November 12, 2013 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: 

Sherry McCranie, a Family and Consumer Science teacher at Lincoln Southwest High School, has been named Nebraska ProStart Teacher of the Year.  ProStart is an educational program supported by national and state restaurant association partners and educators.

Explanation
When Sherry McCranie teaches Family and Consumer Sciences class, she uses the skills of creativity, discipline and contemporary communications, all necessary in the fields of culinary, interior design, child development, creative clothing and more.  

She tells her students that these skills have life-long value, but she also understands the value of leaving an immediate impression on students.

McCranie explains:

“Many parents at parent-teacher conferences tell me how culinary classes have built confidence in their student's abilities to prepare food, eat healthy and avoid so much processed food.  Many times the student has encouraged the family to cook and eat together at home.  Or, some students have used their food plating abilities to prepare exceptional desserts for the family or friends.”

McCranie teaches with the philosophy that FCS courses offer visual learning cues that are important to many students who need practice to retain knowledge.  She believes that students should be allowed to learn basic skills, then add their own creativity.  For example, by plating various dishes, whether it be carved vegetables or pastries or desserts, McCranie uses popular social media sites to showcase the work of her students.

McCranie was inspired to be a teacher by her own teacher, who happened to be a Home Economics teacher – before the title of the field changed to Family and Consumer Science.  McCranie’s impact at her school is likely to have a similar impact on her own students, whether as teachers or creative professionals.

Proposal
That the Lincoln Board of Education adopt the following resolution:

WHEREAS, Sherry McCranie, a Family and Consumer Science teacher at Lincoln Southwest High School, has been named Nebraska ProStart Teacher of the Year; and

WHEREAS, McCranie approaches her teaching skills by using a combination of creativity, discipline and contemporary communications; and

WHEREAS, McCranie believes that students should be allowed to learn basic skills, then add their own creativity and personality to Family and Consumer Science projects; and  

WHEREAS, Sherry McCranie helps students prepare for a variety of professional careers, particularly in the restaurant industry; and

WHEREAS, Sherry McCranie has earned the respect of her peers within Lincoln Public Schools and around the state.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Lincoln Board of Education does hereby congratulate Sherry McCranie for being named the 2013 Nebraska Pro Start Teacher of the Year and for her teaching excellence in the classroom.

 

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:  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 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.

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 12, 2013, were previously provided.

        Federal Tax ACH Deposit of $4,987,397.74.

        State Tax ACH Deposit of $669,678.00.

        Procurement Card ACH Transfer of $97,168.29.

        Office Depot ACH Transfer of $10,334.28.

        Vendor ACH Transfer of $37,768.79.

b.    PAYROLL FOR RATIFICATION – Payroll for the period ending October 31, 2013, in the amount of $13,188,285.25.

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 K-2 Elementary Math Consumables; two-way radios for forty (40) schools; canned and frozen fruits and vegetables for all locations; construction manager as constructor services for Career Academy Project; agreement with Child Guidance Center; agreement for family literacy projects; authorization for student branch banking at Cavett Elementary; 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 12, 2013.

b.    Payroll for the period ending October 31, 2013.

c.    Gifts for Culler, Northeast, Riley, Southeast, and the district.

d.    Bids/contracts/other routine business for approval for K-2 elementary math consumables; two-way radios for forty (40) schools; canned and frozen fruits and vegetables for all locations; construction manager as constructor services for Career Academy Project; agreement with Child Guidance Center; agreement for family literacy projects; authorization for student branch banking at Cavett Elementary; and any other bids/contracts/routine business as presented.

*That the Board, by approving Routine Business, is approving Regular Claims, Payroll for Ratification, and all listed Bids, Contracts, and Other Routine Business items or transactions with the information and in the form as presented, and except as to conclusive award or contract amounts, in such other form and with such other or modified terms and conditions as may be negotiated and/or approved by the Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs, or a designee, and that the Board by this approval delegates to and is hereby authorizing the Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs, or a designee, to (a) sign, execute, and deliver all necessary documents or contracts, (b) make all transaction or contract payments and designate a transaction or program administrator, (c) take or cause to be taken any and all other action as may be necessary to complete the transaction, and (d) administer, operate, exercise renewals, terminate, and/or implement each listed and approved item or transaction and all matters thereto on a day-to-day basis during its term as contemplated, for and on behalf of this school district.

Rationale: 

On February 12, 2013, the Board adopted a resolution to accept option students for the 2013-14 school year.  Applications have been received from students requesting that they be accepted as option students for the 2013-14 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 February 12, 2013.

Explanation 
Staff has examined the applications of the students included in this proposal.  The students meet one of the criteria (currently enrolled) set forth by the Board in its resolution of February 12, 2013.  Staff recommends approval of these applications.

Proposal
That the Board adopt the following resolution:

WHEREAS the students who have been assigned student numbers 191605 and 204922 (for purposes of confidentiality, assigned numbers are being used) meet one of the criteria (currently enrolled) of the Board resolution of February 12, 2013, 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: 

Lincoln Public Schools regulation 5460.1 and Nebraska state law provides that if a student has been expelled from any public or private school, and the student has not completed the terms or time period of the expulsion, the student shall not be permitted to enroll in this school district until the expulsion period from such other school has expired, unless the Lincoln Board of Education approves by a majority vote the enrollment of this student prior to expiration of the expulsion period. Student number 187561 (for purposes of confidentiality we are using an assigned number) have filed the proper applications and have requested enrollment. 

Explanation
The Department of Student Services has reviewed the application and the background information on the student and are recommending that the application be approved and that the student be enrolled in the Lincoln Public Schools Expelled Student Program for the remainder of this school year, subject to such terms and conditions as imposed by the Director of Student Services and all program rules and regulations until the term or time period of the original underlying expulsions are completed.

Proposal
That the Board approve the application and recommendation of the Department of Student Services.

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: 

“Hazing” and “Initiations” refer to activities expected of someone joining a group (or to maintain full status in a group) that humiliates, degrades or risks emotional and/or physical harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate.  While passed off by many as inconsequential pranks or “rights of passage,” it is known that efforts to haze and or inflict these types of initiations has a negative impact on students and on the learning and activity environment.

Board members reviewed this policy and regulation at their September 10 meeting and asked that the Policy Committee review again.    The Policy Committee has met and considered comments and discussion from the September 10 meeting.

Explanation
This policy is meant to provide notice to students, families, and the community that these behaviors are prohibited by the Lincoln Public Schools and provides guidance to staff to prevent these behaviors or respond to them should they occur.

Proposal
The Board approve the proposed Policy 6742.

Rationale: 

Explanation
In the spring of 2012 the Board approved a calendar for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school year.  Scheduling two school years in advance assists students, parents, and district personnel in planning.  The Calendar Committee believes that the calendar variables approved by the Board have helped strike an effective balance of instructional days for students, allowances for annual assessments, and the needs of families.  With this in mind, the Calendar Committee, following those same calendar variables has prepared a student calendar recommendation for the 2015-16 school year.  This will continue the process of approving calendars two-years in advance and will allow staff and families to more confidently make advanced instructional and family plans.

Proposal
That the Board approve the proposed student calendar for the 2015-16 school years

 

 

 

 

Rationale:  1. Wednesday, November 13, Face the Chamber, 12:00 p.m.,  Lincoln Country Club

2. Thursday, November 14, Board Work Session, 4:30 p.m., LPSDO Board Room

3. Monday, November 18, Scottish Rite Celebration, 4:15 p.m., LPSDO Lobby

4. Tuesday, November 19, Board Work Session, 5:00 p.m., LPSDO Board Room

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.