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:  OPS’ efforts to build and maintain environmentally friendly schools are getting new recognition from the State of Nebraska!  Gomez Heritage Elementary and Wilson Focus School have been nominated by the Nebraska Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Review Committee to be considered for 2015 Green Ribbon Schools honors by the U.S. Department of Education.  A federal review will determine which schools around the country will be the national honorees; that will be announced on Earth Day, April 22. 

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Congratulations to Northwest student Nicole Carrillo!  She was featured in an article in the March edition of HerFamily magazine, a metro-area monthly that focuses on community stories.  The magazine noted her extensive community-service efforts and outstanding academic achievements in naming her a ‘Young Hero.’  Congrats!

Rationale:  Treasurer

The Treasurer's Report for February 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 03/16/2015 and approved the audit of claims conducted by the Secretary to the Board of Education. 

Rationale: 

INVESTMENTS – OMAHA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM 

It is recommended that the following report submitted by the Board of Trustees of the Omaha School Employees’ Retirement System concerning investment of retirement funds during the month of February 2015, be adopted.

Rationale: 

OMAHA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM – APPROVAL OF INVESTMENT IN ALMANAC REALTY SECURITIES VII, L.P.

Staff, at the direction of the Board of Trustees of the Omaha School Employees’ Retirement System will recommend approval of the investment in Almanac Realty Securities VII, L.P. for management of a fund investing in real estate operating companies.

Rationale: 

OMAHA SCHOOL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM – APPROVAL OF CONTRACT ASSIGNMENT REQUIRED BY THE MERGER OF ATLANTIC ASSET MANAGEMENT L.L.C. AND HUGHES CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

Staff, at the direction of the Board of Trustees of the Omaha School Employees’ Retirement System will recommend approval of the contract assignment required by the merger of Atlantic Asset Management L.L.C. and Hughes Capital Management, LLC.

Rationale:  The staff recommends approval of the License Agreement between Omaha Early Learning Centers, Inc. for the Educare facility at the Skinner Elementary School site.  This facility will be constructed at the cost of Omaha Early Learning Centers, Inc. and owned by the District.  This Agreement grants to Omaha Early Learning Centers, Inc. the right to use the facility for the operation of an early learning and infant care center.  The License Agreement has been reviewed by legal counsel for legal sufficiency.

Rationale:  Staff recommends approval of the License Agreement between Omaha Early Learning Centers, Inc. for the Educare facility at the Gateway Elementary School site.  This facility will be constructed at the cost of Omaha Early Learning Centers, Inc. and owned by the District.  This Agreement grants to Omaha Early Learning Centers, Inc. the right to use the facility for the operation of an early learning and infant care center.  The License Agreement has been reviewed by legal counsel for legal sufficiency.

Rationale: 

Early Childhood Family Engagement Materials: Summer 2015

Fund: 4591 - Learning Community Grant

Program: 1100

Vendor: Lakeshore Learning Materials

Amount: $112,000.00

The central administrative staff recommends approval of the purchase of Kindergarten Jump Start family engagement materials. These materials will be used by families to support academic skills at home for children who will be participating in the OPS Kindergarten Jump Start program for 4 weeks beginning June 1, 2015.

This purchase is 100% reimbursable.

Rationale:  Staff will present a brief update on the ongoing work to raise student achievement in mathematics. Examples of ongoing initiatives and activities will be provided K-12. Attached is the Comprehensive Plan to Raise Math Achievement that was implemented last fall. 

Rationale: 

The Americanism, Omaha Schools Employee Retirement System (OSERS), and Student Assignment Plan Committees will provide updates to the Board of Education. 


Student Assignment Plan:

OPS is set to hold a series of meetings to get public input on Student Assignment Plan recommendations – and you’re invited!

The Student Assignment Plan is an important component of the overall operations of the district. It pertains to students’ choices of schools to attend – and also to transportation eligibility for students. 

The district will hold five Student Assignment Plan Community Meetings to discuss recommendations for changes to the plan. Dates, times, and venues are as follows:

6 P.M. – 8 P.M. Thursday, March 19 at Benson High

6 P.M. – 8 P.M. Tuesday, March 24 at South High

6 P.M. – 8 P.M. Thursday, March 26 at North High

6 P.M. – 8 P.M. Monday, March 30 at the TAC Board Room

6 P.M. – 8 P.M. Thursday, April 2 at Burke High

All are welcome!

At the meetings, district staff will present the recommendations and then gather attendees’ input on them.  Once the series of meetings is complete, that input will be compiled and provided to the school board for further consideration. 

We value your thoughts and feedback – and we look forward to seeing you at the meetings!

Rationale:  Benson High School leadership has been busy communicating the vision for the Career Academies to a multitude of stakeholder groups.  Throughout the months of October, November, December and January, Benson has met with many different groups to discuss and get input on the Taskforce's continued work on the career academies.  These groups included:  parents, staff, alumni and Benson community and businesses.  In addition, Benson has presented the findings of the Taskforce to OPS Executive Council as well as Board of Education.  In the months of January and February, Benson continued its conversation about the academies by vetting the idea with The Empowerment Network as well as stakeholder groups at several colleges and universities.  Throughout the process, there has been a great gathering of support moving Benson forward with the Career Academies as proposed by the Taskforce without any changes to the proposal as it was presented to the Board of Education.  The cost for the new Academy Programs will be 1,800,000 dollars. Approximately 500,000 dollars will be for 8 additional staff (and will be on going) and 1,300,000 will be for start up costs. Please refer to the attached documents for more information, in addition the building principal will be available to answer any questions regarding projected costs.  Central office staff is requesting Board approval of the Academy Program concept and funding for Benson High School.

Rationale:  The K-12 Nebraska Fine Arts Standards were developed by Nebraska educators to support the content areas of dance, art, music, digital media, and theater. Approved in 2014, these standards provide guidance for teachers and administrators on how to integrate the arts into curriculum to provide a well-rounded, rigorous, and broad experience for all students. These standards will replace any previously used frameworks or standards and will be implemented in the 2015-2016 school year

Rationale:  Staff, representatives of Jacobs and Kenneth Hahn Architects will present the Schematic Design for Ponca Elementary School as part of the 2014 Bond Program for approval.

Rationale:  The staff recommends approval of the Lease Termination Agreement among the District, the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska and The Nebraska Medical Center.  This Agreement provides for termination of the existing ground lease for the JP Lord School building and transfer of the school building to the Board of Regents upon completion of a replacement school building on land currently owned by the District and relocation of the JP Lord School to the new school building.  The Board of Regents and The Nebraska Medical Center will pay to the District the sum of $6,667,000.00 toward the cost of constructing and equipping the new school building and relocation of the school to that building.  The Lease Termination Agreement has been reviewed by legal counsel for legal sufficiency.

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:  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. KIOS-FM DEVELOPMENT BUDGET, LISTENER DONATIONS AND BUSINESS          UNDERWRITING - FUND 911.

        Central administrative staff request approval to accept the KIOS-FM Development budget.

         This budget amendment, in the amount of $798,775.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2014, and ending August 31, 2015.  It represents the continued participation in a program conducted during the 2013-2014 school year for the purpose of covering the costs of providing access to public radio programming not available from other media sources. The station also provides ongoing information about Omaha Public Schools to the KIOS-FM audience and serves as the lab for the broadcasting program.

   This program is 100% reimbursable.

2. RADIO COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANT, CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING PROJECT 497015.

      Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Radio Community Service Grant budget.

      This budget amendment, in the amount of $125,250.00, is for the period beginning October 1, 2014, and ending August 31, 2015.  The total budget is written for the period beginning October 1, 2014, and ending September 30, 2016.  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 defraying costs associated with production and programming of radio station KIOS-FM.

      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 $73,500.00 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.

Rationale:  Cost savings are generated within day-to-day procurement activity in the Purchasing Division through established purchasing procedures.

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 February 2015 are provided as an attachment.

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.