April 8, 2014 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:  In keeping with Policy 8420, 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.

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.  Administrator Certificated Employees:
             Elections – 1
             Substitute Principal Elections – 1
   b.  Certificated Employees:
             Elections – 15
             Re-Elections New Assignment – 5
             Leaves of Absence – 33
             Separations – 39
   c.  Substitute Certificated Employees:
             Elections – 14
             Changes of Status – 1
             Separations – 4
   d.  Classified Employees:
             Elections – 22
             Changes of Status – 1
             Separations – 40

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 her designee, and that the Board hereby authorizes the Associate Superintendent for Human Resources, or her 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 April 8, 2014, were previously provided.                

Federal Tax ACH Deposit of $4,976,701.49.

Procurement Card ACH Transfer of $62,100.97.

Office Depot ACH Transfer of $29,854.35.

Vendor ACH Transfer of $3,414.11.

b.  PAYROLL FOR RATIFICATION – Payroll for the period ending March 31, 2014, in the amount of $13,191,613.41.

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 roof projects at North Star and Southwest High Schools; roof projects at East High, Lincoln High, and Northeast High Schools; purchase of two vehicles for Maintenance; an agreement to provide sack breakfasts and lunches over the summer; items to be listed for auction; a Memorandum of Intent for a facilities joint venture project with the YMCA; 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 April 8, 2014.

b.  Payroll for the period ending March 31, 2014.

c.  Gifts for Riley Elementary School and the district.

d.  Bids/contracts/other routine business for roof projects at North Star and Southwest High Schools; roof projects at East High, Lincoln High, and Northeast High Schools; purchase of two vehicles for Maintenance; an agreement to provide sack breakfasts and lunches over the summer; items to be listed for auction; a Memorandum of Intent for a facilities joint venture project with the YMCA; and any other bids/contracts/routine business as presented.

Rationale: 

March 15, 2014 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 2014-15 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 Lincoln Public Schools District and wish to attend school outside of the Lincoln Public Schools District have been received after the March 15, 2014, deadline.  The Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education may deny or approve this request.  If these requests are approved by the Board of Education, they will be forwarded to the option school district for their approval. 

                                    Student Number                             Option District           

                                     246230                                              Palmyra

                                    216670                                              Palmyra

Rationale: 

On February 25, 2014, the Board adopted a resolution to accept option students for the 2014-15 school year.  Applications have been received from students requesting that they be accepted as option students for the 2014-15 school year.  Staff recommends that the students referred to in this agenda item be accepted for enrollment as they are in compliance with the Board resolution of February 25, 2014.

Explanation
Staff has examined the applications of the students included in this proposal.  The students meet one of the criteria set forth by the Board in its resolution of February 25, 2014.  Staff recommends approval of these applications.

Proposal
That the Board adopt the following resolution: 

WHEREAS the students who have been assigned student numbers 204584 and 261771 (for purposes of confidentiality, assigned numbers are being used) meet one of the criteria (sibling of current option student) of the Board resolution of February 25, 2014 with regard to such option students;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the aforementioned students be accepted as option students 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:  *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: 

The Board of Education assigns school attendance areas to property newly annexed to the City of Lincoln or newly platted.  This action establishes school attendance areas prior to the sale of residential lots, allowing purchasers to know what schools their children will attend.

Explanation
The City of Lincoln has annexed three parcels of land, which automatically brings these properties into the Lincoln Public Schools District.  These properties need to be assigned attendance centers so that potential purchasers of homes in this area will know which schools they will be attending.  

Grandview Estates Addition, South 70th Street and Countryview Road, Annexation #19877, for 2013-14 school year:  Maxey Elementary School, Pound Middle School, and Southeast High School  

Railpark, Northwest 27th and Highway 34, Annexation #19952, for 2013-14 school year:  Arnold Elementary School, Schoo Middle School, and North Star High School  

Broadmoor Ashbrook Apartments, Highway 2 and Ashbrook Drive, Annexation #20000, for 2013-14 school year:  Maxey Elementary School, Lux Middle School, and East High School?

Proposal
That the Board discuss the proposed attendance area assignments of the newly annexed properties.

Rationale: 

Explanation
Policy 5430 has been revised to create a hearing process that allows for an extended emergency exclusion of a student by the Superintendent under very limited circumstances, which are outlined in the policy.

Proposal
That the Board discuss Policy 5430.

 

Rationale: 

Explanation
The act further requires boards of education to adopt a policy on student fees by August 1 of each year, including a list of fees and/or specific materials that students will be required to pay or provide.  The policy is to be adopted following a public hearing on the proposed policy.  Policy 5520 has been revised to update the calendar language, the language on school meals, and clarify the difference between some required extracurricular equipment/clothing.

Proposal
That the Board discuss Policy 5520.

Rationale: 

Explanation
The 2000 Series provides guidance and direction to the Board on policies related to leadership of the district, appraisal of the superintendent, the purpose of Multicultural Education, job descriptions for administrative positions, and long-range planning requirements of the superintendent.  The committee has reviewed the 2000 Series and is prepared to recommend policy changes to the Board.  The proposed policies reflect current state and federal laws and have been reviewed by legal counsel.

Proposal
That the Board discuss the 2000 Series.

 

Rationale: 
Explanation

Proposal
That the Board discuss Policy 3972.

 

Rationale:  Policy 5140 establishes the importance of regular attendance by every child.  Excessive absences negatively impact student achievement and affect student academic progress.

Explanation
Policy 5140 has been revised to align with new state attendance guidelines that will be passed as part of LB464.

Proposal
That the Board discuss Policy 5140.

 

Rationale: 

Explanation
Policy 5122 has been revised to permit the Student Services Department to deny a transfer to a student when it deems that the transfer would not be in the student’s best interest. 

Proposal
That the Board discuss Policy 5122.

 

Rationale:  School-based initiatives to promote mental health are proven to help students cope with common issues, as well as more complex circumstances and mental health conditions, and to support healthy development and improve educational outcomes. To be truly effective and sustainable, school-based mental health services should be linked to existing organizational structures in the school, coordinated with community-based resources to extend the continuum of care available to address more severe and acute needs, and evaluated based on data. The U.S. Department of Education offers this grant as a mechanism to establish or expand counseling programs, particularly in elementary schools, but also in secondary schools. Projects are intended to improve school ratios of students to mental health professionals and decrease the number of referrals for disciplinary reasons.

Explanation
The overarching goal of the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Grant is to create a more solid infrastructure to address the mental health needs of elementary school students and their families. There are currently four full-time counselors supported by elementary schools in their LPS budget. This grant would allow LPS to hire four new elementary school counselors from the district level, whose services would be shared across multiple schools. The additional counselors will be responsible for:

• Meeting the counseling needs of all students,
• Implementing a social/emotional curriculum with students,
• Training teachers and administrators within elementary buildings on early warning signs in students that may benefit from counseling,
• Assisting with engaging parents at the schools, and
• Working collaboratively with the network of community mental health and other human services organizations to further meet the needs of students.

Ultimately, the grant funds will allow LPS to improve the ratio of students to mental health professionals to meet the American School Health Association recommendations of 1 counselor to 250 students. Currently, that ratio within LPS elementary schools is 1 counselor to 4,450 students.

Rationale: 

This grant, funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, assists eligible school districts and partners in implementing farm to school programs that improve access to local foods in eligible schools.  Farm to School includes efforts that connect schools with local or regional farmers, food processors, and manufacturers to serve locally or regionally produced foods in school cafeterias. Increasing locally-sourced fresh fruits and vegetables into school cafeterias is a seminal activity of many farm to school efforts. Procuring locally-sourced, minimally processed main meal items, to ensure the school meal is representative of regional options is also a focus of many farm to school programs. In addition, these programs often include food, agriculture, and nutrition-based educational efforts including standards-based curriculum and hands-on experiential activities, such as school gardens, field trips to local farms, and cooking classes. To embed farm to school activities into school culture, promotional and outreach efforts often aim to keep farm to school activities front and center in both the school and broader community.

Explanation
Currently, Lincoln Public Schools implements contracts with several local farmers, food processors, and manufactures in order to serve locally produced foods in school cafeterias. These relationships primarily result in local produce and meat on school lunch trays; some items are offered to all students across the district and some offered in smaller quantities because of a limited production scale. LPS will apply under the grant Planning option, since the district is in the early stages of developing a broader coalition of local farmers and producers and needs to work out logistical issues related to implementation. Such issues include equipment needs within school kitchens, food safety standards to utilize with producers, eliminating distribution bottlenecks, and identifying curricular areas to embed farm to school activities. Utilizing the required USDA’s Farm to School Planning Toolkit, LPS will engage a wide variety of internal and external collaborators over the course of the one-year grant period in the design of a Farm to School Implementation Plan.

Proposal
That the Board discuss submission of the Farm To School Planning Grant Application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the approximate amount of $45,000 for one year. This program has a 25 percent match requirement, which will be met through in-kind contributions of time provided by our community collaborators participating in the year-long planning process.

The grant application is due April 30, 2014.

 

Rationale: 

Explanation
The revised Policy 5480 defines those behaviors that have the potential to seriously affect  the health, safety or welfare of students, staff and other persons to the extent that it interferes with the educational process.

Proposal
That the Board approve Policy 5480.

Rationale: 

Explanation
The revised Policy 6740 provides added definition to prohibited behaviors and aligns the order and forms of the definitions with the rights and responsibilities of students contained in Policy 5480.  Willfully disobeying these rules could constitute grounds for suspension from participation in extracurricular activities. 

Proposal
That the Board approve Policy 6740.

Rationale:  Wednesday, April 9, 2014 - Chamber Coffee, 8:00 a.m., Chamber Office

Friday, April 18, 2014 - Holiday, No School All Levels

Tuesday, April 22, 2014 - Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m., LPSDO Board Room

Rationale:  In keeping with Policy 8420, 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.

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.