June 1, 2015 at 7:30 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:  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 06/01/2015 and approved the audit of claims conducted by the Secretary to the Board of Education. 

Rationale: 

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.   INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT (IDEA) – BASE ALLOCATION, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - PROJECT 460015.

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the IDEA Base budget.

This budget amendment, in the amount of $4,208,282.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2014, and ending August 31, 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 assisting Omaha Public Schools in providing special education and related services to eligible children with disabilities.

This program is 100% reimbursable.

2.   INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT (IDEA) – PART B ENROLLMENT/POVERTY, NONPUBLIC, PRESCHOOL, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - PROJECT 461015.

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the IDEA Enrollment/Poverty budget.

This budget amendment, in the amount of $8,511,847.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2014, and ending August 31, 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 assisting Omaha Public Schools in providing special education and related services to eligible children with disabilities.

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 $209,210.00 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:  Central Office recommends changes to Policy 4007.

Rationale: 

In alignment with the Omaha Public Schools Strategy 1.2.3, recommends approval of  proposed Student Code of Conduct. 

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

Rationale:  The self assessment process is an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of the Head Start program. The 2014-2015 Self-Assessment process involves the collection of information from a variety of sources to determine the effectiveness of systems as it relates to the implementation and integration of program services. The management team utilized the outcomes from the self assessment process to create an improvement plan to ensure continuous improvements, which strengthens the quality of services delivered to children and families.

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

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: 

Student Fee Update

Pursuant to, and in compliance with Nebraska Revised Statute Section 79-2,134, the Omaha Public School District must review monies collected from student activity cards and the use of waivers provided by the District as outlined by the student fee policy.

For the academic year of 2014-15, $104,220.00 was collected from students for activity cards.  In addition, 13,293 students were provided waivers and a District subsidy of 150% was provided per student to the appropriate building.

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.