February 19, 2015 at 6:30 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 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:  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:  Please join us in congratulating Chandler View Elementary PE teacher Tammy Freeburg, who is one of six teachers selected for the 2014 National All Star Teacher of the Year award from Project Fit America. Trainers from the organization, who work on-site at each school building, nominate teachers they find excelling exceptionally well in project development. The nominated teachers are then invited to submit their lesson plans, teaching philosophies, and how they are using the Project Fit America program in their curriculum.  Ms. Freeburg is the only teacher in Nebraska selected for the award.  Congratulations!

Rationale:  Treasurer

The Treasurer's Report for January 2015 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 - 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 02/19/2015 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.   TITLE II - PART A – PREPARING, TRAINING AND RECRUITING HIGH-QUALITY TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - PROJECT 466415.

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Title II, Part A Teacher Quality budget.

This budget amendment, in the amount of $2,704,133.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2014, and ending August 31, 2015.  The total budget is written for the period beginning July 1, 2014, and ending September 30, 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 for the purpose of providing professional development for teachers and principals to significantly impact student achievement, job embedded learning, recruitment, hiring teachers, conducting new teacher orientation and training to enable teachers to become highly qualified and address the academic needs of students.

This program is 100% reimbursable.

2.   TITLE III – LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – PROJECT 464915.

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Title III Limited English Proficient budget.

This budget amendment, in the amount of $940,236.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2014, and ending August 31, 2015.  The total budget is written for the period beginning July 1, 2014, and ending September 30, 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 for the purpose of providing for specialized instruction, ESL materials and supplies, teachers and paraprofessionals that work with immigrant students to acquire use of the English language.

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.

3.   SHERWOOD FOUNDATION GRANTS

These budget amendments in the amount of $93,159.00 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.

4.   GRANTS LESS THAN $10,000

These budget amendments in the amount of $6,025.00 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.

Rationale:  Staff and Jacobs recommends the appointment of the following firms to provide professional services, including plans, specifications and construction administration, for 2014 Bond Program Group 1 Projects and further recommends that the District enter into an agreement with the firms identified for such services. 

Rationale:  On July 21, 2014, the Board of Education, following completion of a request for qualifications, approved retaining Ameritas as its Financial Advisor upon the following terms:  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.   This contract formalizes and memorializes the terms previously adopted by the Board of Education. 

Rationale:  As part of our contract with Cross and Joftus (C&J)  to support strategic planning, Cross & Joftus (C&J) was asked to return three times during the 2014-15 school year to assess the school district's progress in implementing the strategic plan and to present findings and recommendations.  Cross and Joftus will summarize their findings to the Board of Education.

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

Rationale:  The District’s financial advisor and bond counsel will provide a recommendation and information regarding  a resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of the School District’s General Obligation Bonds, Series 2015, in the principal amount of $141,000,000, authorizing the financial advisor to conduct a public sale of the bonds, authorizing the President of the Board and Superintendent to accept the winning bid and authorizing the sale of the bonds to the successful bidder in accordance with the terms of its bid.  The resolution will also approve forms of documents relating to the bonds, including a Preliminary Official Statement, a Notice of Sale, a Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar’s Agreement and a Custodial Agreement.

Rationale:  The Board may vote on any items presented by the District Lobbyist, John Lindsay, and any bill currently in front of the Nebraska Legislature.

Rationale:  Staff will recommend Harry A. Koch Company Insurance and Financial Consultants Member of First Insurance Group LLC, as the insurance broker for the District based upon an RFP process.

Rationale:  The final Accreditation District Exit Report from February 11th is attached.  This is the district overview presentation provided by AdvancED which combines themes and data from the 20 visits completed by the External Review Teams on February 9, 10 and 11.

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.