January 20, 2016 at 6:30 PM - Omaha Public Schools Board of Education and Educational Service Unit 19 Board Meeting

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Notice to visitors: If you wish to speak, please obtain a “Request to be Heard” form from the entry table and return the completed form to the table attendant or the Board of Education Director.

The agenda will be kept current and available for public inspection in the office of the Secretary of the Board of Education at the Administrative Building during regular working hours. 

Board members may request specific agenda item(s) be moved to a different place on the agenda.  Please attend the entire meeting to ensure you hear discussion on a particular agenda item.

Pursuant to Section 84-1412 of the Nebraska Statutes, the public is hereby informed that a current copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act is posted in the Board meeting room on the north wall.

Agenda items are subject to reordering at discretion of the board president, please attend the entire meeting to ensure you're able to hear any discussion. If you would like to rehear any discussion, please listen to our podcast located on the District Web Page, district.ops.org.

Rationale:  Led by

Rationale:  The Vision:  Every Student.  Every Day.  Prepared for Success.

The Mission:  Omaha Public Schools prepares all students to excel in college, career, and life.

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Congratulations to Central High School!  Central’s journalism students earned second place in the Broadsheet category for the school’s yearbook, The Register, at the Journalism Education Association’s (JEA) National High School Journalism Convention held in Orlando, Florida, this past November.  Three students also earned the following individual honors: Sebastian Becerra, Yearbook Student Life Photography-Excellent, Ann Milroy, Portrait Photography-Excellent and Natalie Nepper, Graphic Design/Advertising-Superior.  We salute these student-journalists and their teacher, Hillary Blayney.

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TREASURER 

The Treasurer's Report for December 2015 is attached for review.

Rationale:  At this time, any Board member may request that any item in the consent agenda be removed from the consent agenda and be considered and voted on separately. 

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APPROVAL OF CLAIMS - SCHOOL DISTRICT OF OMAHA

It is recommended that the claims for the School District of Omaha be approved as presented by the central administrative staff.

A.    CLAIMS REPORT A

Rationale:  APPROVAL OF CLAIMS - SCHOOL DISTRICT OF OMAHA

It is recommended that the claims for the School District of Omaha be approved as presented by the central administrative staff.

A.    CLAIMS REPORT B

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APPROVAL OF CLAIMS - SCHOOL DISTRICT OF OMAHA CLAIMS REPORT C:

All Claims submitted as potential conflict of interest for members of the Board of Education.

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APPROVAL OF CLAIMS - EDUCATIONAL SERVICE UNIT NO. 19

It is recommended that the claims for Educational Service Unit No. 19 be approved as presented by the central administrative staff.

Rationale:  The Committee on Claims met on __/__/____ and approved the audit of claims conducted by the Secretary to the Board of Education. 

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GRANT FUND BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS

 

It is recommended that the receipts and expenditures of the detailed grant fund budget for the 2015-2016 fiscal year be amended to include the following reimbursable programs:

 

Foundation Grants and Grants less than $10,000.00 to be amended into the 2015-2016 budgets are available for review in the Board Workroom.

 

1.   FOUNDATION GRANTS

    

These budget amendments in the amount of $160,000.00 are for the period beginning September 1, 2015, and ending August 31, 2016.  These amendments represent only that part of the budget that will be expended during the 2015-2016 school year for new Foundation Grants.

 

     This program is 100% reimbursable.

 

2.   GRANTS LESS THAN $10,000

    

These budget amendments in the amount of $5,000.00 are for the period beginning September 1, 2015, and ending August 31, 2016.  These amendments represent only that part of the budget that will be expended during the 2015-2016 school year for various Grants less than $10,000.

 

This program is 100% reimbursable.

Rationale:  Termination of Laureate Learning Center Agreement.  Staff is recommending that the agreement between the Omaha Public Schools and Laureate Learning Center for the provision of Supplemental Educational Services be terminated pursuant to Section 5 (e) and (f) of the Agreement.   

Rationale:  The OPS Board of Education shall first elect its President and then elect its Vice President.  Any member of the Board may self-nominate or be nominated by another Board Member.  Nominating speeches are not permitted.  However, nominees shall have up to five minutes to speak following the close of nominations and prior to the distribution of ballots.   Nominee speeches shall be in order of nomination.   Election of officers of the Board of Education shall be kept by secret ballot.  Election shall require a majority of all members of the board.   (Policy 8130)

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Discussion/Action Item

Human Growth and Development Content Standards

The revised Human Growth and Development content standards are submitted for Board of Education approval. The most recent revision includes changes provided at the Board of Education workshop on Monday, January 11, 2016. In addition, a curriculum matrix to show alignment of common content topics between Common Sense Media, School Counseling and Human Growth and Development is provided.

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In House Legal Counsel Megan Neiles-Brasch has completed evaluation of the current legal services model and requests Board approval of the following three recommendations designed to ensure the District continues to have the highest quality legal services at a rate that is extremely efficient and effective: 

 

1.         Adoption of the attached 3 year agreement with Baird Holm to serve as the District's primary outside counsel;

2.         Authorization to prepare a Request for Qualification and Pricing for legal services relating to Workers Compensation; and

3.         Authorization to hire an additional In-House attorney. 

Rationale:  The Board may vote on any items presented by the District Lobbyist, John Lindsay, and any bill currently in front of the Nebraska Legislature.

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The Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council (ESUCC) meets monthly to support the statewide coordinated provision of the most cost-effective services for students, teachers, and school district in each educational service unit.  Following approval of the meeting minutes by the full Council, these minutes are provided to the Board of Education as an update. ESU Coordinating Council Meeting minutes for November 2015 are provided as an attachment.

Rationale:  The Omaha Board of Education is authorized by state statute to hold closed sessions.  Closed sessions may be held when clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual.  Reasons that meet this standard include but are not limited to:  (a) strategy sessions with respect to collective bargaining, real estate matters, pending litigation, or litigation which is imminent as evidenced by communication of a claim or threat of litigation to or by the public body; (b) discussion regarding deployment of security personnel or devices; (c) investigative proceedings regarding allegations of criminal misconduct; (d) evaluation of the job performance of a person when necessary to prevent needless injury to the reputation of a person and if such person has not requested a public meeting; and (e) legal advice.