Highlights: 6/28 Lincoln Board of Education and ESU 18 Regular Meetings

Lincoln Board of Education Regular Meeting

The Lincoln Board of Education met for a regular meeting on Tuesday, June 28, at the Steve Joel District Leadership Center, 5905 O St. You can watch a video of the full meeting and the ESU 18 meeting held immediately following here.

Special reports, presentations and celebrations of success

Staff celebration - Kelli Ackerman named Outstanding Business Official of the Year by the Nebraska Association of School Business Officials

The Board frequently honors staff who win state or national awards with formal resolutions. On Tuesday, the Board recognized Kelli Ackerman, Lincoln Public Schools Director of Accounting and Payroll, as she was named the 2022 Outstanding Business Official of the Year by the Nebraska Association of School Business Officials. This award recognizes individuals who have exhibited outstanding and visionary leadership in school business management.

Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs Liz Standish said: "Kelli joined LPS in 2018 and brought with her tremendous experience and knowledge of school finance. She was instrumental in working with the LPS finance team to maintain financial stability and growth, ensuring staff and students have the resources they need to succeed."

You can watch a highlight of the presentation here.

2017-22 Strategic Plan summary

As the 2017-2022 Strategic Plan comes to a close, LPS Director of Continuous Improvement and Professional Learning Sarah Salem highlighted work and accomplishments in the five strategic plan areas. 

Work in the five areas included:

  • Adding five focus programs and increasing enrollment in The Career Academy.
  • Leading and participating in developing the Lincoln STEM Ecosystem.
  • Increasing the number of preschool classrooms within LPS from 63 to 75.
  • Significant increases in mental health supports by adding social workers, school psychologists and elementary counselors.
  • Partnerships with three primary community agencies to provide a therapist in all of our schools.
  • ??During the 2020-2021 school year, LPS exceeded the state mean in every grade assessed (3-8) in both English Language Arts and Math.
  • LPS graduating senior ACT scores improved for the second straight year and were above the state average for the composite score and in all subtests during the 2020-2021 school year.
  • There was an increase in hiring staff from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds that better mirrors the student population.
  • Adding three more Community Learning Center (CLC) sites, and hired two full time curriculum specialists for the CLC system.
  • In 2020, the community passed a $290 million bond referendum to support building three new schools, and addresses needs in existing schools.

You can watch the full presentation here.

First reading

2022-23 transportation plan

Each year a transportation plan is prepared and presented to the Board. As part of the process, district policy 3710 is reviewed and recommendations for operational changes are solicited from individual school buildings and various departments. Schedules are prepared and a summary of needs is balanced against staff and equipment available. Each year a review of all routes for the current year are considered.

The Board will hold a second reading and approve the plan at the next meeting.

Proposed agreements with Paraeducator Employees Association,  Nutrition Services Workers Association, Office Professionals Association, Technicians, and Administrators

Tentative agreements have been reached between Lincoln Public Schools and the respective employee groups for the 2022-23 school year.

The proposed agreement for each employee group is as follows:

Paraeducators

  • The total package for 2022-2023 is a 7.31% across the board increase. This package includes a salary increase of approximately 6.46%, a $.05 increase to the longevity stipend, increases in Social Security and retirement costs, and a 5.84% increase in health insurance premiums.
  • Adjustments to the paraeducator agreement and salary schedule.
  • The total package increase for 2023-2024 is 4.31%. The total package includes a salary increase of approximately 3.32%, increases in Social Security and retirement costs - and an estimated 5.84% increase in health insurance premiums.

Nutrition Services

  • The total package for 2022-2023 is 7.20% across the board increase. This includes a salary increase of approximately 6.51%, a $.05 increase to the longevity stipend, increases in Social Security and retirement costs, and a 5.84% increase in health insurance premiums.
  • Adjustments to the nutrition services agreement and salary schedule were made.
  • The total package for 2023-2024 is 4.84%. The total package includes a salary increase of approximately 3.32%; a $.05, $.10, and $.15 increase to the longevity stipend; increases in Social Security and retirement costs; and an estimated 5.84% increase in health insurance premiums.

Office Professionals

  • The total package for 2022-2023 is a 4.85% across the board increase. The total package includes a salary increase of approximately 3.70%, a $.05 increase to the longevity stipend, increases in Social Security and retirement costs, and a 5.84% increase in health insurance premiums.
  • Adjustments to the office professionals agreement and salary schedule were made.
  • The total package for 2023-2024 is 4.09% across the board increase. The total package includes a salary increase of approximately 3.32%, a $.05 increase to the longevity stipend, increases in Social Security and retirement costs, and an estimated 5.84% increase in health insurance premiums.

Technicians

  • The total package for 2022-2023 is 4.57% across the board increase. The total package includes a salary increase of approximately 3.70%, a $.05 or $.10 increase to the longevity stipend, increases in Social Security and retirement costs, and a 5.84% increase in health insurance premiums.
  • Adjustments to the technicians agreement and salary schedule were made.
  • The total package for 2023-2024 is 4.00% increase.
  • The total package includes a salary increase of approximately 3.32%, a $.05 or $.10 increase to the longevity stipend, increases in Social Security and retirement costs - and an estimated 5.84% increase in health insurance premiums.

Administrators

  • The total package for 2022-2023 is 4.22% increase. The total package includes a salary increase of approximately 3.70%, a $250 increase to the longevity stipend for the two lowest tiers, increases in Social Security and retirement costs, and a 5.84% increase in health insurance premiums.
  • Adjustments to the administrator addendum and salary schedule were made.
  • The total package for 2023-2024 is a 3.84% across the board increase. The total package includes a salary increase of approximately 3.32%, a $250 increase to the longevity stipend for the two lowest tiers, increases in Social Security and retirement costs, and an estimated 5.84% increase in health insurance premiums.

The Board waived second reading and voted to approve the proposed negotiated agreements.

Policy 7000 - Section 7: evaluation and identification procedures

As a result of ongoing work with the Nebraska Department of Education during the 2021-2022 school year, it is recommended that Policy 7000, Section 7, be updated. 

Policy 7000 pertains to Special Education Services and Section 7 to Evaluation and Identification Procedures. The proposed addition specifically outlines that during a pandemic (or similar circumstances) that the school district is responsible to meet all evaluation obligations, unless a waiver is granted by the Nebraska Department of Education.

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

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grant

The LPS Homeless Outreach Coordinator works with families experiencing homelessness to arrange transportation services for children to attend school. They also work with families to provide other supports that create a more stable environment for children experiencing homelessness. LPS will use funds received through the McKinney-Vento Act to continue to support the salary of the Homeless Outreach Coordinator and to pay transportation costs for children experiencing homelessness to attend school.  

LPS proposes submitting a McKinney-Vento Grant application for approximately $ 53,000 with 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% match from Title I allocated to the district. Title I funds have been used in past years to cover the required match for this grant.

The Board waived second reading and voted to approve the application to meet the grant deadline.

Computer laptops for certificated staff

The CLASS Technology Plan articulates a cascading 6-year life cycle and resale of computers provided to certificated staff.  Those on a 6-year life cycle are used by certificated staff for the first 3-years and then they are used for an additional 3 years in middle school computer labs.  The balance of the computers are resold to provide needed revenue to fund the CLASS plan.  The proposed computers will replace computers purchased for certificated staff in 2019 and Federal Emergency Connectivity Funds will provide $400 toward the cost of each of 3,666 of the computers.

It is recommended that the Board award the bid to Apple Computer Education Coordinator for $3,234,720.00 to purchase 3,680 laptop computers that will be deployed to certificated staff during the 2022-2023 school year.

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

Science Curriculum Grades 3-5

Science curriculum from Amplify and Great Minds were piloted at select elementary schools in the spring of 2022. The selection committee elected to proceed with the Amplify Science products for grades 3-5 that meets the recently adopted Nebraska State Standards in Science. This cost includes, but is not limited to, all student materials kits, teacher resources, online subscriptions, professional development, and estimated freight charges. The bid from Amplify and Great Minds for the curriculum is for $1,390,715.

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

Second reading

Policy 1112 – Community Relations – Advertising

The Board Planning Committee reviewed various facility policies and regulations surrounding facility advertising and signage, and the naming of specific LPS facilities in light of the Union Bank and Trust gift that will be considered by the Board later in the agenda.

The Board voted to approve the changes.

LPS District Office to be renamed Steve Joel District Leadership Center

At the June 14 Board meeting, the Planning Committee put forth a recommendation to honor Superintendent Steve Joel by renaming the District Office building located at 5905 O Street. After conversations with Joel, the committee recommended the District Office name be changed to Steve Joel District Leadership Center.

The Board voted unanimously to approve the name change.

Policy 5000 Series - Student Services, and Policy 6740 - Instructional Program

Policy series are reviewed periodically in order to address changes in legislation or regulation from state or federal governments, or to bring policy in line with current practice or intent of the Board. During the 2021-2022 school year, the 5000 Policy Series was first reviewed by the Instructional Directors through the lens of equity with an eye at looking at ways policies could be more inclusive and reflect the district’s commitment to equity. The Board Student Learning and Technology Committee then spent significant time reviewing those recommendations and is recommending a number of changes.

Policy 6740 is included in this set of proposed revisions as Policy 5480 and 6740 were both revised to reflect the inclusion of language surrounding Good Sportsmanship.

The Board voted to approve the changes.

Lincoln Northwest Stadium Gift and Recognition Agreement with Union Bank & Trust Company

The Board is considering a gift of $1.5 million from Union Bank & Trust. As part of accepting the gift, a 20-year agreement was drafted to include naming the stadium located near the new Northwest High School as Union Bank Stadium. Signage in and around the stadium at the activities complex will include the name Union Bank Stadium.

As part of the $290 million bond referendum passed by Lincoln voters in 2020, the Lincoln Board of Education invested $15.4 into phase one of upgrading practice fields at existing high schools and building two new activity complexes at the new high schools. To bring the two new activity complexes up to a premier level, LPS is looking for community partnerships to help with funding.

The Board voted to approve the agreement and gift.

Informational items and reports

Superintendent Update

Superintendent Steve Joel gave his last Board update as he is retiring at the end of the week. Joel thanked the Board for their gift of renaming the District Office in his honor. He also shared several stories about his time at Lincoln Public Schools.

Joel ended by thanking the Board for their leadership and for the opportunities given to him.

Public comment

There were nine 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 Lincoln Public Schools. Tuesday’s video featured a look back to the fire and rebuilding of the District Office. You can watch the Glimpses here.

ESU 18 Regular Meeting

The Educational Service Unit 13 met for a regular meeting on Tuesday, June 28, at the Lincoln Public Schools District Office, 5905 O Street immediately following the Lincoln Board of Education Meeting.

Second reading

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

Each year, the ESU 18 Board approves an interlocal agreement with Lancaster County to offer services at the Lancaster County Youth Services Center. The Pathfinder Program provides educational services and classes to youth detained at the center.

The County agrees to reimburse ESU 18 for all expenses incurred in providing such services pursuant to the agreement, however, that the amount of such reimbursements shall not exceed $909,970.00.

The ESU 18 Board voted to approve the annual agreement.

 


Published: June 28, 2022, Updated: June 29, 2022