LEA FR Council  Minutes - PDF Versions
for Printing & Archived Issues
LEA FR Council Minutes

FR (Faculty Representative) Council is the legislative and policy-forming body of the Association with the
purpose of carrying out the Association goals.  Its 187 members are representatives from the fifty-three
building sites across the district.  This body of representatives meets the third Thursday of the month at
Lefler Middle School to foster and promote membership, adopt the budget, set the annual dues, approve
resolutions and policy statements, approve the slate of candidates for election and to review, adopt
Association goals and Standing Committee changes and review issues and concerns of members.  All
members are invited to come and observe.
Unapproved
FR Council
http://www.lincolneducationassociation.org
September 18, 2008
Union Bank, 4732 Calvert – Lower Level   4:15 p.m.


BUILDINGS NOT PRESENT:  Belmont, Cavett, Culler, Dawes, Humann, Lakeview, Lincoln East, Lux,
McPhee, Morley, Park, Pyrtle, Saratoga

Our thoughts are with Mary Oestmann from Rossi Financial Services as she addresses the death of her
husband.

“EARLY BIRD” DRAWING:  Paula Buckner, Scott, won a basket of coffee and filters from the LEA office.

CALL TO ORDER:  Arlene Rea called the meeting to order at 4:18 p.m.

GUEST:  Ken Haar endorsed by LEA-PAC for Legislative District 21.   Ken has knocked on more than 6,500
doors since February.  His highest priority will be to raise teachers’ salaries; Ken taught for 15 years.  He is
in need of yard sign locations and people to leaflet.  If you know anyone who lives in District 21, let them
know.  Click on hadley@richtersbrinkman.com and/or sierra.club.leg.network@gmail.com to request more
information.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  The minutes of May 15, 2008 were approved as printed.

TREASURERS REPORT:   Jim Rea, Executive Director
The Financial Reports for April, May, June and July 2008 were in the FR packet.  The fiscal year ended on
August 31, 2008.  It takes until about the 15th of each month to receive and process all of the previous month’
s bills to show up in the budget.  In October, LEA will have a final snapshot of the 2007-2008 budget.  We are
currently preparing for the yearly audit.

INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION ITEMS:
President’s Report—Arlene Rea
Welcome to Gina Parish!  NEA UniServ Intern from Hayward, California.  Gina’s job in California was a
combination of employee benefits and knowing multiple contracts.  

Membership Update—As of today, we have 182 new member for this year.  Hopefully, by the end of
September, we will know who left the district through retirement, leave of absence, or resignation.  This will
give us an accurate number for overall membership.

Building Meetings—Jim Rea, Arlene Rea, and Gina Parish have visited 15 buildings.  The topic has been the
contract and the ProCom Action Plan on Educator Workload.  Other issues have been brought up at these
meetings that LEA has subsequently begun addressing.

District Issues—There seem to be three major issues: 1. Printing of the assessments by the district, as
specified by the ProCom Action Plan for Educator Workload this spring, was categorized as Immediate
Action.  “The district print shop will print all district-wide assessments as quickly as possible to reduce the
need for educators to make copies.”  2.  SPED issues at all three levels regarding the number of
assessments, charting, etc…  LEA has been working with Mary Ells.  3.  Social Studies implementation
regarding issues of materials and training.   LEA has been working with Randy Ernst.

Future Building Meetings—You can still schedule a meeting for your building, please contact Elaine at the
LEA Office 489-7500.  Topics will include the ProCom Action Plan for Teacher Workload, the two year
negotiated contract, and address any issues from the building members.

2008-2009 Committees and Committee Chairs— Information was shared with FR’s; committee chairs were
approved by the LEA Board at their meeting on Monday, September 15, 2008.

DRAWING:  Cindy Johnson, Hill, won a Portfolio and zip drive from Perry Showers and Candy Specht of
Horace Mann.  Perry and Candy will be scheduling building meetings that will include Root Beer Floats.
       
Executive Director’s Report—Jim Rea
Reported on the status on LP 1100 from last legislative session—Interim Study (LR294) is complete and
testimony will be offered to the Education Committee.  

Updated the Council on the new 403(b) regulations that become effective January 2009.  More detailed
information in October.  

Reported that the cost to file a grievance for a non-member will be $110 per hour for 2008-2009.

Executive Summary and Member Rights Update are available at:  www.lincolneducationassociation.org.

Member Rights Update was included in the FR packet.

OLD BUSINESS:   none

NEW BUSINESS:   none

ACTION ITEMS:   
Elections Committee—Paula Buckner, Scott; Jennifer Northouse, Bryan Learning Center; and Pam Olson,
Huntington; were elected by the LEA Board at the meeting on Monday, September 15, 2008.   Karen Shelton,
Everett, asked that her name be withdrawn.  Nominations were taken from the floor at FR Council to
complete the Elections Committee.  Six additional members were nominated and elected:  Matthew
Hoffman, North Star; Deb Rasmussen, Goodrich; Kathy Spahr, Culler; Tammy Schafer, Holmes; Bobby
Rezac, Calvert; and Carole Glenn, Maxey.

Election of Elementary Position on the LEA Board—In May, PJ Nelsen and Daniel Ross were nominated for
the vacant Elementary Board Seat.  The election was held at the September FR Council meeting.  Each
candidate was given three minutes to speak to FR Council.  From the election by secret ballot, Daniel Ross,
Calvert, was elected to the LEA Board as an elementary representative.  Ross:  50    Nelsen:  18

DRAWING:  Christina Kubicek, Lefler, won a Backgammon/Chess/Checker/Cribbage/Dominoes Game Set
from Arlene Rea.

COMMENTS, CONCERNS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The minutes of the FR Council include “comments, concerns, or announcements”, which are typed or
handwritten on the proper sheets (can be attached), and which are presented to FR Council.  Verbal
comments, concerns or announcements what come during FR Council which are not received in printed
fashion are not printed in the minutes of the meeting.

LEA encourages members to put all comments, concerns, and announcements in writing so the Council’s
minutes accurately reflect the business of FR Council.  However, be judicious in what you want printed in the
minutes.  The minutes are distributed to members and are posted on our website.  If there is a building
issue, you should try to talk with your administration or LEA staff first before bringing it to FR Council.  
Eventually, you will have to work with your administration to resolve the issue.

Group Concern, Arnold:  We are being asked to report, report, report.  They are asking us to use computers
to get the job done.  Our computers are slow and very unreliable, many crashing.  Is the district looking into
this huge problem?  What are they doing to help us with this?  Response: The District recognizes your
concern and has committed technology funds to be used to purchase up to date equipment on a three year
basis

Group Concern, Hill:  Hill 3rd Grade is concerned about quality of instruction with the addition of CogAts at
3rd grade on the top of ITBS and CRTs from March to April.  Has LPS considered CogAts at 3rd grade being
at the beginning of the year?  Response:  The District reports that The CogAts is published by the same
publisher as our new norm referenced test (ITBS) so teachers will receive a report from the district that
equates the student achievement and cognitive ability.  The tests need to be given within a window of time.  
This will give the teacher information about whether each student is working at, above or below their ability.   
The district has reduced the  number of ITBS subtests given at 3rd and 5th grade from four to two.

Group Concern, Hill:  Hill teachers wish to state their concern regarding LPS not plumbing three portables
with six classrooms of approximately 150 students.  Response:  The district indicates that  the concerns of
Hill teachers have been addressed by their principal as well as Mark Shepard, Bess Scott and Nancy Biggs.  
There are a number of portables on other elementary sites that do not have water and restroom facilities
available in the portable.  Each school develops their own plan to address the situation and this has been
done at Hill.

Group Comment, Zeman:  Why is it that at the beginning of the school year teachers are unable to use the
school credit card before a certain date, which always seem to be much later than when they are needed.  
Teachers should be able to have access to their enhancement funds through the use of the school credit
card the day teachers report.  Response:  The District’s budget year is from September 1 through August
31.  Because I assume you were requesting funds in August, the 2008-2009 budget will not begin until
September 1.  

Group Comment, Prescott:  Early start schools vs. late start schools as it relates to starting and ending
times of PLC’s for Specialists.  Many early start PLC’s for Specialists are starting at 1:53 and ending at 2:53.  
Teachers are not required to go back to their buildings and put in the additional minutes to meet the 7½ hour
contract day.  Response:  Response:  The District will be visiting with the program directors regarding this
concern.

Individual Concern, Prescott:  I am a SLP serving the Deaf/Hard of Hearing preschool in the a.m and school-
age students in the afternoon.  I am attending my school staff meeting, the Early Childhood SLP Staff
meeting and the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Staff meeting.  Each are once a month and before or after contract
time of 8:15-3:45.  Am I required by the district to attend all of these?  Response:  If the meetings are
indicated as “mandatory,” then attendance is advised.  Having multiple obligations, it would be a good idea
for you to speak directly with your supervisor(s) to see if there is some flexibility that can be extended to you
given your circumstances.  Members are also advised to check out the “Guidelines for General Staff
Meetings” in 5-18 of the Contract.  LEA believes the spirit and intent of that language should apply to all
meetings and if meetings are being held contrary to the spirit and intent of that language, then those
meetings should be challenged using the process outlined in 5-18.

Individual Comment, Arnold:  According to the “Time Expectations for Teachers” which was provided by
Human Resources it states time before and after school to be 60 minutes.  According to my calculations we
have 45 minutes plan time and another 2 minutes at the end of the day.  My question would be has
something changed and principals would now expect 60 minute of time for teachers to be on duty?  
Response: Nothing has changed.  On the LPS chart it lists a full duty day consisting of 420 minutes (7
hours) which is correct.  Although it does not specifically state it, the 60 minutes that is listed as “Before/After
Tch/St. Day” accounts for all of the minutes during the day that are not included under the other columns
(“Teach Time” and “Professional Time During Student Day”).  Principals cannot require staff to stay 60
minutes before or after the Teacher/Student Day if it takes staff beyond their contractual 420 minutes except
for the usual staff meetings, occasional open house, etc.

Group Concern, Irving:  Health information is very difficult to get to on-line.  Is there a way to access individual
students’ health issues to staff?  We could be liable for any health issue that happens in our classroom
without having that health information.  It is on-line but it’s hard to find.  Response:  The District reports that
this information is included on the class list on SSI.  A medical alert tag is there and if they hover over the tag
with their mouse the information will appear.  If they have difficulty accessing the medical information they
may obtain a hard copy from the school nurse.

Group Concern, Lefler:  We need some answers regarding the time spent on the IEP progress monitoring.  
It has recently been suggested to do it “instead of preparing,” or “using and correcting worksheets.”   
However, those worksheets have been deemed necessary to establish a formative work/study habit grade.  
Also what time should we “trade” to learn and familiarize ourselves with the new assessments that we are to
use.  Last year it seemed we would be using Roe & Burns and now this year it appears to be an obsolete
assessment.  We feel it is boiling down to the fact that students' learning will suffer, i.e., students who need
extra help but are not verified and will be in the class you the teacher are having to miss.  Response:   
According to Mary Ells: IEP Progress Monitoring Background: Special Education practices and requirements
have historically included various forms of formative assessment for the purposes of IEP Progress
Monitoring. A growing body of research in special education (as well as research from general education,
PLC, etc.) supports the concept of frequent monitoring of a student’s response to the instruction provided to
address priority needs. For students receiving Special Education, the Present Level and IEP Goals
summarize the targeted priority outcomes for a student. Our district is monitoring IEP goals frequently in
order to determine if students are responding to the instructional interventions provided.

States and districts across the nation are shifting to the response to intervention approach of verification and
instructional assessment, also. As of 8/30/08, Nebraska Rule 51 has been revised to include the response
to intervention concept as well as the continued concept of measurable IEPs. Further staff development will
provided during the school year. Also, IEP Progress Monitoring Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) will be
shared periodically with staff. When other questions about IEP progress monitoring arise, please contact the
Special Education Department at 436-1905. Thank you.

Ms Ells and Dr. Bossard have recently sent a Frequently Asked Questions Document  to all special
education teachers.  Teachers with follow-up questions should call or email Mary Ells and their supervisor
for a timely response.

Individual Concern, Lefler:   I am concerned as I am an .8 FTE teacher and have 14 IEP students in my
caseload.  I am also teaching a Reading Ideas class for the first year and have to develop materials for that.
Response:  See above response.

Group Concern, Lefler:  Education Board said Coaches “will provide basic 1st aid”—none of us coaches are
trained or have been told we need to get trained.  Who does that responsibility fall on if something happens
to a student while at practice?  Response:  The recommendation from the Medical Advisory Committee was
that Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches receive this training and since the time of the recommendation
this has been occurring.  Intramural coaches are encouraged to attend the First Aid and CPR training, but
this is optional.  Individual intramural coaches with concerns should speak directly to their principal or to
Karen Hand.

Daniel Ross expressed his thanks to FR’s for their vote of confidence and assured them that he takes this
responsibility seriously.

½ Day of Guest Teaching:  Linda Nelson, Irving.

ADJOURNMENT:  Arlene adjourned the meeting at 5:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Marcia Benner

Marcia Benner
Secretary-Treasurer