March 2, 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 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:  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:  The School Spotlight is on Grant Sturek from Central High School!  Grant recently won 12 gold medals at the state Academic Decathlon competition.  (As a team, Central ended the season as one of the best in the state.)  It was a great finish to a distinguished individual career in this extremely demanding interscholastic endeavor.  Congratulations to Grant!

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 - SCHOOL DISTRICT OF OMAHA CLAIMS REPORT C:

All Claims submitted as potential conflict of interest for members of the Board of Education.

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 03/02/2015 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.   CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS INITIATIVE GRANT, THE NEA FOUNDATION - PROJECT 484015.

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Closing the Achievement GAPS Initiative budget.

This budget amendment, in the amount of $210,000.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2014, and ending August 1, 2015.  It represents the continued participation in a program conducted during the 2013-2014 school year to implement school-based plans with clear strategies and activities articulated for each of the nine Collaborating for Equity goals – building relational trust, instructional capacity, family and community engagement, and teacher leadership.

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.

No Sherwood Foundation Grants or Grants less than $10,000.00 have been submitted for Board action.

Rationale: 

 

 

Rationale: 

 

      

Rationale: 

 

 

Rationale: 

 

       

Rationale: 

 

    

Rationale: 

 

       

Rationale:  The monthly Douglas County School District 0001 Head Start Governing Body Report for January 2015 is provided as an attachment in accordance with the 2007 Head Start Act.

Rationale:  The District’s financial advisor and bond counsel will provide a recommendation 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:  Representatives from South High staff and District staff along with BCDM Architects will present information regarding plans for proposed future improvements to South High School.

Rationale: 

Central Office staff and staff from Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands will present an   

overview and proposed expansion of the OPS/BGCM partnership.

Rationale:  Central Office staff and Wakonda teachers will be requesting approval for final application submission.

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, representatives of Jacobs and Kenneth Hahn Architects will present the Educational Specifications for Ponca Elementary School as part of the 2014 Bond Program for approval. 

Rationale:  The attached document reflects an update on specific strategies of the Strategic Plan. 

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.