July 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.

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, district.ops.org.

Rationale:  Led by

Rationale:  Longtime Burke HS Swimming and Diving Coach Richard Hood is recognized for his efforts to establish the Harry A. Burke Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame. It honors outstanding individuals, coaches, or teams for outstanding accomplishments, leadership in personal or public endeavors, outstanding contributions to the development of the swimmers/divers at Burke, and teams which have provided the school with lasting leadership and success. The Hall of Fame's inaugural class of honorees included both former student-athletes and coaches. Congratulations to all!

Rationale:  Treasurer

The Treasurer's Report for June 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

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

Rationale: 

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.

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

 

REIMBURSABLE 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.   GRANTS LESS THAN $10,000

    

These budget amendments in the amount of $5,000.00 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 various Grants less than $10,000.

 

     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 June 2014, be adopted.

Rationale: 

In accordance with Performance Standards and the 2007 Head Start Act, the Board of Education will be presented with information regarding reports for Douglas County School District 001 Head Start Continuation Application budget, T/TA plan, and program strategic planning goals. 

Continuation Application Budget

Head Start’s application for continued funding is due on August 1, 2014.   Head Start is required to submit an application for refunding every year.  The application describes the progress toward community needs and proposed goals and objectives of the program.  The application must also include a proposed program budget.  The attached budget is for the Head Start program’s fiscal year 2015, beginning November 1, 2014-October 31, 2015. 

T/TA FY 2015: 14-15 Training and Technical Assistance Plan

A Head Start agency must develop an annual technical assistance and training plan.  This plan should be based on the agency's self-assessment, the communitywide strategic planning and needs assessment, the needs of parents and children to be served, and the results of recent reviews conducted.  The attached plan includes the three required parts of the framework.  Part one includes T/TA plans and activities to address individualized training needs.  Part two addresses staff professional development needs.  Part three includes your plan to address mandatory training.  This document is part of the Head Start Continuation Application. 

2014-2015 Head Start Strategic Plan Goals

In June of 2014, Head Start Grantee management staff along with Policy Council representatives and the Board Liaison met for a Strategic Planning session to review program goals and set specific objectives for the 2014/2015 Program year.  This is a planning session that will be held annually and is a requirement for long range goal planning.  The goals will be submitted with the Head Start Continuation Application. 

Rationale:  Mr. Evans will provide an update on the board workshop and recent developments with facility planning. 

Rationale:  2014-2015 Proposed Budget Presentation

•Proposed Budget Adoption Time Line

•Strategic Plan Needs and Goals – Transition To Priority Based Staffing, Budgeting and Increased Transparency

•Current and Future Staffing Process

•Current Budget Development Process

•Nebraska State Budget Reporting Requirements

•2014-2015 School Budget Development Components

•Omaha Public Schools Open Book – Budget Presentation

Rationale:  Omaha Public Schools is implementing the first phase of its plan to
develop principal leadership capacity by creating the new role of Executive Director
of School Support. This role is an outgrowth of the Strategic Plan and is designed
to provide front line support and coaching for OPS principals. These new positions
have been staffed with four high performing former principals. Their transition and
induction into the role of Executive Director of School Support has been taking
place this summer with facilitation provided by Cross & Joftus Consulting. Future
phases of principal leadership development include the creation of principal
institutes and a leadership pipeline for aspiring principals. Funding from the
Sherwood and Lozier Foundations is supporting the work. In this session the Board
will be updated on current work underway and future work planned in supporting
Executive Directors’ induction into their new roles.

Rationale:  Megan Neiles-Brasch and Dennis Pool will recommend Ameritas as the Financial Advisor for the district.   For a bond issuance of up to 150 million, the district has negotiated a fee of .75 per thousand with a maximum fee of $50,000 and with an issuance above 150 million, at a rate of .50 per thousand with a maximum fee of $100,000.   A contract will be set for recommended approval at the next board 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.