Board approves investment policy changes, facility and program purchases, and labor agreement; several votes waived to one reading

The Lincoln Board of Education on Feb. 25 approved a package of policy changes, facility projects, food-service processing, grant applications and a one-year negotiated agreement with the Lincoln Education Association (LEA), with several items advanced on a single reading because of calendar timing.

Board members voted to adopt changes to Policy 3510 (Depository) and Policy 3520 (Investing) in a single-reading action to align district practice with a pooled investment option recommended by Union Bank; staff said counsel, the district’s bond attorney and its financial adviser reviewed the language. The motion to set aside the board’s normal two-reading practice and adopt the policies passed on a roll-call vote.

Also approved on the consent/waived-reading agenda: - East High School pool unit replacement, project number 111111. District staff said the mechanical unit conditions water and air in the natatorium and the replacement includes adding a rooftop mechanical room and associated roof work; the equipment has an expected 25-year lifecycle, staff said. The board approved the project on a roll-call vote. - Processing of USDA commodity mozzarella: the board approved diversion of processed commodity mozzarella, estimated at about 75,000 pounds per year, to a vendor to make pizza used in district meals. Nutrition services noted the district serves about 26,000 lunches daily from roughly 65 feeding sites. - Submission and acceptance to the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) of an ERAP-style action grant for $100,000 to buy a virtual anatomy table for the Bryan Health Sciences career pathway program (no local match required); the board approved the grant application. - Student calendars for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school years (second reading approval). Staff described two timing changes: the first day of school will now include in-session kindergarten, sixth- and ninth-graders for intentional transition; the first day of school will be moved one day later (to Tuesday), shifting one day from fall break to a student contact day. - Policy 4880 (Human Resources: anti-harassment and anti-retaliation) revisions (second reading) to add clarified anti-retaliation language. - Approval of the LEA negotiated agreement (one-year contract). The board approved the agreement in roll call; one board member declared an abstention on the LEA vote and recorded “Abstain” on the roll call.

Board members also voted to recess after the ESU meeting and enter closed session later in the evening for negotiations, real estate matters, and legal advice; that motion passed on a roll-call vote.

Why it matters: the package combines routine capital maintenance and food-service logistics with policy updates and the district’s largest personnel contract. Several items were advanced on a single reading because the board has no meeting in March, a scheduling constraint staff cited when requesting waivers.

Votes at a glance (outcomes as shown on the Feb. 25 roll calls): - Policy 3510 (Depository) and Policy 3520 (Investing): adopted (motion to waive second reading and adopt passed) - East High pool unit replacement (Project No. 111111): approved - Processing of USDA commodity mozzarella (approx. 75,000 lb/yr): approved - NDE grant submission for $100,000 (anatomy table for Bryan Health Sciences career pathway): approved (no match required) - Student calendars 2025–26 and 2026–27: approved (second reading) - Policy 4880 (anti-harassment / anti-retaliation): approved (second reading) - LEA negotiated agreement (one-year): approved (recorded roll-call: majority yes; one abstention recorded) - Motion to recess after ESU meeting and convene closed session for negotiations, real estate and legal advice: approved

Board procedure notes: staff repeatedly requested waivers of the board’s typical two-reading rule for items that require action before the next scheduled meeting; the board granted several such waivers. Roll-call votes and recorded abstentions appeared on the official record for each action.