August 5, 2013 at 6:30 PM - Board of Education Meeting Agenda

Rationale:  A motion will be necessary if a member of the elected Board is absent.

Rationale:  The Bellevue Board of Education abides by the Nebraska Open Meetings Law.  A copy of the law is posted on the wall of our Board room.

Rationale:  Approve by consent items in section B of the Agenda identified with an asterisk and receive the information and proposals in sections D and E identified with an asterisk.

Rationale:  The Minutes of the July 8, 2013, Board of Education meeting, and the July 24, 2013, Board Work Session were sent to all members of the Board of Education for review.

Rationale:  Acknowledge receipt of the Treasurer's Report for July, 2013.

Rationale:  Approve the payment of claims totaling $1,918,719.39.

Rationale:  Release (1) Heather Liggett and (2) Gretchen Oltman from their contracts effective May 23, 2013, and to acknowledge that Geoffrey Semrad was elected to the certified staff for the 2013-14 school year effective August 8, 2013, and subsequently declined to accept the offer of employment by not executing the contract presented to him.

Rationale:  Elect (1) Karen Bostic, (2) Tara Burkum, (3) Stephanie Domenge, (4) Ryan Fuerhoff, (5) Katheryn Ganster, (6) Jessica Levin, (7) Tiona Mosby, (8) Denise Perrone, (9) Molly Swartz, and (10) Samantha Vargas to the certified staff for the 2013-14 school year effective August 8, 2013, subject to their release from any contractual agreements with other school districts.

Rationale:  The 2013-2014 proposed budget was developed within the parameters set by the Board of Education, and in compliance with state and federal laws and limits.  The proposed budget recommends no change in the tax levy.  Currently, the Bellevue School District's levy is $1.05, the lowest overall tax levy in the metro area.

Rationale:  Notice of the hearing and a summary of the proposed budget were published in accordance with Nebraska statutes.  The budget was filed with the Secretary of the Board on July 8, 2013, for public review.

The proposed budget was developed to meet the needs of 10,258 students, an increase of 74 students.  Staffing represents approximately 86% of the current expenditure budget.  The remainder of the budget is allocated for the implementation of curriculum, textbooks, supplemental materials and technology, and to address the rising fixed costs. 

Attached is a revised copy of the "2013-2014 Proposed Annual Estimate of Receipts and Expenditures" and the Notice of Budget Hearing and Budget Summary.

Anyone interested in addressing the Board regarding the proposed budget is asked to come to the podium, state their name and address, followed by their input limited to five minutes.

Rationale:  During the 2012-13 session, the Nebraska Legislature passed an amendment to the school finance formula (TEEOSA) allowing districts to access an additional 2% of their 2012-13 Certified Budget Authority with a 75% affirmative vote of the local Board of Education.  This amendment allows a unique opportunity to gain back budget authority diminished by other changes to TEEOSA in recent years.

The Bellevue Board of Education is being asked to approve an additional 2% increase to the 2013-14 Certified Budget Authority (approximately $1.5 million), which could help the Bellevue Public Schools access more state aid dollars in future years.

Rationale:  Adopt the 2013-2014 budget which includes a General Fund property tax requirement of .10 cent.

Rationale:  At the end of each fiscal year, funds must be transferred to various accounts or expended outside of the regular Board approval process in order to pay encumbered expenses and ensure that all funds have adequate allowances at the beginning of the next fiscal year.  Due to the fiscal year ending at the end of August, the Board is being asked to grant the Board Treasurer the needed authority to make these necessary transfers and expenditures.

Rationale:  A two-year salary agreement has been reached and ratified by Local 226 representation employees, and a two-year agreement has been reached and ratified by the Bellevue Public Schools Non-Certified Employee Association, representing custodial and maintenance employees.

Attached is a copy of the current and proposed salary programs.

Rationale: 

The Board reviewed revised Board Policy 704.01, Deposits and Investments, at the July 8, 2013, Board meeting. The attached proposed Board policy is presented tonight for final approval.

Rationale: 

Twenty-seven students at Bellevue East High School and forty students at Bellevue West High School have earned the designation of AP Scholar by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program Exams.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program offers students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school, and to receive college credit, advanced placement, or both, for successful performance on the AP Exams.  About 20 percent of the more than 2.1 million high school students worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to merit the recognition of AP Scholar.

Students took AP exams in May 2013 after completing challenging college-level courses at their high schools.  The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on the number of year-long courses and exams. 

At Bellevue East:
Sixteen students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Examinations, with grades of 3 or higher (on a 5-point scale). The AP Scholars are Emma J. Betz, Kyle D. Camplin, Nathan R. Duffy, Samantha J. Hidalgo, Katrina M. Jenkins, Allison C. Lariviere, Lexi M. Orme, Kassandra S. Pepper, Elizabeth A. Rea, Christian D. Rush, Andrea M. Vellani, Jessica M. Vernon, Katherine E. Waite, Scott A. Walker, Madellyn F. Wilson, and Rebecca K. Zawistowski.

Six students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. These students are Matthew D. Cummins, Erik T. Ingram, Megan L. Johnson, Megan M. Manheim, Haley M. Ourada, and Eli A. West.

Five students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. These students are Ryan F. Boyland, Nathan W. Crawford, Chayce A. Kenny, Zachary T. Smith, and Michaela K. Sullivan.

At Bellevue West:
Nineteen students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Examinations, with scores of 3 or higher (on a 5-point scale).  The AP Scholars are Christopher Beeman, Sarah Bethel, Conner Beyersdorf, Candice Bolden, Austin Brown, Alexa Burmeister, Cole Burmeister, Matthew Callahan, Rachel Colwell, Claudia Cortes, Erica Dalen, Brandon Franklin, Jose Garcia, Hannah Joyce, Alec Koukol, Nicole McElroy, Jacob Moran, Marissa Starbuck and Zachary Williams.

Seven students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.  These students are Kyle Hefner, Kimberly Miller, Jonathan Mueller, Drew Shifter, Kimberly Smith, Brooke Stelly and Jason Wisenbaker.

Fourteen students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.  These students are Alexander Gangwish, Kevin Hanna, Taylor Hess, Jonathan Holtmann, Matthew Kruger, Taylor Kuhlman, Maxwell Lydiatt, Daniel Moses, Brittany Schraeder, Derryk Stiner, Emily Vokal, Ashley Weed, Jacob Wilkinson and Katherine Wilson.

Two students qualified for the National AP Scholar by earning an average score of 4 or higher on all AP exams taken and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.  The National Scholars are Daniel Moses and Jacob Wilkinson.

 

 

Rationale:  The Bellevue Public Schools offers a variety of summer programs for students, each program serving its own purpose.  As the District expands summer programs, the staff is proactive to ensure each program continues to meet the intended purpose.

The elementary summer school program is designed to provide enrichment and remediation opportunities for students in an environment where content is delivered in a variety of creative ways.  This year MAP data assisted teachers in guiding instruction to students.  Elementary summer school was held June 3 through June 21 at each elementary school with 65% of the elementary/preschool students attending summer school.  Participation has remained stable over the last three years.

Secondary summer school was held at each of the five schools June 3-28.  Students entering seventh grade participated in middle school summer school as opposed to elementary summer school, a successful change from previous years.  High school summer school consists of ninth grade transition, credit acquisition, and credit recovery.  Approximately 31% of middle school and high school students participate in the program.  The CHAP Center also offered summer programming for students.

Math, science, and technology camps were held for three weeks, June 24-July 19, and served 206 students entering sixth and seventh grades with a limited enrollment.  Students participating in the camp were taught by BPS educators with the intent of expanding student opportunities and critical thinking.  Participation has increased over the inception of the program three years ago. 

Summer Jump Start is a cooperative effort between the Bellevue Public Schools and the Sarpy/Douglas Counties Learning Community.  The purpose of the program is to provide targeted instruction in reading, writing, and math to students who may be at a socio-economic disadvantage.  English Language Learners and students entering kindergarten and first grade next year at six elementary schools are eligible based upon teacher recommendation and qualification.

Finally, Day Camp is a field-trip based summer program offered to all Bellevue Public Schools' students exiting kindergarten through sixth grade and is housed at the Lied Activity Center.  The program was held June 25-August 3 and included a $115 fee for the use of transportation for field trips.  Enrollment in Day Camp this year was lower than in previous years.

Rationale:  Tonight, an overview of the summer work that took place for Bellevue Public Schools will be presented to the Board.

Rationale:  Each summer, all of our buildings and hundreds of our staff members engage in various types of professional development with the purpose of advancing teaching, learning, and work efficiency.

Tonight, a brief report will highlight the scope and depth of that professional development.

Rationale:  Attached are Administrative Regulation 404.01, Employee-Physical Examination, which is recommended for deletion, and revised Board Policy 203.01, Officers, which is for review tonight with approval scheduled for the September Board meeting.

Rationale:  A brief report will highlight professional development activities for new and returning teachers, administrators, professional staff and substitute teachers. 

In addition, back-to-school or curriculum nights are planned at each of our elementary, middle and high schools to welcome students and families to the 2013-14 school year.

A schedule of the professional development activities and the back-to-school/curriculum nights are attached.

Rationale:  An oral report will be provided on the recent meetings of the Learning Community.

Rationale:  None

Rationale:  August 7            New Teachers Luncheon, Fontenelle Forest Nature Center, 11:30 am
August 9            BPS Expo, Bellevue East Cafeteria, 7:30 am
August 9            All-Staff General Session, Bellevue East Auditorium, 8:15 am
August 12          Recognition Luncheon, Welcome Center, 12:00 noon
September 5       Bellevue Chamber Annual Dinner
September 9       Board of Education Meeting, Welcome Center, 6:30 pm

Rationale:  Adjourn to executive session to consider matters relating to strategy sessions with respect to the Superintendent's Evaluation which are necessary to be considered in closed session for the protection of the public interest and for the needless injury to the reputation of an individual.