Policy 8400

Meetings

Meetings

Reviewed and affirmed by the Board: 
Last Revision: 
Original publish date: 09/23/2008
Related policies & regulations:  1130
Legal references:  79-560; 84-1407 to 84-1414

 The Lincoln Board of Education will hold one or more regular meeting each month.  Special meetings may be held as circumstances demand.
A meeting of the Board occurs when the body is intentionally convened for the transaction of business and advance publicized notice is given of the meeting (except in the case of emergencies) in accordance with the Open Meetings Act.

Regular Meetings

The Board will schedule regular meetings for the purpose of conducting the business of the District in accordance with Nebraska State law.

Work Sessions

Work sessions are a special meeting.  The Board may schedule informal work sessions between regular meetings.  Work sessions are desirable when extended or informal discussion is needed in advance of taking formal action, when hearing major reports of staff committees, or when reviewing or formulating extensive plans for later ratification.

During work sessions the Board shall function as a Committee of the Whole.

Other Special Meetings

Special meetings shall be held upon request of the President or at the request of at least two members of the Board.

Special meetings require reasonable advanced publicized notice except in cases of emergency.

A closed or executive session may be conducted when called for by an affirmative, majority vote of members of the Board if a closed session is clearly necessary for one or more of the following reasons, for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual and such individual has not requested a public meeting.  The following are the most common reasons for convening a closed session:

1. For strategy session with respect to negotiations/collective bargaining clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual in compliance with the law.
2. For strategy session with respect to property/real estate matters clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual in compliance with the law.
3. For strategy session with respect to pending litigation or litigation which is imminent as evidenced by communication of a claim or threat of litigation to or by the public body clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual in compliance with the law.
4. For discussion regarding deployment of security personnel or devices clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual in compliance with the law.
5. For investigative proceedings regarding allegations of criminal misconduct clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual in compliance with the law.
6. For personnel and the evaluation of job performance clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual in compliance with the law.
7. For discussion of the legal consequences of specific action and legal advice clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual in compliance with the law.

Meetings for Public Hearings

The Board may hold public hearings as necessary or as required by statute.

Open Meetings

All meetings of the Board are open to the public except for closed sessions permitted by law.