February 10, 2015 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:
             Separations – 4
   b.  Certificated Employees:
             Elections – 9
             Re-Elections same Assignment – 1            
             Changes of Status – 2
             Leaves of Absence – 1
             Separations – 6
   c.  Substitute Certificated Employees:
             Elections – 19
             Changes of Status – 9
             Separations – 2
   d.  Classified Employees:
             Elections – 33
             Changes of Status – 11
             Separations – 19
   e.  Other:
             Civic Leaves – 1
             Employment of Family Member – 1
             Workers’ Compensation Lump Sum Settlements – 1
   f.  Board Resolution regarding recognition of Transportation Employees Association as the official bargaining agent
       for 2015-16.

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 February 10, 2015, were previously provided.                

Federal Tax ACH Deposit of $5,170,909.54.                

State Tax ACH Deposit of $711,597.77.                

Procurement Card ACH Transfer of $58,486.93.                

Office Depot ACH Transfer of $22,663.82.                

Vendor ACH Transfer of $32,307.14. 

b.  PAYROLL FOR RATIFICATION – Payroll for the period ending January 30, 2015, in the amount of $13,545,681.62. 

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 football supplies and equipment for the 2015-16 school year; installation of a new athletic scoreboard at Seacrest Activity Complex; Indoor Air Quality construction at Irving Middle School; custodial large cleaning equipment; assessment materials for students in grades 3, 5, and 7; extension of the contract providing for external auditing services; an agreement with Educare to fund one classroom and expand Early Head Start classes; an agreement with Questar Assessment to meet the purposes of the English Language Proficiency Assessment Field Test project; 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 February 10, 2015.  

b.  Payroll for the period ending January 30, 2015.  

c.  Gifts for Campbell, Elliott, Hill, and the district.  

d.  Bids/contracts/other routine business for football supplies and equipment for the 2015-16 school year; installation of a new athletic scoreboard at Seacrest Activity Complex; Indoor Air Quality construction at Irving Middle School; custodial large cleaning equipment; assessment materials for students in grades 3, 5, and 7; extension of the contract providing for external auditing services; an agreement with Educare to fund one classroom and expand Early Head Start classes; an agreement with Questar Assessment to meet the purposes of the English Language Proficiency Assessment Field Test project; items to be listed for auction; and any other bids/contracts/routine business as presented.  

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 403503 and 403513 (for purposes of confidentiality, assigned numbers are being used) meet one or more of the criteria 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: 

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
Request from a student who resides in the Lincoln Public Schools District and wishes to attend school outside of the Lincoln Public Schools District has been received after the March 15, 2014, deadline.  The Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education may deny or approve this request.  If this request is approved by the Board of Education, they will be forwarded to the option school district for their approval.     

Student Number                             Option District    
404022                                              Wahoo                                        

Proposal
That the Board approve this request for option out for the 2014-15 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: 

Each year, United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County conducts a community campaign to raise funds that support vital resources for community-based services in our community. In 2013, United Way identified two areas of impact: 1) children, and 2) persons in crisis. Since 2012, TeamMates of Lincoln has been among those programs supported through United Way funds.  

United Way recently announced that it is accepting competitive applications for projects under a new two-year funding cycle, from July 2015, through June 2017.  TeamMates of Lincoln wishes to request first-time UW financial support for TeamMates students to participate in the Abbott Summer Camp program at no cost to their families. The Abbott Summer Camp program will address the needs of up to 60 children associated with TeamMates for enriched learning activities during the summer — activities that support the students’ development of the important social skills and positive interpersonal relationships essential to school success.  This would align with UW’s funding initiative: expanded learning (programs that take place beyond the traditional school day, including summers). In addition to learning and enrichment activities, students will be served nutritious breakfasts and lunches.   

Two volunteer review teams will evaluate TeamMates’ proposal between submission of the proposal in mid-February and the end of March. Their evaluation will include an assessment of the program’s potential to support students’ improvement in school behavior and attendance and engagement in positive relationships with adults, parents, and peers.      

Explanation
For the past seven years, the partnership of TeamMates, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Abbott Sports Complex staff has provided a summer sports camp for students using student-athletes as camp counselors. Each year, more academic-related activities were incorporated, and last summer two Lincoln Public Schools teachers led the camp, further enhancing enrichment opportunities. The learning and enrichment opportunities included, but were not limited to, daily teaching of Boys Town life skills, weekly field trips to Morrill Hall, the public library, and various activities on the UNL campus.  

Formerly, the camp was funded with a five-year grant for $30,000 each year from the Abbott Foundation and a $12,000 - $15,000 match by a UNL athletic department donor, who supported the cost of the student athlete counselors. As more summer opportunities have been created for student athletes, the donor has chosen to now direct his financial support to study-abroad opportunities for the athletes. The Abbott Foundation pledged to continue its $30,000 support for the camp, but only if another donor could fund the balance of its cost. For this reason, TeamMates is requesting $15,000 in operational costs from United Way. 

Researchers have emphasized the value of summer learning opportunities for children, especially those from families living in poverty or with low incomes (which characterizes about three-fourths of TeamMates students’ families). McCombs, Augustine, Schwartz, Bodilly, McInnis, Lichter, and Cross (2011) note that children reporting for school in the fall, on average, begin the school year about a month behind where they were in the spring. While children from low-income families learn at nearly the same rate as higher-income students during the school year, low-income students experience this “summer learning loss” disproportionately in comparison to middle- and upper-income students. The researchers note that this learning loss tends to accumulate over time, contributing to an achievement gap between low-income students and others. Alexander, Entwisele, and Olson (2007) reported that losses over the summer are particularly significant for students in 4th grade and up, and estimated that as much as two-thirds of the achievement gap that appears by 9th grade could be related to summer learning loss. This relates directly to the LPS goal of helping Lincoln students graduate from high school because achievement gaps in the ninth grade correlate with later dropping out.        

Proposal
That the Board discuss the submission of the TeamMates’ 2015-16 Abbott Summer Camp grant proposal to United Way County (due February 13, 2015) for approximately $15,000.  

Rationale: 

Each year, United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County conducts a community campaign to raise funds that support vital resources for community-based services in our community. In 2013, United Way identified two areas of impact: 1) children, and 2) persons in crisis. Since 2012, TeamMates of Lincoln has been among those programs supported through United Way funds.  

United Way recently announced that it is accepting competitive applications for projects under a new two-year funding cycle, from July 2015, through June 2017.  Youth development, under which TeamMates will apply, is one of eight initiatives articulated by United Way that guide the citizen volunteers in their evaluation of agency requests for funding. TeamMates’ proposal will need to demonstrate continued successful outcomes related to improvement in school behavior and attendance; graduation from high school or advancement to the next grade level; and positive relationships with adults, parents, and peers. Two volunteer review teams will evaluate TeamMates’ proposal between submission of the proposal in mid-February and the end of March.      

Explanation
Coach Tom and Nancy Osborne founded TeamMates in 1991. Its goal: to see youth graduate from high school and pursue post-secondary education. Community members volunteer one hour per week within Lincoln public and parochial schools, serving as positive role models and creating bonds with their mentees that give them a sense of hope, purpose, and vision. The TeamMates program contributes to Objective One of the LPS Strategic Plan: Increasing graduation rates by 2016.  

TeamMates’ students (72% of mentees) tend to come from lower-income families and families living in poverty — a 156% level of need in comparison to the LPS student population as whole. The number of matches has steadily increased (about 800 in 2011 to just over 1,100 students currently), yet 651 students still wait to be matched with a mentor. TeamMates will request United Way support for recruitment and training of mentors and ongoing support for mentor/mentee matches. The cost of recruiting and sustaining each match is approximately $500.    

There is no matching fund requirement for this proposal. Pursuant to guidelines for funded agencies, all agencies are required to be cost effective, efficiently operated, and must prove ability to network in the community.        

Proposal
That the Board discuss the submission of the TeamMates Mentoring Program grant proposal (due February 13, 2015) to United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County for approximately $82,500 per year for a two-year funding cycle.  

Rationale: 

United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County is a vital resource to support community-based services in our community. We are fortunate as a community that United Way conducts an annual community campaign to raise funds that support important initiatives focusing on its local strategic priorities which are to serve children through activities that lead to graduation and to address the needs of persons in crisis.   

United Way recently announced that it is accepting competitive applications for projects under a new two-year funding cycle, from July 2015, through June 2017.  Projects must be ready to implement one of eight strategies, including Educational Supports to help children and/or parents to meet an educational goal or to establish an educational foundation.  Under the umbrella of Families Learning, Lincoln Public Schools operates a successful Family Literacy program that is considered an ideal Educational Support strategy.       

Explanation
Lincoln Public Schools has expanded the Family Literacy program from three original sites in 2011 to now serving targeted English-learning parents and children in eight elementary schools — Arnold, Campbell, Clinton, Elliott, Everett, Hartley, Prescott, and West Lincoln.  The evidence-based Family Literacy model followed by Lincoln Public Schools includes the following four components:

Adult Education Instruction — provided through high quality ESL classes
Children's Education — teaching literacy through a viable district curriculum
Parent and Child Together Time (PACT)
Parenting Classes  

These services are provided to 15 - 20 families at each location. The parents commit to participating at least 12 hours each week in support of their family literacy development.  An award from United Way in the amount of $200,000 will assist in providing general operating support for all eight sites.        

Proposal
That the Board discuss the submission of a proposal to United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County to support the Family Literacy Program in the amount of approximately $200,000 per year for a two-year funding cycle. Applications are due to United Way by February 13, 2015.  

Rationale:  Nebraska students may attend a school other than the one in the district in which they reside under the option enrollment statutes.      

Explanation
The attached resolution would admit any K-12 option students who meet the statutory and legal conditions and whose application is received by August 7, 2015.   The resolution specifies the circumstances under which late-filed applications would be accepted.       

Proposal
That the Board approve the option resolution for the 2015-16 school year.      

Rationale:  Board Policy 3100 (Attachment One) directs staff to present a budget calendar.      

Explanation
The budget calendar includes the following:  Publication of the budget hearing date on August 2, 2015; the public hearing/budget forum on August 11, 2015; and budget approval on August 25, 2015.  Attachment Two is the budget calendar for the 2015-16 budget.      

Proposal
An information item for Board comments and suggestions.    

Rationale: 

On February 11, 2014, the legal voters of Lincoln Public Schools approved a proposition to issue bonds of the district in a principal amount not to exceed one hundred fifty-three million two hundred ninety-five thousand dollars ($153,295,000) for the purpose of paying the costs of:  

(1) constructing, furnishing, and equipping technology and security improvements to facilities of the district;

(2) constructing, furnishing, and equipping a new elementary school and a new middle school in the southeast area of the district;

(3) constructing, furnishing, and equipping a career academy high school facility;

(4) constructing additions to and furnishing, equipping, renovating, remodeling, and repairing facilities of the district, and

(5) acquiring sites for school facilities of the district.   An update will be provided on the progress of these projects.      

Explanation
The update will include a review of the current construction projects.      

Proposal
Information item; no Board action required.    

Rationale:  Wednesday, February 11, 2015 - Joint Board Meeting, 11:00 a.m., Southeast Community College

Thursday, February 12, 2015 - Board Work Session, 4:30 p.m., LPSDO

Tuesday, February 17, 2015 - Chamber Annual Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Cornhusker Hotel

Wednesday, February 18, 2015 - GNSA Meeting, 9:30 a.m., NCSA

Tuesday, February 24, 2015 - Board Work Session, 4:30 p.m., LPSDO

Tuesday, February 24, 2015 - Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m., 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.