May 19, 2014 at 6:00 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. 

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 Troop 43194.

Rationale:  Academic Pentathlon is an extracurricular activity that allows students to test their knowledge. Each year, a national topic is assigned, and students across the country work on studying the topic in five different content areas. On Wednesday, April 9th, the McMillan Monarchs came in first place in the Super Quiz held at UNO, where they answered a variety of questions under the pressure of a 10 second timer and a live audience! The McMillan team also placed first in the State Competition and will be advancing to Nationals (along with Norris) at the end of May. All of the team members placed in the different subject tests and essay test. The team will continue studying and practicing as they gear up for the national tests. Congratulations to the students!

Over two dozen OPS students were recognized for their outstanding achievements at the Nebraska State DECA Student Leadership Conference this spring. These students also earned the opportunity to represent Nebraska and their respective schools at the DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Atlanta, Georgia.  Groups from OPS schools traveled to Atlanta earlier this month for that event -- and competed against their peers from across America.  Congratulations!

Rationale:  Treasurer

The Treasurer's Report for April 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

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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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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 April 2014, be adopted.

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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:

 

1.   INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT (IDEA) – BASE ALLOCATION, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - PROJECT 460014.

            

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the IDEA Base budget.

 

This budget amendment, in the amount of $4,130,556.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2013, and ending August 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 assisting Omaha Public Schools in providing special education and related services to eligible children with disabilities.

 

This program is 100% reimbursable.

 

2.   INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT (IDEA) – PART B ENROLLMENT/POVERTY, NONPUBLIC, PRESCHOOL, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - PROJECT 461014.

            

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the IDEA Enrollment/Poverty budget.

 

This budget amendment, in the amount of $7,801,121.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2013, and ending August 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 assisting Omaha Public Schools in providing special education and related services to eligible children with disabilities.

 

This program is 100% reimbursable.

 

3.   NCLB TITLE I, PART A - ACCOUNTABILITY GRANT, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – VARIOUS BUDGETS.

 

     Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Title I, Part A – Accountability budget.

 

This budget amendment, in the amount of $492,326.00, is for the period beginning May 19, 2014, and ending September 30, 2015.  These are additional Title I dollars to assist in needs improvement plans for identified schools.

 

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 $22,000.00 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:  The department of Curriculum Instruction and Assessment requests authorization to enter into a five year contract with OverDrive for digital content to include ebook and audiobook access for students and staff. The initial cost will be $110,000 for the first year with an additional cost of $15,000 per year for years two to five. This purchase will be funded through an existing Sherwood Library grant to purchase digital content for schools and the district Educational Research Library.  Access to a variety of digital content helps students build vocabulary awareness  reading  fluency, and digital awareness which helps to create college and career ready students able to use technology and digital media strategically and capably. A short presentation and demonstration will be provided to the Board of Education members to allow them to become more familiar with our digital resources as well as access.

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DESIGNATION OF DEPOSITORIES FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT FUNDS/INVESTMENTS

Staff recommends the annual approval of financial institutions requesting to hold deposits of district funds and/or participate in the District’s bid process for investments.

Rationale:  John Lindsay will cover all of the important education related topics that were discussed at the 103rd Nebraska Legislature's 2nd session.  Mr. Lindsay will also cover education related topics that may be brought up in the next legislative session.

Rationale:  Buffett Early Childhood Education and RDG Planning & Design will provide an update on the Gateway and Skinner early childhood education school sites. This was approved by the Board on March 3, 2014.

Rationale:  Collective for Youth will provide an overview of programming.

Rationale:  Information will be provided on the progress of the Ad Hoc Committee Student Assignment Plan Committee.

Rationale:  The Board of Education requested a follow-up to the WISE presentation that was given on April 21, 2014.  A timeline for WISE implementation will be presented for approval.

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.