HISTORY OF WEST LINCOLN SCHOOL
630 WEST DAWES AVENUE
LINCOLN, NE 68521
WEST LINCOLN SCHOOL, 1965-2008
After the 1955 addition (basement and the 4 east classrooms) to West Lincoln, the school was increased in size four more times. In 1965, the east and part of the north section of the present building was completed. This consisted of the multipurpose room and stage, kitchen, boiler room, custodian’s office, the main office including a nurse’s office, the para room, the north half of the media center, and three north classrooms. In 1977, three more classrooms on the north, a new office, the south section of the media center, the computer room and the south wing of classrooms were added. In 1983, Margie Eloe commissioned the panoramic Nebraska murals for the Media Center which were painted by Sherry Harig. They depict not only Nebraska history, but also include a painting of the original West Lincoln schoolhouse. The teacher in front of the schoolhouse is supposed to represent Margie Eloe. The original idea for the Media Center decor was to have a railroad theme and the paintings were to represent the landscapes seen from a train window. In 1986 the west wing of classrooms and the big gym completed what is now West Lincoln School. When this construction was done, Chester Street on the east side of the school became a dead end. Two portables were put on the north section in 1990 and another one was added in 1995. The latter is used for the West Lincoln Family Resource Center and a Headstart classroom. The entire office area was remodeled in 1995. This included a new office for the assistant principal, new nurse’s office, para room and lounge. Through a grant from Library Power, the media center was remodeled in 1994-95. A glass wall on the south, new carpeting, circulation desk, storage cupboards, new shelving for reference and 3 couches were purchased through the grant monies. In the spring of 1999, the entire school was painted. During the summer of 1999 another portable is being added.
Helen Garner was the principal of West Lincoln School from 1960 to 1972. In 1972-73, Margie Eloe and Dan Conway were co-principals. Dan was mainly at Belmont School. Then from 1973-1983 Margie Eloe was principal, Jerry Decker followed from 1983-1994 Russ Reckewey from 1994 to 1999, Kathy Evasco from 1999 to 2005 and Scott Schwartz from 2005- present.
In the school year 1998-99, the population the school was 412 regular students. This does not include the 18 Headstart students. There are 3 all day kindergarten classes, 3 first grades, 3 second grades, 2 third grades, 2 third-fourth grades, 2 fourth grades, 3 fifth and 3 sixth grades. The certified staff consists of 25 classroom teachers (includes 2 Headstart), 6 resource teachers, and 13 specialists. 10 paraprofessionals, a school nurse, executive secretary and secretary complete the staff.
In the 1990’s, West Lincoln received several grants and started new programs. Many were grants written by the Lincoln Public Schools from which West Lincoln then received funding for implementation. Among these were Transition, Assessment, Inclusion, and Library Power Grants. Being a Title I school enabled us to being the F.A.S.T. (Families And Schools Together) program. Title I funds also helped the school to continue with home visits, adopt our literacy model, and develop a school-wide program. The Primary Program, also a district grant, was implemented with in-service for the staff. New math, social studies and Skills for Growing curriculum were begun as well as the Reading Recovery program, and an all-day kindergarten (1996-97). An art specialist and full-time psychologist were added to the staff in the 1998-99 school year. In the school year 1999-2000, the Early Children Special Education program and High Scope (a program wherein students will make choices and learn how to be responsible for their own learning) will begin. High Scope is funded through a federal Comprehensive School Reform grant.
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In 2005, Scott Schwartz replaced Kathy Evasco as the Principal at West Lincoln.
Several programs have provided us with support for our students in and outside of the school day. Over the past 8 years, West Lincoln has been implementing BIST (Behavior Intervention Support Team) strategies in the classroom and throughout the school to increase students’ on task behavior and to support the diverse needs of students. Each Friday, 120 of our families receive a food-filled backpack from the Food Bank of Lincoln. Our Community Learning Center (CLC) provides the families of West Lincoln counseling for our students and families, after school childcare, and academic and enrichment clubs for our students. Each month, the CLC sponsors family nights where up to 300 people attend.
Family Literacy was brought to West Lincoln through a grant from the National Center for Family Literacy and funded by the Toyota Foundation. The Family Literacy program brings native Spanish speaking parents into the school each day to learn English for two hours a day. In addition, these parents spend two hours each week, learning alongside their child in the classroom.
To support the learning of our students, West Lincoln was able to hire an Instructional Coordinator, Math Coach, and hire a Community Learning Center Site Supervisor full time.
More technology has been infused into the classroom. We currently have over 100 computers for student use and each classroom is equipped with a LCD projector and a document camera.
