May 22, 2012 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale: 

Notice of the time and place of the Lincoln Board of Education meeting was e-mailed to an extensive list of local and regional news media.  A mailing list is maintained at the Lincoln Public Schools District Office.  A public notice was published in the LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR.

The Lincoln Board of Education is empowered to act on any item listed on the Agenda at any time during the meeting, irrespective of the time or order listed. Pages listed, or further detail, are available upon request. The Open Meetings Act requires and the intention of the Board is that agenda items be sufficiently descriptive to give the public reasonable notice of the matters to be considered at the meeting. The Lincoln Board of Education releases its agenda well in advance of most meetings and desires that all interested persons are fully informed. Any interested person who has a question or needs clarification about the sufficiency of a descriptive item should contact the Office of the Superintendent of Schools.

Rationale:  The attached minutes are intended to accurately reflect the action of the Board at its previous meetings.

Explanation
The minutes have been prepared for Board approval.

Rationale: 

Kathi Mercure, a Social Studies teacher at Lux Middle School,has received a Special Recognition Award from the Nebraska Christa McAuliffe Prize for her excellence and courage in education.

Explanation

Kathi Mercure is a Social Studies teacher at Lux Middle School, where she has taught for 16 of her 20 years with Lincoln Public Schools.

Recently she was honored with a Special Recognition Award from the Nebraska Christa McAuliffe Prize for her excellence and courage in education.  Gregg Wright, co-chair of the Nebraska McAuliffe Selection Committee, said, “We do not give out Special Recognition Awards lightly and believe by this award that these teachers are an excellent representation of the courage and excellence in education shown by Christa McAuliffe.”

In her nomination documents, Mercure said she teaches the facts of history but then strives to tell the context of the events, people, and dates.  She said, “I try very hard to help students see that history is not just facts in a book but very much alive and connected to the world they live in today.  Students must develop a variety of thinking skills that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.”

To help better understand history and its impact on the world today, Mercure travels around the United States and the world, gathering photos and resources and then incorporates those experiences into her curriculum.

Mercure provides her students with some of the following key opportunities:

The Veterans’ Day Celebration, which draws more than 40 veterans from World War II through more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The veterans share their stories with eighth-graders, who appreciate the veterans as heroes and mentors.

People of Prominence, a student research and narrative project with a capstone event where students dress as the person they’ve researched and present an oral interpretation for their class.

A unit on the Holocaust, where students learn the background of the historical event in part by taking virtual field trips prepared by Mercure on her trips.          

Lux students enjoy a Pen Pal program with Lux’s Japanese Sister School, Senshu University Matsudo Junior High School in Chiba, Japan.  In the summer following the school year, the Japanese students visit America and Lincoln for nine days,engaging with students and the local culture. Lux students make a return trip every other year.

Bill Bucher, who has been Mercure’s principal for all of her 16 years at Lux, said Mercure builds great relationships with students to be the most effective teacher.  He said, "She uses care, humor, imagination, and her knowledge everyday. Her teaching of American History comes alive in her classroom as she uses her travels in our country and abroad to provide students a great deal of information with high interest.  All of this helps Kathi gives her students first-hand knowledge of our world and our history.  She is an amazing teacher.”

Rationale:  In keeping with Policy 8420, a time limit of five minutes will be allotted for any speaker. At the discretion of the Chair, the speaker may be allotted additional time.

Rationale: 

Rationale:  Explanation
The Human Resources Division also includes the Office of Risk Management.  As such, in addition to the Lincoln Board of Education approving all contractual agreements with employees, all employee benefit issues, all personnel actions and all other matters within the scope of the Human Resources Division, as part of the Human Resources Matters agenda, the Lincoln Board of Education also must approve the settlement of Workers’ Compensation claims, take action on tort claims filed against the District; and take action on all other matters within the scope of the Office of Risk Management.

This report includes routine Human Resources changes:
   a.  Administrator Certificated Employees:
             Elections – 2
             Changes of Status – 2
   b.  Certificated Employees:
             Elections – 4
             Re-Elections Same Assignment – 4
             Changes of Status – 8
             Leaves of Absence – 7
             Separations – 8
   c.  Substitute Certificated Employees:
             Elections – 1
   d.  Classified Employees:
             Elections – 34
             Changes of Status – 6
             Leaves of Absence – 1
             Separations – 36
   e.  Other:
             Civic Leaves – 1

Proposal

That the Board approve the Human Resources items presented in the attachment(s).*


*The information in the attachment(s) may be protected by privacy legislation until the Board of Education takes action on the staff recommendations.  Therefore, this attachment(s) is not included in agenda materials provided the public and the news media.  Any information in the attachment(s) that is not protected by privacy legislation, however, is available for public inspection from the Associate Superintendent for Human Resources upon request.

That the Board is approving the Human Resources items attached with the information as presented or as on file with official district records and documents relating to each such item, or in such other form as may be approved by the Associate Superintendent for Human Resources, or her designee, and that the Board hereby authorizes the Associate Superintendent for Human Resources, or her designee, to transact and complete each such item approved hereby, and to sign, execute, and deliver necessary documents or contracts, and to take or cause to be taken any and all other action as may be necessary to complete each such item of transaction as contemplated, for and on behalf of this school district.

Rationale:  At each meeting, the Board of Education is asked to approve certain items of routine business of the school district.

Explanation

The items included in routine business for this meeting are:

a.    REGULAR CLAIMS – Claims for the periods ending May 22, 2012, were previously provided.

Insurance ACH Transfer of $3,401.00.

Federal Tax ACH Deposit of $32,201.24.

State Income Tax ACH Deposit of $715,962.25.

Procurement Card ACH Transfer of $125,111.29.

Office Depot ACH Transfer of $40,623.02.

Vendor ACH Transfer of $7,144.26.

b.    PAYROLL FOR RATIFICATION – Payroll for the periods ending May 3 and May 15, 2012, in the amount of $165,990.63.

c.    BIDS/CONTRACTS – Bids/contracts will be presented for approval for reading practice books for use by elementary schools; classroom calculators for use by students at all school locations; interactive projectors for Elliott Elementary School; emergency and outreach notification system; sanitary sewer and right turn lane for the Lincoln Public Schools District Offices; outdoor marquee sign at Northeast High School; capstone digital subscriptions; asphalt and concrete replacement at Northeast and Southeast high schools; kindergarten and early childhood furnishings for all locations; an agreement for a two-year renewal license for online computer assisted learning software programs; and any other bids and contracts as presented.

Proposal

That the Lincoln Board of Education approve the following items of routine business:*

a.    The regular claims for periods ending May 22, 2012.

b.    Payroll for the periods ending May 3 and May 15, 2012.

c.    Bids/contracts for reading practice books for use by elementary schools; classroom calculators for use by students at all school locations; interactive projectors for Elliott Elementary School; emergency and outreach notification system; sanitary sewer and right turn lane for the Lincoln Public Schools District Offices; outdoor marquee sign at Northeast High School; capstone digital subscriptions; asphalt and concrete replacement at Northeast and Southeast high schools; kindergarten and early childhood furnishings for all locations; an agreement for a two-year renewal license for online computer assisted learning software programs; and any other bids and contracts as presented.

*That the Board is approving routine business and the listed bids and contracts with the information and in the form as presented, and except as to amount bid or total contract price, in such other form as may be approved by the Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs, or his designee, and that the Board hereby authorizes the Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs, or his designee, to sign, execute, and deliver necessary documents or contracts, and to take or cause to be taken any and all other action as may be necessary to complete the transaction as contemplated, for and on behalf of this school district.

Rationale:  On January 24, 2012, the Board adopted a resolution to accept option students for the 2012-13 school year. Applications have been received from students requesting that they be accepted as option students for the 2012-13 school year.  Staff recommends that the students referred to in this agenda item be accepted for enrollment as they are in compliance with the Board resolution of January 24, 2012.

Explanation

Staff has examined the applications of the students included in this proposal.  The students meet all of the criteria set forth by the Board in its resolution of January 24, 2012.  Staff recommends approval of these applications.

Proposal

That the Board adopt the following resolution:

WHEREAS the students who have been assigned student numbers 257975 and 180059  (for purposes of confidentiality, assigned numbers are being used) meet all criteria of the Board resolution of January 24, 2012, with regard to such option students;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the aforementioned students be accepted as option students on the condition and with the express understanding that all programs, all classes and all buildings of assignment, except as otherwise required by law, shall at all times and from time to time during attendance at Lincoln Public Schools be determined solely by Lincoln Public Schools.

Rationale:  March15, 2012, was the deadline for enrollment option applications to be completed for students wishing to attend school in a district other than the one in which they reside for the 2012-13 school year. The Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education has authority to waive the deadline for late enrollment option requests (NDE Rule 7, Section 004.05).

Explanation

Requests from students who reside in the Lincoln Public Schools District and wish to attend school outside of the Lincoln Public Schools District have been received after the March 15, 2012, deadline.  The Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education may deny or approve this request.  If this request is approved by the Board of Education, it will be forwarded to the option school district for their approval.

                                    Student Number                                    Option District

                                    218822                                                 Norris
                                    289163                                                 Malcolm
                                    289164                                                 Malcolm

Proposal

That the Board approve these requests for option out for the 2012-13 school year. 

Rationale:  *The Lincoln Board of Education is empowered to act on any item listed on the Agenda at any time during the meeting, irrespective of the time or order listed. Pages listed, or further detail, are available upon request. The Open Meetings Act requires and the intention of the Board is that agenda items be sufficiently descriptive to give the public reasonable notice of the matters to be considered at the meeting. The Lincoln Board of Education  Board releases its agenda well in advance of most meetings and desires that all interested persons are fully informed. Any interested person who has a question or needs clarification about the sufficiency of a descriptive item should contact the Office of the Superintendent of Schools.

Rationale: 

Rationale: 

The Lincoln Board of Education established a Naming Committee with seven community members (Shari Anderson, Stephanie Dinger, Karen Peppmuller, Ann Powers, Amy Prenda, Kevin Pringle, and Ed Swotek) and three members of the Lincoln Board of Education (Katie McLeese Stephenson, Barb Baier, and Ed Zimmer).  The Committee solicited and reviewed suggestions for the name of the new development at 59th and O streets where the new Lincoln Public Schools District Office building is under construction. 

The school district asked the community for suggestions and more than 150 names were submitted.  

Explanation

The Naming Committee met on May 17 to discuss the submissions and any other suggestions.  The Committee also consulted with Continuum Partners, the company developing additional retail shops and stores at the corner of 59th and O streets.  The Naming Committee agreed to make a final recommendation with Continuum’s concurrence.

Proposal

That the Board discuss the final recommendation.

Rationale:  Approximately every four years, the Athletic Department recommends a price increase for all tickets and passes to off-set increases in facilities, equipment, and other expenses.  Attached are the recommendations for price increases in some of the admission tickets and passes for  the district's athletic competitions.

Explanation

While the recommendation for price changes occurs every four years, we have not always increased prices.  In 2006, adult passes were increased,but student athletic ticket prices were left the same.  In 2010, which would have been the end of that four-year cycle, all prices were left at the 2006 level.  The equipment, facility, and other costs have risen since 2006.  The recommendation is that student ticket prices increase moderately, which places them on par with student ticket prices for many of the Class A schools with whom we compete.  Additionally, the price of some of the pass packages would increase, but still provide substantial savings over the cost of paying for single game admissions.  With these increases, the Athletic Department budget will be better able to meet the needs of our student-athletes.

Proposal

That the Board discuss the proposed increases for student and employee passes, and parents of free/reduced lunch students.   

Rationale:  The W.K.Kellogg Foundation’s mission statement reads, “We support children, families and communities as they strengthen and create conditions that propel vulnerable children to achieve success as individuals and as contributors to the larger community and society." To further their mission, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation allocates funds to focus on “protecting, nurturing and supporting opportunities for children in an effort to improve one generation over another.”   The Kellogg Foundation does not have any submission deadlines.

Explanation

In an effort to propel the current generation to do better than the generation before, Lincoln High School(LHS) and Lincoln Southeast High School (LSE) have made it their mission to increase graduation rates and academic achievement of vulnerable students.  In an effort to fulfill their mission, LHS and LSE are seeking funding from the W.K.Kellogg Foundation to implement, in collaboration with Lighthouse, the after school programs, “LinkED to Success,” and “Knightly Studies.”         

“LinkEDto Success” and “Knightly Studies” will utilize each school’s library to provide homework support, to foster relationships, and to provide a safe place for students to be after school.  Students can participate in the program by staff referral, family referral, or by just choosing to attend.  LHS and LSE will target incoming ninth grade students who have been identified as at-risk for not graduating based on course failures and attendance concerns at their middle schools.

 “LinkED to Success” and “Knightly Studies” focus on helping students overcome obstacles to graduation and life success by providing tutors, credit recovery options,and extended learning time.  By creating an after school program,struggling students will have access to educational opportunities that will help improve their chance of gaining meaningful employment after high school and to promote post-secondary success. “LinkED to Success” and “Knightly Studies” will also provide ACT prep programs and college access activities.

The grant is for $647,058 over a five year period to fund “LinkED to Success” and “Knightly Studies.” This amount will fund annually at both schools a contract for  two Lighthouse employees and three tutors, curriculum materials (including ACT prep), student incentives, and healthy snacks.  In addition, it will pay for an LPS certified staff member to be present each day to provide an eLearning option period.

Proposal

That the Board discuss submission to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation of this grant in the amount of $647,060 for the 2012-17 school years to fund “LinkED to Success” and Knightly Studies.” 

Rationale: 

The Lincoln Board of Education has recognized the Lincoln Education Association as the exclusive bargaining agent to negotiate salary, fringe benefits, and working conditions for members of that employee group.  The negotiation teams, representing LEA and Lincoln Public Schools, have reached a tentative agreement for the 2012-13 and 2013-14 years and the LEA has approved the tentative agreement.

Explanation

The proposed agreement calls for a two and one-half (2.5) percent total package increase for 2012-13.  The total package increase for 2013-14 is 1.89 percent. These settlements are within the parameters set by the Board of Education.  Included in the package increases are all District costs including the District’s contributions to health insurance, state retirement, and Social Security.

Proposal

That the Board of Education ratify the proposed negotiated agreement for the 2012-13and 2013-14 school years with the Lincoln Education Association.

Rationale:  The Nebraska Legislature adopted LB249, an amendment to the Student Fee Authorization Action, in 2003.  The statute defines purposes for which student fees may and may not be collected by public schools in Nebraska.  The act further requires boards of education to adopt a policy on student fees by August 1 of each year, including a list of fees and/or specific materials that students will be required to pay or provide.  The policy is to be adopted following a public hearing on the proposed policy.

Board members discussed the Student Fees Policy at their May 8, 2012, meeting, following a public hearing.

Explanation

Staff is recommending changes in meal costs and activity tickets.

Proposal

That the Board approve changes to the Student Fees Policy.

Rationale:  Policy 6443 on Parental Involvement was adopted by the Board of Education on May 23, 1995, in compliance with the specific provisions in State Statute 79-4, 242, et. seq.  The statute further provides that “the policy shall be reviewed annually and either altered and adopted as altered or reaffirmed by the Board following a public hearing.”  Explanation

Policy 6443 (Attachment One) was developed with input from parents on the Community Curriculum Council and the Title I Parents Advisory Council. No questions or concerns have been raised about the parental involvement policy by either parents or school staff during the year.

Rationale:  Explanation

Each year a joint LPS/LEA committee, composed of parents, education association leaders, teachers and administrators, recommends a student calendar for the Board’s consideration based on the application of the calendar variables.  Last year, the Board requested that the calendar variables be revisited and updated as necessary.

Last year, the Board of Education approved the 2012-13 calendar.  In approving the calendar, Board members requested that the calendar variables be updated.  It was noted that some of the calendar variables were out-of-date and some were even contradictory.  During the winter and spring of the this year, the calendar variables were reviewed and revised to match the current instructional needs of the district and the flexibility needs of the Lincoln Public Schools families.  The updated final list is included for Board discussion.

Proposal

That the Board approve the proposed student school calendar variables.

Rationale:  Explanation

Each year a joint LPS/LEA committee, composed of parents, education association leaders, teachers and administrators, recommends a student calendar for the Board’s consideration.  It has been the policy of the Board to adopt calendars two years in advance to assist students, parents, and district personnel in planning.  Last year the Board approved a calendar for the 2012-13 school year.

Last year, the Board of Education approved the 2012-13 calendar that included a number of changes to the school calendar first adopted in the 2011-12 school calendar.  The changes included in the 2011-12 have received positive responses from the staff and families.  Included in this recommendation is thecontinuation of the template originally devised for 2011-12 and approved again for 2012-13.  The Calendar Committee believes that the calendars approved for 2011-12 and 2012-13 strike an effective balance of instructional days for students, allowances for annual assessments, and the needs of families. With this in mind, the Calendar Committee, following the same calendar conditions and variables that led to the development of those calendars has prepared student calendar recommendations for both the 2013-14 and 2014-15school years. Beginning the process of approving calendars two years in advance will allow staff and families to more confidently make advanced instructional and family plans.

Proposal

That the Board approve the proposed student calendars for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years.

Rationale: 

Rationale:  Thursday, May 24
Last Day of School

Saturday, May 26
East High Graduation at 9 a.m. @ Pershing Center
Southeast Graduation at 12 p.m. @ Pershing Center
Lincoln High Graduation at 3 p.m. @ Pershing Center
North Star Graduation at 6 p.m. @ Pershing Center

Sunday, May 27
Northeast Graduation at 1 p.m. @ Pershing Center
Southwest Graduation at 4 p.m. @ Pershing Center

Wednesday, June 6
Chamber Coffee at 8 a.m. @ Chamber Office

Tuesday, June 12
Board Meeting at 6 p.m. @ Co-City Bldg.

Rationale:  In keeping with Policy 8420, a time limit of five minutes will be allotted for any speaker. At the discretion of the Chair, the speaker may be allotted additional time.

Rationale:  The Lincoln Board of Education is authorized by state statute to hold closed sessions.  Closed sessions may be held when clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual.  Reasons that meet this standard include but are not limited to:  (a) strategy sessions with respect to collective bargaining, real estate matters, pending litigation, or litigation which is imminent as evidenced by communication of a claim or threat of litigation to or by the public body; (b) discussion regarding deployment of security personnel or devices; (c) investigative proceedings regarding allegations of criminal misconduct; (d) evaluation of the job performance of a person when necessary to prevent needless injury to the reputation of a person and if such person has not requested a public meeting; and (e) legal advice.