October 20, 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:  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 Omaha Public Schools students who were selected as 2025 JROTC Legion of Valor recipients.

Sydney Sainovich, Benson High
Jennier Lemus, Buena Vista High
Jenna Crippen, Burke High
Michael Steinhoff, Burke High
Drew Holdt, Central High
Jamie Jordan, Westview High

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:  SCHOOL       FUND       DEPT     PROGRAM        GRANT         AMOUNT
Marrs-CSI        174        8831110        1100              953526        $  85,141
Marrs- Title I     154       8831110         1100              407826    
McMillan-CSI     174      8791110        1100              950826        $  96,252
McMillan- Title I    154    8791110       1100              407926    
Monroe- CSI       174      8801110        1100             950926        $  48,104
Monroe- Title IV   176     7105800       2110              499626        $  97,919
POLICIES: 7000, VII 
AMOUNT:  $ 327,416.00

Administration recommends approval by the Board of Education the attached agreement with Partnership 4 Kids (P4K) to provide high-impact tutoring in Math and English Language Arts (ELA) to students at RM Marrs, McMillan and Monroe Middle Schools during the 2025-26 school year.  The total cost is $327,416.00.

Rationale:  FUND: 177, Misc. State Grants 
PROGRAM: 2211, Career and Tech Ed Support 
DEPT.  7196010, Career & Technical Education 
PROJECT:  471926, Perkins State CTE Grant 
SUPPLIER: Blair Freeman 
AMOUNT: $56,151.20 

Administration recommends approval of Amendment One to the contract for a partnership between Omaha Public Schools, Omaha Public Schools Foundation (OPSF) and Blair Freeman for the purpose of supporting the building of student-built houses as aligned to Pathway Programs of Construction and Design. The original agreement with Blair Freeman and OPSF was approved at the January 23, 2025, Board meeting. Omaha Public Schools Foundation will pay costs associated with the construction of the physical building space and will retain ownership of the project at its conclusion. Omaha Public Schools will contract with Blair Freeman for instructional support at a total cost of $56,151.20. Funding will be supported through CTE state grant funds.  

Rationale:  Administration recommends approval of an Amendment to The Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS) grant to the Omaha Public Schools in the amount of $473,400.00 to provide services for eligible refugee students and families for the 2025-2026 school year.  The Refugee School Impact Grant was included in the Grant Fund Budget Awards approved at the Board Meeting on May 5, 2025. The Office of English Learner Education oversees the grant for the District, providing support for the English Learner Family Involvement Program in the Welcome Center at TAC and intersession learning opportunities for refugee students K-12.  The amendment to the grant includes minor revisions to the original application requested by DHHS to remove staff names and to align with Federal and State guidelines.

Rationale:  Rationale:  Fund:  155, Reimbursable Grants
Program:  3201, Early Childhood Ed
Department:  1510080, Pinewood Elementary Regular Preschool
                      1590080, Liberty Elementary Regular Preschool
                      1030080, Mt. View Elementary Regular Preschool
                      1240080, Gomez Elementary Regular Preschool
Grant: 437026, BECI Pinewood Elementary
           436226, BECI Liberty Elementary
           433626, BECI Mt. View Elementary
           434126, BECI Gomez Elementary
Policies:  7000
Amount:  $595,444.80

The Interlocal Cooperation Act authorizes the Board of Education to enter an annual Interlocal Agreement between the District and the Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy Counties in implementation of the Superintendent's Early Childhood Plan for the 2025-2026 school year. The Superintendent's Early Childhood Plan was first implemented in 2014-2015 and provides focused interventions to reduce cognitive, social, and achievement gaps for at-risk students. The four OPS elementary schools participating in this plan are Liberty, Pinewood, Gomez and Mount View.  The total amount of the grants is $595,444.80.

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: 1 General Fund
Dept. ID: 7062700 Research Office
Account: 54110 Tests
Policies: 7000, III. K., 7000, VII.A., 7000, V. A.
Vendor: ACT
Amount: $69,079.00

Administration recommends approval of a contract and Data Protection Agreement with ACT for the term of August 1, 2025, through July 31, 2026, to provide the paper version of PreACT 8/9 for Grade 9 students. This serves as these students' first District sponsored live practice of the ACT assessment. The Nebraska Department of Education provides a similar opportunity for Grade 10 students and the data from these two practice assessments supports targeted instruction and the development of test-taking strategies for students. These efforts and this assessment support student performance on the Grade 11 NSCAS-ACT assessment.

Rationale:  Funds: 1, 153   General Fund, Special Education - IDEA
Department: 7194010   Special Education Administration
Programs: 1214, 1215, 1222, 1231, 1234, 1235,1236, 1265, 1266, 1270 - Speech Therapy School Age, Speech Therapy Ages 3-5, Nursing Services, Nonpublic Therapists, Nonpublic Teachers, Tuition to Agencies
Project: 461025, 461026, 460025, 460026 - IDEA Base/EP Grant
Policy: 7000 
Amount:  $1,343,130.00

Administration recommends approval of the attached annual Special Education Services contracts.  Every year, the Special Education Division, within Curriculum and Instruction Support, negotiates and renews contracts with outside agencies for special education services that are required under Rule 51 and Rule 52.  This is the seventh set of agency contracts going to the Board of Education for approval for the 2025-2026 school year and is part of the District's annual practice.  In keeping with the provisions in Policy 7000, contracts that may exceed $50,000 are being placed on the agenda for Board of Education approval. Attached you will find: a service provider rate sheet, contracts and a contract cost sheet for your review for contracts that exceed or may exceed $50,000. The contract rate sheet includes NDE approved rates for services that need to be purchased by Omaha Public Schools from outside agencies that will provide special education services to students ages birth-21. The contract cost sheet includes the agency, address, type of service the agency provides, the estimated number of students that receive services from that agency and 2025-2026 contract rate. The sheet includes an estimate of the total cost for special education services provided by contract agencies. The rates and contracts are budgeted for within the 2025-2026 school year. Per their agreement with Omaha Public Schools, all providers must receive NDE approval to provide special education and related services. The total cost to the District for this group is estimated to be $1,343,130.00 and is an allowable reimbursable special education expenditure. 

Rationale:  In keeping with the provisions of Policy 2300, Administration recommends engagement of KSB Law to serve as legal counsel to the Board of Education for a student discipline hearing appeal as set forth in the attached engagement letter. It is the District’s practice to engage separate counsel for the Board in employment and student discipline hearings. 

Rationale:  FUND: 1, General Fund
PROGRAM: 2241, Library Services
DEPT: 7193010, Secondary Education Admin.
SUPPLIER: Capstone
POLICIES: 7000, III.K, 7000, V. A.
AMOUNT: $124,922.12

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 total price of this subscription is $124,922.12.

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 Fund
PROGRAM: 2510 Business Support Services
DEPT ID: 7062100 Accounting and Finance
SUPPLIER: 2323 B & H Photo
POLICIES: 6121, 7000, V. B.
AMOUNT: $83,725.41

Administration recommends approval to purchase elementary band and string instruments and tools from B&H Photo identified below. The items will be used in the instrumental music classrooms of the District’s Elementary Schools. Students will use these instruments to ensure proper playing posture and technique for our string students, and will allow elementary percussion students the opportunity to perform on different percussion instruments taught in our curriculum. Classroom tools will be used to enforce a steady beat and allow staff and students to perform with accompaniment tracks. This purchase will ensure that all elementary students across the District have access to the same materials and instruments available for use during class. 

A bid was not required as the purchase is being made pursuant to the Omnia cooperative agreement #R201202 under Policy 7000. V.B. (Cooperative Purchases).  The total cost of this purchase is $83,725.41.
 

Units		Item Description	Unit Cost
420		On-Stage Foam Shoulder Pad for Violin and Viola (Small) EI01	$2.96
6600		On-Stage Foam Shoulder Pad for Violin and Viola (Medium) EI02	$3.70
4800		On-Stage Foam Shoulder Pad for Violin and Viola (Large) EI03	$3.99
47		Behringer Eurolive B112W Active 2-Way 12" PA Speaker System - Bluetooth EI04	$287.00
56		BOSS DB-90 Dr. Beat Metronome EI05	$117.28
65		BOSS PSA-120S AC Adapter for BOSS Pedals EI06	$21.99
61		Mackie ProFX6v3 6-Channel Sound Reinforcement Mixer with Built-In FX EI07	$123.67
130		Kopul Premium Performance 3000 Series 1/4" Male to 1/4" Male Instrument Cable (10') EI08	$6.49
65		Belkin 12 Outlet Home/Office Surge Protector EI09	$25.00
34		Gibraltar 5706 Snare Drum Stand EI10	$56.24
55		Gator 22" Cymbal Backpack EI11	$99.99

Rationale:  FUND:       4070, Depreciation Fund
PROGRAM:    2510, Business Support Services
DEPT:       7062100, Accounting and Finance
SUPPLIER:   Master’s Transportation
POLICIES:   7000.V.B.: Cooperative Purchases
AMOUNT:     $89,486.00

Approval to purchase (1) One Collins 9-passenger Van. On August 18, 2025, the Board of Education approved an exception to the bidding process to allow Student Transportation to purchase (8) eight Collins 9-passenger vans, which do not require a CDL.  These units were assigned to eight (8) of the nine (9) high schools.  This one (1) additional Collins 9-passanger van will be for the ninth high school (Westview).  Administration recommends utilizing  Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Agreement for this purchase which is an exception to bidding under Policy 7000 V. B. (Cooperative Purchases). Sourcewell’s Vendor is Collins Bus, and the contract number is 102623-COLNS, which provides the same vehicle previously purchased that was approved on August 18, 2025 by the Board. The total cost of this purchase is $89,486.00.

Rationale:  Pursuant to Policy 3090, Administration recommends that the list of attached items be declared surplus and the approval to sell these items, which include vehicles and miscellaneous surplus items.  The sale will be held online by The Auction Mill L.L.C., a public auction on October 26, 2025, through November 9, 2025. The District is selling the surplus items "AS IS" since they are no longer usable by the District.

The District will pay 10% of the gross proceeds of sale for any vehicles sold. The title transfer fee of $25.00 will be charged to the individual purchasing the vehicle. Auction Mill L.L.C. will receive 20% of the gross proceeds of the sale of miscellaneous surplus items.

The Administration further requests that the Board of Education authorize the Superintendent or his designee to sign all necessary transfer documents upon payment in full by the purchasers.

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 Policy Committee will provide an update.

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:

7000 - Purchasing and Contracting (2nd Reading)
7003 - Construction Manager at Risk (2nd Reading)

Rationale:  The purpose of this report is to present information regarding the post high school activities and outcomes of the 2024 Omaha Public Schools graduates.  Specifically, the follow-up study focuses on graduates' college and career goals, enrollment in post-secondary education and/or transition into the workforce, factors influencing these decisions, and how graduates feel about their time in OPS.  This report offers valuable insights into how and what OPS students are doing after graduation.

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.