Highlights of the May 13 Lincoln Board of Education and ESU 18 regular meetings

May 13, 2025

The Lincoln Board of Education and Educational Service Unit (ESU) 18 met for regular meetings on Tuesday, May 13, at the Lincoln Public Schools Steve Joel District Leadership Center, 5905 O Street. 

Lincoln Board of Education Regular Meeting

Public hearing on Policy 5520 - Student fees

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.

There was one recommended change found on Appendix 1, and that is to increase the maximum fee for cheer and dance from $750 to $900. This is due to the significant increase in cost for required uniforms for these activities.

No one addressed the Board during the public hearing.

This item was also presented during first reading. 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 to reaffirm the policy.

Special reports, presentations and celebrations of success

Karen Covil - North Star High School

Karen Covil has been a dedicated educator at North Star since 2012, teaching a wide range of science courses including biology, geoscience, physical science, chemistry, and physics.

In recognition of her outstanding contributions to science education, Covil was one of six teachers nationwide to receive the Robert E. Yager Exemplary Teaching Award from the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA). This award honors educators who demonstrate excellence and innovation in science teaching.

You can watch a highlight of the presentation on YouTube here. 

R.J. Metteer - Southeast High School

R.J. Metteer has taught for 30 years and serves as the band director for Southeast High School overseeing marching band, concert band, jazz band, and pep band ensembles. He is also chair of Southeast’s performing arts department. Metteer is retiring at the end of this school year.

The Nebraska State Bandmasters Association recently honored Metteer with the 2025 Donald Lentz Outstanding Bandmaster Award. The 57-page nomination packet contained letters of support from people living across the United States who have all been impacted by Metteer’s career in music education. 

You can watch a highlight of the presentation on YouTube here.

Equity Cadre Presentation - State of Diversity Address

Each year, the LPS Scholar Equity Cadre presents their Annual State of Diversity. 

Cadre members have been attending school board meetings and working through their monthly meetings with two guiding questions:

• How are LPS scholars thinking, seeing, and feeling about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in schools?
• How are scholars being impacted by the current LPS school climate?

The Cadre’s three themes this year included building community and momentum, advancing equity within and outside of LPS and continued future directional change. 

You can watch a highlight of the presentation on YouTube here. 

ProCom Update - Tenure

LPS and the Lincoln Education Association have a long established process to address topics of shared interest that arise during negotiations. This process includes forming committees to review and evaluate programs or systems and develop solutions to address issues. There were three committees developed through last year’s negotiations process: appraisals, extra standard compensation and tenure. 

Tuesday’s presentation was a report from the Tenure committee.

The committee started by surveying and gathering input from previous and current tenure participants along with other staff like administrators, curriculum specialists, instructional coaches and mentors. Together, the committee proposes the following changes to the tenure process:

• The new program will be called Lincoln Public Schools ElevatED and will have three components.
• The new educator week that occurs before all other educators officially start the school year at LPS will remain. 
• For the first year, educators will attend sessions focused on building a strong foundation. 
• In years two and three, educators will have two pathways to choose from. One is in-person sessions where educators attend four out of six professional learning opportunities throughout the year. The second option is called Video to Improve Performance which allows educators to come to three in-person sessions that reflect on assigned digital learning.

You can watch a highlight of the presentation on YouTube here.

First reading

Newly annexed property to the City of Lincoln

The Board 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 Fire Ridge to Maxey Elementary School, Lux Middle School and East High School.

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

NDE Comprehensive Literacy State Development grant proposal

The Nebraska Department of Education received a competitive five-year Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant from the U.S. Department of Education in 2024. This funding is intended to support the development of a comprehensive literacy program aimed at improving literacy skills for all Nebraska students. Over the five-year period, subgrants will be awarded to eligible applicants or partnerships to expand literacy capacity and improve student literacy outcomes across the state.

Staff recommend that LPS apply for up to $1,000,000 of grant funding which would allow LPS to conduct broad professional development for teachers and administrators across all grade levels on the science of reading and responsive practices, with greatest intensity at grades K-3. By focusing in this area, it would allow LPS to establish a long-term system that promotes increased reading proficiency across all grade levels. 

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

Proposed negotiated agreement with employee groups

The Lincoln Board of Education waived second reading and approved one-year negotiated agreements with six employee groups that includes pay increases for employees that support teaching and learning. 

The proposed agreement for each employee group is as follows:

• Custodians: The total package increase for 2025-26 is 4.19%, which includes a 3.35% salary increase and an increase to the service year stipend.
• Nutrition Services: The total package increase for 2025-26 is 4.75%, which includes a 3.54% salary increase and an increase to the service year stipend.
• Office Professionals: The total package increase for 2025-26 is 3.84%, which includes a 3.00% salary increase.
• Paraeducators: The total package for 2025-26 is 10.18%, which includes a 9.42% salary increase.
• Technicians: The total package for 2025-26 is 3.80%, which includes a 3.33% salary increase.
• Administrators: The total package for 2025-26 is 3.80%, which includes a 3.43% salary increase.

All agreements also include increases in FICA and retirement costs and an estimated 5.49% increase in health insurance premiums. The District will cover 80% of the out-of-pocket health insurance increase for the 2025-26 year. The full agreements can be found online here.

Classified workers, or non-certified staff, make up roughly 45% of the LPS workforce totalling approximately 3,000 workers overall. 

Due to hiring timelines, the Board waived second reading and voted to approve the agreements.

Proposed contracts with the associate superintendents and ESU administrator

Annually, the Board reviews the contracts of the associate superintendents and the ESU 18 Administrator. 

It is recommended that the proposed two-year contracts for the Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs, the Associate Superintendent for Human Resources, the Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, and the Associate Superintendent for Educational Services be amended and extended for a period of two years. It is also recommended that a total salary increase of 3.24% with an overall total package increase of 3.80%, be approved for 2025-26 for each contract. 

The two-year contract for the Associate Superintendent for Civic Engagement was approved on February 11, 2025, by the Board of Education with the hiring of Brad Jacobsen who will begin his duties on July 1. 

Due to the timeline, the Board waived second reading and voted to approve the contracts.

Bids for shelf-stable foods, refrigerated and frozen foods

Bids were requested from interested vendors to provide shelf-stable foods, refrigerated and frozen food products for use by LPS Nutrition Services for all locations. There are 429 items on the bid with 19 vendors fulfilling the contracts for a total of $6,711,115.80. 

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

Informational items and reports

From the Board

This is the last meeting for Board members Kathy Danek and Don Mayhew. Other Board members shared their reflections highlighting Danek’s and Mayhew’s 24 years of service. 

Board President Bob Rauner said, “None of know what a meeting is like without Don or Kathy. Thank you for your years of service. We’ve learned so much from you, even before I was on the Board.”

“We are here for the children and their families. Don and Kathy have never wavered in that commitment ever,” said Board member Barb Baier. “From both of these dedicated mentors, I have learned that political life works best when we retain our civility.”

Board member Annie Mumgaard added, “I asked a pro to help me with a tradition. Former Board member Ed Zimmer wrote a limerick for you both.” 

The limerick for Danek read:
“Rocket Kathy loved Mickle and Dawes, once sworn in every kid was her cause. She answered the call proclaiming ‘All Means All’, for year after year without pause.”

The limerick for Mayhew read: 
“After serving a full two dozen years, you’ve shared in our laughter and tears. As our man for all seasons, our quiet voice of reason, now and both silver and seahawks join our cheers.”

You can watch a highlight of the comments on YouTube here.

Superintendent update

During the Superintendent Update, Interim Superintendent John Skretta presented the outgoing Board leadership with books that will be donated in their names to the school libraries of their choice. 

Books in Board President Rauner’s name will be given to Meadow Lane Elementary School. Vice President Danek’s books will go to Kahoa Elementary School. ESU 18 President Piyush Srivastav will have books donated to Zeman Elementary School. ESU 18 Vice President Mayhew will have books donated to Roper Elementary School. 

You can watch a highlight of the comments on YouTube here.

Public comment

There were two individuals that addressed the Board during the public comment period. You can watch it as part of the full meeting video here.

Glimpses of LPS

We open every Board meeting with a video that highlights LPS. Tuesday’s Glimpses featured a math class at Lux Middle School where students calculated the number of rubber bands needed for a successful bungee jump by Barbie dolls. 

ESU 18 Regular Meeting

The board of ESU 18 held its regular meeting immediately following the Lincoln Board of Education meeting to approve the consent agenda. You can view the meeting on YouTube here.

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