January 9, 2024 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: 

Rationale:  Explanation:
Stephanie Kinnaman teaches at Morley Elementary School and has taught for six years. She was recently named the Nebraska School Librarian of the Year by the Nebraska School Librarians Association. 

It states in the nomination letter:

"Steph Kinnaman is a true example of a 21st Century librarian. She is a master teacher who weaves information literacy, digital citizenship, and research skills into highly engaging and well-developed instruction for grades K-5. She leads by example through her teaching of immersive library lessons that provide a solid foundation of literacy and inquiry skills for all students."

"Steph demonstrates professionalism and leadership each and every day through her library instruction, collaborative partnerships, and community involvement. Her library is not only warm and welcoming, it’s a model of great teaching. She’s a master in classroom management and organization."
 

Rationale: 

The Board believes public attendance and participation, when appropriate to the business at hand, is beneficial to the work of the Board and models the importance of civic engagement and civil discourse to the community’s children, but it cannot impede the Board from completing the business of the meeting. 

In keeping with Board Policy 8420 and Neb Statute 84-1412(3), the Lincoln Board of Education has established these reasonable regulations to conduct Public Comment::

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 three minutes will be allotted for any speaker unless prior to the beginning of the Public Comment agenda item, the chair sets a different reasonable time frame to be allotted for speakers in order to accommodate the number of persons who have submitted "Record of Appearance" cards. The time limit is per speaker, per meeting and may not be transferred or assigned to other speakers.

3. The chair may endeavor to organize public comment by what agenda items or other issues have been identified as topics by public speakers, adjust for the age of speakers, and/or split the Public Comment agenda item to be conducted in different positions within the Board’s Order of Business. 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.

4. In order to be called forward to address the Board during Public Comment, each person wishing to speak must obtain a "Record of Appearance" card from staff at the meeting in which they wish to speak. "Record of Appearance" cards are available beginning 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the meeting. Those wishing to speak must accurately complete the required sections of the card, and submit it to the appropriate staff member by 15 minutes after the start of the meeting.

5. Individuals will be called forward to speak by name, organization being represented, if applicable, and address. Each individual speaking to the Board will be required to identify himself or herself prior to giving public comment by stating their first and last name and, if applicable, any organization they represent.

6. 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.

7. If the number of people wishing to speak under the public comment portions of the agenda is large, the chair may rule that a public hearing be scheduled.

8. Persons speaking to the Board during public comment may make printed materials (paper no larger than 8.5 x 11 inches) available to the Board but may not use any other form of media. Public speakers are asked to provide 10 copies of any copies of printed materials presented to the Board.

Persons attending Board meetings and/or speaking to the Board during Public Comment or during a public hearing must follow all requirements established by the Board, as well as all Board, chair and staff directions in order to help maintain the order, proper decorum, safety and security, and the non-disruptive functioning of the Board meeting. These include, but are not limited to the following:

• Abiding by time limits
• Refraining from applauding, cheering, jeering, or engaging in speech that defames any individual(s), or stymies or blocks meeting progress;
• Refraining from the use of audio recordings, video recordings, or any digital still images, posters, signs, costumes, other props and/or photographs
• Refraining from abusive, disruptive or threatening language or gestures, and
• Staying in the areas identified by the Board as reserved for the public.

If at any time persons appearing before the Board do not comply with these or any other Board requirements, it shall be the responsibility of the chair to declare that person or persons out of order and require a change in behavior, delay or recess the meeting, or refuse permission to continue to address the Board, and ultimately may require the person or persons to leave the premises of the Board meeting.

Rationale: 

Rationale:  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.

Explanation:
This report includes routine human resources changes:

a. Administrator Employees:
           Elections: 1

b. Certificated Employees:
          Elections - 23
          Separtations - 6

c. Certificated Substitute Employees:
          Elections - 21
         Change of Status - 1
          separations - 3

d.  Classified Employees:
          Elections  - 57
          Change of Status - 1
           Separations - 41

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:  *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: 

Rationale: 

Description	Quantity	Cost	Extended Cost
Acer Chromebook C736 (8/32) Non-Touch	3,162	$286.80	$906,861.60
Acer Chromebook R756T (8/64) 2-in-1	3,312	$377.87	$1,251,505.44

Rationale:  The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 authorizes EPA to offer rebates to replace existing school buses with clean and zero-emission (ZE) models and includes prioritization for certain applicants—including high-need school districts, Rural school districts, Bureau of Indian Affairs-funded school districts, and School districts that receive basic support payments for children who reside on Indian land. The maximum rebate amount per bus is dependent on the replacement bus fuel type and the replacement bus size. School districts applying directly for funds may only submit one application to replace up to 25 buses.

The 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Rebate Program includes review and selection by EPA, at which time selectees will then submit purchase orders to request payment, then receive payment, which is followed by new bus delivery, existing bus replacement, and project close out.

Explanation
Lincoln Public Schools proposes to replace three (3) existing diesel school buses, each with model year of 2000 or earlier, with electric models. This small number was selected so that the program could serve as a pilot for LPS to determine any barriers to utilization of electric vehicles before purchasing on a larger scale.

If approved, LPS will request up to $265,000 per replacement bus (the maximum allowed for the size and fuel type to be used by LPS) to enhance its existing fleet.  These buses will include routes to any of the 22 Title I elementary and middle schools to deem LPS eligible for prioritization. Replacement buses should not be purchased prior to EPA approval.

The difference in the rebate and actual cost of the buses will be paid with the Depreciation Fund.

Proposal
That the Board discuss the submission of an application to the EPA for its Clean School Bus Rebate Program for up to $265,000 each to replace three school buses.

The rebate program application is due January 31, 2024.
 

Rationale: 

The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21 CCLC) federally-funded grant program provides grants to eligible schools for the purpose of creating or expanding Community Learning Centers. The primary purpose of 21st Century funds is to provide students with academic and enrichment opportunities designed to complement their regular academic program. All CLC services are provided during non-school hours or periods when school is not in session. The Community Learning Centers programs and activities are designed to build on the capacity of community partners and neighborhood schools. Each site is to have an academic focus to assist participating students in meeting state and local academic achievement standards. Families of students served may also receive services in areas which support family literacy, health, other family support services, and childcare. 

EXPLANATION 

These three 21st Century CLC grant applications are continuation funding grants for: 

Grant 6119: Randolph, Lincoln High and Northeast High Schools (Years 6-10) 
Grant 6129: Holmes, Pershing, and Lefler (Years 16-20) 
Grant 6139: Clinton, Elliott, Hartley, Huntington, Riley, Saratoga, West Lincoln and Goodrich (Years 21-25) 

The identified schools have specific needs that are in line with the goals of the 21st Century grant process and have successfully achieved stated outcomes in the continuation grant award. Community partners that have been identified to serve as the CLC lead agencies and to assist in the planning and service provision include: CEDARS, Civic Nebraska, Family Service, and YMCA. These community partners will be essential to the successful delivery of quality after-school opportunities for students. The continuation grants will build on the success these sites have experienced over the past years. Successes have included: 1) consistently serving an average of 1,700 thirty-plus day students each year and over 3,090 total students attending after-school programming, 2) the CLC sites and partnering agencies continue to be intentional in their alignment of after-school programs with the school day academics, which has resulted in participating students outperforming their peers who do not attend after school programs on state assessments, and 3) successfully providing high level academic and enrichment programming for students as evidenced in both annual self-assessments and external observations. Core program activities will include homework / academic support, enrichment activities, recreation and leisure, character education and development, career exploration, and service learning as well as activities to support nutrition and healthy lifestyles. It is projected that approximately 5,000 students will be impacted by the CLC programs at these fourteen sites over the five-year duration of these grants. 

The following program goals will guide the program design and delivery: 

Goal 1: Improve overall student success.
Goal 2: Increase positive behavior and social interactions. 
Goal 3: Increase active and meaningful family and community engagement. 

Due date for applications is February 1, 2024. 

Rationale: 

Rationale: 
Explanation
The Student Learning and Technology Committee recommends Policy 5360 be updated to ensure the policy does not unintentionally result in the loss of student instructional time.

Proposal
That the Board discuss Policy 5360.

Rationale:  The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program was created to improve access to local foods in the USDA National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program. The program will give priority to projects that improve access to local foods in the cafeterias of high poverty schools, incorporate experiential nutrition education activities that encourage student participation, and demonstrate the potential for long-term sustainability. Funding requests from school districts can be up to $100,000 for a 24-month period.

Explanation
Lincoln Public Schools proposes to request up to $100,000 to support the development and enhancement of school gardens at Culler, Dawes and Mickle Middle Schools and Northeast High School.  Partnerships with each school’s Community Learning Center (CLC) before and after school program, as well as Community Crops and Lincoln Kiwanis Club will allow the project to include agricultural education to students and families.

Proposal
That the Board reviews the submission of the USDA Farm to School Grant application for up to $100,000 for a 24-month period. A match requirement of 25% of the total project budget (approximately $34,000) will be met through the staffing and resource provided by partner organizations.

The grant application is due January 12, 2024.

 

Rationale: 

Rationale:  January 15: No school all levels/ LPS Closed
January 18:
GNSA Meeting, NCSA, 9:30 a.m.
GNSA Lunch, Scottish Rite Center, 12:00 p.m.
January 21: 
NASB Legislative Issues Conference, Cornhusker Marriott, 6:00 p.m.
January 22:
NASB Legislative Issues Conference, Cornhusker Marriott, 8:00 a.m.
January 23:
Employee 25-Year Reception, SJDLC, 5:00 p.m.
Board Meeting, SJDLC, 6:00 p.m.

Rationale: 

The Board believes public attendance and participation, when appropriate to the business at hand, is beneficial to the work of the Board and models the importance of civic engagement and civil discourse to the community’s children, but it cannot impede the Board from completing the business of the meeting. 

In keeping with Board Policy 8420 and Neb Statute 84-1412(3), the Lincoln Board of Education has established these reasonable regulations to conduct Public Comment::

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 three minutes will be allotted for any speaker unless prior to the beginning of the Public Comment agenda item, the chair sets a different reasonable time frame to be allotted for speakers in order to accommodate the number of persons who have submitted "Record of Appearance" cards. The time limit is per speaker, per meeting and may not be transferred or assigned to other speakers.

3. The chair may endeavor to organize public comment by what agenda items or other issues have been identified as topics by public speakers, adjust for the age of speakers, and/or split the Public Comment agenda item to be conducted in different positions within the Board’s Order of Business. 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.

4. In order to be called forward to address the Board during Public Comment, each person wishing to speak must obtain a "Record of Appearance" card from staff at the meeting in which they wish to speak. "Record of Appearance" cards are available beginning 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the meeting. Those wishing to speak must accurately complete the required sections of the card, and submit it to the appropriate staff member by 15 minutes after the start of the meeting.

5. Individuals will be called forward to speak by name, organization being represented, if applicable, and address. Each individual speaking to the Board will be required to identify himself or herself prior to giving public comment by stating their first and last name and, if applicable, any organization they represent.

6. 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.

7. If the number of people wishing to speak under the public comment portions of the agenda is large, the chair may rule that a public hearing be scheduled.

8. Persons speaking to the Board during public comment may make printed materials (paper no larger than 8.5 x 11 inches) available to the Board but may not use any other form of media. Public speakers are asked to provide 10 copies of any copies of printed materials presented to the Board.

Persons attending Board meetings and/or speaking to the Board during Public Comment or during a public hearing must follow all requirements established by the Board, as well as all Board, chair and staff directions in order to help maintain the order, proper decorum, safety and security, and the non-disruptive functioning of the Board meeting. These include, but are not limited to the following:

• Abiding by time limits
• Refraining from applauding, cheering, jeering, or engaging in speech that defames any individual(s), or stymies or blocks meeting progress;
• Refraining from the use of audio recordings, video recordings, or any digital still images, posters, signs, costumes, other props and/or photographs
• Refraining from abusive, disruptive or threatening language or gestures, and
• Staying in the areas identified by the Board as reserved for the public.

If at any time persons appearing before the Board do not comply with these or any other Board requirements, it shall be the responsibility of the chair to declare that person or persons out of order and require a change in behavior, delay or recess the meeting, or refuse permission to continue to address the Board, and ultimately 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.