September 26, 2017 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: 

Recently Irving Middle School started what they call an Irving student ambassador program.....focusing on encouraging students to participate in the development of school culture. These students are trained to work with students of mobility - to show them what it means to be an Aardvark. In addition, ambassadors are used for guiding school tours, assisting students who need extra support - maneuver the hallways - and generally serving as leaders in the middle school. 

Tonight, presenting, are:
Irving Principal Jason Shanahan and several student ambassadors. 

 

• Seventh graders Adriana Abrocio Parra and Cyrus Zgud
• Eighth graders Maddie Hesse, Darian Blyden, and Puot Gak

Rationale: 

Lt Col Terence Plumb, USAF, Ret

Rationale: 

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 make printed materials available to the Board but may not use any other form of media.

Rationale: 

Rationale: 

Explanation:

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.

This report includes routine Human Resources changes:

   a.  Certificated Employees:

             Elections - 2

             Changes of Status - 2

             Leaves of Absence - 5

   b.  Substitute Certificated Employees:

             Elections - 25

             Separations - 1

   a.  Classified Employees:

             Elections - 93

             Changes of Status - 6

             Separations - 13

   d.  Other:

             Civic Leaves - 1

 

   e.  Board Resolution regarding recognition of the Custodial Employees

        Association, the Lincoln Paraeducator Association, the Lincoln Public

        Schools Association of Office Professionals, the Maintenance

        Employees Association, the Nutrition Service Workers Association, and

        the Transportation Employees Association as official bargaining agents

        for 2018-19.

 

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. 

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 September 26, 2017, were previously provided. 

                    Federal Tax ACH Deposit of $185,653.81. 

                    State Tax ACH Deposit of $805,448.21. 

                    Procurement Card ACH Transfer of $112,383.43. 

                    Child Support ACH Transfer of $672.51. 

                    Office Depot ACH Transfer of $14,023.92. 

                    Retirement ACH Transfer of $4,750,509.41. 

                    Vendor ACH Transfer of $119,619.75. 

b.  PAYROLL FOR RATIFICATION - Payroll for the periods ending September 7 and September 15, 2017, in the amount of $5,559,082.69.

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 amendments to CLC agreements; items listed for auction; 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 period ending September 26, 2017. 

b.  Payroll for the periods ending September 7 and September 15, 2017.

c.  Gifts for Arnold, Calvert, The Career Academy, Clinton, Don Sherrill Education Center, East, Eastridge, Elliott, Fredstrom, Hill, Kahoa, Lincoln High, Moore, Northeast, Nuernberger, Rousseau, Sheridan, Zeman, and the district.

d.  Bids/contracts/other routine business for amendments to CLC agreements; items listed for auction; and any other bids/contracts/routine business as presented.

Rationale: 

On February 14, 2017, the Board adopted a resolution to accept an option enrollment student for the 2017-18 school year.  An application for enrollment during the 2017-18 school year has been received and is in compliance with the Board resolution of February 14, 2017.      

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 14, 2017.  Staff recommends approval of the applications.  

Proposal   
That the Board adopts the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the students who have been assigned student numbers 421534 and 421535 (for purposes of confidentiality, assigned numbers are being used) meet one or more of the criteria of the Board resolution of February 14, 2017, 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.

Rationale: 

March 15, 2017, 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 2017-18 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 district of Lincoln Public Schools and wishes to attend school outside of Lincoln Public Schools has been received after the March 15, 2017, deadline.  The Lincoln Board of Education may deny or approve this request.  If the request is approved by the Board of Education, it will be forwarded to the option school district for their approval. 

Student Number            Option District
249279                                Norris

Proposal  
That the Board approve the request for option out for the 2017-18 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: 

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 two parcels of land, which automatically bring these properties into the district of Lincoln Public Schools.  These properties need to be assigned attendance centers so that potential purchasers of homes in these areas will know which schools they will be attending: 

Highland View 1^st Addition, Annexation Ordinance #20521, for 2017-18 school year:  Kooser Elementary School, Schoo Middle School, and North Star High School 

Grandview Estates 1^st Addition, Annexation Ordinance #20523, for 2017-18 school year:  Wysong Elementary School, Moore Middle School, and East High School 

PROPOSAL
That the Board approve the proposed attendance area assignments of the newly annexed properties.

 

Rationale: 

A hearing was held previously 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 2017-18 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 2017-18 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 2017-18. 

Staff recommends that the following resolution be adopted so that the 2017-18 budget may be funded as adopted.  A simple majority vote is required. 

PROPOSAL
That the Board of Education approve the following proposed resolution: 

THEREFORE Be it resolved that the Board of Education of Lancaster County School District 001 hereby sets the District’s 2017-18 property tax request at a different amount from that of the 2016-17 fiscal year and that, pursuant to State Law Sections 77-1601.02, and other Nebraska laws, does hereby set the 2017-18 Lincoln Public Schools property tax request, including the county’s collection fee and any delinquent tax allowances, as follows:             

General Fund	$222,380,304.85
Building Fund	0.00
Bond Fund for High School Bonds Authorized in 1999	5,589,885.81
Bond Fund for Bonds Authorized in 2006	15,339,963.48
Bond Fund for Bonds Authorizes in 2014	12,273,755.43
Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund	5,778,520.14
Total Lincoln Public Schools Tax Request	$261,362,429.71

 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 and other Nebraska laws.

 

 

Rationale: 

Lincoln Public Schools adopts and shall enforce a policy of making technology resources available only to advance educational goals and objectives, supplement instruction and further school purposes.  Policy 6441 outlines the operation and use of such technology resources by students, staff and the community to meet this policy requirement.

EXPLANATION
In the spring of 2017, the Nebraska Legislature adopted the Nebraska Student Online Privacy Protection Act.  This change in policy reflects that LPS will comply with the new act.

PROPOSAL
That the Board approve the changes to Policy 6441.

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 August 31, 2017, is attached. 

PROPOSAL
Information item; no Board action required.

Rationale: 

September 27: GNSA Meeting, NCSA, 9:30 am

October 4: Chamber Coffee, Chamber Offices, 8 am

October 8: Randolph Elementary Renovation Open House, Randolph Elementary School, 1-3 pm

October 10: Board Meeting, LPSDO, 6 pm

Rationale: 

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. 

Rationale: 

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.

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.