September 11, 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: 

Amy Davidson, a third-grade teacher at Fredstrom Elementary School, has been honored by the Nebraska Department of Education with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Elementary Mathematics Teaching. Davidson has taught at Fredstrom since 1998.  As a state finalist, Davidson becomes a candidate for the national-level Presidential Award.

Explanation
As a third-grade teacher, Amy Davidson teaches all subject areas, but she has a passion for math and admits she squeezes as much math into the day as possible.  It fits her teaching personality well, and she strives to share her enthusiasm with her students while being consistent in a structured approach to teaching.

Part of the classroom experience that Davidson relishes comes from giving students a sense of ownership in learning opportunities:  “I firmly believe in conceptual teaching and learning.  Students who develop their own strategies can commit the strategy to memory. The math will have more meaning when they have time to make the connections.  Students are actively engaged when they develop their own methods.  They take ownership in their work!”

As a member of a Primarily Math cohort at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Davidson participates in a concentrated immersion approach, which challenges and supports teachers who take in-depth courses on mathematics.

Fredstrom Principal Vicki Schulenberg said Davidson urges her students to strive for excellence, noting that her students score better on standardized tests than other students in the school, the state, and the nation. That’s due in part because she has a variety of strategies to help different students reach the same solutions.

Schulenberg added, “As a teacher, Amy strives to help her students develop a firm conceptual understanding of mathematical processes, while insisting on mastering basic facts. Problem solving is emphasized in her classroom, and her students typically excel. The other teachers on her team look to Amy for leadership in the area of mathematics. Amy is unselfish and works cooperatively, so that all students in her team are challenged.”

WHEREAS, Amy Davidson has earned the State Presidential Award for Excellence in Elementary Mathematics Teaching, and

WHEREAS, Amy Davidson shares her passion for mathematics with her students by engaging them in empowerment and student-led projects, and

WHEREAS, Amy Davidson’s students continue to perform with excellence utilizing the variety of techniques and strategies Davidson has taught them, and

WHEREAS, Amy Davidson is sought out by teachers in her own school, on her team, and fellow students at the university because of her ability to teach even the toughest concepts.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Lincoln Board of Education does hereby congratulate Amy Davidson, third-grade teacher at Fredstrom Elementary School, for earning the State Presidential Award for Excellence in Elementary Mathematics Teaching, for continuing her own education in teaching math, and working to develop the teaching skills of those around her.

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: 

Rationale:  Explanation
The items included in routine business for this meeting are:

a.    REGULAR CLAIMS – Claims for the periods ending September 11, 2012, were previously provided.

        Federal Tax ACH Deposit of $4,377,725.58.

        Procurement Card ACH Transfer of $85,622.78.

        Office Depot ACH Transfer of $13,155.46.

        Vendor ACH Transfer of $1,891.50.

b.    PAYROLL FOR RATIFICATION – Payroll for the period ending August 31, 2012, in the amount of $12,581,536.40.

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 lamps for stock for use at all district locations; Apple computers for Adams Elementary School; electrical finish package for Lincoln Public Schools District Offices; an agreement with Confucius Institute at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for supplementary support of the Chinese Language and Culture Teaching Program in LPS; an agreement with Focus on Family Learning, Inc. for family literacy programs; an agreement with The HUB Central Access Point for Young Adults to provide dropout prevention and re-engagement services at Lincoln High School; an agreement with Child Guidance Center to provide mental health services to students enrolled in North Star High School; an agreement with Instructional Coaching Group for Jim Knight seminars and training; an agreement with The Leadership and Learning Center for consulting services at Elliott Elementary School; 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 September 11, 2012.

b.    Payroll for the period ending August 31, 2012.

c.    Gifts for Adams, Belmont, Clinton, Holmes, Irving, Mickle, Park, Randolph, Sheridan, Northeast, Southeast, and the district.

d.    Bids/contracts/other routine business for lamps for stock for use at all district locations; Apple computers for Adams Elementary School; electrical finish package for Lincoln Public Schools District Offices; an agreement with Confucius Institute at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for supplementary support of the Chinese Language and Culture Teaching Program in LPS; an agreement with Focus on Family Learning, Inc. for family literacy programs; an agreement with The HUB Central Access Point for Young Adults to provide dropout prevention and re-engagement services at Lincoln High School; an agreement with Child Guidance Center to provide mental health services to students enrolled in North Star High School; an agreement with Instructional Coaching Group for Jim Knight seminars and training; an agreement with The Leadership and Learning Center for consulting services at Elliott Elementary School; and any other bids/contracts/routine business as presented.

*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.

Rationale:  March 15, 2012, 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 2012-13 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, 2012, 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

                                    290928                                                  Crete

Proposal
That the Board approve this request for option out for the 2012-13 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:  A hearing was held earlier this evening on whether the Board of Education should approve or modify the preliminary property tax request for Lancaster County School District 001 – Lincoln Public Schools (Attachment One).

Explanation
The 2012-13 budget of Lincoln Public Schools has already been adopted.  According to state law Section 77-1601.02, the preliminary tax request for the district shall be the property tax request from the prior year, unless the school district holds a hearing and sets the property tax request at a different amount.  The prior year’s property tax request would not correctly fund the 2012-13 budget, which has already been formally adopted by the Board of Education.  Attachment Two reflects last year’s property tax rates, this year’s initial estimate, and the final property tax rates for 2012-13.

Staff recommends that the following resolution be adopted so that the 2012-13 budget may be funded as adopted.  A simple majority vote is required.

Proposal
That the Board of Education discuss the following proposed resolution:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of Lancaster County School District 001 hereby sets the district’s 2012-13 property tax request at a different amount from that of the 2011-12 fiscal year and that, pursuant to State Law Sections 79-1601.02, 79-1085, and other Nebraska laws, does hereby set the 2012-13 Lincoln Public Schools property tax request, including the county’s collection fee and any delinquent tax allowances, as follows:

General Fund	$180,130,930.52
Building Fund	0
Bond Fund for Bonds Authorized Prior to 1999	11,009.09
Bond Fund for High School Bonds Authorized in 1999	5,738,704.99
Bond Fund for Bonds Authorized in 2006	21,733,690.70
Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund	5,282,771.66
Total Lincoln Public Schools Tax Request	$212,897,106.96

and THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if updated valuation, budget, or other pertinent information is subsequently received by Lincoln Public Schools or by Lancaster County, Lincoln Public Schools, its administration, and the County shall adjust the property tax request to reflect the updated information pursuant to State Law Sections 77-1601, 79-1085, and other Nebraska laws.

 

Rationale:  The Lumina Foundation believes that education provides the basis for individual opportunity, economic vitality, and social stability. With its partners, Lumina strives to meet workforce demands and close gaps in attainment for groups not historically well-served by higher education. Lumina’s overarching goal is to increase the higher education attainment rate of the United States to 60 percent by 2025.

Explanation
The LNE College Readiness Initiative will primarily serve low-income, minority, and first-generation college students in grades 9-12. Approximately 70 percent of LNE students are first-generation college students.

Goal 1: Increase on-time graduation rate:

• Expanding the 9^th/10^th grade watch lists for students with three or more F’s to provide direct interventions for at-risk students.
• Referring students to social workers, community partners, math interventionists, and mental health/drug and alcohol counselors on a case-by-case basis to provide additional support.
•  

Goal 2: Increase GPA and college entrance exam scores for low-income and minority students:

• Individual mentoring and test preparation services for low-income and minority students.
• LNE College Club activities will expand to include ACT and Compass test preparation curriculum facilitated by counselors, teachers, and community partners.
• Data from the 9^th-12^th grade student watch lists for students with three or more F’s will be collected in a centralized database to evaluate program effectiveness and provide targeted interventions for students with the highest need to improve overall GPA.

Goal 3: Increase enrollment in post-secondary programs for low-income, minority, and first-generation college students:

• All students, with the help of their counselors, will complete a four-year academic plan beginning in the first semester of their freshman year, to be updated by semester.
• All students will receive personal, hand-written invitations to attend college fairs and campus visits based on the academic and career goals outlined in their four-year academic plan.
• A shared data system between counselors, administrators, and staff will be maintained to gather longitudinal data on the effectiveness of activities and initiatives to build a stronger college-going culture in the school.

Proposal
That the Board discuss submission of the grant from Northeast High School to the Lumina Foundation for $200,000 over a five-year period.   No matching funds required. 

Rationale: 

Rationale: 

Rationale:  September 12 - 12:00 p.m., Face the Chamber @ Lincoln Country Club
September 16 - 2:00 p.m., Roper Elementary Open House
September 18 - 6:00 p.m., Board Work Session @ NASB
September 19 - 5: 30 p.m., NASB Area Membership Meeting @ La Vista Conference Center
September 21 - 7:30 p.m., 50th Anniversary Celebration for Seacrest Field
September 23 - 2:00 p.m., Kloefkorn Elementary Dedication
September 25 - 6:00 p.m., Board Meeting

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.