LEA Board Minutes - PDF Versions
for Printing & Archived Issues
The LEA Board of Directors is made up of twelve LEA members elected by their peers.  The Executive
Committee of the Board consists of the President, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer.  In addition
to the Executive Committee, there are three elementary representatives, one middle level representative,
two high school representatives and three at-large representatives. The Board meets at the LEA Office
twice a month during the school year and once per month during the summer.  Members are always
encouraged to come and observe.
Lincoln Education Association
http://www.lincolneducationassociation.org
Board of Directors
June 17, 2010
9:00 a.m., LEA Office
Unapproved
PRESENT:   Jenni Absalon, Marcia Benner, Linda Freye, Liz Wysong Hoffart, Jan Olmstead, Mandy Peterson, Deb Rasmussen,
Daniel Ross, Tammy Schafer, Resa Wiltse  

ABSENT:  John Heineman, Karen Shelton

ALSO PRESENT:  Dan Studer, Jim Rea

CALL TO ORDER:   Jenni called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

CHECK IN/CELEBRATIONS:  Numerous board members shared celebrations in their lives.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  The minutes from April 26, 2010, Board meeting were approved as printed.
The May 14, 2010, minutes were approved as corrected.   John Heineman was present.

FINANCIAL REPORT:  The May 2010 Financial Report was approved as presented.

INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION:
a.         President’s Update—Jenni Absalon
    •        District Update
            Contract/LIBA/Chamber—Jenni shared community comments that have been made regarding the tentative LEA/LPS
    professional agreement.  The LPS Board will review the agreement and vote on June 22, 2010.
            2011/2012 Proposed Calendar—At the June 8, 2010, LPS School Board meeting, the Board did not approve the
    calendar.  Instead, they proposed another calendar, dropping fall break to one day and moving the start date forward
    among other changes.
            Climate Survey—Jenni shared a copy of the F.Y.I. that was sent to the LPS board members.
            Meeting with Dr. Joel—June 21, 2010, at 2:30 p.m. at the LEA office. LEA board members were asked to bring other
    members to the meeting.
    •        Family, Schools and Community—The advisory committee will meet on June 23 at 5:00 p.m. and review the
    information gathered at the May conversation and proceed with areas of action.
    •        Committees—Committees will be discussed in more detail in July
    •        Membership Request—A member had asked to have their membership dropped outside of the official drop window.  
    The Board took no action.
    •        Representative Assembly—If you are a state contact person for RA, LEA has bags delegates can use.  The van will
    leave the parking lot at 4:30 a.m. for Eppley.  We are traveling on SouthWest so each person can bring two bags and a
    carry on. The LEA dinner will be on June 30; information will follow.
b.         Personnel Committee
    •        Executive Director Evaluation
    Motion made by Jan Olmstead, seconded by Deb Rasmussen, that the LEA Board and Jim Rea move into executive
    session at 11:32 a.m. to discuss the appraisal of the executive director.
    Motion made by Jan Olmstead, seconded by Deb Rasmussen, that the LEA Board and Jim Rea move out of executive
    session at 12:32 p.m.        
c.         Appraisal –Linda Freye
    The appraisal committee is currently in Training Phase 2. For the 2010/2011 school year, every LPS principal and a
    teacher will pilot the new appraisal system.  No other teachers should be evaluated on the system. The committee’s work
    has been completed and now the work will be turned over to the LPS/LEA leadership.  
d.        NSEA Board—Jenni Absalon, Marcia Benner, Linda Freye and Tammy Schafer
    At the NSEA board meeting, it was discussed and approved to make a donation to Progressive Now (Bold Nebraska) led
    by Jane Kleeb.  The website will be live on July 1, 2010, and their purpose is to counteract extreme conservative groups.
    The board members were also informed that NEA is down to 23,000 members.
e.        Capitol District—Jenni Absalon, Marcia Benner, Linda Freye, Deb Rasmussen and Tammy Schafer
    The Capitol District Retreat was held in Fremont on June 7. There is an opening on the executive board due to Judy Roach
    being elected Vice President.  Jenni encouraged any LEA member to consider running.  
f.        UniServ Director’s Report—Dan Studer
    Dan reported working with members on a number of issues including: assisting members on Notice of Performance
    Concerns, written reprimands, appraisal issues, job performance concerns at the district level, and job assignment
    issues for the fall. Dan also reviewed the year’s cases for member rights, stating that he had 52 cases open this year
    whereas last year there was 23. Sixteen cases from this year involved potential or actual cancellations or resignations
    whereas last year there were six.  
g.        Executive Director’s Report—Jim Rea
    Jim announced that the server has been replaced below budget. There have been a few issues this past week with the
    speed of the internet, but it appears to be a national problem with Time Warner and not due to the new server.
    Jim discussed the current policy of allowing members to pay their dues with cash. A policy change will be brought to the
    LEA July board meeting for approval regarding cash dues.

NEW BUSINESS:  none

ACTION ITEMS:  Motion by Resa Wiltse that the LEA board accept the executive director’s appraisal as presented by the
personnel committee. Voting Yes:  Resa Wiltse, Jenni Absalon, Marcia Benner, Linda Freye, Liz Wysong Hoffart, Jan Olmstead,
Deb Rasmussen, Daniel Ross, Tammy Schafer. Voting No:  none   Absent/Not Voting: John Heineman, Mandy Peterson and
Karen Shelton.

COMMENTS, CONCERNS, ANNOUNCEMENTS:  none

ADJOURNMENT:  Jenni adjourned the meeting at 12:33 p.m.


Respectfully submitted,

Jan Olmstead

Secretary-Treasurer