Highlights: 4/26 Lincoln Board of Education Regular Meeting

The Lincoln Board of Education met for a regular meeting on Tuesday, April 26, at the Lincoln Public Schools District Office, 5905 O St. 

Public Hearing on student fees policy (5520)

Each year the Board conducts a public hearing under the provisions of the Nebraska Public Elementary and Secondary Student Fee Authorization Act and other Nebraska laws. The purpose of this hearing is to receive input regarding proposed updates to Policy 5520 and Appendix 1. The input received during the hearing will be taken into consideration by the Board when they take action on the updated policy.

No one addressed the Board during the public hearing.

Special reports, presentations and celebrations of success

LPS District Scholar Equity Cadre

The Lincoln Public Schools Scholar Equity Cadre is a diverse body of scholars from around the school district who advise leadership on policies and strategies which impact diversity and equity while profiling the successes among scholars of color.

The group provided feedback to the Board on the equity action steps presented at the last board meeting. The group spent time in conversations with peers and staff, and also at their April cadre meeting examining barriers and next steps in the district's plan.

First reading

Evaluation of the Superintendent

Annually, the Board of Education evaluates the superintendent of schools. The 2021-22  evaluation of Superintendent Steve Joel is in the process of being completed and will be recommended for approval to be placed in his personnel file.

Joel received many positive comments on his final evaluation. As one board member stated:

“Dr. Joel is completing his final year of a distinguished career having earned the highest respect and deepest gratitude of the Board and the community.”

Board members unanimously responded with high praise of the comprehensive plan to
address the Board priority to address specific measurables to assess disparities in student
learning outcomes, students’ school experience, and the composition of certified personnel. 

Duncan added, “We are honored to congratulate Dr. Joel, a champion of public education, on a lifetime of service to students and educators. Thank you for sharing your life with LPS. We are a better place thanks to your leadership.”

The Board will hold a second reading and vote to approve the evaluation at the next regular meeting.

Newly annexed property to the City of Lincoln

The Board of Education assigns school attendance areas to property newly annexed to the City of Lincoln. This action establishes school attendance areas prior to the sale of residential lots, allowing purchasers to know what schools their children will attend.

The proposal assigns the newly annexed area of Grandview Estates 2nd Addition to  Wysong Elementary School, Moore Middle School, East High School.  In 2023-2024, the area will be assigned to the new Standing Bear High School. 

The Board will hold a second reading and vote at the next regular meeting.

Policy 5520- Student Fees

The Board annually reviews and approves Policy 5520 to ensure that its policy is in accordance with the Public Elementary and Secondary Student Fees Authorization Act.

The district’s general policy is to provide for the free instruction in school in accordance with the Nebraska Constitution and state and federal law. This generally means that the school district’s policy is to provide free instruction for courses that are required by state law or regulation and to provide the staff, facility, equipment, and materials necessary for such instruction without charge or fee to the students.

The school district does provide activities, programs, and services to children that extend beyond the minimum level of constitutionally required free instruction. Students and their parents have historically contributed to the district’s efforts to provide such activities, programs, and services. The district’s general policy is to continue to encourage and to the extent permitted by law, to require such student and parent contributions to enhance the educational program provided by the district.

The Board will hold a second reading and vote at the next regular meeting.

Second reading

Newly annexed property to the City of Lincoln

The Board of Education assigns school attendance areas to property newly annexed to the City of Lincoln. This action establishes school attendance areas prior to the sale of residential lots, allowing purchasers to know what schools their children will attend.

The proposal assigns the newly annexed area of South 40th Street and Rokeby Road to the Cavett Elementary School, Moore Middle School, and Southeast High School attendance areas.

The Board approved the assignments.

Title VI, Indian Education Program

The U.S. Department of Education through Title VI of the 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.

LPS has received federal funds for services for Native American students since the mid-1980’s. Each year, LPS is required to submit a grant requesting funds. Estimated funding from Title VI for 2022-23 is $197,942. Decisions regarding the use of these funds are made in consultation with the Native American Advisory Committee.

The Board voted to approve.

Bid for shelf-stable, refrigerated and frozen foods

Bids were requested from interested vendors to provide shelf-stable foods, refrigerated, and frozen food products for use by Nutrition Services for all locations during the 2022-23 school year. 

The Board will consider approving the following bids for an estimated total of $5,492,548.62:

• Arlington Valley Farms - $12,816.00
• Bernard Food Industries, Inc. - 24,870.60
• Butterball - 40,800.00
• Cash-Wa Distributing - 782,545.06
• International Food Solutions Inc. - 221,130.00
• Kellogg’s Specialty Channels - 78,016.25
• Mrs. Clark’s Foods - 127,121.50
• Nardone Brothers Baking Company - 270,300.00
• National Food Group - 19,987.50
• Performance Foodservice - 2,296,451.68
• Peterson Farms Fresh, LLC - 80,760.00
• Ripple Foods, PBC - 7,020.00
• Schreiber Foods, Intl. - 71,335.60
• Sysco Lincoln - 598,749.73
• Tecumseh Poultry - 44,800.00
• Tyson Prepared Foods Inc - 815,844.70

The Board voted to approve the bids.

Public comment

There were 11 individuals that addressed the Board during public comment. You can watch the public comments in 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 the BackPack Project Extra Mile Walk. 

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