Highlights of 2/8 Lincoln Board of Education Meeting

The Lincoln Board of Education met for a regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at the Lincoln Public Schools District Office, 5905 O St. 

Special Reports, Presentations and Celebrations of Success

Honoring Staff

The Board frequently honors staff who win state or national awards with formal resolutions. On Tuesday, the Board recognized teacher Brandi Benson from Lincoln Southwest High School. She earned the 2021 Distinguished Advisor Award from the Nebraska High School Press Association.

Educational Service Unit 18 - SNRP Update

The Board heard an update on the ESU 18 and Southeast Nebraska Regional Program (SNRP) for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. This program is a collaboration among ESU 18, ESU 4, ESU 5 and ESU 6. Presenting were LPS Director of Continuous Improvement and Professional Learning and Administrator for ESU 18 Sarah Salem, LPS Special Education Supervisor Melissa Arnold-Weber and SNRP Coordinator Lindsey Hinzmann.

In June 1997, the State Board of Education approved the establishment of statewide educational programs and support services for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. A state plan was developed to support the concept of the Nebraska Regional Programs. ESU 18 serves as the lead agency for SNRP.

Pandemic Update

Superintendent Steve Joel gave an update on the COVID Response Fridays, as Feb. 4 was the last one. He also reported that the Directed Health Measure requiring face coverings was extended for two weeks by the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department before turning it over to Board member Dr. Bob Rauner to give an update about the recent community case numbers of COVID-19. 

Joel then provided the Board information about changes to the Lincoln Northwest High School opening next fall. Northwest will open in the fall of 2022 with a vibrant ninth-grade class with approximately 223 students. The incoming 10th-grade class is expected to have approximately 77 students and the 11th-grade class is expected to have 78 students. Only 41 incoming seniors submitted the required paperwork to attend the new high school.

Due to the low number of students enrolled in the senior class, LPS made the difficult decision to limit grade offerings to 9-11 grade students the first year. This will allow LPS to focus resources on offering robust opportunities and high school experiences to the greatest number of students. As the graduating class of 2026 moves from grade to grade, LPS anticipates Northwest will meet the designed 1,000 student capacity.

The new Bryan College of Health Sciences Focus Program will open as planned. All freshmen and sophomores will experience the pre-pathway classes that will lead into the focus program if they are interested as 11th- and 12th-grade students. Incoming juniors interested in the focus program should turn in their application as soon as possible. 

There will continue to be the opportunity for a wide range of activities and athletics at Northwest. The final determination of which opportunities and which levels offered will be determined based on the number, development and experience of the students that commit to attend Northwest and go out for athletics and activities. The intent is to be able to offer as many varsity level programs as possible.

Update on the Superintendent Search

Board President Connie Duncan provided an update on the superintendent search process. She thanked the Board for its time during the candidate interview process, as it is the most important job the Board of Education has. Duncan also thanked the community for its feedback. Over 1,000 surveys were returned to the Board to review - more than expected. The Board has also received many phone calls and emails from the community. The Board will continue to work with HYA - the search firm - to do its due diligence in learning all they can about the candidates and their work. They will continue to follow the established search process and review the information gathered to find the best fit for Lincoln Public Schools. 

The Board will have an announcement by the next Board meeting on Feb. 22.

First Reading

Wheelchair School Buses

LPS received bids from interested vendors to purchase eight wheelchair school buses with three-point safety bets. These will replace current buses and also will be an addition of three buses. There was one bid received: Nebraska Central Equipment (Alda, Neb.) for $952,276. These funds would come from the LPS Depreciation Fund.

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

South 70th Street and Carger Lane Infrastructure Project

LPS received bids from interested vendors for the construction and installation of streets and related infrastructure on South 70th St. and Carger Lane, near the future site of Standing Bear High School set to open in fall 2023. It’s recommended that the lowest bid be approved: Bauer Infrastructure LLC (Lincoln) for $2,499,632.45.

There were two other bidders:

K-2 Real Estate & Development (Lincoln) - $2,778,322.85
Constructors Inc. (Lincoln) - $3,141,013.05

The Board waived second reading and voted to approve the recommended bid. These funds will come from the 2020 Bond Fund and other appropriate building funds.

Second Reading

Nebraska Corn Board Grant Application

On Tuesday the Board approved an LPS grant proposal to the Nebraska Corn Board for $20,000.

LPS Director of Strategic Initiatives and Focus Programs James Blake has worked with the Nebraska Corn Board to describe LPS efforts at Lincoln Northeast High School to develop the Early College and Career STEM Program, which focuses on the concepts of food, energy, water and societal systems (FEWS2) to help students better understand agriculture. 

Through the “Lighting the FEWS2 at Lincoln Northeast” program, teachers will learn about agriculture and food, integrated food, energy and water systems as part of the 9th- and 10th-grade curricula. 

The $20,000 grant would pay for curriculum development in agriculture and ag education, pay stipends to teachers to attend relevant training in agriculture and ag education, and pay costs related to field trips to UN-L’s East Campus for both focus program teachers and students to learn and experience agricultural work in the field. No match is required.

Nebraska Soybean Board Grant Application

The Board also approved a grant proposal to the Nebraska Soyboard Board for $20,000.

Similar to his work with the Nebraska Corn Board, LPS Director of Strategic Initiatives and Focus Programs James Blake has worked with the Nebraska Soybean Board to describe LPS efforts at Northeast High School to develop the Early College and Career STEM Program, which focuses on the concepts of food, energy, water and societal systems (FEWS2) to help students better understand agriculture. 

Producers and others in industry acknowledge that the pipeline of students interested in pursuing careers in research relevant to soybean production is far too small. Lincoln Northeast High School teachers have the potential to play a significant role in encouraging students to pursue careers in agriculture.

Through the “Lighting the FEWS2 at Lincoln Northeast” program, teachers will learn about agriculture and food, integrated food, energy, and water systems as part of the 9th- and 10th- grade curricula. This $20,000 would pay for curriculum development in agriculture and ag education, pay stipends to teachers to attend relevant training in agriculture and ag education, and to pay costs related to field trips to UN-L’s East Campus for both focus program teachers and students to learn and experience agricultural work in the field. No match is required.

Public Comment

There were 12 citizens who addressed the Board during the first public comment period. You can view their comments as part of the full meeting video here.

Glimpses of LPS

We open every Board meeting with a video that highlights the amazing things taking place in our school district. Tuesday’s video featured a unified music class at East High School, which pairs special education and general education students.

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