December 8, 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 and C 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 November 3, 2014, Board of Education meeting and the November 17, 2014 Board Work Session were sent to all members of the Board of Education for review.

Administrative Recommendation:  Approve the Minutes of the November 3, 2014, Board of Education meeting and the November 17, 2014 Board Work Session.

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

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation:  Approve the payment of claims totaling $1,529,042.41.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation: Release: (1) Jennifer Mallett Smith from her contract effective December 19, 2014 and (2) Kim Hackbart, (3) Cindy McCormack and (4) Resi Smith be released from their contracts effective May 22, 2015.”

Rationale: 

Each year, all Nebraska public school districts are required to have an external audit completed and presented to the Board for approval.  Tonight the 2013-2014 fiscal year Audit Report will be presented by the District's external auditors, HSMC Orizon LLC.  Jodi Rinne, CPA of HSMC Orizon LLC, will be present to comment on the report.

Attached is a copy of the Audit Report.

Administrative Recommendation: Accept the Audit Report for the 2013-2014 fiscal year as presented by the District's external auditors, HSMC Orizon LLC.

Rationale:  The Board has been notified by Pat Sullivan with Adams and Sullivan that the firm will not be renewing the contract for legal services with the district.  The current contract ends January 31, 2015.  Tonight the Board will discuss how they would like to structure legal services and next steps for finding legal counsel.

Administrative Recommendation: Direct the administration to prepare and release a Request for Proposal for legal services.

Rationale: 

The Board reviewed new Board Policy 302.02, Superintendent’s Contract and Evaluation at the November 3, 2014, Board meeting. The attached proposed Board policy is presented tonight for final approval.

Administrative Recommendation: Approve new Board Policy 302.02, Superintendent’s Contract and Evaluation.

Rationale: 

The National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) presented awards to 104 students who participated in the 2014 NFPW High School Communications Contest.

 The annual contest, endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals and covered by the Dow Jones News Fund Adviser Update, is the only nationwide competition of its kind.

The NFPW High School Communications Contest offers 20 categories, including news, feature and column writing; photography; videos; and graphic design. Students initially compete at the state level, and first-place winners then advance to the national competition.

This year, 188 of the 890 entries competed at the national level, and 85 entries created by 104 students received national honors.

The following Bellevue West students were winners in their categories for the 2014 NFPW High School Communications Contest:

Grant Harrison (Column writing) placed first.

Hailey Stolze (2014 grad) and Lexy Burroughs (Video Sports Story) placed first.

Morgan Keith and Sam Bradbury (Video Web News Story) placed third.

Rachel Colwell (2014 grad, Video Feature Story) placed third.

Winners received certificates and recognition at state and national awards ceremonies. The national recognition was in September during the 2014 NFPW Conference. Each first-place winner at the national level received a $100 cash prize.

NFPW – a nationwide organization of women and men with diverse roles in communications – sponsors the two-tier contest each year, believing it is vital to encourage the next generation to pursue excellence and perhaps a career in the rapidly changing field of journalism and the broader fields of professional communications. 

Rationale: 

Bellevue West Forensics competed at Lincoln Pius X/Lincoln East tournament on November 22. Jordan Gross, freshman, placed 4th in novice extemp & Amber Wolfe, junior, placed 4th in varsity Informative.

Rationale: 

Omaha’s best and brightest aspiring high school communicators were honored November 11, at a recognition event sponsored by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications and The Omaha World-Herald.

The high school seniors and their parents attended a dessert reception at the Omaha World-Herald, where the students were honored for their scholastic accomplishments.  They were nominated by their high school teachers or guidance counselors.

Two students from Bellevue East were recognized: Jazmyn Brown and Elic Chisam.

This is the second year of the event, which recognizes high-achieving and motivated students who are interested in careers in advertising, broadcasting, journalism and public relations. Students and parents had the opportunity to talk with UNL faculty and students about the college’s nationally recognized program and to speak with Omaha World-Herald editors and reporters about newspaper careers. The event ended with tours of the newspaper’s newsroom.

Rationale:  As part of the AdvancED District Accreditation process, districts must have an external team visit every five years.  BPS will have its external visit the week of January 11, 2015.  Since governance and leadership is an important part of continuous school improvement, the visiting team will interview board members as well as present their initial findings to the board.  Tonight, the AdvancED visit process will be presented along with the role board members will play.

Rationale:  Due to the loss of Highly Impacted status for Federal Impact Aid and the need to reduce the reliance on cash reserve for operating expense,  Bellevue Public Schools faces a $4,500,000 revenue reduction.  Tonight the administration will present the 2015-16 revenue forecast along with the impact on 2015-16 spending.  The process for setting the 2015-16 budget will be outlined.

Rationale:  As the Board considers different ways to meet the need for legal services, the policy committee recommends changing the current board policy.  The revised policy would no longer require the board to have an attorney under retainer.  Board Policy 203.08 – Legal Counsel is attached for review.

Rationale:  Public Comment pertaining to items not otherwise on the Agenda must be submitted to the Secretary of the Board five days prior to the Board meeting.  There were no items submitted for Public Comment for this meeting.

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: 

December 15, Board Work Session, Welcome Center, 5:30 p.m.

January 5, Board of Education Meeting, Welcome Center, 6:30 p.m.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation: Adjourn to Executive Session to consider matters relating to strategy sessions with respect to collective bargaining, negotiations with outside agencies, and personnel 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.