January 24, 2012 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: 

Rationale:  Lincoln High, Northeast, and North Star have the lowest graduation and highest dropout rates of Lincoln Public Schools six comprehensive high schools.  In 2010, LPS applied for and received a grant through the High School Graduation Initiative (HSGI) program of the U.S. Department of Education.  The goal of the LPS HSGI is to increase the graduation rates to 84.29% for the Class of 2015 at Lincoln High (LHS), Northeast (LNE), and North Star (LNS) High Schools.  The Graduation Initiative is a five-year project with a total budget of $4.5 million.

Explanation

The LPS HSGI made significant progress in the first year of implementation towards achieving goals and objectives outlined in the grant proposal.  The goals of the LPS HSGI are:

     Goal One: To improve the academic achievement and credit acquisition for targeted students.

     Goal Two: Increase pro-social behavior and academic optimism by fostering self-efficacy.

     Goal Three: Create a cultural proficient environment at LHS, LNE, and LNS.

     Goal Four: Build capacity for school-community collaboration at targeted schools.

Purposal

This is an information item; no Board action is requested.

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.  Administrator Certificated Employees:
               Elections – 1

     b.  Certificated Employees:
               Elections – 8
               Re-Elect Same Assignment – 1
               Re-Elect Re-Assignment – 1
               Changes of Status – 2
               Leaves of Absence – 1
               Separations – 3

     c.  Substitute Certificated Employees:
               Elections – 20
               Changes of Status – 6
               Separations – 6

     d.  Classified Employees:
               Elections – 22
               Changes of Status – 7
               Separations – 10

     e.  Board Resolution regarding recognition of Lincoln Education Association as the official
          bargaining agent for 2012-2013 and 2013-2014.

     f.  Board Resolution regarding recognition of Custodial Employees Association, Lincoln
         Public Schools Association of Office Professionals, and Lincoln Paraeducators
         Association as the official bargaining agents for 2012-2013.

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.

Rationale:  On March 8, 2011, the Board adopted a resolution to accept option students for the 2011-12 school year.  One of the provisions of the resolution was that applications were to be received by August 12, 2011.  In the resolution, standards were also adopted for acceptance of students whose applications were filed after the August 12, 2011, deadline.  Those standards include the circumstances in which the student is currently enrolled or has been enrolled within the past year in the Lincoln Public Schools, or the student is a sibling of a currently-enrolled student.

Explanation

Applications for option enrollment for the 2011-12 school year have been received after the August 12, 2011, deadline for student number 263965, who is the sibling of a currently-enrolled option student, and student number 23727 who has been enrolled within the last school year in the Lincoln Public Schools.  Staff recommends the applications for option enrollment be approved.

Proposal

That the Board adopt the following resolution:

WHEREAS the students who have been assigned student numbers 263965 and 237277 (for purposes of confidentiality, assigned numbers are being used) have filed applications for option enrollment after the August 12, 2011, deadline; and,
 
WHEREAS the student number 263965, who is the sibling of a currently-enrolled option student; and student number 237277, who has been enrolled in the Lincoln Public Schools, during the past school year, both of which are criteria for acceptance of late-filed applications as set forth in the Board resolution of March 8, 2011,

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, 2011 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 2011-12 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

A 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, 2011, deadline.  The Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education may deny or approve this request.  If this request is approved by the Board of Education, it will be forwarded to the option school district for their approval.

                                    Student Number                                    Option District

                                     287225                                                   Raymond Central

Proposal

That the Board approve this request for option out for the 2011-12 school year. 

Rationale:  The 21^st Century Community Learning Centers (CLCs) federally-funded grant program provides grants to eligible schools for the purpose of creating or expanding Community Learning Centers.  The purpose of CLCs is to provide students with academic enrichment opportunities designed to complement their regular academic program.  All CLC services are provided during non-school hours or periods when school is not in session.  The Community Learning Centers programs and activities are designed to build on the capacity of community partners and neighborhood schools.  Each site is to have an academic focus to assist participating students in meeting state and local academic achievement standards.  Families of students served may also receive services in areas which support family literacy, health, other family support services, and childcare.

Explanation

This 21^st Century CLC grant application is a continuation funding grant for the Belmont, Brownell, Prescott and Culler CLCs.  The identified schools have specific needs which are in line with the goals of the 21^st Century grant process and have successfully achieved stated outcomes in the initial grant award.  Community partners that have been identified to serve as the CLC lead agency and to assist in planning and service provision include:  Lincoln Parks and Recreation, Northeast Family Center, Family Service Association of Lincoln and the Clyde Malone Community Center.  These community partners are essential to the successful delivery of quality after school opportunities for students.  The continuation will build on the success these sites have experienced over the past five years.  Successes have included:  1) Consistently serving over 490 students each year when the grant award was for 350 students, 2) Lincoln Public Schools classroom teachers have consistently reported that regular attending CLC participants have demonstrated improved academic performance in years two, three and four of the grant, 3) The CLC sites and partnering agencies have become more intentional in their alignment of before and afterschool programs with the school day program, 4) In grant year four, all of these CLC sites exceeded the state benchmark of 3.5 on the State Site Observation Tool which evaluates program quality in six domain areas.  The average score for these sites was 4.5 on a 5.0 scale. Core program activities will include homework / academic support, enrichment activities, recreation and leisure, character education and development, and service learning as well as activities to support nutrition and healthy lifestyles.  It is projected that approximately 450 students will be impacted by the CLC programs at these four sites.

The following program goals will guide the program design and delivery:

Goal 1: Improve student learning performance in one or more core academic areas.

Goal 2: Increase social benefits and improve behavior.

Goal 3: Increase family and community involvement in 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:  Board policies are regularly reviewed to assure consistency with changes in federal or state statutes or administrative directives or recommended changes in district practice.

Explanation

The proposed revisions to Policy 4770 – Standards for Classified and Hourly Employees – reflects changes which clarify the behavioral expectations of classified employees and consequences if they do not comply with the policy.

The proposed revisions to Policy 4775 – Administration of Assessments – changes Regulation 4760.2 – Certificated Personnel – into a policy.  In addition there are two obligations and responsibilities added to those that currently exist.

The Board of Education Policy Committee reviewed the attached and approved sending them to the entire Board for review.

Proposal

That the Board discuss the proposed changes in policies.

Rationale: 

The Lincoln School District issued $22,715,000 in general obligation school bonds on   May 8, 2002.  The bonds were the second series of bonds issued for the construction of two new high school facilities and furnishing the same.  Bond principal and interest are scheduled to be repaid through January 15, 2022.


Explanation:

The current bond market may allow for an advanced refunding at a reduced interest rate.  This would result in a reduction of interest payable.

Staff will work with the district’s Underwriter (Ameritas Investment Corp.), with its Bond Counsel (Gilmore & Bell), and with its General Counsel (Perry, Guthery, Haase & Gessford) to finalize the attached resolution and to meet all other requirements necessary for the advanced refunding of these bonds if and when the district were to proceed.


Proposal:

1. Action Item No. 1.  That the Board of Education, except for the selection, approval, and designation of the Underwriter and Bond Registrar and Paying Agent, hereby approves and adopts the attached resolution in its current form or with such changes as may be approved by the Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs or his designee, and hereby authorizes all actions necessary or appropriate as provided therein or as otherwise necessary to advance refund such bonds, by issuing refunding bonds in an amount not to exceed $14,500,000, by Lancaster County School District 001 (Lincoln Public Schools), its staff, and its representatives in accordance with and subject to the following provisions:

   A.  The date of original issue of the Bonds shall not be later than July 15, 2012.
   B.  The aggregate principal amount of Bonds to be issued shall not exceed $14,500,000.
   C.  The date of final maturity of the Bonds shall not be later than January 15, 2022.
   D.  The rate or rates of interest to be carried by each maturity of the Bonds such that the true interest cost on the Bonds shall not exceed 3.00 percent.
   E.  The underwriting discount, not to exceed 0.90 percent and the price, not less than 97.00 percent nor more than 105 percent of the principal amount thereof, at which the Bonds shall be sold to the Purchaser.
   F.  The net present value savings (as a percentage of refunded bonds) shall not be less than 5 percent.

   2. Action Item No. 2.  That the Board of Education hereby selects, approves, and designates Union Bank and Trust Company as bond registrar and paying agent for the advanced refunding in an aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $14,500,000. 

   3. Action Item No. 3.  That the Board of Education hereby selects, approves, and designates Ameritas Investment Corp. as underwriter for the advanced refunding bonds in an aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $14,500,000.

    

 

 

Rationale:  Nebraska students may attend a school other than the one in the district in which they reside under the option enrollment statutes.
Board members reviewed the proposed option resolution at their January 12, 2012, meeting.

Proposal

That the Board approve the proposed option resolution for the 2012-13 school year.

Rationale: 

The current session of the Nebraska Unicameral convened January 4, 2012, and will continue for 60 legislative days.

Explanation:

Lincoln Public Schools Assistant to the Superintendent for Governmental Relations, Mary Campbell, will report to the Board on the progress of state and federal legislation at each Board meeting.

Proposal:

For information only; no action is requested.

Rationale: 

Impressions will generally be positive when the public has confidence that its board is always striving for improvement in operations and student achievement.  This takes hard-working members committed to transparency, accountability, effective governance practices, informed decision-making, and continual communication.  Satisfaction erodes, however, when boards lose focus on any of these elements or when external forces—like political agendas or media coverage that lacks context, accuracy, or adequate information—distort a multidimensional picture.  School boards rarely face issues where solutions are simple, resources plentiful, or outcomes direct and immediate.  But buy-in will be stronger and impressions better if we’re continually sharing the complexities and challenges and engaging the public in our actions.

--Kim Bridges, board member, Virginia

Rationale: 

Rationale:  January 31 - Board Work Session - 6:00 p.m. at NASB

February 1 - Chamber Coffee - 8:00 a.m. at the Chamber Office

February 9 - Chamber Lunch - 11:30 a.m. at the Cornhusker Hotel

February 14 - Board Meeting - Co-City Bldg

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.

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 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.