February 8, 2016 at 6:30 PM - Board of Education Meeting Agenda

Rationale:  The Bellevue Board of Education abides by the Nebraska Open Meetings Law.  A copy of the law is posted on the wall of our Board room.

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Administrative Recommendation: The information in sections B, D, and E of the agenda were sent to all       members of the Board of Education for review.  The administration recommends approval by consent of the       items in section B of the Agenda identified with an asterisk and receipt of the information and proposals in         sections D and E identified with an asterisk.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation:  Approve the Minutes of the January 4, 2016 Board of Education meeting.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation:  Acknowledge receipt of the Treasurer's Report for January, 2016.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation:  Approve the payment of claims totaling $1,185,580.08.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation: Release (1) Pamela Engelbart, (2) Barbara Fisher, (3) Megan Kinen, (4) Cathy Muhle, (5) Pamela Oholendt, (6) Julie Ricceri, (7) Brenda Roach and (8) Jane Witzenburg from their contracts effective May 23, 2016.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation:  Elect (1) Anthony Cliffords to the certified staff for the 2015-16 school year effective February 4, 2016 subject to his release from any contractual agreements with other school districts and elect (2) Lori Huffman to the certified staff for the 2016-17 school year effective August 8, 2016 subject to her release from any contractual agreements with other school districts.

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Budget Parameters are annually established by the Board of Education. The parameters are the guidelines for staff as they develop the proposed budget to be brought back to the Board in July.  

A copy of the proposed Budget Parameters is attached.

Administrative Recommendation: The administration recommends the approval of the proposed Parameters for 2016-2017 Budgetary Planning.

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Bellevue East High School held one of the Academic Decathlon Regional competitions on Saturday, January 16, 2016.  There were several regional competitions taking place simultaneously around the state.  There were eight schools that competed at Bellevue East.  Bellevue East finished second at their Regional, Pius X finished first.  Bellevue East advances to the State Finals, which will be February 19-20, 2016 at Creighton University.  The Bellevue East team consists of (Honors) Kelly Speltz and Morgan Gallagher; (Scholastic) Brandon Smith and Christian Reza; (Varsity) Nathaniel Crouch and Darren Brinkerhoff.  Six alternate team members also competed in an individual competition.  They were Marina Madrigal, Brandon Simms, Annette Rhoades, Nicholas Schnelker, and Zoe Buffinton. 

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The following Bellevue West students were recognized for their journalistic efforts in the Nebraska Journalism Education Association Winter Contest. All work submitted had been produced between August and November 2015.

Em Brandon: Superior in Newswriting; Honorable Mention in Column Writing, Newspaper Layout, and Photo Illustration

Kortney Buresh: Honorable Mention in Sports Feature Writing and Sports News Writing

Erin Chance: Superior in Broadcast Feature Story

Ayalita Crosston: Honorable Mention in News Feature Writing

Melissa Irish: Excellent in Entertainment Review Writing; Honorable Mention in Graphic Illustration.

Jacob Kunes: Honorable Mention in Graphic Illustration

Emma Larson: Excellent in Yearbook Feature Writing

Eric Morris: Honorable Mention in Yearbook Feature Writing

Codi Pierce: Superior in Newspaper Sports Feature Writing

Rae Rangel: Excellent in Editorial Writing and Newspaper Layout; Honorable Mention in Entertainment Review Writing

Brooke Riley: Excellent in Newswriting

Emily Wilson: Honorable Mention in Sports News Writing

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Two teams from Bellevue West participated in Creighton's Mock Certamen (Latin Quiz Bowl) on January 23, 2016.

The Latin I team competed against seven other teams and placed 4th. Students are Freshmen Chris Musgrove and Savannah Gillin, and sophomore Keleigh Driscoll.

The Latin III/IV team competed against seven other teams and placed 3rd. Students are Seniors Mallory Moore, Julia Caplinger, Christopher Bean, and Joey Ferrante.

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Bellevue East MANDATE Steppers participated in the 21st Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Rally & March on January 18, 2016. The day included a pre-rally “I Am Somebody” pledge and the march, as well as speeches, songs and poems by elementary through high school students

Congratulations to Mrs. Deirdre McKinley and the MANDATE Steppers from Bellevue East for being recognized at the Rally as the 2016 Community Stakeholders Honoree. Through their performances, MANDATE Steppers work to break down stereotypes of children of color and the achievement gap.

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The Superintendents’ Early Childhood Plan highlights the central role that schools can undertake as hubs that connect young children, birth through third grade, and their families with high-quality, comprehensive, and continuous early childhood services and education. Belleaire Elementary is one of ten metro-area schools selected as a full-implementation site.  Staff will share an overview of the work underway in collaboration with the Buffett Early Childhood Institute.  

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The administration annually updates the Board about student performance as measured by various indicators. Tonight's update will include information about the high school graduation rate.

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Day Camp is a field-trip based summer program offered to all Bellevue Public Schools’ students exiting kindergarten through sixth grade and is housed at the Lied Activity Center.  Staff will highlight changes and impact on the finances of Day Camp.

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Science, Technology, and Math Camp provides in-depth curriculum experiences for incoming 6th and 7th grade students.  Staff will highlight program goals and activities, student participation, and budget information about these BPS summer camps. 

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The following policy is presented for review:  

613.02 Therapy Dogs

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Kindergarten orientation will be held the week of February 22 for those children who are eligible to enter kindergarten in the fall of 2016. Children must reach their fifth birthday on or before July 31 of the current year (unless the child is eligible through early entrance assessment) in order to attend kindergarten.

Families will complete registration paperwork at Kindergarten Orientation or they may download paperwork from the Bellevue Public Schools website and bring to orientation. Families will have an opportunity to explore the classrooms and visit with staff during orientation. Children are encouraged to attend with their parent/guardian(s).

Rationale:  Sarah Lively wishes to speak on the Bellevue East & West graduations location.

Rationale:  Learning Community - Nina Wolford
BPS Foundation - Doug Cook, Frank Kumor
MABE - Mike Kinney
Board Policy Review Work Group - Doug Cook, Mike Kinney, Phil Davidson
District Safety Committee - Doug Cook

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March 7, Board of Education Meeting, Welcome Center, 6:30 p.m.

March 8, BPS Employee Appreciation Day

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation: Adjourn to Executive Session to consider matters relating to strategy sessions with respect to collective bargaining and negotiations with outside agencies which are necessary to be considered in closed session for the protection of the public interest.