May 4, 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 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 Boy Scout Troop 597.

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 salutes Wilson Focus School and Gomez Heritage Elementary!  The two schools were recently named to the 2015 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools awards list.  The awards recognize schools for their efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, promote better health, and ensure effective environmental education.  Wilson and Gomez are among an elite group – only 58 schools in the entire country were honored this year.  Winners were confirmed from a pool of candidates nominated by a variety of state education agencies.  Congratulations!

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OPS salutes the winners of the 2015 Super 13/Future Educator Scholarship Awards!  Two students from each OPS high school receive scholarships through this yearly program, which is supported through the generosity of the Omaha Schools Foundation.  Each winner is presented with a $2,000 scholarship to be applied to their upcoming college expenses.  We salute the winners for their hard work and outstanding dedication to academics. 

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. 

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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 - 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 05/04/2015 and approved the audit of claims conducted by the Secretary to the Board of Education. 

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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.   VISITOR IMPROVEMENT FUND GRANT, DOUGLAS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISIONERS – PROJECT 499115.

     Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Visitor Improvement Fund budget.

     This budget amendment, in the amount of $18,000.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2014, and ending August 31, 2015.  This program is for payment of shuttle services for 2015 Nebraska State Track Meet ($12,000) and for rental cost at Creighton University for State Soccer Tournament ($6,000).

     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.   GRANTS LESS THAN $10,000

These budget amendments in the amount of $7,000.00 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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DESIGNATION OF DEPOSITORIES FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT FUNDS/INVESTMENTS

Staff recommends the annual approval of financial institutions requesting to hold deposits of district funds and/or participate in the District’s bid process for investments.

Rationale:  Curriculum Instruction and Assessment staff requests approval to adopt the new State Board-approved Nebraska K-12 English Language Arts Standards. 

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

Rationale:  The staff recommends that the District approve and execute the Consent and Assignment of Agreement, consenting to: (i) the assignment by The Buffett Early Childhood Education Fund (Buffett) to Omaha Early Learning Centers, Inc. (OELC), of the Agreement dated August 4, 2014, for funding of the construction costs of the Omaha Early Learning Center at the Gateway Elementary School site, entered into by and among the District, Buffett and Omaha Schools Foundation and (ii) the collateral assignment of the License Agreement between the District and OELC dated March 17, 2015, that granted to OELC a license for the Omaha Early Learning Center facility at the Gateway Elementary School site.  The assignment and collateral assignment of these Agreements is required as a part of the financing by OELC of the costs of construction and operation of the Omaha Early Learning Center.  The License Agreement has been reviewed by legal counsel for legal sufficiency.

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Settlement of Keith Duvall's Workers' Compensation claims arising out of injuries suffered by Mr. Duvall while working for OPS, which he and his physicians contend render him permanently and totally disabled and which Mr. Duvall contends will require him to incur significant future medical care over the course of his life.  The total value of the settlement to Mr. Duvall is $356,388 payable as follows:

 

            1) Medicare Set-Aside required by law for the benefit of Mr. Duvall in the amount of $162,388.00 (OPS will purchase an annuity to fund the set aside at a present value cost to OPS of $108,595.00);

 

            2) Additional consideration of $194,000 as follows:

 

                        a)         Cash payment of $131,312.72 to Duvall and his legal counsel;

                        b)         Credit to OPS for $53,765,48 for Long Term Disability payments previously made to Mr. Duval; and

                        c)         Credit to OPS for $8,921.80 of Work Comp Disability payments previously made to Mr. Duval.

 

The total additional out of pocket expense to the District for this settlement will be $239,907.72.

Rationale:  The Omaha Public Schools and the Omaha Education Association have reached tentative agreement on a contract for the 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18 school years.  Mrs. Neiles-Brasch will provide the Board with an overview of the changes and will seek approval of the agreement in principle.  The finalized agreement will be presented to the Board of Education for approval on June 1, 2015.

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:  Steve Gering will provide an update on Developing Principal Leadership.

Rationale:  Staff will present an update of recent work complete on grading. Future plans will be outlines which include a new grading committee and the use of a facilitator and a national grading consultant.

Rationale:  Staff will present an update regarding research and current practices regarding social promotion, retention, and early entrance to kindergarten. Attached is a brief PowerPoint presentation, 2013-14 retention data, and a recent article on the topic

Rationale:  Staff will provide information on the physical assessment of elementary feeders to Beveridge, McMillan, Monroe, Morton and Nathan Hale for the purpose of identifying space that may be repurposed for early childhood programs or to reduce the number of onsite portables.   An updated timeline will also be provided for recommendation of Beveridge, McMillan, Monroe, and Nathan Hale transition to a grade 6-8 configuration.   Action on this information will be requested at the May 18th Board Meeting.
 

 

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Attached are three documents representing data collected on perceptions of Human Growth and Development(HGD)and an updated timeline for the project.

More specifically the three documents included are:

1) Results of the Parent Phone Survey Regarding parents’ perceptions of Human Growth and Development Curriculum at the Omaha Public Schools.

2) Compilation of the Community Forum Table Discussions on Human Growth and Development  

3) The updated Human Growth and Development timeline

A phone survey was conducted in the first three months of 2015 by Wiese Research Associates to gather data on perceptions of current Human Growth and Development classes, policies, and topics taught or not taught. The survey sample represented 1,505 parents and closely matched district demographics with a 95% confidence interval, which indicates that this is a reliable measures of parent’s thoughts in the school district.

A community forum was held for Human Growth and Development on April 7, 2015, to share the Parent Survey and other relevant research for our students in OPS. The session helped frame table discussions regarding three areas: teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease (STD) rates in Omaha, the role of parents in promoting adolescent sexual health, and how to best approach new topics deemed important from the parent survey such as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) and abortion in the HGD classroom. Approximately 150 educators, community members and parents were in attendance. A summary of the community input is attached.

Results from the parent survey and the community forum will be used to help frame curricular changes for the classroom. An updated timeline is provided which includes content standards and curriculum for HGD. Following teacher input, staff will return to present both as an information item, then as an action item for Board approval of both the HGD content standards and HGD curriculum materials adoption.

Rationale:  The Curriculum Instruction and Assessment department will give a brief overview of the Career Education Recommendation report. The report will describe the sequence of initiatives (OPS Strategic Plan, ReVisiON: Career Education Strategic Plan, Career Education Program Audit and Career Education Feasibility Study)that lead to the recommendations. Career Education data, core elements of Career Education, high school and career center programs of study/career academy/magnet recommendations, branding and sustainability strategies, timelines and budget will be shared. CIA would like to seek approval to move forward with a capital campaign to fund a new Career Center.

Rationale:  Committees of the Board of Education will provide a brief update.

Committees:
Accountability
Budget and Audit
Communications
Policy
Americanism
Student Assignment Plan
Legislative
Construction Manager at Risk (CM@R)
Specialty Schools Review and Recommendations (SSRR)
Citizen Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC)
Priority Based Budget Advisory
Code of Conduct

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.