February 17, 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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TREASURER 

The Treasurer's Report for January 2016 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. 

Rationale:  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 $1,892,630.00 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 $43,970.00 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:  Megan Neiles-Brasch recommends for approval a one year agreement with the District’s psychologist bargaining unit.

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IMAGINE LEARNING SOFTWARE CONSOLODATION & LICENSE RENEWAL     

Curriculum and Instruction is requesting permission to consolidate and renew existing school licenses with varying sunset dates for a supplemental language and literacy software program designed to assist struggling readers in 30 Nebraska Department of Education categorized Persistently Low Achieving Schools that will save the District over a period of three years $237,847.00   Reading proficiency is essential to academic success for students. Without a customized intervention to assist struggling readers, they will struggle with all core subjects and not meet state standards. Imagine Learning is a supplemental language and literacy software program that is designed to meet the instructional needs of struggling readers. Through an individualized curriculum that provides high-quality, scientifically based instruction as well as ongoing assessments and opportunities for family involvement, Imagine Learning helps struggling readers develop essential literacy skills and read at grade level. Imagine Learning as an instructional tool across all grade levels benefits students by providing sequenced instruction based on student performance and first language support for English Language Learner students.  There are multiple opportunities with 25 minute-increased student time available to implement this research-informed, technology enhanced program that analyzes current skills, targets students deficits and delivers tailored instruction automatically to extend OPS’s literacy block to provide more personalized learning to targeted students.

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OPS staff will provide a list of potential Human Growth and Development (HGD) curriculum options for review. These materials will be used for parent/community and teacher review in selecting curriculum for piloting.

Staff will also provide an overview of the process for community and staff review of the materials. Attachments will also be reviewed. Following parent and community review nights, as well as field testing in March and April, teachers will vote on field tested materials (late April or early May). Board members will receive recommended HGD curriculum as an action item (May) for final approval prior to summer teacher training.

Rationale:  A grant proposal to expand the social work program in the Omaha Public Schools has been submitted to The Sherwood Foundation. The request for support of the expansion of the social worker program is for five years. The Sherwood Foundation would support the salaries of the social workers for the first three years. The Omaha Public School District will begin to contribute to the social worker salaries at the beginning of year four and will independently sustain the salaries at year six and beyond. Approximately eight social workers will be hired each year for six years, with an additional 14 hired in year seven. This will be an expansion of 62 social workers over seven years. The contribution of The Sherwood Foundation would be $7.4 Million over five years. Staff will provide an overview of the grant proposal. Staff will return to request approval of this grant proposal on March 21, 2016 as an action item.

Rationale:  Staff will provide an update on the Strategic Plan and priorities established by the Board of Education.

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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Staff recommends the appointment of DLR Group to provide the Comprehensive Capital Facility Assessment.

Rationale:  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 January 2016 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.