[{"_1":2,"_115":-5,"_116":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,85,95,105],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6286430,"mediaKeyId","2560041-31423f2ba835c0eb9c066dac88e58b45","parentId",2560041,"title","Staff updates board on several state bills including cell-phone and camera proposals","audioSeconds",440,"startMs",3408000,"endMs",3848000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2560041-31423f2ba835c0eb9c066dac88e58b45&start=3408&end=3848","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6286430/Nebraska/Staff-updates-board-on-several-state-bills-including-cell-phone-and-camera-proposals","mediaUrl","author","Bellevue Public Schools, NE","date","2025-03-03T00:00:00Z","article","District staff provided a legislative update outlining bills in the Nebraska Legislature that could affect district policy and operations.

Why it matters: State legislation can change district obligations and require policy changes; the district's lobbyists and staff monitor bills so the board can respond and adapt policies as needed.

Bills and staff notes

- LB140 (cell-phone bill): Staff reported the bill passed an initial round of hearings and would require districts to have a policy rather than a practice. As drafted at the hearing, non-school-issued devices including cell phones, watches and tablets would be prohibited during instructional time; language about extracurricular activities and school buses may be amended and left to district discretion.

- LB31 (cameras and electronic hall passes): Staff said this bill would require school districts to identify cameras and electronic hall-pass systems and to share that information with parents; parents could opt out of specific items (for example, camera use for their child). Staff characterized the bill as having limited support and unlikely to proceed.

- LB300 (superintendent pay/transparency): Staff summarized amendments that would have altered relative pay relationships between superintendents and beginning teachers; the amendment that was added prompted concern and the bill did not gain support in its current form.

- LB6645 (retirement contribution/benefits proposals) and LB303 (state aid): Staff gave a brief summary of developments and noted some amendments under consideration, including potential changes to employee contribution levels if the retirement fund is highly funded and ongoing debate over state aid formulas. Staff said fiscal projections for the state have improved since an earlier forecast but a deficit remains.

Staff also said the district's lobbyists will attend an upcoming meeting in April to provide a deeper update and answer board questions.

Ending

Board members were invited to submit questions for the lobbyists and staff said they would report back as priority bills emerge.","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","Bellevue Public Schools Board Meeting March 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","District staff briefed the board on legislative activity affecting schools, including a cell-phone restriction bill (LB140), a camera/parent-access bill (LB31), a superintendent-pay-transparency bill (LB300) and other measures; staff outlined likely impacts and next steps.","taxTitle","BELLEVUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, School Districts, Nebraska","taxId",13500,"location","Nebraska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":50,"_51":82,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6286435,"Early childhood staff describe 'ripple effect' plan and expansion of services at Bel Air hub",777,2267000,3044000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2560041-31423f2ba835c0eb9c066dac88e58b45&start=2267&end=3044","/articles/6286435/Nebraska/Early-childhood-staff-describe-ripple-effect-plan-and-expansion-of-services-at-Bel-Air-hub","District early childhood staff presented the superintendent's early childhood plan and described its work at Bel Air (presented as a hub school) and the district's early childhood center.

Why it matters: Early childhood programming provides direct developmental support and intake for young children and families; expansion and outreach efforts can affect school readiness and later educational outcomes.

What staff described

Presenters said the plan focuses on three pillars: leadership effectiveness, instructional excellence and family/community partnership. Staff described coaching and consulting with Bel Air's principal and teacher leadership networks, alignment work on curriculum (WIT/WISDOM referenced), home visiting from prenatal to school-entry, and professional learning supports.

Service counts and referrals (as reported in the meeting)

- Home visiting and birth-to-3 services: 235 children/families served in-home (birth to age 3) as part of the district's developmental network collaboration.
- Preschool participation: 279 children enrolled in district preschools; staff said roughly half of those are students identified for special education and half receive Title I services.
- Head Start partnership: 16 children supported through community Head Start arrangements.
- Referrals and evaluations: 26 referrals/evaluations for birth-to-3 so far this school year; 108 evaluations for the 3-to-5 age range.
- Early Childhood Center activity: Staff reported 2,839 sign-ins at the early childhood center since Aug. 8; that total represented 501 individual families, including 43 families who were new to the program this year. Presenters said the center averages about 26 daily sign-ins and runs a daily 10 a.m. story hour that is a high-attendance time.

Board feedback

A board member who identifies as representing military families said the district makes those families feel welcome and supported. Board members praised the program's early intervention work and its role as a family resource and referral point.

Next steps and context

Staff said they are expanding elements of the plan and continuing to align early learning work with the district's elementary schools to create continuity from birth through early grades. They noted home visiting, family engagement goals (such as targeting 8% parent attendance at school events), and ongoing tracking of referrals and evaluations.","Bellevue Public Schools staff outlined the superintendent's early childhood plan centered on Bel Air as a hub school, describing home visiting, preschool slots, evaluation counts and walk-in early childhood center activity.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":50,"_51":92,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":93,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":94,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6286440,"Board approves 2026-27 calendar after extended discussion on conference timing and semester balance",1214,986000,2200000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2560041-31423f2ba835c0eb9c066dac88e58b45&start=986&end=2200","/articles/6286440/Nebraska/Board-approves-2026-27-calendar-after-extended-discussion-on-conference-timing-and-semester-balance","The Bellevue Board of Education adopted the 2026-27 school calendar after staff laid out the proposed schedule and board members asked questions about parent-teacher conference timing, semester length and holiday breaks.

The board's vote finalizes a calendar that begins student attendance on Aug. 13, provides two full weeks off at Christmas, a full week for Thanksgiving and specific professional learning and parent-teacher conference dates designed to meet state-required instructional hours.

Why it matters

The calendar shapes family planning, staffing schedules and course delivery. Staff said the schedule was designed to ensure semester and annual instructional-hour requirements are met while attempting to preserve multi-day holiday breaks that staff and families value.

Key points from the presentation and discussion

- Start date and professional learning: Staff said teachers will return for training and professional development ahead of students; the first student day is Aug. 13.

- Semester balance and contact hours: The presenter explained the first quarter is 44 days and the second quarter 40 days to meet first-semester hour requirements; total student contact days and teacher contact days were specified in the presentation.

- Parent-teacher conferences: Board members and staff discussed whether the second-semester conference should be moved later; staff said prior changes were made to provide earlier intervention and that parental participation remains high. Staff proposed surveying parents and teachers if the board wants to study the issue further.

- Holidays and make-up days: The calendar includes a full Thanksgiving week and two full weeks at Christmas; staff described how snow days and state hour requirements factor into the schedule and said the district has historically had leeway to meet state minimums.

Board action

A motion to approve the proposed 2026-27 calendar was moved, seconded and adopted on roll-call affirmations from members present.

Ending

Staff said the calendar can be revisited if needed; the administration also recommended collecting further feedback on the timing and format of parent-teacher conferences before making any future change.","The board adopted the 2026-27 school calendar, which sets Aug. 13 as the first student day and balances semester contact-day requirements; members discussed parent-teacher conferences, winter break length and instructional hours before voting.",{"_33":96,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":97,"_41":98,"_43":99,"_45":100,"_47":101,"_49":50,"_51":102,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":103,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":104,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6286443,"Board hears budget parameters; staff cites increase in state special education aid",164,483000,647000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2560041-31423f2ba835c0eb9c066dac88e58b45&start=483&end=647","/articles/6286443/Nebraska/Board-hears-budget-parameters-staff-cites-increase-in-state-special-education-aid","The Bellevue Board of Education approved the administration's proposed budget parameters for the 2025-26 planning cycle after a staff presentation describing revenue changes.

Why it matters: Budget parameters provide the framework staff use when preparing the district budget and levy recommendations. The administration said recent state changes to special education reimbursement materially affect revenue assumptions.

What staff presented

A staff presenter identified the parameters as similar to last year's and highlighted a change in state special education reimbursement. The presenter said the state reimbursement for special education rose from earlier levels (previously around 40-44%) to about 80% following recent legislation, and that shift produced roughly $13 million in the first year and is expected to yield about $14 million in the second year. Staff also noted the district continues to carry a local share of special education costs and receives additional federal and Medicaid/Medicare-related reimbursements that partially offset costs.

Board action and discussion

A board member moved to approve the proposed parameters for 2025-26; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call affirmation by members present. Board members asked clarifying questions about who bears the remaining 20% of special education costs and whether the district's special-education population affects local burden. Staff confirmed the remaining portion comes from local funds and some federal sources but said those federal funds do not fill the entire local share.

Next steps

District business services staff will incorporate the approved parameters into the 2025-26 budget draft and present updates to the board as the budget development process continues.","Administration told the board the district's budget parameters remain largely unchanged but reflect increased state special education reimbursement; the board approved the parameters for 2025-26 planning.",{"_33":106,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":107,"_41":108,"_43":109,"_45":110,"_47":111,"_49":50,"_51":112,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":113,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":114,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6286446,"Bellevue Board approves consent items, budget parameters, teacher agreement and 2026-27 calendar",1052,2998000,4050000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2560041-31423f2ba835c0eb9c066dac88e58b45&start=2998&end=4050","/articles/6286446/Nebraska/Bellevue-Board-approves-consent-items-budget-parameters-teacher-agreement-and-2026-27-calendar","Bellevue Board of Education members on (meeting date not specified) approved several routine and substantive items by unanimous vote, including the consent agenda, updated budget parameters for 2025-26 planning, a negotiated teacher agreement for 2025-26 and the 2026-27 school calendar.

The approvals come as the district updates its revenue expectations and labor costs ahead of the coming school and budget years. The items formally adopted affect the district's planning for tax levy, staffing costs and the timing of the 2026-27 school year.

Board action and key outcomes

- Consent agenda: The administration recommended approval of the consent items identified in section C of the agenda; a motion was made and seconded and the board voted to approve the consent agenda. The meeting record shows affirmative votes from board members who responded when called.

- Budget parameters for 2025-26 planning: The board voted to approve the administration's proposed budget parameters. The administration described the parameters as largely unchanged from the prior year and noted increased state special education aid in recent years. The superintendent's presentation said the district received roughly $13 million in the first year of the change and is slated for about $14 million in the second year; staff also noted the district continues to carry some local share of special education costs and receives additional Medicaid/Medicare-related reimbursements.

- Teacher negotiated agreement, 2025-26: The board approved a negotiated package between the Bellevue Education Association and the district. The administration described the total package as a 4.088% increase, with the base salary rising to $39,784, the health insurance segment increasing to $95.62 (as stated by the presenter), and the professional recognition segment rising to $7,300. The agreement also expanded bereavement leave from three days to five days to cover the death of a parent, parent-in-law or stepchild.

- 2026-27 school calendar: The board adopted the proposed 2026-27 calendar, which begins the school year with teacher professional development and sets Aug. 13 as the first student day (presenter: Doctor Moore). The calendar structure was described in detail to balance semester contact-day and hour requirements, with notes on parent-teacher conference timing, planned full weeks off for Thanksgiving and two full Christmas weeks, and summer school scheduling.

Votes and recordkeeping

Motions were moved and seconded on the floor for each item and the roll call recorded affirmative votes from board members in attendance. The meeting transcript records the board's roll-call affirmations for each adopted measure.

What the approvals mean next

The board's adoption of budget parameters sets the framework staff will use as they develop the 2025-26 budget and levy recommendations. Ratification of the teacher agreement finalizes compensation and a leave-language change for 2025-26. Adoption of the 2026-27 calendar provides families and staff an approved schedule for planning; staff noted the board can revisit the calendar in future meetings if needed.

Votes at a glance (items recorded in the meeting record)

- Consent agenda: approved (motion moved and seconded; roll-call affirmations recorded).
- Budget parameters for 2025-26 planning: approved (motion moved and seconded; roll-call affirmations recorded).
- Teacher negotiated agreement, 2025-26: approved (motion moved and seconded; roll-call affirmations recorded).
- 2026-27 school calendar: approved (motion moved and seconded; roll-call affirmations recorded).
- Motion to adjourn into executive session: approved (motion moved and seconded; roll-call affirmations recorded).

Ending

Board members and staff noted the items will feed into upcoming budget work and contract implementation. The board also received informational presentations during the meeting on early childhood programming and state legislative bills.","At its meeting, the Bellevue Board of Education approved the consent agenda, renewed budget parameters, ratified a negotiated teacher agreement and adopted the 2026-27 school calendar; all motions passed unanimously.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Staff updates board on several state bills including cell-phone and camera proposals

Early childhood staff describe 'ripple effect' plan and expansion of services at Bel Air hub

Board approves 2026-27 calendar after extended discussion on conference timing and semester balance

Board hears budget parameters; staff cites increase in state special education aid

Bellevue Board approves consent items, budget parameters, teacher agreement and 2026-27 calendar