November 18, 2024 at 6:00 PM - Omaha Public Schools Board of Education and Educational Service Unit 19 Board 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 you're 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:  The Vision:  Every Student.  Every Day.  Prepared for Success.

The Mission:  To prepare all students for success in college, career, and life.

Rationale:  The #OPSProud Spotlight celebrates Michelle Kiel, Ed.S., for receiving the Nebraska School Psychologist Association Founder's Award.

Rationale:  The Treasurer's Report for September 2024 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:  Fund: 1 - General Fund
Program:  2510 - Business Support Services
Department:  7062100 - Accounting & Finance
Supplier:  KEV Group
Policies:  6281 - Activity Funds Management
Amount:  2024-25:  $199,896
         2025-26:  $229,495
         2026-27:  $229,495
         2027-28:  $229,495

Administration recommends approval of KEV Group’s integrated, web-based solution to manage the District's school activity funds. This solution will address the significant challenges experienced by school Principals and Treasurers Districtwide managing their student activity funds. KEV Group has demonstrated the ability to meet all our requirements, including seamless integration with  PeopleSoft and Infinite Campus. The platform is fully compatible with both Microsoft Windows and macOS, ensuring ease of use for all District staff and users. Additionally, KEV Group offers a comprehensive system that combines school activity fund management with a versatile online payment solution, streamlining processes for district staff, schools, and parents/guardians. With proven experience in K-12 solutions and successful implementations of similar scope, KEV Group meets all specified security, privacy, and support needs. They have committed to providing thorough training, documentation, and customer support throughout the contract. We believe KEV Group is the ideal partner to resolve current challenges and improve efficiency across the District.

The District received one additional bid from Track Your Funds, but this vendor’s RFP did not meet bid specifications.
KEV Group charges for the Initial License Term (December 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025) and each Extension License Term (July 1 through June 30) is as follows:



In addition, the following one-time charges are for implementation work for the software system:



KEV Group is the responsible offeror whose proposal is most advantageous to the District with price and other factors considered.
 

Rationale:  The Board of Education is required by State Statute 79-584 to approve all expenditures of District funds.  Expenditures are presented to the Board for approval in the form of a Claims Report.  Claims Report A is a listing of all District expenditures and are organized and presented to the Board by which fund the expenditure is being made from (e.g. General Fund, Bond Fund, etc.).

Rationale:  The Board of Education is required by State Statute 79-584 to approve all expenditures of funds for which the District serves as custodian.  Expenditures are presented to the Board for approval in the form of a Claims Report.  Claims Report B is a listing of expenditures from the various Student Activity Funds for which the Board serves as custodian.

Rationale:  Board Members are prohibited by Nebraska law from voting on items which may personally benefit them.  Expenditures which may personally benefit individual Board Members are presented to the Board for approval in the form of a separate Claims Report in order to permit those Board Members to abstain from voting on items which may personally benefit them.  The Board of Education is required by State Statute 79-584 to approve all expenditures of District funds.  Claims Report C is a listing of expenditures that may relate to individual Board Members or Organizations that employ them.

Rationale:  The Board of Education is required by State Statute 79-584 to approve all expenditures of District funds.  Payroll expenditures are presented to the Board for ratification in the form of a Claims Report.  Claims Report D is a summary of payrolls processed and is presented by payroll and pay date.

Rationale:  The Board of Education is required by State Statute 79-584 to approve all expenditures of District funds.  Payroll expenditures are presented to the Board for ratification in the form of a Claims Report.  Claims Report E is an estimation of payrolls to be processed prior to the next Board meeting and is presented by payroll and pay date.  Board authorization is requested for amounts not to exceed the totals in the Claims Report.

Rationale:  The Board of Education serves as the Board of Educational Service Unit 19.  The Board of Educational Service Unit 19 is required to approve all expenditures of District funds as well as funds for which the District serves as custodian.  Expenditures are presented to the Board for approval in the form of a Claims Report.  Educational Service Unit No. 19 Claims Report is a listing of all expenditures to be paid from the Education Service Unit's funds.

Rationale:  In keeping with the provisions of Nebraska Revised Statute section 79-981, the Board of Education is responsible for the transaction of OSERS’ business, including approval of expenditures of OSERS’ funds.   The Administration recommends approval of the attached claims to be paid from OSERS’ funds.

Rationale:  State Statue 79-584 requires the Secretary to the Board of Education to audit all accounts of the Class V school district and to submit that audit to the Board of Education Audit Committee for review and approval.   The objective of the audit is to obtain and review sufficient claim documentation to determine the risk of material misstatement.   The audit methodology is set forth on the Claims Audit Report.

Rationale:  Per Board Policy 7000, Administration recommends that the real property located at the northeast corner of 160th and Hanover, Omaha, Nebraska be declared surplus property and the approval of the attached real estate purchase and sale agreement for the land at the northeast corner of the intersection located at 160th and Hanover Streets, Omaha, Nebraska (assessor parcel #1920110956) for $25,000.00. This land was originally purchased in 2014, as a part of the larger land purchase for Westview High School.  Due to the requirement of adding a road in this location, the property provides limited value to the District and is no longer needed.  This land was appraised in August 2024 by Midwest Appraisal Associates, Inc. for $25,000.00.  Approval of this recommendation shall authorize the Superintendent or designee to oversee the preparation of the documents necessary to complete the sale.  The President is authorized to sign the initial purchase agreement and other documents necessary to complete the sale.

Rationale:  FUND: 1, General Fund
PROGRAM: 2241, Library Services
DEPT: 7193010, Secondary Education Admin.
SUPPLIER: Capstone
POLICIES: 7000, V. A.
AMOUNT: $113,568.84

Administration recommends renewing the licensing subscription for PebbleGo, PebbleGo Spanish, and PebbleGo Next.  PebbleGo is a K-2 information resource designed for emergent readers. It provides visual cues, age appropriate text levels, natural voice text to speech, and other literacy supports. PebbleGo Spanish provides the same content as PebbleGo in a Spanish language version of the platform.  PebbleGo Next is designed for grades 3-5, with increased text complexity and more advanced topics for intermediate students. In keeping with the provisions of Policy 7000, V.A., no bid was required for this purchase because it falls under the exception to bidding procedures as academic prerogative. The agreement is from November 29, 2024, to November 28, 2025, and the total price for this purchase is $113,568.84.

Rationale:  Policy 4001 and 4035 require that the election of employees shall be by action of the Board of Education upon recommendation of the Superintendent or designee.  Additionally, Policy 4008 requires that the Chief Human Resources Officer process all retirements, resignations, cancellations, contract amendments and terminations of employment making a recommendation for appropriate action to the Superintendent and Board of Education.  Therefore, the District recommends the approval of the attached Staffing Adjustments. 

Rationale:  FUND: 1 General
PROGRAM: 2750 (1%)  Student Transportation-Regular
2760 (79%) Transportation-SPED School Age
3102 (20%) Early Childhood SPED Transportation
DEPT: 71628000 Transportation
SUPPLIER: Education Logistics, Inc.
POLICY: 7000, V
AMOUNT: $87,230.00

Administration recommends approval to upgrade the current Edulog SQL software to ATHENA Routing software from Education Logistics, Inc. The one-time purchase of ATHENA Routing Software is an exception to bidding Policy 7000, V.G., it is the only update to the current Edulog SQL software.  Edulog was last updated to the Edulog SQL version during the Spring of 2019.  Edulog SQL provided by Education Logistics, Inc. is currently used to determine the eligibility for all District students under the Student Assignment Plan. This includes the creation of routes for District students with special needs that require transportation via their IEP.

The update to Athena will significantly enhance transportation management capabilities including, allowing multiple calendars, creating greater flexibility in scheduling special needs students as their routes change; a rebuilt optimization scheduler for routes providing more efficient daily usage of buses from secondary to elementary tiers; a built-in transportation request system that will replace the current outdated system, synchronization with Infinite Campus to increase efficiency and reduce data entry: and a new area for planning scenarios that is more user-friendly than the current version called Boundary Planning.
 
The ATHENA Routing software comes with an enhanced interface that will allow District personnel, including school secretaries and Student Placement staff, to easily access and print out route data and determine eligibility requirements per the SAP.  ATHENA also provides a cloud-based server solution enabling the District’s IMS division to move on from the current physical server located at Transportation reducing ongoing costs.  The cost of implementation is included in the $87,230.00 which covers both the transition process and necessary training services, ensuring staff are well-equipped to utilize the new system effectively. This software update is expected to be completed in time for the 2025-2026 transportation routing needs.
 

Rationale:  Policy 8120 stipulates the Board of Education shall cause policies and regulations to be revised as necessary.  The Policy Committee will provide recommended changes to the following policies:

6300 - Selection and Review of Instructional and Library Materials

Following Board approval of Second Reading, the updated policy(ies) will immediately go into effect until the next review. 

Rationale:  Fund: 4591, Learning Community
Program: 3201, Early Childhood Education
Dept: 7192010, Elementary Education Admin
Project: 351225, Intensive EC Programming
Policies: 7000
AMOUNT: $1,116,603

Administration requests approval of a three-year service agreement with the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska for Buffett Early Childhood to provide support and training services to early childhood students and teachers. Since 2014, Learning Community and OPS have partnered to provide resources, programming, and support for early childhood education and for the children, parents, educators, and childcare providers engaged in such education.   Current programming is within the catchment areas of Kellom Conestoga, Minne Lusa, Franklin, Lothrop, Skinner, Castelar and Spring Lake Elementary Schools. In order to support this work and train staff as a subcontractor, Buffett Early Childhood will provide customized coaching, professional development, and leadership support. Buffett Early Childhood seeks to improve outcomes for children and families and build sustainable models for early childhood education that can be scaled across the district. The total amount of this service agreement is $1,116,603.00 and is funded through Learning Community grants. The effective dates are August 1, 2024, through July 31, 2027.

 

Rationale:  FUND: 1 - General Fund, 279 - Central Activity
PROGRAM: 2150 - Student Safety, 2199 - Other Student Support Services
DEPT: Schools
SUPPLIER: Winter Sports Season Officials
POLICY: 7000, III.K., 7000, VII. A.
AMOUNT:  $304,650.00

The Board of Education is required by State Statute 79-584 to approve all expenditures of District funds. Preapproval is requested for the estimated 2024-2025 winter sports season officials’ pay. Payments to officials will be processed on a weekly basis during the season as pay requests are submitted to Accounts Payable. The total amount of approval requested is $304,650 and total payments will not exceed this amount without additional Board of Education approval.
 

Rationale:  Administration will provide an overview of the disaggregated student attendance data for the 2023-24 school year. The presentation includes a discussion of attendance and chronic absenteeism data and our attendance focus, priorities and next steps.

Rationale:  The Chair of the Policy Committee will provide an update.

Rationale:  The purpose of this report is to provide the District’s 2024-25 fall membership, and to discuss trends in total enrollment as well as racial/ethnic representations. Examination of enrollment trends at District, school, and grade levels assists staff in effectively planning for the current school year and for future student population changes. Each year, Research Division staff oversees the preparation of this report. Membership data is further disaggregated at the District, school, and grade levels to better understand trends and patterns in other District-reported statistics.

Rationale:  Regular attendance and participation at school are the foundations of academic success, including high school graduation. This report provides a review of student attendance and absenteeism for the 2023-24 school year and its relationship to trends across previous school years. A review of student attendance trends at the district, grade level, and student group level allows stakeholders to better understand where absenteeism is impacting the student population.

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.