September 7, 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, our School Spotlight for this evening is on Shawn Graham, a science teacher at the OPS Accelere Program. On August 17 Shawn Graham was formally recognized at the White House as a recipient of the 2015-2016 Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators.

Graham is one of 18 teachers from across the country to receive this award.  Graham was recognized for his innovative approach to environmental education and efforts in using the environment as a context for learning for students.

In addition to that, Graham and his students were also nominated for the Points of Light Award, an award given to groups and individuals working to spark change and improve the world.  This evening we salute Shawn Graham for his commitment and innovative approach to helping students learn about the environment.  We also salute Mr. Graham’s students for their commitment to enhancing their community. We now welcome Mr. Graham and his students to the podium.

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 09/07/2016 and approved the audit of claims conducted by the Secretary to the Board of Education. 

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

Rationale:  Student Transportation of America Update will provide an update on transportation. 

Rationale:  Staff will present on Curricular Relevancy in Curriculum and Instruction Support. Cultural Relevancy is a key component of all programs and initiatives within the district. Today’s presentation will be specific to the department of Curriculum and Instruction Support. This topic is being presented at the request from the Board of Education.

Rationale:  The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) adopted new English Language Arts standards in the fall of 2014.  In 2015-2016, NDE revised the state reading assessment to reflect the new standards.  The assessment was renamed NeSA-ELA (previously NeSA-R). In April of 2016, The Nebraska Legislature has passed a bill to replace the Nebraska State Assessments (NeSA) test taken by 11th-graders with a college admission test. Consequently, the State Board of Education met in June to determine some critical assessment components for next year and the years to come. CIS has been providing support to staff regarding the revised standards and shifts in assessment.

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Staff and Legal Counsel will be available to answer questions from Board Members relating to the relationship between Omaha Public Schools and the Minnesota Humanities Center and Terra Luna.

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The Board will consider attached resolution to approve the 2016-2017 non-levy budgets for Douglas County School District 0001, which includes the following:

School Lunch                                   $  46,020,531
School Activities                               $   6,500,000
Central Stores                                  $   5,500,000
Depreciation                                    $    6,000,000
Employee Benefit                             $  11,170,000
Student Fees                                   $       800,000
Contingency                                    $  10,100,000
Cooperative                                     $  57,340,352
Prior Service Retirement                   $       145,000

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The Board will consider attached resolution to approve the 2016-2017 Douglas County School District 0001 budgets, which require a tax levy, excluding the General Fund as follows:

Bond Fund                                                  $  71,508,140

Special Building Fund                                   $ 237,700,309

Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund    $   6,424,449

Rationale:  The board will consider attached resolution to approve a 2016-2017 General Fund local budget in the amount of $582,072,902, and a reimbursable grant budget in the amount of $88,134,232,  for a total General Fund Budget of $670,207,134.

Rationale:  The Board will consider attached resolution to approve the 2016-2017 ESU No. 19 budget of $23,469,256.

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The Board will consider a resolution to set the 2016-17 DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 0001 property tax requests as follows:

General Fund                                                       $ 23,360,098.00

 Special Building Fund                                          $                      0

Qualified Capital Purpose Undertaking Fund      $  5,235,149.00

Bond Fund                                                             $ 30,823,206.00

TOTAL PROPERTY TAX REQUIREMENT                  $ 59,418,453.00

Rationale:  The Board will consider attached resolution to set the 2016-2017 ESU No.19 property tax request at $3,031,285.00

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.