'Coffee with the superintendent' LCHS Superintendent Robert Bagby

[November 04, 2015]  LINCOLN - On Wednesday, October 21, 2015, Lincoln Community High School Superintendent Robert Bagby hosted Coffee with the Superintendent at the Railsplitter Conference Center. The coffee was a two fold opportunity.

First, it gave parents and the community a chance to meet with Bagby to discuss concerns, ask him questions, and make suggestions. Bagby said, "I am making myself available to the community and getting to know parents." He said that the school is doing well this year.

The meeting was offered at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Bagby said that at the morning coffee, a few people stopped by to see the new Railsplitter Conference Center, which is in the old Owl's Roost Building on Pulaski Street.

The Conference Center was renovated by the building trades program and student artwork will be displayed on the walls. Upstairs, there is a loft apartment that will be renovated after the Building Trades project house on 165 Half Moon Street is completed.

Bagby said that the Conference Center will be used for meetings by the Lincolnland Technical Ed Center (LTEC) and the Lincoln Regional Delivery System, which are vocational programs.

He added that community groups may also be able to host meetings at the Center. The Culinary Arts class can cater lunches prepared in the new kitchen.

Bagby said the Creating Economic Opportunities class for juniors and seniors starting their own businesses may also use the facility to help start their business.

Bagby said there are several improvements going on at the LCHS building as well. He said the school is installing a new sound systems in the auditorium in time for the fall play, upgrading the sound system in the gym, and upgrading the wireless technology throughout the high school. He said there are also plans to build a new storage facility on the grounds.

Bagby said the school is doing well in several areas. He said the financial condition of the school remains good and the school has Illinois State Board of Education recognition status. Bagby said they are expanding dual credit courses in vocational programs such as the Certified Nursing Assistant and Auto Trades courses through Heartland Community College. These courses will provide students with credit hours towards an Associate's Degree.

Bagby said the alternative school has also been successful.

Bagby also said the school has started a Freshman Academy for students needing more individual attention and academic assistance. He said the class has extra academic support so students experience success early on. Bagby said he has seen a lot of positive results in the first quarter of the school year.

There are other notable successes as well.

• The LCHS band recently took first place in their division and second place overall at a contest in Mount Zion.
• Isabelle Stiefvater placed first in golf at a recent golf outing.
• Kena Bere was the first state qualifier in tennis.
• The volleyball team made it to Regional's again this year.

With all that is going on at the school, they appear to be living out their mission statement, which says "We strive to educate students and to assist them in realizing their full potential as responsible, productive, contributing members of society by providing an educational environment in which students are challenged, excellence is expected and differences are valued.

[Angela Reiners]