Highlights: 5/16 Lincoln Board of Education and ESU 18 Organizational Meeting

The Lincoln Board of Education held its annual organizational meeting on Monday, May 16 at Lincoln Public Schools District Office, 5905 O St.  The ESU 18 annual organizational meeting was held immediately following. The Lincoln Board of Education will hold its next regular meeting on Tuesday, May 24. 

Policy 8420 and Policy 8441 - Board Operating Procedures

Lincoln Public Schools reviews policies on an ongoing basis and updates policies to ensure that they accurately reflect the ever-changing work of the district and changes in state law and federal law.

The passage of LB83 in 2021 required changes to the state’s elements of the Open Meetings Act impacting Public Comment. Policies 8420 and 8441 were reviewed to ensure compliance with the new law and to consider any other regular updates that occur when revising policies. The revisions to these policies represent bringing the policy in compliance with changes from LB83, reflecting recent Nebraska Attorney General’s opinions, and capturing other effective practices for engaging the community through Public Comment.

Each year prior to the annual Board Reorganization Meeting, the Board reviews the policies that govern its operating procedures.

Some of the policy and regulation updates provide more clear information for the public on how to participate in Public Comment. Some of the proposed changes include:

  • Each speaker will be allowed three minutes to address the Board. Reducing from five minutes to three minutes allows more speakers to be heard prior to the business of the meeting being conducted.
  • A written step-by-step process is now included on how someone can participate in public comment. 
  • Incorporating State Senator Mike Flood’s Bill (LB83) that was passed last August addressed Open Meetings Act and Public Comment, the Board Chair will call each speaker to the podium by first and last name, organization they represent, and address. 
  • Information is now also included on what happens when a person is declared out of order by the Board Chair. This is not a change in practice, it just adds in writing for the public so they may understand practices.

The Board voted to approve the revision to 8420 and 8441.

New officers for Lincoln Board of Education

Don Mayhew was elected as the new president of the Lincoln Board of Education serving from May 2022 until May 2023.  Connie Duncan was elected as vice president.

New officers for ESU 18

Bob Rauner was elected as the new president of Educational Service Unit (ESU) 18, and Lanny Boswell will be vice president.


Published: May 16, 2022, Updated: May 16, 2022