August 3, 2015 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:  Administrative Recommendation: 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 and E identified with an asterisk.

Rationale:  The attached Minutes of the July 6, 2015, Board of Education meeting were sent to all members of the Board of Education for review.

Administrative Recommendation:  Approve the Minutes of the July 6, 2015, Board of Education meeting.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation:  Acknowledge receipt of the Treasurer's Report for July, 2015.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation:  Approve the payment of claims totaling $703,207.41.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation: Release: (1) Jennifer Fauble, (2) Kimberly Gangwish, (3) Ashley Gartner and (4) David Gifford from their contracts effective May 22, 2015.

Rationale:  Administrative Recommendation:  Elect (1) Ashley Coogan, (2) Jodee Gnuse, (3) Gladys Jones and (4) Wade Tracy to the certified staff for the 2015-16 school year effective August 6, 2015 subject to their release from any contractual agreements with other school districts.

Rationale: 

The 2015-2016 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 $1.08837 in the tax levy. Currently, the Bellevue School District's levy is $1.08837.

Rationale: 

Notice of the hearing and a summary of the proposed budget were published in accordance with Nebraska statutes.

The proposed budget was developed to meet the needs of 10,150 students.  Staffing represents approximately 84% of the current expenditure budget.  

A copy of the Notice of Budget Hearing and Budget  Summary is attached.

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: 

Every year, the Board must approve a budget authorizing a maximum budget authority to be submitted to the Nebraska Department of Education.

Administrative Recommendation:  The administration recommends that the Board approve the 2015-2016 budget as presented.  The budget presented requires a tax levy of 13.837 cents, which is the same levy amount approved for the 2014-2015 budget.

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.

Administrative Recommendation:  Move that the Board Treasurer, in consultation with the Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent, be granted the authority to make necessary transfers to close out the 2014-2015 fiscal year.

Rationale: 

A two-year salary agreement has been reached and ratified by Local 226 representing transportation 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 are copies of the current and proposed salary programs.

 

Rationale: 

With the reductions in Impact Aid and the need for facilities upgrade, the district will need to find alternate means of financing projects. Last month the feasibility of a bond election was discussed and agreed upon to gather more information about pre-bond planning.  Tonight, Jacobs will present a proposal that will include stakeholder engagement, communications services, and program management services.

Administrative Recommendation:  The administration recommends that the Board approve the Services Agreement with Jacobs to begin the pre-bond planning services.

Rationale: 

The following policies were presented for review by the Policy Committee at the July meeting and are for presented tonight for revision or elimination by consent:

204.10, Agenda - Revision

605.09, Adult and Continuing Education - Elimination

Rationale: 

Students from Bellevue East and West recently attended the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) National Leadership Conference in Chicago, Illinois June 29-July 2, 2015. More than 8,000 FBLA students from 50 states, territories and international chapters attended the conference.

The Bellevue East Network Design team of Josh Jones, Nate Brown, and Zach Brown finished first in the country.

The Bellevue West Partnership with Business (Habitat for Humanity of Sarpy County) team of Cristian Perdomo, Paige Nelson, and Madeline Hall finished in third place.

To view the 2015 FBLA Awards of Excellence Program visit: http://livestream.com/fblapbl/fbla2015

Rationale: 

A school district is the nucleus of a community. Schools in Bellevue are open throughout the year to meet the needs of our students and the community. The District works with many of our partners, including Offutt Air Force Base, the City of Bellevue, Bellevue Senior Community Center, Bellevue Ministerial Association, Metropolitan Community College, service organizations, families within the school district, and businesses in their request to utilize our facilities. Requests for usage vary from classrooms, swimming pools, gymnasiums, baseball, softball, football, and soccer fields, etc.

In addition to the regular day-to-day operations of the District, during the 2014-2015 school year, our facilities were used by 398,168 people on 11,541 occasions. Our facility usage continues to be in high demand and we are always improving our wellness programs and youth developmental sports programs. These quality programs for our students and community members remain strong and we will continue to expand and improve on all of our programming throughout the District.

Attached is a report summarizing the Community Use of School Facilities.

Rationale:  The Board will discuss how they wish to proceed with filling the pending vacancy on the Board.

Rationale: 

The following police and regulations are presented for review.

Soliciting Funds from School Personnel 403.07

Fund Raising 506.08P & 506.08R

Soliciting Funds from Students 506.081

Rationale: 

The Bellevue Public Schools offers a variety of summer programs for students, each program serving its own purpose.  As the district evaluates 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’s MAP data assisted teachers in guiding instruction to students. Elementary summer school was held June 1 through June 19 at each elementary school; 65% of the elementary/preschool students attended summer school. Participation has remained stable over the last three years.

Secondary summer school was held at each of the five schools June 1-26 offering a wide variety of courses in addition to transition courses for students entering seventh grade.  At the high school level, nearly 50 % of students entering ninth grade acquired a physical education/health credit during summer school.  High school summer school also consisted of credit acquisition and credit recovery for students in grades ten through twelve. The CHAP Center and the BEST program also offered summer programming for students.

Math, science and technology camps were held for three weeks, June 22- July 10, and served 165 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. The fee for the camp increased in 2015 from $50 to $75 per child, per week.

Finally, Day Camp was offered to all Bellevue Public Schools students exiting kindergarten through sixth grade and was housed at the Lied Activity Center June 22-July 31.  The fee increased from $140 in 2014 to $175 in 2015. Enrollment in Day Camp has declined over the past three years, with 223 students participating this summer.

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
BPS Foundation - Doug Cook, Lisa Rybar, Frank Kumor
MABE - Cindy Copich
GNSA - Cindy Copich
Board Policy Review Work Group - Cindy Copich, Doug Cook, Mike Kinney
District Safety Committee - Doug Cook

Rationale: 

August 5    New Teachers Luncheon, Offutt Air Force Base Patriot Club, 11:30 am

August 7    All-Staff General Session, Bellevue East Auditorium, 10 am & 12:15 pm

August 7    BPS Expo, Bellevue East Cafeteria, 10:45 am - 12:45 pm

August 10  Recognition Luncheon, Welcome Center, 12:00 noon

August 11   Board Work Session, Bellevue University, Educational Services Building, room 4202, 5:30 pm

September 10   Bellevue Chamber Annual Dinner, 5:00 pm

September 14   Board of Education Meeting, Welcome Center, 6:30 pm

Rationale: 

Administrative Recommendation: Adjourn to Executive Session to consider matters relating to strategy sessions with respect to pending litigation and negotiations with outside agencies which are necessary to be considered in closed session for the protection of the public interest.