Subdistrict changes proposed for second reading on December 14

After the federal census is conducted — every 10 years — the Board works with the Lancaster County election commissioner to adjust the seven subdistrict boundaries to account for changes in population. The requirement is that each subdistrict be substantially equal in population.

There are roughly 295,000 people in the LPS school district, meaning each LPS subdistrict will have approximately 42,000 people. Deadline for Board approval of the new subdistrict divisions is the end of the calendar year.

The Board held a first reading on the proposed changes during the November 23 Regular Meeting, and will vote on the proposal at the December 14 Regular Meeting.

View the recommended subdistrict changes

Click image for detailed PDF of boundaries.

Watch the November 23 Work Session

Questions and Answers

Aside from a more equal population, what is the Board's goal in drawing the map?

The primary goal of redistricting is rebalancing sub-district populations. The board and election commissioner also considered the precinct boundaries established by the election commissioner, the current sub-district boundaries, compactness and contiguity, preserving communities of interest, and providing each sub-district an area of potential growth.

West Lincoln is split between 2 districts, as is south Lincoln. North Lincoln is divided between 3, but east Lincoln is divided between 4. Why are Districts 2 and 6 north and south of each other instead of east and west? Wouldn't a central district and an eastern district be more representative that 2 districts that represent neither?

The primary goal of redistricting is rebalancing sub-district populations. More people live in east Lincoln than west Lincoln, resulting in more representatives. Also, due to the periphery of the city growing more than the core over the last decade, Sub-District 2 was about 3,500 people under the average sub-district population. Expanding Sub-District 2 to the east added population and connected it to a potential growth area on the city’s edge. The alternative of having a central sub-district and eastern sub-district would potentially be less representative, as the population in these areas is expected to grow at different rates.

When are the sub-district changes effective?

The changes become effective upon Board approval. The Board is scheduled to vote on the changes at the December 14 Board meeting.

Do the proposed changes in Board voting sub-districts affect individual school attendance boundaries?
No. The proposed changes do not affect LPS attendance boundaries.