May 8, 2018 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: 

For those interested in speaking during the public hearing, the same guidelines apply as public comment. Speakers should complete the blue contact card and present it to a staff prior to speaking. Speakers have a maximum of five minutes to speak. The Board does not engage in conversation with the speakers, but listens carefully to the comments as part of its collection of information for consideration of agenda items.

With that, I hereby open this public hearing before the Board of Education of Lincoln Public Schools. This hearing is being conducted under the provisions of the Nebraska Public Elementary and Secondary Student Fee Authorization Act and other Nebraska laws. The purpose of this hearing is to receive input regarding proposed Policy 5520. The input received in this hearing will be taken into consideration by the Board when we take action on proposed Policy 5520.

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 purpose of Leadership LPS is to help aspiring administrators in the Lincoln Public Schools further develop their leadership potential and prepare for the principalship through a variety of quality leadership experiences focusing on the Lincoln Public Schools system.  The following LPS administrators have completed the 18 month course: 

1. Rob Baltensperger
2. Chris Boden
3. Traci Boothe
4. Annette Bushaw
5. Amy Clark
6. Jamie Cook
7. Joanna Davis-Yoakum
8. Kevin Deutsch
9. Stephanie Drake
10. Sharon Eickhoff
11. Jodi Frager
12. Casey Fries
13. Marci Imel
14. Kellie Joy
15. Ben King
16. Rachael Kluck-Spann
17. John Matzen
18. Marco Pedroza
19. Kim Rosenthal
20. Nancy Salsman
21. J.J. Toczek
22. Aaron Zabawa

Rationale: 

In keeping with Board Policy 8420:

1. Persons speaking during Public Comment will be called forward individually by the Board Chair to the location identified for such purpose. 
2. 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. Board members may share, address or consider comments from the public during public comment, at the end of public comment or when related business is on the agenda.
3. Each individual speaking to the Board will be required to identify himself or herself prior to giving public comment. A "Record of Appearance" card is provided for this purpose.
4. Persons wishing to appear will be heard in the order in which the Chair of the meeting determines appropriate.
5. In cases where more than one person wishes to speak on the same topic, their presentations to the Board may, at the discretion of the chair, be grouped together by topic.
6. If the number of people wishing to speak under the public participation portions of the agenda is large, the chair may rule that a public hearing be scheduled or the discussion be limited on the issue in question.
7. Persons speaking to the Board during public comment may make printed materials available to the Board but may not use any other form of media.

If at any time persons appearing before the Board exceed the time limitations set forth in this policy or on the agenda or if persons appearing before the Board or who are present at the Board meeting or public hearing become abusive in language or behavior, it shall be the responsibility of the chair to declare that person or persons out of order and to refuse permission to continue to address the Board, require a change in behavior and may require the person or persons to leave the premises of the Board meeting.

Rationale: 

Rationale:  Explanation:

Rationale: 

Rationale: 

On February 13, 2018, the Board adopted a resolution to accept an option enrollment student for the 2018-19 school year.  An application for enrollment during the 2018-19 school year has been received and is in compliance with the Board resolution of February 13, 2018.      

Explanation
The applications included in this agenda item have been examined by staff and meet one of the criteria set forth by the Board in the resolution of February 13, 2018.  Staff recommends approval of the applications.  

Proposal   
That the Board adopts the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the students who have been assigned student numbers 426003, 426006 and 294596 (for purposes of confidentiality, assigned numbers are being used) meet one or more of the criteria of the Board resolution of February 13, 2018, 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:  *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: 

The Board of Education of Lincoln Public Schools annually reviews and approves Policy 5520 to ensure that its policy is in accordance with the Public Elementary and Secondary Student Fees Authorization Act.

The district’s general policy is to provide for the free instruction in school in accordance with the Nebraska Constitution and state and federal law.  This generally means that the district’s policy is to provide free instruction for courses which are required by state law or regulation and to provide the staff, facility, equipment, and materials necessary for such instruction without charge or fee to the students.

The district does provide activities, programs, and services to children that extend beyond the minimum level of constitutionally required free instruction. Students and their parents have historically contributed to the district’s efforts to provide such activities, programs, and services. The district’s general policy is to continue to encourage and to the extent permitted by law, to require such student and parent contributions to enhance the educational program provided by the district.

Explanation

Revisions to Policy 5520 reflect changes to fees and the fee waiver eligibility fees to address changes in cost while remaining in compliance with all applicable laws.

Proposal

That the Board discuss Policy 5520 and Appendix 1.

Rationale: 

Rationale:  Let’s Play is an initiative launched in 2011 by Dr. Pepper Snapple Group (DPS) to provide the tools, places and inspiration to make play a daily priority.  Dr. Pepper Snapple Group will provide nearly 10 million children across North America with new opportunities to play and be active through Let’s Play.

In partnership with the nonprofit organization KaBOOM! and Good Sports, Let’s Play is working to eliminate the ‘play deficit’ by building and improving play spaces and providing grants for athletic equipment and gear.
    
Explanation
Huntington Elementary School proposes to utilize $20,000 in KaBOOM! grant funding to purchase and install new playground equipment.  Huntington Elementary School has a playground renovation plan that has already raised over $6,000, this grant would help accelerate the funding requirements of the plan.

Proposal
That the Board approves the submission of the LPS application of the KaBOOM! Let’s Play Upgrade your Play grant to KaBOOM! Inc. for $20,000. A minimum of $4,000 district-funding match is required.

This grant application has a submission date of May 11, 2018.

Rationale:  United Way of Lincoln Lancaster County (UWLLC) provides grant funding for services provided at Community Learning Center School sites.
    
Explanation
UWLLC will provide Lincoln Public Schools grant funds in the amount of $40,000 to support these services.  This agreement will be renewed annually with actual amounts dependent on availability of funds.

The term of the agreement will be from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018.

A complete copy of the proposed agreement is available in the purchasing office.  The Board, by approving this agreement with the above named entity, hereby designates the Director of Federal Programs or another person as selected by the Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs or a designee from time to time as its program administrator under this agreement.

Proposal
It is recommended that the grant agreement be entered into between Lincoln Public Schools and United Way of Lincoln Lancaster County (UWLLC) to provide grant funding to Lincoln Public Schools for services provided at any of the current 26 Community Learning Center School sites.

Rationale: 

Rationale:  Annually, the Board of Education evaluates and reviews the contract of the Superintendent of Schools.  The 2017-18 evaluation of Steve Joel, Superintendent, is complete and has been recommended for consideration to be placed in his personnel file, and his contract is being recommended for extension and increased compensation. Copies of a public summary of the Superintendent’s evaluation are available, and the proposed contract for approval is attached.
Explanation:

Rationale: 

Rationale:  The U.S. Department of Education through Title VI of the ESSA provides funds to fulfill the Federal Government’s responsibility to the Indian people for the education of Indian children. These funds support the goal of ensuring programs that serve Indian children are of the highest quality and provide for not only the basic elementary and secondary educational needs, but also the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of these children.

Lincoln Public Schools has received federal funds for services for Native American students since the mid-1980’s.  The following table reflects an annual January student count and the grant award amount received in recent years.  Grant award amounts vary by year according to the total amount of Indian Education funds available at the federal level and are not based only on the number of students per program.

School Year	Student Number	Amount Awarded
2012-13	531	$132,842
2013-14	568	$137,006
2014-15	553	$133,660
2015-16	606	$148,737
2016-17	611	$146,179
2017-18	585	$138,292
2018-19	*572	$150,762

*Indicates count from January 2018 submitted with current grant request.
     
Explanation
Lincoln Public Schools Indian Education program will provide support to Native American students in grades PK-12 in the 2018-19 school year. Native American students are enrolled in all schools across the district representing about 60 tribes as designated by the parent. Estimated funding from Title VI for 2018-19 is $150,762, based on the January student count. Decisions regarding the use of these funds are made in consultation with the Native American Advisory Committee.

Proposal
That the Board approve the submission of the required application of the Indian Education grant to the U.S. Department of Education for $150,762. No district-funding match is required.

This grant application has a submission date of May 17, 2018.

Rationale:  Explanation:
Annually, the Board of Education reviews the contracts of the Associate Superintendent for Instruction, the Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs, the Associate Superintendent for Human Resources, and the Assistant Superintendent for General Administration and Governmental Relations.

It is recommended that the proposed two-year contract for each of the three Associate Superintendents and the Assistant Superintendent be amended and extended for one year to June 30, 2020.  It is also recommended that a total salary increase of 2.68 percent, overall total package increase of 2.43 percent, be approved for this group for 2018-19.  Each contract is within the parameters set by the Board of Education.

Included in the total package increase for each of the three Associate Superintendents and the Assistant Superintendent are additional district costs including the district’s contributions to health insurance, state retirement, and Social Security.

The proposed contracts are attached.

Proposal:
That the Board of Education ratify the recommended one-year contract extensions and total salary increases of 2.68 percent (overall total package compensation increases of 2.43 percent) for the Associate Superintendent for Instruction, the Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs, the Associate Superintendent for Human Resources, and the Assistant Superintendent for General Administration and Governmental Relations.
 

Rationale: 

Rationale: 

Rationale:  May 9:
TCA Joint Board Mtg, 8:00 am, TCA
Face the Chamber, 12:00 pm, Country Club of Lincoln
LPS Retirement Celebration, 5:00 pm, Country Club of Lincoln

May 10 :
Native American Senior Recognition, 5:30 pm, Firefighters Reception Hall

May 15:
Military Service Senior Recognition, 6:30 pm, LNE

May 18:
Yankee Hill Spring Graduation Celebration, 9:00 am, Yankee Hill

May 20:
Community Retirement Reception for Thomas Christie, 2:00-4:00 pm, LHS

May 21:
Board Organizational Meeting, 6:00 pm, LPSDO
Voice Graduation Ceremony, 6:30 pm, Bryan Medical Plaza

May 22:
Board Work Session (Budget), 4:30 pm, LPSDO
Board Meeting, 6:00 pm, LPSDO
 

Rationale: 

In keeping with Board Policy 8420:

1. Persons speaking during Public Comment will be called forward individually by the Board Chair to the location identified for such purpose. 
2. 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. Board members may share, address or consider comments from the public during public comment, at the end of public comment or when related business is on the agenda.
3. Each individual speaking to the Board will be required to identify himself or herself prior to giving public comment. A "Record of Appearance" card is provided for this purpose.
4. Persons wishing to appear will be heard in the order in which the Chair of the meeting determines appropriate.
5. In cases where more than one person wishes to speak on the same topic, their presentations to the Board may, at the discretion of the chair, be grouped together by topic.
6. If the number of people wishing to speak under the public participation portions of the agenda is large, the chair may rule that a public hearing be scheduled or the discussion be limited on the issue in question.
7. Persons speaking to the Board during public comment may make printed materials available to the Board but may not use any other form of media.

If at any time persons appearing before the Board exceed the time limitations set forth in this policy or on the agenda or if persons appearing before the Board or who are present at the Board meeting or public hearing become abusive in language or behavior, it shall be the responsibility of the chair to declare that person or persons out of order and to refuse permission to continue to address the Board, require a change in behavior and may require the person or persons to leave the premises of the Board meeting.

Rationale: 

Explanation
At this point, it is appropriate for the Board to meet in closed session for one of the stated matters and/or any other permissible closed session matters in compliance with the law.

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.