June 15, 2015 at 5:30 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.

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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:  TAC staff helped facilitate a collaborative effort between Monroe Middle and the Minnesota Humanities Center.  Earlier this month, Monroe students attended a motivational event - and made presentations on their personal visions for the future and what inspires them as students.

Rationale:  Treasurer

The Treasurer's Report for May 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.

Rationale:  The Committee on Claims met on 06/15/15 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.   COLLEGE ACCESS CHALLENGE GRANT - CAREERS FOR KIDS, COORDINATING COMMISSION FOR POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION - PROJECT 497814.

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the College Access Challenge Grant budget.

This budget amendment, in the amount of $311,000.00 ($155,500.00 new + $155,500.00 carryover), is for the period beginning September 1, 2014, and ending August 15, 2015.  The total budget is written for the period beginning August 1, 2014, and ending August 15, 2015.  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 increasing number of underrepresented low-income families involved in college and career preparation activities providing individual or small-group assistance.

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.

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SEIM JOHNSON LLP, ANNUAL INDEPENDENT AUDITOR LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT REGARDING 2014-2015 AUDIT

The Districts Independent Auditor for the 2014-2015 fiscal year, Seim Johnson is submitting a letter of engagement to confirm the responsibilities, contents and activities to be preformed to complete the audits of the District, Educational Service Unit No. 19, Omaha School Employees' Retirement System and KIOS Radio Station.

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SEIM JOHNSON LLP, ANNUAL INDEPENDENT AUDITOR COMMUNICATION REGARDING 2014-2015 AUDIT

The Districts Independent Auditor for the 2014-2015 fiscal year, Seim Johnson is required to communicate certain matters related to the scope and timing of the audits of the District, Educational Service Unit No. 19, Omaha School Employees' Retirement System and KIOS Radio Station.

Rationale:  Central administrative staff requests approval of the 2015-2016 Master Services Agreement between the Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council (ESUCC) and Educational Service Unit (ESU) #19. The purpose of this Agreement is to establish the general terms and conditions applicable to the education initiatives, services and projects which ESUCC supplies to the ESU for the 2015­16 school year.  This Agreement is intended to serve as a framework for the provision of services under one or more of the ESUCC’s Projects.

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 Middle School / 7th & 8th Grade Catastrophic Athletic Accident Insurance

With a renewal date of August 1, 2015 the staff and insurance consultants from the Harry A Koch Company will present recommendations for the renewal of this voluntary coverage with Student Assurance Services for the 2014-2015 renewal term.

7^th & 8^th Grade Catastrophic Athletic Accident Insurance:

                                                                                          Premium                   Increase

Student Assurance Services                                                  $5,378                         0%   

Rationale:  UPD Consulting will provide an update on the strategic plan and will work with the Board of Education on prioritization for the upcoming school year.

Rationale:  Representatives of Jacobs will provide a 2014 Bond Program quarterly report to the Board of Education.      

Rationale:  Representatives of Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) will provide the Board of Education an update on the 2014 Bond Program with regard to topics discussed in the first three CBOC meetings including schedule, budget and contingencies.               

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Voluntary Student Accident Insurance

With a renewal date of August 1, 2015 the staff and insurance consultants from the Harry A Koch Company will present recommendations for the renewal of this voluntary coverage with K & K Insurance.  The District has written this coverage with K & K Insurance since 2011.  This coverage is wholly paid by the participating students and no costs are incurred by the District.

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Rationale:  The staff recommends, with concurrence of Boys & Girls Club leadership and the principals of the two sites identified, the designation of Bryan Middle School and Florence Elementary School as locations for the construction of additional facilities to support the operation of Boys & Girls Club programs at each school.  The cost of the additional facilities constructed for exclusive use of the Boys & Girls Clubs would be fully funded by Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands.  The construction and operation of these facilities, and the operation of the Boys & Girls Club programs in the designated schools, will be governed by an Agreement with Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands to be negotiated as  set forth in the Letter of Intent approved by the Board of Education at its April 6, 2015, meeting.  Upon conclusion of negotiations with Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands, the agreement will be presented by staff to the Board of Education for review and action.

Rationale: 

In alignment with the Strategic Plan 4.4.1 (Redesign school-choice policies and process to ensure clarity, efficiency, and quality) the Student Assignment Plan Committee recommends the approval of the Elementary and Middle School Partner Frameworks with no change to school choice, selection, or walk-zones at High School at this time.

• Middle School and Elementary Frameworks would eliminate the use of self-reported free and reduced lunch from the school selection process.
• Prioritization for school selection would be based on a geographic area that would likely integrate.

Reduce and align Walk-Zone maximums with no expansion of Walk-to-Stop distances:

• 1.0 Mile - Elementary
• 1.5 Miles - Middle School 

Rationale:  President Goding and Vice-President Williams will lead the board members in a discussion of the superintendent's evaluation.  Further discussion and approval will be made after closed session.

Rationale:  State statute (79-2, 137) requires school districts to annually review their Bullying Prevention Policy.

Rationale: 

Omaha Public Schools staff have worked for many years to ameliorate bullying activity in our district.  Their efforts resulted in the current Bullying Protocol document (included in the Due Process Handbook) that is used by administrators and school counselors to guide their prevention efforts.

Additionally, prior to the start of and during the 2013-2014 school year, training was provided on the Bullying Protocol and curriculum (Steps to Respect) to be used at the elementary and middle school levels to proactively address bullying prevention efforts.  High school principals were also apprised of these efforts and the reporting/intervention procedures to be used that aligned with best practices in this area. School counselors and administrators (via the Due Process meeting) annually review these procedures.

The attached data from our Research department illustrates the positive impact these efforts have made to reduce bullying in the Omaha Public Schools.     

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.