Highlights of 5/28 Lincoln Board of Education meeting

The Lincoln Board of Education met on Tuesday, May 28 at Lincoln Public Schools District Office, 5905 O St.  The Board will hold its next regular meeting on Tuesday, June 11.

Contracts proposed for additional employee groups

The Lincoln Board of Education Tuesday heard proposed salary agreements for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years for additional employee groups at Lincoln Public Schools: LPS Administrators, Custodial Employees Association, Maintenance Employees Association, Nutrition Services Workers Association, Office Professionals Association, Paraeducator Employees Association, Technicians, and Transportation Employees Association.  The Board will take a final vote on the agreements June 11.

Proposed agreements for each employee group follow.
Administrators

  • The salary increase for 2019-2020 is 2.35 percent with a total package increase of 2.80 percent.  A nine to eleven year addition to the service year stipend (included in total package).
  • The salary increase for 2020-2021 is 2.30 percent with a total package increase of 2.83 percent.  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 percent with a total package increase of 3.07 percent.
  • The salary increase for 2020-2021 is 2.30 percent with a total package increase of 3.05 percent.
  • 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 percent with a total package increase of 2.79 percent.
  • The salary increase for 2020-2021 is 2.30 percent with a total package increase of 2.73 percent.

Nutrition Services Workers Association

  • The salary increase for 2019-2020 is 2.35 percent with a total package increase of 3.73 percent.
  • The salary increase for 2020-2021 is 2.30 percent with a total package increase of 3.67 percent.
  • 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 percent with a total package increase of 3.20 percent.  The service year stipend will increase by $.05 (included in total package).
  • The salary increase for 2020-2021 is 2.30 percent with a total package increase of 2.97 percent.
  • 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 percent with a total package increase of 3.95 percent.  The service year stipend will increase by $.05 (included in total package).
  • The salary increase for 2020-2021 is 2.30 percent with a total package increase of 3.51 percent.
  • 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 percent with a total package increase of 2.88 percent.
  • The salary increase for 2020-2021 is 2.30 percent with a total package increase of 2.90 percent.  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 percent with a total package increase of 3.61 percent.  The service year stipend will increase by $.05 (included in total package).
  • The salary increase for 2020-2021 is 2.30 percent with a total package increase of 3.53 percent.
  • 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 percent in 2019-2020 and are estimated to increase by 4.99 percent 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.

The Board also heard proposed pay rates for substitute and miscellaneous employees for the 2019-20 school year. 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. 

Homeless assistance

The Board approved submission of the McKinney-Vento Grant application for approximately $44,000 – to address the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness – the final allocation to be determined by the State of Nebraska after submission and dependent upon grants awarded to other applicants. This grant requires a 100 percent match from Title I allocated to the district.  LPS will use funds received through the McKinney-Vento Act to pay transportation costs for homeless children to attend school, and to continue to support the salary of the Homeless Outreach Advocate, who works with families experiencing homelessness to arrange transportation services – and works with families to provide other supports.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, the primary piece of federal legislation dealing with the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness, addresses the problems that homeless children and youth have faced in enrolling, attending and succeeding in school. 

Transportation plan approved

The Board approved an updated transportation plan with changes in additional LPS bus runs and routes – at a net budget increase of $658,220 – for the 2019-20 school year:

  • Mid-day runs to Don Sherrill and Yankee Hill education centers, and The Career Academy.
  • Additional runs to Kooser Elementary School.
  • Additional routes to Kloefkorn and Beattie elementary schools.
  • New VOICE site at Pemberly.
  • Special education runs to Roper and Maxey elementary schools, Goodrich and Moore middle schools and Lincoln East High School.
  • English Language Learner (ELL) routes to Everett Elementary School and Park Middle School.
  • Early Childhood for Belmont Elementary School.
  • Early Childhood and ELL for Zeman Elementary School.
  • Special education and ELL at Culler Middle School.

Annexations

The Board of Education assigns school attendance areas to property newly annexed or newly platted to the City of Lincoln. The City of Lincoln has annexed a parcel of land, which automatically brings this property into the district of Lincoln Public Schools: Grandview Estates 2nd Addition, Annexation Ordinance #20786, for 2019-20 school year assigned to Wysong Elementary School, Moore Middle School and Lincoln East High School. The Board will take a final vote on the agreements June 11.

Policy changes approved

The Board passed policy changes for community relations/media relations, employee fundraising and student fees. 

Student celebration

The Board celebrated graduation season at LPS by featuring the graduation speech from Lincoln East High School senior Turner Linafelter, senior class president, and his lunch bunch friend, East High senior Cole Alfred.

Public Comment
Two people offered public comments.  For their full comments, go to Livestream.com/lpsorg

To view the entire Board meeting;
Go to: Youtube.com/user/lpsorg


Published: May 20, 2019, Updated: May 28, 2019