Highlights: 8/9 Lincoln Board of Education Regular Meeting

The Lincoln Board of Education met for a regular meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 9, at the Lincoln Public Schools Steve Joel District Leadership Center, 5905 O St. 

First reading

EPA E-Bus grant proposal

LPS will collaborate with Colorado/West and Nebraska/Central Equipment Inc. as our Blue Bird bus vendor to submit a grant request for three electric buses. If awarded the grant, LPS will trade in older eligible buses for new zero-emission buses at no cost after the rebates. The grant winners are chosen through a lottery process.

LPS currently estimates the units necessary to charge the buses will cost approximately $10,000 per bus. In addition, LPS may incur costs for the electrical upgrades required to support the charging system.

The Board waived first reading and approved submitting the grant application before the Aug. 18 deadline.

Interlocal Cooperation Act agreement for school resource officers and threat assessment officer

Every year, LPS reviews an agreement with the City of Lincoln to fund school resource officers and a threat assessment officer as part of the Safe and Successful Kids Interlocal Agreement. This year one more officer will be added with the opening of Northwest High School. The 13 SROs are assigned to LPS middle and high schools, and the threat assessment officer is assigned to the school district. The officers help with the education of students, assist staff and facilitate communication between LPS and LPD. SROs take appropriate law enforcement action when situations arise requiring the exercise of police authority.

The total expenditure is $602,595.90. This is a 4.95 percent increase from last year.

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

CLC Agreements

Each year, the Board reviews agreements with community agencies to run Community Learning Centers (CLCs) at schools where the programming is located. The following agreements for a total of $1,820,640 were put before the Board for consideration:

  • Boys and Girls Club of Lincoln-Lancaster County: $138,830
    Cedars Youth Services: $156,800
  • Civic Nebraska: $193,454
  • Lincoln Housing Authority: $39,240
  • Willard Community Center: $38,548
  • YMCA of Lincoln: $207,177
  • Northeast Family Center: $111,760
  • Family Service Association of Lincoln: $568,536
  • Malone Community Center: $87,400
  • Lincoln Parks & Recreation: $278,895

CLCs provide high-quality academic and enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children. These clubs offer a variety of activities that complement and amplify what is taught in school, and encourage community and parent engagement for the success of the children.

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

Proposed negotiated agreements: Custodial Employees Association, Transportation Employees Association, and Maintenance Employees Association

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:

Custodians

  • The total package for 2022-2023 is a 6.85% increase. This includes a salary increase of approximately 5.63%, a $.25 increase to the longevity stipend, increases in Social Security and retirement costs - and a 5.84% increase in health insurance premiums.
  • The total package for 2023-2024 is an 8.80% increase. This includes a salary increase of approximately 7.99%, a $.25 increase to the longevity stipend, increases in Social Security and retirement costs - and an estimated 5.84% increase in health insurance premiums.

Transportation

  • The total package for 2022-2023 is a 5.46% increase. This includes a salary increase of approximately 4.65%, a $.65 increase to the longevity stipend, one additional work day, increases in Social Security and retirement costs - and a 5.84% increase in health insurance premiums.
  • The total package for 2023-2024 is a 4.65% increase. This includes a salary increase of approximately 3.85%, a $.10 increase to the longevity stipend, increases in Social Security and retirement costs - and an estimated 5.84% increase in health insurance premiums.

Maintenance

  • The total package for 2022-2023 is a 4.56% increase. This includes a salary increase of approximately 3.70%, increases in Social Security and retirement costs - and a 5.84% increase in health insurance premiums.
  • The total package for 2023-2024 is a 4.20% increase. This includes a salary increase of approximately 3.76%, increases in Social Security and retirement costs - and an estimated 5.84% increase in health insurance premiums.

The Board waived first reading and approved the negotiated agreements ahead of the school year starting.

Informational items and reports

Superintendent Update

Superintendent Paul Gausman gave an update to the Board about where he has visited in Lincoln and groups he has spoken to.  Gausman has spoken to most LPS staff groups and will continue to do so as the school year gets underway.

The Career Academy Update

Board member Lanny Boswell gave an update after the joint meeting with Southeast Community College.  

Enrollment for TCA is up 90 students compared to last fall, with a record number of 752 students registered. TCA students earn high school and college credit while gaining hands-on experience in 18 career pathways. Partnerships with local and regional employers connect students with internships and future employment opportunities. Two career fairs planned in conjunction with the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and the Lincoln Independent Business Association will also help connect students with future jobs.

Boswell added, “The Career Academy now in its eighth year - and continuing to grow - is a prime example of our partnership approach. I want to thank our partners at SCC and in the business community for helping our students ‘test drive their future’ at TCA.”

Public comment

There were three 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 kindergarten student as they participate in Jumpstart, and a senior as they go through Readiness Days. 


Published: August 9, 2022, Updated: August 9, 2022