June 11, 2019 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. The Lincoln Board of Education shall also make available for examination and copying as requested by members of the public, at least one copy of all reproducible written materials to be discussed at the meeting.

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: 

In keeping with Board Policy 8420:

1. Persons speaking during Public Comment will be called forward individually by the Board Chair to the location identified for such purpose. 
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Persons wishing to appear will be heard in the order in which the Chair of the meeting determines appropriate.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.

If at any time persons appearing before the Board exceed the time limitations set forth in this policy or on the agenda or if persons appearing before the Board or who are present at the Board meeting or public hearing become abusive in language or behavior, it shall be the responsibility of the chair to declare that person or persons 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: 

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 - 1
             Changes of Status - 1
             Separations - 2
   b.  Certificated Employees:
             Elections - 42
             Re-Elections Same Assignment - 6
             Re-Elections New Assignment - 1
             Changes of Status -  13
             Leaves of Absence - 7
             Separations - 7
   c.  Substitute Certificated Employees:
             Elections -  6
             Separations - 17
   d.  Classified Employees:
             Elections - 14
             Changes of Status - 4
             Separations - 51
   e.  Other:
             Employment of Family Members - 1
             Workers' Compensation Lump Sum Settlements - 1
 

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: 

Rationale: 

On March 26, 2019, the Board adopted a resolution to accept option enrollment students for the 2019-20 school year.  Applications for enrollment during the 2019-20 school year have been received and are in compliance with the Board resolution of March 26, 2019.      

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 March 26, 2019.  Staff recommends approval of the applications.  

Proposal   
That the Board adopt the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the students who have been assigned student numbers 417477 and 431832 (for purposes of confidentiality, assigned numbers are being used) meet one or more of the criteria of the Board resolution of March 26, 2019, 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:  *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: 

Rationale: 

Rationale:  EXPLANATION:
The Lincoln Board of Education has recognized the Custodial Employees Association, the Maintenance Employees Association, the Nutrition Services Workers Association, the Lincoln Public Schools Association of Office Professionals, the Paraeducator Employees Association, and the Transportation Employees Association as the exclusive bargaining agents to negotiate salary, fringe benefits, and working conditions for members of the respective employee groups.  Mr. Robbie Seybert has negotiated with each employee group. Mr. Seybert has also met and conferred with the representatives from the Administrator and Technician groups.  Tentative agreements have been reached between Lincoln Public Schools and the respective employee groups for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years.

The proposed agreement for each employee group is as follows:

Administrators

• The salary increase for 2019-2020 is 2.35% with a total package increase of 2.80%.  A nine to eleven year addition to the service year stipend (included in total package).
• The salary increase for 2020-2021 is 2.30% with a total package increase of 2.83%.  A six to eight year addition to the service year stipend (included in total package).

Custodial Employees Association

• The salary increase for 2019-2020 is 2.35% with a total package increase of 3.07%.
• The salary increase for 2020-2021 is 2.30% with a total package increase of 3.05%.
• The High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) will be an insurance option for all Custodians beginning in 2019-2020.
• Proposed additional language regarding snow removal pay when the work is conducted outside of the Custodian's normal schedule.

Maintenance Employees Association

• The salary increase for 2019-2020 is 2.35% with a total package increase of 2.79%.
• The salary increase for 2020-2021 is 2.30% with a total package increase of 2.73%.

Nutrition Services Workers Association

• The salary increase for 2019-2020 is 2.35% with a total package increase of 3.73%.
• The salary increase for 2020-2021 is 2.30% with a total package increase of 3.67%.
• The High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) will be an insurance option for all Nutrition Service workers beginning in 2019-2020.

Office Professionals Association

• The salary increase for 2019-2020 is 2.35% with a total package increase of 3.20%.  The service year stipend will increase by $.05 (included in total package).
• The salary increase for 2020-2021 is 2.30% with a total package increase of 2.97%.
• The High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) will be an insurance option for all Office workers beginning in 2019-2020.

Paraeducator Employees Association

• The salary increase for 2019-2020 is 2.35% with a total package increase of 3.95%.  The service year stipend will increase by $.05 (included in total package).
• The salary increase for 2020-2021 is 2.30% with a total package increase of 3.51%.
• The High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) will be an insurance option for all Paraeducators beginning in 2019-2020.

Technicians

• The salary increase for 2019-2020 is 2.35% with a total package increase of 2.88%.
• The salary increase for 2020-2021 is 2.30% with a total package increase of 2.90%.  A five to nine year addition to the service year stipend (included in total package).
• The High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) will be an insurance option for all Technicians beginning in 2019-2020.
• Modified language regarding usage of leave during school closure days.

Transportation Employees Association

• The salary increase for 2019-2020 is 2.35% with a total package increase of 3.61%.  The service year stipend will increase by $.05 (included in total package).
• The salary increase for 2020-2021 is 2.30% with a total package increase of 3.53%.
• The High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) will be an insurance option for all Transportation workers beginning in 2019-2020.
• Modified language regarding usage of leave during school closure days.
• Modified sick leave and pay schedules due to changing ERP system implementation.

Health insurance premiums will increase 4.99% in 2019-2020 and are estimated to increase by 4.99% in 2020-2021.  Editorial changes (leave, years, pay, etc.) were made in the agreements/salary schedules/handbooks.  These settlements are within the parameters set by the Board of Education.

Included in the total package increases for each employee group are all district costs including the district's contributions to health insurance, state retirement, and Social Security.

A complete copy of the proposed agreement/handbook for each of the eight employee groups is available for review at the office of the Associate Superintendent for Human Resources upon request.

PROPOSAL:
That the Board of Education ratify the proposed agreements with the Administrators, the Custodial Employees Association, the Maintenance Employees Association, the Nutrition Services Workers Association, the Office Professionals Association, the Paraeducator Employees Association, the Technicians, and the Transportation Employees Association for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years.

Rationale:  EXPLANATION:
The Board of Education must approve all salary schedules/pay rates for the employees of Lincoln Public Schools.

Attached are the 2018-19 pay rates for substitute and miscellaneous employees and the proposed 2019-20 pay rates for such employees.

The recommended salary increases range from no increase to a 1.00 percent increase, depending on the employee group.  The determination of what salary to recommend is made in conjunction with the supervisor of that employee group and an assessment of the availability of candidates for the positions.

PROPOSAL:
That the Board of Education ratify the proposed pay rates for substitute and miscellaneous employees for the 2019-20 school year.

Rationale:  June 12: Board Retreat, Hillcrest Country Club, 5 p.m.

June 13:
FLPS Board Meeting, TCA, 8:15 a.m.
Public Budget Forum, LPSDO, 5 p.m.

June 20:
Foundation Coffee, TCA, 9 a.m.

June 21:  Say What Communications Festival, LPSDO, 8:30 a.m.

June 25:
Board Work Session, LPSDO 4:30 p.m.
Board Meeting, LPSDO, 6 p.m.

June 27:  Public Budget Forum, North Star High School, 7 p.m.

Rationale: 

In keeping with Board Policy 8420:

1. Persons speaking during Public Comment will be called forward individually by the Board Chair to the location identified for such purpose. 
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Persons wishing to appear will be heard in the order in which the Chair of the meeting determines appropriate.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.

If at any time persons appearing before the Board exceed the time limitations set forth in this policy or on the agenda or if persons appearing before the Board or who are present at the Board meeting or public hearing become abusive in language or behavior, it shall be the responsibility of the chair to declare that person or persons 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.