March 3, 2014 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular 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.

Rationale:  Led by Pack 365 from Harrison Elementary.

Rationale: 

VEX Robotics has become a hugely popular after-school activity for OPS students--and teams from around the district have been piling up wins and trophies in competitions throughout the academic year. Now, it's the instructors' turn! Rhonda Rodriguez, the VEX Robotics coach at King Science & Technology Magnet Center, was awarded Teacher of the Year by the Create Foundation at the Nebraska State Robotics Championship, which took place on Feb.15 at North High Magnet. Congratulations!

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 - SCHOOL DISTRICT OF OMAHA

CLAIMS REPORT B:

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

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:

 

1. KIOS-FM DEVELOPMENT BUDGET, LISTENER DONATIONS AND BUSINESS UNDERWRITING - FUND 911.

    

        Central administrative staff request approval to accept the development budget.

    

   This budget amendment, in the amount of $769,990.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2013, and ending August 31, 2014.  It represents the continued participation in a program conducted during the 2012-2013 school year for the purpose of covering the costs of providing access to public radio programming not available from other media sources. The station also provides ongoing information about Omaha Public Schools to the KIOS-FM audience and serves as the lab for the broadcasting program.

    

              This program is 100% reimbursable.

    

2. COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANT, CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING -

     PROJECT 497014.

    

        Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Community Service Grant budget.

    

        This budget amendment, in the amount of $115,054.00, is for the period beginning October 1, 2013, and ending August 31, 2014.  The total budget is written for the period beginning October 1, 2013, and ending September 30, 2015.  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 defraying costs associated with production and programming of radio station KIOS-FM.

    

   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.

    

3. SHERWOOD FOUNDATION GRANTS

    

These budget amendments in the amount of $772,539.00 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:  Bryan High School is seeking permission from the Board of Education to begin  fundraising for the Bryan High School Urban Agriculture/Transportation Distribution and Logistics/Family Consumer Science Addition.

Rationale:  Staff recommends to proceed with the professional services to provide Early Childhood Centers at Gateway Elementary School and Skinner Magnet Center and to develop contracts as required for approval by the Board of Education. These services will be provided at no cost to the District.

Rationale:  The monthly Douglas County School District 0001 Head Start Governing Body Report for January 2014 is provided as an attachment in accordance with the 2007 Head Start Act.

Rationale: 

Based on the needs analysis, the teacher appraisal rubric is being strengthen by aligning it with the District Action Plan and professional development opportunities. During the 2014 - 2015 school district, the revised rubric will be made available to staff.

Rationale:  The Omaha Public Schools Dual Language Program has grown from 60 students at Marrs Elementary in the fall of 2000 to over 2,300 students in nine schools. Dual Language is the preferred program model for English Language Learners (ELL) in OPS. Dual Language is the only program proven nationally to close the achievement gap for ELLs on standardized assessments. Nebraska state assessment results have consistently demonstrated that Dual Language students perform comparable to or better than their non-Dual Language peers. Currently at OPS, there are waiting lists for the program at all elementary schools. OPS students, who do not live in the home attendance area of Dual Language schools, have limited access to the program. OPS principals with Dual Language request to expand their programs. Currently, in order to expand the programs there are barriers to expansion. Those barries include staffing considerations, shifting the instructional philosophy, and purchasing appropriate materials. The expansion of Dual Language will provide the Omaha Public Schools the opportunity to increase the number of academically successful, bilingual, bi-literate and culturally competent citizens.

Rationale:  A brief presentation regarding the planning and development of the Wilson Focus School will be provided as an example to lead the discussion. The presentation will include the components of the planning process that were required for approval by the Learning Community.

Rationale:  Staff will present an overview of the Request For Qualifications (RFQ) - Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Services, and Addendum #1 – Request for Proposals (RFP) for Program Management Services and a recommendation of a firm to provide these services for the District.

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.  At the February 22 Legislative Committee meeting the committee made no additional recommendations to the board.

Rationale:  Mr. Wayne will lead a discussion on possible formats for creating a  steering committee regarding the Student Assignment Plan.

Rationale:  Staff will discuss the need for upgrades to softball facilities at Burke, Bryan & Northwest High Schools in order to bring them into compliance with Title IX equity regulations.

Rationale:  BOARD REPORT BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PARAMETERES 2014-2015

The attached report reflects the information and actions taken by staff to begin the processes for the development of the 2014-2015 fiscal year budgets.  Initial revenue information regarding state aid and property taxes are yet to be officially determined by changes in pending in legislation.  Enrollment projections are being made to begin the process of school site budgets.  Continued emphasis on improving transparency and accountability identified in the Cross and Joftus Needs Assessment is included to bring fiscal alignment to the District’s Strategic Plan.

Rationale: 

EDUCATIONAL SERVICE UNIT NO. 19 Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council minutes of the 2-4-14 regular meeting.

Rationale:  LEARNING COMMUNITY

Douglas/Sarpy County Learning Community Coordinating Council minutes of the January 23, 2014 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.