October 6, 2014 at 6:30 PM - Board of Education Meeting Agenda

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 identified with an asterisk.

Rationale:  The attached Minutes of the September 8 2014, Board of Education meeting were sent to all members of the Board of Education for review.

Administrative Recommendation:  Approve the Minutes of the September 8, 2014, Board of Education meeting.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation:  Acknowledge receipt of the Treasurer's Report for September, 2014.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation:  Approve the payment of claims totaling $1,480,230.28.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation: Release: (1) Talma (Arlana) Whitney from her contract effective June 30, 2015.

Rationale: 

Each year Bellevue Public Schools develops a Poverty Plan which outlines what the District does to provide for students from poverty and/or diverse backgrounds.  The plan addresses the areas of attendance, transportation, parental involvement, access to Early Childhood programs, extended year programs, summer school, mentors for new teachers, professional development for working with students from poverty, coordination with the Elementary Learning Center, and access to social workers.

The District has implemented many measures to meet the needs of students in poverty and from diverse backgrounds.  With the Board's approval, the proposed attached 2015-2016 Poverty Plan will be submitted to the Learning Community for approval.

Administrative Recommendation: The administration recommends the approval of the Poverty Plan as presented.

Rationale: 

The Limited English Proficiency Plan provides specialized instruction that develops a student's ability to read, write, speak and understand English.  The purpose of the program is to prepare students to participate fully in the curriculum of the school, while supporting the cultural heritage of each student.

The District develops a Limited English Proficiency Plan to include an explanation of how the school district is addressing the needs of the ELL students.  The plan is submitted to the Learning Community for approval.  The plan focuses on the identification of students with limited English proficiency, instructional approaches, assessment of students' progress toward mastering the English language, and the methods to assess the effectiveness of the Limited English Proficiency Plan.

Administrative Recommendation: The administration recommends the approval of the Limited English Proficiency Plan as presented.

Rationale: 

For the last three years Bellevue Public Schools has developed and adopted District Goals.  Last year, three goal areas: Achievement, Buildings and Budgets and Community Engagement were adopted.  This process is similar to the AdvancEd school improvement process used for district accreditation.  The District Goals are also used to write building and department goals throughout the district.  Tonight the administration will present for approval the 2014-15 District Goals.

Administrative Recommendation:  The administration recommends the approval of the 2014-15 District Goals as presented.

Rationale: 

Each year the Board of Education considers the superintendent's contract.  This year a total compensation package increase of 1.99% is being proposed.  The changes include a $5,000 increase to the base pay, elimination of the long term care insurance benefit and some contract language changes.  The proposed contract and Form D required by the state are included as attachments.

Rationale: 

Twenty-seven middle and high-school math professionals are being recognized by Raytheon as “Math Heroes” for their creative and interactive techniques to make math real and relatable for their students. Sarah Juarez, teacher at Mission Middle School was selected as a Math Hero. The Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) program provides the winners with a $2,500 award and a matching grant for their school.

Raytheon Math Hero winners are nominated by students, parents and school administrators and selected based on the effective and creative ways teachers work with students in math, drawing on new and advanced approaches.

Raytheon’s MathMovesU^® program is an initiative committed to increasing middle and elementary school students’ interest in math and science education by engaging them in hands on, interactive activities. Raytheon Company, with 2013 sales of $24 billion and 63,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world.

Rationale: 

Bellevue East students, Elizabeth Alexander and Charles Hansen have been named Commended Students in the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, will be presented by the principal to these scholastically talented seniors.

About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2015 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2015 competition by taking the 2013 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®).

Rationale: 

This year Bellevue Public Schools is using Charlotte Danielson’s Framework for Teaching as part of all teacher observations.  Tonight, the Board of Education will be presented with an overview of the third domain of the framework that looks at the instruction.

Rationale: 

The administration annually updates the Board about student performance as measured by various indicators. Tonight's update will include information about the results from ACT and AP testing.

Rationale: 

The school district was approached by a cell phone tower company with interest in installing a cell phone tower on the Mission Middle School property.  Negotiations began several months ago with input from the board.  Tonight an update on the project will be provided as it pertains to the Conditional Use Permit approved by the City of Bellevue.

Rationale: 

The Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy Counties has been in operation for six years.  The expectations for the Learning Community – pool resources across eleven school districts for the education needs of children in poverty; create socioeconomically diverse enrollment in each Douglas and Sarpy County school; fix boundaries of existing school districts; and take steps to raise overall achievement and graduation rates – are significant. Tonight the Board will be presented with information about the impact that the Learning Community legislations are having on BPS and the other districts.  The Board will have the opportunity to discuss the issues and suggest possible solutions.

Rationale:  Brenda Lay would like to address the Board regarding being granted permission to have her Exchange Student attend a Bellevue High School this year.

Rationale:  Learning Community - Nina Wolford
NASB Board of Directors - Nina Wolford
BPS Foundation - Doug Cook, Lisa Rybar, Frank Kumor
MABE - Cindy Copich
NASB Legislative Committee - Cindy Copich
Board Policy Review Work Group - Cindy Copich, Doug Cook, Mike Kinney
District Safety Committee - Doug Cook

Rationale: 

October 20, Board Work Session, Welcome Center

November 3, Board of Education Meeting, Welcome Center, 6:30 p.m.

Rationale:  Adjourn the October 6, 2014, meeting of the Board of Education.