April 21, 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 Girl Scout Junior Troop 45402.

Rationale:  Tonight's school spotlight features the Mini-Grant Program of the National Council of Jewish Women.  Every year, the program awards a series of $500.00 grants to OPS teachers; since 1987, the program has awarded approximately $180,000 worth of those grants.  This year, 12 teachers are receiving them -- one of whom is set to show a brief educational video pertaining to the grants.

This evening's school spotlight includes a special performance from the OPS Mini-Singers.  The choral group comprises 51 students (5th - 8th grade) from 14 schools.  The group rehearses every week, and performs at community events.  The Mini-Singers program began in 1975 as musical ambassadors for the district.  Each school year offers new and exciting experiences for these young singers to sing for -- and with -- various metro arts groups.  This academic year, the group sang in the Omaha Symphony Choral Collaborative, with the Omaha Chamber singers, at the St. Cecilia Cathedral Flower Show, and at the International Fair at Metropolitan Community College.  Tonight, the group ends its choral season with an appreciation mini-concert for the Board of Education.

Rationale:  Treasurer

The Treasurer's Report for March 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:  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.

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GROUP LIFE INSURANCE AND LONG-TERM DISABILITY BENEFIT ANNUAL RENEWAL

 

 

Staff will recommend renewal of the following benefit plans which provide for employee group life and long-term disability:

 

1. Group Life Insurance – No rate changes are planned for this program for the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 school years.  The current rate is $.225 per $1,000 of coverage for each employee per month. 

 

    2.    Group Supplemental Life Insurance – No rate changes are planned for this program during the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 school years.

 

    3.    Long-Term Disability Insurance – –Rate increase recommended from .25% of covered payroll to .27% of covered payroll planned for this program for the 2014/2015 school year.

 

Mutual of Omaha has been the underwriter of the Life Insurance Plan since October 1970.  As of September 15, 1979, self-insurance for the Long-Term Disability program was adopted.  The basis for funding the Plan was the premium rate in force at that time.  Since then, there have been five rate reductions.

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.   TITLE I, PART C – EDUCATION OF MIGRATORY CHILDREN, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - PROJECT 471214.

            

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Title I, Part C Education of Migratory Children budget.

 

This budget amendment, in the amount of $1,295,081.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2013, and ending August 31, 2014.  The total budget is written for the period beginning July 1, 2013, and ending September 30, 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 supporting high quality and comprehensive educational programs for migrant children in order to reduce the educational disruption and other problems that result from repeated moves.

 

This program is 100% reimbursable.

 

2.   TITLE III – LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – PROJECT 464914.

 

     Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Title III Limited English Proficient budget.

    

     This budget amendment, in the amount of $875,242.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2013 and ending August 31, 2014.  The total budget is written for the period beginning July 1, 2013, and ending September 30, 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 providing for specialized instruction, ESL materials and supplies, teachers and paraprofessionals that work with immigrant students to acquire use of the English language.

    

     This program is 100% reimbursable.

 

3.   TITLE III – IMMIGRANT EDUCATION, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – PROJECT 471014.

 

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Title III Immigrant Education budget.

 

This budget amendment, in the amount of $336,543.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2013 and ending August 31, 2014.  The total budget is written for the period beginning July 1, 2013, and ending September 30, 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 providing ELL Immigrant students instruction that integrates reading, writing, speaking and listening in all learning activities. Supports family literacy and parental outreach, and provides for interpreters and materials to support the learning of immigrant students during the school day and in extended learning opportunities.

    

This program is 100% reimbursable.

 

4.   REFUGEE SCHOOL IMPACT GRANT, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - PROJECT 471114.

 

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Refugee School Impact budget.

 

This budget amendment, in the amount of $125,874.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2013, and ending August 14, 2014.  The total budget is written for the period beginning August 15, 2013, and ending August 14, 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 at Omaha Public Schools for the purpose of handling increasing numbers of refugees that need additional instructional programming for the students and their parents.

 

             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.

 

5.   SHERWOOD FOUNDATION GRANTS

    

These budget amendments in the amount of $435,200.00 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 March 2014, be adopted.

 

 

 

Rationale:  Omaha Public Schools, shall pay a total of $70,000.00 to Bessie Howard, in return for a full and complete release of all claims that have been asserted or that could have been asserted  in connection with Bessie Howard's injuries and resulting damages from an injury that occurred during the course of her employment on  April 12, 2010. 

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CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The district legal counsel will request authorization for the President, Vice President, or Secretary of the Board of Education (or any one or more of such officers) to execute a consent letter among the School District, the Latino Center of the Midlands, and Baird Holm LLP acknowledging that, in matters between the School District and the Latino Center of the Midlands, Baird Holm LLP is representing the School District and not the Latino Center of the Midlands and further consenting to such law firm’s representation of the Latino Center of the Midlands in matters not related to the School District.


RESOLUTION (Authorization to Execute Conflict Letter)

            BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 0001 that the Board of Education hereby authorizes the President, Vice President, or Secretary of the Board of Education (or any one or more of such officers), acting on behalf of the School District, to execute and deliver on behalf of the District the letter dated April 14, 2014, relating to conflicts of interest provided by Baird Holm LLP, which has been executed and dated April 14, 2014 by the Latino Center of the Midlands.

Rationale: 

Request for Permission to obtain an RFQ for Insurance Broker and Risk Consulting Services

 

The Risk/Safety Management staff requests permission from the board to seek solicitation through a Request for Quote for insurance brokerage and risk management services. The professional service process will cover criteria such as qualifications, lines of insurance, service capacities, and associated fees for services.

 

 

Rationale:  Approval of Engagement of Perry, Guthery, Haase & Gessford P.C. and Cline, Williams, Wright, Johnson & Oldfather, L.L.P. To Serve as Special Counsel to the Board of Education in Potential Personnel Hearings.

Rationale: 

Omaha Public Schools has finalized a 5-year strategic plan.  The draft proposed plan was presented to the board on Monday, March 17, 2014 and was available for public comment through April 10, 2014.  The OPS Board met April 11 to make changes to the draft plan based on public comments.  The strategic planning consulting team of Cross & Joftus and UPD will provide the requested changes, discuss the outcome and objective measures, and present the plan for Board Approval at this 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.