Highlights of 6/23 Board of Education and ESU Regular Meeting

The Lincoln Board of Education met for a regular meeting on Tuesday, June 23, at the Lincoln Public Schools District Office, 5905 O St. Immediately following the Regular Board of Education meeting, there was a regular meeting of the Board of Education Educational Service Unit 18.

Lincoln Board of Education Regular Meeting

Resolution Regarding the Framework for Reopening Schools

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the school district is working with the Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) to develop best practices to reopen LPS schools and facilities for the 2020-21 school year. A resolution was presented regarding this process, within the framework of the LLCHD COVID-19 Risk Dial.

The Board waved second reading and voted to approve the resolution.

New High School Site Annexation Agreement with the City of Lincoln

As part of the Bond Issue passed by Lincoln voters in February, the Board previously approved the purchase of approximately 143 acres of real estate located at the northeast corner of the intersection of South 70th Street and Saltillo Road for use as a site for a new high school and athletic facilities. In order to develop the property for the intended purposes the site and adjacent roads, utilities and infrastructure must first be annexed into the boundaries of the City of Lincoln.

The proposed annexation agreement with the City also calls for design, construction and installation of roads, utilities and related infrastructure on and along S. 70th St. and Saltillo Road adjacent to the site. The estimated cost is approximately $4,950,000. As part of the agreement, LPS will be responsible for the design, construction and installation of the infrastructure and for initial payment of costs and expenses. The City will reimburse LPS for a portion of the infrastructure costs in the amount of approximately $2,250,000. This is subject to final design and negotiation of the cost share and construction costs.

The Board waived the second reading and voted to approve the annexation resolution.

New High School Sites Precast Supply Package

LPS contracted with Hausmann Construction, Inc., to serve as the district’s construction manager at risk for the new high school sites. Under the construction manager contract, Hausmann is required to competitively bid all work on the projects. Hausmann, in conjunction and consultation with the LPS Operations Department, requested bids to furnish all labor, materials and equipment for precast supply on the projects. Hausmann is required to award a subcontract to the lowest responsible bidder for the work, subject to approval by LPS.

In this case, the lowest bidder was Coreslab Structures from Bellevue, Nebraska, for an amount of $3,517,620. This will be an expenditure from the 2020 Bond Fund.

The Board waived second reading and voted to approve the bid from Coreslab Structures.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Proposals were requested from vendors to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to be delivered to all LPS cafeterias as needed from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, with renewals for 2021-22 and 2022-23. It’s recommended the award be confirmed to the lowest vendor meeting specifications, based on estimated expenditures: Greenberg Fruit Co., Inc., from Omaha for an estimated $950,000 annually, to be paid for through the Nutrition Services Fund.

The Board waived second reading and voted to approve the bid.

CARES Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund Grant through Nebraska Department of Education

The recently enacted federal CARES Act establishes the Elementary Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund. The U.S. Department of Education will award these grants to state educational agencies to provide local educational agencies with emergency relief funds to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools across the nation. This includes both continuing to provide educational services while schools are closed, such as remote learning, and developing and implementing plans for the return to normal operations.

LPS is estimated to receive approximately $8,000,000 from the fund. LPS is required to provide up to approximately $900,000 of its award in goods and services to non-public schools that qualify for funds and choose to participate in a consultation with LPS. Expenses incurred on or after March 13 related to COVID-19 can be reimbursed, and funds will remain available through Sept. 30, 2022. Following guidance in the CARES Act, LPS will utilize grant funds to support necessary expenses for remote learning not budgeted in the district general budget for 2019-20 or 2020-21.

The Board waived second reading and voted to approve the submission of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund Grant application to the Nebraska Department of Education for approximately $8,000,000, which includes up to approximately $900,000 for services to non-public schools. There is no match requirement.

New Chromebooks for Grades 3-5

Instructional needs associated with remote learning and the increasing use of digital curriculum and online assessment are indicators of the degree to which Chromebooks have become an integral part of teaching and learning. Chromebooks were first purchased for students in grades 3-5 in September 2015. Those devices, originally purchased with the intent of a three-year lifecycle that was extended to 4 years, are approaching the end of their fifth year of service and need to be replaced to ensure operational viability.

It is recommended that the Board award a total of $2,425,247.88 to Dell, Inc., to purchase 9,361 Dell 11" Chromebooks, including three-year maintenance.

The Board waived second reading and voted to approve the bid.

Community Learning Center Agreements

LPS has various sites throughout the district that provide services related to Community Learning Center (CLC) activities. It is recommended that agreements be entered between LPS and the following entities to offer these services: Boys and Girls Club of Lincoln/Lancaster County; Cedars Youth Services; Family Service Association; Lincoln Housing Authority; Lincoln Parks and Recreation; Malone Community Center; Nebraskans for Civic Reform; Northeast Family Center; Willard Community Center; and YMCA of Lincoln.

These agreements will be valid through Sept. 30, 2021. The Board waived second reading and voted to approve agreements.

Superintendent’s Contract

The Lincoln Board of Education annually evaluates and reviews the contract of the Superintendent of Schools. On Tuesday the Board voted to approve that Lincoln Public Schools Superintendent Steve Joel’s contract be extended with no salary increase. The salary for the superintendent for the 2020-21 year will remain at $329,539.

Proposed Contracts, Salaries for Superintendent’s Exec Team

The Board of Education also annually reviews the contracts of the superintendent’s executive team, and this year it is recommended that the proposed two-year contract for each of the three associate superintendents and the assistant superintendent be extended one year beginning July 1, 2020. In addition, the superintendent and executive team recommended that members of the executive team do not receive a salary increase.

Annual salary proposals:

• Matt Larson, associate superintendent for Instruction: $209,400
• Liz Standish, associate superintendent for Business Affairs: $219,259
• Eric Weber, associate superintendent for Human Resources: $219,259
• John Neal, assistant superintendent for General Administration and Governmental Relations: $214,925

The Board voted to approve the contracts.

Purchase of masks

The Board pulled from the consent agenda and voted to approve the purchase of 100,000 reusable masks - 60,000 youth size, 40,000 adult size - for a total cost of $260,000. The youth masks will be purchased from Talacko Safety Solutions in Waterloo, Neb. The adult masks will be purchased from The Graphic Edge in Carroll, Iowa.

Public Comment

There were 38 citizens that addressed the Board during Public Comment. You can view the full video that includes public comment here.

Glimpses of LPS

We open every Board meeting with a video that highlights the amazing teaching and learning taking place in our schools. Tonight’s video featured speakers from the virtual graduation ceremonies for Yankee Hill Education Center and Bryan Community Focus Program.

Board of Education ESU 18 Regular Meeting

Immediately following the Regular Board of Education meeting, there was a regular meeting of the Board of Education Educational Service Unit 18.

Interlocal Agreement with Lancaster County for Educational Services to the Youth Services Center

The Board waived second reading and voted to approve an agreement between Educational Service Unit 18 and Lancaster County to provide educational services to youth detained at the Lancaster County Youth Services Center.

Adopt Unit Administrator Contract

The Board waived second reading and voted to approve the contract of LPS Administrator Sarah Salem to be the ESU 18 Unit Administrator.

 

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