January 5, 2026 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
Rationale:
Bryan High School's JROTC will Present the Colors and lead the 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:
Our Board of Education Spotlight recognizes Katie Czerwiec, Beveridge Middle language arts teacher, and Keairra Watson, King Elementary second grade teacher, for being honored with Nebraska Awards of Excellence from the Nebraska Department of Education.
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G. Board and Superintendent Communications
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G.1. Treasurer
Rationale:
The Treasurer's Report for November 2025 is attached for review.
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G.2. Superintendent
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G.3. 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, December 15, 2025 - Regular Meeting
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I.2. Approval of Architect Agreement with The Schemmer Associates, Inc., to Provide Design Services for Transportation South Site 5402 L Street (Next to Buena Vista High School) ($189,900.00)
Rationale:
FUND: 31 Special Building Fund
PROGRAM: 2510 Business Support Services DEPT ID: 7166600 Schoolhouse Planning PROJECT: 320114 Student Transportation South SUPPLIER: Schemmer Associates, Inc. POLICY: 7000, IV. D AMOUNT: $189.900.00 Administration recommends approval of the attached agreement with The Schemmer Associates, Inc., as the Design Firm for renovations of the Student Transportation South Site, located at 5402 L Street (next to Buena Vista High School). Under this agreement, Schemmer Associates provides completed plans, specifications, and construction administration services to complete renovations. The renovations will convert this space to a fully functional transportation hub that will house and service approximately 50% of our student transportation fleet. Splitting our transportation bases into two separate locations reduces liability due to weather damage by spreading our fleet out and increases the overall efficiency of student transportation while decreasing time on route and fuel costs. These services are not subject to bidding, as they are an exception to bidding under Board Policy No. 7000, V.D. (Professional Services). The agreed-upon fee for these services is $189,900.00.
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I.3. 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.4. 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.5. 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.6. 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.7. 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.8. 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.9. Committee on Claims Audit Approval (1/5/2026)
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.10. Approval of the Construction Agreement with Dostals Construction Company, Inc. for Educare of Omaha at Kennedy Playground (Renovation Funded Through Omaha School Foundation)
Rationale:
Administration recommends approval of the attached agreement with Dostals Construction Company, Inc., for improvements to Educare of Omaha at Kennedy Playgrounds and Site. The improvements include replacing multiple pieces of play equipment, pavement, resilient surfacing, site furnishings, landscaping, and associated site work for the Kennedy Educare site. The District has agreed, as part of the funding agreement entered into with the Omaha Public Schools Foundation (the Foundation) and approved by the Board of Education on December 15, 2025, to retain Dostals Construction as the contractor for the project. Per the Funding Agreement between Omaha Public Schools Foundation and the District, the Foundation will pay Dostals Construction for all services. There is no cost to the District for these improvements. The District retains oversight of Dostals Construction for the project.
The projected substantial completion date for this project is September 30, 2026.
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I.11. 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.12. Approval to Purchase Additional IXL Math and IXL Language Arts Support from IXL Learning for Northwest High for November 20, 2025, through July 1, 2026 ($2,504.00)
Rationale:
Fund: 154, Title 1 Grant Fund
Department: 3361110, Northwest HS Instruction Program: 1100, Regular Instruction Project: 413626, Title I Schoolwide-Northwest HS Vendor: IXL Learning, Inc. Policies: 6121, 7000, III.K.,7000, VII.A Amount: $2,504.00 Administration recommends approval for Northwest High to purchase additional IXL Math and IXL Language Arts subscriptions for the 2025-2026 school year. IXL Math provides students with personalized, standards-aligned practice across Algebra, Geometry, and other high school math content areas and IXL Language Arts provides unlimited practice problems with meaningful, up-to-date tracking of students' progress. The program delivers real-time diagnostic insights and supports skill mastery aligned with the Nebraska College and Career Ready Standards. 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. On June 2, 2025, an agreement with IXL to purchase IXL Match subscriptions for high schools was approved by the Board. As the total of this purchase together with the earlier purchase is over $50,000, this purchase is being presented to the Board for approval pursuant to Board policy 7000, III.K. and 7000, VII.A. The total cost of the purchase is $2,504.00.
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I.13. Approval of the Request for Concurrence: Section 4(f) Exception for Temporary Occupancy of Lothrop Elementary School Grounds as a Part of the 24th St. Streetscape Improvement Project at Lothrop Elementary School
Rationale:
Administration recommends the approval of the attached Request for Concurrence: Section 4(f) Exception for Temporary Occupancy of Lothrop Elementary School Grounds. The City of Omaha is currently in the process of doing significant reconstruction of 24th Street. The proposed improvements include restriping, the installation of pedestrian nodes to shorten crossing distances and delineate parking areas, landscaping, signage, sidewalk ramps, and sidewalks, as well as utility work, including lighting improvements and storm sewer modifications along the corridor. In order to do so in the area adjacent to the Lothrop Elementary School Grounds, the City is asking the District to provide temporary access to our property and acknowledge that the City is not impeding the use of the playground (recreational areas). They need that acknowledgement because if they were to impede the recreational areas, the City and the District would be required to enter into a formal temporary easement for access. We anticipate that there will be a subsequent agenda item for Board consideration once the project is further along conveying a permanent easement (.03 acres) to the city along the edge of our property.
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I.14. Consent and Acknowledgement of the Assignment and Assumption of License Agreement between Omaha Early Learning Centers, Inc. at Kennedy QALICB and Educare of Omaha, Inc.
Rationale:
Administration recommends approval of the consent and acknowledgement of the attached Assignment and Assumption of License Agreement. By way of background, Omaha Early Learning Centers, Inc. ("OELC") entered into a License Agreement with the District dated February 15, 2018 to construct an early learning center at the Kennedy Elementary. OELC utilized New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) to finance the project. The NMTC rules required a new entity be formed to hold the real estate pursuant to the License Agreement which resulted in the formation of "OELC at Kennedy QALICB" ("QALICB"). OELC assigned its rights and obligations in the License Agreement to QALICB in September of 2018. OELC was subsequently merged into Educare of Omaha, Inc. ("Educare"). The NMTC compliance period has now run and QALICB will be also be merged into Educare. QALICB and Educare need District consent and acknowledgement to assign the rights and obligations of the License Agreement from QALICB to Educare. The attached "Assignment and Assumption of License Agreement" has been executed by both QALICB and Educare with the effective date of December 31, 2025. Since it is real estate related, the consent and acknowledgement requires Board approval.
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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. Update to Policy 1401 (Community Partnership Proposal Policy)
Rationale:
Policy 8120 stipulates the Board of Education shall cause policies and regulations to be revised as necessary. Administration will provide recommended changes to the following policy:
1401 (Community Partnership Proposal Policy)
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J.2. Action Item(s)
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K. Receipt of Reports
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K.1. Approval of Financial Results from the October 26, 2025 District Surplus On-line Auction Provided by Auction Mill L.L.C. ($9,460.80)
Rationale:
FUND: 1 General Fund
DEPT.: 7062000 Default Dept. for Non-Expend ACCOUNT: 45401 Sale of Surplus Inventory Items for Auction PROGRAM: 2500 Default Non-Expenditure Program CLASS: 000 Default No Class POLICIES: 3090 Sales and Disposal of Books, Equipment and Supplies AMOUNT: $9,460.80 Pursuant to Policy 3090, Administration is reporting the financial results from the District surplus auction held online from October 26 through November 9. The surplus auction was approved at the Board of Education meeting on Monday, October 20, 2025, providing $9,460.80 in funds to the District, as shown below. Miscellaneous Sales $11,616.00 Nutrition Services $210.00 Gross Amount $11,826.00 Less Commission of 20% From Miscellaneous/Nutrition Sales $2,365.20 Net to the District $9,460.80 |
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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. Election of Officers
Rationale:
In keeping with the provisions of Policy 8130, the Board of Education is required to elect its President and then its Vice President. Any member of the Board may self-nominate or be nominated by another Board Member. Nominating speeches are not permitted. However, those who have nominated a Board member or nominated themselves shall have up to five minutes to speak following the close of nominations and prior to the distribution of ballots. These remarks shall be in order of nomination. Election of officers of the Board of Education shall be kept by secret ballot. Election shall require a majority of all members of the Board.
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N. Adjournment
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