Rationale: 

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. 

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.

Rationale:  Georgianna Cimatoribus (leader) - Brownie Troop 45402 from Pawnee Elementary

Rationale:  The Treasurer's report for August 2013 is submitted to district auditers and will be presented as a component of the 2012-2013 audit presentation.

Rationale: 

Legion of Valor, Bronze Cross of Achievement

The “Legion of Valor, Bronze Cross for Achievement” was created in 1961 to recognize those special cadets who have demonstrated excellence in leadership,  academics, community and school activities, and Junior ROTC.  A selection board is convened annually, during June or July. The names of the awardees are announced in August or September.  Approximately 20-25 cadets, from more than 1700 High School Army Junior ROTC Programs, are selected each year.

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: 

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:

       All claims submitted excluding those listed in Claims Report B

      B.    CLAIMS REPORT B:

     All Claims submitted as potential conflict of interest for members of the Board of Education

Rationale: 

1. 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: 

GRANT FUND BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS

 

It is recommended that the receipts and expenditures of the detailed grant fund budget for the 2013-2014 fiscal year be amended to include the following reimbursable programs:

 

1. TEACHING AMERICAN HISTORY GRANT, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – PROJECT 451311, AS APPROVED ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2010.

   Approval for participation in this program was recommended by the Curriculum, Americanism, Research, and Evaluation Committee and approved by the Board of Education at the September 20, 2010 meeting. 

    

   This budget amendment, in the amount of $176,474.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2013, and ending August 31, 2014.  The total budget is written for the period beginning September 1, 2010, and ending August 31, 2014.  This is a no-cost extension of a three year award for the remaining balance.  This amendment represents only that part of the budget that will be expended during the 2013-2014 school year for the purpose of supporting student achievement by improving teachers’ knowledge and understanding of American History.

    

   This program is 100% reimbursable.

    

   The Sherwood Foundation Grants and Grants less than $10,000.00 to be amended into the 2013-2014 budgets are available for review in the Board Workroom.

    

2. GRANTS LESS THAN $10,000

    

These budget amendments in the amount of $2,295.00 are for the period beginning September 1, 2013, and ending August 31, 2014.  These amendments represent only that part of the budget that will be expended during the 2013-2014 school year for various Grants less than $10,000.

 

     This program is 100% reimbursable.

Rationale: 

It is recommended that the attached report of the Board of Trustees of the Omaha School Employees’ Retirement System concerning the investment of retirement funds during the month of August 2013, be adopted.

Rationale: 

INVESTMENTS – OMAHA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM

 

It is recommended that the following report submitted by the Board of Trustees of the Omaha School Employees’ Retirement System concerning investment of retirement funds during the months of July and August 2013, be adopted.

OMAHA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM – APPROVAL OF CONTRACTS WITH AAVIN MEZZANINE, LLC

Staff, at the direction of the Board of Trustees of the Omaha School Employees’ Retirement System and with the review of the attorneys, will recommend contracting with AAVIN Mezzanine, LLC for interests in AAVIN Mezzanine Fund, LP. and AAVIN Mezzanine Co-investment Fund, funds investing in subordinated “mezzanine” debt and private equity investments in later stage private companies located primarily in the central United States

OMAHA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM – REGULAR INTEREST RATE – 2013-2014 SCHOOL YEAR

 

The Board of Trustees of the Omaha School Employees’ Retirement System, with the concurrence of staff, recommends the regular interest rate on the accumulated contributions of an employee, and other statutory uses of the rate, be set at 3.0% for the 2013-2014 fiscal year.

OMAHA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM – BUY-IN INTEREST RATE – 2013-2014 SCHOOL YEAR

 

The Board of Trustees of the Omaha School Employees’ Retirement System, with the concurrence of staff, recommends the buy-in interest rate on service purchases made by an employee, and other statutory uses of the rate, be set at 8.0% for the 2013-2014 fiscal year.

Rationale: 

This Affiliation Agreement is necessary in order for Creighton to provide certain services to our students at OPS facilities.  The initial draft was prepared by Creighton and we have made modifications to keep them in compliance with OPS' legal obligations, particularly under FERPA.  We have been working with Donna Dobson who has been taking the lead on this from OPS' perspective.  She has also been working with Building Healthy Futures (the funder) on sorting out the details. 

The Agreement is for one year and may be terminated by either party with 60 days' notice.  The Agreement will automatically renew in successive one year increments.  This Agreement envisions that there will be a separate "Term Sheet" signed for each type of clinical activity being provided (e.g. Dentistry) which will permit the addition of new services without the need for revision of the Affiliation Agreement.  The sample Term Sheet is Exhibit A to the Agreement.

Rationale:  The central administrative staff requests permission to apply for the Special Education Continuous Improvement Project (SE-CIP) grant to strengthen local school improvement efforts in the area of special education.  SE-CIP grants have been available and OPS has received SE-CIP grants for the past 14 years. The grant funds professional development opportunities for general education and special education teachers, paraprofessionals and parents of students with disabilities.  Focus areas identified by the Nebraska Department of Education include: positive behavior supports (MANDT certification), adaptations in the general curriculum and school environment (Co-Teaching Training), parent involvement and family centered services (Parent Support Group, Transition Information Sessions), and professional development (Autism Training).   The grant award allocation is $122,793.00 and is 100% reimbursable, funded by the Nebraska Department of Education.  The grant period is October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014.

Rationale:  A proposed timeline is provided based on feedback offered by the Board of Education at previous meetings.  The following topics are included in the proposed timeline: academic coaching program, extra-curricular data gathering, input sessions from parents, students and community.  The preliminary data results from Omaha North’s Academic Tutoring program are attached.  The executive summary provided by the Research Division highlights the findings.  High school coaches will be present to share input and feedback on academic coaching and 2.0 GPA eligibility to participate in varsity athletics.

Rationale:  Staff will share information about a partnership between ConAgra Foods, Hunger Free Heartland, the Midwest Dairy Association and Omaha Public Schools to encourage participation in the Grab and Go Breakfast Program.

Rationale:  Central Office staff will present a proposed process and organization of a Budget Process Review Committee. The Committee will be used to examine the current budget development process and to contrast this process to best practices used in other public school districts.  To accomplish this proposed process a committee will be selected from community, central office staff, building leadership and Board of Education membership to gain a broad base perspective.  Following a review of current processes, best practices the committee will develop and present recommended changes to the Board of Education for implementation for the 2014-1015 Budget.

Rationale:  Central Office staff will provide an update on elementary class sizes.

Rationale:  David Kramer, lead counsel to OPS from Baird Holm LLP, our outside legal counsel, will present an overview of legal expenses from the 2012-2013 fiscal year, a summary of the key categories worked, the attorneys providing the service, and a brief comparison of 2012-2013 expenses to prior fiscal years.  David will be available to answer questions.

Rationale: 

EDUCATIONAL SERVICE UNIT NO. 19

Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council minutes of the July 31, 2013 regular meeting.

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.