February 4, 2013 at 6:30 PM - Board of Education Meeting Agenda

Rationale:  A motion will be necessary if a member of the elected Board is absent.

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:  Stephanie Cain, President of the Bellevue Education Association, will make a presentation to the Board.

Rationale:  Approve by consent items in section B of the Agenda identified with an asterisk and receive the information and proposals in sections D and E identified with an asterisk.

Rationale:  The Minutes of the January 7, 2013, Board of Education meeting were sent to all members of the Board of Education for review.

Rationale:  Acknowledge receipt of the Treasurer's Report for January, 2013.

Rationale:  Approve the payment of claims totaling $1,328,216.22.

Rationale:  Release (1) Alison Scott from her contract effective December 21, 2012, and release (2) Stephanie Cain and (3) Ralph Tosti from their contracts effective May 23, 2013.

Rationale:  According to board policy, the school board selects an auditor for the District.  For several years the District has used DeLoitte & Touche LLP as the auditor.  Although there is not an issue with the service we currently receive, as with most services, it is common to periodically solicit proposals.  With the changes in the business office and with the Board, it is a good time to request proposals for an auditing firm.

Rationale:  Bellevue Public Schools has been working with the City of Bellevue and the Bellevue Police Department to formalize an agreement for School Resource Officers.  In the recommended agreement, BPS would pay for one-half of the cost of two SROs.  Bellevue Police will perform security audits on all BPS school buildings.  Other City-School Partnerships will be considered to credit BPS for part of the cost of the SROs.  For the 2012-2013 school year, BPS will pay the City of Bellevue $25,000, and during 2013-2014, actual costs of all partnerships will be used to determine any payments.

Attached is the agreement reached with the City of Bellevue.  The Bellevue City Commission will consider the agreement at their next meeting.

Rationale:  The recommendation is to approve the proposed 2014-2015 school calendar.  The proposed 2014-2015 school calendar has been reviewed by the instructional council and emailed to all staff for their input.

Attached are the 2013-2014 school calendar, the proposed 2014-2015 school calendar, and staff comments on the calendar.

Rationale:  At the December meeting, the Board approved Digital Visions as the copier provider for the District.  Due to the timing of the Board meeting, when the contract was finalized, and the end of the previous copier agreements, the new contract needed to be executed before the February meeting.

Attached is the finalized copier contract.

Rationale: 

During November, 2012, all the World Language teachers and students at Bellevue East High School collected money for the Heifer Foundation. The goal was to collect enough for a llama.

The Heifer Foundation provides training, facilities, and animals for families. The goal is to alleviate hunger and poverty by providing families with animals to eat, and also to be able to sell the products from those animals to improve their standard of living. Once a family receives their training, builds the pens, and receives their animals they agree to pass on one or more of their animal’s offspring to another family in need. That family will do the same beginning a chain for economic growth for an entire community. They offer the following animals for donation: Heifer $500, Water Buffalo $250, Goat $120, Pig $120, Sheep $120, Rabbits $60, Chicks $20, Bees $30 and Llamas $150. People can sponsor the whole animal or shares of an animal. Bellevue East High School collected $750.00 and ordered 5 llamas.

Rationale:  The Bellevue East Dance Team, the Bellevedettes, received first place in the Hip Hop Division at the Centura Dance Competition. They also received the overall grand champion highest score of the day at the competition.

Rationale: 

Bellevue East finished 3^rd at their Regional location and 5^th overall in the large schools division in Nebraska.  There were multiple Regional locations around the state.  Bellevue East will advance to the State Finals for the seventh year in a row.  The State Finals are scheduled for February 15 & 16 at Creighton University. 

Bellevue East competitors won 37 medals at Regionals.  Each team sends a primary and an alternate team to the competition and both teams can win medals.  East won a mixture of primary and alternate medals.

The Regional medals won by team members (alphabetical by category):

Honors Level

Ryan Boyland (Co-Captain):  Silver – Math; Silver – Economics; Silver – Super Quiz
Zachary Smith:  Gold – Best Bellevue Team Score; Silver – Super Quiz; Bronze – Math; 
Bronze – Science

Scholastic Level

Erik Ingram:  Gold – Math; Gold – Economics; Silver – Art; Silver – Super Quiz; Bronze - Language and Literature; Bronze – Music
Katherine Waite (Co-Captain):  Silver – Super Quiz; Bronze – Economics

Varsity Level

Alexander Campbell:  Silver – Super Quiz; Silver – Art; Bronze – Music; Bronze --Economics
Kevin Pflager:  Gold – Science; Silver – Art; Silver – Super Quiz; Silver – Economics

Alternate Honors

Noah Madrigal:  Alt Silver – Economics; Alt Silver – Science
Brooke Winsor:

Alternate Scholastic

Jamie Frangoulis:  Alt Bronze – Science
Sydney Hanson:  Alt Bronze – Language and Literature; Alt Bronze – Music

Alternate Varsity

Dalilo Alconini:  Alt Silver – Music; Alt Silver – Economics; Alt Bronze – Art; Alt Bronze – Language and Literature
Ryan Majka: Alt Gold – Science; Alt Silver – Language and Literature; Alt Silver – Art; Alt Bronze – Music; Alt Bronze - Economics

NOTE:  Focus area for this year’s competition was Russia.  The team studied Russian Art, Russian Music, Russian Economics, etc.

NOTE:  Super Quiz is a public competition where students answer questions in the area of Russian History and Space Science.

The Bellevue East team is coached by PK Simmons.

Rationale: 

Bellevue East and West High Schools' AFJROTC units competed at the Papillion-LaVista South Titan Invitational Drill Event on January 26, 2013. Both units represented Bellevue proudly.

Bellevue East Results
Overall Runner-Up; 1st Place Overall Unarmed; 1st Place Unarmed Regulation; 2nd Place Unarmed Exhibition; 1st Place Unarmed Color Guard; 2nd Place Unarmed Color Guard; 3rd Place Overall Armed; and 3rd Place Armed Exhibition.

Bellevue West Results
Men's Drill Team 2nd place Unarmed Regulation; 1st place Armed Regulation; 3rd place Unarmed Exhibition; 2nd place Armed Exhibition; 3rd place Unarmed Color Guard; 3rd place Armed Color Guard; 2nd place Overall Armed; and 3rd place Overall Unarmed.

Rationale:  Bellevue West teacher Becca Heir was awarded the Donus D. Roberts Quad Ruby Award from the National Forensic League (NFL). This prestigious honor is given to NFL coaches who attain their 1000th NFL coaching point. The award is named in honor of NFL coach and past President Donus D. Roberts. Donus served on the NFL Board of Directors for 24 years and earned ten coach diamonds, the highest degree earned by any NFL coach in history. Through Becca’s active involvement in the development of NFL student members, a positive impact will be made in their academic, professional, and personal success for the rest of their lives.

Rationale:  Kindergarten orientation will be held the week of February 25 for those children who are eligible to enter kindergarten in the fall of 2013.  Children must reach their fifth birthday on or before July 31, 2013, (unless the child is eligible through early entrance assessment) in order to attend kindergarten.

Registration information will be sent to families prior to orientation.  Prior registration will give families a better opportunity to explore the classrooms and visit with staff during orientation.  Children are encouraged to attend with their parent/guardian(s).

Rationale:  As a part of the AdvancED District Accreditation process and in accordance with Nebraska Rule 10, each school building in the Bellevue Public Schools must participate in an ongoing, continuous school improvement process.  School staff analyze student performance data to plan and implement strategies to continually move the school toward improvement and increased student performance levels.

Tonight, Avery Elementary Principal Dr. Lori Thomas and members of the Avery staff will present some of the structures, strategies, and activities they are implementing in their building's ongoing school improvement process.

Rationale:  Bellevue Public Schools offers a wide variety of programming during the summer.  The purpose of this report is to outline the programming that is offered and highlight proposed changes for the summer of 2013.

Rationale:  The Board is required to evaluate the superintendent twice during the 2012-2013 school year.  The evaluation materials will be presented as well as a time line for the process.

Attached is the Superintendent Evaluation Feedback Form.

Rationale:  Walt Radcliffe of Radcliffe and Associates will report on the beginning of the 2013 legislative session.  Particular emphasis will be given to bills that affect state aid to schools and curriculum.

Rationale:  An oral report will be provided on the recent meetings of the Learning Community.

Rationale:  None

Rationale:  February 7       Transportation Employees Day

February 25     Board of Education Work Session

March 4           Board of Education Meeting, Welcome Center, 6:30 pm  (possible change in date)

March 5           Tribute to Teacher Day

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