Highlights of the February 11 Lincoln Board of Education regular meeting

February 11, 2025

The Lincoln Board of Education met for its regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 6:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Public Schools Steve Joel District Leadership Center, 5905 O Street. 

Special reports, presentations and celebrations of success

Betsy Barent - Lincoln Public Schools K-12 Curriculum Specialist

Lincoln Public Schools K-12 Curriculum Specialist Betsy Barent was recently honored by the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science with the Catalyst Award. The organization’s highest honor recognizes "contributions to science education in Nebraska."

In addition to leading the way in implementing science curriculum in LPS, Betsy has been involved in state, regional, and national science education projects. As Nebraska science teachers were adopting additional 2013 Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Betsy was leading the workshop. She has also led professional development sessions for science teachers from Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas. Betsy has also contributed to the "Understanding Science" website developed by the University of California Museum of Paleontology. 

You can watch a highlight of the presentation here. 

LPS Grow Your Own Career Pathways update

LPS Emerging Educators Empowerment Specialist Barb Miller and Director of Early Childhood Cara Lucas-Richt gave an update to the Board on the Para to Educator Pathway Apprenticeship and the Early Childhood Avenues programs. 

LPS currently has three different Para to Special Education Teacher Cadres. The program started in the fall of 2023 with 12 candidates taking evening and online classes for 2.5 years through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As part of the agreement, candidates commit to three years employment with LPS. In the second cadre, seven candidates participated in a one-year apprenticeship receiving on the job training. The third cadre mirrors the first cadre with nine eligible candidates thanks to a grant from the Nebraska Department of Education.

For the Early Childhood Avenues program, there are three tracts for staff to earn their endorsement in early childhood. 

Through an NDE grant a partnership created the Grow Your Own Teacher Apprenticeship Program. There are eight students from UNL participating in the A tract, which creates an apprenticeship program for future educators to learn alongside seasoned professionals. 

The B avenue allows those with bachelor degrees to finish getting their endorsements on an individualized path. The two candidates are currently paraeducators at LPS and enrolled in the University of Nebraska - Kearney inclusive program.

The third and final avenue is still being developed with partners.

You can watch a highlight of the presentation here. 

First reading

Policy update - 4880

Periodically, new circumstances or changes in legislation or regulation from the state or federal government require the school district to make a number of updates to align existing policy. All proposed changes have been recommended and reviewed by legal counsel.

Policy 4880 has been updated to provide greater specificity and clarification regarding the District’s anti-harassment and anti-retaliation policies. This change is necessary to ensure Policy 4880 aligns with the law by including anti-retaliation language.

You can review the proposed changes here. The Board will hold a second reading and vote at the next meeting. 

Revised student calendar for 2025-2026 school year

Each year a joint LPS and Lincoln Education Association committee composed of a Board member, parents, teachers and administrators recommends a student calendar to the Board for consideration. The Board adopted calendar variables to guide the Calendar Committee’s work in meeting the goal of creating a school calendar that demonstrates the district’s commitment to learning. 

Occasionally, new information is presented that requires a previously adopted calendar to be adjusted. When this happens, district staff recommend changes that align with the board-adopted calendar variables and comply with the negotiated agreement.

A recommendation to change the start of school for 2025-2026 school year came from the calendar committee after gathering feedback from various staff members. The proposed alteration shifts the calendar to include students’ first day of school being Tuesday, Aug. 12. To make up the day, Friday, Oct. 10, will become a student school day (shortening the quarter break by one day).

During the discussion, Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Sarah Salem announced that the elementary school first day schedule will mirror middle and high school schedules. Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025 will be the first day of school for students in kindergarten, sixth and ninth grades. All other students will start on Wednesday, Aug. 13, joining students in kindergarten, sixth and ninth grades. 

You can preview the proposed calendar changes here. The Board will hold a second reading on the proposed changes to the calendar and vote at the next meeting. 

Proposed student calendar for 2026-2027 school year

The Board also reviewed the recommendation from the Calendar Committee for the student calendar for the 2026-2027 school year. The committee began work on this calendar in October 2024.

Important dates on the proposed 2026-2027 school year calendar include:

• First day of school on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026
• End of quarter break for students to be Oct. 15-19, 2026
• Semester break for students to be Dec. 23, 2026 - Jan. 4, 2027
• Third quarter break on March 8-12, 2027
• Last day of school for students on May 20, 2027

You can preview the proposed calendar here. The Board will hold a second reading and vote at the next regular meeting.

Proposed negotiated agreement with the Lincoln Education Association

In a proposal presented to the Board, the Lincoln Education Association (LEA) and LPS have reached a tentative contract agreement for the 2025-26 school year.

The tentative agreement represents an intentional combination of the valuable contributions our teachers make for Lincoln Public Schools and revitalizing district practices to support student learning along with teacher retention and recruitment.

Approved by a vote of LEA members on Jan. 31, the tentative agreement provides a total compensation package increase of 3.80 percent for the 2025-26 school year, with the base salary increasing from $48,556 to $49,556. In addition, the 5.49 percent increase in health insurance costs from the provider will be split between the school district covering 80 percent and educators 20 percent of the out of pocket increase. This is only the second increase in out of pocket costs for employees in the past 17 years.

Other proposed contract changes for educators includes:

• Rewarding those with at least 22 years of service with two additional days of annual leave, and the ability to sell back annual leave hours over 1,000 accrued.
• Replacing the $1,500 advance for new hires to a 13-month pay plan so first-year LPS educators can get their first paycheck in August instead of September.
• Forming a joint committee to study the feasibility of an elementary optional period for supervision duties.

The Board will hold a second reading and vote on the negotiated agreement at the next regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 25. 

You can watch a highlight of the presentation here.

Second reading

Newly annexed property - school attendance areas

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 S 84th St. & Van Dorn St. which is slated as commercial development to Maxey Elementary School, Lux Middle School, and East High School.

The Board held a second reading and voted to approve the assignments.

Agreement for Group Travel with Travel with Barb

Each high school is on a four-year rotation for national travel for music groups. The majority of the cost of the trips are fundraised by students and booster groups. These trips do fall under the fee waiver policy for those students who qualify for free and reduced lunch.

A travel company is used to organize the trip. The Board held a second reading and voted to approve the expenditure from the activity fund.

State 21st Century Community Learning Center continuation and new grant applications

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CLCs) federally-funded grant program provides grants to eligible schools for the purpose of creating or expanding Community Learning Centers. The primary purpose of 21st Century funds is to provide students with academic enrichment opportunities designed to complement their regular academic program.  

All CLC services are provided during non-school hours or periods when school is not in session. The CLC’ programs and activities are designed to build on the capacity of community partners and neighborhood schools. Each site is to have an academic focus to assist participating students in meeting state and local academic achievement standards.  Families of students served may also receive services in areas that support family literacy, health, other family support services, and childcare.

These 21st Century CLC grant renewal applications rotate on a five year basis and are a continuation of grant funding for Calvert, Arnold, McPhee and Norwood Park elementary schools; Park and Dawes middle schools; and North Star High School. 

In addition, new grant applications are being considered to grow CLC offerings for Kooser, Meadow Lane, and Roper elementary schools and Schoo Middle School.

The Board held a second reading and voted to approve the applications.

Informational items and reports

Superintendent Update

Interim Superintendent John Skretta gave an update to the Board. Skretta began by highlighting some of the emails he had received from students requesting a snow day on Wednesday. 

Skretta also spoke about attending the Annual Spelling Bee at Culler Middle School last Saturday. He commended the middle school students who were brave enough to participate. 

The Career Academy hosted Skretta on Tuesday at the annual future educator day. There were over 100 high school students from across Lincoln Public Schools.

Skretta wrapped his update by introducing the next Associate Superintendent for Civic Engagement Brad Jacobsen to the room. Jacobsen has served 16 years as the high school principal at Ashland-Greenwood Public Schools. In addition to his principal duties, he is regularly involved with the civic engagement for the district including building relationships with local and state elected officials, and collaborating with them and other state groups on legislation that would impact public schools across the state.  

Public comment

There were no individuals that addressed the Board during public comment.

Glimpses of LPS

We open every Board meeting with a video that highlights LPS. Tuesday’s Glimpses featured the first annual show choir competition at Standing Bear High School. You can watch the Glimpses here.

 

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