May 26, 2020 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting
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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. |
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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.
Attachments:
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6. SPECIAL REPORTS, PRESENTATIONS AND CELEBRATIONS OF SUCCESS
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7. PUBLIC COMMENT
Rationale:
In keeping with Board Policy 8420:
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8. CONSENT AGENDA
Rationale:
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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: Proposal: |
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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.
Explanation
The items included in routine business for this meeting are: a. REGULAR CLAIMS - Claims for the period ending May 26, 2020, were previously provided. Federal Tax ACH Deposit of $5,849,741.51. Procurement Card ACH Transfer of $35,622.01. Child Support ACH Transfer of $16,853.41. Blue Cross/Blue Shield ACH Transfer of $5,492,898.76. Term Life/Disability ACH Transfer of $204,009.95. Retirement ACH Transfer of $5,216,560.51. b. PAYROLL FOR RATIFICATION - Payroll for the periods ending April 30, May 6, and May 15, 2020, in the amount of $16,747,366.58. 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 the purchase of reading and writing packets; auto tool sets; AP World History curriculum, vehicle equipment; middle school reading curriculum, small equipment; marketing curriculum; sewing machines; fire alarm systems upgrades; clocks; flight simulators; LED ticker; robotics; trash can liners, athletic equipment and supplies; secondary health curriculum; AP Economics curriculum; AP Human Geography curriculum; an interlocal for Truancy Diversion Program funding; an agreement for services and resources related to equity; 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 periods ending May 26, 2020. b. Payroll for the periods ending April 30, May 6, and May 15, 2020.
d. Gifts for Southwest.
e. Bids/contracts/other routine business for the purchase of reading and writing packets; auto tool sets; AP World History curriculum, vehicle equipment; middle school reading curriculum, small equipment; marketing curriculum; sewing machines; fire alarm systems upgrades; clocks; flight simulators; LED ticker; robotics; trash can liners, athletic equipment and supplies; secondary health curriculum; AP Economics curriculum; AP Human Geography curriculum; an interlocal for Truancy Diversion Program funding; an agreement for services and resources related to equity; and any other bids/contracts/routine business as presented.
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8.3. Option Enrollment Student Applications for 2020-21
Rationale:
On February 11, 2020, the Board adopted a resolution to accept option enrollment students for the 2020-21 school year. Applications for enrollment during the 2020-21 school year have been received and are in compliance with the Board resolution of February 11, 2020.
Explanation The applications included in this agenda item have been examined by staff and meet one of the criteria set forth by the Board in the resolution of February 11, 2020. Staff recommends approval of the applications.
Proposal That the Board adopts the following resolution: WHEREAS, the students who have been assigned student numbers 233546, 437090, 427124, 243539 and 297639 (for purposes of confidentiality, assigned numbers are being used) meet one or more of the criteria of the Board resolution of February 11, 2020, 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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8.4. Late Requests for Enrollment Option Out 2020-21
Rationale:
March 15, 2020, 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 2020-21 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 Student Number Option District |
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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. Proposed Contract with the Superintendent of Schools
Rationale:
Annually, the Board of Education evaluates and reviews the contract of the Superintendent of Schools. The 2019-20 evaluation of Steve Joel, Superintendent, is complete and being recommended for approval to be placed in his personnel file.
The proposed contract is being recommended for extension and with a salary increase of zero percent. Explanation: It is recommended that the current contract for the Superintendent be amended as attached.
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9.2. From Board Committees
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9.2.1. 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.
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: Fallbrook, Annexation Ordinance #20911, for 2019-20 school year: Kooser Elementary School, Schoo Middle School, and North Star High School. Proposal That the Board discuss the proposed attendance area assignments of the newly annexed property.
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9.2.2. 2020-21 Transportation Plan
Rationale:
Each spring a transportation plan is prepared for the following school year. District policy 3710 is reviewed and recommendations for operational changes are solicited from individual school buildings and various departments. Schedules are prepared and a summary of needs is balanced against staff and equipment available to the district. Each year a review of all routes for the current year are reconsidered.
Explanation The Lincoln Public Schools Transportation Department will transport only those students who qualify under provisions of state law, including:
In addition, the Board, at its discretion, may approve other transportation areas based upon unique circumstances and for the purpose of equalizing school enrollments and facilitating programs.
Attached is a tentative listing of all routes recommended for the 2020-21 school year. Proposal That the Board discuss the 2020-21 Transportation Plan.
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9.2.3. Park Middle School Wellfield Project #9916
Rationale:
Bids were requested from interested vendors for the installation of a new geothermal loop field and header piping at Park Middle School.
Explanation It is recommended that award be made to the lowest responsible vendor meeting specifications: K-2 Construction (Lincoln, Nebraska) $1,102,327.00 There was one other bidder: Cheever Construction (Lincoln, Nebraska) $1,337,000.00 A complete tabulation is available in the Purchasing Department. This will be a total expenditure of $1,102,327.00 from the 2020 Bond Fund. Proposal The Board, by approving this agreement K-2 Construction, is approving the award, the contract documents for this project, and all associated documents related thereto according to the terms and conditions as on file with district records or such other or additional terms and provisions as negotiated and approved by the Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs or a designee, and the Board is hereby delegating to and authorizing the Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs or a designee to sign, execute, and deliver the contract documents and all such related documents, make all contract payments, and to take or cause to be taken any and all other action and sign any other documents as may be necessary to complete the transaction, and to administer, operate, and/or implement the contract and all associated documents related thereto on a day-to-day basis during this project as contemplated thereby, for and on behalf of this school district, and hereby designates the Director of Operations, or another person as selected by the Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs or a designee from time to time as its program administrator under this agreement. |
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9.3. From the Superintendent
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9.3.1. McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grant
Rationale:
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is the primary piece of federal legislation dealing with the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness. The McKinney-Vento program is designed to address the problems that homeless children and youth have faced in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. Under this program, State educational agencies (SEAs) and Local educational agencies (LEAs) must ensure that each homeless child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as other children and youth. Homeless children and youth should have access to the educational and other services that they need to enable them to meet the same challenging State student academic achievement standards to which all students are held. States and districts are required to review and undertake steps to revise laws, regulations, practices, or policies that may act as a barrier to the enrollment, attendance, or success in school. Explanation |
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9.3.2. Proposed Contracts with the Associate Superintendents for Instruction, Business Affairs, Human Resources, and General Administration and Governmental Relations
Rationale:
Annually, the Board of Education reviews the contracts of the Associate Superintendent for Instruction, the Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs, the Associate Superintendent for Human Resources, and the Associate Superintendent for General Administration and Governmental Relations.
The proposed contracts for the four Associate Superintendents are recommended for extension and with a salary increase of zero percent. Explanation: It is recommended that the current contract for each of the four Associate Superintendents be amended as attached.
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10. SECOND READING, RECOMMENDED FOR ACTION
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10.1. Evaluation for the Superintendent of Schools
Rationale:
Annually, the Board of Education evaluates the Superintendent of Schools. The 2019-20 evaluation of Steve Joel, Superintendent, is complete and is being recommended for approval to be placed in his personnel file. A copy of a public summary of the Superintendent’s evaluation is attached.
Explanation: The 2019-20 evaluation of Steve Joel, Superintendent is complete. It is recommended that the completed appraisal tool and evaluation summary be approved as presented.
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10.2. From the Superintendent
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10.2.1. 2022-2023 Student Calendar
Rationale:
BACKGROUND: Each year a joint LPS/LEA committee, composed of parents, education association leaders, teachers and administrators, recommends a student calendar for the Board’s consideration. The Board adopted calendar variables to guide the Calendar Committee’s work in establishing the goal of creating a school calendar that demonstrates the district’s commitment to learning. EXPLANATION: The Calendar Committee is composed of a Board member, leadership from LEA and LPS, parents, members of the Human Resources Department, teachers, and administrators representing elementary, middle and high schools. The Calendar Committee began work in the fall of 2019 to construct a student calendar for 2022-23. The committee met and developed an initial draft. The initial draft included several possible configurations of non-student days. These options were discussed with a variety of community groups, who provided critical feedback to the committee. The committee recommends to the Board this 2022-23 Student Calendar based on the consideration of the committee members, the feedback from community groups, and the Board adopted calendar variables.
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10.2.2. Policy 6750 - School Fund Raising Activities
Rationale:
Biannually, policies series are reviewed by the Board to ensure that policies reflect current best practices and changes in legislation or regulation from the state or federal government.
The 1000’s series of policies is under review during 2019-20. A regulation for Policy 1112 - Advertising, is recommended to become new Policy 6750 - School Fundraising Activities. The new policy includes updated language that clarifies requirements for fundraising. The location of this policy, following the athletics and activities policies, makes it more accessible.
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10.2.3. Tuition Charges for 2020-21
Rationale:
Each year, the Business Affairs Office makes recommendations to the Board of Education for tuition charges for regular and special education programs. This is done in accordance with Policy 3300 and Regulation 3300.1.
Explanation The following is the recommendation for tuition charges for the 2020-21 school year for the programs noted. The rates are intended to recover the district’s anticipated actual costs for the 2020-21 school year.
Per Year Per Semester Per Day
Grades K-6 $10,300.00 $5,150.00 $58.52 Grades 7-8 $12,350.00 $6,175.00 $68.61 Grades 9-12 $14,400.00 $7,200.00 $80.00 Based on 176 days elementary and 180 days secondary.
Special education tuition rates will be determined using the calculation provided by the Nebraska Department of Education. The rate will include Lincoln Public Schools’ cost per student calculated pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. 79-598(3) plus Lincoln Public Schools’ average cost per student for special education services adjusted upward for students receiving an even more intense program.
Proposal That the Board approve the proposed tuition rates. |
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11. EXPEDITED/EMERGENCY ACTIONS
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12. ITEM(S) REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA
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13. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/REPORTS
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13.1. From Board Committees
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13.2. From The Career Academy
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13.3. From the Superintendent
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13.3.1. Superintendent Update
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13.3.2. Monthly Financial Report
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 April 30, 2020, is attached. Proposal Information item; no Board action required.
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14. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING EVENTS FOR THE BOARD
Rationale:
May 26:
Board Organizational Meeting ESU 18 Board Organizational Meeting June 3 & June 4: High School Design Virtual Preview June 18: SSKI Board Meeting, 7:30 am, LPSDO June 23: Board Work Session, 4:30 pm, LPSDO Board Meeting, 6:00 pm, LPSDO |
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15. PUBLIC COMMENT
Rationale:
In keeping with Board Policy 8420:
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16. REQUEST FOR CLOSED SESSION
Rationale:
The Lincoln Board of Education is authorized by state statute to hold a closed session by the affirmative vote of a majority of its voting members if a closed session is clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual. The subject matter and the reason necessitating the closed session are to be identified in the motion to close. Closed sessions may be held for, but shall not be limited to, such the subject matter and the reasons set forth in the Proposal section below.
Explanation |
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16.1. Request for Closed Session - Negotiations/Collective Bargaining, Property/Real Estate, Litigation, 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. |
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17. ADJOURNMENT
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