Policy 3920

Facilities - Purpose

Facilities - Guidelines for Building New Schools

Reviewed and affirmed by the Board:  1/23/2024
Last Revision: 
Original publish date: 01/26/2010
Related policies & regulations:  3910
Legal references:  

  
  1. Consideration for building new elementary facilities should be given to areas where there is potential for walk-in populations of 528 or more elementary students, provided there is sufficient permanent housing and projected housing to sustain a continuing population. Optimum construction should be for a four-section building.
  2. Consideration for building new elementary facilities should be given to areas that are more than three miles from existing elementary schools space, provided the facility can be located in such manner as to provide a service area for at least 420 students and significantly diminishes the amount of required student transportation.
  3. Consideration for building new elementary facilities should be given to replacement of buildings that meet either of the above criteria when the cost of rehabilitation to the building approaches the cost of new facilities.
  4. Consideration for building new middle school facilities should be given to areas from which students are transported to existing schools when the proposed attendance area has a student population potential of more than 700 students and housing to sustain such enrollments, and a new facility would reduce the cost of required transportation.
  5. Consideration for building new high school facilities should be given in areas that have a high school student population potential of 1,000 or more, all of whom are more than three miles from an existing building provided the new facility can be located to decrease the distance to school for the majority of those serviced and reduce overcrowding in existing buildings.
  6. Decisions to build new schools shall involve appropriate opportunities for public information and discussion.  The district should provide a standard set of specifications applicable to all buildings and based upon the age of students to be served.
  7. Security, safety and health of students and staff will be considered when constructing new buildings.
  8. Traffic circulation will be considered when constructing new buildings.
  9. The Lincoln Public Schools prefer to carry out the instructional program in neighborhood settings and, therefore, have a strong commitment to the neighborhood concept, provided that the quality of instructional program can be maintained at affordable costs.  A neighborhood school is defined as one within reasonable walking distance of the student’s home.
  10. Locations of buildings and boundaries will attempt to provide elementary schools within 1.25 miles of residence and middle schools within 2.5 miles of residence.  The planning is based upon the assumption that the District does not expect to assume responsibility for transporting students to and from school except under special criteria established by the Lincoln Board of Education.  General parameters for size of school buildings shall be:
    • Elementary 396 to 792 students
    • Middle Level 700 to 1,000 students
    • High School 1,000 to 2,400 students