March 4, 2019 at 6:30 PM - Omaha Public Schools Board of Education and Educational Service Unit 19 Board Meeting

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. 

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 Colors and Pledge of Allegiance will be presented by the Omaha South Color Guard.

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.

Rationale:  Good evening Board President Snow, members of the board and Superintendent Dr. Logan. We are pleased to present Jasmine Spittler an eighth grader at Beveridge Magnet Middle School as tonight’s #OPSProud Spotlight.

Earlier this fall, Jasmine was part of a local team that qualified for the National Battle of the Books for Deaf and Hard of Hearing.  Gallaudet University Youth Programs has been hosting the Battle of the Books competition for 5th through 8th grade students since 2012.
 
The competition consists of students using American Sign Language to watch, read and answer questions via video screen. The questions are based on three books students were required to read prior to the competition. The books include: The Harlem Charade, Lucky Broken Girl and The Girl Who Drank the Moon. Jasmine thrived in the competition, given only a few minutes to prepare and present an answer to an impromptu question on one of three books assigned to the team.
 
On March 29 through April 1, Jasmine will represent the state and the Omaha Public Schools district in Washington, D.C. at nationals with her team "Nebraska North." We say congratulations and give a big round of applause to Jasmine.  At this time, we welcome Beveridge Magnet Middle School Assistant Principal Michaela Jackson to the podium for remarks.

 

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:  It is recommended that the claims for the School District of Omaha be approved as presented by the Central Administrative Staff.

A. CLAIMS A REPORT

Rationale:  It is recommended that the claims for the School District of Omaha be approved as presented by the Central Administrative staff.

A.  CLAIMS B REPORT

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 3/4/19 and approved the audit of claims conducted by the Secretary to the Board of Education. 

Rationale:  In keeping with Policy 2300, the Board approves the engagement of the Dornan, Troia, Howard, Breitkreutz & Conway PC  LLO Law Firm to serve as legal counsel to the District.

Rationale:  Staff recommends approval of a Permanent Sidewalk Easement and Temporary Construction Easement in favor of the City of Omaha, Nebraska for the construction of a sidewalk at the McMillan Magnet Middle School.  The District will donate the easements to the City of Omaha as part of the Safe Routes to School grant program.  The purpose of this program is to implement solutions to ensure student and staff safety before and after school and to promote and encourage more students to walk to school safely.  The President and Secretary of the Board shall be authorized to execute the foregoing documents on behalf of the District.  The Easement documents have been approved for legal sufficiency by legal counsel for the District.

 

Rationale: 

In June of 2012 the Omaha Public Schools adopted textbooks for the on-grade-level math sequence of courses (Algebra 1-2, Geometry, Algebra 3-4).  This purchase from Pearson Education included six years of online access to the e-book versions of these three textbooks: Pearson Algebra 1, Pearson Geometry, and Pearson Algebra 2.  While many of the hard-copy textbooks from the original purchase remain in our schools, as many as 1500 students in each course are now using the e-book versions. 

The adoption comes to an end with the 2018-19 school year, and the online access to these books will cease as of December 31, 2018.  With the district’s current financial status, precluding a full new math resources adoption, the Curriculum and Instruction Support Department searched for a means to keep the online access to the e-books of the current texts with a minimum expenditure. Pearson was contacted about extending the current e-book access to the end of the 2018-19 school year, as well as an additional five years.

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:  The Board of Education will provide a brief update on the Americanism Committee.

 

Rationale:  Central Office staff will provide an updated on suspension data. 

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.