September 14, 2015 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:  Administrative Recommendation: 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 attached Minutes of the  August 3, 2015 Board of Education meeting and the August 11, 2015 Board of Education Work Session were sent to all members of the Board of Education for review.  The minutes of the September 12 Board Work Session will be attached on September 14, 2015 and sent to Board members for review.

Administrative Recommendation:  Approve the Minutes of the August 3, 2015 Board of Education meeting, the August 11, 2015 Board of Education Work Session, and the September 12, 2015 Board of Education Work Session.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation:  Acknowledge receipt of the Treasurer's Report for August, 2015.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation:  Approve the payment of claims totaling $3,531,687.67.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation: Release: (1) Karen Bowen from her contract effective September 10, 2015 and release (2) Rebecca Parsons from her contract effective November 24, 2015.

Rationale: 

The attached letter serves as Cindy Copich’s resignation from the BPS Board of Education due to requirements of her new job.  In order to proceed with selecting a new Board member, the Board must first accept Dr Copich’s resignation.  The Board will also discuss the application and interview process for selecting a new Board member.

In anticipation of the vacancy, Board Vacancy Interest Forms were accepted from August 17, 2015 through September 9, 2015 and are attached.

Rationale:  The decisions that went into the development of the 2015-16 budget will be reviewed as an explanation of the tax rate request being submitted tonight.

Rationale: 

Notice of the hearing was published in accordance with Nebraska statutes. The proposed property tax request and rate to be used for the 2015-2016 school year were included in the hearing notice. A copy of the notice is attached.

The proposed budget reflects the fifth year of implementation of the Learning Community Coordinating Council. The Learning Community levy that applies to local school districts is 95 cents. Based on the 2015-16 budget approved in August, the Bellevue School District is recommending 13.873 cents for the Bellevue School District general fund levy and no taxes levied for the building and site fund. This would bring the total school district levy for people living in the Bellevue Public School District to $1.08873.

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: 

Adopt the following resolution to set the property tax request and rate for FY 2015-2016:

WHEREAS, the Bellevue Public Schools held a budget hearing on August 3, 2015, and

WHEREAS, a tax request and rate hearing was held on September 14, 2015, and

WHEREAS, all of the above were done for the FY 2015-2016 budget and are consistent with all state statutes:

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Bellevue Board of Education of School District #1 in Sarpy County: (1) that the Bellevue Board of Education sets the 2015-2016 general fund property tax request of $0.13873 and asks the County Board to set the tax rate of 13.873 cents accordingly consistent with state statutes.

Rationale: 

For work being done by the Facilities Master Plan Steering Committee, information about financing options and costs will be needed.  For this reason, BPS needs to select an Investment Banking Partner with experience with school district financing to provide information and modeling on various options.  An RFQ was sent out and interviews were conducted with Ameritas and D.A. Davidson & Company. There is no cost for these services until such time as the Board decides to use an available financing option.

Administrative Recommendation: The administration recommends D.A. Davidson & Company as the investment banking partner for Bellevue Public Schools.

Rationale: 

The following policies were presented for review by the Policy Committee at the August meeting and are for presented tonight for revision by consent:

Soliciting Funds from School Personnel 403.07P

Fund Raising 506.08P

Soliciting Funds from Students 506.081P

Rationale: 

The Nebraska Art Teachers Association (NATA) recently announced Nebraska’s 2015-2016 Art Education award recipients. 

Congratulations to Secondary Art Educator of the Year, Tim Bogatz, Bellevue East High School.

Each year NATA recognizes outstanding contributions to student learning in Nebraska classrooms, leadership in curriculum and staff development in local school districts and communities, and contributions to professional endeavors on state and national levels.

Individual award descriptions may be viewed on the NATA website: http://www.nebraskaarteducators.org/nata-awards.html

NATA is a professional organization whose mission is to develop and promote quality art education in Nebraska through a statewide professional support system, with opportunities for growth and development through leadership and service.

The awards will be presented at the Nebraska Art Teachers Association fall conference held September 17-19 in Omaha.

Rationale: 

For the last four years, the Board of Education has adopted goals for the district.  Tonight strategies for continuing goals will be presented and discussed.

Rationale: 

In August, the Board approved a contract with Jacobs to develop a Facilities Master Plan.  This process involves a Steering Committee made up of Parents, Community Members, Board Members and Staff.  Each month, the Board will be given an update of the Steering Committee’s work.  At the end of the process, the Board will be presented a proposed Facilities Master Plan that will include recommendations from the committee for future steps.

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
BPS Foundation - Doug Cook, Frank Kumor
MABE - Mike Kinney
GNSA - 
Board Policy Review Work Group - Doug Cook, Mike Kinney
District Safety Committee - Doug Cook

Rationale: 

September 16, NASB Regional Meeting, Omaha Marriott, 10220 Regency Circle, 4:30 pm

September 22/23, Special Meeting, Selection of Board Member - Time TBD

October 5,  Board of Education Meeting, Welcome Center, 6:30 pm

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation: Adjorn the September 14, 2015 Board of Education meeting.