November 16, 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:  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:  Congratulations to Burke High School's Nia Station!  Recently, she finished first in the Nebraska Girls Class A State Golf Championship.  This victory marks her second consecutive state golf championship.  Nia is the daughter of Central High School football legend Larry Station.  We salute her for her outstanding accomplishments. 

Rationale:  The Treasurer's Report for Octoaber 2015 is attached for review.

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

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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.

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The Board of Education wishes to prospectively terminate the Death Benefit Plan for Certificated Employees.  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 Death Benefit Plan for Certificated Employees as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the foregoing termination of the Plan with respect to Certificated Employees who have not retired before the enactment of this resolution. 

OEA representatives were informed and did not voice objections to the fact that OPS is ceasing to offer the OPS Death Benefit Plan and will make available to current employees a voluntary term life insurance plan and Vision Insurance plan, that will be at the expense of the employees.

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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. NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN EDUCATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – PROJECT 491016.

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Native American Indian Education budget.

This budget amendment, in the amount of $205,680.00, 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 providing support to school district programs that serve Native American students.

This program is 100% reimbursable.

B. NATIVE INDIAN CENTERED EDUCATION (NICE) PHASE IV GRANT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – PROJECT 491313.

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the NICE Phase IV Grant budget.

This budget amendment, in the amount of $299,955.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2015, and ending July 1, 2016. The total budget is written for the period beginning July 2, 2012, and ending July 1, 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 providing additional opportunities for success of Native American students by academically supporting current school district programs.

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

These budget amendments in the amount of $469,503.00 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.

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Staff recommends the approval of an Amendment to the existing Agreement with The Lund Company dated September 9, 2015, to authorize The Lund Company negotiate with the following additional property owners for the purchase of their properties: 

7350 N. 156^th Street -- approximately 10.5 acres (parcel no. 0123300004)

7440 N 156^th Street – approximately 22.66 acres (parcel no. 0123300008)

15802 Ida Street – approximately 10.26 acres (parcel no. 0123290006) 

The properties referred to above are in addition to the properties referred to in the Agreement that is being amended.  The amended Agreement continues to provide for a commission of 2.5% of the gross purchase price of each unlisted property purchased by the District pursuant to a purchase agreement negotiated by The Lund Company.  Commissions would be paid by the District to The Lund Company at the closing of each purchase with a maximum commission of $144,575.00 in the aggregate for all unlisted properties acquired through their services.  This maximum amount includes the commission paid for the recent purchase of the property at 7150 North 156^th Street and all of the properties originally identified in the September 9, 2015, Agreement, and those properties added by this Amendment.  There would be no commission paid by the District on properties purchased by the District that are listed for sale.

Rationale:  Most students from across the nation today have some experience in online learning.  Many of these students participate in these activities in a virtual school.  Currently Nebraska is one of seven states across the nation that do not have this online experience for students.  Our district could begin the process in creating a virtual school, making a difference for students across Nebraska.  Mr Evans and Rob Dickson will explain their past histories around starting this process as well as Education Commissioner Matthew L. Blomstedt’s support for this initiative.

Rationale:  Plans are being developed for the utilization of the OPS Mills Building facility located at 4301 N 30th Street for relocation of Franklin Elementary and Lothrop Elementary students as temporary housing during the capital improvements at those two sites beginning 2016-2017 school year.  Staff is reviewing any necessary building and site modifications to meet classroom/program needs, accommodations for parking and transportation of students, as well as, any potential zoning requirements.  Both building principals have been engaged in the planning process.  Information on the temporary location was shared in the November 4^th Franklin parent meeting.  Information will be shared with the Lothrop community at that school’s November meeting.  The Mills Building was utilized successfully as swing space in the 1999 Bond Program.

Rationale:  Staff of District Operational Services and Jacobs will be available to respond to questions from the Board regarding a Request for Statement of Qualifications and Price Quotes for Economic Inclusion Services (RFQ).  As had been noted in an earlier October 19^th Board Agenda item, it had been anticipated that the RFQ document might be revised based on feedback received from the Board (in particular, with regard to cost factors) and that the District Operational Services Department would present a final version for consideration by the Board at a subsequent Board of Education meeting. A revised draft of the RFQ is attached. 

Rationale:  The purpose of this report is to provide the district's 2015-16fall membership and to discuss trends in total enrollment as well as racial/ethnic representations.  The 2015-16 PK-12 membership of 51,885 demonstrates a decrease of 140 students (0.3 percent).   Fall membership is an important data source as it serves as the basis for reporting all official statistics for the current schools year.

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 September 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.