October 7, 2013 at 6:30 PM - Board of Education Regular 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. 

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:  Pack 395 - boys from Ponca, Springville and Pinewood.  Cubmaster - Jacob Push

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Mr. John Campin, principal of Gomez Heritage Elementary, is the winner of this year's NebraskARTS Award, which is given by Nebraskans for the Arts.

Each year, the organization gives the award to a Nebraska school board, school board member, administrator, or teacher who has supported and encouraged achievement in the visual arts, dance, media arts, theater, or music.

As part of the nomination process, Mr. Campin received support from people all over the district, including his predecessor at Gomez Heritage Elementary School, Mary L. Morrissey. His supporters noted his dedication to creating and pursuing opportunities for students to grow through the arts. 

Mr. Campin will be recognized by the OPS board and administration at the board meeting Monday, October 7th.

Rationale:  Sandy Day, magnet and AVID district coordinator will give background on the academic support system Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID).   School staff and students from Western Hills Magnet Center, Morton Magnet Middle School, and Northwest Magnet High School will share examples of how AVID works at their schools.  The presentation will conclude with a parent’s perspective of the impact of AVID.

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:

 

      All claims submitted excluding those listed in Claims Report B

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APPROVAL OF CLAIMS – SCHOOL DISTRICT OF OMAHA

CLAIMS REPORT B:

 

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

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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.

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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:

 

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.

 

1. SHERWOOD FOUNDATION GRANTS

       

   These budget amendments in the amount of $1,369,282.00 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 new programs from the Sherwood Foundation.

    

    This program is 100% reimbursable.

    

2. GRANTS LESS THAN $10,000

     
          

        These budget amendments in the amount of $3,678.00 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.

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ESTABLISH TUITION RATES FOR THE 2013-2014 SCHOOL YEAR

 

      Staff will recommend approval of the Omaha Public Schools secondary and elementary tuition rates for the 2013-2014 school year.

Rationale:  Staff recommends that the maintenance agreement with Paul Wenninghoff for the 78^th and Craig Street acreage be extended to October 31, 2014.

Rationale:  The monthly Douglas County School District 0001 Head Start Governing Body Report for August 2013 is provided as an attachment in accordance with the 2007 Head Start Act.

Rationale:  Central administrative staff request annual approval of estimated program costs for possible services purchased by Omaha Public Schools from agencies for both school age and early childhood students with disabilities.  Each of the contracts (see attached listing) has been processed through the appropriate vendor protocols which includes the development of educational specifications, the creation of Requests For Proposals (RFPs), legal review, bid review and contract finalization. The Special Education Division oversees and coordinates this process in tandem with District Operational Services.

Rationale:  The Title I Budget is allocated to eligible schools based on 70% area poverty for elementary schools and 75% United States Department of Education (USDE) required for secondary schools.  All Title I eligible schools must participate in at least one or more State Audit Reviews pending their rotation year.   Title I schools must also submit a Schoolwide Plan that is aligned with the District's Action Plan and their Excels Plan to the state. All Title I Schools Schoolwide Plans must be approved by the state and in compliance in order to expend funds. In addition, Title I schools in “Year 3 Not Met” must keep documentation of the Action Plan implementation for corrective action. The Title I Office must also submit a grant application to the state for approval and compliance purposes.  Central administrative staff request approval to receive the 2013-2014 Title I allocation in the amount of $22,555,445.00.

Rationale:  The K-12 Comprehensive Science Teaching and Learning Grant application was written in collaboration with several OPS Science stakeholders and is an essential next step for increasing student achievement in science. While demonstrating marked improvement on Nebraska State Accountability-Science (NeSA-S), the students still have significant needs.  This grant will improve student achievement in science by providing research-based professional development to science teachers, support for student research, and funding to create and revise curriculum and assessments, as well as create intervention lessons that will aid teachers in re-teaching important NeSA-S content.  Additionally, an external evaluation will occur to measure all intended outcomes.  Central administrative staff request permission to submit this five year science grant to the Sherwood Foundation in the amount of $7,660,000.00.

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

Rationale:      LEARNING COMMUNITY

    Douglas/Sarpy County Learning Community Coordinating Council minutes of the August 22, 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.