November 25, 2014 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: 

Lincoln Public Schools conducted the 2014 Combined Community Campaign from September 15 through September 26, 2014.  This year’s campaign raised $156,938.32.  This year, 47 percent of Lincoln Public Schools employees contributed to the campaign.  Both totals are all-time records for the Lincoln Public Schools.

Explanation
The following high school, middle school, and elementary schools had the greatest percentage of staff participate in the Combined Community Campaign this fall.

• Southeast High School - Principal, Brent Toalson – 55.05%,
• Schoo Middle School - Principal, Bill Schulenberg – 100%,
• Fredstrom Elementary School – Principal, Vicki Schulenberg, Hill Elementary School – Principal, Michelle Phillips, and Kloefkorn Elementary School – Principal, Sue Braun - 100%

In addition, the following schools and departments met the district goal of 50 percent or greater donor participation:  Accounting, Adams Elementary, Athletics and Activities, Beattie Elementary, Bryan Community Focus Program, Business Affairs, Campbell Elementary, Clinton Elementary, Communications, Community Learning Center, Computing Services, Curriculum, Dawes Middle, Eastridge Elementary, Educational Service Unit 18, Entrepreneurship Focus Program, Federal Programs, Fredstrom Elementary, Governmental Relations, Hill Elementary, Human Resources, Huntington Elementary, Instruction Division, Irving Middle, Kloefkorn Elementary, Kooser Elementary, Lakeview Elementary, Lefler Middle, LPSDO Custodial Department, Maxey Elementary, McPhee Elementary, Meadow Lane Elementary, Media Services, Morley Elementary, Multicultural Office, Nutrition Services, Park Middle, Pound Middle, Prescott Elementary, Purchasing, Pyrtle Elementary, Randolph Elementary, Saratoga Elementary, Schoo Middle, Sheridan Elementary, Sherrill Center, Southeast High School, Superintendent’s Office, TeamMates Mentoring Program, The Career Academy, and Zeman Elementary.

This is the largest number of schools and departments to reach or exceed the 50 percent threshold.

Lincoln Public Schools is proud of its employees and would like to thank them for the contributions made to the many agencies represented by the United Way, Community Health Charities of Nebraska, and the Community Services Fund.

 

Proposal
Special recognition; no Board action is required.

 

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: 

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 – 4
             Leaves of Absence – 3
             Separations – 4
   b.  Substitute Certificated Employees:
             Elections – 11
             Separations – 1
   c.  Classified Employees:
             Elections – 36
             Changes of Status – 10
             Leaves of Absence – 2
             Separations – 19
   d.  Other:
             Workers’ Compensation Lump Sum Settlements – 1
   e.  Board Resolution regarding recognition of Custodial Emplyees Association as the official bargaining agent for 2015-16.

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 25, 2014, were previously provided.            

Federal Tax ACH Deposit of $32,433.81.

State Tax ACH Deposit of $717,751.25.

Procurement Card ACH Transfer of $73,872.06.

Office Depot ACH Transfer of $17,383.50.

Retirement ACH Transfer of $4,302,905.51.

Vendor ACH Transfer of $6,100.83. 

b. PAYROLL FOR RATIFICATION – Payroll for the periods ending November 6 and November 14, 2014, in the amount of $122,093.33. 

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 consumable math instructional books for use by K-2 students at all elementary locations; an agreement to fund a mental health therapist at Northeast High and Mickle Middle Schools; an agreement providing partial funding for Truancy Diversion Program positions; an agreement to provide supplemental education services; an agreement for travel services for Southeast students; renewal of the Arts & Humanities Focus Program facility lease agreement; an agreement providing for comprehensive services to low-income children and families; 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 25, 2014.  

b.  Payroll for the periods ending November 6 and November 14, 2014.  

c.  Gifts for East High, Northeast, Southwest, and the Science Focus Program.  

d. Bids/contracts/other routine business for consumable math instructional books for use by K-2 students at all elementary locations; an agreement to fund a mental health therapist at Northeast High and Mickle Middle Schools; an agreement providing partial funding for Truancy Diversion Program positions; an agreement to provide supplemental education services; an agreement for travel services for Southeast students; renewal of the Arts & Humanities Focus Program facility lease agreement; an agreement providing for comprehensive services to low-income children and families; and any other bids/contracts/routine business as presented.

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 Nebraska Department of Education has developed a Consolidated Application for formula grants under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and No Child Left Behind (NCLB) that includes all funded programs under this legislation.      

Explanation
All accredited districts must develop and implement a Comprehensive Plan for School Improvement that integrates federal, state, and local programs.  The Comprehensive Plan for School Improvement must be approved by the Nebraska Department of Education prior to receiving the formula for federal grants the district is eligible to receive.  The budget amount listed below represents the estimated funding to be awarded to the district for the 2014-15 school year.      

Proposal
That the Board approve the submission of the Consolidated Application to the Nebraska Department of Education, estimated at $10,371,080. There are no matching funds required.  

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 October 31, 2014, is attached.

Proposal
Information item; no Board action required.  

Rationale:  Wednesday, November 26 - Friday, November 28, No School

Thursday, November 27 - Friday, November 28, LPS Holiday Closing

Wednesday, December 3, Chamber Coffee, 8:00 a.m., Chamber Office

Tuesday, December 9, Board Meeting, 6:00 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: 

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.