​The Lincoln Elementary Local School Council (LSC) currently has an opening for one parent representative. This is a mid-term appointment for the term ending June 30, 2018. Please see the CPS website http://www.cps.edu/Pages/Localschoolcouncils.aspx for information on eligibility, required training, and application materials. Application materials may also be picked up from Terry Miles in the school office.
 
Please submit the necessary forms and a candidate statement to the Lincoln Elementary school office by 4:00p Monday, October 2, 2017.  The Council invites candidates to make statements in person at the October 10, 2017 regular meeting of the LSC at which we intend to appoint a new parent representative.

We have openings for one parent member and one community member. Application materials can be found on the CPS website
http://cps.edu/Pages/LSCElections.aspx  Please submit the necessary forms and a candidate statement to the Lincoln Elementary school office by 4:00p Friday, October 21, 2016.

The Council invites candidates to make statements in person and will select new LSC members at the November 2, 2016 regular meeting of the LSC.
 
Please contact current members with questions and/or come to our next regularly schedule meeting in the library. Wednesday, October 5, 2016.

Lisa Barrow, Chair




Welcome back to school from your Local School Council (LSC).

The LSC has already met 3 times this year-first to organize, next to approve the budget for this academic year, and finally for our regular monthly meeting in September. Look for us the first Wednesday of every month (except January) starting at 6pm in the library. Our next meeting will be held on October 5, 2016. Come see what it is all about.
 
Think you might be interested in serving on the LSC? We currently have 10 members meaning we have two openings. Our current members are:
 
Lisa Barrow (chair)
Andrea Okun (vice-chair)
Louis Hernandez (staff member liaison and secretary)
Carmen Gioiosa (communications and technology committees)
Litcy Ludvic (organizations committee)
Chris Santiago (budget committee)
Nada Riley (building, traffic, and safety committee)
Ashley Williams (teacher liaison and curriculum committee)
Greg Thompson (teacher liaison curriculum committee)
Principal Mark Armendariz
 
Lisa Barrow, Chair

The first LSC Meeting of the 2016-2017 school year will take place on Wednesday, September 7, 2017 at 6:00 pm in the school library.  We welcome all parents and community members to come to the meeting and learn more about the LSC and what it does for Lincoln. We also have vacancies on the LSC for both a parent and community representative and will be discussing how to fill those spots.

On Tuesday, February 9, 2016, CPS announced cuts to the budgets for all schools within CPS. Revised budgets accounting for the cuts in funding and return of funds to CPS are due on February 16, 2016.  On February 16, 2016 at 8:00 am, the LSC will hold a short Special Meeting for the purpose of approving the revised budget as proposed by Principal Armendariz.

The LSC completed the annual principal review and voted to approve the review at the May meeting.  This completed two of the LSC’s major objectives for the 2014-15, in conjunction with the Cumulative Review completed earlier in the year.

The Principal Report included some new items.  Lincoln has had several successful student activities this year including the Model United Nations team which won two Golden Gavels for its efforts.  The exchange students from Paris joined Lincoln for a week of successful bonding as the program continues its success and popularity.  The 8th grade class returned from an exciting and fully packed Washington class trip.

At the May meeting the LSC approved the use of rollover SGSA funds to offset any negative balances within this budget line. The second vote was to approve an allocation up to $40,000 of the SGSA funds for technology expenditures for the new classrooms.  Both motions were unanimously approved.  Also, the LSC approved the FY 16 FOL budget and approved the fundraising calendar.

The Annex and improvements to the current facility are on schedule to be completed July 29, 2015, and be ready to greet the students next fall.

The June meeting will be the last chance to attend an “in year” meeting until the fall.  The July meeting of the LSC will be the annual organizational meeting.  Please join us for the last meeting of the school year. 

As we bid farewell to another successful 8th grade class, taking the leap to high schools nearby and around the city, we will be welcoming another group of bright eyed students and parents in the fall that will look to our existing parent body to understand where they fit in and how our school works.  Lincoln’s success is due in part to parent efforts at volunteering and understanding how the school works and passing the baton to the next group of parents.  Next year is going to be a new frontier for everyone as we adjust to a larger physical plant and new experiences and the opening of new playgrounds that we missed this year.  More parents getting involved on every level, be it field trips, as classroom parents, or being involved in the PTA, FOL, ALESMA, EFAC, or LSC parent organizations will assure our continued success as we remain a united K-8 for the entire school district.  Get involved for next year and join your children in what is sure to be an exciting time in the long history of the school.

The next meeting of the LSC is set for Thursday, June 4, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. in the library. 

-Dan Klein

Do you ever find yourself wanting the 411 on 225 or 115 funds in the Lincoln Budget?  Come to an LSC meeting and we will provide you all the information you have always wanted to know.  The 225 fund is our Supplemental Grant State Aid (SGSA) and is not affected by the Student Based Budget implemented a year ago.  The 225 Fund was created to provide supplemental instructional services or materials to students from low income families while the 115 Fund is the General Fund and is used to account for all financial resources, except those required to be accounted for in another fund.  How these funds are used to make sure that Lincoln is as successful as possible is just one item you can learn by attending the LSC meetings. 

The LSC continued to work on the CIWP (Continuous Improvement Work Plan) at the March meeting.  If you would like to know what goes into the curriculum and the goals set for the students and faculty, come to next meeting and we will be reviewing the progress we have made on more of the current CIWP.

The Principal report during this meeting brought the news that 22 of our teachers are doing professional development.  From attending the National Science Teacher Association Conference to Technology to Socratic Seminar and Art programs and the Teaching and Learning Conference in Washington, D.C., our teachers are very active in obtaining additional training for the benefit of all our children.  The Principal Digest is a great resource for finding out more about the current events and opportunities available for students at Lincoln.

As most of you know, CPS instituted the PARCC standardized testing this year, with little notice.  Principal Armendariz reported on the schedule of the testing and how it was going to be administered for Lincoln.  The test this year has no direct effect on school funding, however, if CPS failed to administer the test, the State had stated it would withhold funding to CPS overall.  The PARCC exam is NOT utilized for high school enrollment or IG.  PARCC will also not be used for SQRP (School Quality Rating).

The Annex and improvements to the current facility continue to run on schedule to be completed July 29, 2015, and be ready to greet the students next fall.

The LSC is embarking on the Annual Principal Review. 

Lastly, I will let you all know that while we enjoy one of the highest percentage parent volunteer rates, there is always room for more volunteers.  We will continue to need more and more parents involved as we grow.  Come to an LSC meeting and see where you can fit into your child’s educational future, whether you help the PTA, FOL, EFAC, ALESMA, the Auction, or the LSC (more acronyms you should know!), you can make a difference.

The next meeting of the LSC is set for Thursday, April 1, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. in the library. 

-Dan Klein