for LPS high school students.
LPS plans to use $12.5 million of the bond issue to pay half the cost of a new building for the SCC program.
Overall, the bond issue will increase the capacity of LPS schools by adding 2,200 new seats.
Recommendations for projects in the 2014 bond issue came directly from the community. The initiative started as a grassroots effort with a group of 80 Lincoln stakeholders. The group, called together by Steve Joel, LPS superintendent, identified more than $350 million in LPS facility and infrastructure needs.
The Lincoln Board of Education evaluated the group's recommendations and created a 10-year facility and infrastructure plan, honing the list down to $150 million in needed improvements.
For more information about the bond issue, go to http://lps.org/2014bond.
Dave Shively, Lancaster County election commissioner, decided to run the bond issue through a vote by mail. The ballots were mailed to registered voters within the Lincoln Public School District on Jan. 22. Voters have until 5 p.m. Feb. 11 to turn the ballots in to the election commissioner's office.
For more information about the mail-in vote process, go to http://www.lancaster.ne.gov/election/LPS14.htm.