January 21, 2015 at 6:30 PM - Omaha Public Schools Board of Education and Educational Service Unit 19 Board 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, district.ops.org.

Rationale:  Led by

Rationale:  The Vision:  Every Student.  Every Day.  Prepared for Success.

The Mission:  Omaha Public Schools prepares all students to excel in college, career, and life.

Rationale:  Benson is making history:  three students signed letters of intent this semester to play division-one college athletics:  Mileah McKelvy, Simone Goods, and Kianna Ibis.  It’s the first time in school history that three different students have signed with major-college athletic programs all in the same academic year.  Mileah signed with Creighton for softball, Simone signed with Western Kentucky for basketball, and Kianna signed with Arizona State for basketball.  Congratulations!

Congratulations to Benson’s girls basketball team, which, over the holiday break, won the Metro Holiday Tournament.  The team defeated Millard West 50-45 in the final round. 

Rationale:  Treasurer

The Treasurer's Report for December 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

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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:  The Committee on Claims met on 01/21/2015 and approved the audit of claims conducted by the Secretary to the Board of Education.

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 2014-2015 fiscal year be amended to include the following reimbursable programs:

1.   REFUGEE SCHOOL IMPACT GRANT, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - PROJECT 471115.

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Refugee School Impact budget.

This budget amendment, in the amount of $116,894.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2014, and ending August 14, 2015.  The total budget is written for the period beginning August 15, 2014, and ending August 14, 2015.  This amendment represents only that part of the budget that will be expended during the 2014-2015 school year. It represents the continued participation in a program conducted during the 2013-2014 school year at Omaha Public Schools for the purpose of handling increasing numbers of refugees that need additional instructional programming for the students and their parents.

             This program is 100% reimbursable.

The Sherwood Foundation Grants and Grants less than $10,000.00 to be amended into the 2014-2015 budgets are available for review in the Board Workroom.

2.   SHERWOOD FOUNDATION GRANTS

These budget amendments in the amount of $155,352.00 are for the period beginning September 1, 2014, and ending August 31, 2015.  These amendments represent only that part of the budget that will be expended during the 2014-2015 school year for new programs from the Sherwood Foundation.

     This program is 100% reimbursable.

3.   GRANTS LESS THAN $10,000

These budget amendments in the amount of $40,109.38.00 are for the period beginning September 1, 2014, and ending August 31, 2015.  These amendments represent only that part of the budget that will be expended during the 2014-2015 school year for various Grants less than $10,000.

     This program is 100% reimbursable.

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A formal request to the Board to approve the change to high school graduation requirements based on the information presented on December 15, 2014 Board of Education meeting in regards to Economics and Financial Literacy. The information PowerPoint is attached. Staff members will be available to answer possible questions

The Economics and Financial Literacy (EFL) course, that is a mandatory social studies credit for graduation, fulfils Nebraska state standards 12.2.1, 12.2.2, 12.2.3, 12.2.5, 12.2.6, 12.2.7, 12.2.8, 12.2.9, for Economics. The remaining Economics state standards are covered throughout the other mandatory social studies courses. The Advanced Placement (AP - College Board Curriculum) Microeconomics and Macroeconomics courses do not completely align with the state Economics standards. The AP courses do not fulfil standards 12.2.6-12.2.9. As a result, a student who takes either Economics AP course still must take the EFL required course to fulfil the missing state standards. This has proven to discourage some students from attempting Economics AP courses during their sophomore year. As it is an overall outcome that clearly defines success for OPS, reflected in the OPS Strategic Plan, recommendation is being made to split the EFL course into an Economics course, still mandatory for graduation on the sophomore level, and a new and mandatory Personal Finance course to be taken during a student’s senior year. The newly added Personal Finance course will replace one of the 17 elective courses currently needed for graduation, decreasing that to 16.

OPS Economics and Financial Literacy teachers have reviewed and discussed this proposal during the September curriculum day.  The teachers have been requesting this change and are supportive of the proposal. High school principals have also had two meetings on this topic and provided feedback in a suggested timeline for implementation for the 2016-2017 school year to impact the class of 2019.

In addition, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has not accepted our current titled course of Economics and Financial Literacy course on transcripts for athletes pursuing competitive scholarships.  The above change would solve that issue as well.

Rationale:  An update will be provided on the Americanism Committee meeting held on January 12, 2015.

Rationale:  Jacobs and OPS staff will be available to present general information on the status of ongoing bond program work.

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Limited English Proficiency and Poverty Plan Reporting

An Information update will be provided regarding the development and reporting process of the statutory required Poverty and the Limited English Proficiency Plans as well as funding levels to support these district funded initiatives.

Jocelyn Perkins

Dennis Pool

Rationale:  An overview will be provided of school improvement planning in the Omaha Public School District. Central office and school staff will provide background knowledge, components of school improvement plans, timelines, accountability measures, growth goals and support involved with school improvement plan process.

Rationale:  Under NCLB, every state must set the goals that each school must meet. Schools that do not make adequate yearly progress (AYP) for two consecutive years will be identified as needing improvement.  The Nebraska Department of Education must determine if each school and district (even those that do not receive Title I funds) make AYP. Every year a school is designated as needing improvement a sanction occurs per Federal requirements. During the fifth year a school is labeled as needing improvement they are required to implement a restructuring plan. OPS has one school in the state approved restructuring plan and 21 schools will be going into restructuring next year. An overview of this process will be provided.

Rationale:  The Board of Education will vote and/or discuss legislative positions.

Rationale:  Staff and Jacobs will recommend the appointment of firms to provide professional services, including plans, specifications and construction administration, for 2014 Bond Program Quick Start Projects.

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Central Office staff recommends: 1) all new construction or remodeling of OPS Middle Schools be done so based on a 6 - 8 configuration; and 2) that all current OPS Middle Schools are transitioned to a 6 - 8 model as soon as their capacity allows except for King Science, and Marrs, which shall remain 5-8. 

Central Office staff offers the following timeline based on capacity and current Student Assignment Plan trends:

McMillan: 2016-17                                                                                   

Nathan Hale:  2016-17

Monroe:  2016-17

Norris:  2017-18 (Pending Progress of Phase 1 Bond Work will be able to house additional elementary feeders.)

Beveridge:  2017-18 (Pending Progress of Phase 1 Bond Work)

Buffett:  2018-19

Morton:  2018-19

King Science: No change anticipated for changing grade configurations.  Technology upgrades are scheduled for 15-16.

Marrs Middle School:  No change anticipated for changing grade configurations.  Technology upgrades are scheduled for 14-15.

Bryan Middle School:  TBD - Dependent upon Phase II Bond Schedule, which will be in front of voters in 2017 or 2018.  (New middle school planned to open, which will create room at Bryan MS).

Lewis and Clark:   TBD - Dependent upon Phase II Bond Schedule, which will be in front of voters in 2017 or 2018.  (Expansion planned)

Rationale:  Staff recommends Board of Education approval to apply for School Improvement Grant(s).

Rationale:  The Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council (ESUCC) meets monthly to support the statewide coordinated provision of the most cost-effective services for students, teachers, and school district in each educational service unit.  Following approval of the meeting minutes by the full Council, these minutes are provided to the Board of Education as an update. ESU Coordinating Council Meeting minutes for November 2014 are provided as an attachment.

Rationale:  The Class Size and Pupil-Teacher Ratio Report provides annual information pertaining to class size and pupil-teacher ratios at the district level and for each school. These statistics are based upon the OPS student population as it existed on the last Friday of September (Official Fall Membership, September 26, 2014). The report is used by building leadership along with Human Resources staff to assure adequate staffing at each of the district's schools. Factors affecting staffing decisions include enrollment changes, available classroom space, placement of special programs, and available funding.

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.