May 18, 2015 at 5:00 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

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:  Congratulations to R.M. Marrs Robotics Team 1073!  The squad just finished its most successful year of competition ever – with a state championship in the middle school division and a host of additional honors.  Among those additional honors:  three tournament championships, four robot skills trophies, two sportsmanship trophies, and awards for design and programming skills.  The team represented Marrs at the U.S. Open and VEX Robotics World Championship, the latter of which featured contestants from 27 different countries. 

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Congratulations to North students Keanu Hoang and Noah Bastola!  They were recently selected to participate in the National Youth Science Camp, which is set to take place this summer in West Virginia.  Each year, two delegates from every state are invited to the Camp, where they meet to exchange ideas with leading scientists and other experts from business and academia.  Among their topics this summer will be fractal geometry, climate change, and robotics.  Delegates will also make presentations on their own areas of research and interest.  We salute Keanu and Noah for earning these national honors and representing both OPS and the entire state of Nebraska!

Rationale:  Treasurer

The Treasurer's Report for April 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

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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.

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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.   NCLB TITLE I, PART A – ACCOUNTABILITY GRANT, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Central Administrative Staff request approval to accept the Title I, Part A – Accountability Budget.

This budget amendment, in the amount of $896,118.00, is for the period beginning May 18, 2015, and ending September 30, 2016.  These are additional Title I Dollars to assist in “Needs Improvement” Plans for identified schools.

     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.   SHERWOOD FOUNDATION GRANTS

These budget amendments in the amount of $109,777.00 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.

3.   GRANTS LESS THAN $10,000

These budget amendments in the amount of $10,980.00 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:  The Committee on Claims met on 05/18/2015 and approved the audit of claims conducted by the Secretary to the Board of Education. 

Rationale:  The staff recommends that a public hearing be held at Ashland Park Robbins Elementary School building at 5050 South 51^st Street, Omaha, Nebraska, at 7:00 p.m., on June 11, 2015, regarding the School District's proposed acquisition of the property located within the area bounded on the West by 60^th Street, the East by 54^th Street, the South by L Street, and the North by lands owned by the City of Omaha and that the School District give all notices of such public hearing as are required by law. 

Rationale:  This recommendation is for a seven-year purchase of Social Studies textbooks and materials to  adopt for grades 6-12. The most recent adoption of materials and resources for Social Studies took place during the 1999-2000 school year. The Department of Curriculum Instruction and Assessment supports the recommendation for purchase of materials listed, not exceeding the amount of $2,500,000.00. 

Rationale:  In compliance with legislative mandate (i.e., Rule 10) for Norm Reference Testing (NRT) at all instructional levels, the Division of Research is recommending the continued administration of ACT-Aspire for the 2015-16 school year. The assessment will again be administered to 10th graders - based on the feedback of the recently convened district-wide Assessment Steering Committee.

Rationale:  The Accountability Committee recommends the approval of the superintendent's evaluation tool.

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 in tandem with future/potential bond funding for a new facility.

Rationale:  Rationale: Michael Casserly, Executive Director of the Council of the Great City Schools, and Robert Carlson, Director of Management Services of the Council of the Great City Schools, will present an analysis of the final report and the cover memorandum regarding the CGCS audit of the Buildings and Grounds Operations of the Omaha Public Schools.

Rationale:  In alignment with the Omaha Public Schools Strategy 1.2.3, staff will provide information on the proposed Student Code of Conduct.  Recommended approval of the new Code of Conduct will be on June 1, 2015.

Strategy 1.2.3:

With the participation of parents, teachers, and students, revise the student code of conduct to promote positive learning environments for students and staff and limit the use of disciplinary actions that remove students from the classroom.

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)
Code of Conduct

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:  Central Office recommends changes to Policy 4007.

Rationale:  Staff recommends the transition of Beveridge, McMillan, Monroe, Morton, and Nathan Hale to a 6-8 Grade Configuration. 

 

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2014 OPS Bond Program Economic Inclusion Plan

Staff and Jacobs are recommending approval of the 2014 OPS Bond Program Economic Inclusion Plan.  Appendix E of this document has been provided to the Board of Education containing additional documentation and clarification to answer questions raised during the April 20, 2015, Board of Education meeting.  Responses to additional questions and documents received from the Board of Education after that meeting have been provided within this document as well.  The Economic Inclusion Plan document contains information regarding data gathered through the engagement of OPS staff, Baird Holm legal counsel, and the community for development and implementation of an OPS 2014 Bond Program Economic Inclusion Program.  The plan document also contains input from the Board of Education received at the March 26, 2015, Economic Inclusion work session and community and contractor input received.   

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 April 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.