November 14, 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: 

Alison Kelley, Lincoln Southwest High School Social Studies Teacher, has been named a mentor for the 2017-18 American Geographical Society Geography Teacher Fellows.

EXPLANATION:

Alison Kelley received national recognition for her work in educating high school students in the areas of geography when she was first selected as one of 50 American Geographical Society (AGS) Teaching Fellows during the 2016-17 school year.

During her time as a teaching fellow, Alison was selected as one of five teachers in the nation to serve as a mentor to the next class of teaching fellows. As a mentor, she will attend the AGS Fall Symposium at Columbia University in New York City where she will have the opportunity to gain valuable cutting-edge content knowledge and awareness of real-world geographic workplace skills demanded by today’s geospatial companies.

Southwest Principal Mike Gillotti says that in her twelve years at Southwest High School, Alison has continued to inspire students and her colleagues:

"Alison Kelley is a tremendous advocate for our students. As you can see from her most recent honor, Alison not only works to support our students by providing them with a challenging and engaging experience in her social studies classroom, but she is equally as dedicated to furthering her own practice and the practice of her peers by helping to engage in and lead meaningful professional development. We are very fortunate to have Mrs. Kelley as a member of our Silver Hawk family."

PROPOSAL:

 That the Lincoln Board of Education adopt the following resolution: 

WHEREAS, Alison Kelley, Lincoln Southwest High School Social Studies Teacher, has been recognized by the American Geographical Society Geography Teacher Fellows Mentor; and

WHEREAS, Alison Kelley is widely respected for her teaching abilities, specifically for engaging students in the areas of geography and geospatial sciences; and

WHEREAS, Alison Kelley not only works to support students by providing them with a challenging experience in her social studies classroom; but, is equally dedicated to furthering her own practice and the practice of her peers by helping to engage in and lead meaningful professional development; and

WHEREAS, Alison Kelley has earned the respect of her fellow co-workers, as well as geography and geospatial science professionals from across the United States.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Lincoln Board of Education does hereby congratulate Alison Kelley for being honored as an American Geographical Society Geography Teacher Fellows Mentor for the 2017-18 school year.

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.  Administrator Certificated Employees:

             Elections - 3

             Separations - 1

   b. Certificated Employees:

             Leaves of Absence - 1

             Separations - 2

   c. Substitute Certificated Employees:

             Elections - 17

             Separations - 3

   d. Classified Employees:

             Elections - 51

             Changes of Status - 7

             Leaves of Absence - 5

             Separations - 23

   e. Other:

             Employment of Family Members - 1

   f.   Board Resolution regarding recognition of Lincoln Education

        Association as the official bargaining agent for 2019-20.

 

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 November 14, 2017, were previously provided.

    Federal Tax ACH Deposit of $6,079,523.10.

    State Tax ACH Deposit of $840,770.23.

    Procurement Card ACH Transfer of $105,553.16.

    Child Support ACH Transfer of $17,169.42.

    Office Depot ACH Transfer of $10,529.11.

    Blue Cross/Blue Shield ACH Transfer of $4,859,167.18.

    Term Life/Disability ACH Transfer of $168,304.30.

     Vendor ACH Transfer of $189,090.59.

b.  PAYROLL FOR RATIFICATION - Payroll for the periods ending October 13, 2017, and October 31, 2017, in the amount of $15,851,914.68.

c.  GIFTS - Approval for the gifts listed on the attached gift report.

c.  BIDS/CONTRACTS/OTHER ROUTINE BUSINESS - Bids/contracts/other routine business will be presented for approval for repair of a cooling tower at East; the purchase of canned and frozen fruits and vegetables, and frozen potato products; a software upgrade; the payment of a membership participation fee; a building space lease agreement at Park; a second addendum to a site lease agreement; special event insurance coverage; common representation; 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 November 14, 2017.

b.  Payroll for the periods ending October 13, 2017, and October 31, 2017.

c.  Gifts for The Career Academy, Culler, Elliott, Goodrich, Lakeview, Lefler, Lincoln High, Park, Scott, Sheridan, and the district.

d.  Bids/contracts/other routine business for repair of a cooling tower at East; the purchase of canned and frozen fruits and vegetables, and frozen potato products; a software upgrade; the payment of a membership participation fee; a building space lease agreement at Park; a second addendum to a site lease agreement; special event insurance coverage; common representation; items listed for auction; and any other bids/contracts/routine business as presented.

 

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  
Requests from students who reside in the district of Lincoln Public Schools and wish to attend school outside of Lincoln Public Schools have been received after the March 15, 2017, deadline.  The Lincoln Board of Education may deny or approve these requests.  If the requests are approved by the Board of Education, they will be forwarded to the option school districts for their approval. 

Student Number            Option District
226587                                Norris
233886                                Norris
414903                                David City
241165                                Waverly
255870                                Waverly
241166                                Waverly
241167                                Waverly

Proposal  
That the Board approve the requests 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: 

Key Core Networking and IP Telephony equipment and licensing is contracted with the manufacturer for maintenance, software upgrades, and technical support.  A 3-year contract, last negotiated in 2014, provided for splitting the total 3-year cost into 3 annual payments and provided cost protection from annual price increases.  That contract is expiring and needs to be renewed. 

EXPLANATION
Quotes from two Cisco business partners were received.

OneNeck IT Solutions                                               $491,692.12  Sirius Computer Solutions                                         $523,846.51

Had 0 percent financing been an available option, the cost for the proposal from OneNeck would have been $163,897.37.  However, three financing proposals were received.

OneNeck IT Solutions                 
$168,798.62 annually, 3 payments

Cisco Systems Capital Corporation
$173,798.62 annually, 3 payments

Dell Financial Services                                                     $174,304.86 annually, 3 payments

 

For purposes of comparison, a 1-year term from OneNeck is $179,784.22 which is more than the highest financing proposal before any annual price increases likely to occur. 

PROPOSAL
It is recommended that award of $506,395.86 be made to OneNeck IT Solutions, Inc. for renewal of maintenance for Cisco IP Phone and Network Equipment.  Equipment covered on the agreement includes the core network switching equipment, access control servers, and IP Telephony servers for call management, emergency responder (911), and call center and includes technical support and software subscription for upgrades.  This maintenance renewal specifies 3 annual payments of $168,798.62.

This will be a 3-year maintenance expenditure of $506,395.86.

Expenditures will be divided as $448,464.17 from the General Fund and $57,931.69 from the Cooperative Fund.

Rationale: 

State Law Section 79-1089, Chapter 1, of Title 92 of the Nebraska Administrative Code, Board Policy 3600, and other state and federal laws and regulations require an annual financial audit for Lancaster County School District 001 (Lincoln Public Schools). 

EXPLANATION
The 2016-17 audit for the school district and Educational Service Unit No. 18 have been completed.  A representative from HSMC Orizon CPAs, LLC will be present to discuss the audits.

PROPOSAL
Information item; no action is required.

Rationale: 

November 15-17: NASB State Education Conference, La Vista, NE

November 20: Scottish Rite Distinguished Teacher Portrait Ceremony, 4:15 pm, LPSDO

November 28: Board Meeting, 6:00 pm, LPSDO

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.