November 2, 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.

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 the OPS students who are participants in Violin Sprouts!  The program, spearheaded by the Omaha Conservatory of Music, provides free beginning violin lessons and instruments to hundreds of three- and four-year-olds around the Omaha area.  Students from multiple OPS schools are involved in the program – which, among other notable performances, has seen students play alongside members of the Omaha Symphony. 

****

Congratulations to Central!  Girls cross country coach Trent Lodge was recently named Metro Coach of the Year.  We salute him and all the cross country student-athletes at Central.

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 10/19/2015 and 11/02/2015 and approved the audit of claims conducted by the Secretary to the Board of Education. 

Rationale: 

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:

A.   HIGH ABILITY LEARNER EDUCATION GRANT, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – PROJECT 478916.

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the High Ability Learner Education Grant budget.

This budget amendment, in the amount of $339,695.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2015, and ending August 31, 2016.  It represents the continued participation in a program conducted during the 2014-2015 school year for the purpose of providing services and support for the Gifted and Talented students of the district.

This program is 50% 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

 These budget amendments in the amount of $512,039.00 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

These budget amendments in the amount of $8,500.00 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 various Grants less than $10,000.

 

This program is 100% reimbursable.

Rationale:  Central Office Staff and administration of Lewis and Clark Middle School are requesting approval to expand the Middle Years Program (MYP) at Lewis and Clark for the 2016-17 school year.

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

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

Committees:
Accountability (10/29/2015)
Budget and Audit
Communications
Policy (10/26/15)
Americanism
Student Assignment Plan  (10/27/2015)
Legislative
Construction Manager at Risk (CM@R)
Specialty Schools Review and Recommendations (SSRR)
Citizen Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) (10/28/2015)
Code of Conduct - December

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

Rationale:  Staff will present an update on the use of the additional instructional minutes in the 2015-2016 school year. Building principals will provide examples of the use of the additional instructional minutes. Attached for your review is the elementary recommended instructional minutes document that was provided to all buildings. Also attached are two summary documents of how secondary schools used their additional instructional minutes. Input will be gathered from building staff on best use of the time for future distribution to all schools during the third quarter.

Rationale:  Reports containing the 2014-15 assessment results are attached.  The reports include test descriptions and an analysis of the results for the following assessments:  K-1 Reading and Mathematics, NWEA/MAP, ACT Aspire, and NeSA-Reading/Mathematics/ Science/Writing assessments as well as the Nebraska Department of Education State of the Schools Report for 2014-15.  Results for the district and schools are used for accountability reporting and educational planning. CIA staff will also provide an update on the District's many efforts meant to improve student achievement scores and educational outcomes.  

Rationale:  Central administrative staff requests approval of the adjustments to the Academic Eligibility Policy based upon the feedback from the Board of Education Workshop held in August 2015.  These policy adjustments were presented at the October 19, 2015 Board of Education Meeting.

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.