April 14, 2014 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:  Administrative Recommendation:  Approve by consent items in sections B and C of the Agenda identified with an asterisk and receive the information and proposals in sections D and E identified with an asterisk.

Rationale:  The proposed Minutes of the March 3, 2014, Board of Education meeting and the March 12, 2014, Board of Education Work Session were sent to all members of the Board of Education for review.  Several modifications were received for the March 3, 2014, Board of Education Meeting Minutes and are reflected in these attached Minutes.  There were no modifications received for the proposed Minutes of the March 12, 2014, Board of Education Work Session.

Administrative Recommendation:  Approve the Minutes of the March 3, 2014, Board of Education Meeting and the March 12, 2014, Board of Education Work Session as presented.

Rationale:  Acknowledge receipt of the Treasurer's Report for March, 2014.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation:  Approve the payment of claims totaling $1,397,262.15.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation:  Release (1) Lindsey Valish from her contract effective March 7, 2014, release (2) Rachel Block from her contract effective March 28, 2014, release (3) Bruce Stohlman from his contract effective April 9, 2014, and release (4) Judith Alff, (5) Demetria Ballard, (6) Kara Bobbitt, (7) Josie Catlett, (8) Kapra Davis, (9) Kathleen Dorsey, (10) Alexandria Downing, (11) Katheryn Ganster, (12) Rachael Garner, (13) Ronald Hardin, (14) Nicholas Hinz, (15) Brian Johnson-Strawn, (16) Peter Kok, (17) Karen Lehman, (18) Kimberly Leggott, (19) Jessica Levin, (20) Cheri Maly, (21) Casie Onken, (22) Kristina Rivas, (23) Shawn Semler, (24) Stephanie Sexton, (25) Marilyn Vajgert, (26) Kristina Wieners, and (27) Meredith Williams from their contracts effective May 22, 2014.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation:  Elect (1) Jon Mauro to the certified staff for the 2014-15 school year effective July 1, 2014, and elect (2) Jody Eoff, (3) Macy Hagen, (4) Courtney Hedgpeth, (5) Alexa Hoffmann, (6) Kayla Jorgensen, (7) Laura Lambert, (8) Kyle Martin, (9) Collin Mink, (10) Nichole Munch, (11) Chad Mustard, (12) Stephanie Perrin, (13) Rose Ryba, (14) Sarah Rybar, (15) Megan Schweitzer, (16) Matthew Sinclair, (17) Tracy Vanhessche, and (18) Kayla Wies to the certified staff for the 2014-15 school year effective August 7, 2014, subject to their release from any contractual agreements with other school districts.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation:  Grant a leave of absence without pay to (1) Dorothy Bossman effective March 21, 2014, through January 2, 2015, and grant a leave of absence without pay to (2) Tara Burkum and (3) Emily Kurz effective August 7, 2014, through May 22, 2015.

Rationale:  Each year the Board is asked to approve the school calendar two years in advance.  Tonight the 2015-16 calendar is being presented.  This calendar follows the same philosophy of the 2014-15 calendar and incorporates a week long spring break.  The proposed, attached 2015-2016 school calendar has been reviewed.

Administrative Recommendation: Approve the proposed 2015-2016 school calendar.

Rationale:  The Safety and Security Committee is a district advisory committee composed of parents, staff, and local law enforcement.  The committee makes recommendations to the district administration and the school board.  Tonight the committee will provide an update and a recommendation for improved building access controls.

Safety and Security Committee Recommendation:  Approve the bid from Prime Communications for $142,078.26 to provide access control and a buzz-in system for 21 buildings.

Rationale:  Based on a recommendation from the accountant for the District, the Bellevue Public Schools Foundation and Foundation Advisory Board have approved changes to the Foundation's Articles of Incorporation.  The suggested changes will diminish the control that the District has over the Foundation and will become effective upon acceptance by the Nebraska Secretary of State if approved by the Board.

Attached are the revised Foundation Articles of Incorporation showing the changes recommended.

Foundation Board Recommendation:  Approve the revised Articles of Incorporation for the Bellevue Public Schools Foundation as presented.

Rationale:  The Board reviewed revised Board Policies 102, Statement of Philosophy; 201.02, Membership; and 201.06, Vacancies; and Board Policies recommended for deletion 201.03, Vacancy on School Board; and 201.04, Absence on the School Board, at the March 3, 2014, Board meeting. 

The attached proposed Board Policies are presented tonight for final approval and deletion.

Policy Review Committee Recommendation:  Approve revised Board Policies 102, Statement of Philosophy; 201.02, Membership; and 201.06, Vacancies; and the deletion of Board Policies 201.03, Vacancy on School Board; and 201.04, Absence on the School Board.

Rationale:  The Bellevue West AFJROTC drill teams competed Saturday, March 1, 2014, in the 51st Annual University of Nebraska-Omaha JROTC Drill Meet.

Women's Team:  3rd place Color Guard, 3rd place Unarmed Exhibition.

Men's Team:  2nd place Armed Exhibition, 1st place Armed Regulation, 2nd place Color Guard, 1st place Unarmed Exhibition, 1st place Unarmed Regulation, Overall Unarmed, Overall Armed, and Grand Champion.

Individual Awards:  Freshman Individual Drill Down:  1st place Bryce Walker, 2nd place Paul Taylor; Solo Exhibition:  1st place Derrick Ellis.

Rationale:  The National History Day competition for the Omaha District was held at the Durham Museum and Mission Middle School had 73 students compete.  Ten Mission students qualified for the state competition to be held in April at Nebraska Wesleyan University.  The top two finishers at state qualify for the annual Kenneth E. Behring NHD National Contest held at the University of Maryland in June.

State Qualifiers from Mission Middle School: 
1st place - Group Performance (Holly Schwarting, Hannah Harstead, Mackenzie Krumland)
1st place - Website - (Phil Crawford)
2nd place - Website - (Jared Gray)
3rd place - Documentary (Eduardo Torres)
3rd place - Exhibit (Jenny Gould)
4th place - Paper (Jamilyn Chapman)
4th place - Group Website (Jayden Laughlin, Ben Skoff)

Rationale:  The Bellevue West Forensics team competed at the NFL National Qualifier at Millard West on Saturday, March 1.  Junior Katie Cashin placed 4th in Dramatic Interpretation and junior Renee Pineda placed 3rd in Original Oratory.  Bellevue West Coach Becca Hier was also named NFL Nebraska South District Coach of the Year along with Tommy Bender of Lincoln Southeast.

Rationale:  The Mission Science Olympiad Team placed 1st or 2nd in 17 out of their 19 events in the Regional Tournament at the Henry Doorly Zoo on February 22, 2014.  They also came home with the Doorly Pride Award for sportsmanship, spirit, and enthusiasm shown throughout the day.

Rationale:  Bellevue West AFJROTC, Unit NE-711, received a $250 grant from the Air Force Association to further support their Nebraska State Champion Cyber Patriot team.

Rationale:  The Bellevue West Robotics Club, ThunderBot Bravo, received second place in the Robotics Expo Hail Storm competition.  ThunderBot Alpha team received first place in the Robotics Expo Autonomous competition.

Cyber Patriots Open Division and Service Division ROTC-1 both received first place in the state in their divisions.  Both teams will go on to compete in regional competitions next month.

Rationale:  National History Day (NHD) announced on February 20, 2014, the 36 teachers selected as Behring Teacher Ambassadors.  Bellevue Public Schools' teacher Brent Meyers, from Mission Middle School, was selected to represent Nebraska.

The teachers selected have shown outstanding creativity, commitment, and inspiration in developing students' interest in history.  Each regional winner will be awarded a $1,000 stipend for their participation and service as an ambassador.  Middle and high school teachers are nominated by their administrators, peers, or self for the award.  Candidates must be classroom teachers interested in NHD programs, who have demonstrated excellence in the classroom or have been past Behring Teacher award winners.

"There are a lot of stories still to be told in our state," said Meyers.  "I love the idea of encouraging our students to challenge themselves in research and project construction while recording the histories of subjects for which they have a passion."

Next year the 2014-2015 NHD theme is Leadership & Legacy in History.  Behring Teacher Ambassadors will work with students and teachers to help them better understand this theme and to expand NHD programs in their region.  Participating teachers will attend a training workshop in August, collaborate with their program's NHD affiliates coordinator to develop a working plan, and implement an action plan to support and expand NHD activities.

Rationale:  Bellevue East competed in the EconChallenge preliminary on March 10, 2014.  The EconChallenge is run by the National Council of Economic Education (NCEE).  There are two divisions:  Adam Smith (AP and IB - Advanced) and David Ricardo (regular high school economics).  Each school can enter as many teams as they wish in each division (3 or 4 person teams).  Bellevue East entered six Adam Smith teams and nine David Ricardo teams.  This preliminary on-line competition determines which teams advance to the state finals, scheduled for March 28 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  The top ten teams in each division advance to the state finals.

Bellevue East advanced three teams in the preliminary on-line competition to the state finals:  one of the Adam Smith teams "Bellevue East - Huzzah!" finished in the top 10 (6th place).  Team members are Dalilo Alconini, Elizabeth Alexander, Scott Walker, and Joshua Jones.

Two of the David Ricardo teams finished in the top 10 (1st and 10th place).  Team members of the "Bellevue East - Monopolizers" are Kelly Speltz, Morgan Gallagher, Alexis Reza, and Sydney Enokawa.  They took 1st place. 

Team members of the "Bellevue East - Econ Squad" are Anthony Weaver, Taylor Billington, Michael James, and Luke Bishop.  They took 10th place.

Rationale:  Bellevue West Forensics competed at the A-1 NSAA District Competition on March 15 to qualify for state.  West had 10 of their events place in the finals and four events qualified for the state competition in Kearney on March 26-27.  In order to qualify, students had to place in the top 4 of their event.

Finalists:
Kjersten Schuttler, junior - 6th place in Poetry
Jasmine Rosemond, junior - 5th place in Poetry, 5th place in Entertainment
Kyla Jackson and Lauren Johnson, freshmen - 6th place in Duet Acting
Callie Pancoe and Tyler Araujo, sophomores - 5th place in Duet Acting
Kayla Starbuck, senior - 6th place in Persuasive Speaking

State Qualifiers:
Delaney Jackson, junior - 4th place in Dramatic Interpretation
Katie Cashin, junior - 3rd place in Dramatic Interpretation
Renee Pineda, junior - 1st place in Entertainment Speaking
Emily Summers, Amber Wolfe, Callie Pancoe, sophomores; Katie Cashin, junior; and Jasmine Cashin, freshman - 4th place in Oral Interpretation of Drama

The team finished in 3rd place overall.

Rationale:  The Bellevue West men and women's drill teams completed at the Air Force Nationals Drill Competition in Washington, D.C. on March 22.

The men's team captured 1st place in Unarmed Exhibition, 2nd place in Unarmed Regulation, and Drill Team Commander, Matt Callahan, placed 2nd among all commanders.  Overall, Bellevue West finished 3rd out of 19 teams for the unarmed category.

The women's team did a fantastic job in the armed competition, but did not place in the event.

Rationale:  The Bellevue West Show Choir, West Connection, competed in Branson, Missouri, on March 29 in the FAME show choir competition.  They took 5th place and also won the FAME award for the competition.  This is the award given to one group for excellence on and off the stage.

Rationale: 

Bellevue East had another successful year at the EconChallenge State finals. They had two David Ricardo Division teams (regular economics students) and one Adam Smith Division team (AP Econ students) compete in the State finals, held at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln on March 28, 2014. 

At State, the David Ricardo teams finished in 1st and 5th place, taking the State Championship in the David Ricardo Division. The championship team is called "Bellevue East- Monopolizers" and includes team members Kelly Speltz, Morgan Gallagher, Alexis Reza, and Sydney Enokawa.  The Adam Smith team finished in 2nd place, making them State runner-up in their division. The team is called "Bellevue East - Huzzah!" and includes team members Dalilo Alconini, Elizabeth Alexander, Scott Walker, and Joshua Jones.

Rationale:  Congratulations to Bellevue West junior Renee Pineda for placing 5th in entertainment speaking at state speech.  Renee is the first state finalist in five years for Bellevue West.

Rationale:  Congratulations to Bellevue East senior Chelsea Wiech for winning 2nd place for best yearbook/magazine layout at the UNO High School Media Conference on April 2.

Rationale: 

Bellevue East and West DECA competed in the Nebraska State Career Development Conference March 20-22, 2014, with over 900 students around the state.

Bellevue East had 60 students competing with 19 students finishing in the top eight of their events. Bellevue West had 100 members competing with 46 of those students finishing in the top eight of their events.

The following students were recognized for placing in the top three of their events and qualified to compete at the DECA International Career Development Conference.

Bellevue East
1st Place - Trevor Wood and Joseph Jeanetta - Sports and Entertainment Team Decision Making

1st Place - Trevor Lovell and Brady Pelzer - Community Service Project

1st Place - Morgan McCaw, Anthony Yates, and Trevor Lenear - Financial Literacy Promotion Project 

2nd Place - Sipres Shurila - Principles of Business Management

3rd Place - Seth Peterson, Bud Windorski - Financial Operations Research Event

3rd Place - Caitlin Martin - Principles of Hospitality and Tourism

Bellevue West
1st place- Andrew Roehr – Apparel & Accessories

1st place- Annabelle Norman, Abigail Sorensen, and Edward Ventura – Growing Your Business

1st place- Courtney Bybee and Cody Lewis – Sports and Entertainment Operations Research

2nd place- Claudia Cortes – Automotive Service Management

2nd place- Megan Klostermeyer, Kylie Taylor, and Jack Glover – Financial Literacy Promotion

2nd place- Claudia Cortes, Savanna Wallin, and Sydney Wallin – Public Relations

2nd place- Cory Cordes, Trent Hoppe, and Kaleigh Young – Entrepreneurship Written

2nd place- Pimmi Dike, Lauren Crouch, Mikayla Schumacher – Business Service Operations Research Event

2nd place- Stephanie Purcell and Emily Romero – Marketing Communications

2nd place- Ryan Curl, Russell Barber, and Malik Hluchowechyj – Hospitality and Tourism Operations Research

2nd place- Brad Brazeal, Kate Liveringhouse, and Ryan Plambeck – Creative Marketing

2nd place- Serena Cowgill and Madeline Dangerfield – Entrepreneurship Promotion

2nd place- Samuel Lucier– Entrepreneurship Participating

3rd place- Mikayla Schumacher – Human Resource Management

3rd place- Alexa Burmeister, Ellis Wiltsey, and Emily Romero – Buying and Merchandising Operations Research

3rd place- Brad Brazeal and Kate Liveringhouse – Sports & Entertainment Marketing

The following Bellevue East students qualified to attend DECA ICDC as scholarship winners: Megan Bangart, Mariah Metz, and Mariyah Griffin.

The following students were recognized for finishing in the top eight of their events.

Bellevue East
4th Place - Carter Langpaul - Principles of Marketing

5th Place - Kaitlyn Collins and Peyton Hagen - Financial Analysis Team Decision Making

5th Place - Joshua Keaton - Food Marketing

6th Place - Callie Hensel - Business Services Marketing

6th Place - Malcolm Barrett - Principles of Business Management

6th Place - Brett Renner - Restaurant and Food Service Management

7th Place - Mark Deegan - Principles of Finance

7th Place - Gabriel Stiansen - Principles of Hospital and Tourism

8th Place - Thomas Walther - Quick Serve Restaurant Management

Bellevue West 
4th place- Julie Targy, Madison Braun, and Spencer Belcastro – Financial Literacy Promotion

4th place- Megan Klostermeyer and Jack Glover – Buying and Merchandising

4th place- Kyle Dosher – Principles of Finance

4th place- Emily Dighans – Principles of Hospitality and Tourism

5th place- Harlee Sinee – Principles of Hospitality and Tourism

5th place- Justin Holtmann – Principles of finance

6th place- Jasmine Rosemond – Principles of Hospitality and Tourism

6th place- Samuel Lucier – Automotive Service Management

6th place- Bailey Anstey – Principles of Marketing

7th place- Cory Cordes – Business Service Management

7th place- Taylor Christian – Principles of Business Management

7th place- Ethan Vincent and Timothy DeSoe – Financial Analysis

8th place- Annabelle Norman and Jaslyn Schweiss – Financial Analysis

8th place- Ryan Curl and Malik Hluchowechyj – Sports & Entertainment Marketing

Congratulations Bellevue East and West, and good luck to those competing in the DECA International Career Development Conference!

 

Rationale:  Every summer a variety of maintenance projects are scheduled.  Due to budget constraints, this year's list of projects will be significantly limited.  A preliminary list of projects will be presented along with the rationale for projects that will or will not be completed this summer.

Rationale:  Kevin Mills and high school staff will provide an overview of Naviance, a college and career readiness online platform that will help students connect middle and high school academic achievement to post-secondary goals and success.  The program includes web-based career and college research and planning tools for students, parents, and school counselors.  Naviance replaces several separate electronic tools and paper record-keeping systems with one online system.

Rationale:  Walt Radcliffe of Radcliffe and Associates will report on the 2014 legislative session.

Rationale:  Administrative Regulation 608.03, Textbook Loans to Private School Students, is presented tonight for Board member review.

Attached is proposed Administrative Regulation 608.03, Textbook Loans to Private School Students.

Rationale:  The kindergarten registration process for 2014-2015 began the week of February 24, 2014.  This is an opportunity for the parent/guardian to complete registration and orient the child to the kindergarten environment and staff.  To date, 540 of the 795 projected students have registered for kindergarten.  By state law, a child must be five years of age on or before July 31 in order to enter kindergarten.  The law also includes a provision for early entrance testing.

Rationale: 
Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences were held during the week of March 17-20.

                                    % of parents/guardians                  % with student in attendance

Elementary                             96                                                                 87

Middle School                         65                                                                 65

High School                            42                                                                 33

Parent Portal in PowerSchool allows parents to receive updated information on their child, via the internet, any time of the day.

AdvancED surveys, book fairs, and College 101 are just a few of the activities that accompanied conferences.

             

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.

Rationale:  Learning Community - Nina Wolford
NASB Board of Directors - Nina Wolford
BPS Foundation - Doug Cook, Lisa Rybar, Frank Kumor
MABE - Cindy Copich
NASB Legislative Committee - Cindy Copich
Board Policy Review Work Group - Cindy Copich, Doug Cook, Nina Wolford
District Safety Committee - Doug Cook

Rationale:  April 23        Secretary/Paraprofessional Day
April 24        PTA/PTSA Service to Youth Reception, Lied Activity Center, 6:00 pm
April 25        BEA Retirement Banquet, Cascio's Steakhouse, 7:00 pm
May 1          2nd Annual Foundation Breakfast, Lied Activity Center, 7:00 am
May 3          Adult Education Graduation, Bellevue West, 10:00 am
May 5          Board of Education Meeting, Welcome Center, 6:30 pm

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation:  Adjourn to executive session to consider matters relating to strategy sessions with respect to collective bargaining and personnel which are necessary to be considered in closed session for the protection of the public interest and for the needless injury to the reputation of an individual.