Community: Mead, Nebraska

Name of Project: Agricultural Sciences Magnet School at Mead

Project Co-Coordinators:

• Angela Liefeld, Principal, Mead Public High School (402 624-3435)

Project Time Schedule: Long-Range

Date Begun: 4/1/99 Date Completed: in progress

Estimated Number of Volunteer Hours on Progress to date: 106

Age Range from 30 To 60

GOAL STATEMENT: To provide a unique college preparatory experience in the agricultural sciences for students from the Mead community and surrounding areas. To provide agricultural science curriculum via distance education technology to other small rural and urban school districts throughout the state. Additionally, this will develop a model that can be replicated in other communities in the state.

CONNECTION OF PROJECT TO COMMUNITY GOALS: From the beginning of Mead’s journey into community betterment, enhancing and maintaining the Mead Public School has been the key underlying componet. The community has long realized that to remain a vital community, we want to maintain our school system. It is part of our idenity. Additionally, with the tremendous growth of both Omaha and Lincoln, Mead’s physical location and the strong desire of many residents to live in a small community and raise their children in a small school system, makes Mead all that much more attractive to both current and future residents. The subject of maintaining and enhancing our school system has been discussed at every townhall meeting and further validated in the school’s strategic planning process.

PROJECT SUMMARY: This project came out of a collaboration between the Mead Community and staff at the University of Nebraska Agricultural Research and Development Center (ARDC) and Saunders County Extension Educators to create a pilot biotechnology curriculum enhancement project at Mead Public Schools (MPS). The funding for this project came from NN21. This project immediately expanded to other schools in eastern Nebraska.

In collaborating on the biotechnology project, the idea of an agricultural sciences magnet school was discussed. In the spring of 1999, community, school, ARDC, and UNL personnel met to discuss the project. In May Mead School Board and Administration, Nebraska Department of Education, ARDC, NN21 and UNL representatives visit the Agricultural Sciences High School in Chicago.

A grant proposal is submitted to NN21 for startup funds. MPS, ARDC, IANR, and NN21 personnel meet to refine the concept. MPS contacts the Omaha Public Schools to discuss the possibility of developing the program to meet the agricultural science needs of the Omaha community. In August, the participants receive a $43,000 grant to start the program.

The Mead Public Schools will continue to serve the needs of the district. The Agricultural Science Magnet School will provide an enhanced curriculum in areas related to agriculture, food sciences, and the environment. The curriculum will prepare all students for any post-secondary education opportunity they wish to pursue. Classes will be shared through distance education technology. The program will include a strong school-business connection through internships, scholarships and work opportunities.

Community: Mead, Nebraska

Name of Project: Agricultural Sciences Magnet School at Mead

PROJECT ACTIVITY TARGET GROUP/AGENCY FUNDING/

DATE RESPONSIBLE RESOURCES