March 27, 2012 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting
Agenda |
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1. LPS BOARD OF EDUCATION INFORMATION
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. |
2. CALL TO ORDER
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3. ROLL CALL
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4. ANNOUNCE OPEN MEETING ACT POSTING AND LOCATION
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5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
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.
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6. SPECIAL REPORTS, PRESENTATIONS AND CELEBRATIONS OF SUCCESS
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6.1. Nebraska School Counselor Association High School Counselor of the Year, Ruth Lohmeyer
Rationale:
The Nebraska School Counselor Association (NSCA), affiliated with the American School Counselor’s Association, annually recognizes one extraordinary individual as the Explanation
The Nebraska School Counselor Association has honored Ruth Lohmeyer, a guidance counselor and team leader at Lincoln Northeast High School, as the High School Counselor of the Year.
In her role as guidance counselor, Lohmeyer oversees the overall wellbeing of students, including their academic achievements, their future goals, career plans, and their personal and social development. That role requires her to be a problem-solver, comforter, motivator and teacher to both students and staff.
Her co-workers certainly affirm those qualities in their nomination letter: “It is an honor to nominate our colleague, team leader, and friend, Ruth Lohmeyer, who has contributed to the counseling profession in so many ways. Her dedication to being a professional school counselor has had a direct impact on strengthening the school counseling profession. She has been a visionary leader in seeking ways to expand counseling services while becoming more efficient in program delivery by collaborating with community agencies.”
While at Northeast, Lohmeyer helped improve the college-going rate by implementing steps based on an EducationQuest College Access grant, including support to establish various college fairs. She implemented a Peer Tutoring program that serves two purposes: To help struggling ninth graders better succeed in their high school experiences, and to use high-achieving seniors to mentor fellow students with their studies. She has collaborated with community agencies to help meet mental health concerns that are impacting student achievement needs.
Lohmeyer explained: “As I've seen the students' needs increase, there was a need for us to partner with our community mental health resources in Lincoln and for students to receive these services during the school day. These school day programs at Northeast have proved successful in our student's academics and attendance. Counselors are more solutions-focused as we work with the over 300 students in our case-load, so we are thankful to work with our school social workers and the rich resources in our Lincoln community to help us with the mental health concerns of our students.”
Proposal
That the Lincoln Board of Education adopt the following resolution:
WHEREAS, Ruth Lohmeyer, a guidance counselor and team leader at Lincoln Northeast High School, has been honored as the High School Counselor of the Year by the Nebraska School Counselor Association, and
WHEREAS, Ruth Lohmeyer understands the variable and multiple factors that impact student success, and how common-sense solutions can be found by networking with community agencies and organizations, and
WHEREAS, Ruth Lohmeyer has developed a peer tutoring program that helps struggling ninth graders better succeed in their high school experiences, and that identifies high-achieving seniors to mentor fellow students, and
WHEREAS, Ruth Lohmeyer has developed initiatives that help students better reach their college and career opportunities, and
WHEREAS, Ruth Lohmeyer is a respected leader who has changed the lives of many of our students,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Lincoln Board of Education does hereby congratulate Ruth Lohmeyer for earning the award of Counselor of the Year for her commitment to the young people of our community. |
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
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.
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8. CONSENT AGENDA
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8.1. Human Resources Matters
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 *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.
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8.2. Routine Business
Rationale:
At each meeting, the Board of Education is asked to approve certain items of routine business of the school district. The items included in routine business for this meeting are: That the Lincoln Board of Education approve the following items of routine business:*
*That the Board is approving routine business and the listed bids and contracts with the information and in the form as presented, and except as to amount bid or total contract price, in such other form as may be approved by the Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs, or his designee, and that the Board hereby authorizes the Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs, or his designee, 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 the transaction as contemplated, for and on behalf of this school district.
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8.3. Late Request for Enrollment Option Out for 2011-12
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 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, 2011, 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 district for their approval. 223165 Norris
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8.4. Option Enrollment Student Applications for 2012-13
Rationale:
On January 24, 2012, the Board adopted a resolution to accept option students for the 2012-13 school year. Applications have been received from students requesting that they be accepted as option students for the 2012-13 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 January 24, 2012.
Explanation Staff has examined the applications of the students included in this proposal. The students meet all of the criteria set forth by the Board in its resolution of January 24, 2012. Staff recommends approval of these applications. Proposal That the Board adopt the following resolution: WHEREAS the students who have been assigned student numbers 28840, 288430, 190282, 284038, 288583, 185142, 288582, 254447, and 185608 (for purposes of confidentiality, assigned numbers are being used) meet all criteria of the Board resolution of January 24, 2012, 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.
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9. FIRST READING, ACTION AT NEXT MEETING
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.
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9.1. From Board Committees
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9.1.1. Policy Revision/Adoption - 5360: Directory Information (Revised), Policy 6340: Staff Development Services for Gifted Programs (Revised), Policy 6603: State Assessments (New), Policy 6283: Activities, Concussion (New)
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. The board’s policy review committee has recently completed a review of the four policies listed in this agenda item.
Explanation Policies recommended for revision are as follows:
New policies recommended for adoption are as follows:
Proposal
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9.1.2. Newly Annexed Property to the City of Lincoln
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. North 48th and Superior, annexation by ordinance, for 2012-13 school year: Norwood Park Elementary School, Dawes Middle School, and Northeast High School.
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9.2. From the Superintendent
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9.2.1. Dollar General Literacy Grant
Rationale:
Dollar General's commitment to literacy is an integral part of the company's culture. Dollar General's co-founder, J. L. Turner, was functionally illiterate when he started the company. Dollar General believes learning to read, receiving a GED, or learning the English language is an investment that opens doorways for personal, professional, and economic growth. That is why their commitment to literacy remains strong. It is the one gift that no one can take away—the one gift that lasts a lifetime.
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation Family Literacy Grants provide funding to family literacy service providers. The Foundation uses the federal government's definition of family literacy when reviewing grant applications. Organizations applying for funding must have the following four components:
Lincoln Public Schools Family Literacy services are offered to low-income families where one parent or primary caregiver and at least one child between the ages of 3 and 8 would benefit from literacy instruction. LPS proposes to serve up to 20 non-English speaking families (70 individuals) from the targeted West Lincoln area. The location of service delivery will be within West Lincoln Elementary, which is a high needs school with more than 86% of students in poverty, 68% from minority groups, and 44% of students in ELL classrooms. Dollar General services will follow the four-component model infused with pertinent curriculum materials for the immigrant/refugee experience. The Dollar General Family Literacy program will be based on the four component, research-based, best practices family literacy model that is currently flourishing in LPS. This includes Adult Education Instruction, Children's Education, Parent and Child Together Time, and Parenting Classes. LPS has identified the need to target and serve immigrant and refugee families in the West Lincoln area. The four-component model will be infused with specific information to provide a basic understanding of American culture and the English language in order to help families reach their full potential in the United States. The Dollar General Family Literacy program will focus on basic education system information, basic civics, health and nutrition, safety, housing, transportation, community resources, and other information that is important for someone to know when they first arrive in our community. These elements will enhance the four components and increase the likelihood of success for targeted immigrant and refugee students and families. Proposal |
10. SECOND READING, RECOMMENDED FOR ACTION
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10.1. From Board Committees
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10.1.1. Real Estate Sale and Conveyance and LPSDO Site Development and Improvement Documents and Agreements
Rationale:
The Lincoln Public Schools District Office (LPSDO) was totally destroyed by fire on May 30, 2011. Since then the Board has held several meetings and engaged the public in a process of transcending the flames which culminated at its October 25, 2011, meeting in selection of the 59th and O Street site as the location of the new LPSDO. On November 8, 2011, the Board approved a request for proposals (RFP) process asking for proposals on development of the LPSDO site. On December 12, 2011, the Board approved preliminary planning parameters for the new LPSDO facility. Finally, in accordance with the RFP, on
January 10, 2012, the Board selected Continuum Partners as developer for the balance of the LPSDO site. The Board action was subject to timely and successful negotiations of all necessary agreements for the project to be approved by the Board. Explanation Staff has negotiated the necessary documents for the project and the Purchase and Sale Agreement, Site Development Agreement, and the Operations, Maintenance and Easement Agreement and Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions are attached for Board consideration. Staff recommends approval. This transaction will result in a sale and encumbering of District property. A two-thirds vote (five of seven) is required by law. Proposal That the Board of Education approve the following resolution: RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED, by Lancaster County School District No. 0001, a/k/a Lincoln Public Schools, a Class IV School District under the laws and statutes of the State of Nebraska, at this regular meeting of its Board of Education, (LPS or District), that any inconsistent policies with this action are hereby waived and/or suspended and that the Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA), Site Development Agreement (SDA), Operations, Maintenance and Easement Agreement and Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (OMEC), the program statement and all other related construction and development documents as presented and in the form on file with official LPS records, and except as to the Contract Price in the PSA with such changes as are approved by the Associate Superintendent of Business Affairs, should be and are hereby authorized and approved;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs or his designee for and on behalf of the District should be and is hereby authorized and directed to sign, execute, and deliver such agreements and any related LPSDO site or development documents, easements, covenants, or contracts called for in such agreements or determined to be in the best interest of the District in order to complete the development, for and on behalf of LPS, and is further hereby authorized and directed to close the real estate sale, and to convey, execute and deliver any necessary deed(s), easements, covenants or other property interest rights or interests under such agreements or in the development of the described property according to the agreements, and is authorized and directed to retain any necessary professionals for assistance, to pay all costs and expenses, and to take or cause to be taken all other action necessary or appropriate to develop the described property and pay all development costs and expenses as provided therein according to such agreements or any approved changes thereto in order to complete the development transaction(s) or the LPSDO site as so provided.
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10.2. From the Superintendent
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10.2.1. Item(s) Removed from Consent Agenda
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10.2.2. Expedited/Emergency Actions
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11. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/REPORTS
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11.1. From Board Committees
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11.1.1. Governmental Relations
Rationale:
The current session of the Nebraska Unicameral convened January 4, 2012, and will continue for 60 legislative days. 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 |
11.2. From the Superintendent
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11.2.1. Superintendent Update
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11.2.2. Monthly Financial Report
Rationale:
At the second Board meeting of the month, information regarding the district’s monthly financial report is presented.
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12. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING EVENTS FOR THE BOARD
Rationale:
Wednesday, April 4 - 8:00 a.m., Chamber Coffee at Chamber Office
Friday, April 6 and Monday, April 9 - Schools not in session Tuesday, April 10 - 6:00 p.m., Board Meeting at County-City Building |
13. PUBLIC COMMENT
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.
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14. REQUEST FOR CLOSED SESSION
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14.1. Request for Closed Session - Negotiations/Collective Bargaining, Property/Real Estate, Security, Criminal Misconduct, Personnel, and Legal Advice Matters
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.
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. That the Board hold a closed session: 1. For strategy session with respect to negotiations/collective bargaining clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual in compliance with the law. 2. For strategy session with respect to property/real estate matters clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual in compliance with the law.
3. For strategy session with respect to pending litigation, or litigation which is imminent as evidenced by communication of a claim or threat of litigation to or by the public body clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual in compliance with the law.
4. For discussion regarding deployment of security personnel or devices clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual in compliance with the law.
5. For investigative proceedings regarding allegations of criminal misconduct clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual in compliance with the law.
6. For personnel and the evaluation of job performance clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual in compliance with the law.
7. For discussions of the legal consequences of specific action and legal advice clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual in compliance with the law. |
15. ADJOURNMENT
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