March 17, 2014 at 6:30 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 Brownie Troop 45240 and Daisy Troop 45401.

Rationale:  State Champions!

Congratulations to Benson High Magnet School's girls basketball team! The team won the school's first-ever girls basketball state championship Saturday -- defeating Bellevue West 47-43. The Bunnies completed their 2013-2014 season with a record of 26-2, finishing with a 19-game winning streak.


Dana Posthuma - Burke Junior-State Champion  (Tyson Novotny - Burke Girls Swim Coach)

Rationale:  Treasurer

The Treasurer's Report for February 2014 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:  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 February 2014, be adopted.

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.   HIGH ABILITY LEARNER EDUCATION FUND, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – PROJECT 478914.

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the High Ability Learner budget.

This budget amendment, in the amount of $317,137.00, 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 providing services and support for the Gifted and Talented students of the district.

This program is 50% reimbursable.

 

2.   SPECIAL EDUCATION NDE/ESU COLLABORATIVE GRANT, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - PROJECT 465014.

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the NDE/ESU Collaborative budget.

This budget amendment, in the amount of $100,879.00, 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 funding activities for each Educational Service Unit (ESU) in the state to support program improvement efforts through the “Improving Learning for Children with Disabilities” (ILCD) process.

This program is 100% reimbursable.

 

3.   SPECIAL EDUCATION EARLY DEVELOPMENT NETWORK REGIONAL SYSTEM SUPPORT/CHANGE GRANT, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – PROJECT 477914.

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Early Development Network budget.

This budget amendment, in the amount of $45,000.00, 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 providing public awareness and outreach, training and skill building, services coordinator support and improved learning for children with disabilities.

 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.

 

4.   SHERWOOD FOUNDATION GRANTS

These budget amendments in the amount of $22,875.00 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:  Mr. Wayne will re-appoint Lacey Merica (Committee Member #3) and LouAnn Goding (Alternate) to the Legislation Committee of the Nebraska Association of School Boards (NASB).

Rationale:  District Staff in collaboration with Cross and Joftus/UPS will present the first draft of the strategic plan.

Presenters/Principles
Presenters:  Gene Haynes and Susan Aguilera Robles
Principle 1 - Safe and Healthy Students
Principle 5 - Engaged and Empowered Parents and Families
Principle 6  - Involved and Supportive Community Partners


Presenter: Ed Bennett  and Annette Foster
Principle 2 - High Expectations, Rigorous Curriculum, and Effective Instruction


Presenters: Marjorie Reed-Schmid and Mike Duggan
Principle 3:  Committed, Diverse, and Effective Teachers, Administrators and Staff

Presenters:  Jeaneen Talbot and Mariel Mandelko
Principle 3  (technology section)
Principle 4:  Equitable and Efficient Systems and Resources

Presenter:  Todd Andrews
Principle 7: Accessible and Transparent Communication

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 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.