September 21, 2015 at 6:00 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:   

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 Burke!  Cadet Maj. Jessica Hack, a senior, has been awarded the Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for Scholastic Achievement, which is presented to approximately one in 4,000 students nationally each year.  What’s more – Cadet Maj. Hack is the only student in the state of Nebraska to receive the award this year.  The award recognizes scholastic excellence in military and academic subjects. 

 

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: 

Grant Fund Budget Adjustments   

 

It is recommended that the receipts and expenditures of the detailed grant fund budget for the 2015-2016 fiscal year be amended to include the following reimbursable programs:

 

1. TOBACCO FREE NEBRASKA PROGRAM – REGION 6 BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE - PROJECT 472716.

    

     Central Administrative Staff request approval to accept the Tobacco Free Nebraska Program budget.

 

This budget amendment, in the amount of $66,430.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2015, and ending June 30, 2016.  The total budget is written for the period beginning July 1, 2015, and ending June 30, 2016.  This amendment represents only that part of the budget that will be expended during the 2015-2016 school year.  It represents the continued participation in a program conducted during the 2014-2015 school year for the purpose of implementing strategies to reduce tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke in schools and communities, while working to eliminate health disparities.

 

This program is 100% reimbursable.

 

1. PROJECT LEAD THE WAY (PLTW) GRANTS – VERIZON - PROJECT 483516.

    

     Central Administrative Staff request approval to accept the Project Lead the Way Grant budget.

 

This budget amendment, in the amount of $17,000.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2015, and ending August 31, 2016.  This amendment represents only that part of the budget that will be expended during the 2015-2016 school year.  This is a new grant at McMillan Magnet Center for costs such as PLTW Gateway program participation fees, ICS Teacher training and designated equipment costs (tablets, computers, wireless connectivity, and accessories).

 

This program is 100% reimbursable.

 

Foundation Grants and Grants less than $10,000.00 to be amended into the 2015-2016 budgets are available for review in the Board Workroom.

 

1.   FOUNDATION GRANTS

    

No Foundation Grants have been submitted for Board Action.

 

2.   GRANTS LESS THAN $10,000

    

No Grants less than $10,000 have been submitted for Board Action.

 

Rationale: 

Amendment to Plan 125

Staff from Compensation and Benefits present a recommendation, as required by law, to amend the School District of Omaha Flexible Benefit Plan 125 (Internal Revenue Code Section 125 Cafeteria Plan), effective 09/01/2015.  The Health Care Reform Law has increased the maximum health care flexible spending benefit amount, sponsored by the Plan 125, from $2500 to $2550 per plan year. This will also reflect cost-of-living increases or further regulatory guidance and actions. 

Rationale:  The Board of Trustees of the Omaha School Employees’ Retirement System, with the concurrence of staff, recommends approval of terminating the Investment Management Agreement between Atlantic Asset Management L.L.C. and School Employees’ Retirement System of Douglas County School District 0001.

Rationale:  The Board of Trustees of the Omaha School Employees’ Retirement System, with the concurrence of staff, recommends withdrawal of the entire balance of the Omaha School Employees’ Retirement System’s Limited Partner’s Capital Accounts in the Palmer Square Emerging Manager Fund L.P. and the Palmer Square Emerging Manager Fund II L.P.

Rationale:  The Board of Trustees of the Omaha School Employees’ Retirement System, with the concurrence of staff, recommends the buy-in interest rate on service purchases made by an employee, and other statutory uses of the rate, be set at 8.0% for the 2015-2016 fiscal year.

Rationale:  The Board of Trustees of the Omaha School Employees’ Retirement System, with the concurrence of staff, recommends the regular interest rate on the accumulated contributions of an employee, and other statutory uses of the rate, be set at 0.0% for the 2015-2016 fiscal year.

Rationale:  Nicole Brundo (Douglas County Juvenile Attorney) will provide an explanation of terms used for police referrals from the school setting to the Douglas County Attorney's Office.  Information will also cover how referrals are handled by the County Attorney and the process the referrals go through, beginning from receipt through case closure.

Rationale: 

Omaha Public Schools has been focused on reducing suspensions for many years, especially among students with disabilities.  Attached is a Power Point that provides an update on special education suspensions and potential future plans for a Multi-Tiered System of Support for Behavior (MTSS-B) This is not the only initiative that supports OPS efforts to reduce suspensions and raise cultural awareness and equity for students. Attached are the following documents:

• Special Education Suspension Update and MTSS-B PowerPoint
• Suspension Prevention Activities Timeline
• MTSS-B Work Plan

Rationale:  Staff will be available to provide an update on progress toward the establishment of the long-range Facilities Capital Plan for the District. Steps completed thus far, as well as next immediate steps in the process, will be delineated.

Rationale:  REACH is an education-based capacity building initiative for small businesses.  REACH is implementing a collaborative and comprehensive plan to grow the number and capacities of Small and Emerging Businesses (SEBs) to meet the demand of institutional organizations with construction projects and procurement opportunities.  Providing technical assistance through one-on-one sessions, group training and access to industry professionals is paramount in building both technical competency and business acumen.  Credit remediation and access to previously unavailable or unaffordable financing are stepping stones to having SEBs gain access to adequate traditional financing and eventually larger projects.  REACH works with SEBs to prepare them to engage procurement opportunities with Omaha Public Schools, Metropolitan Community College, City of Omaha, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center as REACH affiliated organizations. To assist SEBs and the community they serve, REACH works to provide training and career awareness opportunities for those considering jobs in the construction trades market.  Through the support of SEB development and growth, as well as preparing the workforce to meet the growing demand of the construction industry, the goal of REACH is to make a significant difference.

Rationale:  Summary of Fiscal Year 2014-2015 District cost savings through protocols regularly followed in procurement processes.

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 July 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.