March 21, 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:  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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Madam President, members of the board, we have two school Spotlights for this evening.  We first begin by recognizing three OPS State Champion Wrestlers, Burke High School junior, Joey Harrison;Burke High School freshman, James Burks and Northwest High School senior, John Feeney.

The Nebraska School Activities Association State Wrestling Championships were held at the Century Link on February 18^th – 20^th.  These three student-athletes are Class A State Champions in their prospective weight classes.  We salute all three wrestlers and welcome these students, their coaches and principals.

We now introduce our second Spotlight for the evening. March is Youth Art Month and sixteen billboards featuring OPS student artwork are on display across the metro.  Schools that have sponsored billboards are: Ashland Park Robbins, Benson High, Benson West, Bryan Sr, Burke, Castelar, Chandler View, Integrated Learning Program, Indian Hill, JP Lord, Kellom, Lothrop, Miller Park, Picotte, Skinner Magnet and Wakonda. A reception for the students, sponsors, teachers and families will take place April 26th in the fourth floor gallery at TAC from 4:30-5:30 p.m. 

Tonight we are also showcasing our National Scholastic Art Awardees.  OPS students received over 90 regional gold keys and on March 14th, National awards were announced and OPS received two National Gold Medals and six National Silver Medals. 

We have asked them here today with their art teacher and administrator along with Angie Fischer, Art Supervisor who will tell you about the awards and introduce the students and art educators.   

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TREASURER 

The Treasurer's Report for February 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. 

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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 03/21/2016 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:

A.  KIOS-FM DEVELOPMENT BUDGET, LISTENER DONATIONS AND BUSINESSUNDERWRITING - FUND 911.

 

     Central administrative staff request approval to accept the KIOS-FM Development budget.

 

     This budget amendment, in the amount of $873,815.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2015, and ending August 31, 2016.  It represents the continued participation in a program conducted during the 2014-2015 school year for the purpose of covering costs of providing access to public radio programming not available from other media sources. The station also provides ongoing information about Omaha Public Schools to the KIOS-FM audience and serves as the lab for the broadcasting program.

 

This program is 100% reimbursable.

B. RADIO COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANT, CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING PROJECT 497016.

 

     Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Radio Community Service Grant budget.

 

     This budget amendment, in the amount of $121,810.00, is for the period beginning October 1, 2015, and ending August 31, 2016.  The total budget is written for the period beginning October 1, 2015, and ending September 30, 2017.  This amendment represents only that part of the budget that will be expended during the 2015-2016 school year. It represents the continued participation in a program conducted during the 2014-2015 school year for the purpose of defraying costs associated with production and programming of radio station KIOS-FM.

 

     This program is 100% reimbursable.

 

The Sherwood 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 $45,569.00 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 $4,996.00 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:  The Board of Trustees of the Omaha School Employees’ Retirement System, with the concurrence of staff, recommends approval of the attached resolution relating to the ongoing withdrawal of the Capital Account in the Atlantic Global Yield Opportunity Fund.  The Board of Education previously approved withdrawal from the Fund.   

Rationale:  Re-Appointment of Mrs. Katie Underwood to the Nebraska Association of School Board's (NASB) Legislation Committee.

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

Committees:
Accountability
Budget and Audit (3/21/16)
Communications (2/23/16)
Policy
Americanism (03/14/16)
Student Assignment Plan (2/23/16)
Legislative (3/18/16)
Construction Manager at Risk (CM@R)
Specialty Schools Review and Recommendations (SSRR)
Citizen Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) (2/24/16)
Code of Conduct

Rationale:  Members of the Accountability Committee of the Board will provide information on the proposed Superintendent Compensation Model.

Rationale:  Jacobs will present plans for the utilization of the Mills Building facility located at 4301 N 30th Street for relocation of Florence Elementary School students as temporary housing during the capital improvements of the school.

Rationale:  The Board of Education requested an assessment of the District's Economic Inclusion Plan in 4-6 months (November 21, 2015). Mr. Karlus Cozart, Project Director, will present an update and answer questions from Board members.

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:  Staff recommends approval of an agreement with DLR Group, Inc. to perform a capital facilities study of designated District facilities.  The Agreement calls for a payment to DLR of $720,400 for the study, with a completion date of September 19, 2016.  Under this Agreement, DLR will survey and inspect, and prepare reports on a total of 65 facilities.  The facilities to be surveyed are listed on Exhibit B to the Agreement.  The Agreement has been reviewed by legal counsel for legal sufficiency.

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Social Work Program Expansion Update

A grant proposal to expand the social work program in the Omaha Public Schools has been proposed by The Sherwood Foundation.  The Sherwood Foundation would support the salaries of additional social workers.  Approximately 9-18 social workers will be hired for the 2016-2017 school year.  The contribution of The Sherwood Foundation would be $7.4 Million.  There is no commitment from the district to increase the number of social workers after the life of the grant.  Staff will provide an update on the social worker expansion.

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.