February 14, 2017 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

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.

Cara Heminger, a French teacher at Lincoln North Star High School has been named World Language Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the Nebraska Foreign Language Teachers Association.

Explanation

Cara Heminger is widely respected for her teaching abilities at Lincoln North Star High School. She is known for helping students grow fondness for the French language and culture through building relationships of trust and respect.

Heminger didn’t immediately realize she wanted to be a teacher, but the interest was always near her heart thanks to her father, a former teacher. For a short while she taught the English language in France, and then continued to feel the urge to teach more, so she returned to the United States to obtain her teaching certificate.

North Star Principal Vann Price has witnessed her expertise in action:

“I have walked into Cara’s classroom on a number of occasions and witnessed her modeling what it means to be a thinker and learner. She is not afraid to share a new hobby or passion with students, giving them permission to aim high and take risks."

Heminger has earned the respect of her fellow co-workers, as well as foreign language teachers from across Nebraska. She is a leader in promoting the value of foreign language education and helps organize activities in and out of school to help students expand on their knowledge.

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. 

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.  Administrator Certificated Employees:

             Separations – 9

   b.  Certificated Employees:

             Elections – 7

             Changes of Status – 2

             Leaves of Absence – 2

             Separations – 2

   c.  Substitute Certificated Employees:

             Elections – 17

             Changes of Status – 17

             Separations – 9

   d.  Classified Employees:

             Elections – 47

             Changes of Status – 6

             Separations – 14

   e.  Other:

             Employment of Family Members – 1

             Workers' Compensation Lump Sum Settlements – 1

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.

On February 23, 2016, the Board adopted a resolution to accept option students for the 2016-17 school year.  An application has been received from a student requesting that they be accepted as an option student for the 2016-17 school year.  Staff recommends that the student referred to in this agenda item be accepted for enrollment as they are in compliance with the Board resolution of February 23, 2016.      

Explanation
Staff examined the application of the student included in this proposal.  The student meets one of the criteria set forth by the Board in its resolution of February 23, 2016.  Staff recommends approval of this application.      

Proposal  
That the Board adopt the following resolution:  

WHEREAS, the students who have been assigned student numbers 287675, 287674, 273650, 283734 and 283735 (for purposes of confidentiality, assigned numbers are being used) meet one or more of the criteria of the Board resolution of February 23, 2016, 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.

March 15, 2016, 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 2016-17 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, 2016, deadline.  The Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education may deny or approve these requests.  If these requests are approved by the Board of Education, they will be forwarded to the option school districts for their approval.    

Student Number            Option District
417300                                 Norris                                                                     

Proposal 
That the Board approves the request for option out for the 2016-17 school year.

Explanation
The City of Lincoln has annexed a parcel of land, which automatically brings this property into the district of Lincoln Public Schools.  This property needs to be assigned attendance centers so that potential purchasers of homes in this area will know which schools they will be attending:

South 66th Street and Pine Lake Road, Annexation Ordinance #20434, for 2016-17 school year:  Wysong Elementary School, Pound Middle School, and Southeast High School

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

The Nebraska Department of Education is again offering funds to Early Childhood Programs in local communities. The Early Childhood Education Grant Program is intended to support the development of children in the birth to kindergarten age range through the provision of comprehensive center-based programs. In most cases the projects expand and/or combine existing pre-kindergarten programs funded through district, federal, or parent fees. Each project receives funding for up to one-half of the total operating budget of the project per year on a continuing basis, subject to availability of the funds. A public school or an educational service unit is the fiscal agent. Funded projects are required to operate in compliance with NDE Rule 11 Regulations for Early Childhood Education Grant Program. Rule 11 reflects research-based elements of quality early childhood education programs intended to produce strong outcomes for children.

Explanation
Lincoln Public Schools proposes to pilot two full-day, center-based early childhood classrooms in LPS elementary school buildings through this grant. Each classroom will serve 20 children, for a total of 40 children served. The program will ensure that each child enters a formal school setting with the same learning advantages as other children. Early childhood staff and partners will seek opportunities to promote the physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language development of very young children and their families during these crucial early years.

These funds will serve three- and four-year-olds who qualify for participation in an inclusive environment. Services will be provided through a full-day (6 hours), five-day-a-week, center-based program, which greatly exceeds the minimum hour per week required by the Nebraska Department of Education. The staff will serve families using the program delivery model as is currently provided in existing school-based early childhood centers.

The program is based on research and best practices in the field of early childhood and family systems. By embracing the child and family in a secure, nurturing culturally appropriate environment, the child’s growth and development will flourish. Research demonstrates that the best approach to serve the families of these young children is through quality preschool services to assist with transitions to kindergarten. The program emphasizes the core elements of family involvement through home visitation with an emphasis on family literacy that supports education as a core family value.

Proposal
That the Board considers the submission of this Early Childhood Expansion grant application for two full-day classes in the amount of $200,000, with a required 100% match which will be provided through space and equipment that are already in place.  An additional amount ($25,000) of grant funds will be requested and used for start-up costs (no match required for start-up costs), dependent upon final award.

The grant application is due to the Nebraska Department of Education by March 3, 2017.

February 15 - GNSA Meeting, 9:00 am, NCSA

February 21 - Board Retreat, 6:00 pm, Hillcrest Country Club

February 28 - Board Work Session, 4:30 pm, LPSDO

                     Board Meeting, 6:00 pm, LPSDO

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. 

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.