Highlights of the Sept. 10, 2024 Lincoln Board of Education and ESU 18 Regular meeting

September 10, 2024

Lincoln Board of Education Regular Meeting

The Lincoln Board of Education met for its regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at the Lincoln Public Schools Steve Joel District Leadership Center, 5905 O Street. 

Public hearing on LPS 2024-2025 Property Tax Request

A hearing in accordance with Nebraska law was held for the purpose of the 2024-2025 property tax request to fund the proposed 2024-2025 budget.  There was one community member who spoke during the hearing. You can watch the full video to view the comments.

First reading

2024-25 Lincoln Public Schools budget adoption, base growth percentage increase, and property tax request

LPS Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs Liz Standish provided a brief presentation about the budget process and highlighted the Boards work over the summer to develop the 2024-2025 LPS budget. 

Building the budget begins each February when LPS staff review every budget line item and look at student enrollment and needs to match staffing levels for each school building. The budget process this year also focused on aligning resources with priorities adopted with the 2024-2029 LPS Strategic Plan.

LPS is proposing a 4.97% increase in the expenditure budget to $539,189,965. The majority of the expenditure increase - approximately $18.6 million of the almost $25.5 million - will go towards salary and benefit increases already approved through the staff negotiation process earlier in the year. Staff salaries and benefits make up almost 90% of the total budget. Each month, LPS pays over 6,500 employees a total of $30 million - money that pumps back into the Lincoln economy through the purchase of goods, services and property taxes.

An adjustment was made to the proposed budget after community input during the last budget hearing. Taking $30,000 from the cash reserve, the school district will budget for 3,750 StarTran bus passes. These passes will be used by school social workers and counselors when families request assistance in getting secondary students to school.

LPS prudently builds the annual budget using a three-year forecast to minimize the negative impact of drastic swings in revenue. By utilizing cash flow, LPS is able to weather volatile shifts in revenue caused by large reductions in State Equalization Aid a year after the school district may receive a bump in local property assessment values the previous year.

During the 2024-2025 budget process, the Board will consider an estimated total levy increase of 3.9 cents - or approximately $1.10 per 100 of valuation - to help offset the approximately $32 million decrease in state equalization aid to the district. The drop in state aid this year is calculated to equal a levy of nine cents. If approved, the average homeowner of a property valued at $281,614 would see a $110 increase in their property taxes.

Last year, the Board approved a 14 cent drop in the total levy to $1.07 per 100 of valuation. Two factors that led to the sizable drop were the valuation growth and the state of Nebraska’s investment in Special Education cost reimbursement from state sources instead of local sources.

LPS provided multiple opportunities for the community to provide feedback and learn about the proposed budget. These opportunities included two virtual forums and one in-person forum in June, an online form open from June 26 - July 12, Board meetings in June, July and August, and a public hearing on August 26. LPS will be participating in what is called the “Pink Postcard Hearing” as required by Nebraska Law. The hearing will be held Thursday, Sept. 19, at 6:30 p.m. at the City-County Building. 

More information and resources, including past presentations, can be found on the website: https://lps.org/budget.

The Board will hold a second reading and vote on the proposed budget at the next Board regular meeting on Sept. 24.

2024-25 Board of Education and superintendent annual goals and priorities

Annually, the Board evaluates the superintendent and develops annual priorities for the superintendent for the coming school year. The 2024-25 Board of Education and superintendent annual goals and priorities are presented below for consideration and adoption at the next meeting.

1. By April 8, 2025, develop and present to the board a comprehensive action plan tied to the Strategic Plan, which includes clear action steps, responsible parties, measurables, and a progress tracking system. Thereafter, an annual fall report on district progress towards the measurables will be presented to the board and made publicly available.
2. By January 2025, develop and present to the Board a broader alliance of legislative engagement opportunities to support enhanced communication and education with local and state partners. By April 8, 2025, demonstrate the use of district communications platforms to inform constituents about legislative and community topics relevant to LPS.
3. By April 8, 2025, develop and present to the Board a comprehensive recruitment and retention plan, including a specific plan to strengthen staff wellness.

Second reading

Newly annexed property to the City of Lincoln

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 area of Highland View would be assigned to Kooser Elementary, Schoo Middle School, and North Star High School starting with the 2024-2025 school year.

The Board voted to approve the assignment.

Resolution for option enrollment students 2024-25

Nebraska students may attend a school other than the one in the district in which they reside under the option enrollment statutes as long as they meet the statutory and legal conditions, and their application is received by Aug. 1, 2025.

A new state law passed by the Nebraska Legislature requires school districts to adopt option enrollment capacity limits by Oct. 15 for the following school year. The capacity limits for the 2025-26 school year will be published on the LPS website.

The Board voted to approve the resolution and capacity limits.

Agreement with Educare of Lincoln

Through the LPS Sixpence Endowment Grant received for 2024-2025, LPS proposed to enter into an agreement with Educare of Lincoln to contract for services in five of the infant toddler classrooms located at Educare of Lincoln.

The Board voted to approve the agreement.

Superintendent Update

LPS Superintendent Paul Gausman gave an update to the Board.

He started the report acknowledging the news reports about a shooting inside an Omaha high school earlier in the day.

“Our hearts are with Omaha staff, students, families and the community during this difficult time,” said Gausman. “Our children deserve to go to school and feel safe and loved without fear.”

He went on to share information from a message sent to families earlier in the evening. He spoke to the nationally recognized LPS Security and Threat Assessment team and their collaboration with local, state and nation law enforcement to develop, implement and train safety protocols.

“As a father, grandfather and superintendent in a school district where we serve over 41,000 students and close to 7,000 staff members, I am constantly thinking about how we keep those who enter our buildings safe every single day,” said Gausman.

The entire message to families can be found on the LPS website. 

Gausman also recognized the high school students who were recognized by the Nebraska Department of Education for earning the Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy. Out of the 74 students announced in Nebraska, LPS had 24 of them. The award honors students who have achieved a high level of proficiency in both English and at least one additional language before graduating from high school.

Gausman wrapped his report by inviting the community to a special ceremony to dedicate Standing Bear High School. The dedication ceremony will be from 1-3 on Sept. 29, and it will include performances by the Ponca Drum Group, student musicians and remarks by Ponca Chairwoman Candace Schmidt. 

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 Lincoln Public Schools. Tuesday’s Glimpses featured Southwest students kayaking as part of the Outdoor Adventure PE class. 

Educational Service Unit 18 Regular Meeting

The Educational Service Unit 18 met for its regular meeting immediately following the Lincoln Board of Education meeting. You can watch the full video of the ESU 18 meeting here.

ESU budget adoption and property tax request

The ESU Board held a public hearing on the ESU property tax request in accordance with Nebraska Law to fund the 2024-2025 proposed budget. No individuals from the community addressed the board during the hearing.

Standish then gave a brief presentation on the ESU Budget and property tax request. Highlights from the presentation include:

• Increases for salaries, benefits and contracted services to account for negotiated increases.
• Adjustments to the Pathfinder Program increasing contracted services.
• Increase in budget authority to account for Nebraska Department of Education grants to LPS and private schools run through the ESU.

The Board will hold a second reading and vote at the next meeting on the proposed flat levy of $0.015, with a budget proposal of $17,733,202.

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