April 4, 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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Madam President, members of the board, the Spotlight for this evening is the service learning partnership between Omaha Public Schools and the University of Nebraska at Omaha Service Learning Academy.

 

OPS established a partnership with UNO’s Service Learning Academy five years ago.  The P-16 Initiative in the Service Learning Academy was created to team P-12 and UNO faculty members in quality, collaborative service learning experiences with nonprofit partners.  This partnership has resulted in successful and engaged learning for thousands of OPS and UNO students since 2010.  

 

This evening I’d like to welcome Dr. ReNae Kehrberg who will expound on this successful partnership and the collaborative projects students have accomplished.  Also, here tonight are representatives from the UNO Service Learning Academy, Julie Dierberger and Paul Sather: 

The service learning partnership between Omaha Public Schools and the University of Nebraska at Omaha Service Learning Academy is an exemplary example of collaboration and engaged learning. This relationships began formally in 2010 after informal service learning relationships had been developed with much success. As a result the P-16 Initiative in the Service Learning Academy was created to team P-12 and UNO faculty members in quality, collaborative service learning experiences with nonprofit partners. These P-16 teachers are trained together during a week-long Service Learning Seminar where all partners co-create service learning experiences that meet state standards and course learning objectives while addressing community-identified needs. Since 2010, approximately 17,500 UNO and OPS students have learned and served together, serving approximately 42,000 hours annually in the community. For example, students at UNO in a landscape design class have been serving and learning with Omaha Northwest Biology students to create a rain garden to avoid storm water runoff and backed up sewer lines in Omaha. Blackburn Alternative Program culinary students create a meal for seniors at Adams Park Senior Center and UNO gerontology students work with the seniors to learn about supporting minority elderly. These service learning experiences show how the relevancy of learning content standards have been applied to impact the community.

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:

 

1. TITLE II - PART A – PREPARING, TRAINING AND RECRUITING HIGH-QUALITY TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - PROJECT 466416.

 

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Title II, Part A Teacher Quality budget.

 

    This budget amendment, in the amount of $2,672,909.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2015, and ending August 31, 2016.  The total budget is written for the period beginning July 1, 2015, and ending September 30, 2016.  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 providing professional development for teachers and principals to significantly impact student achievement, job embedded learning, recruitment, hiring teachers, conducting new teacher orientation and training to enable teachers to become highly qualified and address the academic needs of students.

 

    This program is 100% reimbursable.

 

1. TITLE I, PART C – EDUCATION OF MIGRATORY CHILDREN, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - PROJECT 471216.

       

   Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Title I, Part C Education of Migratory Children budget.

    

   This budget amendment, in the amount of $1,265,218.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2015, and ending August 31, 2016.  The total budget is written for the period beginning July 1, 2015, and ending September 30, 2016.  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 supporting high quality and comprehensive educational programs for migrant children in order to reduce the educational disruption and other problems that result from repeated moves.

    

   This program is 100% reimbursable.

    

2. TITLE III – LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – PROJECT 464916.

    

   Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Title III Limited English Proficient budget.

    

   This budget amendment, in the amount of $1,038,987.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2015, and ending August 31, 2016.  The total budget is written for the period beginning July 1, 2015, and ending September 30, 2016.  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 providing for specialized instruction, ESL materials and supplies, teachers and paraprofessionals that work with immigrant students to acquire use of the English language.

    

This program is 100% reimbursable.

 

1. TEXTBOOK LOAN PROGRAM (RULE 4), NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – PROJECT 473115.

 

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Textbook Loan Program budget.

 

This budget amendment, in the amount of $116,526.10 (carryover), is for the period beginning March 1, 2016, and ending August 31, 2016.  The total budget is written for the period beginning March 1, 2016, and ending February 28, 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.  These are the amount of carryover funds remaining from the previous year for the purpose of supporting non-public schools that do not have the financial resources to provide necessary textbooks.

 

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 $532,193.00 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 $1,500.00 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.

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The Brigance Early Entrance to Kindergarten Assessment has been selected by a committee of kindergarten teachers and staff. The cost will be 2,884 dollars and will be used for the 2016-17 school year.

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The department of Curriculum Instruction and Assessment is requesting approval at the April 4^th Board of Education meeting to purchase new textbook materials in support of the new Introduction to Economics course for the 2016-2017, as well as, the new Personal Finance course for the 2018-2019 school year.

Rationale:  Supplies are needed for the annual Kindergarten Jumpstart program which are funded through the Learning Community. 

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

Committees:
Accountability
Budget and Audit
Communications (March 29, 2016)
Policy (scheduled for April 12, 2016)
Americanism
Student Assignment Plan (March 29, 2016)
Legislative (March 25, 2016 and April 1, 2016)
Construction Manager at Risk (CM@R)
Specialty Schools Review and Recommendations (SSRR) (scheduled for April 12, 2016)
Citizen Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC)
Code of Conduct

Rationale:  Representatives of the Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) will provide the Board of Education an update on the 2014 Bond Program with regard to topics discussed in CBOC meetings including schedules, budgets and contingencies.

Rationale:  Jacobs staff will be available to present an update on bond progress and respond to questions from the Board.

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 and Bryan High School recommend the approval of an Agreement between the District and Rubicon Agriculture for the purchase of a contained hydroponic system - Agrobox.

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Staff recommends that the District undertake condemnation proceedings in Douglas County Court to acquire the following described properties and that the District's legal counsel be authorized and directed to initiate such proceedings:

Lot 1, Tex First Addition, an addition to the City of Omaha, as surveyed, platted and recorded in Douglas County, Nebraska, except that part deeded to the City of Omaha, a Municipal Corporation, as set forth in the Warranty Deed recorded December 19, 1963 in Deed Book 1206, Page 247, Records of Douglas County, Nebraska, more particularly described as follows: The West Five Feet of the South Twenty-Five Feet

and the West Ten Feet of the North Forty-Eight Feet thereof.

and

Lot 1, Intransit Addition Replat 3, an addition to the City of Omaha, as surveyed, platted and recorded in Douglas County, Nebraska.

The negotiator for the District has attempted to acquire each property by initially offering to purchase the properties based on the fair market value appraisal for the properties that was conducted by a licensed appraiser for the District.  Subsequent good faith negotiations with the owners have not been successful and the District's negotiator has recommended that the properties be acquired by eminent domain.

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.