March 26, 2019 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. The Lincoln Board of Education shall also make available for examination and copying as requested by members of the public, at least one copy of all reproducible written materials to be discussed at the meeting.

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.

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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.

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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.  Certificated Administrator Employees:
             Changes of Status - 1
             Separations - 1
   b.  Certificated Employees:
             Elections - 16
             Re-Elections Same Assignment - 1
             Changes of Status - 1
             Leaves of Absence - 31
             Separations - 60
   c,  Substitute Certificated Employees:
             Elections - 38
             Changes of Status - 2
             Separations - 4
   d.  Classified Employees:
             Elections - 45
             Separations - 92
   e.  Other:
             Workers' Compensation Lump Sum Settlements - 1
             Civic Leaves -
             Employment of Family Members - 3

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 the Associate Superintendent’s designee, and that the Board hereby authorizes the Associate Superintendent for Human Resources, or the Associate Superintendent’s 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.

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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 these application.  

Proposal   
That the Board adopt the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the students who have been assigned student numbers 293105, 287625, 287930 and 268752 (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: 

On March 26, 2019, the Board adopted a resolution to accept an option enrollment student for the 2019-20 school year.  An application for enrollment during the 2019-20 school year has been received and is in compliance with the Board resolution of March 26, 2019.      

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 March 26, 2019.  Staff recommends approval of these application.  

Proposal   
That the Board adopt the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the students who have been assigned student numbers 400177, 429199, 239216, 291260, 429726, 412427, 412428, 429791, 259493, 428382, 298481, 429730, 429772, 429721, 299583, 429775, 242793, 429776, 299060, 298892, 406623, 429780, 301484, 223806, 430140, 430282, 222690, 430290, 430294, 240315, 275355 and 246966 (for purposes of confidentiality, assigned numbers are being used) meet one or more of the criteria of the Board resolution of March 26, 2019, 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: 

March 15, 2019, 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 2018-19 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 district of Lincoln Public Schools and wish to attend school outside of Lincoln Public Schools have been received after the March 15, 2019, deadline.  The Lincoln Board of Education may deny or approve these requests.  If the requests are approved by the Board of Education, they will be forwarded to the option school districts for their approval. 

Student Number            Option District
259493                            Waverly
220347                            Palmyra
253783                            Palmyra
430626                            Raymond Central
430627                            Raymond Central
430628                            Raymond Central

Proposal  
That the Board approve the requests for option out for the 2019-20 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:  Each year, the Lancaster County Board of Commissioners sets aside prevention funding to provide services to youth at risk of entering or re-entering the juvenile justice system. Approximately $400,000 of General Funds is set aside annually by the County Board. Prioritization for the use of these funds is given to projects focused on addressing:

• youth ages 17 and under who are or have been involved in our juvenile justice system;
• youth with high truancy rates, at risk of dropping out of school;
• homeless youth without structure in their lives to enable to them to become productive adults; and
• youth at risk of being removed.

All applications must address at least one priority area of the Lancaster County Comprehensive Juvenile Services Community Plan. 
    
Explanation
Funding will support prevention services by three Licensed School Social Workers at Park Middle School, Culler Middle School and Goodrich Middle School. The Social Worker will complete a collaborative plan with identified families prior to or at 10 days of absences to determine barriers to school attendance. The Social Worker would then collaborate with each family to offer and support their student with the following:
--Offer basic needs, offer community resources, conduct home visits
--Schedule changes for students’ classes to help improve attendance
--Conduct "check ins" for academic or social/emotional concerns including bi-weekly meetings with the family
--Conduct social/emotional intervention groups and homework club at school
--Complete functional behavior analysis, behavioral intervention plan, and 504 plans as appropriate.

Proposal
The Board approves the submission of an application to Lancaster County Human Services Department for Juvenile Justice Prevention Funding to support the Truancy Diversion-Lite Program for the 2019-2020 school year with $96,784. This will cover 0.6 FTE for three School Social Workers. The match requirement for this award will be provided by Lancaster County, which will cover the remaining 0.4 FTE for all three staff.

Rationale:  Robert Bosch LLC seeks to invest in communities where they have a presence, including Lincoln, where Bosch Communication Systems (formerly Telex Communications) manufactures various communications equipment. The corporate foundation, Bosch Community Fund, has awarded over $20 million in grants to 48 communities since its inception. The focus of these grants is primarily to offer young people hands-on learning experiences in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), though smaller grants focus on the environmental conservation and environmental education with stewardship. Focus must be on activities that impact under-represented groups, such as females, students in poverty or students of color.
    
Explanation
Lincoln Public Schools will request approximately $18,000 from Bosch Community Fund to continue to purchase VEX robotics equipment and sponsor robotics clubs in middle schools.

Proposal
That the Board discuss and vote on the submission of this grant application to the Bosch Community Fund for approximately $18,000. No district-funding match is required.

This grant application has a submission date of March 28, 2019.

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EXPLANATION:
 
 

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Rationale:  As part of Nebraska’s Every Student Succeeds Act Plan, the Nebraska Department of Education offers funding for improvement efforts at schools identified for Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI). The AQuESTT accountability system was used to identify schools identified for CSI support, including performance on NSCAS ELA & Math, growth and progress toward proficiency, and progress toward English language proficiency.

Federal law requires all CSI schools to complete a needs assessment and develop a plan of action for improvement based on that needs assessment, which is also a competitive application for financial support from NDE.  The goal for the school’s plan of action/application is to focus resources on student academic and support services that result in schoolwide improvement over three years.

The plan of action must be submitted by early March for competitive review.  
    
Explanation
Within Lincoln Public Schools, Clinton Elementary School has completed a needs assessment and proposes to develop a Plan of Action/Support for Improvement (SFI) application for funding consideration by NDE. The additional supports available through an SFI grant would provide an opportunity to create or enhance academic and support services at Clinton. 

Proposed activities will include additional support for teacher professional development and student learning, as well as additional summer opportunities for students.

Proposal
That the Board approve the submission of a Plan of Action/Support for Improvement Grant Application to the Nebraska Department of Education for an amount up to $800,000 for a total of three years, dependent upon final funding determination. There is no match or in-kind requirement for this award.

Rationale:  Nebraska students may attend a school other than the one in the district in which they reside under the option enrollment statutes.      

Explanation
The attached resolution would admit any K-12 option students who meet the statutory and legal conditions and whose application is received by August 2, 2019.  

The resolution specifies the circumstances under which late-filed applications would be accepted.       

Proposal
That the Board approves the option resolution for the 2019-20 school year.

Rationale: 

Vendor	Description	Quantity	Cost	Extended Cost
Dell EMC Inc.	Dell 5190 Standard Chromebook	3,250	$248.99	$ 809,217.50
Dell EMC Inc.	Dell 5190 2-in-1 Chromebook	3,055	$348.99	$1,066,164.45

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Rationale:  March 30-April 1: NSBA Annual Conference
April 2: Thank You Teacher Reception, 4:30 pm, LPSDO
April 3: Chamber Coffee, 8:00 am, Chamber Office
April 8: Mayor's Neighborhood Roundtable, 5:30 pm, Mayor's Office
April 9: 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.

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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.