October 24, 2017 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.

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: 

The Lincoln Board of Education celebrates Community Learning Centers and the annual Lights On initiative scheduled this year for Thursday, Oct. 26.  Lights On Afterschool was launched in 2000, the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities.

 

Presenters are:

• Nola Derby-Bennett, the new director of Lincoln Community Learning Centers
• Acasia Turechek, fourth grade student from Belmont Elementary School - and Community Learning Center student 
• Jennie Stroup, Lincoln Public Schools parent
• Alex Torres, former Park Middle School student - former Community Learning Center student - and current Community Learning Center staff member from the Boys & Girls Club.

Rationale: 

In keeping with Board Policy 8420:

• Persons speaking during Public Comment will be called forward individually by the Board Chair to the location identified for such purpose. 
• A time limit of five minutes will be allotted for any speaker. 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.
• Each individual speaking to the Board will be required to identify himself or herself prior to giving public comment. A “Record of Appearance” card is provided for this purpose.
• Persons wishing to appear will be heard in the order in which the Chair of the meeting determines appropriate.
• 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.
• If the number of people wishing to speak under the public participation portions of the agenda is large, the chair may rule that a public hearing be scheduled or the discussion be limited on the issue in question.
• Persons speaking to the Board during public comment may make printed materials available to the Board but may not use any other form of media.

Rationale: 

Rationale: 

Explanation:

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.

This report includes routine Human Resources changes:

   a.  Certificated Employees:

             Elections - 1

             Leaves of Absence - 1

   b.  Substitute Certificated Employees:

             Elections - 20

             Separations - 2

   c.  Classified Employees:

             Elections - 42

             Leaves of Absence - 2

             Changes of Status - 1

             Separations - 8

   d.  Other:

             Civic Leaves - 42

 

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: 

At each meeting, the Board of Education is asked to approve certain items of routine business of the school district. 

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

a.  REGULAR CLAIMS - Claims for the period ending October 24, 2017, were previously provided.

Federal Tax ACH Deposit of $5,875.95.

Child Support ACH Transfer of $819.50.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield ACH Transfer of $4,768,166.60.       

Retirement ACH Transfer of $5,016,402.47.

Vendor ACH Transfer of $105,464.64.

b.  PAYROLL FOR RATIFICATION - Payroll for the period ending October 5, 2017, in the amount of $31,539.81.

c.  GIFTS - Approval for the gifts listed on the attached gift report.

d.  BIDS/CONTRACTS/OTHER ROUTINE BUSINESS - Bids/contracts/other routine business will be presented for approval for the purchase of charging lockers for K-1 iPads; an agreement to provide sites for recycling drop-off; 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:

a.  The regular claims for period ending October 24, 2017.

b.  Payroll for the period ending October 5, 2017.

c.  Gifts for Southeast and the district.

d.  Bids/contracts/other routine business for the purchase of charging lockers for K-1 iPads; an agreement to provide sites for recycling drop-off; items listed for auction; and any other bids/contracts/routine business as presented.

Rationale: 

On February 14, 2017, the Board adopted a resolution to accept an option enrollment student for the 2017-18 school year.  An application for enrollment during the 2017-18 school year has been received and is in compliance with the Board resolution of February 14, 2017.      

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 February 14, 2017.  Staff recommends approval of the application.  

Proposal   
That the Board adopts the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the student who has been assigned student number 421742 (for purposes of confidentiality, an assigned number is being used) meets one or more of the criteria of the Board resolution of February 14, 2017, with regard to such option student;

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: 

March 15, 2017, was the deadline for enrollment option applications to be completed for students wishing to attend school in a district other than the one in which they reside for the 2017-18 school year.  The Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education has authority to waive the deadline for late enrollment option requests (NDE Rule 7, Section 004.05).      

Explanation  
Requests from students who reside in the district of Lincoln Public Schools and wish to attend school outside of Lincoln Public Schools have been received after the March 15, 2017, deadline.  The Lincoln Board of Education may deny or approve these requests.  If the requests are approved by the Board of Education, they will be forwarded to the option school districts for their approval. 

Student Number            Option District
252750                                Omaha
423065                                Waverly
423067                                Waverly

Proposal  
That the Board approve the requests for option out for the 2017-18 school year.

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: 

Lincoln Public Schools reviews policies on an on-going basis to ensure that they accurately reflect the ever-changing work of the district.  The entire series of policies is reviewed together.  After review, many policies do not require revision or only require small clarifying edits that do not change the intent or scope of the policy.  These policies are presented to the Board for approval as a single block of policies.

EXPLANATION:

The following 3000 series policies will be submitted as a group as they contain only small formatting changes or did not require any changes:  3000, 3001, 3011, 3110, 3120, 3130, 3140, 3200, 3300, 3410, 3500, 3510, 3520, 3530, 3540, 3550, 3600, 3610, 3615, 3620, 3630, 3640, 3700, 3710, 3720, 3730, 3740, 3750, 3760, 3770, 3800, 3900, 3920, 3930, 3940, 3950, 3961, 3965, 3969, 3970, 3971, 3972, 3980, 3990, 3995, 3997, 3998, 3999.

PROPOSAL:

That the Board approve the 3000 series of policies.

Rationale: 

 

Throughout the year, implementation of improved practices requires the school district to revise existing policy.

EXPLANATION:

 Policy 3400 sets the parameters for the sale of real or other district property.  Lincoln Public Schools has initiated a process for online auctions as part of the process for selling and disposing district property.  The addition of online auctions does not change the oversight or approval requirements for the sale or disposal of district property.

PROPOSAL:

 That the Board approve the changes to Policy 3400.

Rationale: 

 Lincoln is a very generous community.  Many individuals, organizations, and parent groups offer gifts to the district to improve district sites and facilities.  Unlike many other types of gifts, changes to sites and facilities often require extensive preparation or long-term maintenance.  Policy 3915 sets the policy for receiving site and facility gifts so they are received in a way that does not unintentionally add cost or risk to the district.

EXPLANATION:

The revisions in Policy 3915 are made to ensure that Operations is involved in site and facility gift giving early in the process so the gift can be properly planned and, if appropriate, received by the district without time, effort, and resources of the district, parents, and community members being lost in the process.

 PROPOSAL:

 That the Board approve the changes to Policy 3915.

 

 

Rationale: 

 

Periodically, changes in legislation or regulation from the state or federal government impacts the language of existing policies.  Changes have occurred in the maximum limits for contracts related to building construction, remodeling or repair, or site improvement.

 

EXPLANATION:

 The revised Policy 3960 reflects a maximum limit change in state law for certain building construction, remodeling or repair, or site improvement contracts.

 PROPOSAL:

 That the Board approve the changes to Policy 3960.

 

Rationale: 

Each year a joint LPS/LEA committee, composed of parents, Board members, education association leaders, teachers and administrators, recommends a student calendar for the Board’s consideration. It has been the practice of the Board to adopt calendars more than a full calendar year before it is in place. 

 

EXPLANATION:

As in previous years, the Calendar Committee has followed Board approved student calendar primary and secondary variables to design and recommend a student calendar that meets the Calendar Committee’s purpose statement, "The school calendar demonstrates the district’s commitment to learning.  It is based on sound instructional considerations and priorities ensuring the continuity, efficiency, and effectiveness of teaching and learning."

As was described during the approval of the 2018-2019 last April, the Calendar Committee is bringing forward student calendars for two school years - the 2019-20 and the 2020-21 student calendars.  The general features of the calendars include the following:

2019-20 Student Calendar		2020-21 Student Calendar
·   First Day: Tuesday, Aug. 13 ·   End of First Semester: Friday, Dec. 20 ·   First Day of Second Semester: Tuesday, Jan. 7 ·   Last Day of School: Thursday, May 21		·   First Day: Wednesday, Aug. 12 ·   End of First Semester: Tuesday, Dec. 22 ·   First Day of Second Semester: Tuesday, January 5 ·   Last Day of School: Thursday, May 20

 

The Calendar Committee received additional input from neighborhood and parent groups and LEA faculty representatives during the process of creating these calendars.

 

PROPOSAL:

That the Board approve the student calendars for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years.

Rationale: 

At the second Board meeting of the month, information regarding the district’s monthly financial report is presented.

EXPLANATION
The monthly financial report for the month ending September 30, 2017, is attached. 

PROPOSAL
Information item; no Board action required.

Rationale: 

October 25:   State Legislative Breakfast, Country Club of Lincoln, 7:30 a.m.

October 26:   Lights On After School Event, Park Middle School, 5:30 p.m.

October 28:   NAACP Freedom Dinner, The Graduate, 5:30 p.m.

November 1: Chamber Coffee, Chamber Office, 8:00 a.m.

November 8: TCA Joint Board Meeting, TCA, 8:00 a.m.

                    Face the Chamber, Country Club of Lincoln, 12:00 p.m.

November 14: Board Meeting, LPSDO, 6:00 p.m.

Rationale: 

In keeping with Board Policy 8420:

• Persons speaking during Public Comment will be called forward individually by the Board Chair to the location identified for such purpose.
• A time limit of five minutes will be allotted for any speaker.  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.
• Each individual speaking to the Board will be required to identify himself or herself prior to giving public comment.  A "Record of Appearance" card is provided for this purpose.
• Persons wishing to appear will be heard in the order in which the Chair of the meeting determines appropriate.
• 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.
• If the number of people wishing to speak under the public participation portions of the agenda is large, the chair may rule that a public hearing be scheduled or the discussion be limited on the issue in question.
• Persons speaking to the Board during public comment may hand out printed materials to the Board but may not use any other form of media.
• If at any time persons appearing before the Board exceed the time limitations or become abusive in language or behavior, the Chair may declare that person out of order and to refuse permission to continue to address the Board, require a change in behavior and 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.