May 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Omaha Public Schools Board of Education and Educational Service Unit 19 Board Meeting
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A. OPS Board Of Education Information
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. |
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B. Call to Order
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C. Pledge of Allegiance
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D. OPS Vision and Mission Statement
Rationale:
The Vision: Every Student. Every Day. Prepared for Success.
The Mission: To prepare all students for success in college, career, and life. |
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E. Roll Call
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E.1. Excused/Unexcused Absence
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F. School Spotlight
Rationale:
The #OPSProud Spotlight recognizes Central High students who won the 2025 Nebraska Schools Esports Association Cup Division 1 Championship.
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G. Board and Superintendent Communications
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G.1. Superintendent
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G.2. Board Members
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H. Public Comment and Recognition
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I. Consent Agenda
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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I.1. Reading of Minutes
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I.1.a. Monday, May 5, 2025 - Regular Meeting
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I.2. Approval of Agreement with Newsela for the Use of Two Programs, Formative Gold and Formative Locked Browser for the 2025-2026 School Year ($171,000.00)
Rationale:
Fund 1: General
Program: 1100, Regular Instruction Dept: 7193010, Secondary Education Admin Vendor: Newsela Policies: 6121, 7000, V.A. Amount: $171,000.00 Administration recommends approval of the agreement between Omaha Public Schools and Newsela for the renewal of two programs, Formative Gold and Formative Locked Browser, from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2026. Formative Gold is an application for virtual and in-person formative teaching and assessment for use in secondary schools and programs. Formative Locked Browser prevents navigation away from certain windows during online assessments. In keeping with the bid exceptions contained within Policy 7000, V., A. (Academic Prerogative), no bid was required for this purchase. The cost of the purchase is $171,000.00.
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I.3. Approval to Award Bid No. 25-012 and Contract to Scott Enterprises for Lewis & Clark Roof Reskin, Sections B1, B2, I1, I2, J1, and J2, Summer 2025 ($318,061.00)
Rationale:
FUND: 4012 Prop Uninsured Loss Reserve Fund
PROGRAM: 2591 Building and Sites DEPT. ID: 8770020 Lewis & Clark MS Facility SUPPLIER: Scott Enterprises POLICY: 7000 IV. C. AMOUNT: $318,061.00 Administration recommends the award of Bid No. 25-012 and Contract to Scott Enterprises for Lewis & Clark Roof Reskin, Sections B1, B2, I1, I2, J1, and J2, that was damaged during the July 31 windstorm. The work will include overlaying roofing materials to the existing roof in sections that were damaged by high speed straight-line winds. This Roof Reskin Project is scheduled to start May 23, 2025, and reach Substantial Completion by August 8, 2025. The District received six bid proposals. McKinnis Roofing & Sheet Metal is not compliant because they did not acknowledge the addendum and did not provide license certification as required in the bid documents. Scott Enterprises is the lowest-compliant bidder. The total cost of the project is $318,061.00. Bids received were:
NC = Item does not meet the physical specifications within the bid document. For complete bid documentation, contact John.Neal@ops.org.
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I.4. Approval of Claims Report A - District Expenditure
Rationale:
The Board of Education is required by State Statute 79-584 to approve all expenditures of District funds. Expenditures are presented to the Board for approval in the form of a Claims Report. Claims Report A is a listing of all District expenditures and are organized and presented to the Board by which fund the expenditure is being made from (e.g. General Fund, Bond Fund, etc.).
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I.5. Approval of Claims Report B - Expenditures from Various Student Activity Funds for which the Board Serves as Custodian
Rationale:
The Board of Education is required by State Statute 79-584 to approve all expenditures of funds for which the District serves as custodian. Expenditures are presented to the Board for approval in the form of a Claims Report. Claims Report B is a listing of expenditures from the various Student Activity Funds for which the Board serves as custodian.
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I.6. Approval of Claims Report C - Expenditures on behalf of Board Members or their Related Organizations
Rationale:
Board Members are prohibited by Nebraska law from voting on items which may personally benefit them. Expenditures which may personally benefit individual Board Members are presented to the Board for approval in the form of a separate Claims Report in order to permit those Board Members to abstain from voting on items which may personally benefit them. The Board of Education is required by State Statute 79-584 to approve all expenditures of District funds. Claims Report C is a listing of expenditures that may relate to individual Board Members or Organizations that employ them.
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I.7. Approval of Claims Report D - Payroll Expenditures
Rationale:
The Board of Education is required by State Statute 79-584 to approve all expenditures of District funds. Payroll expenditures are presented to the Board for ratification in the form of a Claims Report. Claims Report D is a summary of payrolls processed and is presented by payroll and pay date.
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I.8. Approval of Claims Report E - Payroll Estimated Expenditures
Rationale:
The Board of Education is required by State Statute 79-584 to approve all expenditures of District funds. Payroll expenditures are presented to the Board for ratification in the form of a Claims Report. Claims Report E is an estimation of payrolls to be processed prior to the next Board meeting and is presented by payroll and pay date. Board authorization is requested for amounts not to exceed the totals in the Claims Report.
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I.9. Approval of Educational Service Unit No. 19 Claims - Expenditures to be Paid from Education Service Unit's Funds
Rationale:
The Board of Education serves as the Board of Educational Service Unit 19. The Board of Educational Service Unit 19 is required to approve all expenditures of District funds as well as funds for which the District serves as custodian. Expenditures are presented to the Board for approval in the form of a Claims Report. Educational Service Unit No. 19 Claims Report is a listing of all expenditures to be paid from the Education Service Unit's funds.
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I.10. Committee on Claims Audit Approval (05/19/2025)
Rationale:
State Statue 79-584 requires the Secretary to the Board of Education to audit all accounts of the Class V school district and to submit that audit to the Board of Education Audit Committee for review and approval. The objective of the audit is to obtain and review sufficient claim documentation to determine the risk of material misstatement. The audit methodology is set forth on the Claims Audit Report.
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I.11. Approval of Consulting Services Agreement With PBL Works, Also Known As Buck Institute for Professional Development Services Designed to Create Knowledge and Understanding of Project-Based Learning through August 2025 ($66,200.00)
Rationale:
FUND: 901, Strategic Plan
PROGRAM: 2211, Career and Tech Ed Support DEPT: 7196010, Career & Technical Education VENDOR: Buck Institute for Education POLICIES: 7000 III.K, VII.A. AMOUNT: $66,200.00 Administration recommends approval of the contract for consulting services with PBL Works, also known as Buck Institute for Education, to support teacher development and student engagement of capstone experiences through high-quality PBL (Project Based Learning) training and classroom implementation. The services continue and extend the support provided from May 22, 2025 through August 10, 2025. These consulting services support College & Career Academy and Pathway teachers, Career and Technical Education teachers, Gifted and Talented Teachers, School Librarians, and School Leadership Team Members at the high school and middle school level. The total cost of this purchase is $66,200.00.
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I.12. Approval of Head Start Self-Assessment Program Improvement Plan
Rationale:
Per Section 642 of the Head Start Act, the Board of Education serves as the Governing Body for Head Start. The Head Start Governing Body is required to review and approve specific processes of the program, including the annual self-assessment. The Head Start program conducted the Self-Assessment during the month of March. Head Start staff collected program data in the areas of education, health/safety, family engagement, and ERSEA (Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance). Head Start staff used the information to create the improvement plan to be implemented during the upcoming program year.
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I.13. Approval of the Master Services Agreement Between the Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council and Educational Service Unit No. 19 for the 2025-2026 School Year
Rationale:
Pursuant to the Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 13-807, the 2025-2026 Master Services Agreement with the Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council allows Educational Service Unit, No. 19 to participate in statewide core service initiatives pursuant to Rule 84. Through our participation, we are able to take advantage of products and services at a cost savings because of statewide buying power. This agreement is renewed annually.
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I.14. Approval of New Salary Schedule for a Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) 12-Month Position for the 2025-2026 School Year
Rationale:
Administration recommends approval of the Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA), 12-month position for the 2025-2026 school year, due to the high demand needed in the community and support during the summer months. Administration recommends creating this position by consolidating two available 10-month BCBA positions.
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I.15. Approval of Proposed Staffing Adjustments
Rationale:
Policy 4001 and 4035 require that the election of employees shall be by action of the Board of Education upon recommendation of the Superintendent or designee. Additionally, Policy 4008 requires that the Chief Human Resources Officer process all retirements, resignations, cancellations, contract amendments and terminations of employment making a recommendation for appropriate action to the Superintendent and Board of Education. Therefore, the District recommends the approval of the attached Staffing Adjustments.
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I.16. Approval to Purchase One Way Education Spanish Language Arts Materials, Agreements, and Data Protection Agreement for Grades 6-8 Dual Language Hard Copy for 2025-2026 and Online Access for 2025-2026 through 2030-2031 ($355,828.50)
Rationale:
FUND: 1, General
PROGRAM: 1100, Regular Instruction DEPT: 7193010, Secondary Education Admin POLICIES: 7000, V.A., 6121 Amount: $355,828.50 Administration recommends One Way Education's Anécdotas Inicial for grades 6-8, which includes 6-year online access to Nosotros Online. This curriculum was field tested in all dual language schools with grades 6-8 and will be used at Beveridge Middle, Marrs, Middle, Norris Middle, Jackson Elementary, and Liberty Elementary in grades 6-8. Purchase includes online access for six years, 2025-2026 through 2030-2031 (in alignment with the most recent English Language Arts adoption timeline) and hard copy resources for one (1) year, 2025-2026, with copy rights for internal printing. This item is being presented to the Board for approval in keeping with the provisions of Policy 6121,which requires approval by the Board of curricular materials. In keeping with the bid exceptions contained within Policy 7000, V.A. (Academic Prerogative), no bid was required for this purchase. The total cost of this purchase is $355,828.50.
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I.17. Approval to Purchase Two Thousand Seven Hundred Seventy-Five (2,775) Phonics Kits from Rocking Chair Readers, LLC. ($99,900.00)
Rationale:
FUND: 4591 Learning Community
PROGRAM: 1100 Regular Instruction DEPT ID: 7192010 Elementary Education Admin SUPPLIER: 76166 Rocking Chair Readers, LLC POLICIES: 7000, III. K., 7000, VII. A. PROJECT: 350125 LC Instructional Coaching SC1 PROJECT: 350325 LC Instructional Coaching SC3 AMOUNT: $99,900.00 Administration recommends the purchase of two thousand seven hundred seventy-five (2,775) phonics kits for Kindergarten through Grade 2 teachers. These phonics kits are designed to help children begin to associate the sounds they hear with the letters or letter combinations in written language that represent those sounds. This promotes the understanding of the alphabet principle - that letters represent sounds, which form the foundation of decoding written language. These kits will be used in targeted Learning Community Subdistricts 1 and 3 schools (listed below) to support the implementation of Structured Literacy. This purchase utilizes pricing from Bid No. 24-080, the original purchase of 1030 units at the cost of $37,080.00, which was below the dollar amount required for Board approval. Rocking Chair Readers, LLC. was the only compliant supplier meeting bid specifications. The total amount of the additional purchase is $99,900.00.
For complete bid documentation, contact Yvonne.Schuster@ops.org.
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I.18. Rejection of a Portion of RFP P029-24 Bids for 4-12 Music Textbooks, Materials and Resources for the Areas of 4-5 Strings, (H) Jazz Band, Music Technology, Music Exploration 6-8, Music Business 1-4, (H/DL) Guitar 1-8, and Color Guard
Rationale:
Pursuant to Policy 7000, II.D, Administration recommends the Board of Education partially reject bids for RFP P029-24 for 4-12 Music Textbooks, Materials and resources for the following courses: 4-5 Strings, (H) Jazz Band, Music Technology, Music Exploration 6-8, Music Business 1-4, (H/DL) Guitar 1-8, and Color Guard. These courses did not receive submissions or had very low favorability from teacher reviews after initial reviews and field-testing. The proposed rejection by the District is based upon the review of the three (3) RFP submissions received from Alfred Publications, LLC, Savvas Learning, and QuaverEd. Administration will move forward with pursuing additional music materials and resources for these courses under academic prerogative. Administration will request approval of textbooks, materials, and resources for the remaining portion of RFP P029-24 at a future Board of Education meeting.
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I.19. Approval of Renewal Contract with Concentric Corporation to Provide Temporary Staffing as Needed to Fill Essential Positions from July 31, 2025, through July 31, 2026
Rationale:
FUND: 5190 ESU19 Info & Management Services
PROGRAM: 2252 Technology Support DEPT. ID: 7062535 Network Management SUPPLIER: Concentric Corporation Administration recommends the approval of the attached renewal contract with Concentric Corporation to provide temporary staff for essential positions. The District prefers to hire staff to fill these roles directly. However, when no viable candidates are available, contracted staffing agencies may be consulted for unique, specialized staffing needs or limited temporary projects. Concentric Corporation would support by identifying candidates for temporary classified staffing in technical areas not covered by a negotiated agreement (i.e., IMS, Finance, etc.). The cost would depend on the actual position requirements and the length of time the temporary worker is needed. Omaha Public Schools has partnered with Concentric Corporation since 2011 on an as-needed basis. The Board approved the previous agreement on April 24, 2025 (expires on July 31, 2025). Funding would be based on position and department. This contract would expire on July 31, 2026. Since the 2020-2021 school year, we have utilized 7 individuals with an average annual cost of $143,359.75 per year (note we did not utilize any Concentric staff in 2023-2024).
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J. Discussion and/or Action Items
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J.1. Information Item(s)
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J.1.a. Staff Presentation on K-12 Music and K-Age 21 Alternate Curriculum Program Materials and Resources for Use Beginning with the 2025-2026 School Year
Rationale:
Curriculum and Instruction staff will provide an update on the K-12 Music and K-Age 21 Alternate Curriculum Program (ACP) materials and resources for use beginning with the 2025-2026 School Year.
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J.1.b. Budget and Audit Committee Update
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The Chair of the Budget and Audit Committee will provide an update.
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J.1.c. Policy Committee Update
Rationale:
The Chair of the Policy Committee will provide an update.
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J.2. Action Item(s)
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J.2.a. Approval of Second Reading of Policy 5205
Rationale:
Policy 8120 stipulates the Board of Education shall cause policies and regulations to be revised as necessary. The Policy Committee will provide recommended changes to the following policies:
5205 - Graduation (Second Reading)
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J.2.b. Approval of the Report of the Legislative Committee Including Recommended Legislative Positions
Rationale:
The Legislative Committee, in keeping with the provisions of Policy 8150, recommends approval of its findings and recommendations as set forth in the attached summary of bills introduced before the Nebraska Legislature. The summary has been prepared with the assistance of Kissel Kohout ES Associates and generally includes legislation which may affect the District. The Committee continuously monitors legislative activity and may, from time to time, recommend that the Board take or update a position on a particular bill, resolution or amendment. Committee recommendations typically include one of the following: Support, Oppose, or Monitor with Research. In the absence of one of those recommendations, the Committee is recommending that the District take no position. Given the fluid nature of the legislature, the Committee may need to present new bills, resolutions or amendments, including some that may not have appeared on the bill summary, to the Board for consideration. In addition to the bill summary, the Committee, on occasion, recommends Board approval of position statements to guide the Board President and/or Superintendent when dealing with legislative debate on issues particular concern to the District that arise between Board Meetings. The Committee is recommending that the Board adopt the position of Oppose for LB 306 which is highlighted in the attached report.
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K. Receipt of Reports
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K.1. Head Start Community Assessment 2024-2025
Rationale:
In accordance with Performance Standards and the 2007 Head Start Act, the Board of Education will be presented with the Head Start Community Assessment update for Douglas County School District 001. Head Start Performance Standard 1305.3 requires that each grant will determine community strengths and needs within the proposed service area.
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L. Request for Closed Session
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.
Explanation
At this point, it is appropriate for the Board to meet in closed session for one of the stated matters and/or any other permissible closed session matters in compliance with the law. That the Board hold a closed session: 1. For strategy session with respect to negotiations/collective bargaining clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual in compliance with the law. 2. For strategy session with respect to property/real estate matters clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual in compliance with the law.
3. For strategy session with respect to pending litigation, or litigation which is imminent as evidenced by communication of a claim or threat of litigation to or by the public body clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual in compliance with the law.
4. For discussion regarding deployment of security personnel or devices clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual in compliance with the law.
5. For investigative proceedings regarding allegations of criminal misconduct clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual in compliance with the law.
6. For personnel and the evaluation of job performance clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual in compliance with the law.
7. For discussions of the legal consequences of specific action and legal advice clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual in compliance with the law. |
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M. Adjournment
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