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:  Lead by Troop 45402

Rationale:  Students there are doing great things for servicemembers.  They're joining in the Red Cross' annual 'Heartland Mail for Heroes' program, wherein students create holiday cards for deployed troops overseas.  The Red Cross delivers them to the troops.

Rationale:  TREASURER

The Treasurer's Report for October 2013 is attached for review.

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

Rationale:  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:

 

A.    TITLE I - ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - PROJECTS 4000’S -THRU 4400'S, AS APPROVED ON OCTOBER 7, 2013.

 

Approval for participation in this program was approved by the Board of Education at the October 7, 2013 meeting. 

 

This initial budget, in the amount of $22,735,166.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2013 and ending August 31, 2014.  This amount represents current Title I funds for the 2013-2014 school year.

 

This program is 100% reimbursable.

 

B.    HEAD START – U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (ACF) - PROJECTS 640114-643114, AS APPROVED ON AUGUST 5, 2013.            
    
Approval for participation in this program was approved by the Board of Education at the August 5, 2013 meeting 

    This budget amendment, in the amount of $6,564,652.00, is for the period beginning November 1, 2013, and ending August 31, 2014.  The total budget is written for the period beginning November 1, 2013, and ending October 31, 2014. This amendment represents only that part of the budget that will be expended during the 2013-2014 school year. It represents the continued participation in a program conducted during the 2012-2013 school year for the purpose of continuation activities in the Head Start Program. 

This program is 80% 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.

C.    SHERWOOD FOUNDATION GRANTS

     These budget amendments in the amount of $272,116.00 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.

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 month of October 2013, be adopted.

Rationale:  Central Office Staff will provide an overview of the current Return to Work procedure.

Rationale: 

OMAHA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM – APPROVAL OF CONTRACT AMENDMENT FOR 25 CAPITAL RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE OPPORTUNITIES FUND

Staff, at the direction of the Board of Trustees of the Omaha School Employees’ Retirement System and following legal review by an attorney, will recommend approval of an amendment to the contract with 25 Capital Residential Mortgage Opportunities Fund (a fund investing in distressed residential real estate mortgages and properties) to invest an additional $50,000,000.

Rationale:  An overview will be provided of the OPS Head Start early childhood program. The brief review will include a one page report and PowerPoint that will include information regarding student membership, curriculum, assessment and parent involvement in the Head Start program. Time will be provided should there be any questions on this information item.

Rationale:  The Central Office staff will present a plan to refresh desktop and laptop computers in some Elementary and Middle School Title I buildings that are six years and older. These computers will be used for instructional and testing purposes.  The request for approval will be in the consent agenda items once final pricing is determined. 

Rationale:  The Board of Education will review four options for athletic eligibility to be put into place for the Omaha Public School District. These four options are as follows: 1) a requirement for students to have both a 2.0 GPA during their current grading period and as well as prior grading period and they must maintain a passing grade in every class 2) a requirement for students to have a term GPA of 2.0 or above in the previous grading period 3) a requirement for students to maintain a passing grade in every class for the prior grading period and while participating in the extra-curricular activities and 4) a requirement for students to maintain a passing grade in six courses for the prior and current grading period.

These four options will be reviewed and discussed with the possibility of Board action to be taken on one of them to become a phased in requirement starting with the freshmen class of 2014-15. Current OPS athletic eligibility is the Nebraska State Activities Association (NSAA) guidelines which require students to pass a minimum of four courses in the prior quarter as well as the current quarter. All the above four options that will be reviewed will have in support of them academic coaching as a requirement for any of the athletic eligibility requirements. Board policy will be available a second time for review and action at a following Monday night meeting.

Rationale:  At the request of the Board of Education a scheduling committee has been convened.  The makeup of the scheduling committee is the same as the committee make up from when the district has done analysis and a district wide task force on this topic of secondary scheduling previously. The first meeting was held on Wednesday, November 13 at 3:30 pm in the Boardroom with approximately 50 teachers, data administrators and principals attending.  Board members have also been invited and are welcome to attend all meetings. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 11 at 3:30 pm. An update will be provided regarding the content of what was discussed at the first meeting as well as the content that will be discussed at the three upcoming committee meetings.  Committee work is designed to wrap up at the fourth and final meeting with a school by school vote regarding committee recommendations for a standardized secondary schedule for the Omaha Public Schools. It will determined whether this recommendation will be implemented at a future time based on board input and board decision making.  At this time the gathering of information and discussion has occurred for the first meeting. A short review will be provided.

Rationale:  The Board of Education will discuss the December board retreat to Atlanta. 

Rationale:  Central office staff will provide recommended changes to attendance practices.  Policy changes will be presented at a future board meeting.

Rationale:  LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Educational Service Unit No. 19 provides the Omaha Public Schools with an online Learning Management System (LMS) to deliver quality electronic instruction (eInstruction) to all students and staff. In order to maintain and to deliver quality online learning experiences, the Office of eLearning will be issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a new LMS to replace ANGEL for the 2014-15 school year. The RFP will provide ESU No 19 the opportunity to test current products and gain user input on a system that best meets the needs of all learners.

Rationale:  The purpose of this report is to provide the district’s 2013-14 fall membership and to discuss trends in total enrollment as well as racial/ethnic representations. The 2013-14 PK-12 membership of 51,070 demonstrates an annual increase of 609 students (1.2 percent). Fall membership is an important data source as it serves as the basis for reporting all official statistics for the current school year.

Rationale:  ESU NO. 19 STRATEGIC TUTORING PROGRAM EVALUATION REPORT

During the 2012-2013 school-year, the Educational Service Unit No. 19 offered Supplemental Educational Services (SES) in 28 buildings through the Strategic Tutoring Program (STP). The STP evaluation report, prepared by the Research Division, comprises a summary of program attendance, student achievement data, and perception survey 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.