September 23, 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:  Zachary Baehr, communications specialist for Lincoln Public Schools, has been selected to the annual prestigious “Class of 35 Under 35 Young Professionals” by the National School Public Relations Association, highlighting Baehr as one of the top young professionals in educational communities across the country.

Explanation
Zachary Baehr is the communications specialist for Lincoln Public Schools and was recently selected to the annual prestigious “Class of 35 Under 35 Young Professionals.”  The honor is bestowed by the National School Public Relations Association and spotlights the achievements of the top young communications professionals across the country who have demonstrated significant accomplishment in their blossoming careers.

Baehr is a young professional who demonstrates that strategic school communications is timeless and translates easily to the next generation, displaying excellence in a breath-taking range of public relations work from print to video to news media to social media.

Baehr has created an effective and broad social media presence at Lincoln Public Schools dramatically increasing the number of Facebook and Twitter connections and therein strengthening the school district’s community engagement initiatives.

Baehr has created new and innovative programs in all channels of communications at Lincoln Public Schools including fun projects such as allowing the community to choose their favorite lunch, and handing the LPS Twitter account over to an elementary school student for a day. He has created significant projects with great impact: such as the monthly Teacher Perspective video, Final Words for high school seniors and retiring LPS employees, and Q&As for our student athletes and activity members. He works closely with schools to ensure they have support in their communications efforts.  He is a major force in ensuring we have positive relationships with all members of the news media.

Mary Kay Roth, director of Communications, says of Baehr:

“Zachary Baehr is one of the most accomplished, talented, creative and passionate communications professionals I have ever worked with.  He has single-handedly become the guru of our social media initiative and helps district and school colleagues understand and excel in social media.  He has developed exemplary and effective communications efforts in every one of our communications channels.  He is respected by co-workers across the community: in the district office, in our schools and in our community.  Zachary comprehends the importance and meaning of school engagement in our community and how establishing effective communications and engagement creates a foundation of community support for public education, therein creating fertile ground for our school district to reach its academic and strategic goals.”

Meanwhile, Baehr is also a major leader in statewide school district communication, serving as the president of the Nebraska School Public Relations Association, supporting development of their website, increasing statewide membership and developing the association’s membership initiatives.

Rich Bagin, executive director of the National School Public Relations Associations, says:  “Congratulations on this accomplishment and keep up the great work for your school communities and our profession.”

Proposal
That the Lincoln Board of Education adopt the following resolution:

 

WHEREAS, Zachary Baehr, communications specialist for Lincoln Public Schools, has been selected for the prestigious “Class of 35 Under 35 Young Professionals” by the National School Public Relations Association, and

WHEREAS, Zachary Baehr is a young professional who demonstrates that strategic school communications is timeless and translates easily to the next generation, displaying creativity and excellence in a breath-taking range of public relations work from print to video to news media to social media, and

WHEREAS, Zachary Baehr has created an effective and broad social media presence to Lincoln Public Schools dramatically increasing the number of Facebook and Twitter connections and therein strengthening the school district’s community engagement initiatives, and

WHEREAS, Zachary Baehr is respected by co-workers across the community: in the district office, in our schools and in our community, as well as serving as a leader in statewide school communications as the president of the Nebraska School Public Relations Association.

WHEREAS, Zachary Baehr comprehends the importance and meaning of school engagement in our community and how establishing effective communications and engagement creates a foundation of community support for public education, therein creating fertile ground for our school district to reach its academic and strategic goals.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Lincoln Board of Education does hereby congratulate Zachary Baehr for recognition in being named to the prestigious “Class of 35 Under 35 Young Professionals” by the National School Public Relations Association.

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: 

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.

Explanation
This report includes routine Human Resources changes:
   a.  Certificated Employees:
             Elections – 1
             Changes of Status – 6
             Leaves of Absence – 9
             Separations – 2
   b.  Substitute Certificated Employees:
             Elections – 7
             Separations – 4
   c.  Classified Employees:
             Elections – 62
             Changes of Status – 7
             Separations – 10
   d.  Approval of recommended Lincoln Public Schools Educational Assistance Plan.

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 September 23, 2014, were previously provided.                

Federal Tax ACH Deposit of $49,375.12.                

State Tax ACH Deposit of $669,790.88.                

Retirement ACH Transfer of $4,064,058.80.                

Office Depot ACH Transfer of $11,396.77.                

Vendor ACH Transfer of $3,803.72. 

b.  PAYROLL FOR RATIFICATION – Payroll for the periods ending September 5 and September 15, 2014, in the amount of $310,997,52. 

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 fiber connection for Arts & Humanities and the Science Focus Programs; architectural/engineering professional services for projects at Meadow Lane, Norwood Park, and Pershing; MacBook Airs and iPad Minis for to be used in Visual Art classrooms; LED displays, iPad Minis, and Apple TV for 150 middle school classrooms; an agreement with SCC to provide Adult Family Literacy instruction; a contract providing for services in the Head Start Continuation Grant; items to be 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 September 23, 2014.  

b.  Payroll for the periods ending September 5 and September 15, 2014.  

c.  Gifts for Cavett, Eastridge, and Mickle.  

d.  Bids/contracts/other routine business for approval for fiber connection for Arts & Humanities and the Science Focus Programs; architectural/engineering professional services for projects at Meadow Lane, Norwood Park, and Pershing; MacBook Airs and iPad Minis for to be used in Visual Art classrooms; LED displays, iPad Minis, and Apple TV for 150 middle school classrooms; an agreement with SCC to provide Adult Family Literacy instruction; a contract providing for services in the Head Start Continuation Grant; items to be listed for auction; and any other bids/contracts/routine business as presented

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: 
Explanation

Proposal
The Board discuss Policy 6443.

Rationale: 

A hearing was previously held on whether the Board of Education should approve or modify the preliminary property tax request for Lancaster County School District 001 – Lincoln Public Schools (Attachment One).

Explanation
The 2014-15 budget of Lincoln Public Schools has already been adopted.  According to state law Section 77-1601.02, the preliminary tax request for the district shall be the property tax request from the prior year, unless the district holds a hearing and sets the property tax request at a different amount.  The prior year’s property tax request would not correctly fund the 2014-15 budget, which has already been formally adopted by the Board of Education.  Attachment Two reflects last year’s property tax rates, this year’s initial estimate, and the final property tax rates for 2014-15.  

Staff recommends that the following resolution be adopted so that the 2014-15 budget may be funded, as adopted.  A simple majority vote is required.      

Proposal
That the Board of Education approve the following proposed resolution:  

THEREFORE Be it resolved that the Board of Education of Lancaster County School District 001 hereby sets the district’s 2014-15 property tax request at a different amount from that of the 2013-14 fiscal year and that, pursuant to State Law Sections 77-1601.02, and other Nebraska laws, does hereby set the 2014-15 Lincoln Public Schools property tax request, including the county’s collection fee and any delinquent tax allowances, as follows:          

General Fund	$188,006,494.08
Building Fund	0
Bond Fund for Bonds Authorized Prior to 1999	0
Bond Fund for High School Bonds Authorized in 1999	5,632,508.02
Bond Fund for Bonds Authorized in 2006	14,746,077.63
Bond Fund for Bonds Authorizes in 2014	7,354,286.80
Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund	6,282,337.31
Total Lincoln Public Schools Tax Request	$222,021,703.84

and THEREFORE BE IT further resolved that if updated valuation, budget, or other pertinent information is subsequently received by Lincoln Public Schools or by Lancaster County, Lincoln Public Schools, its administration, and the County shall adjust the property tax request to reflect the updated information pursuant to State Law Sections 77-1601 and other Nebraska laws.

 

 

 

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 August 31, 2014, is attached.      

Proposal
Information item; no Board action required.  

Rationale:  Tuesday, September 30
Celebrate Business Luncheon, 11:30 am, Cornhusker Hotel

Wednesday, October 1
Chamber Coffee, 8:00 am, Chamber Office
NASB 2014 Area Membership Meeting - 5:00 pm, Omaha Regency Marriott

Wednesday, October 8
The Career Academy Joint Board Meeting, 11:00 am, SCC Lincoln Campus

Tuesday, October 14
Board Meeting, 6:00 pm, LPSDO

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: 

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.