June 12, 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: 

The American School Counselor Association(ASCA) recognizes schools with a comprehensive, data-driven approach to school counseling.  The school must have successfully implemented the program and applied for the status from the ASCA, which starts with the question, “How are students different because of what school counselors do?”  There are six schools in Lincoln Public Schools that have the Recognized ASCA Model Program, (RAMP) status:  East, Northeast, and Southwest High Schools, Pound Middle School, and Randolph and Zeman Elementary Schools.

Explanation
The RAMP designation is the culmination of a comprehensive approach to school counseling.  As one LPS school counselor said, “A school counselor is the only one in the school building who sees the student from all angles: career planning, academic achievement, and personal/social development.”

At East High School, counselors targeted several key areas: students who started high school elsewhere and struggled academically and students who struggled in math.  After interventions over a period of years, counselors noted that the academic failure rate of students who had not started high school at East had dropped by 50 percent.  When targeting students with math struggles, the number of students repeating a math class dropped by 25 percent, and the school’s percentage of students attaining or exceeding the ACT benchmark for success in college math rose 9 percent. During that same time period, graduation rates increased from 88.3 to 92.6 percent.

Counselors at Northeast High School set goals of increasing the graduation rate and decreasing sophomore failure rate. An early watch system was developed and meetings became more regular between counselors, teachers, students, and families.  Individual four-year graduation plans were established and checked each semester. In addition, on-site mental health services were added.

At Southwest High School, counselors turned a critical eye to self-analysis of their own counseling department.  The team identified several areas where it could benefit from better data collection and then went to work implementing those ideas.  The counselors used the information, in one case, to restructure its work with juniors by establishing small group interviews.  From there, assessments provided data to help the team improve upon its work with students.

Pound Middle School counselors became more intentional about analyzing data, leading to an increased comfort level for making decisions.  This led to more guidance for teachers during their Professional Learning Community time. An advisory council offered input that led to new programs for students.  One example is the Spotlight Students idea, where students are recognized weekly for modeling positive behavior.

Randolph Elementary School aimed for a proactive program that would reach all students, using data to make programming decisions.  Randolph set a goal of 100 percent attendance at parent-teacher conferences and hit it.  Randolph educators noticed second-graders were more likely to have office referrals, so they put in place a unit on conflict resolution and saw referrals drop by 40 to 50 percent.  The school counselor said, “The ASCA model and RAMP process has helped me to work "smarter,” not harder.  It has helped me to focus where there is a need, and to look for solutions.  It has made me a better school counselor.”

Zeman Elementary School took a classroom approach, where all students received lessons on impacting attitudes, knowledge, and skills in three areas: academics, personal/social, and career. “Without the classroom guidance component, I would not have an opportunity to establish rapport with the student body and teach direct skills to the masses,” the Zeman counselor said, noting that the program had an impact on the entire school.  In one example, the counselor targeted age-appropriate behavior as an area of concern and since then has used classroom guidance lessons.  By the end of the third quarter, 88 percent of students met the new expectations.

Proposal
That the Lincoln Board of Education adopt the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the American School Counselor Association designates the RAMP honor for schoolsthat implement a comprehensive approach to student counseling using properdata, and

WHEREAS, six LPS schools have attained the RAMP status: East, Northeast and Southwest high schools, Pound Middle School, and Randolph and Zeman elementary schools, and

WHEREAS,the high school counseling departments of East, Northeast and Southwest high schools have used positive interventions to garner significant student improvements in academics, while also increasing student access to social and mental health services, and increase student focus on career goals, and

WHEREAS, the counseling team at Pound Middle School is using data to drive decisions throughout the school while implementing new programs for professional learning and highlighting positive student behavior, and

WHEREAS, counselors at Randolph and Zeman elementary schools have started programs to increase parent involvement, improve conflict resolution among students, and add guidance lessons to classrooms to impact attitudes, knowledge, and skills in three areas: academics, personal/social,and career.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Lincoln Board of Education does hereby congratulate the counseling departments and the schools of East, Northeast, and Southwest high schools, Pound Middle School, and Randolph and Zeman elementary schools for the ASCA’s RAMP designation, highlighting the hard work and proven results these teams have demonstrated for the betterment of their schools,their students, and their community.

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: 

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Rationale:  Explanation

                                    Student Number                                    Option District

                                    286063                                                   Norris     
                                    286064                                                   Norris
                                    233744                                                   Norris
                                    217790                                                   Norris

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:  Explanation
The Lincoln Public Schools Transportation Department will transport only those students that qualify under provisions of state law, including:

1.    Elementary and middle school students residing over four miles from the school in their attendance area within which they reside.

2.    Special education students whose individual education plan (IEP) require transportation as essential to learning.

3.    Students that have been moved for the benefit of the district in instances to relieve overcrowding, major facility renovations, or efficiency in use of buildings and/or staff.

In addition, the Board, at its discretion, may approve other transportation areas based upon unique circumstances and for the purpose of equalizing school enrollments and facilitating programs.

Attachment One is a tentative listing of all routes recommended for the 2012-13 school year. 
Attachment Two details the recommended elimination of bus routes.

Proposal
That the Board discuss the 2012-13 transportation plan, including proposed reductions.

Rationale: 

Explanation
Staff is recommending the adoption of the proposed Policy 5506.  The supporting regulation is presently a procedure in use in the district; it will be changed to regulation status with the adoption of 5506. 

The Policy Review Committee of the Board has met and discussed the proposed policy.

Proposal
That the Board discuss the proposed policy on use of restraints and seclusion.

Rationale: 
ProposalEach year the Business Affairs Office makes recommendations to the Board of Education for tuition charges for regular and special education programs.  This is done in accordance with Policy 3300 and Regulation 3300.1.
1.    Regular Instructional Program:

2012-13 Rates
	Per Year	Per Semester	Per Day
Grades K-6	$7,500.00	$3,750.00	$42.61
Grades 7-8	$9,000.00	$4,500.00	$50.00
Grades 9-12	$10,500.00	$5,250.00	$58.33

     

Based on 176 days elementary and 180 days secondary.

2.    Specialized services for Special Education Programs:

	Per Hour
Paraeducator	$12.75
Teacher	$49.00*
Audiology	$49.00*
Counselor	$49.00*
Homebound	$49.00*
Program Supervision	$49.00*
School Nurse	$49.00*
Speech Therapy	$49.00*
Physical/Occupational Therapy	$58.00*
Low Vision Assessment	$72.00*
Psychological Services	$72.00*

 
*    Rates are based on Nebraska Department of Education approved rates for these services.

That the Board discuss the proposed tuition rates.

Rationale:  Background

Explanation

The LNE Early Intervention Program will partner with the Lincoln Child Guidance Center and the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL) Psychology Department to achieve anticipated outcomes:

Goal 1:Reduce percentage of students failing two or more classes by one percent annually (from2011-12 benchmark).

Goal 2:Increase graduation rates to 83 percent by 2015.

Goal 3:Increase college-going rates of graduating seniors by one percent annually (from the2011-12 benchmark).

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 Board discussed proposed names at the May 22 Board of Education meeting, and the Naming Committee engaged in further consultation.  The Naming Committee agreed to make a final recommendation with Continuum’s concurrence.

Proposal
That the Board approve the final recommendation.

Rationale:  Background

Board members discussed this grant at their May 22 meeting.

Explanation

“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.

Rationale: 

Rationale:  Explanation
The revisions to the following regulations incorporate changes in state statute:

•    Regulation 5140.3:  Mandatory Attendance Ages.  The revised regulation incorporates the requirement that students older than 16 but not yet 18 may withdraw from school only if an exit interview is conducted and the proscribed withdrawal form is signed.  The regulation notes the persons who must be in attendance at the interview and the reasons for which a student may withdraw before age 18.

•    Regulation 5140.4:  Reporting and Responding to Excessive Absenteeism and Truant Behavior.  The revised regulation makes a distinction between excused and unexcused absences and how they will be reported to the County Attorney when the number of absences exceeds 20.

Regulation 5140.5 is renumbered to accommodate the previous regulations.  Policy 5140 is included as the policy under which these regulations fall.

Proposal
Information item only; no action is requested.

Rationale:  June 19 - Budget work session at Hawthorne @ 6p
June 26 - Board meeting

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.

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 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.