Wednesday will be Campus Life’s last meeting at Scott Middle School, at least until next fall.

Lincoln Public Schools and Scott officials reached that decision Friday after they learned that supervisors at last Wednesday’s Campus Life meeting had allowed students to bob for live goldfish and then swallow them.

“We just felt like that type of action was distracting to the students and interfered with the learning process,” said Virgil Horne, assistant to the superintendent.

He said the goldfish-bobbing wasn’t the first Campus Life activity at Scott to raise administrators’ eyebrows, but he wouldn’t elaborate.

“I would say there was more than one concern, and I’m not going to say anything more than that.”

Administrators will decide at the end of the academic year whether Campus Life can return for the 2008-2009 year, Horne said.

Campus Life executive director Bryan Carlson said he was notified via a letter Saturday his organization would no longer be allowed to meet at Scott.

He said he was disappointed by the decision but declined further comment.

He’ll share the news with students at Wednesday’s meeting. He’ll also try to offer alternative plans to the 100-plus Scott students who attend Campus Life each week, though as of Monday, he had no definitive solutions.

A handful of students and parents complained after Campus Life regional supervisor James Bergsten invited students to bob for goldfish, then swallow them, before he delivered his sermon at last Wednesday’s morning meeting.

Two students and one Campus Life volunteer swallowed fish. No student was singled out or forced to participate, and no student was harmed.

The game was just one of many that have been played at Campus Life meetings, Carlson said. Supervisors try to organize high-energy games that build rapport among students and show them Campus Life is a fun place to be, he said.

Races, dance-offs, relays and competitive eating all have been featured at past meetings. Although the games may not have a direct link to Christianity, they loosen students up and foster fellowship, Carlson said.

And they’re always followed by sermons and small group discussions — the keys to the meetings, he said.

“I would just say that we try to have an impact on students, in the context of having fun,” he said.

Including Scott, Campus Life now meets at 17 different middle and high schools in the Lincoln area. Campus Life leaders hope to expand to North Star High School and Goodrich and Dawes middle schools, Carlson said.

Reach Melissa Lee at 473-7282 or mlee@journalstar.com.