Lincoln Public Schools: Highlights of 1/14 Board of Education regular meeting

The Lincoln Board of Education met for a regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at the Lincoln Public Schools District Office, 5905 O St. The Board will hold its next regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 28.

First reading

Policy Updates 

Periodically, new circumstances or changes require the school district to make a number of updates to align existing policy without changing the original leadership or organizational intent of the Board. When the Board has a number of such policies to revise, it collects them into a single Board agenda item. 

There were minor changes suggested to six different policies in the 1000 series that cover community relations. A second reading and vote by the board will be held during the Jan. 28 meeting.

State 21st Century Community Learning Center Continuation Application

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CLCs) federally funded grant program provides grants to eligible schools for the purpose of creating or expanding CLCs. The primary purpose of 21st Century funds is to provide students with academic enrichment opportunities designed to complement their regular academic program. The Board held a first reading on two grant applications that would continue funding grants for existing CLCs at Calvert, Arnold, McPhee and Norwood Park elementary schools; Park and Dawes middle schools; and North Star High School. The Board will hold a second reading and vote at the Jan. 28 meeting.

Chromebooks for 2020 Distribution

The CLASS technology plan provides budget resources in the 2019-20 fiscal year for the purchase of Chromebooks for each student in the 2020-21 sixth-grade class (3,300) and ninth-grade class (3,100). The Board held first reading on accepting the recommended bid from Dell EMC Inc. to purchase 3,300 Dell Standard Chromebooks at $735,900 and 3,100 Dell 2-in-1 Chromebooks at $923,800. The Board will hold a second reading and vote at the Jan. 28 meeting.

Annexed Property

The Board of Education assigns school attendance areas to property newly annexed to the City of Lincoln. This establishes school attendance areas prior to the sale of residential lots, allowing purchasers to know what schools their children will attend. Tonight the Board held a first reading to assign attendance areas to a newly annexed area near Interstate 80 and Highway 77. The assigned attendance area will be Norwood Park Elementary School, Dawes Middle School and Northeast High School. The Board will hold a second reading and vote on the assignment at the Jan. 28 regular meeting.

Second reading

Annexed Property

Tonight, the Board held a second reading and voted to approve assigning attendance areas to newly annexed Stone Bridge Creek Commercial addition near Kooser Elementary. The assigned attendance area will be Kooser Elementary School, Schoo Middle School and North Star High School. The Board voted to approve the assignment.

Glimpses of LPS

We the People 

We open every Board meeting with a video that highlights the amazing things taking place in our schools. Tonight’s video gave us a peek into the We The People competition.

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