The Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education heard a presentation Nov. 13 about the EPIC Discovery Center. This photo shows the main entrance to the building on its east side at 2900 W. Old Potash Highway in the former Armory building. (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – Scott Mazour, program development manager for EPIC Discovery Center, gave a report Nov. 13 to the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education about the center, which plans to open in the spring of 2026.
Mazour comes to EPIC Discovery Center after retiring from a career as serving as a principal at two rural Grand Island Schools.
EPIC is an acronym for “Explore Possibilities. Inspire creativity.”
EPIC Discovery Center is located at 2900 W. Old Potash Highway in the former Armory building. Alison Larson, executive director of EPIC Discovery Center, said that the cost of the facility is $14.2 million, which includes the renovation project and an endowment to provide some long-term stability, if needed.
Mazour told the Board of Education that EPIC will serve children from birth to age 18. The facility will have 25 static exhibits, but is comprised of more than exhibits. There will be a “climber” that is two stories tall. He described the facility as “very inclusive” and “very interactive.”
EPIC Discovery Center will have a makerspace area that will feature equipment ranging from 3D printers to vinyl cutters, Mazour said.
There are four rooms for older students in upper middle school and high school, Mazour said. They are an art studio, a technology room, a lounge, and a classroom to support programming.
Mazour said EPIC Discovery Center has benefited from having a Youth Advisory Council, which includes high school students. He said that the students are career-oriented, which they want to be reflected in the center. Members of the Youth Advisory Council meet with EPIC Discovery Center staff monthly.
Superintendent Matt Fisher reported that he and Board member Lisa Albers toured EPIC Discovery Center several months ago.
In a separate interview, Alison Larson provided additional information about EPIC Discovery Center. She explained what led to the start of EPIC Discovery Center.
“A group of community leaders formed a Steering Committee in order to drive the idea of starting a Children’s Museum in Grand Island. Many communities have quality of life amenities like hands-on learning opportunities for families and kids, but at that point, Grand Island did not. This group conducted a feasibility study, then added a master planning study and a funding assessment to make sure the project was viable and that it would be well-used and fully supported by the community and surrounding towns,” Larson said.
A major start for EPIC Discovery Center came after it received a $5 million cash matching grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. She described it as a “shovel-ready capital recovery and investment act grant program award.” The $5 million match was achieved in December 2024.
Larson said that three major grant awards have been received from philanthropic foundations based in Omaha. Two of those awards are “challenge grants” meaning the capital project needs to be fully funded to receive their support.
Larson credits Audrey Rowley, a Grand Island attorney, for her efforts to get the center started. Larson said that Rowley “works with children and families and understands the value of providing growth and learning opportunities for kids, and was disappointed that local families had to drive 45 to 150 miles to visit a children’s museum. She went to work enlisting the help of a Steering Committee filled with local community supporters to help further the cause and bring a STEAM-based learning center to life in Grand Island.”
STEAM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
Larson explained why the Armory building was chosen.
“The Armory building was chosen strategically, after considering many options, and gathering feedback from many community members, educators, and non-profit agencies serving Grand Island. Being near rooftops, centrally located, and easily accessible by walking or driving was important. With the addition of the inclusive playground (at Ryder Park, just north of EPIC Discovery Center), it became clear that Ryder Park was an excellent option for EPIC’s youth-focused services. Repurposing an existing building was a benefit, as well. The City of Grand Island offered the use of the building through a long-term lease agreement for a nominal annual fee.”
Larson said that the mission of EPIC Discovery Center “is to engage families to explore creativity and community through experience-based learning and play.”
She said that there is a severe lack of hands-on learning activities and programming for youth in the area. Because of feedback, the project shifted from being a children’s museum to serve children from birth through age 10 to a center that served youth up to age 18. At that time, the facility’s name EPIC Discovery Center was created.
The main entrance to the facility is on the east side of the building, and there is an entrance on the south side of the building for teens. EPIC Discovery Center will provide all programming (including camps) after it opens.
EPIC Discovery Center is still seeking donations. Donations and pledges can be made online at www.epicdiscovery.org.
In another matter, the Board of Education voted 6-0 to approve a base proposal of $994,637 from Diamond Engineering to repave the parking lot and drive at the Kneale Administration Building. The new pavement will be concrete. The current paving is asphalt. Board members Hank McFarland, Josh Sikes, and Eric Garcia-Mendez were absent from the Nov. 13 meeting.
Dan Petsch, Director of Buildings and Grounds for the school district, said, “This is the time for us to move forward with this.” He wanted to get a contractor selected so that work on the project could begin in a timely manner. The project will include storm drainage in the parking lot.
The Board of Education heard the American Civics Bi-Yearly Report, presented by Cara Kuhl and Tracy Jakubowski. The report is required by Nebraska Public Law 79-724 and Board Policy 2230.
The state law focuses on fostering civic competence, an understanding of American history, government, and the responsibilities of citizenship; foundational principles such as the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and civic engagement; and multicultural contributions and perspectives
State law requires that the social studies curriculum should recognize the services of men and women who played a crucial role in achieving independence; examine the establishment of our constitutional government and preservation of our union; incorporate multicultural education; and instill pride and respect for the nation’s institutions.
Two courses in high school devote time to the teaching of American history including specific attention to the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Nebraska Constitution,
Two historical people who are the focus of study are Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. Further information about the American Civics program is available on the Grand Island Public Schools website in the Curriculum and Instruction area.
Jessica Myers, an assistant principal at Barr Middle School, gave a report on the new Grand Island Public Schools Educator Fellowship. The purpose of the program is to identify and train school district teachers who could move into leadership roles.
A planning team began meeting May 5. The program will invest in leaders of all types, not just administrators, but positions such as department chairs, curriculum coordinators, academic support coaches, English Language specialists, and athletic directors. Participation in the fellowship does not guarantee a position in the school district. The program will be in place for the 2026-2027 school year.
Up to three facilitators will be selected and will receive $1,000 each. Up to 12 staff members will be selected annually for the program. Participants will go to half-day sessions in October, January, and February, and conclude in May. Focus areas will be leadership standards, core values, school district frameworks, guaranteed curriculum, data-driven improvements, and staff development.
Next steps for the program were listed. In January 2026, a search for facilitators will start, and they will be announced in February. Applications will be accepted starting in March, and participants will be announced in May. The program will begin in August 2026.
Oscar Garcia, Director of Nutrition Services for the school district, gave an update on the program. From August until now, the program has served 149,518 breakfast meals, 351,233 lunches, and 83 snacks. The total number of meals served is 500,834. The projected total meals for the year is 1,608,399 meals. Last year, 1,607,450 meals were served, so an increase in 949 meals is projected.
Garcia said that Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) continues to support equitable access to meals.
Improvements that have been made including tracking the cost per meal and labor hours, maximizing U.S. Department of Agriculture commodities, monitoring waste trends, and sharing site-level savings goals.
Grand Island Public Schools current spending for the program is: food costs (45.5 percent), labor costs (41.5 percent), other costs (10.2 percent), and surplus costs (2.8 percent).
Garcia said that there is an expected departure from the districtwide CEP program for the 2028-2029 school year. CEP is a program for high-poverty schools that allows them to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students without requiring individual applications. So the school district is currently providing meals to students at no cost.
In preparation of districtwide participation in CEP, lunch prices will need to be raised by 10 cents this school year. Subsequent years leading into the 2028 school year will be examined. The proposed meal prices are: elementary lunch ($2.90); middle school lunch ($3.10), high school lunch ($3.20), and all breakfasts ($2.35).
In the Superintendent’s Report, Superintendent Matt Fisher said that the district had been notified that there was a “significant loss of funds” in the state aid calculation. This had occurred for several years, but would only affect one year. Fisher said that the school district’s “poverty number” was higher than it should have been. He did not provide a specific number for the loss in funds.
