April 22, 2025 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.

Rationale: 
Background:
It is recommended that the Board appoint a successor to fill the remainder of the unexpired term of Lanny Boswell, that the oath of office be administered, and the successor be immediately seated and officially take office as the District 5 representative and board member of the LPS Board of Education.



 

Rationale: 

The Board believes public attendance and participation, when appropriate to the business at hand, is beneficial to the work of the Board and models the importance of civic engagement and civil discourse to the community’s children, but it cannot impede the Board from completing the business of the meeting. 

In keeping with Board Policy 8420 and Neb Statute 84-1412(3), the Lincoln Board of Education has established these reasonable regulations to conduct Public Comment::

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 three minutes will be allotted for any speaker unless prior to the beginning of the Public Comment agenda item, the chair sets a different reasonable time frame to be allotted for speakers in order to accommodate the number of persons who have submitted "Record of Appearance" cards. The time limit is per speaker, per meeting and may not be transferred or assigned to other speakers.

3. The chair may endeavor to organize public comment by what agenda items or other issues have been identified as topics by public speakers, adjust for the age of speakers, and/or split the Public Comment agenda item to be conducted in different positions within the Board’s Order of Business. 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.

4. In order to be called forward to address the Board during Public Comment, each person wishing to speak must obtain a "Record of Appearance" card from staff at the meeting in which they wish to speak. "Record of Appearance" cards are available beginning 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the meeting. Those wishing to speak must accurately complete the required sections of the card, and submit it to the appropriate staff member by 15 minutes after the start of the meeting.

5. Individuals will be called forward to speak by name, organization being represented, if applicable, and address. Each individual speaking to the Board will be required to identify himself or herself prior to giving public comment by stating their first and last name and, if applicable, any organization they represent.

6. 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.

7. If the number of people wishing to speak under the public comment portions of the agenda is large, the chair may rule that a public hearing be scheduled.

8. Persons speaking to the Board during public comment may make printed materials (paper no larger than 8.5 x 11 inches) available to the Board but may not use any other form of media. Public speakers are asked to provide 10 copies of any copies of printed materials presented to the Board.

Persons attending Board meetings and/or speaking to the Board during Public Comment or during a public hearing must follow all requirements established by the Board, as well as all Board, chair and staff directions in order to help maintain the order, proper decorum, safety and security, and the non-disruptive functioning of the Board meeting. These include, but are not limited to the following:

• Abiding by time limits
• Refraining from applauding, cheering, jeering, or engaging in speech that defames any individual(s), or stymies or blocks meeting progress;
• Refraining from the use of audio recordings, video recordings, or any digital still images, posters, signs, costumes, other props and/or photographs
• Refraining from abusive, disruptive or threatening language or gestures, and
• Staying in the areas identified by the Board as reserved for the public.

If at any time persons appearing before the Board do not comply with these or any other Board requirements, it shall be the responsibility of the chair to declare that person or persons out of order and require a change in behavior, delay or recess the meeting, or refuse permission to continue to address the Board, and ultimately may require the person or persons to leave the premises of the Board meeting.

Rationale: 

Rationale:  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.

Explanation:
This report includes routine human resources changes:

a. Certificated Employees:
         Elections - 41
         Change of Status - 9 
         Re-Elect, Same Assign - 3
         Re-Elect, Re-Assign - 3
         Separations - 4

b. Certificated Substitute Employees:
          Elections - 14
          Separations - 4

c.  Classified Employees:
          Elections  - 29
          Separations - 31

d. Civic Leave - 2
e. Contract Agreement with Gallup, Inc.
f.  Agreement for Professional Legal Services with Wolzen Law Offices     Related to Federal Immigation Law
g. Employee Association Recognitions as the Official Bargining Agents for 2026-27 and 2027-28: Custodial Employees Association, Maintenance Employees Association, Nutrition Service Workers Association, Lincoln Public Schools Association of Office Professionals, Lincoln Paraeducators Association, and Transportation Employees Association. 

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.

Rationale: 
EXPLANATION:
The items included in routine business for this meeting are:

1. REGULAR CLAIMS - Claims for the period ending April 22, 2025, were previously provided.

                Federal Tax ACH Deposit of $471.66.

                Procurement Card ACH Transfer of $165,825.39.

                Term Life/Disability ACH Transfer or $176,022.29.
                 
                Retirement ACH Transfer or $6,010,982.83.

                Blue Cross/Blue Shield ACH Transfer of           
                $7,069,591.63.

                Vendor ACH Transfer of $15,190.49.
 

2. PAYROLL FOR RATIFICATION - Payroll for the period ending April 4, 2025, in the amount of $2,544.06.

 

3. GIFTS - Approval for the gifts listed on the attached gift report.
4. BIDS/CONTRACTS/OTHER ROUTINE BUSINESS - Bids/contracts/other routine business will be presented for approval for music equipment, restroom, concrete, freezer, settlement, tables, flooring, civil engineering services, disposable products; items listed for auction; and any other bids/contracts/routine business as presented.

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

1. The regular claims for the period ending April 22, 2025.

 

2. Payroll for the period ending April 4, 2025.

 

3. Gifts for Southwest.

 

4. Bids/contracts/other routine business for music equipment, restroom, concrete, freezer, settlement, tables, flooring, civil engineering services, disposable products; items listed for auction; and any other bids/contracts/routine business as presented.

Rationale:  On September 10, 2024, the Board adopted a resolution to accept option enrollment students for the 2025-26 school year.  An application for enrollment during the 2025-26 school year has been received and is in compliance with the Board resolution of September 10, 2024.  

Explanation:
The application included in this agenda item has been examined by staff and meets one of the criteria set forth by the Board in the resolution of September 10, 2024.  Staff recommends approval of the application.

Proposal:
That the Board adopts the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the student who has been assigned student number 271268 (for purposes of confidentiality, an assigned number is being used) meets one or more of the criteria of the Board resolution of September 10, 2024, with regard to such option students;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the aforementioned student be accepted as an option student 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: 

Rationale: 

1. Regular Instructional Program:

2. Specialized Services for Special Education Programs:

Rationale:  The U.S. Department of Education through Title VI of Every Student Succeeds Act (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 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
2017-18	585	$138,292
2018-19	572	$151,709
2019-20	526	$139,941
2020-21	558	$149,006
2021-22	665	$164,298
2022-23	715	$197,942
2023-24	719	$205,390
2024-25	713	$191,755

Explanation:
Proposal:
That the Board approve the submission of the required application of the Indian Education grant to the U.S. Department of Education for $203,070. No district-funding match is required.

This grant application is due May 9, 2025.
 

Rationale: 

Rationale:  April 23
LPS Indian Education: K-5-8 Promotion Event, 6:00 pm, LSB

April 26
LPS/Food Bank Extra Mile Walk, 9:30 am, LNW

April 27:
Riley Elementary 60th Anniversary Celebration, 1:30 pm, Riley 

April 29
NAACP Scholar Recognition, 6:00 pm, Lincoln Fire Fighter's Hall

April 30
UW Annual Meeting, 11:30 am, Marriott/Cornhusker Hotel

May 1
American Indian Student Recognition, 5:00 pm, Indian Center

May 2
Scottish Rite Award Framing, 4:15 pm, SJDLC

May 7
Chamber Coffee, 8:00 am, Chamber Office
LPS Retirement Celebration, 5:00 pm, Hillcrest Country Club

May 8
LEA Retirement Celebration, 5:00 pm, Havelock Social Hall
TCA Senior Recognition, 6:00 pm, SCC Gymnasium

May 12
LPS Hispanic/Latino Senior Student Recognition, 6:00 pm, SCC

May 13
Lincoln Board Members Retirement Celebration, 4:30 pm, SJDLC
Board Meeting, 6:00 pm, SJDLC




 

Rationale: 

The Board believes public attendance and participation, when appropriate to the business at hand, is beneficial to the work of the Board and models the importance of civic engagement and civil discourse to the community’s children, but it cannot impede the Board from completing the business of the meeting. 

In keeping with Board Policy 8420 and Neb Statute 84-1412(3), the Lincoln Board of Education has established these reasonable regulations to conduct Public Comment::

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 three minutes will be allotted for any speaker unless prior to the beginning of the Public Comment agenda item, the chair sets a different reasonable time frame to be allotted for speakers in order to accommodate the number of persons who have submitted "Record of Appearance" cards. The time limit is per speaker, per meeting and may not be transferred or assigned to other speakers.

3. The chair may endeavor to organize public comment by what agenda items or other issues have been identified as topics by public speakers, adjust for the age of speakers, and/or split the Public Comment agenda item to be conducted in different positions within the Board’s Order of Business. 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.

4. In order to be called forward to address the Board during Public Comment, each person wishing to speak must obtain a "Record of Appearance" card from staff at the meeting in which they wish to speak. "Record of Appearance" cards are available beginning 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the meeting. Those wishing to speak must accurately complete the required sections of the card, and submit it to the appropriate staff member by 15 minutes after the start of the meeting.

5. Individuals will be called forward to speak by name, organization being represented, if applicable, and address. Each individual speaking to the Board will be required to identify himself or herself prior to giving public comment by stating their first and last name and, if applicable, any organization they represent.

6. 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.

7. If the number of people wishing to speak under the public comment portions of the agenda is large, the chair may rule that a public hearing be scheduled.

8. Persons speaking to the Board during public comment may make printed materials (paper no larger than 8.5 x 11 inches) available to the Board but may not use any other form of media. Public speakers are asked to provide 10 copies of any copies of printed materials presented to the Board.

Persons attending Board meetings and/or speaking to the Board during Public Comment or during a public hearing must follow all requirements established by the Board, as well as all Board, chair and staff directions in order to help maintain the order, proper decorum, safety and security, and the non-disruptive functioning of the Board meeting. These include, but are not limited to the following:

• Abiding by time limits
• Refraining from applauding, cheering, jeering, or engaging in speech that defames any individual(s), or stymies or blocks meeting progress;
• Refraining from the use of audio recordings, video recordings, or any digital still images, posters, signs, costumes, other props and/or photographs
• Refraining from abusive, disruptive or threatening language or gestures, and
• Staying in the areas identified by the Board as reserved for the public.

If at any time persons appearing before the Board do not comply with these or any other Board requirements, it shall be the responsibility of the chair to declare that person or persons out of order and require a change in behavior, delay or recess the meeting, or refuse permission to continue to address the Board, and ultimately 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.