March 10, 2025 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:  Benson High School's JROTC will present the Colors and lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

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 recognizes winners of the 2025 African American History Challenge hosted by 100 Black Men of Omaha. Marrs Middle won the middle school division and Bryan High earned top honors in the high school division.

Rationale:  The Treasurer's Report for January 2025 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:  Articles of Incorporation for the Friends of KIOS, and Friends of KIOS Bylaws require the Omaha Public Schools Board of Education to approve, by a majority vote, the appointment of Friends of KIOS board members. Articles of Incorporation outline that the five-member board shall consist of one Board of Education member, one Omaha Public Schools staff member, and three community members. The staff and Board of Education representative will be appointed annually, and community members appointed to a three-year term. Nominees include Ms. Gini Magnuson (Board of Education representative) and Susan Christopherson (staff representative). Community members approved in 2024 to serve until March 2027 include Jo Giles (community representative, Women’s Fund of Omaha Executive Director), Carrie Murphy (community representative, City of Omaha Deputy Chief of Staff), and Michael Sigmond (community member, Sigmond Financial Management of Raymond James Advisor).

Rationale:  FUND: 4005  Nutrition Services Fund
DEPT: 7165000 Nutrition Services
PROGRAM: 2199 Other Student Support Services
SUPPLIER: Cybersoft Technologies, Inc.
POLICY:  7000, III. K.
AMOUNT: $1,026,045.00

Administration recommends the award of Proposal No. P021-24 to Cybersoft Technologies, Inc., and to enter into the attached contract with Cybersoft Technologies, Inc.  This product is used by Nutrition Services staff to track approximately 60,000 meals served daily under the School Breakfast and Lunch Programs per Federal guidelines, manage meal menus and special diets, and provide parents secure access to their child’s meal account, including secure online prepayment of meals and reviewing purchases and student meal account balances. This user-friendly software provides a web-based program that will seamlessly integrate with Infinite Campus and the Nebraska Department of Education. The software also has real-time data synchronization between the schools and the central server, providing the user with up-to-date information and the ability to seamlessly follow as student’s mobility throughout the school year.  As students transfer from school to school and grade to grade, their account balance and purchase history will follow them.
 
The proposal is for a software system and a multi-year support contract. 

Nutrition Services thoroughly evaluated three proposals and determined that Cybersoft Technologies Inc. best met the current needs: e.g., features, license pricing, and additional fees.   The projected cost of credit/debit card fees was included since federal guidelines require that schools no longer charge these fees for students receiving free or reduced meal prices during the span of the proposed contract.  Gaia Software Inc. was found non-compliant as they did not provide an option for the use of credit/debit cards to add funds to a school lunch account.

The initial contract is for three (3) years beginning August 1, 2025 and running through July 31, 2028. The agreement also has two (2) option years available. The total cost for the initial three-year agreement is $426,680.00 plus the estimated $38,229.00 in credit card fees (based on pre-CEP online payments) the District has to absorb for a total of $464,909.00. If the District elects to accept the two option years in the future the total cost of the full five year agreement with estimated credit card fees is $1,026,045.00 as highlighted in the chart below.

Bidder	Cybersoft Technologies, Inc.	Heartland School Solutions	Gaia Software Inc.
Initial Year total, including set up and all other software fees for year 1.	$           143,890.00	$           167,475.00	$           186,500.00
year 2 fees	$           140,895.00	$           116,549.00	$           186,500.00
year 3 fees	$           140,895.00	$           116,549.00	$           186,500.00
option year 1 (year 4)	$           140,895.00	$           119,463.00	$           195,825.00
option year 2 (year 5)	$           140,895.00	$           122,450.00	$           199,750.00
Other one-time account set-up fees.	$                            -	$             40,299.00	$                            -
TOTAL License and Installation Costs	$           707,470.00	$           682,785.00	$           955,075.00
Credit card fees for student deposit accounts using the lowest provided fee structure (annual costs)	$             63,715.00	$           157,990.00	N/A, does not have the capability to manage student payments
5-year total for Credit Card Fee	$           318,575.00	$           789,950.00	N/A
Grand Total for implementation and 5-year fees.	$       1,026,045.00	$       1,472,735.00	N/A

For complete bid information contact Eduardo.Acosta@ops.org.
 

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:  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:  Fund: 176 Title II A
Dept: 7043300 Staff Development Dept.
Program: 2251 Staff Development
Grant: 466425 Title II A - FY25
Policies: 7000, III. K.
Amount: $80,000.00

Administration recommends approval of the attached agreement with District Management Group (DMG) for improvement coaching to support the implementation of eight literacy Professional Learning Communities and attendance teams at North High, Burke High, Dodge Elementary, and Sherman Elementary schools. The District is currently engaged in a strategic partnership with the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) and DMG for improvement coaching of 24 K-8 teams at various elementary and middle schools throughout OPS. Our District is paying for these eight additional teams to receive improvement coaching for 8 weeks that will end in June of 2025. The total amount is $80,000.00.

Rationale:  Administration recommends the approval of the first extension of the agreement with First Wireless, Inc. per RFP No. P003-24, Two-Way Digital Radios, Supporting Equipment, Service and Installation, and Related Services, for an additional one (1) year term from April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026. The Board of Education approved this purchase on February 22, 2024.

This contract from this bid has three (3) additional one (1) year extensions to hold pricing at a significant discount to the District. The extension will hold pricing of the Motorola model MOTOTRBO R7, 2 channel Radios ($1412.00 per radio) and Motorola Model XPR3300-UHF, 1 channel radios ($738.00 per radio)for one (1) year beginning April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026.  There will be two additional extension terms remaining.  The new Digital radios will maximize District-wide alerts and limit daily interruptions to the classroom.

The District is not making any additional purchases at this time but projects additional purchases over the course of the next year to provide replacements for analog radios that have reached their useful life and to address additional needs across the District.  The number of digital radios purchased will be based on future District needs.  Future purchases under this agreement would be presented to the Board of Education for approval prior to the actual purchases.

*For complete bid information contact Gina.Jessick@ops.org.

Rationale:  Administration recommends the approval of the first extension for an agreement with Parco Scientific per Bid No. 24-022, Middle and High School Microscopes, for an additional one (1) year term from April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026. The Board of Education approved Bid No. 24-022 on March 26, 2024. The contract with Parco per the bid document allows two (2) additional one (1) year extensions to hold pricing for MIC-1 Walter Product Microscope Model BMT-402D-RC ($135.68 per microscope) and for MIC-2 Walter Product Microscope Model LTM-403-RC ($179.88 per microscope).  Each microscope includes two (2) Alkaline AA batteries and (1) charging cord.  These units also include a 5-year warranty.

The District is not making any additional purchases at this time but projects additional purchases over the course of the next year to provide ongoing support to high schools and to outfit middle school science classrooms.  Future purchases under this agreement would be presented to the Board of Education for approval prior to the actual purchases.

*For complete bid information contact Gina.Jessick@ops.org.

Rationale:  FUND: Various (Charged back to respective schools)
PROGRAM: Various (Determined by school)
DEPARTMENT: Various (Determined by school)
VENDOR: Unite Private Networks, LLC
POLICY: 7000, VII., A
AMOUNT: $56,260.00 Monthly

Administration recommends exercising the first one-year option in the District’s contract for fiber optic Wide Area Network (WAN) Services, which connect all schools and buildings to a high-speed data network.  A WAN enables fast and reliable data transmission, supporting standardized testing, curriculum delivery, security systems, and facility operations. The District’s fiber optic WAN, provided by United Private Networks, LLC, is funded in part by the E-Rate program. While the service is leased, the network remains under District control, ensuring appropriate data and network security and the flexibility to meet the evolving needs of the District and each school.

The contract was established through Bid No. 20-011, and the Board approved the original agreement with United Private Networks, LLC at the January 23, 2020, Board Meeting. This is the first one-year option of two options in the contract.  This contract extension will begin on July 1, 2025, and continue through June 30, 2026, at the rate of $56,260.00 per month for a total annual cost of $713,400.00.

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: 4070 Depreciation Reserve Fund
DEPT: 7062560 Districtwide Technology
PROGRAM: 2510 Business Support Services
SUPPLIER: Apple Inc.
POLICIES: 7000, III. K.,7000, V. G.
AMOUNT: $67,977.00

Administration recommends the approval of the purchase of 63 MacBook Air M2 Laptops for use by Secondary Art Teachers at all secondary schools. These devices will provide Secondary Art Teachers with a laptop device that can be used with all curriculum resources available to them. The computers purchased for all teachers do not have the upgrades necessary for instruction in the secondary art curricular area.  The use of required curriculum resources such as Adobe tools and to access other large file types found in art curriculum necessitates a computer with greater RAM and HD storage space capacity than their devices currently have.

In keeping with the provision of policy 7000, V. G., no bid was required for these purchases because Apple is the sole source provider. The total cost of this purchase is $67,977.00. 

Rationale:  It is recommended that the grant fund budget be amended to include the receipts and expenditures of the attached grant awards.

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

Rationale:  The Legislative Committee, in keeping with the provisions of Policy 8150, recommends approval of its findings and recommendations as set forth in the attached summary of bills introduced before the Nebraska Legislature.  The summary has been prepared with the assistance of Kissel Kohout ES Associates and generally includes legislation which may affect the District.  The Committee continuously monitors legislative activity and may, from time to time, recommend that the Board take or update a position on a particular bill, resolution or amendment.  Committee recommendations typically include one of the following: Support, Oppose, or Monitor with Research.  In the absence of one of those recommendations, the Committee is recommending that the District take no position.  Given the fluid nature of the legislature, the Committee may need to present new bills, resolutions or amendments, including some that may not have appeared on the bill summary, to the Board for consideration.  In addition to the bill summary, the Committee, on occasion, recommends Board approval of position statements to guide the Board President and/or Superintendent when dealing with legislative debate on issues particular concern to the District that arise between Board Meetings.  There are no new recommended positions in this report.
 

Rationale:  This document provides the Board of Education with monthly Head Start information regarding attendance and enrollment, meal counts, in-kind amounts, health requirements, policy council minutes, delegate reports, and program information summaries to maintain a communication structure to support oversight responsibilities as stated in Head Start Performance Standard 1301.2.

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.