October 5, 2015 at 6:30 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:  Congratulations to Central and North!  The two schools combined for five AP National Scholars in 2015 – four from North and one from Central.  This is the highest level of distinction for AP exam participants; in order to meet the standards, a student must receive an average score of at least 4 on all AP exams they take and scores of 4 or higher on at least eight such exams.  We salute their hard work and tremendous achievements!

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

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 10/05/2015 and approved the audit of claims conducted by the Secretary to the Board of Education for 09/21/2015 and 10/05/2015.

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GRANT FUND BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS

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:

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

These budget amendments in the amount of $494,166.00 are for the period beginning September 1, 2015, and ending August 31, 2016.  These amendments represent only that part of the budget that will be expended during the 2015-2016 school year for new Foundation Grants.

     This program is 100% reimbursable.

2.   GRANTS LESS THAN $10,000

    

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

Rationale:  The Board of Education wishes to prospectively terminate the Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan for Administrative Employees in which the Omaha Public Schools makes post-retirement contributions to the Omaha Public Schools Tax Deferred Section 403(b) Plan on behalf of eligible Administrators.  The termination of the Plan shall only affect current employees who retire after the date of enactment of this termination.  The termination of the Plan shall NOT affect former employees who have already been admitted as participants of the Plan.  The Superintendent or his designees shall be authorized to take all actions, including the execution of any amendments to the Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan for Administrative Employees as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the foregoing termination of the Plan with respect to Administrators who have not retired before the enactment of this resolution.

Rationale:  Annually the Special Education Division within Curriculum Instruction and Assessment negotiates and renews contracts with outside agencies for special education services that are required under Rule 51. Attached you will find a contract cost sheet for your review.  The contract cost sheet includes the agency, address, type of service the agency provides, the number of students that receive services from that agency and the 2015-16 contract rate. The sheet also includes an estimate of the total cost for school age and early childhood special education services provided by contract agencies.  The rates and contracts have had legal review and are budgeted for within the upcoming school year.

Rationale:  The Title I Budget is allocated to Public Schools, Non-Public Schools, Contracted Educational Agencies, and the Homeless Program. All Title I eligible schools must participate in at least one or more State Audit Reviews pending their rotation year.  Title I schools must also submit a Schoolwide Plan that is aligned with the District’s Academic Action Plan and their School Improvement Plan to the state. All Title I Schools Schoolwide Plans must be approved by the state and be in compliance in order to expend funds. In addition, Title I schools in year three in “Needs Improvement” and beyond must keep documentation of the Academic Action Plan implementation for the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Corrective Action Plans and  Restructuring Plans. The Title I Office must also submit a grant application to the state for approval and compliance purposes.  Central administrative staff request approval to receive the 2015-2016 Title I Allocation in the amount of $23,667,852.00.

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

Rationale:  Appointment of Mrs. Lou Ann Goding, Mrs. Marian Fey, and Mr. Marque Snow to OSERS Board of Trustees.

Rationale:  Sue Anderson (Nebraska Department of Education) and John Witzel (State Board of Education) will provide an overview of AQuESTT (Accountability for a Quality Education System, Today and Tomorrow)  for Nebraska. 

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 CBOC meetings including schedule, budget and contingencies.                

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Curriculum Instruction and Assessment will share an update on the realignment and updating of Family and Consumer Science programs of study with the current Nebraska Department of Education’s Human Sciences and Career Education Field course options.

Extensive communication has occurred throughout the summer and fall to reiterate that Family and Consumer Science positions and curriculum are not being eliminated. Staff will also discuss the meetings that have started with each individual high school principal and staff to gather individual building input on the direction of each building’s Family and Consumer Science programs of study for curricular updating.

Rationale:  Jacobs staff will be available to present an update on bond progress and to respond to questions from the Board.      

Rationale:  Mr. Jerry Corner will provide an update on student attendance.

Rationale:  Committees of the Board of Education will provide a brief update.

Committees:
Accountability (09/24/2015)
Budget and Audit
Communications (09/15/2015)
Policy
Americanism (09/16/2015)
Student Assignment Plan (09/22/2015)
Legislative (10/01/2015)
Construction Manager at Risk (CM@R) (09/23/2015)
Specialty Schools Review and Recommendations (SSRR)
Citizen Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) (09/23/2015)
Code of Conduct (Next Meeting in December)

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.