September 9, 2019 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 and D 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 section D identified with an asterisk..

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Administrative Recommendation:  Approve the Minutes of the August 5, 2019, Board of Education meeting.

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Administrative Recommendation:  Acknowledge receipt of the Treasurer's Report for August, 2019.

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Administrative Recommendation:  Approve the payment of claims totaling $8,147,019.64.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation:(1) Melanie Hamilton be released from her contract effective September 20, 2019.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation1) Holly Booe be elected to the certified staff for the 2019-20 school year effective August 16, 2019 subject to her release from any contractual agreements with other school districts.

Rationale:  We have received final valuation from the Sarpy County Assessor. General Fund valuation has risen 9% since 2018 and 6.7% in the Bond Fund. The proposed budget recommends a General Fund tax levy of $1.05, and a Bond Fund levy of $0.1462, For a total levy of $1.1962. This supports the 2019-20 budget approved by the Board at the August 6th meeting.

Rationale:  Notice of the hearing was published in accordance with Nebraska statutes. The proposed property tax request and rate to be used for the 2019-2020 school year were included in the hearing notice. A copy of the notice is attached.

Based on the 2019-20 budget approved in August, the Bellevue School District is recommending $1.05 for the general fund levy and $0.1462 for the bond fund. This would bring the total levy for people living in the Bellevue Public School District to $1.1962.

Individuals interested in making comments on the property tax request and rate will be asked to come to the podium, state their name and address, followed by their input limited to five minutes.

Rationale:  WHEREAS, public was given at least five days in advance of a Special Public Hearing called for the purpose of discussing and approving or modifying the District's Tax Requests for the 2019/2020 school fiscal year for the General Fund and Bond Fund of Sarpy County School District #0001; and,

WHEREAS, such Special Public Hearing was held before the Board of Education (hereinafter "the Board") of Sarpy County School District #0001 (hereinafter "the District") at the time, date, and place announced in the notice published in a newspaper of general circulation, a copy of which notice and proof of publication of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A, all as required by law; and,

WHEREAS, the Board provided an opportunity to receive comment, information and evidence from persons in attendance at such Special Hearing; and,

WHEREAS, the total General Fund assessed value of the property differs from last year's total assessed value by 9%; the tax rate which would levy the same amount of property taxes as last year, when multiplied by the new total assessed value of property would be $0.963 per $100 of assessed value; the Bellevue Public Schools proposes to adopt a General Fund property tax request that will cause its tax rate to be $1.05 per $100 of assessed value;

WHEREAS, based on the proposed property tax request and changes in other revenue, the total General Fund operating budget of the Bellevue Public Schools will exceed last year's by 2 percent; and

WHEREAS, the total Bond Fund assessed value of the property differs from last year's total assessed value by 6.79%; the tax rate which would levy the same amount of property taxes as last year, when multiplied by the new total assessed value of property would be $0.0684 per $100 of assessed value; the Bellevue Public Schools proposes to adopt a Bond General Fund property tax request that will cause its tax rate to be $0.1462 per $100 of assessed value;

WHEREAS, based on the proposed property tax request and changes in other revenue, the total Bond Fund operating budget of the Bellevue Public Schools will exceed last year's by 114 percent.

WHEREAS, the Board, after having reviewed the District's Tax Requests for each said fund, and after public consideration of the matter, has determined that the Final Tax Requests as listed below are necessary in order to carry out the functions of the District, as determined by the Board for the 2019/2020 school fiscal year.

NOW BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that (1) the Tax Request for the General Fund should be, and hereby is set at $34,097,247; and (2) the Tax Request for the Bond Fund should be, and hereby is set at $4,747,475.

Rationale:  Tonight the Board will be asked to accept the Memorandum of Understanding between the Bellevue Public Schools and the City of Bellevue for the School Resource Officers.

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:  The administration will ask the Board for approval to use bond funds in the amount of $116,385 for the resurfacing of the lower playground area at Birchcrest.

Rationale:  At the July, 2019 Board meeting the bids were approved from Musco Lighting, ProTech Electric Service, and DC Electric totaling $373,615 for the replacement of the lights at the Bellevue East baseball stadium. Tonight the administration will ask the Board for approval to use bond funds in the amount of $333,206 for the project.

Rationale:  At the May, 2019 Board meeting the bid from Musco Lighting in the amount of $313,500 was approved for the materials and installation for the replacement of the lighting at the Bellevue East Stadium. Tonight the administration will ask the Board for approval to use bond funds in the amount of $230,500 for the project.

Rationale:  The administration will ask the Board to approve GP Architecture to purchase a new chiller from Trane and prepare the RFP and solicit bids for the installation of the new chiller at Fairview.

Rationale:  The administration will ask the Board to approve the bid from Omaha Stage in the amount of $9,715.87 for additional counterweights for the new stage shell.

Rationale:  The administration will ask the Board to approve the the two bids from Aqua-Chem in the amount of $33,550 and $78,900 for the replacement of the current pool filter and UV system purchase at Bellevue East.

Rationale:  Congratulations to Bellevue West's Paula Yoachim on being selected as NATA's (Nebraska Art Teacher's Association) 2019 Outstanding Art Educator of the Year awardee. NATA is a professional organization whose mission is to advocate for and advance quality art education in Nebraska. Each year NATA recognizes outstanding contributions to student learning, leadership in curriculum development in local school districts and communities, and participation in professional endeavor on state and/or national levels. Paula will receive the award at the NATA Fall Conference on September 27th in Nebraska City.

Rationale:  The Knight Foundation-endowed Center for Scholastic Journalism at Kent State University selected 23 journalism teachers to be part of a new week-long workshop for those wanting to get ahead of the curve and learn about innovative concepts in media. The workshop took place in July, 2019.

The group was chosen from a large pool of applicants who wanted to attend this all-expense-paid immersive, hands-on experience. They represented 16 different states, from Georgia to Oregon and Kansas to New Jersey.

Bellevue East's Stephenie Conley and Bellevue West's Julie Rowse were selected.

Each teacher has had at least five years of advising student media and is already comfortable with the basics of content, technology, law and ethics. They spent time on campus exploring data reporting and visualization, content engagement across all platforms, virtual and augmented reality, solutions journalism and other ways to take their students to the next level. Attendees were able to get one graduate credit for the work they completed.

Congratulations to Stephenie and Julie!

Rationale:  A report will be provided to the Board followed by a discussion on this year's back to school activities.

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

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:  September 19, Bellevue Chamber Annual Dinner, Beardmore Event Center, 5:00 p.m.

September 25, Bond Oversight Committee Meeting, Logan Fontenelle, 6:00 p.m.

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

Rationale:  Adjourn the September 9, 2019, meeting of the Board of Education.