May 1, 2017 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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Board of Education #OPSProud Spotlight – May 5, 2017

Madam President, members of the board, our #OPSProud Spotlight tonight is on Burke High’s “Louder Than a Bomb” slam poetry winners.  Since September, Burke's "Louder Than a Bomb" slam poetry team has been meeting once or twice a month to develop poetry to compete.  Forty-two teams from Nebraska and Iowa compete between March and April for the finals, where the four remaining teams go head to head for the top team in the "Great Plains" region.  On Thursday, April 20, the Burke team, made up of seniors took first place.

We salute Evangeline Mantler, Bianca Swift, Emily Tyrell, Jope Awomolo and Amina Abdulahi. We also recognize the team coaches Pam Homan, Holly Murphy and Nebraska Writers Collective poet Michael Grove. Tonight, the Burke team will perform their poem from the competition called “Seven Days.”

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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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

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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

Rationale:  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 05/01/2017 and approved the audit of claims conducted by the Secretary to the Board of Education. 

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The following polices are being provided as action out of the Policy Committee.   The policies were brought to the Board of Education as first reading on April 17th, 2017:

2150 – School Year
3011 – Fund Balance Reporting
4029 – Absence from Meetings
4030 – Calls to 911 Emergency Service
4031 – Dates of Payment of Salaries
4390 – Group Term Life Insurance
4400 – Long-Term Disability Program
5407 – Student Interviews
5426 – Student Data
5700 – Do Not Resuscitate/Do Not Intubate (DNR/DNI) Requests
7000 – Purchasing and Contracting Policies
7003 - Construction Manager at Risk Policies
7004 – Care of School Property and Assets

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Central Office recommends approval of this agreement with Berkley Risk Administrators (Berkley) who is the current Third Party Administrator (TPA) for the Omaha Public Schools. The TPA services cover the Workers’ Compensation, General Liability, and Auto lines of insurance. Historically the Omaha Public Schools did not have a Service Agreement with Berkley who has handled our files since 2005. This agreement has a three year term from 5/1/2016 to 4/30/19.The agreement does allow for cancelation at any time for fraudulent acts and cancellation with 90-day notice without cause. This agreement was reached in an effort to set a pricing structure and guidelines for claims administration.

Rationale:  Curriculum and Instruction Support requests approval to adopt the new K-12 Nebraska Physical Education Standards as adopted by the Nebraska State Board of Education in October, 2016, to comply with Nebraska Statute 79-7601.01, which requires school districts to adopt state approved content standards.

Rationale:  Curriculum and Instruction Support request approval to adopt the OPS World Languages Standards based on the World Readiness Standards for Learning Languages to comply with Nebraska Statute 79-7601.01, which requires school districts to adopt state approved content standards.

Rationale:  Jacobs and OPS staff will present a high level overview regarding the design process for two new high schools at 156th & Ida and at 60th & L, respectively. A more in-depth discussion of the subject will become a part of any upcoming Board of Education Workshop on the topic of a next bond issue.

Rationale:  Dr. Tyree Sejkora will provided information on recommended changes to the Student Code of Conduct for the 2017-18 school year.    First reading will be on the May 15th Board Agenda. 

Rationale:  This report is to provide an update on the current work of the Common Grading Practices Committee.

Rationale:  The Board may vote on any items presented by 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.