July 6, 2015 at 7:45 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.

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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:  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 07/06/2015 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.   TITLE III – IMMIGRANT EDUCATION, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – PROJECT 471015.

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Title III Immigrant Education budget.

This budget amendment, in the amount of $287,605.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2014 and ending August 31, 2015.  The total budget is written for the period beginning July 1, 2014, and ending September 30, 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 providing ELL Immigrant students instruction that integrates reading, writing, speaking and listening in all learning activities. Supports family literacy and parental outreach, and provides for interpreters and materials to support the learning of immigrant students during the school day and in extended learning opportunities. These are carryover funds from the 2013-14 application.

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 $679,459.00 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:  The monthly Douglas County School District 0001 Head Start Governing Body Report for May 2015 is provided as an attachment in accordance with the 2007 Head Start Act.

Rationale:  District staff, representatives from Central High staff, Central High Foundation, along with DLR Architects will present information regarding plans for proposed future improvements to Central High School.

Rationale:  The staff recommends that it be authorized to negotiate with the property owners for the purchase by the District of the following described property and improvements thereon for a new school site at 60 & L Sts.

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Amending Budgets 2014-2015

Staff recommends the following district budgets be amended for the 2014-2015 school year.

                                         Adopted             Increase              Amended Total

            Bond Fund            $22,500,000       $32,000,000        $54,500,000

           

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.