February 1, 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 Boy Scout Troop 326

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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On January 8^th and 9^th Burke High School competed in the Nebraska State Thespian Festival, a celebration and competition of student achievement in the arts (theater, writing, design, singing, dance, etc). Burke High School’s Drama teacher Emily Mokrycki was awarded the 2016 Theatre Teacher of the Year award.  The award recognizes teachers for encouraging and improving the skills of students.  

More than 700 students participated across the state at the festival and six students from Burke High School qualified to compete at Internationals this summer (June 20^th-25^th) in Lincoln. 

One student, Ben Adams, was the recipient of a $500 Thespian Scholarship.

In addition, the Burke Improv team (6 members, 3 alternates) won first place in the Improv Challenge called “Burke Improv We Are”.

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.

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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

    

No Foundation Grants have been submitted for Board Action

 

2.   GRANTS LESS THAN $10,000

    

These budget amendments in the amount of $26,021.34 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:  Amend No. 001 To Agreement With Sampson Constr Co.Inc,-2014 Bond Program–Western Hills Magnet School

 

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Certificates of Substantial Completion

 

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In accordance with the 2007 Head Start Act, the Board of Education is presented with information for Douglas County School District 001 Head Start 2014-2015 Annual Report.

Head Start Act Sec. 644 (2) Each Head Start agency shall make available to the public a report published at least once in each fiscal year that discloses the following information from the most recently concluded fiscal year. This report should include:

* financial report with total amounts of public and private funds received

* explanation of budgetary expenditures and proposed budget for the fiscal year

* total number of children and families served

* average monthly percentage of funded enrollment

* percentage of eligible children served

* results of the most recent review by the Secretary and the financial audit

* percentage of enrolled children that received medical and dental exam

* information about parent involvement activities

* agency's efforts to prepare children for kindergarten

This report will be shared with the public on the district website and distributed to each Head Start school location as well as with community partners.

Rationale:  The monthly Douglas County School District 0001 Head Start Governing Body Report for December 2015 is provided as an attachment in accordance with the 2007 Head Start Act.

Rationale:  Committees of the Board of Education will provide a brief update.

Committees:
Accountability (01/01/2016)
Budget and Audit
Communications  (Scheduled to meet 02/23/2016)
Policy (Scheduled to meet 02/04/2016)
Americanism (Scheduled to meet 02/24/2016)
Student Assignment Plan (01/26/2016)
Legislative (01/26/2016)
Construction Manager at Risk (CM@R)
Specialty Schools Review and Recommendations (SSRR) (Scheduled to meet 02/09/2016)
Citizen Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) (01/27/2016)
Code of Conduct (Scheduled to meet 02/04/2016)

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.

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.