April 28, 2026 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: 

Lindsay Pierce, Lincoln Northwest High School social studies department chair and teacher, received the Nebraska State Council for the Social Studies First Congressional District Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year Award. The award recognizes one outstanding social studies educator that rises to the challenge of making social studies education relevant today while engaging students with activities outside of class that promote civic engagement and enhances learning opportunities in the public and private sectors.

Explanation:

Lindsay Pierce helped open Northwest High School in 2022 as the social studies teacher and department chair. During her first three years as department chair, she has successfully established a culture of high expectations and collaboration that will continue to pay off for Northwest students and the communities they serve. Lindsay teaches U.S. History, Psychology, AP Psychology, and Criminal Justice, but has also taught a variety of other subjects including Civics, Geography, and World History during her 11 years teaching at Lincoln Public Schools.

LPS K-12 Social Studies Curriculum Specialist Jaci Grimes states:  

"Lindsay is an innovative teacher who is always reflecting on her practice and thinking about how she can improve teaching and learning. She has been a district leader in social studies to implement strategies from AVID to support all students in doing rigorous cognitive work in her classes. Lindsay thinks about feedback and grading practices in creative ways so that students are motivated and focused on growth."

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 - 50
         Leave of Absence - 1
         Re-Elect, Same Assign - 10
         Re-Elect, Re-Assign - 6
         Change of Status - 8
         Separation - 50

c. Certificated Substitute Employees:
         Elections -  15
         Separations - 3

d.  Classified Employees:
          Elections  - 25
          Change of Status - 1
         Separations - 26

e. Civic Leave - 3


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: 

BACKGROUND:

The District has recognized the Custodial Employees Association as the exclusive bargaining agent to negotiate salary, fringe benefits, and working conditions for members of their respective employee group. The District’s chief negotiator has met with representatives from these associations to negotiate wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment and a tentative agreement has been reached for the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 years.

EXPLANATION:

The proposed agreement for the Custodial Employees Association is as follows:

Custodial Employees Association

• The total package for 2026-2027 is 4.36%.

  • The total package includes a 3.93% salary-only increase.

  • The total package also includes increases in FICA and retirement costs and an estimated 7.44% increase in health insurance premiums. The District will cover 80% of the out-of-pocket health insurance increase for the 2026-2027 year.

• The total package for 2027-2028 is 4.44%

  • The total package includes a 3.32% salary increase.

  • The total package also includes increases in FICA and retirement costs and an estimated 7.44% increase in health insurance premiums. The District will cover 80% of the out-of-pocket health insurance increase for the 2027-2028 year.

This settlement is within the parameters set by the Board of Education.

A complete copy of the proposed agreement is available for review on the LPS website or at the office of the Associate Superintendent for Human Resources upon request.

 

 

Rationale:  BACKGROUND:

Rationale:  The U.S. Department of Education through Title VI of Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) provides funds to fulfill the federal government’s responsibility to the Indian people for the education of Indian children. These funds support the goal of ensuring programs that serve Indian children are of the highest quality and provide for not only the basic elementary and secondary educational needs, but also the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of these children.

Lincoln Public Schools has received federal funds for services for Native American students since the mid-1980’s.  The following table reflects an annual student count and the grant award amount received in recent years.  Grant award amounts vary by year according to the total amount of Indian Education funds available at the federal level and are not based only on the number of students per program.
 

School Year	Student Number	Amount Awarded
2018-19	572	$151,709
2019-20	526	$139,941
2020-21	558	$149,006
2021-22	665	$164,298
2022-23	715	$197,942
2023-24	719	$205,390
2024-25	753	$191,755
2025-26	794	$215,303

Explanation:
Lincoln Public Schools Indian Education program will provide support to Native American students in grades K-12 in the 2026-27 school year. Native American students are enrolled in all schools across the district representing about 60 tribes as designated by the parent. Estimated funding from Title VI for 2026-27 is $215,303 based on the current student count of 794. Decisions regarding the use of these funds are made in consultation with the Native American Advisory Committee.   

Proposal:
That the Board approve the submission of the required application of the Indian Education grant to the U.S. Department of Education for $215,303. No district-funding match is required.

This grant application is due May 11, 2026.
 

Rationale:  EducationQuest Foundation awards College Access Grants through a competitive application process every other year. All Nebraska public and private high schools are eligible to apply if approved or accredited to issue a high school diploma. High schools are funded for four years and may use grant funds to better serve students who would be less likely to attend college without extra guidance or support. Previous College Access Grant recipients may reapply two years from the last year of funding.

While all students at an awarded school are eligible to participate in grant-funded activities, schools must select a minimum target audience of students in grades 9 through 12 who are less likely to go to college without participating in a college access program. The amount each school receives depends on the number of students enrolled, with awards ranging from $2,500 to $20,000.

Explanation:
If awarded, Lincoln High School will utilize $20,000 of College Access Grant funds to take students on multiple college visits per year to post-secondary campuses throughout Nebraska.  During these visits, students will receive a campus tour, informational session and lunch in a cafeteria.  This on campus experience is crucial to determining the best fit for students as they get a sense of the campus atmosphere and energy. 

In addition, Lincoln High will use grant funds to support events at school, including a Financial Aid Event each fall with Education Quest staff invited to present information on how to pay for college and an after-school College Club with Susan Buffett Foundation staff invited to bring awareness about their generous scholarship program.

Proposal:
That the Board discuss a grant application to EducationQuest Foundation from Lincoln High School for $20,000.  No matching funds are required.
 

Rationale: 

Rationale: 

Rationale: 

2026-27 Rates	Per Year	Per Semester	Per Day
Grades K-6	$12,850.00	$6,425.00	$73.43
Grades 7-8	$15,400.00	$7,700.00	$88.00
Grades 9-12	$18,000.00	$9,000.00	$102.86

 

Rationale: 

Rationale: 

Under Policy 2120, the District has recognized the Administrator and Technician groups as employee groups similarly situated with a similar community of interest appropriate for bargaining. The District’s chief negotiator has met and conferred with representatives from the Administrator and Technician employee groups to discuss wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment for the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 years.

Explanation:
The proposed agreement for each employee group is as follows:

Technicians

• The total package for 2026-2027 is 4.35%.

  • The total package includes a 4.21% salary-only increase and an increase to the service year stipend.

  • The total package also includes increases in FICA and retirement costs and an estimated 7.44% increase in health insurance premiums. The District will cover 80% of the out-of-pocket health insurance increase for the 2026-2027 year.

• The total package for 2027-2028 is 4.43%.

  • The total package includes a 3.49% salary increase and an increase to the service year stipend.

  • The total package also includes increases in FICA and retirement costs and an estimated 7.44% increase in health insurance premiums. The District will cover 80% of the out-of-pocket health insurance increase for the 2027-2028 year.

 

Administrators

• The total package for 2026-2027 is 4.14%.

  • The total package includes a 4.26% salary-only increase.

  • The total package also includes increases in FICA and retirement costs and an estimated 7.44% increase in health insurance premiums. The District will cover 80% of the out-of-pocket health insurance increase for the 2026-2027 year.
     

  • The total package for 2027-2028 is 4.21%

    • The total package includes a 3.53% salary-only increase.

  • The total package also includes increases in FICA and retirement costs and an estimated 7.44% increase in health insurance premiums. The District will cover 80% of the out-of-pocket health insurance increase for the 2027-2028 year.

    These settlements are within the parameters set by the Board of Education.

A complete copy of the proposed addendum to the handbook pertaining to each employee group is available for review on the LPS website or at the office of the Associate Superintendent for Human Resources upon request.

Rationale: 

Rationale:  April 30:
UW Annual Meeting, 11:30 am, Cornhusker Hotel
American Indian Senior Celebration, 5:00 pm, Indian Center
TCA Senior Recognition, 6:00 pm, SCC

May 3: 
Hill Elementary 50th Anniversary Celebration, 2-4 pm, Hill Elementary

May 6:
Chamber Coffee, 8:00 am, Chamber Office
Congressional Report with Senator Ricketts, 11:30 am, Wilderness Ridge
Malone Center Grand Opening, 4:30 pm, Malone Center
LPS Retirement Celebration, 5:00 pm, Hillcrest Country Club

May 12: 
Board & ESU Meeting, 6:00 pm, SJDLC





 

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.