December 15, 2014 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 your 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:  Tonight’s School Spotlight focuses on the dozens of OPS buildings that are reaching out to help the less fortunate this holiday season.  Elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and alternative programs are engaging in everything from fundraisers to canned food drives this month, helping charities all across Omaha; at the same time, central office staff at TAC have been raising money to help the Lydia House.  Emblematic of this district-wide effort is Ponca Elementary, whose 150 students have already filled more than 40 large boxes with food items they brought to donate to the Food Bank.  Congratulations – and our thanks – to everyone who has participated in this worthy effort!

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The North High Magnet Academy of Finance recently joined the innovative new Samsung School pilot program and showcased its new classroom set-up for the media. 

The pilot program is the first such program in the Midwest.  North will now utilize Samsung School—a fully integrated, individualized learning experience that combines the latest tablets and display technology—to create a dynamic classroom environment and deliver engaging lessons and personalized learning.

 

Rationale:  Treasurer

The Treasurer's Report for November 2014 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.

Rationale:  The Committee on Claims met on 12/15/2014 and approved the audit of claims conducted by the Secretary to the Board of Education. 

Rationale:  GRANT FUND BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS

REIMBURSABLE 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.   PERKINS INNOVATION COMPETITIVE GRANT, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – PROJECT 471915.

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Perkins Innovation Competitive Grant budget.

This budget amendment, in the amount of $49,100.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2014, and ending June 30, 2015.  The total budget is written for the period beginning July 1, 2014, and ending June 30, 2015.  This is a new grant to improve, modernize or expand career technical education by meeting the grant objectives under the program.

This program is 100% reimbursable.

2.   SPECIAL EDUCATION EARLY DEVELOPMENT NETWORK REGIONAL SYSTEM SUPPORT/CHANGE GRANT, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – PROJECT 477915.

Central administrative staff request approval to accept the Early Development Network Grant budget.

This budget amendment, in the amount of $50,000.00, is for the period beginning September 1, 2014, and ending August 31, 2015.  It represents the continued participation in a program conducted during the 2013-2014 school year for the purpose of providing public awareness and outreach, training and skill building, services coordinator support and improved learning for children with disabilities.

     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.

No Sherwood Foundation Grants or Grants less than $10,000.00 have been submitted for Board action.

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Staff recommends the appointment of the following individuals to serve as Omaha Public Schools representatives to the Nebraska Schools Medicaid Consortium Board (NSMC) as described in the First Amendment to Interlocal Agreement Creating the NSMC (Approved by the Board of Education August 18, 2014).  The NSMC Board serves with approved representatives of the Lincoln Public Schools in a consortium  to oversee the state wide claiming for Medicaid Administrative Services reimbursement through authorization by the State of Nebraska.

Megan Neiles-Brasch – District In-House Legal Counsel
Ibrahima Diop – Director of Accounting and Finance
Kara Saldierna – Director of Special Education

Rationale:  The monthly Douglas County School District 0001 Head Start Governing Body Report for September 2014 is provided as an attachment in accordance with the 2007 Head Start Act.

Rationale:  ECONOMICS AND FINANCIAL LITERACY CURRICULUM UPDATE
The Economics and Financial Literacy (EFL) course, that is a mandatory social studies credit for graduation, fulfils Nebraska state standards 12.2.1, 12.2.2, 12.2.3, 12.2.5, 12.2.6, 12.2.7, 12.2.8, 12.2.9, for Economics. The remaining Economics state standards are covered throughout the other mandatory social studies courses. The Advanced Placement (AP - College Board Curriculum) Microeconomics and Macroeconomics courses do not completely align with the state Economics standards. The AP courses do not fulfil standards 12.2.6-12.2.9. As a result, a student who takes either Economics AP course still must take the EFL required course to fulfil the missing state standards. This has proven to discourage some students from attempting Economics AP courses during their sophomore year. As it is an overall outcome that clearly defines success for OPS, reflected in the OPS Strategic Plan, recommendation is being made to split the EFL course into an Economics course, still mandatory for graduation on the sophomore level, and a new and mandatory Personal Finance course to be taken during a student’s senior year. The newly added Personal Finance course will replace one of the 17 elective courses currently needed for graduation, decreasing that to 16.

OPS Economics and Financial Literacy teachers have reviewed and discussed this proposal during the September curriculum day. The teachers have been requesting this change and are supportive of the proposal. High school principals have also had two meetings on this topic and provided feedback in a suggested timeline for implementation for the 2016-2017 school year to impact the class of 2018.

In addition, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has not accepted our current titled course of Economics and Financial Literacy course on transcripts for athletes pursuing competitive scholarships. The above change would solve that issue as well.

A formal request to the Board to approve the change to high school graduation requirements (as noted above) will occur in February. The item before the Board of Education today is for information and discussion. A full report on the social studies adoption with a request to approve the District adoption will be provided to the Board of Education in the Spring.

Rationale:  A brief update will be provided to the Board of Education on the continued work on reviewing curriculum, the future process of gathering input (parent phone survey), planning training, discussing future course offerings and future selection and piloting of curriculum for the Human Growth and Development course offering. This work is reflected on the attached updated implementation timeline. The Board of Education received a presentation on this topic on May 5, 2014 prior to the beginning of the work listed on the timeline. The Human Growth and Development curricular and course updating process is a collaborative effort between OPS teachers, the Omaha Women’s Fund, the Sherwood Foundation, the State Department of Education and other OPS staff. In addition, the upcoming parent survey will be presented and is also attached.

Rationale:  An update will be provided on the ongoing work of the 75 North Project as it relates to Howard Kennedy Elementary. Staff will provide updates on the work of the steering committee, conversations with Howard Kennedy Staff and information gathering for the project. 

Rationale:  An update will be provided regarding the work of the Student Assignment Plan Committee.

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Central Office staff will make a recommendation on Jan 21, 2015 that: 1) all new construction or remodeling of OPS Middle Schools be done so based on a 6 - 8 configuration; and 2) that all current OPS Middle Schools are transitioned to a 6 - 8 model as soon as their capacity allows except for King Science, and Marrs, which shall remain 5-8. 

 

Central Office staff offers the following timeline based on capacity and current Student Assignment Plan trends:

McMillan: 2016-17                                                                                   

Nathan Hale:  2016-17

Monroe:  2016-17

Norris:  2017-18 (Pending Progress of Phase 1 Bond Work will be able to house additional elementary feeders.)

Beveridge:  2017-18 (Pending Progress of Phase 1 Bond Work)

Buffett:  2018-19

Morton:  2018-19

King Science: No change anticipated for changing grade configurations.  Technology upgrades are scheduled for 15-16.

Marrs Middle School:  No change anticipated for changing grade configurations.  Technology upgrades are scheduled for 14-15.

Bryan Middle School:  TBD - Dependent upon Phase II Bond Schedule, which will be in front of voters in 2017 or 2018.  (New middle school planned to open, which will create room at Bryan MS).

Lewis and Clark:   TBD - Dependent upon Phase II Bond Schedule, which will be in front of voters in 2017 or 2018.  (Expansion planned).

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Staff, at the direction of the Board of Trustees of the Omaha School Employees’ Retirement System who interviewed 3 applicants for the position, will present the following individual to be appointed to fill the unexpired term of Business Member Trustee on the Board of Trustees of the Omaha School Employees’ Retirement System:

NAME                         POSITION                                                 TERM
Donn Jones         Business Representative         Remainder of 3 Year Term ending 8/31/2017

Rationale:  The Omaha Public Schools Board of Education will discuss next steps regarding legislative positions.

Rationale:  The District English Language Learner/Refugee Report: 2014-2015 provides information about OPS students who participate in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program, speak languages other than English in the home, and are refugees to the United States. These statistics are based upon the OPS student population as it existed on the last Friday of September this school year (Official Fall Membership). This information assists staff with the planning and development of support systems and programs to meet the needs of this growing population within the Omaha Public Schools.

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 2014 and October 2014 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.