July 7, 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.

Agenda items are subject to reordering at discretion of the board president, please attend the entire meeting to ensure your able to hear any discussion. If you would like to rehear any discussion, please listen to our podcast located on the District Web Page, ops.org.

Rationale:  Led by Troop 308

Rationale:  Pawnee Elementary was recently the subject of a friendly media visit in which the school's phonics academy was highlighted. The program helps students to efficiently and effectively learn innovative ways of 'sounding out' words. The program -- which is also offered at other OPS schools -- has been extremely successful. We salute Principal Sandy Bredfeldt, Summer School Principal Leah Weeks, and Teacher Terri Fuxa for their efforts!

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. 

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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

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 B

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APPROVAL OF CLAIMS - SCHOOL DISTRICT OF OMAHA CLAIMS REPORT C:

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

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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.

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:

 

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.

 

1.   SHERWOOD FOUNDATION GRANTS

    

These budget amendments in the amount of $878,528.00 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 monthly Douglas County School District 0001 Head Start Governing Body Report for May 2014 is provided as an attachment in accordance with the 2007 Head Start Act.

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Permission to apply for the annual Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Grant. The purpose of the grant is to fund various activities/projects within Omaha Public School’s career education programs such as school achievement and academic integration, professional development, post-secondary/industry career connections, college and career awareness, and new and innovative technology. All seven high schools, twelve middle schools, Career Center and alternative education programs receive funding from the grant to support career education programs. Central administrative staff recommends approval to submit a proposal to the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) for federal funding from the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Act (2006).  The proposal includes provisions for the district to receive an allotment of basic grant funds for the purpose of improving and expanding career education programs.The office of Career Education will work closely with the Department of Curriculum Instruction and Assessment to implement the grant.

$818,053.00 (2014-2015 amount)

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

Rationale:  OPS Graduation 2015 report for the Board of Education members

Rationale:  The attached document reflects a "draft" version of the OSERS Board of Trustees "job posting" for Board consideration.    We are currently finalizing the list of OSERS Board of Trustees positions to be posted. 

Rationale:  Megan Neiles-Brasch will provide an overview of the upcoming policy review and introduce Greg Perry.   Greg Perry will provide an introduction to review of the new policy sections on Board By Laws (Section 9000) and internal Board policies (Section 8000). 

Rationale:  Legal counsel, Megan Neiles-Brasch will recommend Baird Holm as the Bond Counsel for the district. 

Rationale:  Mr. Evans will recommend to the Board of Education Administrative Positions.

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.