March 9, 2020 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.

Rationale:  Col Dayton will present an award on behalf of the Military.

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

Rationale: 

Administrative Recommendation:  Approve the Minutes of the February 3, 2020, Board of Education meeting.

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Administrative Recommendation:  Acknowledge receipt of the Treasurer's Report for February, 2020.

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Administrative Recommendation:  Approve the payment of claims totaling $1,974,090.10.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation:(1) Leigh Officer be released from her contract effective February 14, 2020 and that (2) Kathryn Andersen, (3) Scott Blackwell, (4) Stephanie Cain, (5) Stephanie Halstead, (6) Patrick Hunninghake, (7) Genevieve Johnson-Smeall, (8) Jill Koch, (9) Elizabeth Mumm, (10) John Reckin, (11) Kimberly Spilker, (12) Gwen Steele and (13) Crystal Wulf be released from their contracts effective May 21, 2020.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation:(1) Teresa Costlow and (2) Mary Sasek be elected to the certified staff for the 2020-21 school year effective July 1, 2020 and that (3) Savannah Den Herder, (4) Karin Donner, (5) Rae Fahrlander, (6) Magdalena Forman, (7) Nicholas Friedrichsen, (8) John Gengel, (9) Amber Ludlow, (10) Jennifer Metcalf, (11) Joseph Mlnarik, (12) Felicia Nofuente, (13) Tara O'Connor, (14) Debra Quinn, (15) Hannah Radio, (16) Whitney Roeder, (17) Shelley Sheets, (18) Katherine Spielman, (19) Michelle Thomas and (20) Delaney Woodruff be elected to the certified staff for the 2020-21 school year effective August 7, 2020 subject to their release from any contractual agreements with other school districts.

Rationale:  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 2020-2021 Budgetary Planning.

Rationale:  The law requires the Board of Education of the option (receiving school) district to adopt, by resolution, specific standards for acceptance and rejection of applicants.

Attached is the proposed Enrollment Option Program Resolution.

The proposal recommends a March 15 closing date for option enrollment. Attached is the Enrollment Option Resolution.

Administrative Recommendation: The administration recommends to approve the attached Enrollment Option Resolution.

Rationale:  Each year the Board is asked to approve the school calendar two years in advance, tonight the 2021-22 calendar is being presented. After receiving feedback the proposed calendar was finalized.

Attached is the 2021-22 proposed school calendar.

Administrative Recommendation: The administration recommends to approve the proposed 2021-22 school calendar as presented.

Rationale:  Nebraska law allows public school employees to organize and bargain collectively with school boards on the issue of salaries. An agreement has been reached and ratified by the Bellevue Education Association, the employee organization representing teachers, nurses, psychologists, and therapists.

The negotiated agreement with teachers adjusts the 2020-2021 salary for beginning teachers to $36,320 from the current beginning salary of $35,772. This represents a proposed total package increase of 3.809%. The increase is to cover:

• Professional Recognition Stipend increase to $6300
• Health Insurance Stipend increase to $7954
• Vertical and Horizontal salary increases for individual employees 

The current and proposed salary programs are attached. Also attached is the ratification notice from the Bellevue Education Association.

Administrative Recommendation: The administration recommends the Board approve the Teacher Negotiated Agreement as presented.

Rationale:  Tonight the Board will be asked to approve the changes to the BPS Foundation Bylaws.

Rationale:  The Board will receive an update on bond projects.

Rationale:  A member of the Bond Oversight Committee will provide a report to the Board.

Rationale:  Tonight the administration will present plans for the sale of the final round of bonds to be sold by D.A. Davidson.

Administrative Recommendation: The administration recommends the sale of bonds in the amount of $17,085,000 to be sold by D.A. Davidson.

Rationale:  The Board approved at the January, 2020 Board meeting for GP Architecture to prepare the RFP and solicit bids for the life safety/HVAC upgrades at Two Springs, Wake Robin and Leonard Lawrence. Tonight Mr. Gladbach will ask the Board to approve the bid from Ray Martin in the amount of $1,127,900 for life safety/HVAC upgrade at Two Springs.

Rationale:  The Board approved at the January, 2020 Board meeting for GP Architecture to prepare the RFP and solicit bids for the life safety/HVAC upgrades at Two Springs, Wake Robin and Leonard Lawrence. Tonight Mr. Gladbach will ask the Board to approve the bid from Ray Martin in the amount of $993,000 for life safety/HVAC upgrade at Leonard Lawrence.

Rationale:  The Board approved at the January, 2020 Board meeting for GP Architecture to prepare the RFP and solicit bids for the life safety/HVAC upgrades at Two Springs, Wake Robin and Leonard Lawrence. Tonight Mr. Gladbach will ask the Board to approve the bid from Ray Martin in the amount of $425,000 for the HVAC upgrade at Wake Robin.

Rationale:  The Board approved at the January, 2020 Board meeting for GP Architecture to prepare the RFP and solicit bids for the life safety/HVAC upgrades at Two Springs, Wake Robin and Leonard Lawrence. Tonight Mr. Gladbach will ask the Board to approve the bid from Rife Construction Co. in the amount of $196,988 for life safety upgrade at Wake Robin.

Rationale:  The administration will ask the Board to approve the pre-purchase of a chiller for Leonard Lawrence and a chiller for Wake Robin from Trane for a total cost of $235,052.

Rationale:  Tonight GP Architecture will ask the Board to approve the both bids from O'Keefe Elevator Company, Inc. in the amount of $71,528 and $71,870 for the upgrades to the Logan Fontenelle and Wake Robin elevator.

Rationale:  Tonight the administration will ask the Board to approve GP Architecture to create the RFP and solicit bids for the replacement of some wall panels on the building face of Logan Fontenelle.

Rationale:  The Board approved at the January, 2020 Board meeting for GP Architecture to create the RFP and solicit bids for the renovation of the automotive area at the Career and Technical Education building. Tonight Mr. Gladbach will ask the Board to approve the bid from Lund-Ross Constructors in the amount of $919,000 for the renovation of the automotive area at the Career and Technical Education building.

Rationale:  Bellevue West Forensics students attended the Harvard University National Speech Tournament in Cambridge, Massachusetts February 14-18 for the first time in school history. Harvard hosts the largest high school speech tournament in the world with competitors from 37 states and 7 countries. The T-birds placed in outrounds, ranking them in the top 15-30% of competitors in the country. Individual results are as follows:

Robyn Boyland (10) - Original Oratory Octafinalist, top 56 of 348 entries (top 16%) Darian Draft (12) - Informative Speaking Octafinalist, top 51 out of 207 entries (top 24%) Tyson Forbes (11) - Dramatic Interpretation Octafinalist, top 48 out of 291 entries (top 16%)

Additional results from the 2019-20 season are attached.

Rationale:  The Bellevue West Air Force Junior ROTC Silent Sentry Drill Team competed in the annual Titan Invitational Drill Meet at Papillion-La Vista South High School on Saturday, February 22, 2020. Results were:

Armed Regulation, 2nd place, commanded by Matthew Pritchard.
Armed Exhibition, 3rd place, commanded by Russell Turnley.
Armed Color Guard, tied for 2nd place, commanded by Lindsey Redburn. Overall Armed: 2nd place

Unarmed Exhibition, 2nd place, commanded by Lindsey Steen
Unarmed Color Guard, tied for 3rd place, commanded by Mary Mealey. Overall Unarmed: 1st place (with a $500 scholarship.

Armed Solo Exhibition: 2nd place, Damien Mealey
Armed Dual Exhibition: 2nd place, Russell Turnley and Matthew Pritchard

Runner-up to the Grand Champion!

Rationale:  The Bellevue West JROTC Marksmanship team (Diego Ellis, Caitlin Haydam, Aaliyah Goodloff, Alexia Woodall and Claire Denton) finished 3rd overall out of 10 AFJROTC teams and earned bronze medals and trophy.

Diego Ellis finished 2nd overall, out of 37 AFJROTC cadets, and received a silver medal. He also qualified for nationals at Camp Perry, Ohio in March.

Rationale:  The Bellevue West High School Air Force JROTC Silent Sentry Drill Team competed at the 15th Annual Smith-Cotton High School Tiger Drill Meet in Sedalia, Missouri on February 15, 2020. Results were:

UnArmed Regulation: 4th place (Commanded by Damien Mealey)
Dual Exhibition: Russell Turnley and Matthew Pritchard, 2nd Place
Individual Drill Down: Jimmy Gow, 4th Place

Rationale:  The Bellevue West High School Air Force JROTC Silent Sentry Drill Team continued their winning season at the Lee's Summit High School Flying Tigers Invitational Drill Competition in Missouri on February 8, 2020. Results were:

Unarmd Exhibition: 1st place (Commanded by Lindsey Steen)
Overall Unarmed: 1st place Armed Regulation:
2nd place (Commanded by Matthew Pritchard)

Armed Exhibition: 2nd place (Commanded by Russell Turnley)
Solo Exhibition: Damie Mealey, 2nd Place

Dual Exhibition: Russel Turnley and Matthew Pritchard, 2nd Place

Rationale:  Congrats to Bellevue West senior LeAnne Bugay as her short film "Grace" was officially selected to premier at the 2020 Omaha Film Festival on March 5th. LeAnne also serves as the editor-in-chief of The Thunderbeat.

Rationale:  A recap of the Cognia Report formally known as AdvancED Accreditation Review of the Bellevue Public Schools that was conducted in November, 2019 will be presented.

Rationale:  Tonight the administration will give the Board an update of Priority #3 Student Programs and Services.

Rationale:  A district collaborative professional development day was held on February 17, 2020. The staff participated in building professional development activities in the morning, followed by elementary and secondary staff having time for collaboration within their departments. Refreshments were provided for staff from Food Service. The day concluded with an all staff meeting led by Dr.Rippe, and performances by the Bellevue East and West vocal music programs.

Rationale:  The second semester parent/student/teacher conferences were held the weeks of February 10th and 21st. This event is one of many opportunities for parental and student involvement, schools are continually offering activities to connect and establish relationships with families. Additionally, PowerSchool gives all students and parents the opportunity to view student progress.

The folowing indicates the average attendance of parents and students at each level.

                                           Parents               Students
Elementary                        92.8%                  80.8%
Middle School                   55%                     50.3%
High School                      25.5%                  21%

In conjunction with conferences, many buildings offer other activities for parents. These include Book Fairs, NDE Parent Survey's, Boys Town School Age Parenting Class Information booth, promoted upcoming Butter Braids fundraiser with samples, Parent Involvement survey (Buffett), Big Brothers, and Books and Breakfast.

Parent presentation including the following:

• The new On to College ACT prep program that students can utilize during 11-12 grade to improve their ACT scores.
• Upcoming ACT/SAT test dates and how to register for the ACT.
• Taking advantage of early opportunities through Metro Career Academics, Advanced Placement classes, Dual Enrollment, Metro CollegeNOW, and the new BPS Career Launch Center. Completing college visits junior year.
• Special Ed PTI presentation for all SPED parents.

Rationale:  Public Comment pertaining to items not otherwise on the Agenda must be submitted to the Secretary of the Board five days prior to the Board meeting.  There were no items submitted for Public Comment for this meeting.

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BPS Foundation - Scott Eby and Frank Kumor

MABE - Maureen McNamara

Other Meetings Attended

Rationale:  March 13, BPS Staff Celebration

March 19, Bond Oversight Committee Meeting, Wake Robin, 6:00 p.m.

April 4-6, NSBA Annual Conference (Chicago)

April 13, Board of Education Meeting, Welcome Center, 6:30 p.m.

Rationale:  Adjourn to Executive Session to consider matters relating to strategy sessions with respect to personnel, employee negotiations and negotiations with outside agencies which is necessary to be considered in closed session for protection of the public interests.